Trip Report: Australia

July 1, 2015July 15, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / 1 Comment

Australia is a country synonymous with endless sunshine, a laid-back lifestyle, and iconic scenery. Its natural splendor captivates visitors with promises of grand adventures and its multicultural cities are bursting with a vibrant, youthful energy. From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef to the man-made Sydney Opera house, there was lots to do and see. It’s no wonder this country is one of the most popular travel destinations. Here is the cost breakdown of our trip to Australia: Continue reading →

11 Things To Do Around Sydney

April 23, 2015June 30, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / 5 Comments

Sydney is a vibrant, multicultural city surrounding one of the world’s largest natural harbors. Unlike other metropolises, this easy going city is known for its idyllic beaches and rugged national parks as well as its lively food scene and culture. There are so many things to do and see in Sydney, that we had a very packed schedule during our 5 day stay. Our goal was to see as many things as possible, from the sandy beaches to the mountains to the city. Here are the highlights of some of the places we visited in Sydney:

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Sydney: Bondi Beach

April 8, 2015April 8, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / 4 Comments

Sydney is a seaside city with many world famous beaches located right around the metropolitan area. Bondi Beach (pronounced: bond-eye) is one of the busiest and most popular beaches in the city, only about 30 minutes from the city center. It is well known for it’s soft white sand as well as prime surfing location. The beach is only 1 km long and receives hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world.

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Sydney: Graffiti

April 1, 2015April 1, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / 6 Comments

Sydney, like many other great cities around the world, has some incredible street art. The difference between Sidney and other cities is that they have a strict policy against graffiti. For the past decade, the city has continually inspected “hotspots”and removed many great murals as they get made. The government has a zero tolerance for street artists, and it is against to law for anyone to sell spray paint to a minor. It’s also against to the law for a minor to have any graffiti tool in their possession, and violators will be fined heavily. The stakes are high for these artists who wander the Sydney streets at night armed with spray cans, wanting to express themselves. Continue reading →

Eating in Sydney

March 27, 2015April 15, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / 3 Comments

I can’t believe it’s been four months since we set foot in Australia. I am excited to finally be able to share about our trip down under. A little bit about me before I dive into all the great places to eat in Sydney, I LOVE MasterChef Australia. I can’t emphasize this enough. I’ve watched every episode religiously, usually over dinner. It’s basically the only time I can watch the show without salivating and craving all the food. We could not wait to go to the restaurants that appeared on MasterChef and taste the wonderful, crazy concoctions ourselves. When we were planning our trip to Australia, we knew that food would be a major component of our overall experience. I’ve always felt that food is the heart and soul of a city. When you go to a new city, a great way to immerse yourself in the new environment is to venture out and try the food that locals eat. It’ll give you a great appreciation for the place and people.

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On the Road: Day 5 in Sydney

December 2, 2014May 22, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / Leave a comment

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.

On the Road: Day 4 in Bondi

December 1, 2014May 22, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / 3 Comments

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 Road: Day 3 in Blue Mountains

November 30, 2014May 22, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / Leave a comment

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.

On the Road: Day 2 in Newtown

November 29, 2014May 22, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / Leave a comment

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.

On the Road: Day 1 in Sydney

November 28, 2014May 22, 2015 / lifeafter9to5 / 1 Comment

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.