Blue sky, white sand, clear water. Paradise is the perfect word to describe Whitehaven, one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to. The clear water reflects the blue sky, creating varying shades of turquoise. The sand is so fine and white, it feels like baby powder on your feet. This place might have ruined all other beaches for me.
Today was the first relaxing day of the vacation where we spent most of the day lounging around the island going from the beach to the pool. We were hanging out by the pool during the sunset and we saw the sky light up with colors. Perfect time to try out a bunch of cheesy poses.This is the resulting photo showing my reflection against the vibrant background.
We left Sydney early this morning and headed to the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland. These tiny islands are right next to the Great Barrier Reef and surrounded by impossibly blue water as far as the eye can see. It’s truly paradise on Earth. We are blessed to be able to wake up to this view for the next few days.
If you’ve ever watched Masterchef Australia then you should be familiar with the ‘Snow Egg’ created by Peter Gilmore. On our last day in Sydney, we splurged and went to Quay to experience this signature dish first hand. The meal built crescendo as each course out-performed the last, ending with this memorable dessert.
Today we headed out of the city to Bondi, famous for it’s crystal blue water and white sand beach. We spent the morning soaking up the sun and jumping waves. Bondi is also the perfect place to people watch. The beach is filled with surfers, sunbathers, and people frolicking in the water taking advantage of the beautiful Australian weather.
On the third day, we drove to the Blue Mountains and hiked on one of Australia’s finest bush walking trails. We descended vertically down the rock face into a valley where we were surrounded by lush greenery. Looking up we saw a stunning view of the cascading waterfalls.
This picture was taken in an alleyway in Newtown/Enmore, a suburb 15 minutes outside of downtown Sidney. This hip area is full of eclectic shops, small sidewalk cafes, and lots of graffiti. The relief sculpture of the skull with an acronym edged in was found all over town, this particular black skull against the flower petals is unique because it creates an interesting juxtaposition.
After 26 long hours of flying, we finally made it to Sydney. The weather is beautiful, but that seems to be the norm here. This picture was taken from the back of the Manly Beach ferry. You can see the Sydney opera house and the bridge in the distance as the boat pulled out of Circular Quay.
I am so excited that Australia is finally here! This will be our first long vacation in two years, so instead of running around like crazy for a weekend, this will actually feel like a vacation. But before the fun vacation part, we’ll have to do the not so fun packing part. I’ve gotten so used to packing for weekend trips, that I don’t know what to do when I have to plan out what to pack for 2 weeks in advance. You’d think after all traveling we do that I’ve got this packing thing down, but no, Fausto is the packer in our relationship. He just has a way with fitting everything nice and perfectly into the suitcase (must be all the Tetris he played as a kid). My problem is I can never decide what to wear and it varies depending on the weather, where I am going, and my mood; so planning ahead of time is impossible.
London, England
Earlier this year, on our weekend trip to Dubai, we had a long layover in London and decided to venture out of the airport. We spent the day lounging in a pub and hitting up a few tourist sites. The one place that we absolutely had to visit was St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the most historical and recognizable landmarks in London. St. Paul’s Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of London, and is located in the heart of the city near the millennium bridge. Many important services have been held in the hallowed hall of this famous church including the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill.
Coming off a red-eye flight and climbing up 528 steps to the Golden Gallery, the highest point of the outer dome, was quite challenging. The stairs were narrow and winding as you ascend to the top. Once you reach the pinnacle, the panoramic views of London are worth the effort and make you forget your fatigue. From our vantage point we could see down the River Thames, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey in the distance.
Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.
life after 9to5 