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

Our Next Trip.. AMERICA, NYC

We're well and truly on our way to planning our next adventure. We're heading to the U.S.A. for the first time over Christmas this year.

http://wnpr.org/post/rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-connecticut-born-and-raised

Our main reason for wanting to travel to the U.S. is because we want to experience a white Christmas. Growing up in Australia means our only Christmas experience has been over-eating prawns and ham,  drinking in the sweltering heat, droughts, tacky Aussie Santa anthems about 'riding in a rusted ute' (instead of a sleigh).

http://christmas.lovetoknow.com/Christmas_Traditions_in_Australia

We do love the summer Christmas, but we'd love to experience that picturesque white Christmas and all the things a typical American Christmas entails.

We have already booked a 9-day stint in New York City from Christmas Eve to the day after New Years Day so we get to experience the iconic festive atmosphere of NYC and we fully intend to take advantage of all the touristy goodness NYC has to offer in winter- ice skating in Rockafeller centre, seeing the big tree, an icy-cold carriage ride through central park (please let it snow!), and of course seeing the ball drop in Times Square.

Although I'm not totally driven by all the touristy things, I've already decided to try and find a spot that I can see the ball drop without actually packing into Times Square will the millions of other people that flock from around the globe to experience the same thing, I'm thinking maybe a nearby roof top party or something- it'll be worth the exorbitant cost to have that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

http://www.nyctrip.com/Pages/index.aspx?PageID=1444

I've compiled a list of must-see attractions, obviously the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (that's if the weather permits), the amazing museums that NYC have to offer like MoMa, and possibly a Broadway play, but more importantly I have compiled an even bigger list of foods I want to eat!

We have booked an apartment using airbnb in Chelsea, which is a district on the Western side of Manhattan known for its trendy cafes, shops and hipsters. As the saying goes- 'you know a place is up-and-coming in NYC when the gays move in, followed by the hipsters and eventually you can expect housing prices to boom and urban-grunge cafes to pop up on every corner'. Chelsea is one of those places.

Chelsea's amazing street art and Highline http://streetartnyc.org/blog/2012/05/22/award-winning-photographerartist-jr-in-manhattans-chelsea/

It's filled with culture, art, great food and nightlife, and that suits me just fine. I was sold on the idea when I discovered Chelsea Market, I can see this place being my home away from home (call me the market queen- I look for them everywhere I go!). It is also only about a 10-15 minute subway trip to all the big attractions like the Empire State Building.

I've also mapped out how I can get from our Chelsea apartment to places like 'The Bacon Triangle', Katz's Delicatessen and I have already decided our one fine dining experience will be at Eleven Maddison Park... I just will need to win big when we head to Vegas so I can bank roll our extravagant meal there.

http://katzsdelicatessen.com/

I'm super excited about this trip, we have plans to visit other parts of America and I will be posting about those places too! I'm also keen to hear any recommendations of things to do and see so feel free to comment or send an email with some words of wisdom!

My email:
elise.colella@gmail.com

Hangry x

Planning a holiday... Know where you're travelling

All travellers have fallen into the trap of being caught out not knowing about where they're heading. Sometimes it can be part of the fun of travelling- getting lost in a city and discovering some beautiful landmark or restaurant that you wouldn't have found otherwise, or getting to know the locals by having them help you out of a sticky situation. But sometimes it can put a real damper on your trip.

Being aware of the customs, do's and don't's of a place where you are travelling can the fine line between having the time of your life and the worst trip imaginable. Quite often it can be as simple as learning 2 or three words of the local tongue or familiarising yourself with their customs by checking out online forums on sites such as tripadvisor, or even buying a copy of a Lonely Planet guidebook.

How in depth you want to go into learning about where your travelling is totally up to you, but the more you know the more you're likely to enjoy it. I'm pretty crazy when it comes to researching places I want to travel- here are some steps I take for just the most basic of necessities (Food), how I find places to eat whenever I travel...

• Get online, if you have a smartphone then download some free apps like tripadvisor, urbanspoon and yelp. I usually hop on these BEFORE I go away and bookmark places in the vicinity to my accommodation so when I get there I can use that as a reference. If you don't have a smartphone, check out the websites on your computer and print out or write down the information of the places you want to go.
  

• Talk to people you know who have been there that can make recommendations. People love bragging about their holidays, so it's a good excuse for them to carry on about their experience but even better for you because they've been your test dummy. Keep in mind that places are constantly changing so if they went 20 YEARS AGO their information will be dated and probably not as useful as someone who was there last week.

• When you get there, before you even check-in, the best opportunity to find out about local must-see attractions is by taking a taxi. The first thing I do when I travel is befriend our first taxi-driver and ask for their insight on the best spots in town. Most taxi drivers know the city better then anyone else, they know the current hotspots and places the locals love. We did this all over Europe and ate at some of the most authentic and delicious restaurants in our lives! In Barcelona we ended up in Le Cherriff- 'The best paella in the world!'. And in Siena, Tuscany we had lunch and dinner at two different restaurants committed to using local produce and only cooking dishes typical of the area (no touristy Bolognese here!) they were both absolutely mind blowing and we would never have found them if we didn't ask our driver!

  

  Taxis in Berlin

• At check-in if you are staying at a hotel or motel, ask the people at the desk for information, they will easily send you in the right direction.. In Thailand we ended up being sent to a restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms and it was one of the funniest and surprisingly delicious restaurants we found in Bangkok. And funnily enough I saw an episode of Bizarre Food with Andrew Zimmern where he went there and ate some of the same stuff as us!

  

  Hotel Information

These are just a few ways you can suss out the local area, these techniques can not only be used for restaurants, but also for attractions, nightlife and anything else local.

Travel to Australia

The Aussie Outback, Broom, Image

For a long time Australia has been perceived as nothing but outback and bushland. The movie Crocodile Dundee put Australia on the map but only showed it in a certain light, there is so much more to Australia then kangaroo-shooting and killing snakes with our bare hands.

Australia is a diverse continent filled with so much variety in scenery, culture and cuisine. From white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters, to red dirt desert plains, there's a true magnificence to this 'sunburnt country' and being stereotyped as 'Outback Jacks' is something that is now fading into history.

I have lived in Australia my whole life and I think I will have been lucky enough to see about 5% of it. I live in a rural-suburban township about one and a half hours south of Sydney, NSW. Being in this locale means it's not hard for me to go visit NSW's capital and Australia's largest city.

Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge

Sydney is a special place, a bustling metropolis and mecca for people from all over the world. You won't be surprised to experience a rich Asian culture that has spread roots throughout Sydney CBD, and you don't have to venture far to experience hundreds of other cultures. Just like any other big city in the world, Sydney has been divided up into Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Greece... The list goes on.

Immigrants aren't the only people that define Australia though, we have a wonderful Indigenous culture that is one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world- dating back some 60,000 years, and along with it we have a rich history of how this ancient culture have lived and how they are continuously evolving their traditions and customs.

Having travelled abroad, although I don't pretend to be all-knowing, I have to admit the produce in Australia and the food scene is one of the best I have experienced. It's no secret that one of our most prime exports is beef, and lets be honest, if you've eaten Aussie Angus Beef there's no going back... Maybe I'm just biased but you should try it for yourself.

Yarra Valley Victoria

Having said all that, there really is no denying that Australia is a beautiful country. I made a promise to myself years ago that I wouldn't travel abroad for 'beach holidays' there's absolutely no point, and in all honesty I'm likely to be disappointed because I know that living in Australia I'm spoilt rotten for stunning beaches.

We have some of the most gorgeous scenery in the world.. I'm not going to describe it because a picture paints a thousand words- so here's 7 thousand words.

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays. A group of islands around the North-East Coast of Australia.. Just breathtaking

Melbourne, I already mentioned Sydney, but this place is the epicentre for food, shopping and culture in Australia. If it wasn't for Victoria's extreme weather I would already live there.

We may not have the best powder in the world, but we have a continent that's mostly desert and then some beautiful snow fields... That's a bit special in my opinion. 

Gorgeous landscapes. Uluru is an iconic Aussie site, and has a special place in Aboriginal culture. Look at that gorgeous red rock.

Beautiful Architecture. This is Sydney's QVB. Full of cafes and designer stores.

Kakadu National Park. On my bucket list...

The Great Barrier Reef National Marine Park. Better see this before it's gone, it's now an endangered world heritage site.

Moral to the story is that I love my homeland, I know I'm biased but I think it's the most beautiful country and I recommend everyone take a trip and come visit if you're able. You won't regret it :-)

Planning a holiday... Travel Insurance

Here's a hot tip: Don't skimp on travel insurance, go for a reputable company that offers different types of cover. I always go for a mid-range cover for smaller trips and if you are travelling to dangerous countries opt for a full-cover package. Safety is the most important thing when travelling so don't risk being caught out without proper coverage.

We've all heard the stories of people travelling abroad having an accident, getting sick, being snowed in, being robbed, falling down a well... Heaven for bid anything bad happen to you or someone you know but unfortunately unforeseen circumstances do arise and if you're not adequately covered it can end up not only ruining your holiday but can even impact your life.

I know it all sounds a bit dramatic, and what are the odds that it'll happen to you? Here's just a couple of things that can happen to even the cleverest traveller;

My mum, my friend and I went to Bali several years ago, now we all know how much a of bad wrap Bali gets for being 'dangerous'. Honestly, just like any other place in the world, whether you're in your home town or in a foreign country, if you break the law, drink to excess, forget all your inhibitions and carry on like a crazed teenager 'you're gunna have a bad time' -  in the words of South Park. 

So anyway, having said all that, no, we didn't get into trouble with the law. What actually happened was my mum got a minor case of 'Bali-belly' and ended up at the doctor. If it weren't for her travel insurance then she would have had to pay through the nose for treatment and medication.

On another holiday, my husband and I went skiing in New Zealand. I'm a terrible skier and although I didn't fall and hurt myself, we did skid on ice while driving at night on the way to Queenstown and puncture a tyre.

Our travel insurance covered the cost of the replacement tyre, and saved us having to pay the car rental company $200.

So as you see, even if you don't get into a bad accident, anything can happen and it's definitely worth having yourself covered if they do.

In Australia some good travel insurance providers are-

http://www.nrma.com.au/travel-insurance

http://www.travelinsurancedirect.com.au/

International (You can select your country of origin)

http://www.travelguard.com/

Planning a holiday... Flights

If you refer to my previous post Where to begin... You will have already decided the where, how and when of your travel.

All the rest is totally variable depending on what you decide to do.

I always begin planning by looking at the big expenses first; flights/travel, accommodation (usually the biggest expense), activities and day-to-day living while you're away.

Flights are usually the first thing I book, so I have my dates locked in and can plan the rest of the trip around that (I always do a budget up of how much the accommodation and expenses are first so that I don't book the flights and then realise I've over-commited and can't actually afford the trip, refer to links below for budget planners).

I never use a travel agent. I know it's a tough industry and I do pity the businesses that are closing because people aren't utilising the service as much, especially small business that is being muscled out by bigger companies. But the fact of the matter is, I'm not going to pay someone to do something I can do myself.

What most people don't know is, travel agents usually have contracts to other companies to use their services which may or may not be suited to you or the cheapest/most effective option. You might think you're getting a good deal with someone but in all honestly they're getting kickbacks from bigger agencies to bring the clientele.

For example, when my husband and I travelled to Europe, we used a travel agent to book the flight. Not sure why we did it that way, but we we're still novice travellers at that stage. We ended up paying $2100 (AUD) each return, to fly from Sydney to London, with a stop over for several hours in Hong Kong, which made our travel time something like 30 hrs.

Not long after purchasing these non-refundable flights, we saw on a website dedicated to booking flights all over the world, that we could have flown direct with another (more reputable) carrier for $1600 EACH. We would have saved $1000 (AUD) had we booked it ourselves.  Needless to say, we were less then impressed. Moral to the story- do your research, by all means book through an agent, but make sure they aren't pulling the wool over your eyes by telling you what a good deal they're giving you when there could be better deals out there.

Having said that, heed my warning that if you are booking through a website, ensure it's a reputable one, and ALWAYS get travel insurance.

Links for reference..

Budget Planners
(Personal)
https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources/calculators-and-tools/budget-planner
https://www.commbank.com.au/personal/accounts/budget-planner.html
(Holiday)
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-budget-calculator - Doing some quick research and inputting the data into here can tell you how much you'll need and how long it'll take you to get there.

Booking Flights
Tip: Check out some sites that provide cheap flights (Australia- lastminute, expedia, zuji), then compare the flight to the site of the airline and see if the prices are the same or comparable, if so, always book through the airline's actual site, you can avoid higher processing fees, and are less likely to run into strife if any issues should occur (flight changes, cancellations etc).

Image taken from http://www.mrwallpaper.com/view/airplane-flight-sunset-1920x1200/

A super-what?!

I stumbled across this today... A Luxury Topical Island Paradise Super-Yacht... Yeah, you heard me!

This ridiculous island-on-a-yacht comes complete with its own volcano, a waterfall that feeds the pool, Caribbean-inspired beach-huts and basically anything you can think of that you would experience in a tropical paradise hotel, all built into a 295ft ship.

But it doesn't end there. The company responsible for this concept has several variations on the Island Super-Yacht range, varying from designs representing the French Riviera, the Orient and even a futuristic Utopia, and each of these themes can be customised for the buyer.

So where can I get one, you ask? Well aside from the fact that they are yet to reveal the no-doubt 8-9 figure price tag, we can expect that only the super-rich and elite will be owning one of these and the average person like you or I will never set eyes on one.

But never fear, the fact of the matter is that you don't have to spend $100,000,000.00 to see a tropical paradise. Although the novelty and beauty of owning your own island on a yacht is quite appealing, there's a real life, natural paradise out there and you can go see it in several places around the world- Australia, Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean... Just to name a few.

But if you have the cash to spare, I say go for it! And don't forget to invite me on your maiden voyage!

Want to know more?

http://www.yachtislanddesign.com/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017986/Your-portable-tropical-island-A-new-super-yacht-functioning-volcano-helicopter-pad.html
http://amazingezone.com/technology/fantastic-tropical-island-paradise-superyacht/

Images taken from yachtislanddesign.com