Bye Sydney Hello Singapore and Cambodia

Off of the back of a great trip to Sydney, we fly on to continue our holiday with a stopover in Singapore, before our adventure in Cambodia.
Singapore once again did not let us down and the kids would have loved another day or two. This place is just great with kids, It has so much to do. It is spotless clean and smacks you in the face with contrasts of the West and East. Suprisingly it does not have to be expensive if you eat like the locals.
After some great food, a bit of shopping and the compulsory Water Park it was time to fly out to Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

Monks asking for Rice Donations

Talk about a completely different world we had arrived in. Dusty, 3rd world with crazy Customs entry which was rather dodgy being asked to pay more then probably required, but it had so much to offer.


Temple Shrine

Both Phnom Penh and later Siem Reap were full of beautiful generous people. The looked after us and we stayed in a ridiculously cheap but wonderful hotel in Siem Reap.
http//www.lanichedangkor.com

Bayon faces early morning

The weather in January is perfect, with mild early mornings and warm 28-30c days. Just like home in Adelaide! We did have to be particular with our food and water hygeine. This is very much a third world, so care and respect of our bodies was essential or we were destined for additional bathroom time, if you know what I mean!
Temples - Amazing!!! People - Beautiful and caring!!! Food - Cheap and delicious!!!




Angkor Wat inner temple

Ta Phrom

We were lucky enough to share some of this trip with my sister and her husband and we both agreed that Cambodia now has our heart. I feel tears are imminent



Sydney and Bondi Beach

Well, it has been 14 Years since I lived in Sydney and we were all looking forward to a relaxed and chilled Post Christmas and New Years Holiday in Sydney. We had lots of old friends to catch up with and the anticipated New Years Celebrations on the harbour.
I was determined to have a holiday that included, lazy breakfasts and fabulous walks and a decent serving of body surfing. So the logical choice for our home was Bondi Beach. I was so happy when we arrived at our new digs because the location was only one street from the beach and right on the doorstep of heaps of great restaurants and cool cafes.
In my early 20's I had lived not too far away, on O'Brien St and I was glad to see a huge improvement in the streetscape, type of people out and about and that the Police and Local Council have made huge inroads into making Bondi Beach very family friendly.
We had a two bedroom apartment on Jacques Ave with our own entry and it was tastefully furnished. I would highly recommend this for a family of 5.
 http://www.bondibeachholidayhomes.com/
We had great relaxed meals, fabulous weather and really enjoyed just popping into town twice rather then living in the city.

Bondi Beach Streetscape

Sydney Harbour

We went to the amazing Taronga Zoo and caught several ferries which is a cheap way to see the sites.

New Years in Sydney with an 8 year old is challenging but we still immersed ourselves

Bondi Beach

 in the festivities and jostled with the crowds.
What a great week. I almost felt like a local again!

Boys resting between 9pm and midnight fireworks It was a late night!