Christchurch Gondula, Christchurch, New Zealand

Cadbury Chocolate Factory, Claremont, Tasmania, Australia

Launceston, Tasmania

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Devine Mercy Shrine, Cagayan De Oro, The Philippines

The Pacific Pearl

Our home away from home for our last family holiday December 2012. The ship comprised of 14 passenger decks, we were in outside cabins on deck 11. We chose this deck as it was on the same deck as the children's centre and children's pool. Cabins were not huge, but big enough to sleep, washing and store all our belongs needed for our 10 day trip. On deck 12 we made use of the 2 large pools and often sat out on deck to watch movies on the big screen. The buffet could also be found on this deck. Deck 14 had a running / walking track which of cause was made use of by Dad and the Dwarfs being the sports minded people they are. The library and theatre on deck 8 as well as the shops and café on deck 5 were also visited frequently. We look forward to traveling on the Pearl again soon.
 

The Big Pineapple, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

In 2008 we took 5 of the 7 little Aussies (2 were not yet born in 2008) to the Gold Coast, pretty much because they were rather young still, loved the Wiggles and had learned thanks to an ad on TV there was a Wiggles World in Queensland. We were lucky enough to score some very cheap airfares and so though why not? Might as well keep the youngsters happy and it had been a very long time since I had visited Queensland myself, I think I was 8.

I had remembered going to the Big Pineapple as a child on the only ever 'proper' holiday I went on with my parents, so was some what keen to go back. By 'proper' holiday, I mean the only holiday I ever went on as a child that didn't involve tents or a relatives house. We also had family staying up on the Sunshine Coast so we were able to catch up with them also. They found a lot to entertain them, were completely fascinated with the big, oversized pineapple, which had things to look at and read on the inside of it. We then took a train ride around the plantation, in which it was explained to us how they grew the pineapples and macadamias. We finished off with a tour around the animal farm, which is always a huge hit with little kids and a meal in the food court.