Week Ten: The Highs, the Lows & Everything In Between

From Tam Coc to Hanoi to Vienna

Week ten felt like a hinge week. The kind that closes one chapter properly and forces the next one open whether you’re ready or not. It was messy, tiring, emotional in small ways, and quietly meaningful.

The highs

There were moments where things just worked. Riding bikes into town in Tam Coc, mist still hanging low, everyone rugged up but moving. Picking up new carry-on backpacks that felt like a small but important upgrade for the months ahead. Little systems improving. Less friction.

Getting through the worst of the sickness was a big one. Each morning someone was a little better. Less coughing. A bit more energy. More food staying down. It didn’t happen all at once, but by the end of the week it finally felt like we were climbing out rather than just surviving.

Arriving in Vienna was another high, even if it didn’t feel flashy. Clean air. Quiet streets. Order. Space. The kind of place where your nervous system immediately downshifts. Even jet lagged and exhausted, it felt like a reset.

And getting that first run in Vienna, heading out early, looping around the palace and the surrounding streets, just taking it all in at ground level. That helped everything click into place.

The lows

The sickness really dominated the early part of the week. Rough nights. Constant coughing. Kids waking up exhausted. Kia doing it tough. The emotional drain of trying to keep things steady while everyone’s running on empty.

Travel day out of Tam Coc was another low. Packing when no one feels good. Trying to keep momentum while managing nausea, headaches, and exhaustion. That feeling of just needing the day to be over.

Hanoi was hard in a different way. The air felt heavy. Headaches lingered. Footpaths were chaotic. Running there felt more like an obstacle course than exercise. You could feel how much the environment was taking from you rather than giving anything back.

And then there was the cost shock in Europe. Taxis. Food. Everything suddenly needing a mental conversion back to Australian dollars and hitting harder than expected. It took a few days to recalibrate.

Standout moments

The bike rides in Tam Coc stood out. A reminder of how much easier things feel when the kids have space to move. Less cabin fever. Less friction. More listening. More laughter.

That final run in Hanoi stood out too. Not because it was enjoyable, but because it was honest. Dodging scooters, broken footpaths, traffic everywhere. It summed up Vietnam in one loop. Chaotic, alive, exhausting, unforgettable.

Landing in Vienna was a big one. Watching the kids fall asleep in the taxi. Quiet streets. A comfortable place to land. It felt like we’d crossed an invisible line into a new phase of the trip.

And the early mornings in Austria. Waking at 4:30 or 5am with jet lag, the city still dark, everyone slowly finding their feet again. No rushing. Just easing into it.

Lessons learnt

Health dictates everything. When one person is sick, the whole system changes. Plans don’t matter. Content doesn’t matter. You just adapt and get through the day.

Kids need space. When they’re locked inside too long, everything unravels. Movement isn’t optional. It’s foundational.

Travel days are work. They’re not neutral. They cost energy, patience and goodwill, and pretending otherwise just makes them harder.

Europe is a different financial game. You can’t wing it the same way. You need systems, buffers, and a clearer sense of what things actually cost.

And easing into a new country matters. You don’t need to “do” everything straight away. Sometimes the best move is to let the place come to you.

Reflection

Week ten wasn’t about highlights for Instagram or ticking off big experiences. It was about transition. About closing out Vietnam properly, sickness and all, and arriving in Europe without pretending it was effortless.

It reminded me that this trip isn’t a highlight reel. It’s real life, just lived somewhere else. Some weeks are heavy. Some are quiet. Some are about recovery rather than adventure.

By the end of the week, it felt like we’d steadied again. New air. New rhythms. New challenges. Austria wasn’t demanding anything yet. It was just letting us arrive.

And that was exactly what we needed.