MIDLIFE TRAVEL
Midlife is the time to go to all those places you have on your bucket list. You might not get to all of them straight away, but it's a great time to make a start and tick a few off. Living in Australia means that most overseas travel can involve long haul flights and lot of money. You can't pop across the Channel for a weekend in France or jump on a plane for a few days in sunny California. It takes a considerable amount of planning to launch off to one of these (very attractive) destinations.EUROPE
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| Midlife travel - Durnstein with my mum |
I loved Paris and Barcelona and the points in between - everything is so much older and more historical than Australia is (and a LOT colder!)
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| Midlife travel - the Sydney Opera House with my husband |
AUSTRALIA
The benefits of living in such a large and diverse country is that there is always something new to see. The west coast and east coast are quite different to each other and each has its own charm. My husband and I have been across to Sydney and Melbourne - and Queensland is on my to-do list (the bloggers over there are making it even more enticing!) Tasmania also has its place on our list - and possibly New Zealand further down the track.
We've been to Bali a couple of times (it's a very cheap overseas holiday destination for Western Australians) and it's where our daughter and son-in-law chose to be married a few years ago. We rented a lovely villa with it's own private pool, took my mum over with us for the wedding and enjoyed a lovely break away from the hustle and bustle of life.
Having the time and the opportunity to travel is one of the many bonuses of midlife. You don't have to figure out how to have a holiday the whole family will enjoy. You don't have to budget as carefully because there are less of you to transport and accommodate. You only have to keep two people happy with the holiday plans instead of a variety of ages and interests. There is also a LOT less packing and unpacking to do either side of the trip!
CLOSER NEIGHBOURS
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| Midlife travel - in a Bali villa for our daughter's wedding |
We've been to Bali a couple of times (it's a very cheap overseas holiday destination for Western Australians) and it's where our daughter and son-in-law chose to be married a few years ago. We rented a lovely villa with it's own private pool, took my mum over with us for the wedding and enjoyed a lovely break away from the hustle and bustle of life.
NEXT ON THE LIST
I mentioned in another post a while ago that I went to Singapore for my 50th (a birthday present from my mum - that inheritance comes in very handy!) We enjoyed it hugely and so, in November, my husband and I are heading over there for a week together. We'll do some of the things I enjoyed with mum and several new things that are more adventurous (he leaves me for dead in that area). Zip-lining is on his list and hiking and goodness knows what else I'll end up doing - stay tuned for that post later in the year (if I make it back in one piece!)Having the time and the opportunity to travel is one of the many bonuses of midlife. You don't have to figure out how to have a holiday the whole family will enjoy. You don't have to budget as carefully because there are less of you to transport and accommodate. You only have to keep two people happy with the holiday plans instead of a variety of ages and interests. There is also a LOT less packing and unpacking to do either side of the trip!
THE 'SOME DAY' PLAN
We haven't been anywhere for a while, and I'm really looking forward to seeing Singapore with my husband. There are so many new things there since I went and so many other sights to see that I missed first time around. I'd really love to go back to Europe again, and to the US and to many other far away destinations, but they are going to have to stay on the wish list for a few more years. We don't have my mum's inheritance and we're not independently wealthy, so we will dream and plan and wait until the moment is right - and then we'll be up, up and away without a care in the world.
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Hi Leanne, funny I never think of Australia being so far away from other places that you want to visit. A great perspective and reason to get a airline miles plan :)
ReplyDeleteYes Terri - we are a LOOOONNNG way away from a lot of places - 17 hours of travel is the minimum to get to a lot of overseas destinations (and I hate airports) so it's a big undertaking for me :)
DeleteI have a few friends who are struggling with the empty nest right now. And I know it will be more challenging when it arrives here than I anticipate… But the freedom to travel feels so so alluring.
ReplyDeleteit adds a little bit of icing to the cake - it's all about balance isn't it Carla?
DeleteI love reading posts from a different perspective, yours of course traveling from Australia. Long flights are an ordeal. I am a 5 hour flight to NYC or Boston and 8 hours to London if I can get a flight over the pole. 17 hours, I admire you, that is determination and grit!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who finds long haul flights taxing Haralee. Being tall and flying cattle class is not a great combination - beats me how the 6ft tall guys do it. Or the heavily overweight, or the physically handicapped.
DeleteTaking wonderful trips without the worries of leaving little children behind is def on the mid-life plus side! We had the opportunity to go to Switzerland when our kids were 6 and 8. I would not be that far away from my kids. So we skipped the trip. I think it is so beautiful that you are using your inheritance from your mother for this wonderful trips. That makes the trips even more special. Can't wait to hear about Singapore.
ReplyDeleteI could never have left my children for the weeks a long distance trip would involve Ellen (it's tricky enough leaving our cats!) I'm looking forward to Singapore already and we're busy planning our itinerary which is fun.
DeleteMy quandary is the opposite of yours, in a way - it has been a lifetime dream of mine to visit Australia, but it is expensive to travel to. It's always been on the "one day" list. But, fortunately, my United States is a large enough country to absorb my travel wants - I've been to 46 of the 50 states. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWe are a LOOOONNG way away from everybody Alana - it has some serious benefits to it when you look at the world political situation, but it makes travel very long, very tiring and very expensive. 46 out of 50 States is pretty impressive!
DeleteYou have had some lovely trips Leanne. Mike and I love travelling and I'm getting itchy feet again. So many wonderful places to visit but as you also pointed out we have beautiful Australia!
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing friends in Europe on facebook and getting a little envious. Our time will come but not for a while yet - I can definitely see a bit more Australian travel coming though (maybe Qld??!)
DeleteYes put Qld on your list for sure especially Brisbane :)
DeleteThe river cruise is on my bucket list. I haven't spent that much time in Europe and would love to be able to see it in such a unique way. And Bali! On my list too but a definite hike from the US!
ReplyDeleteThe European river cruises are beyond amazing Rosie - such luxury and so relaxing. I think I could spend months on one just going up and back along the rivers over there! Bali is completely different but beautiful too.
DeleteTravel is the best. I'm a big fan of river cruises. There are some that go through Myanmar and other places nearer to Australia. They sound wonderfully exotic.
ReplyDeleteThey are such a treat Rebecca - you feel so spoiled and I'm hoping to get a few more in before my time on earth is over!
DeleteHi, Jo here from Lifestyle Fifty - nice to eMeet you! I used to love having the chance to travel with Mum, but sadly she's feeling her age these days and 'bides' home which is in England. I remember a camping trip we did from the top of South Africa to the bottom (my husband cycled and we were back up team) and it was the first time sh'ed ever camped. We had so many laughs. Hope you enjoyed Europe with your Mum - special times. (I'm commenting as ZigaZag which is the blog I have set up on Blogger I think - I can't seem to find how to comment as Lifestyle Fifty).
ReplyDeleteTravelling with my mum was so much better than I expected Jo - I thought we'd clash because we're quite different at times, but we got on really well and it was an opportunity I'd have missed if she hadn't taken me with her.
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