Travel Archives - Page 60 of 66

Nelson Bay Mini-moon

January 8, 2010 / Hawaii / 2 Comments

After the wedding, Alec and I head up to Nelson Bay for a post-wedding break. We are going to Hawaii in April for our real honeymoon, so this was just a quick break to de-stress and enjoy being married.

We had originally booked to stay at Amarna Resort, but when we arrived we found it completely unsuitable (no privacy, room with glass wall on the ground floor on a main thoroughfare, over-priced, over-crowded beach). I was pretty upset as it was already 3pm and peak season, so I thought we either wouldn’t find somewhere else, or if we did, it would be just horrible, but we were so lucky and found a two-story apartment vacant at Nelson Bay Breeze Apartments. The apartment was roomy, private, with air-con, and only 200m from the beach.

Dinner at Sanook Thai in Corlette. Excellent Thai food.

Nelson Bay – the end near our apartment.

Checking out my new wedding ring! Every time I look down I can’t believe I’m wearing a wedding band.

Marina at Nelson Bay.

Newlyweds!

Being sun-safe at Fingal Bay.

Posing. Of course.

Oh hai!

Paradise.

Stunning weather, not another soul in sight.

Wheee we’re married!

Alec jumps for joy at being a husband.

Dinner out at Zest restaurant in Nelson Bay, the wine going to my head.

Climbing to the summit in the national park.

Looking down on Shoal Bay.

Self-portrait as the clouds roll in.

Yay, holidays!

Taking a dip after bushwalking at Shoal Bay.

Sweaty bettys.

Check out the crystal-clear water.

Dinner back at the apartment – pizza and Buffy marathon. Blissful!

Last day – morning tea at the Inner Light Tea Rooms, at the Nelson Bay Inner Lighthouse.

We had such a fabulous, amazing break, where we spent time just enjoying each other and bring married. It was three days filled with bliss, joy, and so much love it was overwhelming. I’m loving being married!

Hunter Valley Day Trip

December 30, 2009 / NSW / 0 comment

Masa was keen to see the Hunter Valley, so we decided on a small tour group so we would all get to enjoy the wine. We visited three boutique wineries and the Smelly Cheese Shop. The wineries were all fabulous, and we bought some wine at all of them. The cheese shop also had some great food, and we left with multiple local cheeses and gelato.

Group shot!

Wine dog Stella.

At out last stop for the day – what a view!

Hunter Valley: Chocolate!

September 26, 2009 / NSW, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Hunter Valley Offsite – Day 2

September 25, 2009 / NSW, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Hunter Valley Offsite Day 1

September 24, 2009 / NSW, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Turning 30 in Singapore

August 16, 2009 / Family, Travel / 2 Comments

Turning 30 – the moment I had been dreading! It was actually lucky it occurred as it did, in Singapore and following one of my best friend’s weddings, as it put the day in perspective, as something to be enjoyed, but something small in the larger scheme of things.

My 30th began right after the wedding – midnight, which was when we arrived at a club to dance with friends after the reception.

With the love of my life and best friend.

With two of my closest girl friends, Beverly and Lisa – no better way to see in my 30th year!

On the dance floor together for the first time!

After a late night dancing, we had a great sleep in the next morning, and a late breakfast. Perfect way to spend the last day of our trip.

A birthday isn’t a birthday without gifts! Thanks Alec for this gorgeous bracelet.

Beverly, as well as organising her wedding, also managed to organise a day out for my birthday! Thanks so much Bev, I really appreciate it, and had the best birthday ever thanks to you, Lise, Chris and Alec.

About to board the Singapore Flyer and watch the Singapore Day celebrations from the air.

Hello Singapore, thanks for celebrating with me!

After the Flyer we enjoyed an amazing foot reflexology session followed by massage (total bliss), while Lise and Chris tried the fish spa …

Next we head off on an epic adventure through the Singapore Day celebrations to find a restaurant I have been wanting to try – a vegetarian Mediterranean restaurant called Original Sin. We arrived quite late but thankfully they were still open. The food, as in the reviews I’ve read, was delicious, the wine lovely, and we had a really delightful evening.

Dinner party comes to an end!

My first birthday cake!

Back at the hotel, the girls had organised another birthday cake for me! A delish chocolate concoction. Best way to end a birthday – eating cake at midnight. Thank you Bev and Lise!

Happy birthday to me!

Singapore, The Highlights

August 16, 2009 / Singapore / 0 comment

The final destination – Singapore, for our dear friends Beverly and Chris’ wedding.

Arriving in Singapore was quite a shock to the system. It was so hot and humid, it was like swimming through the air to try and get anywhere. In light of the weather, I could see why the national past times are eating and shopping.

We arrived in the evening, had a relaxing night, then spent the next day with the bridal couple for their hens and bucks days.

At the joint brunch in the morning.

Brunch was followed by manicure and pedicures, and then high tea! What a gorgeous day.

The girls – all primped and polished.

The next day, Saturday the 8th, was the big wedding day. I was honored to be asked to be one of Beverly’s “sisters” for the day, which meant we arrived at Bev’s aunt’s house early in the morning to participate in the claiming of the bride ritual, as well as getting to observe the tea ceremony.

The “sisters” plus bride and bridesmaid.

The next part of the day was the church ceremony – Bev looked stunning in her white gown.

Finally married! Massive congrats guys!

The reception was fabulous fun and a great way to end the day. The evening was punctuated with touching slideshows, particularly one from Bev’s parents, which made several of us shed a few tears.

Dressed in our finery.

Bev’s last dress change – stunning in red.

With the gorgeous couple. Love you both – thank you for including us in your beautiful day.

South of France, The Highlights

August 16, 2009 / France, Holidays / 1 Comment

After an amazing week in Paris, we flew south to Montpellier, picked up another hire car, and drove to Arles for a two-day stay.

Arles is famous for two things – most recently, Van Gogh lived and painted here, but a long time before that, Arles was conquered by the Romans. The remains of the Roman civilisation are still visible in Arles, including the theatre, baths and arena. We were lucky enough to see a gladiator match being put on in the arena when we visited.

Arles is a funny place – from the outside looks quite run down and old, but the narrow streets remind me a lot of Venice – a rabbit warren of streets, revealing treasures tucked into corners. The insides of the derelict buildings have all been renovated, so it’s quite the town of surprises.

The Roman arena.

From Arles we drove to Carcassonne, where we rented an apartment for four nights. Carcassonne is quite amazing to see when you approach the city. The old city is perched on a hill top and is quite majestic!

We spent a lovely day exploring the old city.

The area is rife with castles and is rich in history, particularly from the Cathar period. Many of the castles are actually more like fortresses, designed to protect the people, and the Cathars, from the religious crusades.

The castles are just amazing. Perched on the top of mountains in terrain that is so inhospitable it’s just extraordinary imagining people climbing up and down, or laying siege to, in every-day life.

One of the castles, Montsegur.

Sunflowers – everywhere!

Lastours castles.

Matchy-match at Lastours.

Final view of Carcassonne.

We ended our France leg by driving to Toulouse, spending the night, then catching a flight to London early the next morning.

Paris, France – Getting Engaged!

August 16, 2009 / Family, France / 3 Comments

The absolute highlight of both Paris and the trip was getting engaged.

Alec went to a lot of effort to create the perfect day for me, and it truly was!

First, Alec booked an amazing hotel for us to stay in for two nights, called Jays Paris. They also upgraded our room for free, which was unexpected! The hotel was made up of only six suites, all of which were individually themed, and extremely luxurious. The service is also what sets Jas apart. We found chocolates on our pillows, fresh fruit left for us in the evening, and the weather report was put under our door each morning! Our suite looked over a private garden, so we could enjoy looking at beautiful flowers every morning.

Since I had fallen sick when we drove through Giverny, we decided to take a day trip back. It was so beautiful – the most amazing day trip. The gardens are just so exquisite I can see how Monet was inspired to create his masterpieces here. Alec told me later he was planning on proposing at the gardens, but the ring was stuck in the bottom of his bag and he couldn’t get it out!

Next on my perfect day was chocolate shopping and dessert sampling at Fauchon, a Paris institution that was recommended to me by my dear friend Masa. We spend a few happy hours here buying delightful chocolate and trying more avante guard desserts, like the one below (it looks like any other tart, but believe me when I say I think I found the source of Zumbo‘s inspiration!)

We decided to go out to dinner somewhere special for our last night in Paris, and went back to the hotel to get changed. I was ready to go and waiting for the taxi in our suite when Alec came around to where I was sitting, dropped to one knee, and presented me with a Tiffany & Co box.

Even though we’d been talking about marriage for a while, nothing prepares you for the moment! I had tears in my eyes as he opened the box, took out the ring and asked me if I would marry him.

Dinner to celebrate was at L’Arpege, a three-Michelin star restaurant that focuses on vegetables. It was the perfect place to celebrate being newly engaged! The food and service was just divine, with friendly people happy to explain every detail about the food, help us chose wine, and accommodate our every eating desire. The food was just exquisite – the best meal of both our lives, with amazing wine to match, chosen by the sommelier. Four hours passed in a flash, and we have never been to a restaurant so lovely before – and doubt we might for a long time again.

This was taken at the end of dinner by our very friendly waiter.

And so it was back to the hotel! The most amazing day every was coming to an end, but the most exciting things are still to follow – planning our wedding with our family and friends, and beginning our life together as a married couple. I can’t wait!