After selling their house at the start of the year, they lived in rented accommodation for a number of months, before heading to the airport in May for the big farewell.
Leaving was “very emotional”, Dani said.
“We were very fortunate that we had a lot of family coming to the airport with us,” added Tom. “We’d checked our luggage in and we got to the security gates – that was hard.
“We were so fortunate to have a close family and friendship group as well. They’re the people we miss and that’s what we miss from back home, the people that were in our lives. Not so much the material things we had.”
However once the plane had taken off and the goodbyes were behind them, the excitement started to kick in.
“We remembered where we were going,” joked Tom.
Even though they had both been to their first destination, Bali in Indonesia, before, the culture shock still hit them.
“It’s just everything. Your senses are just heightened. It’s the smells, seeing everything around, it’s so different to home.
“We went to Bali 15 years ago when it was a lot quieter,” added Dani. “People have said how busy it is now, and it was.
“The first day or two was very overwhelming. Our daughter was still a bit emotional. She was up and down with things and we were all a bit jet lagged.
“We went to Uluwatu first and it has got so busy. Even us walking down a road, I was nervous. Scooters everywhere.”
But there were also upsides, Tom said. “The food instantly was amazing. And the people are just beautiful, and so kind. And just to feel the heat on our skin.”