Well, we’re back home in Sydney after another whirlwind trip. And yet again, I find myself lost in the post holiday blues.

But I’ve just realised that it’s not the holiday itself I miss the most, more the freedom that comes with it. There was no need to worry about work, or bills, or ordinary everyday things. Soaring through the clouds, becoming nostalgic about our last destination, anticipating our next, there was only the holiday, and us. Nothing else existed.

Now, as I sit here after a solid night’s sleep, with suitcases still heavy with unwashed clothes and trinkets from abroad (if I unpack, the holiday is unarguably over), the only thing that is going to cheer me up is to reflect on the adventures we’ve had. Just one more day of holiday bliss before returning to the mundane chores of reality.

I’ll recap and review in detail over the next few weeks, but for now, some highlights:

1. A Family Reunion
It’s been 26 years since my parents emigrated to Australia – I was only 5 at the time, so I don’t remember Durban at all. I’ve been back twice. The last time was 13 years ago.

This time, I took my husband with me. My parents, my brother, my sister, her husband and daughter, all came along as well. It was a massive reunion. My mother has three siblings in South Africa, they in turn have children my age, and grandchildren. My mother also has cousins, again with children and grandchildren. On my father’s side, he has ten siblings (!!), however we were only able to reunite with three of them, and their children. In summary, a lot of family to connect with! A few snapshots from the week:

It was incredible to suddenly be surrounded by people who automatically loved you. Grandaunts and granduncles (my own grandparents are sadly no longer with us) who stuffed us with food, and doted on us like we were chubby toddlers. Cousins to have a cheeky drink with and laugh with, uncles and aunts to chat with like no time had past at all.

I grew up without any of this. Apart from a couple of second-cousins back at home, another in New Zealand, and my parent’s family-friends (all of whom I’m entirely grateful for), I missed out on it all. That must sound rich – I know there are so many people out there who don’t have family at all, but in the face of so much, it’s hard to not feel sad that you’ve only experienced so little of it.

The original idea of the trip came out of a wedding invitation for my mum’s cousin – my uncle Sajeel, although he is closer to my age than hers. It was a grand affair, five days of glamorous celebration in true Indian style.

But the best part of it all was getting in touch my roots.I didn’t get to see the site of my parent’s old hotel, where we lived on the top floor, or where I went to school, “Little Noddy’s Pre-School“, but I did visit the hospital where I was born, and the ultimate… I visited my beloved grandfather’s house; a great man to all who knew him. A humanitarian with a generous heart and a beautiful soul that will shine til the end of time.

My mother remembers as a child living in a one-room shack. My grandfather bought this land with his toil and sweat, and built a magnificent, two-storey, Tudor-style house with his bare hands. It was – til his death – the hub of the family, a home for everyone.

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1. On Safari

As cliched as it was, we simply had to visit a safari park. Both my husband and I LOVE animals. Be it an aloof tabby or a mischievous monkey, some of our favourite holiday memories involve making friends with the local fauna. We also went to Mitchell Park with it’s small zoo in Durban, which was an experience in itself (read about it soon!), but Safari was a whole different arena.

We were lucky enough to have an elephant charge at our jeep in fury, flapping his great ears in warning dare we approach the herd any closer; we caught distant glimpses of hippo and crocs, and managed to get some amazing shots of zebra and impala’s. We also visited a zulu village and medicine woman, where the kids waved at us in excitement and yelled “hello!”.

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1. Our Paris

After travelling to the other side of the globe, it was all too hard to resist a trip up north to our glittering, golden Paris. This time we focused on all the things we missed out on in 2012, (and for me, in 2007 as well). We walked the streets of Paris in the cold and wet of Spring, stopping in at cafes for buttery steak, the best espresso we’ve ever had, and luxe, caramel ice-cream. We hired a scooter and made our own way to Versailles – not for the main palace, but to see Marie-Antoinette’s private estate and hobby farm (again, our obsession with animals!). I finally rode on the carousel below the Eiffel Tower… And much, much, more!

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In retrospect, it was an epic holiday, although it seemed far too short and rushed at the time. You’ll be able to read about the trip in more detail soon – just give me a few days to get started – and do let me know what you want to hear about most of all!

So what else am I up to now, to combat the post holiday blues?

• I had taken a family tree to South Africa to confirm with my uncles, which I want to keep working on.
• I need to write a book. It may be travel guidebook or it may be a rewrite of my grandfather’s folk tales. But I need to write something.
• Keep in touch with the family. Remember their birthdays, but don’t let that be the only time we connect.
• Pay off the holiday!
• …Then plan the next holiday. I promised my husband a skiing trip in Chamonix for his birthday. It’s now two years overdue. Or, we could go to Bali next May – my cousins are already planning another reunion there!
• Oh, and it’s my birthday in a few days 🙂

… Any other suggestions? 🙂