Carnival Cruise Lines

My brother works for Carnival as an IS Manager and has been with them for I think five years now. One of the perks is that his family get two weeks on the ship for free on every 6 month contract. He was on the Carnival Dream so that was the main reason behind the trip to the States. We visited him on the Carnival Liberty for a week a few years back and loved it. This whole experience was very different with Ewan and Philip along for the ride.

The Dream is huge and its really more a floating hotel then a ship. Its a great way to relax om holiday as your biggest problem in the day is should I have the buffett or Mexican for lunch. Everything(besides booze and gambling) is included so money is no longer an issue. We spent most days on the loungers tanning on the deck. I tried to read but watching the ocean go by is like meditating as your mind just drifts. Peaceful and heavenly.

The first week we went to Cozumel, Honduras, Costa Maya and Belieze. I fell head over heels for Mexico and I can't wait to get back there for a longer trip. Cozumel was heaven on earth. Ewan thought the bar we found(and spent most of the day in) was heavenly.It had a crocodile, a chameleon and a number of parrots. Dogs everywhere. Really relaxed and the food was great and the beer as it should be with lime in it. It really was perfection in Mexico.

The view from the bar.

In Costa Maya I got to fufill a long held ambition of going to see Mayan Ruins. It was a million times more spectacular then anything I could have imagined. Of course Ewan decided to be a complete handful and nothing but climbing the steps on the ruins would make him happy. Luckily the Mayans were very keen on steps so once we got to the section you can walk on he was a happy little boy again.In the morning I will post a few more pics of Mexico and then a couple pics and stories of the second week. Also up tomorrow my mushroom risotto recipe and a Reef update.

Reef Update

I am really amazed by the number of people who have decided to swim to raise funds for Reef. We only started yesterday and I already have 22 members in our group. I was hoping for a hundred now I think it might be more. Thank you so much if you are one of those 22. I will do a weekly update on our progress on this site.

Save Baby Reef

I have started a Group on Facebook called Swim for Baby Reef. Here is the link http://www.facebook.com/groups/128107737296394/ We are trying to get a hundred people to swim the Midmar Mile next year to raise money for Reef Carneson. Its me driving the project so if you want anymore info you can contact me on this site in the comments section or email me at katinafrica@gmail.com. If you want more info about Reef you can read his website at http://www.savebabyreef.com/.

He really needs our help to have a chance at life and so do others like him. We are doing the swim for Reef but other events may be added to help other children in need. I know we can't help everyone but lets try make a difference one at a time.

Go Team Reef

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Celeste from one of my favourite blogs http://reluctantmom.wordpress.com posted yesterday about October being Breast Cancer awareness month. Her point was that its all very well being aware and putting a show of support on your Facebook page but does that really do anything. If you are over 40 stop putting it off and go have a mammogram. If you have a family history go at 35. If you have a family history and you are worried that you carry the gene there is now a blood test that shows the gene. Yes its scary to know but if you know its coming you can have more regular checks or have pre-emtive surgery. Yes it is an option and its a lot better then Chemo and Radiation.

This story is a bit personal as my Mom had Breast Cancer. She survived but now everything that hurts she worries the cancer is back. Its not an easy thing to live with that fear and most surviviours I know have that fear. The early you find out about the Cancer the easier it is to cure, your survival rate is higher and its far less likely to come back.

So please have a mammogram and if you are under 40 check yourself once a month and have your gynae check you once a year. You can get Breast Cancer at any age.

Awareness is not ENOUGH.

 

Orlando Part Deux

Ok I made Orlando into two parts because I had other things to do. Promise only two maybe three more posts about the trip then normality will resume.

Day four

Today was spent at Epcot which is just plain awesome. I love the rides at Epcot my favourite is Soarin and it really is fairly kid friendly now thanks to a few ideas such as the Kidcot stops. Ewan loved the Innovation areas and the Seas with Nemo and Friends. We stayed until the heat got too much and our feet were tired. After a lovely swim and a nap we headed back at about 5. The idea was to take photos of Ewan with the characters and then eat around the world at World Showcase. I highly recommend that. The food was great and we got try a little something from a few places. The Egg Roll from China and the Platter from Morocco where really good. All helped along by a couple of beers. Andrew had a few sips but Philip and I where swaying merrily along. The fireworks where spectacular. Ewan kept leaning down from his perch on Andrews shoulders to inform us that a big bang was coming. He loved every minute of it. Day Five

Today we went to Blizzard Beach. It was crowded and hot. I liked the kiddie pool area but to be honest Ewan would have had more fun in the one at Summer Bay. I went on the Lazy River and then the guys went to go on one ride. They came back two hours later. I wasn't impressed but apparently the lines where very long. Ewan went on a baby slide but didn't really enjoy it. We left at about 1 as the heat was incredible and the crowds getting worse. Strangely at MK and Epcot we had very little in the way of crowds but the waterpark was nuts. Now I know I prefer Typhoon Lagoon so thats where we are going when we go back. We where supposed to go to both this holiday but thanks Irene that didn't happen.

In the afternoon we went back to the Outlet Malls and did even more shopping this time with Andrew and Ewan in tow. In the evening we went to Benihana at the Hilton Hotel. Ewan adored it. The idea of a show and food really appeals to toddlers. I am used to Japanese food involving small portions so lets just say I was stuffed. The portions are huge and include salad, soup, main of your choice and dessert. Day Six

Our last day in Orlando. We decided to go back to the Magic Kingdom and repeat a few rides as well go on those we missed. It was actually really relaxing having two days there. We had to go on Buzz Lightyears Ranger spin twice as Ewan had loved it so much. We took him to the Haunted Mansion. Some people gave us strange looks but I had a feeling Ewan would enjoy it and he did. He found the ghost hystericaly funny. All through the ride I could hear him laughing and pointing out things to Andrew.

In the afternoon we went to the hotel pool for a swim. We had intended to go back to MK for dinner and fireworks but the pool was so nice and we all felt so lazy. So in the end we stayed in the pool till after 6 then went to Passage to India for dinner. They will do chicken nuggets for kids so we all had a nice time with the adults digging into fiery curries.

So that was the end of Orlando. The next day we started our two week cruise.

Steve Jobs

Ok lets just start by saying I a huge fan of Apple. I adore my iPod and I can't wait for my iPhone but I saw these the other day and well they are pretty funny. Dont forget on Sunday night on Discovery channel 121 is iGenius How Steve Jobs changed the World. Its hosted by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman from Mythbusters and has recieved great reviews.

And one more..

Even if you hate Apple you have to admit the guy changed how we see the world.

Orlando part une

So I am a bad little blogger. Def not up for any blog awards:-)

Anyway on with the show.

We arrived in Orlando to searing heat. Really after winter here it was just incredible. You can actually feel your skin burning.

Day One

Well this day was pretty boring. After the nightmare road trip we weren't really up to much. The afternoon consisted of shopping for food for the week but US style. A gallon or two of milk anyone. I have never left a store with so many giant things. Partly amusing but mostly scary. I once saw a comedian who said that he spent hours washing out yoghurt pots to recycle and generally being good to the environmental cause until he went to the States on holiday and realised that he was doing was equivalent to showing up to an earthquake disaster with a brush and pan and volunteering to help. The US is a throwaway society on a scary scale.  Enough doom and gloom:0 We ordered Chinese takeaway for dinner. Great dinner as when we got home none of what we had ordered was in the packet. The place was a fair drive away so we had suprise I have no idea what I am eating for dinner. Could be dog? I got a fortune cookie and lets just say I wasn't impressed.

Not sure how that is my fortune!

Day Two

We hit the Magic Kingdom at 9am opening time. We went on all the little kid rides such as Its a small world(the worlds most irritating song), Peter Pan, Speedway and lots of other make Ewan happy rides. The kidlet and adults had a blast. Great to have some fun time after the awful weekend. For lunch I had booked a table at the Crystal Palace. Its a character buffet with Winnie the Pooh and friends. The food was really good and Ewan was so exicited that it was worth every cent. He also decided to eat most of his meal and drink through a straw for the first time so that was a bonus. The characters all vist each table and each time Ewan saw one coming he would start bouncing in his chair with excitement.  They all gave him a hug and he gave Piglet a kiss. All very sweet:) Next time I will book a couple of the character meals as the excitement and joy from the kidlet made me wish I had booked more.  He passed out on the way back to the car big day for little ones. Going home each day for a couple of hours was a great idea. We headed back to the park in the evening to hit a couple more rides and we where all fresh and happy to be back. Takeaway pizza and a few beers rounded off a great day.

Day three

Today we hit the Kennedy Space Center. I really loved it last time but dragging a bored toddler along wasn't so great. He wanted to see the mouse not this. He was still impressed by Saturn 5 and the rocket garden but mostly he was bored. KSC has a lot to see and as an adult or a family with older kids its great. After a few tantrums the adults gave up at 12 and we headed home for takeaway burgers and a nap for Ewan and Andrew. Philip and I decided to hit the outlet malls. Oh boy did we hit the shops. A world where you can buy Levi jeans for $40 deserves to be worshipped. Three hours and many bags later we returned home happy and shopped out.

Next Orlando part Deux

Hurricane Irene

Hi Yes I know this blog is a long time coming and I am a bad blogger. I have been working on my book and coughing my lungs out thanks to a cough that just wont go away. So yeah thats my pathetic little excuse. Ewan is finally better so at least if I am not coughing I get some sleep.

So onto that Hurricane. Well Irene really screwed up our plans. Still at least we were able to get out of NYC. We were picked up in front of our hotel at 7:45 and the driver was actually early. The trip out to JFK was quick about 35min as the city was really already shutting down. It was eerie to see a city like that so empty. The city that never sleeps and there wasn't a soul in midtown. Strange. We picked up our car a Ford Flex that we nicknamed the Fridge. It was hideous and huge. A 4.7l monster. The perfect car for an 18 hour road trip through a Hurricane. We eventually left the airport at 9:30 once all the paperwork was done and I had cancelled the first night of our accomodation in Florida. We decided to see how far we could get on the first day. About an hour into the trip the rain started and continued for the rest of the day either in a downpour so you could hardly see the road or a light drizzle but it never stopped. The I-95 is an awesome road. Its well signposted and maintained. After five hours we stopped for a Wendy's burger and to refuel the fridge. Ewan was so good. He played quietly and ate a huge bag of chips so he only started moaning for food about 4 hours into the trip. After lunch we headed out into the rain again.  At about 4pm and in the south of the State of Virgina we found Irene. The wind was incredible and the rain like having a bucket tipped constantly on your head. We then found ourselves at a complete stop because of fallen trees. The state troopers would come tearing past everybody then stop and cut the tree into pieces before moving it off the road. In that weather. Anybody from SA reading this post will know why we found that so amazing. In SA the tree would probably still be there months later. We continued on for the next 4 hours stopping every few miles for another tree. It was crazy and we made very little progress. Ewan luckily had some of his burger left as Andrew didn't want to stop for supper. Just after 8 he was convinced to pull off and find somewhere to stay for the night. The town we stopped in had no power and the two hotels we stopped at didn't even bother being friendly. The manager just shooed us out and seemed to not care less about trying to find a room. So much for Southern hospitality. We continued driving and at ten had an argument in the car which left a bit of a bad note over the whole rest of our holiday. The guys wanted to drive through the night in that storm. We were moving about twenty miles in an hour but they wanted to keep going. I called them both selfish bastards and told Andrew that he obviously cared nothing about us as the weather reports where asking everybody to get off the roads as the weather got worse. But no they are so f&*&ing right. I ended up sitting in the back seat just staring out the window. Luckily Ewan was asleep by this point. I don't what changed in their minds but we did eventually stop at a small town called Rocky Mountain. The Quality Inn had power and a helpful manager. He had one room left but it was a smoking room. So at 11:30 at night with a beer from a small garage and a packet of crisps each for dinner we settled down to sleep in the stinky room.

We got up again at 4am and were on the road by 4:15am. We didn't even shower we just wanted to get going. There was already a small glimmer of light and the storm had passed. Ewan and Philip continued their sleep in the backseat. That day was a perfect drive. There wasn't even a leaf on the road and perfect sunshine. We stopped in South Carolina for breakfast at a Dennys. Great breakfast and Ewan had a blast climbing all over the booths and eating chocolate chip pancakes. At just after 2pm we finally pulled into Orlando airport to pick up our new car which was a lot smaller then the Fridge.

All in all the drive was a real test and I don't think we completely passed. The fun of travel:)

Next will be Orlando part une.The Fridge