Where in the world??? ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Where in the world???

Replies: 22 - Last Post: 04-Nov-2009 07:13 Last Post By: tow

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Posted
31-Aug-2009 20:10
by: winterdune

Posts: 35
Registered: 16/04/09

Where in the world???

Hi all,

Before kids we travelled extensively. As a naturalist one of my favourite places in the world was West Papua (then Irian Jaya). Now we have begun to travel with the kids. We have so far taken them (aged 4 and 8) to Costa Rica and to Thailand. Each was great. Where should we go next? As teachers we have to travel in July/August and we really like seeing birds and animals and mountains and rainforests, being in the tropics and enjoying different cultures, food etc, but we do also have some concerns about health and so on so don't want to go anywhere too far away from decent medical treatment.

There's so much experience of travel with kids on this forum so we'd really welcome some suggestions for destinations for next year: where in all the world have you/your kids enjoyed best?

Thanks,

Sean

Posted
01-Sep-2009 04:47
by: MarkMark

Posts: 786
Registered: 28/05/02

1

"birds and animals and mountains and rainforests"

Sounds like The Olympic Peninsula.

Most of the shadows in this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine.
-RWE
Get over it and do The Forum!
http://www.landmarkeducation.com

Posted
01-Sep-2009 05:00
by: winterdune

Posts: 35
Registered: 16/04/09

2

Thanks for that, MarkMark, but we want the tropics...

Posted
01-Sep-2009 07:28
by: MarkMark

Posts: 786
Registered: 28/05/02

3

OH, my apologies. I have a good friend who LOVED to travel to Panama. She said that in the city, she felt safe and comfortable. Escape was just around the corner though. Once she was in the jungle, she really felt like she was in the jungle. I hope this is more of a contribution.

Most of the shadows in this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine.
-RWE
Get over it and do The Forum!
http://www.landmarkeducation.com

Posted
01-Sep-2009 11:18
by: iolanthe

Posts: 87
Registered: 22/09/04

4

Malaysian Borneo, specifically the state of Sabah. Excellent jungle, highest peak in SE Asia so all the faunal and floral variation that comes with that, good diving, orang utan, rivers and a good range of accommodation including very well priced high end resorts. Not sure where you are based (I'm thinking US but not sure why as there's nothing concrete in your post to say this) but if you can get to KL Air Asia flies to Kota Kinabalu very cheaply.

Posted
01-Sep-2009 16:51
by: winterdune

Posts: 35
Registered: 16/04/09

5

We are in the UK, iolanthe. Good idea! I was actually thinking about Sabah. I have been before and enjoyed it, particularly Mt Kinabalu and Sepilok. We are pretty budget with our accommodation though, so high end resorts will be out...

Posted
01-Sep-2009 17:59
by: nzbananacorp

Posts: 121
Registered: 25/04/09

6

I would second Borneo - possible on a budget rather than resorts. Sarawak is also good (Bako national park etc)

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos all options although HOT in July?August ( she says after just having done July in Vietnam with kids!)

Posted
01-Sep-2009 20:41
by: Api

Posts: 1,448
Registered: 03/10/01

7

I also like Borneo, although only know the Indonesian side. I'd be OK taking my kids there (I almost did this year), but they would have to be on anti-malarials. I think Tanjung Puting is a great semi-adventurous trip for kids.

You should be cautious about visiting forests in Cambodia. I know many people who have worked there and all (even those there briefly) have caught malaria, and very recently, they have found the Cambodia strain to be very resistant to all medication (including combined therapies). The main tourist areas don't seem to be as risky, but I wouldn't take my kids to the forests.

Some other possibilities: India has some great National Parks, although you would probably be there during the monsoon, which isn't the best time. Sri Lanka? South Africa - maybe it is too cold then, but SA has a great range of parks to self-drive, including several along the garden route which have good walks, camping spots. Philippines - although the wildlife is fairly decimated, there are still some good natural areas and the infrastruture is excellent. Then there is the Pacific - not such a wide range of bird species to look at but there are some lovely spots. That time of year is when the whales visit the South Pacific and some places have some interesting sites - like seabird breeding islands (pristine islands teaming with birds).

Posted
04-Sep-2009 03:04
by: nutraxfornerves

Posts: 10,666
Registered: 09/06/01

8

they have found the Cambodia strain to be very resistant to all medication (including combined therapies).

This is not quite correct. Malaria i the Thai/Cambodia/Lao/Myanmar border areas is resistant to mefloquine (Lariam) as well as the older drugs chloroquine and Fansidar. There have been recent reports that malaria in SEA (not just Cambodia) is beginning to develop resistance to artemisinin drugs. Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) is still effective, but it some cases is taking longer to get rid of the parasites than it used to.

Malarone is still effective, but there are cost & availability issues that make it a problem for general use for treating malaria.

Nutrax
The plural of anecdote is not data

Posted
04-Sep-2009 18:15
by: Api

Posts: 1,448
Registered: 03/10/01

9

This is part of the recent report in Nature. It is within the last few weeks and specifically says the problem has recently been identified in Cambodia (although other resistant strains are more widespread). I understood that it does take longer to get rid of the parasites but there is a very real concern that they could fail completely?

Malaria becoming more drug resistant
Artemisinin-based medicines fail a growing number of patients in Cambodia.

The malaria parasite, carried by mosquitoes, is growing resistant to artemisinin-based drugs. Malaria parasites in Cambodia are becoming increasingly resistant to the drug hailed as the world's best chance to eradicate the disease.

Artemisinin-based drugs are currently the best weapon against malaria, a disease which kills around a million people every year and is spread by mosquitoes carrying malaria parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum. These parasites have already developed resistance to drugs such as chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, once the front line against the disease, so hopes have been pinned on artemisinin-combination therapies (ACTs).

The parasites have become far less easy to treat with ACTs, however, in the Cambodian city of Pailin, close to the country's western border with Thailand. The finding was made by researchers from the Wellcome Trust–Mahidol University Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Programme, based in Bangkok, Thailand.

In particular, the parasites are becoming more resistant to a combined therapy of artesunate, derived from artemisinin, and mefloquine, a quinine analogue. This combination is used to treat malaria worldwide.

Posted
05-Sep-2009 11:51
by: genuschelonia

Posts: 151
Registered: 07/08/07

10

I know you said budget but I have just spent a magical 2 weeks in the Galapagos with my 8 yr old. I'm a wannabe marine biologist (amongst other things) and I was in heaven, the kids will absolutely love the closeness of the animals. My son wants to go back already he had an amazing time.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/message.jspa?messageID=15989678

This thread is inspiring and we got a fantastic last minute cruise through Moonrise travel in Puerta Ayora

A truly magical experience, as a naturalist, wow! you could get some time out there for science purposes... I'm jealous!

pm me if you want any specifics

Lucy

while absentmindedly strolling through my psyche, I stepped in something disgusting....then got tangled in a ridiculously long answer to a simple question while trying to scrape it off.....

Posted
06-Sep-2009 20:00
by: Fleurger

Posts: 62
Registered: 09/09/01

11

i also think that Galapogos is the most amazing place especially with kids. no malaria either. we just got back with a 3 year old and 6 year old. we did a land based only which suited us better and we stayed only on isabella island. its walking distance to everything (seals, penguins, iguanas, snorkeling, flamingos, giant tortoises). we work in conservation and it was dream come true visiting there. you could get good fares from the US too. there is also good playgrounds and lots of local kids to play with.

Posted
06-Sep-2009 20:15
by: anotherlostsoul

Posts: 357
Registered: 21/10/04

12

Costa Rica and Thailand are both excellent family destinations; i'm not surprised you enjoyed yourselves. The weather at this time of year is best in the Med, Indonesia and East Africa. As you don't want Europe i'd suggest Kenya (find a family-friendly tour operator), Borneo (as above) or use Bali as a jumping-off point for other parts of Indonesia.

Posted
07-Sep-2009 13:04
by: 5Waldos

Posts: 5,295
Registered: 06/05/03

13

My kids adored Rome. Not birds and animals I know but after playing Age of Empires- it was a wonderful city with so much to see. They learned a bit of Italian (May I have another gelatto please) and just loved the entire experience.

Posted
20-Sep-2009 03:33
by: johannemorel

Posts: 103
Registered: 22/06/07

14

We have just returned from South Africa(left right after school ended, June 24 until early August) and we have rated it one of our best ever trips. It is one of the best for children as there is so much to do and see without driving long distances. You can easily rent a self catering apartment for a very reasonable cost. We visited Western Cape with the Garden Route. It is not tropical, no, but even though it was winter, the weather was lovely (better than it was here in Québec during the same period while here it was supposed to be summer). In that province, there is no malaria.
I have never been to Borneo and it is on my short list for the next few years although my gang is thinking of Seychelles, Réunion and Mauritius for next year. Let us know what you decide. And enjoy!!

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