If you would like to feel a stronger connection with Rome and the Roman Empire, watch a gladiator themed TV drama or movie before you come. We really liked the TV series ‘Spartacus‘ (warning: contains strong violence, erotic and naked scenes), which tells the story of rebellious slaves and gladiators back in the Roman Empire, and how they started a revolution. It’s based on true historical events which made it more fascinating!
【Travel】Rome + Vatican .::The Essentials::.
Almost everyone tells me how Rome is too touristy for their liking, and the Colosseum is just a pile of rubble. Well, yes it’s touristy and yes it’s mainly ruins inside the Colosseum now, but that’s part of the beauty of Rome! It’s lively and traveler-friendly and almost everything you see is full of history.
I suspect part of the reason why some tourists complain about Rome being “full of tourists” (I always find this comment ironic) is that they spent too much time waiting in line. But this can so easily be prevented! Read on to find out how we legitimately “jumped the queue” for both the Vatican Museum and the Colosseum.
【Sydney Food】Muse Restaurant, Hunter Valley
Mike planned a Hunter Valley day trip for his mom’s birthday, and picked the 1 chef’s hat (in 2014 Regional NSW category) Muse Restaurant for the celebratory luncheon.
Road trip, wine tasting and fine dining, woot!
【Travel】Athens 2014 .::The Food.::
So what comes to your mind when somebody mentions Greek food? For me, it’s Greek salad. In Greece, they do their Greek salad in style – with a huge chunk of feta cheese on top.
I have to admit, having only dined in a Greek restaurant once prior to coming to Greece, I didn’t really know what to expect. To my surprise, Greek food is by far the best European cuisine that is most compatible with my taste buds!
Here, I had the. most. amazing. beef. souvlaki. ever!
(2016 Edit: I noticed that the menu may have changed since I visited in 2014. I’ve added the photos of the menu – beef souvlaki was the one I loved!)
【Sydney Food】Yakiniku Kashiwa
My friend, A, took me to Yakiniku Kashiwa on a Saturday afternoon for a long overdue catch-up. It was a little place in Crows Nest, near where the Woolworths used to be. Look out for the sign that says “YAKINIKU” (Japanese BBQ).
【Travel】Athens .::In 1 day::.
Greek alphabets, so familiar yet so…lost on me.
To be honest, Athens was never on my bucket list. We really only decided to make a stop here because we had to change flights here en route Santorini, and Mike suggested that we might as well stay a day here. At first I was a bit hesitant because it meant we had to sacrifice a day in Santorini (my dream destination!), but then I wanted to add a city to our trip too, so we did. And I’m so glad that we did!
We had the. best. beef. souvlaki. ever. in Athens (click [here] to see my Athens food notes), and also had a very different Greek experience than what we had on the Greek islands (the islands were absolutely beautiful but, of course, did not have as many food choices than the capital).
【Sydney Life】Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2013
This year marks my third visit of the Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi. The sparkling tortoise water, ocean breeze and the creative sculptures never cease to amaze. This never gets old.
- What: Outdoor exhibition of modern sculptures.
- Where: Along the Bondi-Tamarama coastal walk. Walk can be started from Bondi Beach.
- When: 3 weeks in October/November each year.
- Fee: Free.
- Website: http://www.sculpturebythesea.com/Home.aspx
【Travel】Uluru .::Summer::.
“It’s a big red rock, a big red rock,
a whole lot bigger than a city block.
It’s one thing everybody wants to see,
when they come to visit in the territory!”
– Big Red Rock by Warren H Williams
I heard this song on the Uluru tourist radio, and haven’t been able to get it out of my heard!
【Travel】Milford Sound, New Zealand .:: Day trip from Queenstown::.
Isn’t it simply breathtaking?
We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day at the Milford Sound, which was most unusual in this part of the world as they say Milford Sound is the wettest place in New Zealand!
Expect to see some exciting wildlife in action here, including keas (large species of parrot found in NZ), seals, penguins and dolphins.
【Travel】Queenstown, New Zealand .::The Essentials::.
It’s hard not to have a love-at-first-sight relationship with Queenstown.