Travel
My travel posts are about experiences outside of metropolitan Perth where I live, either within Australia (including regional Western Australia) or outside of Australia.
Most recently posted – international
- Trinidad, Cuba – latest
- Inle Lake, Myanmar
- Havana, Cuba
- Viñales, Cuba
- Singapore, 2016 – Part 1
- Singapore, 2016 – Part 2
Most recently posted – Australia
- Kalbarri, Western Australia – latest
- Four days in Sydney
- Our Southern Forests food and wine adventure
- Christmas holiday in Denmark, Western Australia – Part 1
- Christmas holiday in Denmark, Western Australia – Part 2
- Long weekend in Adelaide – Part 1
- Long weekend in Adelaide – Part 2
- Bunker Bay getaway
- My long weekend in Sydney
Travel series – international
Cuba, November 2016
I went to Cuba in November 2016, on a photography group tour. This trip was totally self-funded.
USA September/October, 2014
Jac and I went to the US in 2014. This trip was totally self-funded.
- First day in Honolulu
- Hole in the Wall Food Tour, Honolulu, Hawaii
- The land of SPAM
- More eating in Honolulu
- Highlights from Maui
- Highlights from Austin, Texas
Myanmar, December 2014
I was in Myanmar from 4 to 16 December 2014 on a photography tour that included Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Pindaya and Inle Lake. This trip was totally self-funded.
- Yangon
- Hot air ballooning in Bagan
- Nunnery at Sagaing Hill
- Scenes from Zay Cho Market, Mandalay
- Inle Lake, Myanmar
USA, July to August 2014
I travelled alone to the United States from late July to mid-August. This trip covered California, Wyoming and Colorado. The primary reason for the trip was to attend a couple of workshops, one on hot air balloon photography and the other on photographing wild horses and cowboys. I also caught up with an old school friend. Out of all my travels, this is one of my favourite trips ever. This trip was totally self-funded.
- Santa Paula, California, USA – Part 1
- Chasing Balloons, Part 1
- Chasing Balloons, Part 2
- Santa Paula, California, USA – Part 2
- San Francisco, Part 1 – Golden Gate Hotel (checking in), North Beach by Night walking tour, Sam’s (burger)
- San Francisco, Part 2 – Golden Gate Hotel (breakfast), Hop-on hop-off bus tour. Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury, The Pork Store, Painted Ladies, Hearts in San Francisco project, Jardiniere
- San Francisco, Part 3 – breakfast in Chinatown, Ferry Building, sea lions of Pier 39, In-N-Out Burger, Fisherman’s Wharf and dinner with strangers at House of Nanking
- San Francisco, Part 4 – walking around Chinatown, Bacon Bacon truck, Mission District murals, Bi-Rite Creamery and Katana-Ya ramen.
- Wyoming cowboys and staying at K Bar Z ranch
- Wild horses and dining out in Cody, Wyoming
- My first day in Cody, Wyoming
- Denver, Colorado – Part 1 – Mizuna, Cherry Creek North Food & Wine festival, Chihuly exhibition at Denver Botanic Gardens, Argyll Whisky Beer, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs
- Denver, Colorado – Part 2 – The Curtis, Sam’s No.3, Etai’s, Bistro Vendome, Civic Center Eats, The Buckhorn Exchange, Syrup, Denver public art
Singapore, July 2014
Jac and I were in Singapore for 8 nights. We paid for this trip ourselves and our Singaporean friend Mandy was our local guide. This series includes a day trip to LEGOLAND Malaysia.
- Ice cream wafer
- Al Tasneem
- Forget chilli crab! Keng Eng Kee Seafood
- Chomp Chomp Food Centre
- High tea at the Raffles Hotel Singapore
- Tian Tian and Zhen Zhen, Maxwell Food Centre
- My Singapore durian fest
- Azmi Chapati
- Yet Con
- LEGOLAND Malaysia
- Dong Po Colonial Cafe
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, May 2013
This trip was hosted (what does this mean?)
I travelled to Hawke’s Bay as a guest of Tourism New Zealand, with all accommodation, meals and activities hosted by businesses in the region. My flights were compliments of Air New Zealand and Mount Cook Airlines.
- Welcome to Napier
- Pacifica Restaurant, Napier
- Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market, Hastings
- Te Mata Peak, Craggy Range and Terrôir Restaurant, Havelock North
- The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Part 1
- Elephant Hill, Te Awanga
- The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Part 2 – including the Kiwi Discovery Walk
- Cycling with Takaro Trails
- The Manse
- Country Culinaire, Orcona Chillis, The Damson Collection and On Yer Bike Tours
- Black Barn Vineyards, Havelock North
Auckland and Waiheke Island, New Zealand, April 2013
This trip to Auckland and Waiheke Island was planned by Jac and me. We paid for all meals, accommodation and activities; the exception was 1 x return premium economy ticket Perth to Auckland, which I received at an Air New Zealand launch event.
- New Zealand trip – sneak peek
- The Big Foody Auckland Tastebud Tour
- El Faro, Elliott Stables, Auckland
- Takapuna Beach Cafe, Auckland and ferry ride to Devonport
- The Kapiti Store, Auckland
- Food Alley, Auckland
- Waiheke Island: Le Chalet Apartments and The Oyster Inn
- Waiheke Island tour with See Waiheke
- Scenes from Waiheke Island
- No.1 Pancake, Auckland
- Tiffin Afternoon Tea at The Langham Auckland
- Imperial Lane hotdog, Auckland – last dinner in Auckland, part 1
- The White Lady, Auckland – last dinner in Auckland, part 2
- Top Cafe dumplings, Newtown – last dinner in Auckland, part 3
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 2012
This trip was hosted (what does this mean?)
I travelled to Dubai as part of a group famil as a guest of Emirates and the Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. My flights were courtesy of Emirates – I flew Perth to Dubai in economy class, and Dubai to Perth in business class.
- Flying Emirates to Dubai
- Unexpected Dubai – Day 1
- Market, mall and desert safari
- The tale of my lost phone, Shangri-La Hotel Part 1, Ravi Restaurant and Dubai Fountain
- Camel races, textile market, spice and gold souk, cultural lunch and progressive dinner
- Shangri-La Hotel breakfast buffet, dinner at Traiteur, camel milk chocolate, Emirates Business Class
Cambodia and Vietnam, August 2012
This trip was hosted (what does this mean?)
I travelled to Cambodia and Vietnam as part of a group famil, flying business class on Vietnam Airlines and cruising the Mekong River on the RV Mekong Pandaw as a guest of Vietnam Airlines.
- Flying business class with Vietnam Airlines
- Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa, Angkor Archaeological Park and Angkor Cafe, Siem Reap, Cambodia – includes tips for visiting Angkor Archaeological Park
- A night out in Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Day 1 and 2: River cruise on RV Mekong Pandaw
- Day 3: River cruise on RV Mekong Pandaw – includes what I did for internet access while overseas
- Day 4: River cruise on RV Mekong Pandaw
- Day 5 and 6: River cruise on RV Mekong Pandaw – includes my thoughts on the social aspects of being on a cruise
- Day 7: River cruise on RV Mekong Pandaw
- Final day: RV Mekong Pandaw – and a day in Ho Chi Minh City
Travel series – Australia
Adelaide, April 2016
My first time visiting Adelaide/South Australia, staying with my friend Christina. We visited McLaren Vale, the German village of Hahndorf and spent a day walking around the city, which included a visit to the famous Adelaide Central Market.
Denmark (Western Australia), December 2015
We spent Christmas 2015 / New Year 2016 in the Western Australian town of Denmark.
- Christmas holiday in Denmark, Western Australia – Part 1
- Christmas holiday in Denmark, Western Australia – Part 2
Sydney, September 2015
Melbourne, May/June 2015
I spent the WA Day long weekend in Melbourne, catching up with my friend Prez who moved there with her hubby last year. This trip was covered in a single blog post rather than a series. Includes a day trip to Mornington Peninsula.
Margaret River region, May 2014
This trip was hosted (what does this mean?)
Jac and I visited the Margaret River region in the south west of Western Australia for four days in May as guests of the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association. We drove ourselves down to the region and were responsible for our transfers, but all of our accommodation, meals and activities were hosted by businesses in the region.
- Discovery Menu, Voyager Estate, Margaret River
- Bettenay’s – Margaret River Nougat Company
- Dining in Margaret River town
- Lake Cave, Margaret River
- Brookwood Estate
- Margaret River Chocolate Company and Providore
- Margaret River Farmers Market
- The Berry Farm, Rosa Glen
- Two days in Yallingup, Part 1 – Arimia Estate, Seashells and Lamont’s Smiths Beach
- Goanna Gallery Cafe, Dunsborough
- Two days in Yallingup, Part 2 – Aravina Estate
Melbourne, December 2013
In December 2013, Jac and I went on holiday – Melbourne (3 nights), then 3 nights in Launceston (Jac, to stay with a friend) and King Island (me, for a photographic safari with a couple of friends), and finally, Hobart, where we spent Christmas (6 nights). The trip was not sponsored in any way.
- Cumulus Inc, Melbourne
- Queen Victoria Wednesday Night Market, Melbourne
- MoVida, Melbourne
- Orient East, Melbourne
- LuxBite, South Yarra
- China Red, Chinatown
- N2 Extreme Gelato, Fitzroy
- Cafe Gaia, South Yarra
- Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio, South Yarra
- Steer Bar & Grill, South Yarra
- Brunetti at Myer Melbourne and Lygon Street, Carlton
King Island, Tasmania, December 2013
This was a photographic safari (4 days, 3 nights) on King Island with King Island Holiday Village and Tours.
- Day 1 – OKA, The restaurant with no food, tern rookery, Old Admiral Benbow Restaurant
- Day 2 – Damper, Calcified Forest, landscapes, King Island beef roast and King Island Cheese platter, King Island crayfish
- Day 3 – Grassy scenes, hay bales, scones, Yellow Rock Beach, The Shannon (shipwreck remains), cows, Penny’s Lagoon, King Island lamb, Cape Wickham lighthouse, King Island Dairy, King Island Bakery, Currie scenes
- Day 4 – Naracoopa Jetty, crayfish boat, Airport Shop, Rex Airlines
Hobart, Tasmania, December 2013
- Short stories: Mount Wellington
- Christmas lunch at the Salamanca Inn
- The Quarry Salamanca
- MONA, Hobart
- A food lovers’ day out on Bruny Island
- Salamanca Market
- Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
- Cascade Brewery tour
- The Taste of Tasmania
- Two bakeries and a half-laundromat – three cafes in Hobart, Tasmania
Sydney, August 2012
- Chinta Ria… Mood for Love, Sydney
- Monty’s Sandwich Shop, Bondi Junction
- The Milk Bar by Cafe Ish, Redfern
- Xanthi Bar and Restaurant, Westfield Sydney
Avon Valley
Mini series (of sorts)! In June 2013, we went on a weekend getaway to Northam in the Avon Valley, stopping at Bakers Hill on the way.
We returned to the Avon Valley at the end of September.
Sydney, November 2011
I went to Sydney with my sister Juji and her then-fiancé now hubby Jay in November 2011. We planned it as an eating trip and as such, the blog posts below are more focused on food than travel stories per se.
- BBQ King, Haymarket
- bills, Surry Hills
- Cafe Ish, Surry Hills
- Chinatown Night Market and Emperor’s puffs, Haymarket
- Chat Thai Thaitown, Haymarket
- Bourke Street Bakery, Surry Hills
- Cafe Cre Asion, Sydney
- Din Tai Fung, World Square
- Sydney Madang, Sydney CBD
- Cabramatta
- Izakaya Fujiyama, Surry Hills
- Lumiere Cafe, Surry Hills
- Harry’s Cafe de Wheels, Woolloomooloo
- Porteño, Surry Hills
- Quay Restaurant, Sydney – an incredible experience, but not for the reason you’d think…
- Mad Spuds Cafe, Surry Hills
- Mamak, Chatswood
- Marigold, Haymarket
- Chefs Gallery, Sydney
- Bangbang Espresso Bar and Cafe, Surry Hills
- El Loco, Surry Hills
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