Keep it weird, Austin!

Austin would have to be one of my favourite cities in the U.S...

We spent 5 days there and I honestly wish we had been there longer. We stayed in a little apartment we rented through airbnb and had a car to get around, and if I had my time over I wouldn't do anything differently (aside from probably never leaving).

One of the main reasons we headed to Austin was to go to Franklin Barbecue. Incase you didn't already know, I pretty much plan all of my travel around where I can eat so this was an absolute no-brainer. The best barbecue in the world isn't something I would EVER think twice about.

Don't even ask me where I first heard of Franklin because I can't remember, it may have been a message from God because I honestly feel like I was sent on an almost holy pilgrimage to eat.

So we went there, and it was good.

So yeah, that happened, and I'm pretty much ruined for life now because I will never be able to replicate it- even if I buy Aaron Franklin's cookbook and try my hardest, it ain't gunna be the same. So I'll just have to return in the future.

It's not all about the BBQ though, we ate a fantastic meal at Qui which was not only a last minute booking at a restaurant around the corner from us, but it was pretty close to one of the best meals we ate in the U.S. Paul Qui is doing some pretty special stuff and I won't be surprised if we see his name popping up all over the place in the not too distant future- even bigger then being on Top Chef!

Austin is renown for its food trucks and my only disappointment was we didn't get to try the Monte Cristo at the 'Hey you gunna eat or what?!' food truck. We did get to eat at Gourdough's Doughnut Truck.. My heightened cholesterol can probably be attributed to the 'Fat Elvis' and 'Mother Clucker' but I won't miscount the 'Flying Pig' or 'PB&J' either (yeah, 4 doughnuts is waaaay too many for 2 people).. Also, they're not really doughnuts if you need to eat them with a knife and fork (and a drop sheet).

Ok, so food aside, we also enjoyed the Baylor Street Graffiti Park..

I have an affinity for animals, namely slow, furry animals- so I had to go check out the resident sloth at the local exotic pet store (Sophia is a sweetheart and she shares he enclosure with an iguana so thats pretty cool).

And of course we strolled down South Congress to check out the fun thrift stores that are more like museums then stores, like Uncommon Objects, and I may have spent a small fortune at the local boutique clothing stores buying up the stunning clothes made by local designers.

As we went in winter, the surprisingly cold nights weren't too inviting for going out and watching live bands or going out at all for that matter. I've left the music scene until my next visit because hey, you can never see everything you want to see in one go!

So, yes, I loved Austin, I intend to return and when I do I hope nothing has changed and it's still as weird and wonderful as ever.

External links;

Baylor Street Graffiti Park

www.uncommonobjects.com

Zookeeper Exotic Pet store

www.airbnb.com

South Congress

Creatures Boutique

Snowboarding and Wine tours in Queenstown, New Zealand

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Remarkables

First off, I'm just putting it out there... I'm not an outdoorsy type of person. I'm very content spending holidays lying on a beach sipping cocktails, shopping, going to restaurants or even better- ordering room service and spending large amounts of time in those plush hotel bathrobes.

I do enjoy trying new things though, and going snowboarding was something we wanted to cross off the list, so my husband (then boyfriend) and I went to New Zealand for the picturesque countryside and apparently awesome snow fields to try or hands (or feet) at snowboarding. Neither of us had ever been to the snow or even seen snow as we are both from a nice warm coastal town in Australia so it was a first for a lot of things!

We rented all our equipment, had a rental car and drove up to Coronet Peak which is a ski field 20 mins drive from central Queenstown on the South Island of New Zealand. Once we arrived we'd booked ourselves in to a 3 hr snowboarding lesson so we could learn the ropes. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone that hasn't snowboarded before because learning how to steer and stop is a pretty important thing when you're flying down the side of a mountain with no brakes.

Did I mention I'm not outdoorsy? Well in all honesty, I'm not really a fan of the cold either, so it didn't take long for me to realise I wasn't going to be spending a lot of time carving up the powder. As a matter of fact, there was minimal standing or sliding let alone carving.

Much to my dismay I spent the better part of 3 hours sliding down the bunny hill (the hill for beginners, filled with 7 year olds going faster then me mind you) on my butt. It seems that any time I started gathering speed I lost my confidence and had little to no control so I decided landing on my butt every time I got going to be a safer option then falling face-first and breaking something- even if I was going slower then the 95 year old granny next to me.

I had a good laugh at myself sliding on my backside down what can only be described as a minimal decline, thinking the whole while that flying sideways with my limited coordination and fitness level was probably not the best idea to begin with, the whole thing felt wrong and awkward. There were some good aspects though, my husband seemed to get the knack of it quite easily and he enjoyed himself, and despite my lacking skills I had a good laugh at my own expense. It was also an incredible work out, the next day we were both so sore we could barely get in and out of the car without grunts and exclamations, way to go core strength!

It was definitely worth a go though, I know that it's not my forte but would definitely be willing to give skiing a go- maybe going forwards instead of sideways might feel less unnatural? And if all else fails there's always a toboggan ride?

Theres other things I enjoyed much more about staying in Queenstown, like the wine tours of the Central Otago area. We hopped on a tour bus and drove through the most beautiful, quaint and picturesque towns. Stopping at gorgeous wineries in the Bannockburn area which is famous for the production of stellar Pinot Noirs. We were in a small group of only about 8 people, and my husband thought it'd be a hoot to tell the other wine-goers that I was a chef so every wine we tasted they would ask me what kind of food would be good to pair it with. Needless to say they weren't happy when I just started telling them that some wines are good on their own.

Not to mention the breath-taking scenery... Staying in Queenstown is literally like stepping into a postcard or even a movie set, the backdrop of the stunning Remarkables is just unbelievable, and the crystal clear lake Wakatipu which Queenstown is built on is just gorgeous.

I'm smiling but inside I'm freezing!

MUSTS:

• Stay around Queenstown centre if you're there for a ski holiday, but make sure you rent a car and venture to other small towns like Glenorchy and the quaint little village of Arrowtown that are close by. 
• If you have a day or two to spare, check out Dunedin and Lake Wanaka
• If you are in Queenstown, go to FERGBURGER. I'm serious. Do it.

GIVE IT A MISS:

• Restaurants on the Waterfront at Queenstown. The food was overpriced and mediocre, I'm guessing you generally pay for the view-but that's not really a factor when you go for dinner at night time and you're up the back of the restaurant. Different coloured neon lighting doesn't create nice ambiance in a restaurant either... 
• Driving at night, roads are icy so they cover them in gravel which is just as dangerous (at winter time that is!)
• Spending loads of cash to stay right in Queenstown, you're better off staying slightly out of the town and renting a car!

My little corner of the world....

I truly believe I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

I live in the Illawarra, NSW, Australia. About an hr south of Sydney, it's an area stretching from Helensburgh down to Jamberoo, and at its heart you have Wollongong.

There are a million and one things to do and see in my area that appeal to people in all walks of life with all different interests, for example:

In the Northern Suburbs we have the picturesque suburbs of Scarborough, Wombarra, Coledale and Austinmer that are known for their beautiful beaches, lush greenery, cafes with cliff-top views and houses with multi-million dollar price tags. Many people migrate to these areas from Sydney to adapt a more laid-back lifestyle, and with the gorgeous surroundings and secluded areas in which these houses are nestled it's hard not to imagine throwing in the rat-race and beginning your own organic soap-making business.

Wollongong is the hub of the Illawarra, it's undergone some pretty radical transformations in the last 10 years. After the Global Financial crisis, not to mention the sacking of an entire council due to corruption (both of which occurred around 2008) a lot of businesses in Wollongong faced a sink or swim scenario. It has only been in the last couple of years that small business has been able to get stable footing in Wollongong again, allowing the CBD to become a breeding ground for trendy cafes, restaurants and bars.

http://mandyedge.com/dagwood

The central shopping mall has been undergoing a facelift and expansion for a while now, but after the redevelopment of Stockland Shellharbour (20 mins south of Wollongong), which offers hundreds of specialty stores as well as your big stores like Kmart, Big W, Target, not to mention all your food shopping needs (Woolworths, Coles etc) as well as FREE PARKING (which Wollongong central doesn't have) it's safe to say the Wollongong's shopping scene has suffered massively.

This brings me to my favourite part of the Illawarra- the South Coast. Technically anything south of Kiama isn't actually classed as the Illawarra, but I feel as though I'd like to embrace it in the warm hug of the Illawarra. Kiama is a seaside township about 120 kilometres south of Sydney, it's known for it's beautiful beaches and quaint township. One of the biggest attractions is the Kiama Blow Hole, which can be seen spurting water meters into the air on days with winds coming from the south-east. I have to admit my favourite thing to do in Kiama is checking out the farmers market.

From there you have other townships such as Gerringong, Gerroa and Berry. They are all different in scenery and have different characteristics but, like Kiama, all have quaint townships and offer a few great shopping and eating spots- Berry particularly is one of my favourite places to visit on a sunny Saturday for some delicious lunch and baked goods from Berry Woodfired Sourdough Bakery and Cafe, then for some shopping for home wares at Haven and Space.

Yeah I love that stuff!

Australians Travelling to Thailand

After my last post about travelling Thailand, I have found out that martial law has been imposed throughout Thailand due to a six-month long political crisis that has claimed nearly 30 lives.

Thai soldiers take up a position on a main road in Bangkok after the army declared martial law on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

If you have already planned and paid for your trip to Thailand this can mean that you are now panicking about if you should still go.. In truth, it is up to you if you feel comfortable going, but I would suggest doing a bit of research before throwing your trip down the toilet.

If you have plans to head to Bangkok and you're worried about if the issue escalates and not being able to get in or out of the city, then you may want to think of a contingency plan, perhaps changing your flight from flying into Bangkok to one of the other airports. Depending on who you fly with the charges can vary.

Usual cost of re-ticketing can be around the $100 mark, then you may have to pay the difference for the cost of flying into a different airport. Although if you have booked directly through the carrier (say Thai Airways) and not through a travel site (travelocity, wotif etc) then the fee may be waived depending on circumstances.

Depending on your accommodation, and the amount of notice you have upon cancelling your reservation, you may just lose your deposit, keep an eye out on sites like lastminute.com.au to get a good deal on hotels elsewhere in Thailand that may be safer then the Capital. If you already had plans to stay in some of the touristy areas like Phuket or Koh Samui, then at this point your holiday shouldn't be affected too much, just be cautious and aware of any military actions, road blocks, protests and curfews that may be imposed.

Regardless of where in Thailand you are travelling, there is martial law everywhere and the threat of the issue escalating so make sure you keep a close eye on http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand and keep informed. In the event that your trip needs to be cancelled then I can only hope that you invested in travel insurance!

If you want to learn a bit more about whats going on in Thailand then have a look at some of these links:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/20/world/asia/thailand-martial-law-explainer/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-04/timeline-of-the-lead-up-to-thailands-political-unrest/5234094
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-essentials/travel-news/thailand-martial-law-tips-for-australian-tourists-20140520-38lpl.html

Cabbages and Condoms

What the hell am I talking about, you ask? Well it's a restaurant in bangkok of course!

We were staying at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, which is a great hotel, close to the BTS so you can go anywhere in Bangkok easily, and it's tucked away in a side street so it's quiet and not too busy. We asked the very helpful gentleman at the front desk where we could go for dinner and he sheepishly recommended this place, going bright red and giggling he tried to explain that it was just around the corner from our hotel.

A lightbulb went off in my head and I recalled watching about half an episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern where he went to this exact restaurant- I was sold! Out the door and headed there out of sheer curiosity!

As you walk through to the restaurant at the back of the building, you are transported to a world where everything is made of condoms, a condom santa is one of the more elaborate displays, and you can take a stop in the souvenir shop and grab a condom keychain or beer coaster.

You can marvel at the concept and wonder 'why would they do this? Why would they combine a restaurant with a theme of prophylactics?' Well the answer is simple, to raise awareness for sexually-transmitted infections in a city that is well known for its sex trade. This restaurant makes something that people would find embarrassing or something that you wouldn't normally discuss a main talking point and just a bit of fun.

They also use the restaurant to generate income to support various developments within the Thai family planning association (Population and Community Development Association).

But it's not all silliness and fun, once you actually get into the restaurant, the service is friendly, the drinks are strong and you are surrounded by tropical greenery that makes you feel like you're in the mountains of Chiang Mai, not an alleyway of the 'Sin City of Asia'.

You'd think a restaurant with the tagline 'Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy' would be ridiculous and a tourist trap, but in all honesty, it's fascinating and the food is authentic and delicious. Matt and I shared a few different options;

We had the Mieng Khum, which is an appetiser of dried shrimp, ginger, peanuts, fried coconut, shallots and special sauce that are wrapped in betel leaves.











We ordered the Cabbages and Condom salad (how could you not?), which has a sweet and spicy sauce, finely shredded cabbage, rolled shanghai noodles and shrimp.











We had Pla Khao Phad Phrik Thai Dum, which is a stir-fried Grouper fish, with black pepper and bell chilis that comes out in a sizzling cast-iron pan.

And we had several cocktails, none of which I can recall the name of, all of which were fruity, tropical and deadly.








Overall this experience ticked all the boxes, good fun, good food, good service and I got some souvenirs at the end! Condoms of course!












Check out Andrew Zimmern on Bizarre foods, go to 7 minutes and 35 seconds to avoid watching him eat rotten fish... Yeah that I won't be doing, sorry.
http://youtu.be/oIsny-czbqA




Want to visit this restaurant?
http://www.pda.or.th/restaurant/

Planning a holiday... Accommodation Part 2

If you want to read about hotels, motels and hostels then refer to Accommodation Part 1, this post is about apartment rental, house swap and nomading.

Apartment Rental

This is becoming the more and more popular and is by far my favourite type of accommodation to use while travelling. There are two types of apartment rentals, serviced and non-serviced, both of which you will stay in a fully-equipped apartment with not only a bed and bath but also a kitchen(ette), living space, sometimes dining space and laundry facilities.

In the instance of 'serviced apartments' the apartment is usually serviced similar to a hotel where they will come and make your bed and replace your towels, the rest of the usual services you'd find at a hotel like room service, laundry services, porters and daily room cleaning usually aren't available in serviced apartments, meaning that costs are kept to a minimum. A non-serviced apartment is more likely to be privately owned, you basically rent out someones house or apartment for the length of your stay.

http://www.meritonapartments.com.au/

The Pros:

• The apartments are usually fully-equipped which means if you are staying for a long period you don't have to live off take-out, with a kitchen/ette you can buy groceries and prepare your own food, saving tonnes of money
• You have more space and facilities like a laundry which you would otherwise not have or have to pay extra for
• With less overheads the cost is usually a lot lower then a hotel
• Quite often the owners of the apartment will be readily available to give you advice and information on the area and attractions, places to eat and catch some entertainment

The cons:

• Serviced apartments have less servicing then standard hotels, there are no chances for room service or chocolates on your pillow
• Non-serviced apartments mean you have to leave it the way you found it, wash up any dishes you use and sometimes even bring your own bedding and towels
• They usually don't have the same amenities as a hotel, no gym, pool or spa. Although some serviced-apartments do have these.

https://www.airbnb.com.au/   - world wide, one of the more popular sites (my favourite)

http://www.cross-pollinate.com/      -  Europe and the UK only

http://www.venere.com/?kwp=100-255&ref=1650950     - world wide, also has hotels & B&B's

House Swap

House-swapping reminds me of the movie 'The Holiday' with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet... Basically you swap houses with someone! This can be a cheap alternative to an apartment rental, where you stay in someone else's fully-furnished home and they stay in yours. The only recommendation I will make is that you use an online site that is reputable and does a comprehensive check on everyone using the service. Most likely you will have to pay a fee and register to the site, but apart from that there should be a clean swap of living situations for whatever length of time you can agree on with your 'swappee'.

Pros:

• Cheap alternative to staying in an apartment rental or hotel
• You can immerse yourself in someone else's living situation and can avoid high-trafficked tourist areas
• Someone is watching your home while you're away
• You might meet Jude Law and fall in love (only if you're Cameron Diaz though)

Cons:

• There is a scrutinous process before you can be eligible for house-swap
• You really need to do a lot of research to make sure you don't end up swapping with the Manson family or something
• You're stepping into the unknown and can't rely on hotel policies or tripadvisor reviews to back you up
• Jack Black will most likely sing to you and embarrass you in a Video Rental Store in front of Dustin Hoffman (another 'The Holiday' reference if you haven't seen it)

http://www.aussiehouseswap.com.au/home

Nomading

The worlds most expensive caravan
http://www.marchi-mobile.com/en/world-of-elemment/luxury-rvs/

Otherwise known as renting a caravan or motor home and travelling from place to place... This can be
really cheap alternative (although not almost free like house-swap), or a really glamorous accommodation alternative. There is a massive variety of choices when it comes to nomading, you don't need to be confined to a single-berth rickety old caravan, now you can spend more then you would on a hotel room to rent a state-of-the-art mobile home with more amenities then you have in your own house.

Pros:

• You can see more because you are not confined to staying in one location
• Can be very cheap comparable to hotels
• You have the freedom to go more places then you would if you relied on public transportation

Cons:

• Staying in a caravan or motorhome can be cramped and unpleasant (especially if you have a toilet that needs emptying)
• You end up with extra costs of paying for camping sites when you do stop for the night
• Petrol costs can be expensive

https://www.airbnb.com.au/wishlists/airstreams/listings/1356448

Planning a holiday... Accommodation Part 1

I'm doing this post in two parts because I'm splitting between hotels, motels and hostels (part 1) and apartment rentals, house swap and nomading (part 2).

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/gallery/3254-10-to-try-iconic-hotels

Hotels

Hotels are establishments that provide accommodation, meals and other services for tourists, they are specifically set up to cater to all different travellers, whether you're a single, couple, family, travelling for business or pleasure. Hotels are very versatile, can easily customise your trip and they usually charge by the night.

They vary from serious budget to extravagance. You pay for what you get in hotels, if you just need somewhere to rest your head for the night or if you want the full kit and caboodle with every guilty pleasure imaginable.

Pros:

• No muss, no fuss, you can check-in and have everything done for you or retreat to your chamber and never see the light of day
• High-end hotels are fully-equipped with everything you need to the point of never having to venture out of the hotel for your entire stay- they have restaurants, cafes and bars, shops, gyms, spas, pharmacies, limousine and driver services, entertainment-music and shows.. And anything they don't have can be outsourced by helpful staff.
• You can customise your stay, being able to rent studio, one-bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom rooms and suites, you can accommodate up to 12 people at some hotels. You are able to choose cheaper or more expensive options to suit your holiday- if you want views, certain amenities etc.

Cons:

• Hotels can be very expensive especially for extended stays. 
• A lot of hotels basically supply a serviced room with beds, bathroom, a bar fridge and tea and coffee facilities. If you want meals you have to order room service or eat out which can be costly and impractical
• You pay for what you get, if you need parking you have to pay for it, if you use the minibar you have to pay for it, some hotels you have to pay for extra towels, laundering and any other basic services. These costs are optional and can be quite inflated

Motels

http://www.route66seligmanarizona.com/Historic_Route_66_Motel.php

A motel or 'motor hotel' are hotels designed for people needing to make a pit stop, or short stay while travelling cross country. They usually are a single building divided into standard rooms with very basic amenities, all of which facing a large parking lot (good for people with motor homes).

Motels are usually positioned on high-trafficked areas, on highways/freeways, and in commercial districts, with obvious signage which displays the vacancy of the motel. The purpose of this is so tourists driving can stop in for the night or any length of time without having to reserve a room beforehand. Being in areas with a heavy flow of traffic mean more people can easily access accommodation without having to stray from their designated travel routes.

Pros:

• Convenient for people travelling interstate or cross country, who need a place to sleep and bathe before resuming their travels
• Having only basic amenities means costs are low and people travelling on a budget can easily afford to stay in areas close to attractions without having to pay escalated prices
• If you are on a trip and are not sticking to a rigid schedule, motels are perfect because you don't have to pre book or ring ahead. Signage at the front will inform you if they have vacancy, making it easy to just come in off the street and instantly have a room read

Cons:

• As motels are in high-trafficked areas they can be noisy and busy
• Some motels in more corrupt areas are notorious for being the meeting points of criminals, drug addicts and prostitutes. Because of the way some motels are run (no need for pre-booking, no need for credit cards-running a cash business) they are a perfect safe house for fugitives.
• With the introduction of budget hotels and chain motels, many privately owned motels have gone into disrepair with the lack of clientele and business income.

Hostels

http://www.lonelyplanet.com

Hostels are usually a budget and social-oriented form of accommodation. Normally guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available.

Pros:

• Extremely cheap, even though now there is a wonderful variety of boutique hostels that are as schmick as a hotel
• Can be great if you're travelling in a large group and you can share a dormitory
• Can be equally great if you are travelling alone and can socialise with others at the hostel

Cons:

• Extremely budget, you will have to provide your own towels, sometimes your own bedding, and will have to share EVERYTHING with strangers. Including showers and toilets and sleeping arrangements. You. Will. Have. No. Privacy.
• Hostels have grown in popularity amongst young overseas travellers, you may be stuck in a room with a bunch of drunk Australians, rude Chinese, or space-consuming Americans (no stereotypes here, there are these kinds of people in all cultures...)
• A down side of communal living is your personal possessions are no longer sacred and can even be stolen.

Accommodation sites and links:

http://www.wotif.com for hotels and apartments

http://www.hostelworld.com/ for hostels

http://www.booking.com/motels/index.html for motels, also for hotels & apartment rental

http://www.super8.com/  a well known motel chain