When your best friend visits you in Australia

I moved to this spectacular world of Sydney, Australia (from Houston, Texas) in December 2008.  I'm not telling a lie ~ Australia is as wonderful and fantastic a place to visit as you imagine...and I've only scratched the surface.

My college roommate, most loyal, generous, brilliant, travel adventurer, favorite friend, Katy (who lives in downtown Fort Worth, Texas) came to visit me in November 2012.  Here are some highlights of that visit...

After the longest commercial flight operating (this is no exaggeration), Katy is ready to stretch her legs and explore.  First stop, the world-famous Taronga Zoo!

November is late Spring in Australia.  Temps were nice, but we had a couple of overcast, threatening-to-rain kind of days in Sydney.  One of those days was the day we conquered climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  We got to the top and acted like fools for a photo.

We took a ferry from Circular Quay (in the heart of Sydney's city centre) to Watson's Bay.  We hiked to The Gap (not the store, but a rock cliff facing the Pacific Ocean), and had lunch at Doyle's on the Beach, a family owned and operated restaurant for 5 generations. 

The top picture is our lunch view...see the city skyline in the distance ~ the bottom picture is us at The Gap

I highly recommend Bonza Bike Tours if this seems like something that interests you.  It was a great way to see the city with a group of people from every corner of the world.  Our guide was fantastic, and I learned (even after living here a few years) a few bits of local trivia that I didn't know.

Fun fact: Bonza Bike Tours is owned by a fellow Texan.

The entire time spent with Katy in Australia was unforgettable.  Truly.  But...how can you beat getting into a tank with sharks to highlight a trip???  After taking another breathtaking ferry ride to Manly, Katy and I visited the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary.  It is a great place to visit on its on with a cute little penguin cove.  We had passes for the Shark Dive Xtreme. We got in our scuba suits, had a quick lesson for diving (because this was a first for both of us), and followed our guides into the aquarium tank. 
These are grey nurse sharks, and apparently, they don't choose humans for lunch.  Also, we were surrounded by various fish, tortoise, and stingrays.  It was a magical experience.  My heart was pumping with adrenaline, then it reached a point of peace and calm that is difficult to explain.  You need to experience it for yourself.

Katy felt that if she was going to come halfway around the world, we might as well explore another part of Australia as well.  We flew from Sydney to Hamilton Island, located in Queensland that is a part of the Whitsunday Islands.  We stayed at The Reef View Hotel, and I recommend it.

Katy splurged for us to have a suite; she approved of the wrap-a-round balcony and the views..

A top a small hill called One Tree Hill there is a small gazebo that serves cocktails at sunset.  Well, duh, we checked that out.  Most visitors get around Hamilton Island in rented golf carts.  There are shuttles provided as well.  We jumped in our golf cart, cruised to One Tree Hill, enjoyed fruity beverages, and appreciated life.  Beautiful. 

As part of our hotel package, breakfast was included.  This was no ordinary breakfast.  We had breakfast every morning with koalas!  They just chill out in the trees, snoozing, as you eat breakfast...and it's as awesome as you think it is.  For an extra fee, you can get your photo with one of the fuzzy residents.  Queensland is the only state in Australia that allows you to actually hold them.

Elvis and Katy become fast friends.

We booked a package that offered a boat tour around the Whitsunday Islands...

...and allowed us to spend several hours at the world famous Whitehaven Beach.  Depending on the list you read, it is often listed as one of the world's most beautiful beaches.

We made our mark in the sand

The next day, we took another tour.  This one took us to the Great Barrier Reef where snorkeling was provided.  For an extra fee, you could take a helicopter tour or go on a small guided scuba dive.  We opted for scuba.

We ended our day with an early dinner at a fantastic pizzeria that overlooked the marina, sipping cocktails, and toasting our friendship and adventures.

One thing I love about a trip like this is depending on who you are with, you can make it romantic, adventuresome, relaxing, and more......but you are definitely going to be making memories that last!  I'm so appreciative that I have a friend like Katy to share this experience.

Linking up with Kerri and the ladies for Wanderlust Wednesdays:

***Apparently, I posted this a week early. Oops. 

Have you visited Australia?  Wanna come???

Our distance may be far apart but you are always in my heart

Every now and then, one of those cheesy wooden signs in a home store says something that sticks.

I have a friend (Marcy) who I knew in junior high & high school, and we've reconnected on facebook.  She lives in NorCal but has lived in other parts of the US as well as the world.  She posted this link:
When Close Friends Live Far Away (A Request) by Sharon Holbrook

At first, I was scared to read it because I thought I'd cry.  Marcy confirmed this by warning me that I would "Ugly cry.  Like a Kardashian." 

I built up my strength and opened the link.  Yes, yes, yes!

Timing for this is even more poignant considering so many friends and family members from Texas are posting "back to school" pictures of their kids.  I enjoy these pics (as well as Halloween) pics of kids.  I feel like I've watched some grow.  For a person that lives on the other side of the world from many close friends, I appreciate the slice of life I get to view through these pictures.

"They say it's hard to make friends once you've grown up, but I've been lucky."  True.  I have some beautiful, loyal, intelligent friends here in Australia.

"But there are also the friends I left behind" ... "hours of talking-talking-talking (and giggling-giggling-giggling)" ... "These are the girls in all of my snapshots, with whom everything was an adventure" ...

"And, now, there are too few hours with these friends of mine."

My close girlfriends are scattered from California to Texas, Milano Italy to Shreveport Louisiana.  These friends that I've traveled with, lived with, cried with, danced with, stood beside them as they got married, talked & talked with them as they got divorced, sat curled up on their couches and drank wine.

I miss these friends.  I cherish these friends.  I love these friends.

As the link discusses, I'd be happy to sit in their kitchen, watch them make dinner for their kids, and have a day to spend with each of them in their everyday life. When I win the lotto, that's exactly what I'm going to do!

It takes effort to maintain friendships when there is so much physical distance between us.  I fail at the effort that needs to be made sometimes.  I am fortunate that these friends know I love them, know I support them, and know they are always in my heart.

*I'm not sure how HBO and I have been friends for almost 20 years, yet we have no picture together on facebook (that's where I grabbed all of these today).  But...she knows who she is, and she knows I love her.

What do you do to keep these special friends close, even if distance keeps you far?

They say it’s hard to make friends once you’re a grown-up, but I’ve been lucky. - See more at: https://www.scarymommy.com/when-close-friends-live-far-away-a-request/#sthash.je6FALVu.xnioGi6I.dpuf

They say it’s hard to make friends once you’re a grown-up, but I’ve been lucky. - See more at: https://www.scarymommy.com/when-close-friends-live-far-away-a-request/#sthash.je6FALVu.xnioGi6I.dpuf

They say it’s hard to make friends once you’re a grown-up, but I’ve been lucky. - See more at: https://www.scarymommy.com/when-close-friends-live-far-away-a-request/#sthash.je6FALVu.xnioGi6I.dpuf

Gone to Texas

Actually, not yet...but I leave today.  

Photo source

Don't worry.  I will be checking in from time to time.

I've been fortunate to have some bloggers share their time and talents, and I've got some awesome guest posts lined up for you.

I'll be focusing on family & friends...first up, road trip to Mississippi to see this one (on the right) graduate from Ole Miss

Mother's Day for this one

Make up for missing this one's 40th birthday

Make up for missing this one's (on the left) 30th birthday (coming soon)

Watching this one graduate high school

Margaritas will be consumed (and all the Tex Mex possible)

Throw in spending time with other very important family members (like getting tons of daddy hugs), friends, and loved ones...and I'll be a busy girl.

Keep visiting and show some love to my guest bloggers

Follow me on instagram for pics

I'll be back in the swing of things and fully focused on the blog in early June.

Much love to y'all xoxo

Erin

Favorite Friend

I have been very fortunate to have some wonderful females in my life who I call friends.  Very fortunate.  I have a handful that I would do anything for, I love for their own special reasons, and I value immensely.  Today, one of my very favorite friends, actually one of my favorite people to ever grace the planet, is turning the Fabulous Forty.  I'm going to tell you forty reasons that Katy is so fabulous and why she is a favorite friend.

1. You know when you meet someone that is going to become very special in your life, often people say that there is an "instant connection"?  Yea...they may be talking about a love interest, but I feel Katy and I had that instant connection.  As cliché as it sounds, we just clicked.  It was love at first sight when I met that curly headed, long-legged, big grin of a nineteen year old.  We were both dates to a frat party.  Neither of the guys were in the frat, but it was one those parties that everyone went.  Katy and I shared a bottle of Crown Royal, and we knew we'd be forever friends.
2. Katy was my roommate in college for 3 years.  During that time she was a bartendar at a variety of local bars that were popular with us crazy college kids.  Katy poured a good drink, and she gave free drinks to her roommate (me!).  
3. One Halloween, Katy let me dress her as Sandy from Grease (you know, at the school fair when she says "tell me about it, stud"?).  I put her in black spandex, I teased her already natural curly hair, I threw some heels on her and a leather jacket.  She looked hot!  Really, I just wanted to be Stephanie Zinone from Grease 2, and I thought we'd make a cute duo.
   
4. Katy accepts me for who I am.  She doesn't just accept me, she loves me for who I am.  There are a couple less desirable traits of mine that she accepts.  Like my messiness.  She is very clean and neat.  I'm a messy slob.
5. Katy is fabulous at setting lofty goals for herself and achieving them.  From graduating early to having career success; owning a home and being a triathlete.
6. Katy is super smart.
7. Katy is extremely generous...almost to the point that I worry others may have taken advantage of her.  But, I trust Katy's intelligence and instincts.  Plus, she's a big girl who can make her own decisions.
   
8. Katy is great about making me feel special on my birthdays.  From giving me a sentimental snow globe for my 30th to organizing a night out on the Cowtown Cycle Party for my 40th. 
   
9. Katy has a very special bond with her cat, Nkosi.  He is protective and loyal to Katy.  All who enter should fear Nkosi, but their love for each other is evident.
10. Katy has been known to call herself Katy the Krazy Kat Lady.  See above.  
11. Katy and I have many memories involving road trips - to Austin, to San Antonio, to Houston to see Stone Temple Pilots with her date who was wearing leather pants.  He was gorgeous.  He was allowed to wear leather pants.
    
12. Katy took care of me when we suspect my drink was drugged at a bar.  We researched, and we feel confident this is what happened.  Not a good moment.  But, she was a trooper and a nurturer.
13. Katy sings a mean rendition of Rick Springfield's "Don't Talk to Strangers".
14. Katy gives really thoughtful and insightful advice.
15. Also, and sometimes more importantly, Katy is a great listener.
16. Katy has selected Fort Worth for the place to live her life.  Fort Worth is a fabulous city, a Texas gem, that often flies under the radar.
    
     
17. Katy has a devious mind when it comes to planning pranks. 
18. Katy and I had a girl's trip to Vegas.  We stayed at the Wynn, hung out at the pool, saw Butch Walker open for Avril Lavigne, and sat on the laps of American Storm.
    
19. Speaking of Butch Walker, Katy and I flew to Minneapolis to see a Butch show.  It was amazing.
    
20. Katy and I used to snuggle up in her bed and watch marathons of Beavis and Butthead when she was suffering from insomnia.
21. Katy does some fabulous disco dancing.
22. Katy is a super strong woman who is extremely self-aware and always looking to better herself (although, I think she's pretty close to perfect just as she is.)
23. Katy and I shared a bathroom for two years.  Never once did she get mad at me listening to me vomit (from debauchery) through our shared door.  Teased me, yes.  But she never got mad.
24. Katy lets me pick out her shoes.  Admittedly, she doesn't always make the best choices for stylish footwear.  She lets me help in that department because she knows how much I love shoes.
25. Katy has a gorgeous smile with full lips.  I suspect that a guy who she dated that was in a college band may have written some song lyrics about these lips of hers.
    
26. Katy is an immensely loyal friend.
27. Katy recommends great books.  She is the one that told me I needed to read The Book Thief and recommended The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, two books that became favorites of mine.
28. Katy visited me in Australia where we did memorable things like climb the Harbour Bridge, get in a tank with sharks, scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef, and have breakfast with koalas.
    
29. Katy has an ability to make me feel good about myself.  There've been conversations when I've been feeling pretty darn lousy, and Katy is able to give me enough encouragement to feel better about things.
30. Katy is loyal and trustworthy, and I can honestly say I trust her with my deepest, darkest secrets.
31. Katy is open-minded.
32. Katy is open-hearted.
33. Katy challenges herself each month to do something she's never done before.  She's been doing this for years.  It guarantees that she is always experiencing something new in her life.
34. Katy and I are very similar in some ways, and very different in others.  Our friendship works perfectly well like that.
    
    
    
35. At a time that I needed someone to say "are you sure about this?", Katy said it.
36. When I make terrible life mistakes, Katy is the first person there to give me moral support and help me pick up the pieces.
37. Katy and I have helped each other through hair disasters, divorces, hurricane evacuations, alcohol poisonings and more.
    
38. Katy and I have a grand plan.  If we find ourselves retired and single, we want to live together again like the Golden Girls.  I'll be Blanche to her Dorothy.
39. There is no doubt in my mind, if I were to ever find myself in an emergency situation where I absolutely needed Katy to be by my side, she would do everything in her power to be there, even if that meant flying to the other side of the world.
40. If those forty reasons aren't enough to convince you that Katy is fabulous, you'll have to wait until she's fifty or sixty so I can list some more.  Because we'll most definitely still be friends then. 
    
    

 Happy Birthday, Katy!  I love you more than I love shoes.

***i forgot to add the Friday Favorites link for Amanda at meetatthebarre.com and now I'm on my phone (not laptop), so I don't know how to add the link. Sorry!!!  Will fix tomorrow. 

Sunday Funday

I'm not one to regularly blog about a meal I've had.  I'm not much of a food critic, and I don't take amazingly appetizing looking pictures.  But, I had such a fun Sunday that I'm going to share.

A friend of ours birthday was in January, and my guy's was earlier this month.  We used this as an excuse to get together for a Sunday meal.  My friends recently visited the Barossa Valley, a wine region in Australia.  At one of the vineyards, she was told about this restaurant in Newtown called bloodwood.  Newtown is an eccentric area of Sydney and has some amazing places to eat, drink, people watch, and shop. 

 I got myself all dolled up to go out for the day.  I wore a new dress, and I feel Stevie Nicks-ish because it has big flowy sleeves that I can dance and twirl in.

We got to Newtown early and strolled for a little while, mostly window shopping.  Nature called, so I ducked into the restaurant before our reservation.  The decor is described "to reflect the inner west suburb, melding raw and industrial finishes with an emphasis on recycled and reclaimed materials."  I loved it.  So quirky and cool.

 

The toilets are downstairs - 3 individual ones with old doors, concrete walls, stainless sinks, and look at that faucet!

 Recycled bottles were used to separate a walkway and eating area.

A light fixture made of clothespins hangs over a table with brightly colored metal chairs.

The four of us were seated by the tattooed, mustachioed hipster who told us that the menu was designed to share all the plates and recommended six different plates between the four of us.  Perfect recommendation.  We picked out meat selections - miso fried chicken, argyle beef striploin, braised lamb nuggets with a pistachio crumb - and our vegetarian selections - polenta chips, fried yorkshire pudding stuffed with goat's cheese (which was amazing!), and my favorite, socca.  What is 'socca', you ask?  I didn't know either.  It was so, so, soooooo good.

polenta chips, miso chicken, lamb nuggets

socca - chickpea pancake, summer seeds, quinoa, pumpkin, persian fetta

 

 

I can't talk about this restaurant without mentioning the drinks menu.  It a well-rounded menu of cocktails, wine, cider, and beer.  It's summertime in Sydney, it was a warm summer day, so I wanted to sample some of their self-described "fancy beers".  

 The menu recommended this for anyone who is a fan of sour jelly beans or sour jelly chews.  If Kool-Aid was a beer, it would be this.  From Buxton Brewery in the UK, this was so interesting and a really great way for me to start my beer tour.  It tasted so sweet, but had a nice beer aftertaste.

 A bit of a gimmick, but too good to pass up.  The Slaytanic Swill is a red ale that was a combined beer effort from Victorian and New South Wales brew masters.  It was pretty heavy, but I liked it. 

 "Notes: Best drunk while bashing your head." - My kind of beer

Brewed with wildflower honey and corn, the sweet smell of this IPA was a-may-zing!  Unfortunately, the taste wasn't as good as the smell.  It wasn't awful, but it wasn't amazing.  

We stayed long enough that all the tables around us emptied.  Probably a good thing.  No one wanted to hear our debate about the Bali 9.

Unfortunately, one of my girlfriends had to go to work.  As we were deciding if we wanted to continue our Sunday Funday, we hung around their apartment, chatted, and drank some wine.  Well, 50% of us drank some wine. The decision was made to continue the day into evening by going to visit a pub that not-so-long ago had a menu change.  So, we headed to The Oxford Tavern.  Did I mention there were several hours between our huge meals??  I'm a girl who likes to eat, but I'm not that bad!

poor Neil only had soft drinks all day, but he had fabulous company!

As we perused the menu, I got a wee bit excited.  Quesadillas?  Pulled pork?  Tacos?  Chili fries?!?!?  Yep.  We'll be coming here more often.

Deliciousness!!!!!!

This may be the other half of the folks who decided to partake in a few libations.  Such as...........

...absinthe and red bull with beers to chase.  Who's idea was that?!  Mine.  Bad idea.  And, I'm pretty sure that is when Neil sober one called it a night.

So...........I highly recommend bloodwood in Newtown.  The service was great.  The food was fantastic.  The drink menu was fun.  The decor is awesome.  Go there.