PLANNING that BIG round the world trip

So, I am jotting down the cities that I want to visit, as well as the number of nights we may possibly stay. Some places to visit.. Nothing set in stone, just rough ideas at this stage. So here it goes....

Hong Kong - 3 nights
Tokyo - 4 nights
Osaka - 2 nights
*Seoul - 3 nights
London / UK - 7 nights
Paris - 5 nights
Madrid - 3 nights
Barcelona - 3 nights
*Monaco / Nice - 1 night
Rome / Vatican - 3 nights
*Sicily - 4 nights
Tuscany - 7 nights (car hire)
Venice - 2 nights
*Florence - 2 nights
Cinque Terre - 3 nights
Mykonos - 2 nights
Santorini - 3 nights
*Valetta - 3 nights
Zurich - 3 nights
*Dublin - 2 nights
St Petersburg - 4 or 5 nights
Frankfurt - 4 nights
*Brussels - 2 nights
Amsterdam - 4 nights
Copenhagen - 4 nights
Stockholm - 4 nights
Oslo - 3 nights
Helsinki - 3 nights
New York - 7 nights
Los Angeles / Santa Monica - 7 nights
San Francisco - 7 nights
Lake Louise / Jasper - 3 nights
Honolulu - 6 nights
Maui - 4 nights
Boracay - 6 nights
Cebu - 4 nights
Manila - 7 nights

*Budapest River cruise
*Caribbean cruise

*Optional city visit for now

I've just computed the number of nights above - and it is already looking like a 4 month vacation! Eventually I will need to cut some nights. For now, this is just a rough guide anyway!!! (I got too excited!)

When the kids are older

Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about getting my life back - when the kids are older. Although part of me, of course, wants time to stop them from growing up too fast. However, part of me also wants to enjoy them already (and get a bit of me time, too!). At the moment, my time management skills are super messed up, my organising skills are nearly non-existent. The house is usually a mess, my under eyes are the darkest shade ever, hubby sleeps in a different room - while myself and the kids in ours, we can't travel long drives as the little one hates car rides... the list goes on about what a having a young family entails. But I love it in a lot of ways than one. But for now, I am indulging in my daydream. Fast forward to 4 years from now. The little ones in school, and I am back to earning some moolah - contributing to our family funds (oooh and that BIG Trip in 4 years!).

Sometimes I daydream about:

- Having the Christmas tree decors properly put - and stay put for the duration of the holiday period! (at the moment, for the past 6 years - our eldest puts up the decors first - then I put them back up tidy-er).

- Sleeping in!!!! Weekends are a must, and maybe one or two mornings during the week too!
Ok, even just a proper full sleep. My last proper sleep was in 2008!!!!!

- Do my own thing in the toilet and shower - alone - without it being a whole family affair!

- Cooking because I want to, and because I enjoy it - rather than rushing to cook and feed the brood.
Oh, and cooking with both my arms/hands free. (Nowadays, I have a permanent back and side pain coz I carry little L while I cook - while I clean, while I do a LOT of things) (With one hand).

- Just do nothing. And have time to be bored. (Nowadays, I rarely have that quiet 'me' time where I don't have to think of too many things all at once). (I usually rush things because I sneak 'me' time in between the little one's naps)

- Do something uninterrupted.

- Have 'me' time during the day!!! (Nowadays 'me' time happens late at night when the kids are asleep) (I end up falling asleep too on some nights!)

- I want to travel more. With the family. But also, sneak in a getaway with my girlfriends who I haven't seen in ages!

- Make a weekly menu - and stick to it! (Not be too tired midweek to follow through what my menu says)

- Go on a date with hubby. (I am not comfortable leaving our little one with my sister to babysit - until maybe she's about 4 years old).

- Have time to properly groom myself (have time to be meticulous about my face, hair, clothes, etc). Nowadays, this is always rushed - so I only get to do the basics (if I am lucky!).

I am sure I can think of a lot more. For now, these are what comes to mind. One day!

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