Adventure, baby!

USA

Nelson Bay Mini-moon

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!

NYC: The Highlights

Next stop was a whirlwind tour of NYC.

Alec was keen to see the American Museum of Natural History and all of the dinosaur bones.

Central Park – gorgeous in summer.

Lunch at the gorgeous Tavern on the Green in Central Park.

Catching up with gorgeous friends like Masa and Calman.

Doing a few touristy things like the Statue of Liberty.

And, of course, shopping! Juicy Couture, Tiffany & Co, and the Tokidoki mothership.


Such a short stop, it was crazy, but gave Alec a taste of the city. Will be back – for more shopping!

Hawaii – Highlights (July 10 – 14)

First stop on our round-the-world, month-long adventure, was the big island of Hawaii.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, and was surprised at how much I loved it. It was ultra American, but has retained lots of islandy-feel to it.

Some highlights from the four-and-a-half days we spent there …

The best pizza I’ve ever tasted. Made with spelt grain. Best. Thing. Ever. So good we went there twice.

Snorkling at Kealakekua Bay, site of where Captain Cook met his end. Also a place of shallow reef with lots of colourful fish.
Watched a live volcano flow lava into the ocean.

Swam with wild dolphins, including a dolphin calf.

And the absolute highlight, swam with manta rays at night. Freaky but sensational. The look scary but are so gentle, and look like underwater butterflies performing a ballet …


I wish we had stayed longer now, there was so much more to see! We will definitely be back …