DARWIN Driving & Other Hints
When you are planning a trip, it’s a good idea to purchase a couple of different brands of maps, they often provide you with varied information. Allowing you to get the most out of your trip.
1. Plan a time frame/itinerary for your trip. Consider your total amount of Km’s then break it down over a day time period, driving at night is very dangerous. Cover a reasonable goal like 500km
2. Have a good look at your different maps, and try and get hold of a Lonely Planet Guide for the area you are travelling, this allows you to plan an itinery. Where fuel is, where is the nicest place to have a picnic, and when the next accommodation is available
3. Take time to look at the country side and regularly plan stops for stretching legs and toilet/food requirements. We try to find as many places to swim as possible, this really relaxes everyone in between places, making travelling calmer amongst the kids!
4. TAKE LOTS OF COLD WATER & ICE & PLAN YOUR MEALS
This saves you a lot of money and stress. An esky is very handy.
5. Avoid food & drink WITH SUGAR & MILK.
6. Provide friends and family with a copy of your itinery, this way they know how to contact you, and when to expect to hear from you. Call along the way! Communication is essential.
7. If you are travelling with children, a pre made activity is a great idea. I put books, pencils, games, and a disposable camera in a plastic case. They can lean on the case to work, and take a few photos each day for a journal of their trip. Avoid textas on seats!
8. Another handy parenting tool is a spray bottle of water with lavender & chamomile oil added, a squirt from the front always settles fights!
9. Purchase dry ice to put in the esky on long hauls, works for days and doesn’t leave the watery mess. Will keep ice frozen!
10. Book your accommodation in sync with your itinerary, that way you have a goal and assured hot shower.
11. Get yourself covered by road side assistance for in the country, and carry a mobile phone, just in case!
* Ginger & peppermint oil are brilliant for car sickness, on air vent*
There are a few important things to remember when leaving your home to go on holiday. Hints that can save stress….
Get someone trustworthy to collect post. Or pay for a redirection at the post office 5 days prior to leaving your home address.
Feeding of your pets, or kennels should be booked way before, as there are only a few
Watering of the garden, lock all doors.
Turn off taps to hoses, washing machine, dish washer, and solar hot water system.
Unplug electrical items in case of storms
Close ALL louvers, and don't leave fans on
Put out rubbish and bins.
Finalise bills, accounts, pay, maintenance.
Disinfect toilets and bathrooms
Give friends & family a holiday contact No
Set off Roach or flea bombs if required when leaving, so you wont be in the home for a while.
Have an excellent time!
Update insurance policies, check they cover you in transit.
Some dogs get lonely while owners are at work and can dig holes. Try burying a balloon in the holes they dig, so when they visit the hole to dig next time they get a “BANG!” shock to put them off! It really does work. Give them lots of beach walks!
Cook lamb off cuts and pork bones for your dogs, then freeze in daily bags, so you can put one out each day. By cooking the meat it discourages green ants and flies, also its better for the dogs digestion. Standing pet bowls on a plate of water discourages ants from invading the food
If you have PERFUMES, use make up, or have any cosmetics, first aid supplies, pharmaceuticals keep them cool in your fridge. Yes, it sounds odd storing those things in the fridge, but the high temperatures cause many products to go rancid or evaporate quickly, such as expensive
perfumes and after shaves.
Storing eggs, flour, sugar, honey, coffee & tea etc in the fridge is also very wise.
When you go on holidays it is tempting to be energy efficient and turn off your fridge and freezer. However! It Darwin the moisture builds up in the casing and becomes a haven for ants and roaches, mould and rust. Just turn the thermo down to vacation or LOW and fill them with toilet paper, this conserves energy!
Unless you live in a very shady position it is unusual to have the need of your solar hot water booster, check that its turned off and save lots of energy. If there have been a few stormy cloudy days turn on over night.
I LOVE frogs, and find they are the best pest controllers around, however others get a bit freaked about them in their loos! Hehehe Try keeping lid down & using a chlorine tablet in your tank.
When you get home from a day out, close your sanctuary area and put on the air con for a hour to de humidify the air. This will discourage mould growth on your belongings, especially leather.
There are lots of anti static anti dust products on the market now and they come in very handy in Darwin as mould grows from dust particles. Try “swiffering” your walls, doors & louvers, it makes for an easier clean. Also on a bigger scale “Harvey Chemicals” on Winnellie Road do industrial stuff like dust control mops that handle a family my size with two Terriers at discount prices.
Dust books, videos - everything before they are packed, so when you get the other end its clean!
Traveling in the car can cause static shocks and fly away hair leading to dry skin and sore lips. Spray the car interior with anti static spray (available near socks in supermarket) to stop static. Drink lots of clean water and apply “Bepanthen” to sore lips or any dry sore skin area. Use a spray bottle with floral waters.
NT’s moist and hot climate is a breeding ground for moulds and fungus. THRUSH is a common problem in the tropics and can be solved naturally and easily at home. Whether the thrush is in the mouth, topical or on your privates, you need to take internally “Bio Organics - MEGADOPHILUS” capsules two 4 x a day. for children break them open and sprinkle them on breakfast cereal or put in smoothies/milk shakes. AVOID any sugar or alcohol. DO NOT WEAR UNDER WEAR, relax and let your bits breath for a healthier flora!
If you have vaginal thrush apply 10 drops of 100% pure essential oil of Lavender
and 8 drops of pure Patchouli to a tampon, and insert, changing five times a day.
Men - massage above oils on your penis before sex to cure and stop thrush spreading.
A great web site for GPS directions is
http://www.whereis.com/whereis/home.jsp
