In 2010 my husband John and I quit our jobs in London and took our then 3 year old daughter off on a round the world trip. We were looking for a new place to call home, somewhere away from the 9-5 grind and relentless pace of London living, somewhere we could actually spend time together as a family and have a better work-life balance. We travelled on a shoe-string budget, using a loan for a new bathroom, and eventually settled in Bali where we lived for five years.

Can We Live Here?

Can We Live Here?

Travelling with a toddler was challenging but we look back on those months as some of the best of our lives and would recommend it to anyone, with kids or not. Here are some of our top memories from those travelling days.

1. Yosemite

The US blew us away with its natural wonders. We took Alula to Yosemite where the rangers taught her how to scare off bears. Later that night a bear came rustling through our campsite attracted by the scent of a potato left in the fire. Alula woke up in terror asking 'Is it a bear?' and we told her it was just her daddy needing a wee. She fell back asleep while we went outside and tried to scare the marauding beast off.

2. Eating Dosa

One of the best things to come out of travelling is Alula's sense of adventure, especially with food. Our best meals have been at hole in the wall places in India where we disovered Dosa. Now, wherever we are, we will search those things out like bears after potatoes. Last week we even drove to Pinner in London, on the hunt for South Indian food.

3. Disneyland

We will never forget the look of mute wonder on Alula's face when we took her to Disneyland for her 4th birthday though she was too awed to say a word when she finally met Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

4. Washing Elephants in India

Alula doesn't remember this now but one of the most fun days we had in India involved getting up close and personal with elephants and helping bathe them in the river.

5. Making offerings in Bali

Bali is Hindu and every morning offerings are made to the spirits and Gods. We would often find Alula laying offerings around the house made from banana leaves and declaring her gratitude for all the good things in her life. It's a tradition we have kept up since we left Bali.

6. Snorkelling for the first time

We are really blessed and lucky to have travelled to so many beautiful places and to have had the chance to try so many things. A real joy was seeing Alula snorkel for the first time in Indonesia. We saw giant turtles and coral and lots of Nemo fish.

7. Kayaking on the Russian River

We try and kayak wherever we go but the first time Alula took up the paddle herself was in California on the Russian River. John taught her and her best friend while we lazed on the river bank.

8. Island cycling

Lula learned to cycle on the tiny island of Gili Air in Indonesia. There are no cars, just a few horse drawn carts, and the incentive of a beach and gorgeous crystal clear water at the end of the ride.

9. Mountain Views

We stayed with friends in Canada who took us to the mountain resort of Whistler where we rode the spectacular cable car across the mountaintops.

10. Running wild on beaches

There's nothing better than spending the day on a beach, building sand castles, rock pooling, paddling. Our favourite beaches include the wild stretches in Oregon (where they shot the Goonies), the pristine beaches of South Australia and the kid-filled, colourful sands of Goa.

Can We Live Here? by Sarah Alderson RRP £8.99 (Blink Publishing)