To put it kindly – I am not a natural-born surfer.

When Lets Go Surfing asked if I wanted to head down to Bondi Beach to learn how to catch some waves I gleefully said yes, but as the days drew closer I began to get a little nervous.

I’m not sure if it was because Bondi has the reputation for being the place that all pretty girls in their bikinis hang out – one-pieces are more my style – or because of my five-days of surfing failure during high school – my friends are all surfers who could catch waves with ease whilst I was left gasping for air each time I fell off – but the nerves had well and truly set in when the day of the class rolled around.

As the Sydney sky turned greyer part of me was rejoicing that I might be getting out of the surf lesson.

Yep, turns out you can still surf even when the skies are grey.

The team at Lets Go Surfing were so kind and within seconds I was laughing and joking, almost forgetting my nerves about heading into the sea.
Kitted out with a large yellow board – the ultimate accessory to pair with the thick black wetsuit and bright blue rashie (that is Aussie slang for “rash vest”) I was ready to meet the rest of the class and catch that illusive first wave.

Running through the basics with Anna, our teacher for the afternoon, I quickly learnt that surfing is a lot easier than 15-year-old Nicole remembered. The hard part is to be confident and fast enough to stand up.

Learning about ‘goofy’ feet, the proper stance, how to stand up (yes, there’s a special technique!) and even how to paddle properly, Anna patiently took the group through everything we needed to know… and then we were let loose into the water to put it all to practice.

Heading into the water my nerves came back to me, but also a sense of determination - I got this.

Paddling out I delighted in being back in the sea as the strong waves broke against me and I looked out for the perfect wave.

Spotting about 5 metres out I jumping atop my board and began to kick like a crazy woman. The wave picked me and my surf board up and I was riding to the shore. As my arm muscles propped me up ready to leap to my feet I realised that I couldn’t go any further – and like that I rode into the shore, laughing about how much fun the simple action of riding a wave in was.

And willingly, I picked up my board and went back out to try it again. My nerves had been washed away.

Time after time I just couldn’t get to my feet, the inner sensible Nicole telling me it was unnatural to stand up on a moving platform, especially when the sand was mere inches below me and I witnessed another girls board catch her on the head.

Again I tumbled off the board, was dunked by waves, but through it all I couldn’t stop laughing.
Being in the sea, surrounded by great people and with a lovely coach (if you get the chance I highly recommend taking one of Anna’s classes!) at the world famous Bondi Beach is just fun regardless of the outcome.

Many of the other girls did stand up and, despite only meeting an hour earlier, we all whooped and cheered each others achievements or came to make sure they were alright when getting wiped out by a particularly nasty wave.
Despite being from different countries – Australia, Germany, the USA, England – learning to surf led us to becoming a tightly knit circle, even if just for a couple of hours.

One of the things I liked about the surf lesson was that there was no pressure, except by myself. We very slowly went through each step – learning to lay on the board and get accustomed to how it felt, learning to stand up on the sand and the correct position, and then trying it in the water. By the end of the lesson I was somewhat confident that I knew what I was doing each time I paddled out and was happy to catch waves without waiting for Anna to come and help me pick a good one.

Whilst Anna helped me in every possible way to help me stand-up for a wave it was just not my day, but I’m already planning my next trip to Lets Go Surfing at Bondi Beach and this time I will be standing up no matter how long it takes to catch myself a wave!!!

Have you gone surfing before?
Did you manage to stand up?

Details 

Lets Go Surfing

128 Ramsgate Ave,
North Bondi,  NSW
Australia

Phone: (02) 9365-1800
Website: www.letsgosurfing.com.au/

Not sure if you’re ready to surf at Bondi Beach? Perhaps kayaking on Sydney Harbour is more your forte or cycling through Manly – you can do it from the comfort of your home.

Get a sneak peek of 5 of Sydney’s top experiences by using  the new 360˚ video developed by Visit Sydney, and you can even put your head in the game!

Create your own  360˚ video on Visit Sydney’s website.

 This trip was made possible with thanks to Destination NSW and Visit Sydney.
A huge thank you must also go to Anna, Wacca and all of the team at Lets Go Surfing for arranging the tour and helping me fulfil my dream of becoming a Pro Surfer… almost!
All photography is courtesy of Lets Go Surfing and used with their permission!

There is something about Copenhagen that has me longing to make a return visit. It’s a city of great juxtapositions – I could label it quaint but vibrant can describe the city as well; a burgeoning food scene and a thriving design scene.

Just a few hours from most European cities, Copenhagen is the perfect city to consider when planning a last minute break; with plenty of things to see and do right in the heart of the city. Here are my suggestions for one perfect day in the Danish capital.

8am

Spend the morning enjoying your hotel with a sleep in or make the most of a traditional Danish breakfast. Pass on the cereal and enjoy rye bread, white bread or rolls with cheese and jam. Raw vegetables, herring, boiled eggs and salmon are also commonly seen. Wash this down with tea, coffee, orange juice or a glass of Danish bitters.

10am

Forget cars, rent a bicycle and see the city. Bicycle culture is a big deal in Copenhagen with bikes available to rent throughout the city.
Grab a map because many of the popular city sites are accessible by biking - the bronze statue of Hans Christian Anderson’s beloved Little Mermaid statue, Amalienborg Palace – the royal residence since 1751 and Nyhavn, famous for the colourful wooden schooners lining the canal.

12pm

If you’re near Amalienborg Palace watch the changing of the guard which happens at noon, and then head out for lunch. Try open-face smørrebrød sandwiches – a Scandinavian speciality. Slices of cold meat, sausage or hard-boiled eggs are placed on open rye-bread to create filling sandwiches.
To get a more traditional taste of Danish smørrebrød be sure to try leverpostej (liver pate), smoked salmon or salted beef varieties.

3pm

Head back towards the city centre and take a stop at Rundertaarn – the Round Tower for views across the city. Built between 1637 and 1642 means that it isn’t the tallest building, but the architecture, history, and steep spiral walk to the top – 114 feet off the ground.

4pm

Take a trip down Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street – Strøget! At — in length, it’s a nice street to take your time and window shop or to bike down the thoroughfare to the Town Hall Square (Radhauspladsen).
Some of Denmark’s most famous designers have shops on this street. Be sure to stop at Illums Bolighus, which features Danish design, as well as famed silver jewelery design, Georg Jensen‘s flagship store.

From here the Tivoli Gardens is a short ride along Vesterbrogade, or head towards Christiania – the self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood – a bohemian area with plenty of artists and musicians to see.

7pm

Copenhagen is the gastronomical capital of Scandinavia. Home to famed Michelin star restaurants such as two Michelin star restaurant Noma and the only Thai restaurant outside of Thailand with a Michelin star, Kiin Kiin, great food can be found which won’t need you booking months in advance.

Danish newspaper Politiken recently had readers vote on their favourite Copenhagen eatery and the award went to a hotdog stand. Den Økologiske Pølsemand (the organic hotdog man), or Døp for short, near the Round Tower serves grilled pork and beef sausages. If you want a more Swedish taste, swap the bread for potato and parsnip mash.
Other top suggestions are Rex Republic is famed for its Danish sirloin and rump steaks, Vespa for really good Italian food, or The Rice Market - the sister restaurant to Michelin starred Kiin Kiin.

Be sure to check out the Copenhagen visitors board for more inexpensive restaurant ideas

9pm

After a busy day why not relax with the beer, Danish style. Try a Tuborg beer (Carlsberg), visit the meatpacking district has several funky bars including local artist designed Karriere Bar, for cocktails head back to Nayvn or check out Mikkeller a small but funky microbrewery two blocks away on Viktoriagade. Be sure to ask to see the squirrel bottle if you visit!

How would you spend one perfect day in Copenhagen?

Photo credit: Cdni

I’ve got a confession to make – I know nothing about Canada… except maple syrup is pretty tasty on pancakes.

A visit to Canada has been something I’ve always wanted to do, but time or money has always stopped me as well as a little bit of “it’ll be there next time” attitude. This year I’m making the time and doing a month-long trip through five of Canada’s provinces with the help of Tourism Canada and many of the regional tourism boards which I’ll introduce to you along the way.

But after my series of long flights to Vancouver from Australia with Air Canada, I don’t know what to do, see or eat as I cross my way across Canada.

After a little research Here are 23 Canadian Experiences I can’t wait to take part in as I cross the country.

British Columbia

Vancouver Island
Researching this trip I found out that Vancouver Island is the biggest Island in the Pacific East of New Zealand; not only that but it has plenty to offer visitors. With lively beach resorts in Tofino, a bustling food culture, mountain ranges and plenty of adventure sports I’m excited to spend a few days in Victoria and surrounds.

Eat world-class gelato in Vancouver at Bella Gelateria
I’ll be in Vancouver for around 4-days and one thing I will be doing is trying James Coleridge’s multi-award winning gelato. Using traditional gelato making techniques James won two awards at the Firenze Gelato Festival in 2012 for his salt-crusted maple syrup gelato – and that’s exactly what I’ll be tasting!

Capilano Suspension Bridge
If you’ve seen photos of a suspension bridge amongst tree-lined forests chances are you’ve seen the Capilano Suspension Bridge as it stretches 450 feet across the Capilano river. Along with a cliff walk and a tree top adventure I’m looking forward to spending a day so close to the city but with the atmosphere of being truly out amongst nature.

Grouse Mountain Zipline
I’ve only had a couple of experiences ziplining and none were particularly lengthy so I’m nervously excited about taking on the five-line circuit on Grose Mountain. The zip lines can be five-lines or three-lines and offer views across Grouse and Dam Mountains – exciting!!!

Learn to Stand-Up Paddleboard
SUP – or Stand Up Paddling boarding – is a Hawaiian sport which is fast becoming the new workout craze. I’m hoping to try this but I’m not sure where to try – Jericho Beach (for people watching), Deep Cove (for a taste of the Wilderness), Granville Island (urban experience), or the English Bay Bathouse (nearest location to the city). Which should I do?

Eat from Vancouver’s Street Food Cart Scene
Vancouver has a thriving Street Food Cart scene and I really want to taste as many flavours as I can! A great tool I’ll be using to hunt down food cards is the free Vancouver Food Truck app. What’s on my list so far? Japadog and Cartel Taco!

Visit Granville Island
House-made beers, vibrant markets, boutique shops and galleries – need I say more about why I’m excited to check out Granville Island?!

Alberta

White Water Rafting through Athabasca
I tried white-water rafting in Colorado and I can’t wait to try it again on the Athabasca River in Alberta. Considered a heritage river because of its history related to the fur trade exploration as well as one of the most beautiful I can’t wait to get my adrenaline hit amongst the natural beauty.

Jasper Tramway
When I heard ‘tramway’ I assumed it’d be an actual tram (a la San Francisco-style) heading through the alpine tundras of Jasper National Park. What I quickly found out is that it’s more a gondola-style (like the enclosed capsules on the London Eye) ride on Canada’s longest and highest guided aerial tramway. Lakes and mountain views in Canada’s Rockies – I can’t wait!

Take a motorcycle through the Canadian Rockies
I am very apprehensive about motorcycles since I managed to burn myself on one when I was younger (people, exhaust pipes are hot!) When I read about the chance to take a ride through the Canadian Rockies in a chauffeured motorcycle sidecar I was excited – but my second thought was worry. I can’t wait to share this story with you and hopefully get over my fear.

Manitoba

See wild bison and learn how they shaped the prairie history
As a city slicker the most exotic thing I’ve seen is a cow (and a few kangaroos and koalas) so seeing wild bison up close is going to be exciting!
One of Canada’s Signature Experiences, I’ll be learning about the Aboriginals, pioneers, and animals that shaped Manitoba’s Prairie which will hopefully also give me the opportunity to learn a little more about Canadian history.

Hermetic Code Tours of the Manitoba Legislative Building
Growing up I wanted to be a spy, seriously! My best friend and I made up our own secret codes but I never considered that architecture can hold codes to. Another of Canada’s Signature Experiences, I’ll be learning about how a hermetic code has been built into the Manitoba Legislative Building and what it says.

Ontario

Visit Graffiti Alley (Rush Lane)
I’ve shared posts about graffiti art from around the world – including Melbourne and Paris – so to hear that Toronto has a thriving street art scene I immediately put it on my list of things to see. Rush Lane, nick named Graffiti Alley, in Downtown Toronto has ever inch of its walls covered in art and probably the best known part of the city to see the street art scene.

Take a trip to the Toronto Islands
When someone told me that Toronto had islands I thought they were joking with me, but turns out there is in fact a small chain of islands in Lake Ontario. Famed as the largest car-free community in North America, it’s city beach and summer adventure activities, it sounds like the perfect place to take a day-trip visit when in Toronto.

Take to the SkyWalk at CN Tower
One of Toronto’s top attractions, the CN Tower is an icon of the Toronto skyline so what better way to see the city than whilst doing its EdgeWalk. The worlds highest full-circle, hands-free walk, if that doesn’t get my blood pumping during my trip, I don’t know what will!

Stay in a castle at Fairmont Château Laurier
A landmark of downtown Ottawa, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier is a stunning luxury hotel. I’m excited to see what it offers for visitors making the trip to Ottawa.. and the chance to stay in a castle!

Sleep in a Jail at HI Ottawa Jail Hostel
It couldn’t be more different from the stay in the Fairmont Chateau Laurier and a heck of a lot more scary, but I’ll be spending a night in Ottawa’s most unusual accommodation - in a jail cell.

Learn about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Along with maple syrup and beautiful landscapes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are one of the countries most famous icons. At Ottawa’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride Centre you get the chance to learn about the Mounties, the horses and their role in today’s society. I won’t lie – I’m most excited to be getting up close to the beautiful horses!

See Niagara Falls from the Canadian side
It’s somewhat corny and on many millions of travellers visit each year but Niagara Falls has captivated many, and I would love to see them (and it would be my first waterfall!) I’ve been told by friends who’ve visited both sides of the falls – they stretch across the US/Canada border – that the Canadian side is much more beautiful than the US-side, so I hope to see both and weigh in on the debate.

Quebec

Mont Royal
One of the hills in Montreal, the site is home to a beautiful view across the city as well as some nice walking paths. I’m most hoping to see a Tam Tam Jam – a Sunday tradition where Montrealers and visitors play the hand drums on the east slope of the mountain.

Try Poutine, Maple Syrup and Smoked Meat Sandwiches
I’ve had maple syrup before but when in Canada you must have more!. There are two new foods on my radar which I’ve been told I have to try – Canada’s famed poutine and Montreal’s smoked meat sandwiches.

See the Underground City
Whilst I’ll be visiting in summer the Underground City’s purpose is best seen in winter. Winters in Montreal means snow… and a lot of it at that! Under the streets of Montreal lies a 12km2 complex housing shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, museums, universities and more!

Jet Boat on the River St Lawrence
The River St Lawrence has a series of rapids, perfect for white water rafters or people who want their adrenaline kick another way – jet boating! I’ve heard that the one-hour ride lets you see a mixture of cityscape and wilderness so I can’t wait to try this… and get soaked in the process!

I’m barely scratching the surface on this trip to Canada and I’m sure there will be plenty of other adventures I’ll encounter along the way. To follow along with the trip be sure to check out the Travel Tracker page, Facebook or through the #ExploreCanada hash-tag on Twitter and Instagram.

What would you add to this list?
Do you have any tips for travelling in Canada?

I’ll be heading over to Canada with help from the
Canadian Tourism Commission, TBEX, VIA Rail and regional partners.

Post Image Credit: Domkon

I enjoy cooking with spices… no, scrap that. I love cooking with spices, but to me spices are something that come in little glass jars and can be bought from my local supermarket. Spices are abundant in Malaysia and nestled along some of the more mountainous terrain in Penang, and only a five-minute drive away from the main road of Batu Feringgi, the Tropical Spice Gardens opened my eyes to a whole new world of spice.

There are three trails to walk when visiting the gardens – the Spice Trail, Ornamental Trail, and the Jungle Trail – each with different plants and features to experience. As we were going to visit the cooking school afterwards we headed down the Spice Trail, home to over 100 varieties of tropical spices and herbs (there’s around 500 varieties throughout the gardens).

I highly recommend you arrange a tour guide. For an extra RM$10 (AU$3/GBP£2) per person, cheaper if you have a family ticket or children, a guide will take you through the gardens and talk about the gardens history as a rubber plantation and teach you about different spices. At the end of the tour you’ll be welcomed to explore the gardens or just sit and enjoy a cup of tea made fresh from the spices in the garden. We had no time for sitting as we were off to the Cooking School to learn how to incorporate more spice into our cooking.

If you’re not keen to cook but still want a bite to eat, the Tree Monkey Restaurant offers views across the Spice Gardens and bay as well as serving up Thai-inspired food and cool drinks.

Walking into the cooking school the smell of ground spices hung in the air. It was like being in a candy store as dozens of spices, both whole and grounded, were displayed in jars along the wall. I wanted to try to taste everything!

Two sous chefs bustled around preparing the ingredients we needed for the classes as Chef Sugu introduced himself to the class, as well as his impressive list of cooking accomplishments.

As Chef Sugu tapped out spices into pans, catering for our like or dislike of hotness or if we wanted to work with a particular ingredient, explained that we would all be making the same meals today, but through the different spices and simple ingredient changes or methods of cooking each person would create a different meal.

On the menu today? Prawns Jalfrezi, which quickly became chicken jalfrezi when they found out I’m not such a fan of prawns.

As our class progressed Chef Sugu would take us outside to explore the gardens and touch, taste and smell different ingredients which we were going to add to our dishes. A sprig of mint or a type of basil I’d never seen – it was all possible depending on our likes or dislikes.

One of the most enjoyable parts is the hands on nature of the class. Chef Sugu will take his time to work with you to ensure your dish and the communal class dishes – usually rice cooked in two different styles – taste great and that you won’t be eating anything that you don’t like.

It’s also a great chance to hone cooking skills – one young boy discovered a passion for cooking and his knife skills went from non-existent to fantastic by the time class was over – and try other styles of cooking. We each had one recipe and were encouraged at times to walk around the room and taste test other people’s dishes to see how the spices had transformed the recipe.

My one criticism is that everything moves quite slowly. I understand that we were quite a big class – we had about 12 people in the class – and that cooking does take time. Perhaps it was because we were on quite a tight schedule, but it felt like we were on the slow-pace that comes with ‘Malaysian time’.

It was nice to see families and couples coming together to cook instead of having one person do all the cooking, much like at home. It was somewhat comical to watch the Dad struggle and his wife pipe up that she had to “save him” from the tomato; but you come to a cooking school to eat what you cook, right?

After around an hour and a half of cooking and four different side dishes being created I had come up with a very spicy but delicious chicken jalfrezi (which was more of a masala with the cooking processes I chose), a side of okra cooked with sweet spices and coconut milk, fried onions with sambal sauce, and saffron rice cooked nonya.

Before we were to eat Chef Sugu gave us a final lesson on presentation – even teaching us how to make a tomato into a flower (see Sarah’s plate above), though I’m not sure I’ll be able to replicate his work.

After everything was cooked we headed outside to enjoy a communal lunch. It gave everyone the chance to relax and chat together over freshly made tea, as well as giving each other the chance to sample each others dishes – if there was any left!

Have you ever done a cooking class when travelling?
What’s your favourite spice to cook with?

Details

Tropical Spice Garden
Lone Crag Villa, Lot 595 Mukim 2,
Jalan Teluk Bahang,
11100 Penang, Malaysia.

Entrance Fees:
Tropical Spice Gardens
Adult – Self-guided tour RM$15 (AU$4.80/GBP£3.20) / Guided Tour RM$25 (AU$8/GBP£5.40)
Child (ages 4-14) –  Self-guided tour RM$10 (AU$3.20/GBP£2.15) / Guided Tour RM$15  (AU$4.80/GBP£3.20)
- discounts available for families, seniors or students

Spice Cooking School
Price: currently RM$200 (approx. AU$64/GBP£43)
Cooking classes are open everyday except Monday and advance bookings are highly recommended. For the class schedule check here.

Website: www.tropicalspicegarden.com

When you think of a trip to Sydney Harbour you think of walking around the edges of it, walking over it on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or spending the day pottering along on a ferry or water taxi; but there’s a way to see Sydney Harbour which you may not have considered before – why not see it by kayak?

Walking down the hill towards Lavender Bay jetty looking over Sydney Harbour and the landscape of the CBD was beautiful – the morning rush had just commenced and there was barely a boat on the water which was crashing gently into the shore. Morning running grounds pounded the pavement as I was in search for Patrick, my guide of the morning, who was already at work preparing the kayak.
With only two of us going out onto the water – Patrick was kindly using the morning of his first day of holidays to show me around the harbour – he prepared a two person kayak and ran me through the safety instructions.

I thought it’d be much akin to rowing or canoeing – how wrong was I – with different ways of sitting and the very sexy spray skirt! Thankfully Patrick spared me from the capsize drill.

After a few bleary eyed photos of me looking nervous we were off, a tiny kayak amongst hundreds of boats and ferries which crossed the harbour each day.

If it’s your first time in a kayak don’t be put of; Patrick has a range of paddles that suit everyone from complete beginners to those who are more confident, and can vary in length depending your fitness level.

Heading East from Lavender Bay I was treated to being able to stop and watch the sun rise over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. It never ceases to amaze me just how beautiful both of these structures are, especially when being able to see them from a different point of view.

Rounding the point into the first cove we were going to explore Patrick asked me if I knew the name of the house on the corner. “Kirribilli House – it’s where the Prime Minister lives,” I confidently stated. Turns out I was half correct. The house I thought was Kirribilli House was it’s neighbour, Admiralty House, the home of Australia’s Governor-General – the Australian representative to the Queen and the Commander-in-Chief to the Australian Defence Force.

Kirribilli House – pictured above – was built 1855 and is the Sydney home to the Prime Minister, currently Julia Gillard.

If being home to the Prime Minister and Governor-General didn’t leave you thinking Kirribili – also the name of the suburb – was home to some of the cities rich and famous then paddling past the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron may change your mind. Rows upon rows of perfectly maintained boats ready for their owners to cast of in, a looming club house and the jaw of a whale – wait a minute, what?! (Can you see the white arch to the right of the tree? Yep, that’s the lower jaw of a whale!)

Don’t expect to be able to turn up and apply for membership though, to join the exclusive club you need to be invited by someone who is already a member.

As we paddled past hundreds of boats moored, Patrick seemed to know the story behind every one of them. Like this one, the “Nerida” built 1933 and the handicap winner Sydney-Hobart in 1950.

…or “IMALIZARD” sailed by Ian Thomson who set the record for solo circumnavigating of Australia in 42 days in 2010.

It isn’t just the boats which have an interesting story to tell. This house, called “Once Upon A Time“, was built in 1936 in Potts Point, but was relocated here by barge in WWI.

…or this old tram shed at Robertson Point which is now a private residence – now that would be a house with a view!

If houses or boats don’t interest you the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House can always be found peeking at you, like this picture from Cremorne.

…or from Robertson Point.

There are many sailing clubs dotted around the harbour, most with different styles of boats. This one is the S.A.S.C. (Sydney Amateur Sailing Club) and was founded in 1872, and a little further around there is one which specialises in wooden sailing boats.

Unlike the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron there were people here who gave us a friendly wave as we paddled past, zigzagging between boats trying to find the ones which had a story to tell.

For the most part of your paddle you’ll encounter near perfect waters – like this photo from in Mosman Bay. If you do encounter any choppy water I found it to be in the main harbour, not in the coves, particularly near the bridge and Luna Park. Don’t be nervous though – after a few bumps the worst will have subsided and you’ll be able to paddle on through to somewhere a little calmer.
If you’re still nervous just speak to Patrick and he’ll tailor the paddle to suit your nerves.

Rather than swim directly in the harbour, many of the houses have their own plunge pools which are filled by the harbour – either private or shared with the residents of the block.

or there are public pools, like the one behind the swimming pool change house at Curraghbeena Point.

Many of the houses that line Sydney Harbour are multi-million dollar houses with CEOs and celebrities who call them home and Patrick again seems to know all the facts and figures. The secret? A lot of time spent researching.

If houses or boats don’t interest you – or get tiring after an hour or so – perhaps the views will revive you, like this one as we looked towards the Cremorne Peninsula.

And to get back to Lavender Bay you have to go under the bridge again, definitely a highlight!

As the sun gets higher more boats will be competing with you for space on the water ways. Huge ferries, water police jet boats, and if it’s a nice day then regular Sydney-siders will be taking their boats for a spin.

There is quite a bit of wildlife that calls Sydney Harbour and its many coves and islands home. If you’re lucky you could see penguins and in the warm weather stingrays in the coves, as well as dozens of different bird species.

Patrick was keen to show me a Sea Eagle that he’d found resting so we were off this time towards Goat Island which is the Water Police station, built 1839 by convict labour.

Whilst we couldn’t find the Sea Eagle he did point out this made rock climb at Balls Head. The big rock is a grade 22 climb called “Clocks” – now that’s a hard climb!

Blues Point Tower, the building on the left, also has an interesting history and is often criticised and called one of the ugliest buildings in Sydney. The local government was hoping to build a series of high-rise houses around here, all with views of the harbour, but this plan was quickly rejected.

Arriving back in Lavender Bay I was pooped and ready for brunch. Patrick later sent me an email saying we’d covered around 17km, and here I was just frolicking and enjoying my time exploring the harbour.

With dozens of intimate coves to explore each with a different story or site to see, as well as hundreds of boats moored – some which have sailed around the world, others which have won the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race or the America’s Cup – there is plenty to see if you choose to spend a morning kayaking on the world’s largest natural harbour.

So what do you think – would you kayak on Sydney Harbour?

Details

Kayak Sydney Harbour

Tours leave from Lavender Bay – on the Luna Park side of the Harbour, a short walk from North Sydney station or Milson’s Point station.
Alternatively, it’s a $15-20 cab ride from the CBD.

Phone: +61 (0) 427 225 072 – Patrick
Website: www.kayaksydney.com/

Not sure if you’re ready to kayak on Sydney Harbour? Perhaps surfing at Bondi is more your forte or cycling through Manly – you can do it from the comfort of your home.

Get a sneak peek of 5 of Sydney’s top experiences by using  the new 360˚ video developed by Visit Sydney, and you can even put your head in the game!

Create your own  360˚ video on Visit Sydney’s website.

 This trip was made possible with thanks to Destination NSW and Visit Sydney.
A huge thank you must also go to Patrick from Kayak Sydney Harbour for taking me on the tour.
All photography is courtesy of Patrick.

I spent my early teenage years breaking boys hearts. I turned down one boy 16-times despite now looking back and realising our potential relationship would have probably lasted a year.
At 13-years-old I knew that I wasn’t going to go to University in Adelaide, South Australia and didn’t want to be tied down, and the same predicament has continued to find me even now as I choose to expand on my career as a travel writer instead of settling down like so many of my friends.

I was reading Runaway Jane’s post where she too is facing the same dilema, but she made one statement which kind of bugged me -

“I’ve therefore come to the conclusion that the only slight hope of me ever having a long term relationship in the future is to find someone who is willing and able to travel as much as I do.“

A big sports buzzer sound went off in my head when I read this and I thought, “*buzzer noise* – you’re wrong.” It just means that she hasn’t found the right person for her.

Like Jane, I to am a travel-holic and can be a fierce work-a-holic, but that doesn’t stop the heart wanting. I’ve fallen for a British boy, an Irish-man and a Brit-turned-Aussie, and whilst I could have stayed in any of the cities to live and work it has always been the fact that I’d want to return to Australia – that place so far away from their homes – even if just for a short while each year, and it has turned them off of pursuing a long-term relationship, and that is okay.

It just means that they aren’t the ‘one’ I’m searching for.

I’m not the type of girl who has lists of features that a boyfriend has to have, but I do have traits I prefer. My idea of a partner is someone that embraces travel but isn’t a travel-holic like me; I want to take them on adventures, but I also want them to do the same. I’m not the type of traveller who wants to be perpetually on the road, so someone who has stability – a job, friends, willing to have a home – would be ideal; but being away so much may create doubt in each others minds, so someone who is ultimately trust-worthy would be key. Also, someone who is independent, and is happy for me to me to be independent, but also relishes time spent together.
It’s a small number of features, and I know they can be found. Let me give you two examples;

A gorgeous girl that I met when visiting Malaysia earlier this year is 27 and married to the ‘perfect’ man. They settled down in Melbourne where her partner has a nice house, stable job, but she missed her family and life in Sydney so she moved back there. Yes, she moved back there and now lives with her friend despite being a married woman. She combats this with bi-monthly trips to Melbourne (or him to Sydney), plenty of phone calls and texts – and they’re happy. Her wanderlust doesn’t end there though. On top of that she lives in New York for around 3-months a year, if her commitments in Australia will let her get away for that long.
She’s a strong, independent woman and the difference is that her partner is accepting of her choices and isn’t standing in her way. They’ve found a healthy way to do what they both love and still love each other.

Another girl I’ve known for a few years has recently found the man of her dreams. She’s dated plenty of men, but none of them were right for her adventurous spirit, or they drove each other mad when he wanted her to settle down and become a house wife. This new guy loves to travel but doesn’t work in travel and prefers the stability that his life and job in New York has, but understands that travel is her business and she won’t stop doing something she loves. Thankful for his understanding and as a ‘happy’ compromise she has dropped her plans to live in Europe and is making New York her (hopefully!) permanent base between trips; and with so many travel related events and as an International hub, what could be better for a jetsetter!

These two situations make me believe it is possible to find someone who embraces me for… well, me! Not every hot man I lay eyes on will be the right one, but one day someone is sure to turn up.

Whilst Jane may need to find a relationship with a digital nomad or a perpetual traveller that’s because that’s right for her, and not all travelling women will feel the same way. If a boyfriend or partner denies you the freedom to travel or do any activity you are passionate about take my advice - perhaps he’s not the right one for you – and go find someone who will support your dreams and you theirs.

I won’t lie – I’m somewhat afraid I’ll end up as a old lady with just her dog for company and hundreds, if not thousands, of memories in her mind, but I also know that in this business life is full of unexpected surprises – like meeting a cute boy when climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or having a short-lived summer romance with the Irish-lad with a voice like an angel… when he sung because I didn’t understand him half the time otherwise; or enjoying the company of the British boy and being bowled over by his kindness and compassion to the little Australian girl he met through Twitter.

Who knows what tomorrow, next month or even the next years will hold, but I know that I’ll find someone who loves me and accepts that I won’t be able to be pinned down in one spot forever; and if that’s what you want to do then don’t accept anything less as well.

What are your thoughts – would you choose your passion or a lover?
Or how would you balance both?

Image Credit: BBC Travel/Travel Quotes

The Langham is renown to have one of the best high teas in Melbourne, so what better way to celebrate my 23rd birthday than by taking part in one of their high teas… one with a theme of course!

It turns out that Barbie is moving out of her Malibu dream house and is residing at the Langham for the April school holidays. When I told Katherine they were serving a Barbie-themed high tea it was said as a little bit of a joke – we’re adults, not 4-year-olds – but she jumped at it.

So that’s how I ended up at a Barbie-themed high tea for my 23rd birthday!

The Barbie themed high tea included a selection of desserts – a pink suitcase cookie, a pink lamington shoebox, pink glitter cupcake, Barbie car shaped cookie, and a Malibu Beach jelly cup.
Don’t worry, it’s not all sugar – there’s also a ham and cheese sandwich, a tiara-shaped sandwich with sprinkles, and a warm fluffy scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream.
Kids – both young and older – can also choose between a hot chocolate and a Barbie-licious pink lemonade to drink.

You’d think with so much sugar on their plates all of the kids would be running around and yelling, but perhaps it was because they were dressed up or their parents – there were plenty of Mums, a Dad and even some Grandparents – had given them a stern talking to their was just chatter and no problems. It was perfectly peaceful, the perfect atmosphere for tea.

Served in gold-edged cups and proper silver teapots, Earl Gray and the Langham’s special Silk Road blend (White tea with Iranian rose buds) were the days choices. Between the cakes beautiful cakes piling up on the tables around us and our proper chinaware, I felt like I’d been transported back to a time when Ladies were encouraged to partake in such activities whilst discussing the events of the day.

After examining the menu for ages we each ordered a tiffin and decided to split each of them. Katherine and I ended up ordering two of the more ‘adult’ tiffins – the Tiffin at the Langham and Chocolate Indulgence Tiffin, with some extra teas as we went along. We also tried the ‘Barbie-licious pink lemonade.

Out came the tiffin piled high with sweets… and another… chocolate eclairs, and chocolate dipped strawberries wearing what looked like a tuxedo; miniature lemon tarts and chocolate mousse finger cakes. Perfectly cut sandwiches were hidden at the bottom and full of cucumber, salmon, cream cheese, egg or chicken.

I’m not much a fan of scones but when two perfect scones – one plain and one with sultanas – came out with proper clotted cream and strawberry jam, I was excited! Not too stoggy, not too floury, and the perfect filling accompaniment to an otherwise sugary high tea.

After a break from the sweets I sipped on my Barbie-licious pink lemonade. Light, sugary and bubbly; reminiscent of creaming soda but with raspberry flavouring. It was refreshing after the otherwise heavy foods we were indulging in.

More sweets such as a strawberry chocolate creme brulee, chocolate and Armagnac truffles, chocolate torte with gold leaf and the Brazillian chocolate roulade with mango and blueberries graced our table. Already stuffed from the other choices most of these came home with me, but there was still room for one more…

A birthday isn’t complete without a candle to blow out and some more cake – this time chocolate moose with some crunchy praline and a jelly cake with fresh strawberries (my favourite!) and mini M&M’s – yum! Thank you, Melba Restaurant and The Langham, Melbourne for having us!

Where’s your favourite place to have high tea?
Would you go to a Barbie-themed high tea?

Details

The Langham, Melbourne

1 Southgate Ave
Southbank VIC 3006

Phone: (03) 8696 8888

Website: http://www.ariabar.com.au

Car parking at the hotel is AU$50 and is a worthwhile investment if you are going to be there for longer than 1.5-hours (the nearby car parks are around AU$48). If you can, I recommend the use of Melbourne’s public transport network as it is close to both train and tram stations.

Barbie’s Dreamhouse Children’s Tiffin

The Barbie’s Dreamhouse Children’s Tiffin will run on weekdays between the 1st and 19th of April, 2013.
There are two session times 10.00am – 11.30am or 12 noon – 1.30pm.
AU$30 per child* or AU$45 per child* with a take home Barbie Fashionista doll.

*Child up to 12-years-old

Post Image: The Langham, Melbourne

It sounds silly as a person who works online but I hate online shopping. Very few people I know have had a good experience – the shipping was delayed, the items were the wrong size or colour, or the delivery just didn’t turn up at all – so I’ve remained skeptical and not tried it, unless it was from a chain store where I was sure I would have no issues.

When NOVICA approached me about working together to promote their brand  I was still a little hesitant but with the backing on National Geographic – a brand I know, use and trust – I decided that a girl has to take a chance every once in a while and in this instance it paid off.

Full of fun pieces which show off each persons beliefs, heritage or something about their country – think weaved pashminas from the Andes or Batik printed clothing from Indonesia – the artisans on NOVICA didn’t make it easy for me to choose which pieces I wanted to buy. Scrolling through pages of items I finally settled on two items which excited me: something pretty and something tea related.

The first items I bought were two twin beaded bracelets created by Tiraphan Hasub. Inspired by traditional Thai jewellery, Tiraphan puts a modern twist on her creations. I loved the contrast of the colours against each other, the coconut shell button and just how pretty they look against my skin – a perfect reminder that sun and summer is just around the corner.

The second item – and my favourite item in the store – was the Buddah and the Jade Elephant tea pot created by Putu Oka Mahendra who is based in Indonesia. It is said that when you see Buddha riding an elephant you will receive good luck and health… and in this instance, very good tea as well!

Despite my fears everything was delivered fast – it took three-days for the items to be shipped from both countries – and they were carefully wrapped and sealed to ensure there was no breakage.

One thing I didn’t take into consideration was that Thai women’s wrists are significantly smaller than my Australian wrist, so the bracelets are a little tight on me; but being made of leather they should loosen over the coming weeks. Aside from that I am very happy with my purchases!

NOVICA really places the emphasis on the artisans. On each items page you can read about the artist, where they are from and some of their story. Each item will also be accompanied with a small card explaining with some more information about the artist and the piece.
Instead of receiving a nameless piece I know share a little knowledge of who they are and why they created it, and without the knowledge I would have never known why Buddha was riding on an elephant.

To further support the artists affiliated with NOVICA they has partnered with Kiva to offer small loans to help improve the businesses, families and lives of the artisans.

Another feature is that you can ‘curate’ boards of your favourite items. This can be for yourself or to enter one of the competitions which are frequently held on the NOVICA site. If you need some inspiration check out some of these lists;

• Beautiful Pieces from Around the World (my curation)
• Unique Gifts for Women
• Unique Gifts for Men
• Cooking Gifts
• Photography Prints

You can’t always bring gifts home from overseas but with NOVICA you can find similar-styles or pieces that inspire the memory of travel.

Want a Chance to Win?

NOVICA was kind enough to give me $50 to spend in their store but also want you to share the experience so are giving an extra $50 to one lucky winner.

To enter just follow the prompts on the widget below, ‘Like’ Bitten by the Travel Bug on Facebook and leave a comment with which item you think you’d like to buy if you won the $50 gift voucher. The winner will be announced on Sunday through Twitter, Facebook and emailed.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Which item would you buy from the NOVICA store?

As China’s most cosmopolitan city and in a country that I was a little nervous about visiting,  I knew that I wanted to dig into Shanghai‘s cultural roots.

I probably could have taken one of the China tours that I had been reading brochures about to help me feel better prepared for my visit but really who better to help me get the inside scoop on China than two expats – Chris and Heather.
First on their list of suggestions of what to do was a visit to the Shanghai Museum, what is widely considered to be China’s best museum.

Located centrally in People’s Square, the Shanghai Museum is easily noticeable by it’s unique design. It’s designed to look like a ding, an ancient cooking vessel, but also, with it’s round top and square base represents the ancient Chinese perception that the world has a “round sky, square earth.”

There were some English signs in the museum instructing us on what we were seeing, but to fully understand and make the most of our trip the audio guides were a worthwhile investment to really understand what we were seeing – and there’s a lot to see! With displays on bronze, calligraphy, jade, oriental furniture, more we easily spent half a day in the museum and still rushed through a number of galleries.

I loved exploring the Gallery of Chinese Ancient Bronze, there were so many styles of bronze sculpture throughout history. One common feature was animal faces, generally found as a decorative piece on the handles.

This is an example of a ding (food vessel) with interlaced dragon and scale design from the early 6th century, similar to the vessel which the exterior of the building was modelled on.

When I think of interesting shaped pillows, I think of something similar to the padded neck rails that Geisha’s in Japan used to sleep on, so I was really interested in the ceramic pillows which were found in the ceramic gallery. Two examples are these pictures (above and below) which are called ‘child-shaped’ pillows.

I’ve always been a big fan of European history so to see The World of Fabergé exhibition on in the Shanghai Museum – and we were there on the last day of the exhibition!
The collection on display was from the Romanov dynasty (19th and 20th century) and featured not only personal pieces of the Tsar and family, but also pieces created by Carl Fabergé, one of the most impressive jewllers of his time.
Imperial Easter Eggs for the Tsar family were created by the House of Fabergé every year from 1885 til the end of the Russian Empire in 1917. Gilt in gold, silver, and other precious metals the craftsmanship and beauty of the four Easter eggs on display.

[To read more about The World of Fabergé display click here!]

When I think of Chinese art, one of the first things that comes to mind is the decorative white porcelain bowls and there are several hundred of these bowls on display. Each piece seems to tell a story, as well as showcasing how porcelain art evolved during the ages.

The first gallery of its type in the world, the Shanghai Museum has a huge space dedicated to seals. As something that is rarely seen today, to see how decorative some of the seals are is special. This dragon seal in particular caught my eye, with plenty of detail to it’s body and the seal that it prints (see top right hand corner).

Did you know that China was one of the earliest countries to use coins? It was something that surprised me when visiting the Gallery of Chinese coins. From primitive coins which almost look like blades, to the time when round coins entered circulation, as well as a section on foreign currencies which began to appear after the Opium Wars, including ones used on the silk road – with over 7,000 coins and notes on display you could look at them all day.

One of the most fascinating displays at the museum features the Minority Nationalities’ Art. The room was filled with cabinet upon cabinet of clothing, jewellery, and everyday utensils used by China’s ethnic minorities across the years, including from the Tibetan, Mongolian and Taiwanese people.

Each ethnic group has a defined style which can help easily identify if they are from the North, the South, or from certain tribes.  For example, groups in the North are more likely to wear long lose robes, fur hats and leather boots; whilst groups from the South are more likely to wear light materials in pale colours, such as tunics.

It gives you a real perspective into the lifestyle of some of these groups of people. From delicately crafted hair combs for decorative purposes, to a tea set and utensils (pictured below) with tribal inscriptions and even a full-sized fishing canoe by the Lanyu-people in Taiwan.

Do you visit museums when you travel?
What are your favourite museums you’ve visited?

Details

Shanghai Museum
201号 Renmin Ave, People’s Square
Huangpu, Shanghai

Website: www.shanghaimuseum.net

This morning, Easter Sunday, kids are going to be waking up early to race to the kitchen to see if Easter bunny has visited their house. Heck, I’m going to be doing it as soon as I press ‘publish’ on this post. For my family and I, we’ll be celebrating with chocolate eggs or bunnies, but in Russian Imperial history Fabergé eggs were the top choice of gift for this special time of year.

Carl Faberge was one of the most sought after jewelers at the time, famous for his high quality and uniquely designed products. Most of the Fabergé eggs that the House of Fabergé produced were miniature eggs, worn on necklaces or housed in groups, but there were some larger ones made; the most famous being the ‘Imperial’ Fabergé eggs commissioned by Tsar Alexander III and Nicholas II of Russia. 42 Fabergé eggs remain, 10 which are housed in Moscow’s Kremlin Museum.

As part of a touring exhibition ‘Fabergé: Legacy of Imperial Russia‘ which was open at the Shanghai Museum I was lucky enough to take a glimpse at some of the items which had belonged to the last Russian Tsar’s as well as four of the remaining  .

The items on display provided great insight into the lavish lifestyles that the Russian Imperial lifestyle. From simple items – brushes or pots – to lavish jewellery or religious icons guilt in pearls (below right) or the mantle of the Dowager Empress Maria Fyodorovnia (above) made of silk, brocade and ermine pelts.

Present from Tsar Nicholas II to Tsarina Alexandra Fyodorovina on their 10th wedding anniversary (1904) / The “Kazan Mother of God” Icon – made between 1899 to 1908.

It was the Fabergé eggs that were the most alluring items though. Each unique and expertly crafted, guilty with jewels, a story to share and a ‘surprise’ – a condition that Tsar Alexander III made when commissioning the eggs.

The first egg, “The Memory of Azov” was ordered by Alexander III as a gift for Tsarina Maria Fyodorovna to commemorate the journey undertaken by the Tsar’s sons, Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich (later known as Tsar Nicholas III), and Grand Prince Georgy Alexandrovich, to the Far East.
The surprise? A miniature replica of the ship that the sons took.

“Trans-Siberian train” Egg was made in 1900 to commemorate the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

After completing the sailing trip, depicted in the “Memory of Azov” egg, Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich stopped in Vladivostok and began the construction of the Far East segment of the Siberian railway, which, in Alexander III’s dream, was to connect the European and Asian parts of the country.
The surprise inside the egg is a miniature Trans-Siberian train which is a perfect duplicate of the real train, but also can be set in motion by winding the mechanism with a tiny gold key.

The “Moscow Kremlin” Egg (left) was created in memory of the visit Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Fyodorovna made to the old capital Moscow in 1903. The egg was inspired by the Cathedral of the Assumption where all Tsars were married and crowned.
Inside the gold turret-and-wall structure is a music box that plays two traditional Easter festival hymns composed by A.D. Kastalsky.

In 1925, prior to his escape from Russia, Agathon Fabergé, donated a group of complicated carved pieces to the Fersman Museum along with other articles. Whilst orifices had been drilled in the egg and the support created of rock crystal had been created, the egg was not yet completed.
The upper half of the uncompleted egg shows constellations of the Northern Hemisphere, and the stars on it were to be diamonds. The largest stone was doing to be in the constellation Leo, the sign which  Alexei the crown price, was born.

Which would you rather: a chocolate Easter egg or a Fabergé egg?

Details

Shanghai Museum
201号 Renmin Ave, People’s Square
Huangpu, Shanghai

Website: www.shanghaimuseum.net

The exhibition ’Fabergé: Legacy of Imperial Russia‘ is now
showing in Hong Kong until April 29th, 2013.