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.
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.
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.
Mui Ne, Viet Nam
It’s hard to believe that this dessert is located next to the ocean in the tropical city of Mui Ne, Viet Nam. Mui Ne used to be a small fishing village but has blossomed into a full blown resort town full of upscale hotels. Just down the street from all the new fancy resorts are the photogenic Red Sand Dunes. The contrasting warm sand against the cold blue sky makes for very pretty photos.
During our stay in this quaint beach town, we decided to visit this natural attraction and go sand dune sledding. The minute you get out of the car, you are swarmed by the local children that compete to get your attention. They want to guide you up the dune to the best spot to go sand sledding. They also want to rent you the sled, which is nothing more than a thin sheet of plastic that you can sit on and hold for dear life as you slide down the hill. We spent an hour or two happily frolicking in the sand, taking turns rolling around and launching ourselves off of the hot dunes. This spot is frequented by many locals and foreign visitors. As dusk approaches, people gather here to watch the last sun rays fall over the rippling sands.
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.
As you may know, we’re traveling to Australia in a few weeks. Three weeks out, it finally dawned on us that we still haven’t gotten our travel visa yet and we need to get on it ASAP. Since we have passports from one of the few countries that are allowed to apply for an electronic visitor visa to Australia, we thought it would be quite simple: fill out the form online, pay the $20AUD fee, and and be on our way. The whole electronic visa process is supposed to be hassle free with a high acceptance rate of 99.8%. But nothing is ever easy or hassle free when I travel, and it turns out that I am in that special 0.2% that got rejected – with no explanation and also no refund for the $20AUD fee. So this post is not so much about travel tips as it is things you should not do from my personal experience.
Thingvellir, Iceland
On our trip to Iceland, we had a car and drove around the Golden Circle. One of the stops was at Thingvellir National Park in the south west. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the world’s longest running Parliament, first congregated in 930 AD. At that time people gathered here from all over Iceland every year during the Commonwealth period. Now, Thingvellir is still considered to be the main meeting place for Icelanders, where they come together and and celebrate the most significant occasion in the history of the nation.
Aside from it’s historical significance, Thingvellir is also the land of many dramatic landscapes. Walking through the park, you can clearly see the rocky cliff of the largest exposed continental rift between the North American and Eurasian plates. This picture is of the frozen Oxara river in the heart of Thingvellar. The tundra landscape was as desolate as it was breathtaking. In late November, winter here is well under way, and we had to cover up in many layers just to stay warm.
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 