We are all packed up….yeap…ready to start our 3rd year of global travels. 

We have packed 12 large check in suitcases and 6 carry ons. I think we did great considering thats going to be our luggage for possibly 2yrs. 

One of the hardest things for me when we are in Virginia and about to depart is the detachment process I have to go through with my 4th daughter who is not able to travel with us due to her medical needs. (She has allergies to a lot of things and taking her away from her environment and her doctors is not advisable) so with all our travels she has alwayd stated with her amazing grandparents. When she was a baby it was easier leaving and the process was easier. 

But as she got older (9yrs) she now have some questions for me..like “mommy why can’t you take me ” ? But once I explain she seem to get it. She is definitely an old soul. 

This morning as I put her on the bus…I could not help myself but cried like a baby. And some of my tears is my way of processing the art of detachment. 

And I reliezed all she wanted to do was get on the bus and she somehow feels like we will be back and am always with her. 

But if you are a mother and have sent your kid off you know that feeling inside your stomach and only mothers can feel. But am so grateful that her grandparents love makes ut so easy for both karama and I to detach with love. 

Karama is suoer spoilt by her grandparents and gets all her hearts desires. And this year we got her a phone to call us on tango and skype any time she wants to talk. 
Now where are the Manns clan heading too…? Well we are moving to Scarborough brisbane australia for the next 2 months. Its surfing time for the clan 

And after we will be going up to dive one of the 7 wonders of the world. The great barrier reef in cairns. 

So keep following and sharing our website and stay tuned for our fun and exciting explorations of Australia….a total of 3 months in australia and then will see what country is next to explore. 

Our 12 bags…

Some moments this morning 

Mj’s new life long buddies in Virginia 

My last ride with my son…

Karama going for a ride with her sister aasha 

We will all miss Bassett and our family but as everything else time flies

Our flight leaves at 4pm today 
Brisbane Exploration Begins

In 10 days we will be packed up and ready to start our 3yr of traveling. 

Yes after 2 months of applying for my new zealand  and Australian visa. My new zealand visa came and for some reason they only gave me up till March 31st 2017 before it expires. This makes it harder for us to visit New Zealand since I haf also applied for my austrlian visa and we waiting on it to book our flight. 

Well so new Zealand  visa was a wasted money. Ghana passport needed the visa but American passport font need a visa for 90 days stay. 

Well after 2months of applying for my austrlian visa i decided to call the embassy in DC to see what was going on. But I was told since my passport is Ghana passport and I dont have permanent residence here in the usa my visa application which i applied online as been sent to Nairobi office. You should see my shock..after 2 months and I just got this feedback. 

Well they gave me the contact call nairobi office but due to time differences i have to stay up till 3am usa time to call the nairobi office.

But that night I wanted to wait up for I got a message for me to upload more documents to verify that my husband and kids are American citizens like I stated. 

And within 2 hours that I sent the document on the embassy page I got my electronic visa for multiple entry visa and expires in March 2018. 

Now let me tell you about the power of the American passport…so after I recieved my Australian visa the nect morning at about 7am I decided to go online on VisaHq to apply for my husband and kids visa. And am not exaggerating but it took exactly 2 hours from thr time I opened my laptop and filled out the form online for 5 person and their visa was approved…not because we travel so much but because their passport if blue and has this one there “united States of America ” yeap..they got 1 year multiple entry visa and cost only $69 that includes tax and the service fees. While my Ghana passport cost me $205…talk about developing country…I dont think thats how we are charged when we are applying for stuff…but am truly grateful that all our visa’s are ready to go. 

Now traveling to Australia is exciting but it seem like we are arriving at their peak season…we vould not find apartment that is within our budget or even reasonable. After many nights of looking we finally found on who gave us such a great deal that is right on our budget. So grateful for our new airbnb host in Scarborough brisbane australia. We are looking forward to ecploring this beautiful beach city. 

We plan on exploring this place to the fullest. 

So stat tuned for our 2017 travel explorations of the Manns clan…its going to be super packed and charged year for sure. 

We fly out next…
Brisbane Australia Exploration about to begin 

Yes it about that time again… it has been a long time since I blogged on hiw we are doing. 

We are still in Bassett VA and enjoying everybit of it. No place like home with families you love and adore. 

Kids are having a great time connecting with their grandparents and getting spoilt too.

So if you know a bit about travels it wakes work and lots of organising. And even when worse when you have the Ghana passport. 

So a month ago I applied for my new zealand visa  (which my kids dont need because they have American passport so they dont need a visa for new Zealand). So when I applied I asked for 90 days. But when I recieved my electronic visa they gave me 6 weeks which meant I had to leave for new Zealand asap. But that could not possibly happen so i guess thats a lost visa. 

Now on January 17th 2017 I applied for my austrlian visa and as of today am still waiting on my visa. 

I called the Australian embassy but they said it take 6 to 8 weeks so its not ready. Now for the American passport it will take me 24hours to get their visa. Fill out the form online and done. So we just waiting on my australia visa so we can go on and start our 2017 exploration. 

Now that can be the challenge of travels…it can slow you down. 

Marcus still has been on the move and exploring so i will be able to share some of his pictures in this blog. 

Will also share some of our daily life in bassett… 

Lets start with this all..my 5 blessings on the couch..from the oldest to the youngest

My funeral experience in a beautiful dress..no use to that yet…

Our girls bonding with each other on the fourwheeler their grandparents bought them for christmas 

Florindo, marcus and I adopted mother visited us in Bassett…it was so great hosting her.

I got into paparazzi jewelry…and love them

Made some of my kids favorite dish…fried zucchini topped with feta cheese and honey 

I bought my first  MK red hot boots..

We had lunch at the famous Popeyes chicken spot

I bought a couple of new dresses while in richmond va

My kids tried to convince me to buy them a snake pet…lol!!

We met families and love ones in atlanta…

Had a coupleof homemade strawberry margaritas 

More families in atlanta…it was surly memorable 

Family just rocks 

Visit to Martin Luther King home

I got to hold and spend time with my newest Godson baby Dutch

I enjoyed some of my Ghanaian food while in atlanta 

Our son got his dreadlocks cut off

My son helped his papa rake the leaves 

Marcus went to trini carnival

Our girls visited Life University  where their daddy graduated from

Marcus went diving with sardines in Phillipines…

Some waterfalls on marcus travels…
Really looking forward to sharing more of our roat trips omce my australian visa arrives… this year travels will be awesome with soon to be diving the great barrier reef…

Stay tuned 
Bassett VA Exploration Continues