I used to think a holiday is not a holiday if I travel out of Singapore but still have to do the cooking, the washing, and rough it out in a hotel that is less comfortable than home!

My thoughts have matured now (with age!!!) .... and I think a holiday is a time to help my kids see and experience a world that they are not used to.

If it's Hong Kong, shopping is fine....but they need to see the lonely street-sleepers,
if it's India, the Taj Mahal is beautiful.....but they need to feed the hungry beggars,
if it's Cambodia, the Angkor Wat is historical....but they need to clothe the children in the countryside,
if it's Disneyland, the rides are exhilarating....but they need to understand that fun ends quickly,

if it's South Africa, the wild animals come straight out of National Geographic.....but they need to see the lions up close, touch the young cheetah, stand on ostrich eggs!

A meal in a fancy restaurant, a ride on the roller coaster, a cruise on a ship ---- all of these can be captured in a photograph, no doubt.
But a toothless smile on a beggar's face, a dirty hand pulling my sleeve for "more?", children running around naked on the dust road ---- these will be pictures captured in the heart.