Mr Wang - What a top bloke!

PompeyPete

Anyone who hasn't had a look at Mr Wang's travel blog really ought to. It's an absolute inspiration...

http://www.thesummerholidayofalifetime.com/

...and this bit had a grown man in tears...

http://www.thesummerholidayofalifetime.com/2011/07/bekkie.html

Thanks for sharing it.:T:T

PS. What do call a fish with no eyes?;)

Mr_Wang

Wow!

Thank you so much

I started the blog in 2009 and never knew it would grow into what it has become today. I have had so many offers to monetise (just last week I was offered $4 per day to host a link to a tourist company in Thailand) But I always turn such offers down. It is important to me that the blog remains completely impartial and honest.

Behind the scenes I am currently working on a project that will go live in 5 weeks, and then days later we head off again until September and so the blog will be back to it's usual updates.

But cut through the blog, all the memories, the hassles and details and get right to the crux of travelling with kids, what is the single most difficult issue most (probably all) families who travel have overcome? And you will find that it is belief. The confidence to do it.

And anyone struggling to bridge the gap between dreaming and doing can hopefully see in our blog (any many others) that travelling with kids is amazing, fulfilling, exciting and infinitely rewarding.

Thanks again - Your comments really mean a lot to me

Misty_Blue

I've never seen this before but I just looked at the link and it seems like it could give me many hours of happy reading. What a great blog!

zagfles

Absolutely fascinating - not read it all yet but it's such a refreshing change from the "kids must be wrapped in cotton wool" attitude from some and the "how dare you take your kids on holiday with you" attitude from others.

I was lucky enough as a child to do a vast amount of travelling, partly due to having relatives all over the place, and they are the happiest memories of my childhood. Not only with my parents, but also school trips where you weren't herded around in vast groups like these days. I went on a school cruise age 10, at port they'd basically allow us to go exploring whereever we wanted as long as we were in a group of at least 2 - can you imagine that these days? Two unaccompanied 10 year old British kids haggling in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul?

We've not been nearly as far afield as you with the kids, but even on our travels, mainly in Europe, it's been fascinating seeing what grabs their attention and excites them, and what doesn't, and how they relish new experiences, and get excited about the same sort of things which got me excited at their age, and lots of different ones. It's like reliving the happiest bits of my childhood.

From "accrobranches" in France, which are a real test of a parents' faith in their child "get your clips wrong and you'll die" didn't worry my 8 year old daughter, to their completely unexpected fascination with a grumpy, miserable German TV puppet (yes - my avatar) even though they didn't understand a word of German. My son even made an attempt to record and translate it just using a dictionary! Came unstuck with the word "gnampf", which cased massive amusement to a German couple sat next to us at dinner while we were discussing it!

Also the attitude of people abroad when you have kids with you - particularly southern Europe, they are so much more friendly than if you're on your own or travelling as a couple. It's almost the opposite in the UK, go to a restaurant in the UK and they'll almost blank the kids, no direct contact at all, often no highchairs, maybe some rubbish boring kids menu. Abroad they'll make a fuss of them, be willing to do smaller portions of any meal as half prices etc. ruffle their hair, talk to them directly so they tell the waiter(ess) directly what they want, it gives them so much more confidence with adults. If looking lost people help, old ladies offering the kids biscuits etc. Not been offered free accomodation yet though!

Could go on...but thanks for the blog and keep it up! :beer:

Mr_Wang

Did a little promo for family:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6T2N3VAAO8

aileth

I've just started reading this - I'm absolutely hooked. Loving it! Also massive props for your kids, I can't think of any kids who would actually enjoy trekking around India fighting scammers and hasslers! Brilliant

Bob_the_Saver

Looking forward to the film.

Murphy_The_Cat

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Looking forward to the film.

Who'll play Mr Wang ?

Bob_the_Saver

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Who'll play Mr Wang ?

I'd be very happy to play the part of the devoted father in the film
as long as the kids didn't travel out on the same plane.
Perhaps I'd better leave it to Mr Wang to play himself.

melb

I was thinking more keith lemon

aileth

It'd be a good action movie. Starring Mr Wang as Mr Wang, Orlando Bloom as Haggler #1, Keith David as Haggler #2. Will Mr Wang manage to obliterate worldwide corruption one "get lost" at a time?