Author Archives: Mel

Day 1 & 2: Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Mel

DAY 1

Our itinerary for the trip means our first 5 days are spent in Ho Chi Minh City (usually referred to as Saigon). We discovered that because of Vietnamese visa requirements, we had to line up in Perth to check in – it’s been a long time since we did that! They have a terrible system now where everyone just mills around….not my favourite process and especially not at 3am. We flew in to HCMC via Singapore (4.5hrs Perth to Singapore) and spent our 3.5hr stopover relaxing at the airport rooftop pool. Such a nice way to have a break between flights!

The rooftop pool is located in T1 (airside) at the Aerotel Airport Transit Hotel, Level 3, Departure Transit Hall (near D40 Gate). It costs about $27SGD per adult and as well as the pool it also features comfy lounges, a jacuzzi, poolside bar and included towels and showers.

We hopped on our second flight (2hrs Singapore to HCMC) and arrived just before 5pm local time. Immigration was not too bad – about 30 mins – even with my schedule 8 meds. We had an airport transfer arranged and checked into the Eden Star Hotel Saigon in District 1 around 6:30pm.

The evening was spent checking out the amazing rooftop pool at the hotel and going in search of some local food! We had beer and beef pho at Quán phở số 10 which cost about $8 AUD for us both and was a few mins walk away. B not being able to fit properly in the tiny plastic chairs caused much hilarity for the old guys drinking next to us!

DAY 2

I had some work to finish off so after hotel breakfast, I had a quiet start to the day completing that before it was poolside relaxation time. We then headed off for an evening exploration of the Saigon Skydeck. It is located on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower and gives panoramic views of Ho Chi Minh City. I booked ahead as I wanted sunset (not that it matters when it’s raining!) but you don’t have to and can just show up.

We had been planning to eat at the restaurant at the top of the building (SENS) for the novelty and the view but the prices were absolutely outrageous. Instead, we walked a few mins up the road to Rice Fields – Homecooked Vietnamese Food which is a little more reasonably priced and has a Michelin guide mention.

After dinner, we used grab to get to Bui Viên which is the “walking street” similar to Bangla Road in Thailand. This one was a little more full on than Bangla Road though with the music being absolutely bonkers.

We walked down and took some photos, including of the insane water levels and then visited The View rooftop bar which was recommended to people watch while avoiding the loud music and drunk people. They also do 3 for the price of 2 cocktails until 9pm!

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3 days to go! One bag packing for Vietnam (7kg carry on + personal item not weighed)

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Mel

PURCHASE IN COUNTRY

⁃ sunscreen (circle k or tourist shop)

⁃ Bug spray (remos brand)

B PACKING

⁃ paperwork

⁃ deodorant, toothpaste, avene 100ml sunscreen, cetaphil 100ml, seasick patches, bug wipes

OSPREY FAIRVIEW 36L ROLLING BAG

◦ Waterproof poncho

◦ 3 x isocool tshirts (lilac, white, bright pink)

◦ 2 x 3/4 sleeve tops (teal, pink)

◦ 1 x colourful skort

◦ 1 x macpac white linen shorts

◦ 1 x T9 crop 3/4 pants (blue)

◦ 1 x M ripskirt dress short (flowers)

◦ 2 x Bella bodies travel bra

◦ 2 x TS chub rub shorts 5”

◦ 5 x modal black undies

◦ 1 x merino Sleep shorts

◦ 1 x merino paire sleep singlet

◦ 1 x monte Lou bikini set

◦ 1 x lined swim shorts black

◦ 1 x swim/suncover shirt: brown

◦ 1 x crocs thongs

OTHER STUFF

◦ cooling neck scarf + ring

◦ Plug cover for sink washing

◦ Toiletries (non liquid) bag: hairbrush, hair ties/scrunchies, toothbrush, gel ear plugs for snoring, concealer, powder, brush, tweezers, micellar wipes, floss

◦ Toiletries (liquid) bag: shampoo 100ml, conditioner 100ml tub, body wash 100ml, cleanser tube 50ml, TOTD MU remover, 2x med cream, IT redness 20ml, heat spray 50ml, makeup setting 30ml, red correct tub, white concealer tube, face sunscreen 50ml

◦ Laundry bag

◦ 5L dry sack

◦ Mini clothesline + laundry sheets + masks + vomit bags

◦ Medications travel container: Panadol, nurofen, coloxyl, no-doz, dramamine, antibiotics, gastro stop, buscopan, nausea wafers, multiV, something for itch/bites, telfast 180

◦ Palexia, bacclofan, codeine + dr letter

◦ USB C Hair straightener

◦ Small foldable backpack

◦ MacBook 13” and padded sleeve

◦ Crushable travel hat

PERSONAL ITEM (grey crossbody bag)

◦ charger pack including cable, int adaptors and base, fitbit charger and air fly kit

◦ Cheap folding Sunnies

◦ Ereader

◦ AirPods

◦ Ear plugs (loop for plane)

◦ Pen

◦ Money/travel wallet

◦ Vapor water bottle

◦ Merino wool socks for plane / cold feet

◦ Passport

WEAR ON PLANE

⁃ T9 crop 3/4 pants (grey)

⁃ bra (light blue merino racerback)

⁃ modal tshirt

⁃ 1 x Paire undies

⁃ keen Travel sandals

⁃ merino cardigan (pink)

⁃ Fitbit inspire 2

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Crown Towers Perth 3 night staycation

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Mel

Since we are both working and can’t have more than a few days off, we decided to take a little staycation to Crown Towers in Perth this week. Advantages were:

– staying Sunday to Wednesday means basically half price room rates

– it was much quieter than a weekend

– it was easier to get into places, get food or drink service and to move around to different parts of the hotel

We checked in on Sunday and decided to enjoy the adults only section of the pool area. There are two parts here, one is free and one has an additional cost. Given this was our only day of nice weather (31C! At the end of April!) we decided to pay for the private section and ended up being the only people there.

After paddling around and drinking pina coladas in our private infinity pool for 4 hrs, we headed back inside to watch the sunset from our room.

Then it was off to find some food (junction grill inside the casino) and drink some more cocktails to finish the day.

On day 2, we slept in then enjoyed the birdcage high tea at TWR. We couldn’t finish the food! It was very good but very filling.

B had a nap while I enjoyed relaxing in the adults only spa in the pool area for the afternoon. We then had dinner at Fortune 88 in the casino before some cocktails and the only type of gambling I engage with…the money wheel!

Day 3 we had a relatively early breakfast at Epicurean (a little over rated in our opinion but maybe buffets are just not for us) before we went for a 2hr / 19km bike ride around the river on hired ebikes.

My butt was pretty sore after that! It’s been awhile since I cycled anywhere, so more spa time was needed. Dinner tonight was booked at Rockpool and we did the degustation 4 course paired wine menu. It was delicious. We also thoroughly enjoyed eavesdropping on the awkward date next to us 😂 the photos of the food were terrible due to low lighting but the taste was DELICIOUS!

Home time tomorrow.

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Vietnam June-July 2024

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Mel

Woohoo we are off to Vietnam for a few weeks in June/July. Our itinerary is roughly:

We are going south to north, then backtracking to a little more central for the last week so we can enjoy some beach time relaxation.

We looked into intrepid again which is who we travelled with throughout Europe. We opted not to go with them for a few reasons but one of the main ones was with my back issues as bad as they are, a group tour wish other people limits my options around resting or rescheduling things. Instead we have paid a little more and we are going with a bespoke tour company. They create an itinerary with us, book all accomodation, provide drivers and guides but as we are on our own there is lots of flexibility. It also meant I got to choose nicer hotels for the same price intrepid charge.

Finally, we are going to one bag this trip. Yep. 24 days with one bag under 7kg each and I have to take a laptop within that range. Eeeeek. I’ve been researching a lot around clothing types as it’s going to be hot, humid and in the south extremely wet. I love cotton but it just would not dry the last time we were in SE Asia.

Current staple items are:

  • For shirts, it’s Merino wool and tencil blends around the 125 weight. These are quite common in Australia and it means you get all those nice merino benefits but have extra strength and softness from tencil. These are so lightweight they do dry very fast despite being wool. Brands who sell this weight are icebreaker, paire and sometimes merino country.
  • Shoes have been quite the adventure. In the end I’m taking keen Rose sandals which have good arch support, can be worn swimming, good airflow and have a toe cover/guard. I’m taking these instead of sneakers. I’ll also take a slip on, very flat pair of thongs or slides
  • Pants/skirts wise, I tried merino and it didn’t work for me. Linen and cotton take forever to dry and merino dresses tend to be heavier weight so water is an issue there as well, I’ve settled on tech fabrics for bottom half clothing. I am currently wearing my title 9 slaycation capris all the time and they do an amazing job of comfort, quick dry and sun protection. I also purchased my first ever ripskirt along with an Eddie Bauer lilac travel tank dress. All can be mixed and matched with my tops!
  • Bathers/underweae: taking monte and Lou two piece bikini set with me alongside the ripskirt and a sun cover up. For undies it’s exofficio briefs as they dry fast with a few pairs of the airism men’s boxers for sleep time. I have two merino bras now that I really like and they will be coming along. One is the baa bra from merino country and the other is the new icebreaker racerback crop which is the first merino bra that brand has made with medium support vs low.
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Hamelin Bay Jan 2024 visit: Days 3-7 Busselton Jetty and relaxation time

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Mel

Day 3 was an early start to head into Busselton to take the kids on the Busselton Jetty tour. The jetty is about an hour drive away from Hamelin Bay and we pre booked the tour as it often sells out in peak travel periods. When I went to check in at 10:40am they were telling people the next available ticket was after 1pm. The cost was around $175 for 3 adults / 2 kids to go on the jetty train, do the underwater observatory tour and then come back on the train.

Lunch was pre booked at Shelter Brewery and B was happy to catch up with friends staying nearby and enjoy their range of beers on tap while I took over his usual driver role. We all went home with Jerry cans of ginger beer – yum! We got back around 5:30pm and it was straight into the ocean for the kids to enjoy their last evening with Stingy, Ray-Ray and co.

Day 4 saw us sleep in and chill at the beach for the morning before we headed into Augusta. Jess and the kids checked into their new accomodation and we did a restock shop before saying goodbye and heading back to Hamelin Bay. This year we decided to spend our extra few days while they are in Augusta in the same cabin since the cost is reasonable, the scenery is amazing and no wifi/phone can be very relaxing. We spent our evening reading, watching the sunset and enjoying some wine and quiet time.

Day 5 for us was more reading, napping at the cabin and eating snacks. Sunset was once again stunning.

Day 6 included a lunch booking at Voyager Estate approximately half an hour drive away. They do a fantastic seasonal degustation menu with paired wine including a “mini flight” of pairings for the driver. We do love our food!

On Day 7 we met Jess and the kids at Karridale Tavern at 9:30am to load back into one car for the return trip to Perth. We did a short stop at Pinjarra bakery for lunch on the busier drive back this time but still managed to make our 3pm furbaby collection time.

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Hamelin Bay Jan 2024 visit: Days 1-2 Ranger Redz Zoo and Cosy Corner Beach

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Mel

This is our second year visiting Hamelin Bay over the new year period! Once we got the first booking in a 6 sleeper ocean cabin we have been able to adjust it for the year following and are hoping to adjust again for next year…. now that we are one of the in crowd with a repeated booking! The first year we got 2 nights mid January through the public ballot, this year we got 6 nights early January and next year I’m hoping to stay over new years.

We drove down on Day 1 via Ranger Redz Zoo in Pinjarra. I had bought the kiddos animal experiences for Christmas as they were moving house so didn’t need yet more crap to stockpile and we had booked the “treetastic tour” with sugar gliders, squirrel gliders and possums! The zoo were also very nice and let us sneak a 5th person in so B didn’t have to miss out like he usually does for stuff with the kids haha. The experiences was AWESOME and although the zoo is small it’s worth a visit. Note there is no food on site but the Pinjarra Bakery is only a 2 min drive away.

We arrived in Hamelin bay around 4pm and then proceeded to go on a scavenger hunt left by friends who had stayed in the same cabin 2 weeks before! The kids enjoyed finding the clues although did brute force the cypher…finding things is more exciting than solving them apparently.

We then visited the famous sting rays, watched a movie and had an early night after a long day.

Day 2 started with a sleep in and then a trip to Cosy Corner beach. The wind and climb down are a bit nuts here…poor me trying to climb back up an insanely steep sand dune! The beach scenery is spectacular though.

It was very windy with rough conditions not suitable for the kids to swim so we did some exploring and then headed back to the car. Last year we had lunch at Hamelin Bay Winery and it was very quiet so we thought to do the same this year…to discover they were completely booked out! We stopped for a drink instead and made a note to book next year before having lunch at the Karridale Tavern instead. Wifi was enjoyed by all.

The afternoon saw us head back to no wifi/phone reception at the cabin and attempt the first use of our cool cabana on the windy beach. Overall opinion: It lives up to the hype. Hamelin Bay is a very windy area and the cabana coped well and did not fly away….although it is definitely not a one person set up in wind. It also packed away easily.

Dinner was sausages and kebabs on the BBQ (with wine for adults) and some Cards Against Humanity family edition as well as taco, cat, goat, cheese, pizza. Both were winners but the youngest in our group was definitely a fan of all the butt references in CAH haha.

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My first attempt at “one bag”

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Mel

This Thailand trip was 9 days all up and I only took a 7kg nag plus personal item. My bag is a rolling suitcase (carry on size) as I struggle with backpacks due to spinal issues. I have just ordered a similar sized bag with wheels and backpack straps…the goal is to wheel it 95% of the time but have a back up plan as well for next time. Below are some comments on what I took and how it went…feel free to learn from my mistakes!

Original 1.8kg case for this trip:

New one with laptop sleeve, wheels and handle and backpack straps for the few occasions wheels may not be my friend. This one weights a tiny bit more than the suitcase (2kg) but is actually slightly larger if you consider litre capacity a useful metric.

Things I will definitely change next time:

  • Must sort out the pants / skirt situation. Need something quick dry but still nice! People keep saying cotton and linen as it is cooler but…monsoonal rain is an issue as nothing will dry
  • About to do a test run on a 125gsm merino / tencil blend top from icebreaker and also looking further into what combos of Airism singlets and an over shirt I can do. Cotton tops were good because I could wash them locally however the sweat and water retention was real
  • A bra is an issue. I need one…but they get so sweaty!
  • Teva sandals are the bomb. They are a definite win! My tropicfeel sunset sneakers were a great idea – quick dry, water flows through, excellent grip, super light but the lack of ankle support means they are unstable. Apparently croc literiders have all of the above plus proper foot support.

CARRY ON SUITCASE
1 x loose cotton pants (black) – way too hot, turned out I’m an idiot and these were not cotton but 100% cheap polyester…I won’t make that mistake again!
2 x linen blend skorts (floral) – excellent to wear, comfortable and looked nice but heavy and hard to dry after caught in rain
1 x midi skirt (colourful) – for fancy dinner. I wouldn’t bring this again, the place we were going to had a strict dress code though

**I need comfy pants to wear that are also easy to dry but don’t swish! Argh. Trialling two things in the coming weeks – travel skorts and title nine capris

3 x cotton tank top with built in bra – would not dry, no good in rain or when sweating like mad
1 x crop top (polyester) – too hot, insane sweat
1 x long flowy singlet (white) – matched pretty skirt, would not bring unless fancy dinner

** the shirt situation is an issue. Currently leaning towards merino / tencil crops with a white over shirt (Eddie Bauer departure shirt L) to control modesty and sun exposure. Also doubles as a sun cover up

3 x Airism travel undies- quick dry was amazing. Yes they get sweaty but then you wash them in the sink and 3hrs later they are dry
2 x pj merino undies – would not dry, this was a fail in a humid climate. I can’t sleep in normal undies and need something with a longer leg cut. Hubby pointed out they make men’s boxer briefs in airism fabric at Uniqlo – duh! These are great and I have been comfortably wearing them at home for a few weeks now
1 x pj merino singlet – excellent purchase, wore to bed 10 days with minimal smell
1 x cotton pj 3/4 pants with pockets – if I can get proper pj shorts/long enough undies I won’t need these next time.
2 x sneaker sockettes – once wet these were useless. Need to reconsider sneaker options

1 x bikini set – 2 sets of bathers was good as ladies stuff tends not to be quick dry
1 x one piece bathers
1 x swim shirt /dress cover up – used at beach a few times and around resort but being cotton, this also took ages to dry. Will think carefully about this next time but I do love that it can convert to a dress and has huge pockets

1 x teva hurricane 2 travel sandals – excellent

Paclite cross body bag – excellent purchase, light but as it is cross body I felt secure with it
Cheap Sunnies
Packed toiletries (non liquid): hairbrush, hair ties/scrunchies, laundry bag, Medications travel container
International adaptor
Travel Hair straightener (weighs 200g)

MINI BACKPACK PERSONAL ITEM

  • charger pack including multi head cable, iPad connector for tv
  • iPad
  • Ereader
  • Headphones (AirPods)
  • loop ear plugs
  • Paperwork
  • Passport
  • Money/travel wallet
  • Liquid Toiletries bag: shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, cleanser, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, rosacea cream, mini sunscreen

Plane clothes: merino loose lounging pants , bra, merino tshirt, tropic feel sunset sneakers, 1x thicker socks, merino light jumper – i swear by all of this 100% merino stuff on planes! Doesn’t smell, is comfortable and adjusts from hot plane walk to freezing cold plane air easily.

We are going to try and do 7kgs carry on for 4 weeks mid next year in a similar hot, wet, humid climate. This was be interesting trial so was a good first run.

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Phuket Day 7-9: L’Arôme by the Sea and home time

Posted on December 10, 2023 by Mel

On day 7 we visited L’Arome by the Sea which is Michelin recommended fine dining location in Kathu (10 min taxi ride from Patong). It’s not a cheap experience but we have dined in places similar to this in other countries too, so we were prepared for sticker shock.

We had the nine course degustation with paired wines. The French food with a Phuket twist was amazing with only a few other couples in the restaurant. Definitely a romantic / couples vibe.

The view was also pretty next level.

Our last few days were spent visiting lots of food places in the markets, laying down at the beach or laying on our day bed next to the pool. We also visited Bangla Road for some people watching in the pouring rain one night which is always good fun.

I also got a photo with this super smiley beach attraction haha.

See you again soon (I hope! ) Thailand. Next stop….Vietnam somewhere in the middle of the year. I’m going to do a separate post about my one bag attempt for this trip as well.

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Phuket day 4-6: Old Town Food Tour

Posted on December 5, 2023 by Mel

Day 4 and 6 were very much just about relaxing. Day 5 was a new experience and something a bit different!

Days 4 and 6 were mostly spent at the Burasari Resort lazing in the pool or reading next to it. We also swam at Patong Beach. We went for a walk to the well known No 6 Restaurant where there was no lines…we are noticing it’s not very busy here currently but expect that to change in the coming week as peak season approaches. Already on Day 5/6 we noticed a lot more drunk and loud aussies at the bars.

On Day 6 we had a lovely “Burasari signature massage” at the hotel spa. More expensive than the street but 100% worth the cost! I got a pretty hair braid from my massage lady.

Day 5 was my first ever food tour. B recently went on one of these in Canada and was very keen to find a Thai equivalent, so I chose this one which is the most highly rated option in phuket. We got at least 15 food tastings and a walking tour of Old Phuket Town which has been on my list of things to do for ages. They do state they can’t support severe allergies (eg shellfish, peanuts) as street food is not controlled, but as my shellfish allergy is minor – and I eat street food here all the time – it was no issue for me. It was a southern flavours tour so explored some of the regional influences in southern Thailand food including:

A walk through the fresh food markets

Breakfast from Myanmar at Mingalar Coffee. Turns out I really like sweet tea!

Aunties street food cart which she has operated for over 30 years…the chicken skewer and waterfall pork salad was amazing

Baba coffee shop (now a restaurant) serving Chinese influenced Thai pork belly. Totally different flavour to anything else, very peppery. We also had honey lemon ice for dessert

The next place was a no name noodle shop informally called “3 siblings noodle” that made amazing egg noodles. We got to try them plain and then with different condiments added to create different flavours.

A shortcut took us to some authentic coconut crepes that apparently don’t cut any corners eg no use of yeast to quicken certain processes. These guys are in the Michelin guide!

We found an icecream bike which has been operating for 70 years!

We then finished off by sampling 5 curries and the best beef soup at Aroon Restaurant to round things off with the Muslim regional influence.

I may have had to be rolled out of the taxi coming home!

We also got to check out some of the great architecture around Old Town. Originally settled by traders from China, India, and Portugal in the 16th century, Old Town is the areas bustling trading hub. The fusion of these different cultures is evident in the town’s architecture, cuisine, and traditions, creating a unique blend of distinctly Phuketian.

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Phuket Days 1- 3: Poolside room, day trip with driver and food glorious food

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Mel

Since we have been here quite a few times now I’m consolidating my posts. There’s also only so many photos of me relaxing I can share haha. I will say this has been a well earned trip after an extremely busy year!

Day 1 and 2: travel, eat, pool!

We did a 6am flight from Perth this time via Singapore which was a lot better than the 1am one. Our 4hr Changi stopover was spent at the rooftop pool in terminal 1 airside (follow signs for transit hotel) which was lovely. Costs $27 SGD to enter but a really good way to spend a few hours on a longer stopover. We only brought carry on this trip (one bag life!) so just made sure we had a dry bag to put weather bathers in after a swim – they give you a towel.

We arrived in Phuket at 5:15pm local time and our pre booked Phuket Shuttle transfer had us at the hotel by 7pm. We have once again stayed at Burasari in Patong due to it hitting everything we want in a relaxing trip: pool, close to the beach, walkable to many food markets and they make great drinks. This time I spent a bit more and got a pool access room though with private entry point. Aaaaaaaah bliss.

Day 1 dinner was at Chino Yard which is a 2 min walk away facing the beach. We had pad Thai and a pineapple smoothie.

Day 2 was spent doing relaxing Patong Beach things. Sleeping in. Eating the included buffet breakfast. Swimming. Poolside reading. Food. Drinks. Dinner was at the attached restaurant to the hotel (Kantok) as they have a buffet, charcoal grill and Thai dancing on Friday nights.

Day 3 started with breakfast where I have made friends with a Deaf server at the hotel named Suu…and she gave us sign names! Sign names are a big deal in the Deaf community and are not something you just make up, someone who is Deaf has to give it to you. So we both now have one! Mine is an M/E mix in thai sign language and then an L. Bs is the Thai sign for bread haha…amazing because our niece calls him Uncle Bread-Bread.

On Day 3 we booked a 4hr half day trip with Phuket Day Trip. This meant we had a private driver and were able to work with them to build an itinerary of where we wanted to visit which was all sorted out via whatsapp. I spent ages researching this because I didn’t want a group driving tour and there are certain things I wanted to avoid – island trips are out due to Bs motion sickness and I won’t engage with any of the unethical animal programs. I knew I wanted to see a few things (the big Buddha, promthep viewpoint) but let the driver make some other suggestions as well. I specifically chose this company as the driver was also a guide – I read a lot reviews where they were only a driver and people were left to their own devices.

We started with Big Buddha. This was about an hour drive from Patong and the roads are nuts, I was very nauseous by the end. You also drive past Tiger park and an elephant camp where there is a baby elephant on display – I found it distressing so just a heads up.

We then went to Wat Chalong temple which is beautiful and learnt some history about the monks.

After this we stopped at 2 view points on the way back – promthep cape and Karon viewpoint. Both had wonderful views of different areas of the coastline.

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