Holidays – Trying to be an eco-mum on a budget

How to survive a museum trip with kids!

October 23, 2016October 23, 2016PowerfulOwl2 Comments

Earlier this year, I went to Italy. Yep – a big overseas trip with three children! Not sure what I was thinking, but I really wanted to go and I try to be one of those ‘My kids are going to stop me’ kind of mums. So we saved and saved, got the time off work and booked the trip. Everyone was excited. It was our first big trip after the birth of my third child.

Everything started well. We had a stop in Abu Dhabi which still feels like home to me. We caught up with friends and enjoyed going to some of our old haunts and checking out some new ones. Abu Dhabi really is so easy and fun for kids. Parks and beaches galore!

img-20160326-wa0003 — Saadiyat Beach with the Lourve Abu Dhabi under construction in the background

We first flew to Venice. Beautiful yes, but we were a little bit of a walk from the main sights, so lots of walking and not so much fun with a pram. Up and down bridges and steps! The kids had fun though, but after about 5 days of not being able to really let them get loose in a park (a crowded plaza really is not the same), we moved on. We were even brave enough to hire a car and so our Italian road trip began.

We travelled to:

Bellagio via Verona;
La Spezia (for Cinque Terre) via Genoa;
Florence via Pisa;
Orvieto via Siena; and
Rome

img-20160417-wa0003

How was travelling with three kids in Italy? A LOT of work. We managed to remain sane for most of the stops. We stayed in apartments and tried to incorporate children friendly activities and days throughout, but by the time we arrived in Rome everyone was tired. We could only get them so excited about museums and after many tense experiences (the Vatican was the most intense and stressful experiences of the whole trip – so so many people) at various sites, we decided in Rome to try our hands at making the experience of going to museums more fun for them.

One of our tricks was a treasure hunt. Through this we hoped that the older two would actually even look at some of the art works. It worked a treat – but my kids take treasure hunts VERY seriously, so we really had to research to make sure that the things we put on their list, they were able to be find.

While they enjoyed the trip and the copious amounts of gelato and pizza they got to eat, the whole trip was so draining that I swore to never do a big trip with them again. Yes we’ll see how long that lasts.

Once we got back to Sydney life continued at a breakneck speed. But in all the insanity we did manage a trip to the Art Gallery of NSW to see the Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibition. I had been meaning to go for a long time and finally got the time to do it. But with some of the pain of our Italy museum experiences fresh in my mind, I decided to re-visit my survival toolbox and out came the Frida Kahlo activity sheet!

No, the art gallery did not in fact have anything for kids, so I did some research the night before and put together an activity sheet. Did it work? Yes – for the older two it did. While they were busy with their activity pack, I did get to wonder through the exhibition and I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. The art works were great, but there really wasn’t too many of them. Much of the exhibition was a celebration of the artists, rather than the art. We photos and video footage being the centre of attention. So from that regard, I was a little disappointed. Also the exhibition was VERY crowded. The way we experienced it was to be in a big conga line and just walk single file past the art works. There was no place to sit and linger, which made doing one of the activities I had (to sit in a quiet area and draw one of their favourite paintings) nearly impossible.

In the end I was glad to go because if I hadn’t I would have wondered about what could have been, but the most fun we had was going to the Sydney Botanical Gardens. My daughter had just attended a school excursion there so was full of excitement to show me her favourite parts. The whole day was helped by the glorious show of weather Sydney had for us and with the promise of a gelato at the end of the day, the kids enjoyed the rest of the day. So my tips for a cultural day out – bribery with gelato and an activity pack that includes a treasure hunt! I’ve included my Frida Kahlo one. I hope you find it useful.

Take three!

January 4, 2015January 4, 2015PowerfulOwl2 Comments

A drawing my son did at home of what he'd learnt at school. — A drawing my son did at home of what he’d learnt at school.

This year my son started ‘big school’ (he’s in year 1). He had a lot to adjust to after two years at a Montessori Pre-school, but we’re told by his teacher that he did excellently. Throughout the year we’ve had homework to do and much of it interesting. I myself was particularly excited about the focus of the last term being on sustainability. As well as working with my son on poster presentations and the creation of art works using recycled cans, cartons and other household waste, I learnt something from him: ‘Take three for the sea’. This is an initiative that tries to get everyone to do their bit to reduce pollution, particularly plastics entering the sea and suffocating and killing aquatic wildlife. The great things about this initiative is its simplicity: take three pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach or waterway or park. Anyone can do that!

To make sure kids fully understand that concept, they are encouraged to ‘take 3’ during lunch hours and are taught the anti-littering message. This must have stuck because on a recent trip to the beach my son took 3 for the sea and has taught his younger sister the message as well.
So next time you’re out enjoying the outdoors – take three!

If you’ like to know more about the ‘Take three’ initiative – check out the following websites:
http://www.take3.org.au/main/page_home.html
https://www.facebook.com/take3.a.clean.beach.initiative

How to entertain during the school holidays on a budget

October 2, 2013October 2, 2013PowerfulOwlLeave a comment

As I sit here resting after another school holiday day, I wanted to share some of the things that I’ve been doing with my children during these holidays. Usually school holiday time seems to be the perfect opportunity for prices to go up – double or triple. So holidays away always seem to be quite pricey, as do most activities.

But one thing that I have done for the last two holidays has been cheap and fun. Essentially I take my kids on what I call a ‘treasure hunt’ through the City. I work in the CBD of Sydney, so before the ‘treasure hunt’ I usually scout for some ‘clues’ to help us on the way to funding our treasure.

The day starts with a bus ride, which for my children is the ‘most fun ever’! We get to sit on the bus as it goes across the Harbour Bridge and see the Opera House.

Once in the City, the treasure hunt begins. I print them off a table with various landmarks and points of interest which I hope to see. Usually I have a route or destination in mind and along the way as we see our ‘clues’ they get a stamp once they’ve spotted the clue.

This time around ‘Art n About’ was on in Sydney, so there were a few more fun things to see like giant snails. My route usually takes me from the bus stop in Wynyard, to Hyde Park where we eat a home packed lunch. then on the way back to the bus stop we stop at David Jones’ where we go and get chocolate dipped fruit. This is about the only thing I spend on the day and after a few hours of walking, the kids are more than happy to get the bus back home.

This is an idea which I think can work on so many levels. Already I’m thinking of doing this at an art gallery, bushwalk or overseas ‘cultural’ holiday.

I hope you enjoy your treasure hunt with your children as you point out things that they would have otherwise missed.

Building a sustainable future

August 10, 2013PowerfulOwl1 Comment

Earlier this year, I felt that I wanted to ‘do something’. I felt that something was missing, that I needed to connect with my core values. A rejection or two also brought this home. I felt that rather than dwell in negativity, that I wanted to do something inspiring and something that was ‘about people’ and helping those in need in a tangible way.
Last year, I had bought a copy of the ‘The Big Issue’ which is a magazine sold by the homeless or long term unemployed. I had seen an ad for a volunteer program that went for one week. I felt that one week was something that I could do, so I went and found the magazine and found the ad. It was for ‘Habitat for Humanity’. Habitat for Humanity is an organization that supports those in need by helping them build houses.
I was immediately attracted. I thought ‘how wonderful to work with a community and help them build a house’! I looked through their catalogue of international projects and came upon the ‘Cambodia – Mekong Big Build’ later this year. After some discussion with my husband, I decided to put my name down.
So what is this build about? Here is some information:
‘After the closure of the Stueng Meanchey dumpsite in 2009, scavenger landless families dispersed in rental shacks all over the Phnom Penh. The Mekong Big Build in Cambodia is establishing a ‘new city’ within bicycling distance from the Stueng Meanchey dump site. The project is aiming to construct 50 affordable, rent-to-own housing for families who used to live in the dumpsite area. The location will allow them to find work in the city as well as develop new skills like gardening and sewing.’ (http://www.habitat.org.au/globalvillage/cambodiamekongbigbuild)

A young boy peeks out of his small shack at Stung Meanchey Garbage Dump on Thursday, February 9, 2006 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Matthew Williams/ZUMA Press)

I think it sounds like a wonderful project and I am thrilled to go and do something positive for those in need.
Now this is where I get my donations hat out ….as part of participating in the build, I am supposed to raise $2,000! Thanks to some kind donations, I have a start, but I have a long way to go. Here is where I hope the kindness and goodwill of friends, family and strangers will help me in reaching my target.
So how can you help? Please donate what you can towards my trip by going to the following link:
http://www.habitat.org.au/page.aspx?pid=1267&tab=0&frsid=1480
I would like to recognise those that support me and I will do that in the following ways:
• If you donate at least $AUD50 I will send you a ‘Thank you Card’ with a photo of me during the build.I will publish this on my blog http://www.ecomummy.com and will promote through my networks. You will also receive a copy of this photo which you can keep or use to promote your contribution towards this great project.
• If you donate at least $AUD200 I will print a photo of you or your company logo on a T-shirt and wear this during my build with a message of thanks. I will take a photo and publish this on my blog and promote through my networks. In recognition of your wonderful contribution, you will also receive a copy of this photo for your own use or for further marketing.
• If you or your company donate at least $AUD400 I will not only wear a T-shirt with your picture or company logo, but I will also record a video message of thanks and upload this to my blog and publicise through my networks. You will also receive this clip which you can use on your or your company’s website to highlight your contribution towards helping families in Cambodia.

Thank you so much!

Costa Rica doin’ it in style!

May 26, 2013PowerfulOwl5 Comments

I was amazed by all the weird and wonderful teeny tiny frogs I saw.

I visited this beautiful country in 2003 on a backpacking trip with my then fiance (now husband). We spent three weeks in this small but impressive country. Costa Rica is blessed in many ways. It has beautiful forests, both cloud forests and tropical rain forests. It has geothermal activity as we discovered in Rincon de la Vieja national park with bubbling mud pools and geysers. It has Caribbean beaches and it has more wildlife than you can poke a stick at. We saw Toucans, sloths, monkeys galore, weird and wonderful frogs, coral snakes, turtles laying eggs, crocodiles and the list goes on. It has volcanoes too. I recall a very wonderful night watching lava bursting out of and streaming down Volcan Arenal. We sat in a thermal bath James Bond style drinking cocktails with the fireworks display in front of us.

Some facts about Costa Rica:
– It abolished the military on 1 December 1948! that’s 65 years ago!
– Costa Rica is home to about 12,119 species of plants, of which 950 are endemic.
one fourth of Costa Rica is under some form of national park protection and 9.3% is protected under the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
– AND it has the most chilled out children I EVER came across in my 1 year backpacking trip. Like seriously laid back, relaxed chilled out ‘Pura Vida’ Style (Pure Life, the national catch phrase, just like G’Day is to Australia). Nothing phased them and I wonder ‘what was it? how do these parents do it?’ I have no answers for that.

Now why am I here gushing about Costa Rica. Well because they want to add another feather to their cap. They have the audacity to want to be the first country in the world to be Carbon Neutral and do you know what, they may very well do it! http://news.nationalgeographic.com.au/news/2008/03/080307-costa-rica.html

Here is a short report about how wind is helping on them on this journey. Now how can a small coutnry like Costa Rica just decide – hell let’s stop talking and start doing? whereas most of the rest of the world is still talking and arguing.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/05/201352685625545920.html

I say ‘Salut’ to Costa Rica. You have shown us again how it should be done!

Bush Kids

April 29, 2013April 29, 2013PowerfulOwl2 Comments

I have been enjoying a glorious autumn in Sydney. The weather has been beautiful and I have taken this opportunity before winter to get out into the bush.

I have been trying to encourage my children to enjoy nature. A few weeks ago, we decided to go on a bushwalk in a local national park: Lane Cove National Park. My son who is now nearly 5 was super excited. He donned his hat, backpack filled with snacks and his binoculars. My daughter also was excited, as she seems to be excited about anything that her brother may be into. She just turned 2. The walk we chose is ran along Lane Cove River, along the mangroves.

We chose to take the pram with us (yes strange to take a pram on a bushwalk, but my guidebook told me that there would be boardwalks there).

Once we found the track, we got walking. My son decided he wanted to take photos of spider’s webs which was great, as last year the sight of them scared him. I suppose the Abu Dhabi is slowly leaving him and he is getting more used to the abundant creepy crawlies that call Australia home.

The walk is pretty easy actually, but there is strange part to it when you hit Chatswood Golf Course and you have to walk through it, but then the path dips back along the river with beautiful views. Overall the kids enjoyed the walk and the snacks they got along the way (the best part of a walk no?!) and my daughter even walked most of the way. While the success had me excited, I did feel a little pang of sadness at the realization that they are no longer my little babies….now they are bush walking children!

With this success under our belt, my husband and I decided to go to the Blue Mountains, a beautiful part of New South Wales, about 1.5 hours west of Sydney. With autumn leaves glistening and the sun shining, we decided to go on a bushwalk. The one suggested to us was Sublime Point walk. I have to say, this time it seemed that my son’s excitement of the bushwalk had waned and I suddenly had a flash forward to a grumbling ‘I don’t wanna’ time. I was hoping that this would not surface at age 4! With some encouragement however we got out and walking and what a sublime view it was. With that short walk under our belt and children in need of their ‘babycinno’ fix (for those not familiar with this, a babycinno is frothed milk with some chocolate sprinkled on top).

After that it was time for our second bushwalk of the day, this time Leura Cascades. This walk was a little bit more challenging, with lots of steps. It is relatively short however (500 m to the cascasdes) and the views were spectacular. The actual walk was beautiful too, as you go along a creek with wet sclerophyll vegetation growing overhead. While walking back up was a little hard for my daughter who was carried back most of the way, my son found it an enjoyable bushwalk altogether.

I think with regular encouragement my kids will grow to love the bush as much as I do.

Travelling Neutrally

March 14, 2013PowerfulOwlLeave a comment

I recently went back to the UAE and Iran to visit family and friends. It was a great trip. My son got to hang out with his ‘best friend Jack’. These two munchkins were inseparable and I know that my son found it difficult being separated from Jack. When they saw each other again, it was not like they had been separated for over a year.
While the trip was relaxing, I did wander about my carbon emissions from the flights.In the past I had purchased carbon credits to ‘neutralise’ my emissions.
What are carbon credits?
As part of global efforts to address the greenhouse effect or climate change, a mechanism has been developed called the Clean Development Mechanism with the aim of trading carbon between countries. The way it works is that a country is given an amount of carbon that they are allowed to emit (their quota). The Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protcol allows developed (Annex 1) countries to exceed their CO2 quota by investing in projects that help the developing countries and also result in a reduction in carbon emissions.
So how does this relate to my holiday?
As Carbon dioxide emissions are released through the aviation sector (the aviation industry is said to account for 1.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions ), reductions are important. Some airlines provide the opportunity for travellers to offset their carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits (Eg Japanese Airlines, Virgin, Scandanavian Airlines), while other don’t.
I flew with Etihad who have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Masdar (big carbon ‘neutral’ project in the UAE. For more information on Masdar, go to: http://www.masdar.ae ). However I had decided to offset the emissions from my travel with my family. Using an on-line calculator I have estimated that for my return flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi and from Dubai to Esfahan that we emitted 5.5 tonnes of CO2.! (to calculate your carbon emissions, go to: http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/carbon-calculator.html )
Who offers carbon offsets?
There are a range of companies that offer certified carbon offsets and that is the key word ‘certified’. It’s important to buy from a trusted company with third party independent verification of their projects and their claims.
There are various ways that carbon offsets are ‘produced’:
• Renewable energy projects;
• Energy efficiency projects;
• Reforestation; and
• Preservation of forests (that is paying to prevent forestry).
As an individual, there may be different criteria that you have personally for how you want your money invested. For me I am interested in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Of the renewable energy options I prefer solar and wind and do not want to support hydro projects.
For this trip, after much much research, I have selected a project on improved cooking methods in South Africa from Fair Climate Fund (http://www.fairclimatefund.nl/en/projecten/). This project provides stoves to families which they can use for their cooking. It improves their health and reduces their carbon emissions as compared the stoves they previously used. By purchasing to offset 6 tonnes of CO2 from my trip I can now say that I travelled neutrally and to top it off, it didn’t really cost too much at all (about $AUD70)!
Lessons Learnt
After navigating the world web for hours, I have come to realize that it is quite hard to find the information that may help others make a similar decision. The Australian websites seemed to be very much geared towards corporate companies, rather than individuals. The language was technical and the links not intuitive.
Overall, it was quite hard. The website that I found the least cumbersome was this:

Home

Another source of information was this website, however many of the websites I searched did not have the offsets ready to purchase: http://www.carbonoffsetguide.com.au/providers/Australasian+Carbon+Credits Provides a guide on companies offering carbon offsets