dithering

So we were going to walk the Camino in September/October, but hubby could only get time off in August/September. We went ahead with plans for that and then realised we're being crazy to walk as a large group in the high season (may not get accomodation) and when it's so hot. So Camino plans are shelved until a year he can get off work in the autumn.

Next idea: backpack round India. But it's monsoon time. Nah.

Next: go somewhere with Habitat for Humanity and help with a house build. Not enough of the kids would be old enough to help out so more or less ruled that out.

Hang out in Europe for two months anyway. Too expensive if not using cheap albergues.

Australia: nope, too much like home. We want something *different* (for the same reason most of the kids are keen for it to be somewhere we didn't go on our 2009 trip so that rules out a bit!)

NZ: Hubby can only get extra time off work if he goes overseas so it's not the time to see our own backyard either.

Pacific cruise: resounding NO from half the tribe including the two big ones who pay the bills

So what on earth should we do? We're looking for lightning bolts of inspiration to flash across the screen. "child-friendly" is not important to us - our kids are interested by all kinds of seemingly inane adult stuff!

How about South Africa? Cape Town has many backpackers hotels, from which you can arrange trips to everywhere - seeing the Big 5 on safari, going to the breathtaking Garden Route, hiking on Table Mountain, etc, and food is about 1/2 what you can expect to pay in Europe.

What about back to the original idea of Nepal

Or Kenya/Tanzania

or China (I don't remember you spending too much time there on the last trip)

or maybe China/Tibet/Nepal

or maybe Nepal/Northeast India/Bangladesh

or how is Western Africa that time of year?

Central America? Cuba?

Thanks for the ideas! Nepal was meant to be October with friends. Hubby's leave had to be taken in August/September.......until Monday when his boss asked how plans were coming along. He explained we were back to the drawing board and she immediately guessed it was due to her wanting to have him here in October so she told him to go ahead with original plans, but on a shortened timeline.
This afternoon we will be paying for our flights! Return tickets to Paris. Due to the reduced time we are doing something quite different. A week in Paris, three weeks walking the end of the Camino. A week in London and a week on a canal boat up to Oxford. Overnight Eurolines bus back to Paris for a morning departure home.
Three days ago we were thinking of trekking to Machu Picchu!!!!
One day we might still do the entire Camino.

Have you thought of doing one of the many walks in Britain instead since your heading that way. And then saving the Camino for when you have more time for the whole thing.

We'll likely still be here in London if you want to meet up

We did think of that, but cost is the big factor. Much cheaper in Spain!