Simon's Sista Saw

April Sun in Cuba

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:54:00 +0000

As my last day in Cuba draws to a close, I'm falling more in love with the place. I spent the morning at the chocolate museum (more cafe than museum) & the Cuban art gallery before heading to a nearby beach for the afternoon.

I've had the last few days to myself here in Havana. Before that I traipsed around the island as part of a group tour (Gecko's Vintage Cuba for those interested). Outside of Havana, we visited Cinfuegos, Trinidad, Santa Clara, Vinales, Caye Levisa & Soroa. The scenery, both in the towns and between, has been phenomenal. One of the most stunning places I think I've visited. The towns so colourful (people & buildings), the mountains dramatic, palm tree jungles & crystal blue waters.

I'm yet to tire of the sight of old fords and chevrolets rolling down the street, the taste of ice cold daiquiri frappes or of fresh pineapple juice. Even the smell of cigars is growing on me.

I built this place up in my mind, having wanted to come here for so long before now. It's lived up to every expectation, and more.

And now, as the trova begin playing Guanamerra, it's my cue to finish my cafe cortada and head back out into the bustle one last time.

{I've loved my new camera so much I've taken barely any pics on my phone these last two weeks. Photo posts will follow.}

The Bag on My Back: What I'm Taking

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:22:00 +0000

I'm currently packing for my two month trip that starts tomorrow. It got me thinking about what I take all the time. Whilst the destination affects the clothes I pack, there are a lot of travel staples for me. I've mostly shown these below. Toiletries and clothes haven't really been covered. Maybe I'll come to them another time. I've certainly got some staple must haves there.

I'm curious what you're must pack/must have things are as well. Leave a comment and let me know.

Things to note though on some of these items:

The Sony Nex6 with twin lenses is new to me. I previously had a Panasonic DMC TZ30 which I loved but it broke after coming into contact with too much sand and rain in Africa. When it came time to replace it, I decided to make the jump and upgrade. The Nex6 with the 16-50 and 55-200 lenses is what I chose and so far, I'm loving it.
The new camera needed a new camera bag. Shirking some of the more traditional ones, I got the Crumpler one shown and I love it. It's got room at the back for a few handbag type things and all the padding/compartments for camera and lenses as well. I've got the small but I would imagine DSLR users would need the medium or large. The bag is the handbag like bag in the second set.
My iPhone is a 4S and is housed in a lifeproof case. It just makes sense for me when travelling. The case isn't that large or cumbersome so I imagine it will stay in there longterm (this case was a gift from my ibrother and is new to me but I'm loving it so far, after having admired some friends using one in Africa).
My ipod is whatever generation was current 6 years ago. The battery life on it is far better than my phone, not to mention storage capacity so whilst it doesn't get much use at home, it always gets taken along. I love the y-splitters for earbuds as well so you can share your tunes easily with bus buddies and the like.
Kindle. Feel free to suggest any amazing books you've read recently, especially any set in Central America.
I have a nexus 7. I'm on the fence as to whether I take it. I used it a lot in India and Nepal but barely at all in Africa.
USB stick so back up photos onto if I want to along the way.
Second cameras are always handy, especially when waterproof etc. In theory, Sueproof
The pebble charger was initially bought for a music festival a few years ago but has been so useful is many situations. It holds 4 x iPhone charge and can be used on any USB charged gadget.

Technology to go by simonssista featuring tech accessories

Kindle, 170 AUD / iPod, 240 AUD / Tech accessory / ASUS - Tablet- Nexus 7 / Sony NEX 6 Body | Sony Digital SLR Cameras | Ted's Camera Stores -... / Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT20 Digital Camera - Digital Cameras | Harvey... / Veho Pebble Mini Portable Battery Pack Charger / Verbatim MEMORY CARD STORE N GO USB DRIVE 4GB - The Good Guys,... / 3.5mm Earphone Headphone Splitter Cable Adapter Black - Tmart.com

Non tech things that I have. I've shown the actual brands I have but these are things I find useful.

I saw the Scrubba on Yes&Yes and I love it. It makes handwashing super easy and doubles as my dirty washing bag until washing day. I also have a pegless washing line (not shown).
Dry bags. Can you ever have too many? These, along with the packing cells, get used in keeping my back sorted.
My backpack is the Osprey Waypoint 65. I like it. Love might be too strong a word. The jury is out. It is certainly light weight and comfortable to carry which are important. I wish the 65 came with the lower zip that the 85 came with though.
The daypack pictured folds up to the size of a cadbury cream egg. Super useful. Mine is actually a plain grey colour so far less in your face. Which I like.
The Merrell's shown are the comfiest shoes I've ever owned. It's hard to find walking sandals that don't make you look like you don't believe in sex, deodorant and bras. These are the best I could do. Whilst they're not the cutest sandal around, they are cute enough and just so so so comfortable. I pretty much wore them everyday in Africa (yeah, I got some bad tan lines!)
Casio Baby G. The watch our teenage dreams were made of. This is my second one (after breaking my last one on a rock in Malawi before then jumping off the cliff into water, thereby really killing it. I really only where them on the road, preferring a much daintier watch for everyday life.
Head torch - small but efficient. Handy when camping (as I will be) and in hostels. Takes up so little room.
I like the cable locks better than the traditional locks as one lock can do a few zippers on your pack at once.
I loathe travel towels so have for a while used a cotton scarf. Now I have a kikoy from Kenya to take.

Things to go by simonssista featuring leather strappy sandals

Merrell leather strappy sandals, 67 AUD / Havaianas Slim orient grey silver, 26 AUD / Head Lite 1 LED - Black / Waypoint 65 - Women's - Osprey Packs, Inc :2013: Official Site / The Kikoy Co. :: Classic Kikoy : Diani Turquoise / Crumpler Mild Enthusiast (S) camera bag / humangear - GoToob / Sea to Summit ultra sil dry packs / The Scrubba™ Wash Bag - Pocket-size Travel Washing Machine / Packing Cell v2 - Black Charcoal / Casio Women's BG1006SA-1CR Baby-G Black And Pink Digital Sport Watch... / travel pillow / Buy Sea to Summit ultra-sil daypack Online | Paddy Pallin / TSA Small Cable Lock - Black

What are your travel must haves? Any questions on any of these?

Easter Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 22:49:00 +0000

Easter is a time for reflections. For reflecting on it’s meaning and story* predominantly, but for me this year, it's about reflecting on where I’ve been.

I knew moving home to Australia would mean a different lifestyle to what I lead in London. One of the biggest differences is the ability to fly off to another part of the world for the weekend cheaply and easily. Easter, being a four days weekend was a prime opportunity to escape London and I did so faithfully every year I called the city home.

This year, like those that came before my London life, Easter will be a time for family. A time for easter egg hunts on the farm, for Lynne’s chocolate mousse, for watching aussie rules, for being lazy.

What are your Easter plans?

*I'm not deliberately being dismissive of the meaning and importance of Easter but I do try to keep religion of the blog, including my beliefs

What's Next?

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:34:00 +0000

This. Another holiday.

This is actually happening. I'm going to Cuba, finally. And whilst I'm in the region, I'm going to a bunch of other places as well.

I've wanted to go to Cuba for a number of years now and it's something I want to do before Fidel dies. In my naivety I expect his eventual passing to have a lasting impact on the place. I want to go and see it before then. From Cuba, I'll head south to Panama before making my way north to then fly home from Cancun.

As always, I'll go with the intention of blogging and updating you all. And as always, Instagram will be where I'm sharing the pictures.

Gorillas in the Mist

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:23:00 +0000

Muzungus* in the mud

Another animal highlight of my trip (of which there were so so many) was without a doubt gorilla trekking in Uganda.

We trekked in the ever so aptly named Bwindi Impenetratable Forrest for the Nshongi family of gorillas. A 7 hour round trip trek, both the toughest and the most rewarding, amazing day hike I’ve ever done. Making things easier was my wonderful porter, Norman, who along with carrying my bag for me and helped me up and down, kept spirits high with his entertaining stories and jokes.
We hiked with a guide up front, porters throughout and a gunman behind with the aim of finding our family’s trackers who had in turn, found our family. Trackers for each family set off around 7am to where the family was last seen the day prior and track them from there. We then set off at 8am, walking poles at the ready to meet the trackers and then the gorillas.
After about four hours tough slog we met up with our trackers. We removed bags, dropped poles and set off on the final trek to the gorillas. Thinking it would be a few hundred metres, I was stunned when I turned the first corner and came face to face with them.

What followed was an hour in their company, some with the younger members (there are no infants in this family due to a family split a few years ago) and some with the silverback. They’re peaceful, expressive majestic animals.

{The last photos shows just some of the mud this muzungu was covered in after sliding a good 20metres down a hill in the splits position, left leg leading. The other two on the last row show the gorillas without zoom to give you an indication of just how close we were to these beauties}

After our hour was up, we coasted back to the starting point, all on a high from what we had just experienced. Covered in mud, I don’t think I’ve ever been so in awe of nature.

{a short clip where you can hear just how loud the insects were}

*Muzungu – an often used swahili word for white person / tourist.

___________________________________________________
Specifics:
I did the trek as part of Acacia Africa’s Gorilla Encounter 14 day tour and they organised our permits. We stayed by Lake Bunyoni both before and afterwards so had a drive of a couple of hours each way to the trekking start point. Permits to trek with gorillas in Uganda are $500USD ($400USD in the DRC and $750USD in Rwanda) and specify which family of gorillas you trek with. 50% of the permit is refunded if you don’t see the gorillas but trekking can continue for up to 8hours (1 way, so in theory 16 in all) before they consider it a fail. Porters can be hired for the day and Norman, our porter (shared with a friend) was the best $20USD I spent on the trip). The family I trekked is one of 9 family in Uganda habituated to humans. Maximum trekking group size is 8 and maximum time spent with the family is 1 hour. It’s not a cheap outing but a phenomenal one.

{Lake Bunyoni at dawn and dusk}

Giraffes at Sunrise

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:36:00 +0000

My favourite African animal, for sure. Well, alongside elephants. And zebras. And maybe the gorillas? But giraffes. At sunrise. Playing with each other. Be still my giraffe loving heart.

These were taken during an early morning game drive at Etosha National Park, Namibia. I could have stayed and watched them for hours.

What’s your favourite African animal? I was lucky to see so many on the trip but I didn’t get great photos of all.

Where I went- the holiday to home

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:58:00 +0000

There is just so much to share with you about my trip from London to Melbourne. I'm still sorting through the thousands of photos I took, editing some of the video and gathering my thoughts on how to best share.

For now though, I'm just going to list out my route in a style similar to Breanna's route sharing over at This Battered Suitcase.

LONDON - MUSCAT* - KATHMANDU - KATHMANDU VALLEY - POKHARA - KATHMANDU - VARANASI - AGRA - LUCKNOW - DEHLI - KOCHI - THEKADDY - VARKALA - KOCHI - MUMBAI* - JOHANNESBURG * - CAPETOWN - CITRUSDAL - ORANGE RIVER - FISH RIVER CANYON - SESRIEM - BETHANIE - SWAKOPMUND - SPITZEKOPPE - ETOSHA - WINDHOEK - GOBABIS - GHANZI - MAUN - OKAVANGO DELTA - MAKGADIKGADI - BULAWAYO - MATOBOS - HWANGE - VICTORIA FALLS - CHOMA - LOWER ZAMBESI - LUANGWA - LUSAKA - SOUTH LUANGWA - LILLONGWE - KANDE BEACH - CHTIMBA - IRINGA - DAR ES SALAAM - STONETOWN - NUNGWI - DAR ES SALAAM* - NAIROBI - LAKE NAKURU - ELDORET - KAMPALA - QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK - LAKE BUNYONI - BWINDI IMPENETRATABLE FORREST - KABALE - KIGALI - JINJA - NAIVASHA - NAIROBI - DUBAI - MELBOURNE.

The abridged version is:

UK - NEPAL - INDIA - SOUTH AFRICA - NAMIBIA - BOTSWANA - ZIMBABWE - ZAMBIA - MALAWI - TANZANIA - KENYA - UGANDA - RWANDA - UGANDA - KENYA - UAE - AUSTRALIA.

For reference and explanation, most of my time in Africa was part of two distinct overland tours. Cape Town through to Dar Es Salaam was this one with Dragoman (in reverse for me). The gorilla trip was Acacia Africa's Gorilla Encounter. I'll share my thoughts on the pros and cons of overlanding, group tours, these specific tours etc in the coming weeks.

*These were airport stopovers only and don't go on my trip advisor map. Kigali, Rwanda, is the only town I've included where we didn't spend the night.

{Picture at top is the view from the tail camera on the Emirates A380 as we came into Melbourne to land, as seen on my in seat entertainment screen}

Home

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:09:00 +0000

Sweet home.

I’ve been here one week now. Some nights in Melbourne but mostly on the farm. Doing not a lot but somehow keeping busy.

It’s an interesting time for me. To come is the job hunting, the flat hunting, the home making. But for now, it’s the relaxing, the unwinding, the slowing down. That might seem strange given

I’ve had 4 months off now, holidays for 3 months of it. I’m relaxed and I came home relaxed. But I’ve also come home wondering what is next for me. Do I stay in finance? (probably, it’s all I know). How can I stay in finance whilst working a job that lets me spend my days outdoors in thongs (flip flops), shorts and a tank top. That lets me take more than 4 weeks leave a year. Or is that it for the next while. And if that is it, should I take advantage of my current, rent free, freedom and head off on the next trip. And then come home and home make. And if that’s what I decide to do, where is the next trip, when the places I want to go are spread so wide. All decisions that will come with time. I’m in no rush. I’ve saved for these days.

And on less philosophical thoughts, here’s a taster of what my first week at home has looked like.

{Beach, farm and sunsets. A pretty true representation of time.
Not pictured – friends, family, tim tams, twisties and potato cakes.}

The final leg: DXB to MEL

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:37:00 +0000

I'm sitting in a cafe in Dubai Airport waiting for flight EK406 to be called, to whisk me (in 14 hours) to Melbourne, to my home.

I'm wondering if I should by the watch I can't stop thinking about. A hunky Baby-G one that would so neatly replace my former Baby-G, a faithful servant of four years until I lost it rock jumping in Malawi.

I'm wondering if I made the right decisions on perfume at the duty free store. I love what I chose (D&G's new one, Femme I think) but will I love it for all 100ml?

I'm wondering just how soon I will get to see everyone once I'm home. My niece and nephew especially. And how soon I can have a plate of greens. Fresh produce, cooked by me for me.

I'm wondering what movies I might watch on board, or if I will sleep (I'm pretty tired and a pretty decent plane sleeper).

I'm wondering all these things, little things. I'm not wondering if I've made the right decision though. Melbourne is home.

Update - Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:39:00 +0000

It's fantastic. It's both similar and different to how I thought it would be. I'm loving the trip and on the realisation last week I had less than a month to go made me sad. Not sad to see everyone in Melbourne, but sad the wandering is coming to an end for now.

Wifi here is hard to come by and slow when found. Updating things online has fallen down my priority list, hence the radio silence. One day, I'll fill in the blanks. Instagram has some pics on it but even that is sparse. Man, I'm in Africa and I'm so busy soaking it all in, hour along, being etc. it's both what I want and what I need.

That said, the headlines would mostly be animal orientated. Seeing the big 5, seeing the small 5, seeing a black mamba (not a euphemism in this instance), close encounters with giraffe, elephant & zebra, seeing a leopard kill. That was amazing but saddening as well.

Oh, and seeing friends' canoe getting flipped & broken by a hippo on the Zambesi. That was quite something.

Landscapes as well are amazing. I'm in awe daily. Dry red dunes of the Namib desert, verdant valleys & mountains of Zambia, the power of Vic Falls in wet season, wine lands of South Africa, the kalahari, the Okavango Delta.

I'm loving it all. I want to share it all with you and I will, but for now, I'm on the road 100%

India, Africa & Now

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:41:00 +0000

India has now been and gone and since Christmas day I've been in Cape Town, South Africa.

I have so many thoughts, stories & photos I want to share on my time in india but my spare time never seems to match up with wifi access. My itinerary ended up including some time in the north (Varanasi, Agra, Lucknow) and some time in the south (Fort Cochin, Alleyepp, Periya & Varkala). The two areas were hugely different and whilst the sights were amazing in the north, I did find it challenging at times. The south was slower, easier & far more relaxing.

Tomorrow I join my overland group and begin the trip north to Dar Es Salaam. I'm all stocked up on sunscreen, insect repellant & anti-malarials so wish me luck.

I hope you all had great Christmases with your family and they were a little more festive than mine!

Pokhara, Nepal

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:36:00 +0000

The starting point for many a long distance trek and a global home to adventure sports, Pokhara is somewhere I knew I'd visit when I made it to Nepal. This post is a bit positive, happy, everything's the best etc but really, that's just because I've had a thoroughly good time here.

With time (& fitness, but mainly time) not on my side, any thoughts of trekking were put to the side. I'd love to one day walk the Annapurna Circuit but I'm absolutely not fit enough to enjoy it right now. That, and it would take up most of this month meaning no India for me, and would require my hiking boots etc (I.e. gear I don't want in my backpack come Africa).

Anyway, with only two days in pokhara (and two days to get here & back from Kathmandu), there was lots to see with little time.

Paragliding was a must, zip lining a maybe (worlds longest zip line opened here last year and IT LOOKS AMAZING), sunrise at Sarangkot, a hike to the World Peace Pagoda (or Stupa), a row on the lake & a visit to the local Tibetan refugee settlements also in mind.

Paragliding did happen and it was fantastic. I wore comfy clothes (heck, I'd been up side before sunrise & hiking) so I look a chubby bogan in the photos, but a happy chubby bogan at that. I opted for the 30minute panorama flight (the shortest of the offerings) and it was perfect. Peaceful, stunning and perfect.

Sunrise from Sarangkot was also worthwhile. The hotel's driver took me as far as he could and then I walked/climbed the rest. I was one of the first to the viewpoint but many more came later. It was stunning and magical and all the things, despite the crowd. I must say though, I chuckle when I see people with expensive camera gear, tripods etc, photographing sunrise with their flash firing.

The walk to the Peace pagoda was the most strenuous thing I've done so far this trip and it reaffirms how not-fit-for-trekking I am right now. In hindsight, I should have boated across the lake & taken the shorter path but whatever, I took the long one and went around. So worth it.

The remainder of my time hasn't consisted of boating or visiting Tibetan settlements (next time I hope!) but wandering, siting, watching & shopping*. This trip goes for 3 months so as much as I want to see and do all the things, it's just not practical.

*Shopping for what I hear you ask? Well jewellery & scarfs of course, as always. No doubt they will appear in pics on instagram in the coming days.

Kathmandu - Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:52:00 +0000

Walking around wide eyed today. This city is an assault on your senses but a wonderful one. So busy, so hectic yet so welcoming.

A cooking class in the morning, a walking tour in the afternoon, some aimless wandering in between. An early night to come (thanks jet lag).

Disneyland Paris; My 31st Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:04:00 +0000

{Indiana Jones & the Temple of Peril, moi, Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain, Walt & Mickey inside Walt Disney Studio Park}

A 4:30am alarm.
A 5:00am taxi pickup.
A 6:18am Eurostar train from St Pancras International, London, to Gare du Nord, Paris.
Some confusion with the RER tickets.
RER B to Chatelet Les Halles.
RER A to Marne La Vallée–Chessy,
aka Parc Disneyland.

I had wondered in the lead up if heading to Disney was an age appropriate way to celebrate a 31st birthday. I needn't have. The excitement the five of us were generating was testament to it being a perfect way to celebrate. Some Disney virgins, some Disneyland Paris virgins and some Disney lovers. All adults, all as excited as kids on Christmas eve.

The first 15 minutes or so inside Disneyland Park was magical. It was the happiest place on earth. It was amazing, seeing the palace and taking it all in. Minnie ears purchased, off to the rides.
Collected a fast pass for Big Thunder Mountain, queue for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. Eat magical popcorn (aka sweetened cinnamon popcorn) and a dirty burger for lunch, ride Big Thunder Mountain. Scream in the dark. Pose for photos.

Head to Walt Disney Studios Park. Queue for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Scream, nearly wet my pants. Laugh. Queue for Aerosmith’s Rock n Roller Coaster. Scream some more, laugh some more. Buy more Minnie ears (this time sparkly sequinned ones), a few other souvenirs. Admire the over the top Christmas lights.

RER A to Chatelet Les Halles.
RER B to Gare du Nord.
A 8:13pm Eurostar train from Gare du Nord, Paris to St Pancras International, London.
Champagne on board. More laughs. A quick nap.
Arrive in London 9:47pm.
Farewell friends.
A tube and a bus, get home 22:35pm.
Sleep.

{champagne, ears and friends, aboard the Eurostar}

A seriously fantastic whirlwind of a day out. More time at Disney would have been great but the aim was always to keep it cheap and do a day trip and I wouldn’t change that. We didn’t get to go on many rides but we went on the ones with the biggest thrills and screamed a plenty! Space Mountain was closed as were the Teacups. Another trip to a Disney may be in my future for there are still the classics to ride – Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, It’s a Small World, the Teacups, Pirates of the Caribbean etc.

A really great way to celebrate a birthday. A really great way to say goodbye to friends and a fitting final weekend European jaunt. Thanks friends, thank-you.

Have you been to any of the Disney parks? This was my first time and I think I might be hooked now.

And then it was over…

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:08:00 +0000

The view of the Shard from the end of my (old) street in Wapping.

As for what’s next? I fly out to Kathmandu, Nepal tonight. I’ve a month to spend in Nepal and India, flying from Mumbai to Cape Town at the end of December.

From Capetown, it’s up through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Stopping along the way, I hope to see Fish River Canyon, Swakopmund, Etosha National Park, the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, Matobo National Park, the Zambesi, the beaches of Lake Malawi, Zanzibar, the Great Rift Valley, Lake Victoria and mountain gorillas on a trek.

A few nights of luxury in Dubai on route and then home. Melbourne.

Posting will be lighter than ever I imagine. I’ll try and post as I go but the best way to keep in touch is through Instagram.

30: The Year That Was

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:06:00 +0000

Captions at bottom of post

Sunday marks my 31st Birthday. What a non milestone huh? Befittingly, I will be spending the day packing my boxes for the shippers to collect on Monday. Still, it’s been a fantastic year so I want to get a few points down.

It started in the Czech Republic, hangover after celebrating my 30th friends until the not so small hours of the morning. It ends at Disneyland Paris (where I will be spending tomorrow with a bunch of friends).

It included a trip home to Australia, to stand beside my friend as she married her best, to parasail with my brother over Moreton Island, to wake up Christmas morning at the family farm.

It included some solo travel to places I’d longed to visit. Solo to Cornwall, Guernsey, Denmark & Sweden.

It included some group travel when I wasn’t as brave or organised: Jordan, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan.

It included some travel with friends when the stars, our diaries and our interests aligned; Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, Poland, Scotland, Croatia & Ukraine as well as around England.

It included walking across England, 320kilometres from coast to coast

It included returning to being a meat eater, albeit slowly and tentatively at first.

It included switching roles at work, a change I was thankful for and will hopefully help with the job hunt when I return.

It included my first (and most likely last) flying lesson.

It included lots of good food and coffee and indulgences.

It included more time on my own than usual. A lot of solo time this year, time to think and read and make some big decisions.

And lastly, and probably of the most importance, all these things led to it including packing up and taking the steps to say goodbye to London, and this life I’ve carved out here.

Here’s to next year, and all that it brings.

Pictures are, L-R, top – bottom:
Prague | Brunswick Street, Melbourne | Parasailing off Moreton Island, Queensland | Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall | the Monastery, Petra, Jordan | Great Pyramids, Giza, Egypt | An ape overlooking Gibraltar
A watchtower at Auschwitz II-Birkenau, Poland | the view from atop Ben Nevis, Scotland | out for a bike ride, Sark, Channel Isles | Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen
Turning Torso, Malmo, Sweden | Setting on a long walk, St Bees’s, West coast of England | Dubrovnik, Croatia | Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kiev, Ukraine
Durdle’s Door, Dorset, UK | Tup Kol, Kyrgyzstan, Aksu River, Aksu Zhabagly, Kazakhstan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

My London: Coffee

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 19:38:00 +0000

I’ve had more coffees at my favourite London cafes in the last few weeks than is probably good for me. It’s been a like a farewell tour of them all, visiting them all one last time. And so that in a years time when I think back to now, I can remember the details on the cafes I liked, here is my guide to coffee in London. This guide also is for a friend that will be visiting soon after I leave (sod's law right? At least I will see her back in Melbourne). She's not here long but she doesn't deserve bad coffee. I've mapped them out at the bottom as well.

It’s getting better but the high street is still dominated by the big chains. My advice would be to just avoid them. Seriously, they’re pretty awful and in the more touristy parts of town, you're never more than a ten minute walk from a coffee (a coffee that is worth the walk!). At a push Cafe Nero is better than Starbucks or Costa but really only at a push. All do decent hot chocolates though if you find yourself there.

Most of the cafes I like are also chains, but much much smaller ones with 2 or 3 locations. Some roast onsite, others don’t. All are consistently good with their coffee. My standard order is for a flat white but most have filter, aeropress and other brew methods. Not all are opened Sundays so keep that in mind.

Ok, they are:

Monmouth Coffee
27 Monmouth Street | Covent Garden | London WC2H 9EU
2 Park Street | The Borough | London SE1 9AB

The queues at the Borough Market shop get a bit ridiculous but if you’re also buying beans you can jump ahead. Even with the ridiculous queues, I’d wait and get one. Single cup size, strong coffee. Their espresso blend was for a long time the beans I used at home. They serve some food (pastries and cakes) but I’ve never eaten at their stores, only ever getting coffee. Monday – Saturday only.

Kaffeine
66 Great Titchfield Street | London | W1W 7QJ

A Kiwi owned and run chained, home to the best ANZAC cookies of my life. Away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, they have some delicious salads and food as well as the brilliant coffee. And, added bonus - OPEN SUNDAYS!!

Tapped and Packed
No.26 Rathbone Place | London | W1T 1JD
No.114 Tottenham Court Road | London | W1T 5AH
No.193 Wardour Street | Soho | W1F 8ZF

I don’t know a lot about this company but I love going to their Rathbone Place store and I’d recommend you visit it as well. Along with the tables for 2 and 4s, there is a long comfy bench for solo sippers like I often am. Monday to Saturday only.

Flat White / Milk Bar
flat white - 17 Berwick Street | Soho | W1F 0PT
Milkbar - 3 Bateman street | Soho | W1D 4AG

Two contrasting cafes owned by the same guys. Flat white has gone with dark and gloomy/edgy interiors whilst Milk Bar is lightness and sunshine (I love the multi coloured fly straps painted on the door a la milk bars of my childhood). Both do great coffee. Milk Bar also have free sparkling/still water from a self serve tap (I can’t remember if Flat White does but given I love a sparkling water with my coffee, this pleases me no end!)

Taylor Street Baristas
Unit 3 Westminster House, Kew Rd | Richmond | TW9 2ND
1A New St | London (Liverpool Street) | EC2M 4TP
125 Old Broad St | London (Bank) | EC2N 1AR
110 Clifton St | Shoreditch | EC2A 4HT
22 Brooks Mews | Mayfair | W1K 4DY
8 South Colonnade | Canary Wharf | E14 4PZ

The most frequent recipient of my coffee custom. This is an Australian owned company which brings the bonus of being able to enjoy an ANZAC, Tim Tam, lamington or cherry ripe with your coffee, if you so choose. This has grown quite a bit lately so there are plenty of them around, yet it is nothing like the high street coffee chains. I just did a barista course at their Bank branch on the weekend and it’s so easy to hear and see how passionate these guys are about coffee. Expect queues but join them anyway. Free wifi at the stores (with the same password as you go from one cafe to another – nifty!) Sadly the city and west end ones are all Monday – Friday operations only. They’ve a shop in Brighton as well serving a full food menu as well if you find yourself there (28 Queens Rd | Brighton | BN1 3XA)

Fernando & Wells
East Wing, Somerset House | Strand | London WC2R 1LA
73 Beak Street | London (Soho)| W1F 9SR
16A St Anne’s Court | London | W1F 0BH (closed Sundays)
8 Exhibition Road | South Kensington | SW7 2HF (out west and handy for the museums)

A strange company, specialising in a few things, coffee being one of them (ham being another). Home to the stumpy (a small latte) and usually a pretty decent offering of food. Open late and on Sundays, these cafes are well worth a visit if you’re nearby. Not all of their locations are coffee orientated but those that I’ve enjoyed are:

Workshop
27 Clerkenwell Rd | Clerkenwell | EC1M 5RN
75 Wigmore St | Marylebone | W1U 1QD

Aussie again, Melbournians will be familiar with the former names.The Marylebone store was previously Sensory Lab whilst the Clerkenwell store was previously St Ali. Clerkenwell does some amazing cooked breakfasts. Both do some amazing coffee. Hop to it, I love these cafes.

Allpress
58 Redchurch Street | Shoreditch | E2 7DP

Roasting on site (in view, depending on where you sit) and super convenient to my old pilates studio, I love a strong coffee here. Food offerings are limited but well done.

Caravan
1 Granary Square (off Goods Way) | London (Kings Cross) | N1C 4AA

Not just coffee but lots and lots of food as well if you want it. I don’t head here a lot but if you are in the area, it’s some of the best coffee nearby to my mind.

Notes
31 St Martin’s Lane | London (right near Traf Sq) WC2N 4ER
36 Wellington Street | Covent Garden | WC2E 7BD

I love the interior of this one, especially the giant spider like light at the back of the store over the communal tables. Specialises in music and coffee. Win win. Right near the tourist hot spot of Trafalgar Sqaure and opened late, I like. May pay to ask for your coffee extra hot though if it’s a cold day and you’re getting take away. They’re served ready to drink immediately.

This list is just those that I love. Joe & The Juice was unlucky to miss out but given I can't go past their smoothies, I don't think of them as a cafe.

My London Coffee Map...

View My coffee in London in a larger map

The Many Hats of Me

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 13:17:00 +0000

This isn't a post about the roles I play in life, the roles as a daughter, sister, aunty, niece, friend, foe, lover and ex. This post isn't really about anything. Anything other than my love of a good hat party.

A housewarming last weekend came to life simply by the hosts adding "hats or wigs mandatory" to the invite. This is just a snapshot of some of the headgear I wore. The purple turban and grey rabbit fur Russian vodka hat are mine. The purple wig is my favourite, I think. Or maybe the ridic blonde afro. What's your favourite look for me?

Hat and wig parties are my favourite. So easy, so fun, so social. Been to any lately?

Life win; Doing what I love

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 02:08:00 +0000

The Euromillions jackpot that was won on Tuesday was nearly £170,000,000. Some lucky people won it. Imagine that?

Speaking to friends on several occasions, it came up – what’s one of the first things you’d do if you won the lottery? My answer, each time: Quit work and go travelling.

And then it dawns on both parties to the conversation. I’m doing that. I’ve done that. Work has been quit, travelling will soon commence. I am living my dream. And that feels fantastic.

What’s the first thing you’d do if you won?

That’s obviously not to say there isn’t a hell of a lot of good I could do with lotto money nor that the amount, style and length of travel that I could do wouldn’t change but given I don’t tend to buy tickets, my chances of winning are less than slim.

{My Friday night – trip planning. Aside from 2 nights in Kathmandu and 1 night in Mumbai, I’ve got a month to think about in Nepal and India. The African leg of my journey is mostly sorted.}

London List; Climb the Monument

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:44:00 +0000

Moments after posting about this London list on Wednesday, I looked outside and realised how clear a day it was. A perfect day to climb the Monument to the Great Fire of London (aka the Monument). I also realised I better boot scoot it along if I wanted to get there for sunset.

After a quick ride on one of the Boris bikes, I paid my £3 and climbed up the 311 stairs to the top. The Monument stands 62m tall and is 62m from where the great fire started in 1666.

Climbing those stairs wasn’t exactly fun but they were much more open and wider than I was expecting. On reaching the top, I was the only one there with great views over Greater London.

That solitude lasted only a few minutes before it got really quite crowded on the viewing platform. Many photographers armed with big cameras turned up to capture the sunset and twilight. I felt a little out of place with my iPhone (yeah, didn’t even think to take my camera!) but I stayed up there for the best part of an hour, taking it all in and watching darkness fall.

If you’re in London and haven’t climbed the Monument yet, I’d heartily suggest it. If you have climbed it but not at sunset, I’d suggest you go again. Watching the lights of the city come on was amazing.

And some of the many pictures I snapped…

As you can see there is plenty of building work going on in London. I can’t help but think that very soon, the Monument will loose the best of its views. Go before that happens.

(Panoramas taken using DMD Panorama which I downloaded when it was free)

London Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:51:00 +0000

It’s now less than two weeks until I leave this city. The boxes have arrived and I need to begin packing up from the last 4.5 years, ready to move on.

The decision to leave London has been a long time coming but actually doing it? That’s kind of scary. I’m lucky enough to have a few weeks off between finishing work (31 October) and leaving (27 November). I’ve spent this time so far being a tourist, revisiting my favourite restaurants, organising the move, organising travel (11 countries means lots of visas, vaccinations etc). My moods swing pretty widly from pure excitment about Melbourne and the road I’m taking there to stress and panic. Stress and panic about what I need to do, life admin, errands to be run, before I take to the road. I’m really grateful though that I haven’t yet started regretting the decision to leave. That decision sits so easily with me, so comfortably. It is the right time.

Some of the more touristy things I’ve done, or want to do doing during this luxury month are:
London Detours Westminster Tour
London Detours City Tour
Visit the Science Musuem
Visit the Cabinet War Rooms
Visit St Paul’s Cathedral
Climb the Monument
Revisit Windsor
Revisit the London Transport Musuem
Visit Chislehurst Caves
Visit the source of the Thames
Visit the Museum of London.

And let’s not get started on all my favourite cafes and restaurants I want to visit one last time. Or the people, my people, that I need to say goodbye to.

This month is one I will long remember and be thankful for.

Have you been to London or is there something you know of that is must see that’s maybe not on my list?

Brighton: the Love Affair Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 17:50:00 +0000

I’ve been away this week, spending some time with friend(s) down on the southern coast in Brighton whilst also getting some errands done. A school friend lives down there and there’s very few places in England I enjoy more than this one. Ignoring it’s rep as a hen and stag do town, it’s a brilliant place. I never know what to expect on a trip down but I always love it and am sad to leave. None more so than this time, the last time.

Some of my craziest nights out have been there. Some of the calmest nights in have been there. There is great shopping, great food, great street art and something for everyone. It’s home to the Royal Pavillion, probably my favourite royal palace to date, anywhere. There is a thriving music scene, lovely old pubs, sweet boutique filled lanes and a beach. Let’s not forget the pier either – a true English seaside pier. Oh, and the new Brighton Wheel.

Whilst I don’t know if or when I’ll ever return to Brighton, I think I will always love it.
Brighton, never change.

{Photos taken over the last 3.5 years}

The Weekend: Make a Wish

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Patience plays off as watching wish lanterns take off and hoping your friends dreams come is nothing but fun.

A little intimidating when your lofty wish sends a lantern towards the ground (we were 6 floors up) but really all good. Many a wish was made with dear friends on Saturday. Time will tell if they come true. Fingers crossed.

As a bonus, there was a massive fireworks display in the background earlier (the purpose of the gathering) for Guy Fawkes Night but I didn't really get any great shots and did miss the main event (busy eating dinner elsewhere my bad). Here are some of the pics from 2011 and 2010 though.

Do you believe in wishes coming true?

A New Look

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:46:00 +0000

I’ve once again been playing around with the look of this blog. Doing other, more important things (like visa applications and comparing shipping quotes) didn’t seem as fun so this morning, I made a new header and changed the background to something more neutral.

Jump on out of reader to come and see all the changes.

The last design didn't hang around long. I liked it in theory but there were too many colours in the wallpaper which I though competed with the photos I was posting. I've gone for a far more simple colour scheme this time, with pretty much all the colour coming from the ombre heading. I’m not totally in love with the design but it’s all I've got for now and the neutrality of it should carry me through for awhile.

I’ve created and uploaded a new favicon (using this favicon generator) but that doesn't seem to be coming through online. You should be seeing an “s” in a star but you may still just be seeing an “s”.

Thoughts?

Also, whilst doing this, it was funny seeing the back catalogue of headings in my pictures folder. Newest to oldest below… Any favourites? (some are awful!!)

The farewells begin; Yorkshire

noreply@blogger.com (Sue @ SimonsSistaSaw) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:48:00 +0000

Hello, happy Monday! I can say that with meaning given this is my last working Monday for the year. Added to that, I had a wonderful weekend with family uuup* north in Yorkshire, including roadtripping up there with my cousin.

A quick visit to Grandad in Leeds, and the first real farewell for me. He's an old old old man and, whilst every time I see him I think it might be the last, knowing I'm leaving this country behind, this really may have been. That said, aside from arthritis that leaves him pretty imobile, his health is remarkably good (ie. his heart is strong.

Leaving Leeds behind for the green dales of Yorkshire, the weekend then became a beer*, red wine and love fest around many an open fire. There were first cousins, second cousins, seconds cousins once removed so on and so on. Is your family like that? You know you are related but you don't really know how or what to classify the relationship? Yorkshire puddings on both days, plenty of red and lots of loving.

No complaints from me for this weekend, it was a wonderful one.

How was your weekend?

*beer. Mmm. Timothy Taylor's Landlord would have to be one of the best ales, the nearer the source the better. Timothy Taylor's Ram Tam is just as good, maybe even more so with its caramel flavours. So good.

{photos from my weekend, full hexagons, clockwise from top - The Cottage, my cousin's 400year old home | the view from my second cousin's 300+year old cottage in Yorkshire | her dog | beams in the bedroom | Oxfordshire cousin's fireplace | view coming out of Queensbury in Yorkshire | a photo of a photo of Grandad when he was 20 years younger). Borders are a combination of the wonderful autumn leaves in Oxfordshire and some of the awfully dated decoration at Grandad's house}