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???

No honeymoon, still married

I didn't have a honeymoon.

We deserve a honeymoon.

We're small business owners who got married during our busiest season.  We went home to Texas shortly after we got married, but that's not a honeymoon.  That's a trip visiting family.  

If we could go on a honeymoon, here's my fantasy list:

I've never been to Japan.  My guy went when he was a kid.  He's mentioned that he'd want to go back.  (No, he hasn't.  I guess I don't listen very well.  He's been to mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, but nope, not Japan.)  Admittedly, I've never even really researched where I'd want to go or what I'd want to do.  But, exploring a new country and culture with him, I have no doubt it would be amazing.

photo source

I've lived in Australia for six & a half years and have barely scratched the surface of amazing places and things to do and see.  For this little exercise, I asked my guy this question - "if we could take off for a week or two, go anywhere at all in Australia, and money was no object, where would you want to take me?" (after all, this is his country...he should know more places and options than me, right?)  His reply?  "Anywhere." That's really not a very fun exercise for this post, is it?  So, I'll choose - Rottnest Island off the coast of Western Australia.  I've seen some pics from Australian friends who've been there, and it looks beyond incredible.  Plus, the most well-known animal on Rottnest Island is the quokka, "the happiest animal on Earth".

photo source - buzzfeed.com

My guy is a 5th (or 6th?) generation Australian, but his surname can be traced back to an origin in the Italian/Swiss border region as well as Croatia.  Sounds like a good enough reason to go there.  Plus, it's beautiful.  I've been to Italy, and I've been to Switzerland (I will happily return to either/both countries).  I've never been to Croatia.  I think we need to go.

 Rovinj, Croatia - Photo source

I'm not going to lie.  I'd have to research this a lot more to get more specific details, but I think an African safari ecotourism trip would be an amazing experience.  With a few clicks around the internet, I found a beautiful company that provides magical experiences and itineraries in a responsible and eco-friendly environment.  Neil and I would want to experience the wildlife in as natural (yet, safe) habitats as possible.  So, I'd definitely research the choices.  I'm thinking Kenya and Tanzania would be grand adventures (especially if I could stay in a place like the one pictured below!) 

Photo source

I lived in North America for 30+ years.  I went south of the American border plenty of times, but I never ventured north.  I've got some Canadian blogger friends that may give better insight, but the pictures I've seen of Banff are breathtaking.  I can imagine my hubs and I would be a happy little duo in a luxury (of course; this is my fantasy list, remember?) cabin in the middle of the Canadian Rockies surrounded by pristine water.  He'd fish (I'd watch), we'd hike, we'd go to a spa, we'd sit and enjoy hot toddies in the midst of the snow-capped beauty.  Yep, we need to go to Banff.

photo source

I could see us happily travel to European destinations, take a USA road trip, visit an island destination new to me, like, Puerto Rico, or getaway to other Australian locations.  For a couple that doesn't even get full weekends off (retail hours - ugh!), we'd just be happy with a getaway within a four hour car drive.

Too bad I didn't win that $30 million dollar lottery that I bought a ticket for last week.........

But, you know what?  Even though we didn't have a honeymoon, we're still married.  And, we're still happy about that too.  We live together, we work together, and we still know that we are partners through and through.  I'd take that over any fantasy honeymoon. 

I already had this post ready to go live, then I saw some other bloggers linking up to this fantastic link-up, and I jumped on...(now, to go read the links)......

If money were no object, and just you & your partner could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

List #19 - Wish List

Welcome to my Make-Believe Valentine's Day Wish List.  Let's pretend that my guy was one of those dudes that created google in his dorm room, and now he is a kajillionaire*.  Let's pretend that he is uber-romantic and wants to splurge on Valentine's Day.  Let's pretend money is no object, and I am allowed to be selfish and spoiled.  Ok.  Are you in the right mindset?  With all of that going on in my fantasyland, here is my Valentine's Day Wish List:

1.  Patek Philippe Calatrava watch in platinum with 3.67ct total of diamonds - price is available upon request

 

2. Valentino Fringe Hobo - $3,195 USD - a girl can never have too many black bags

3. Lucchese Crocodile Boots - Exclusive to Allen's boots - $2,749.99 USD - I may live in Australia, but I'm a Texas woman who loves herself some boots.  What a perfect blend of our cultures; Texas boots made out of an Australian animal.

4.  A pink convertible Fiat 500 - From what I understand, these were a limited edition in 2010.  Well, if my guy is a kajillionaire*, then he can call the Fiat plant in Italy and have one made especially for me.  Yes, there are many cars that are far more luxurious, but this one is adorable.

5. 10 days? 14 days? (I won't be picky) at the Royal Davui Island Resort in Fiji - an adult only resort on a private island in Fiji with seclusion in our "own tropical oasis"...with spa visits, of course. - Approximately $30,000 - $40,000 depending on length of stay and spa treatments selected

6.  5.87 natural purplish pink sapphire & diamond ring in platinum - $32,619.40 AUD - My guy could make this himself, but why should he have to put himself through that trouble when one is already made and waiting to be purchased for me?

7.  Download Music Festival tickets (and trip to the UK, of course) - I love live music.  I love music festivals.  I love rock music.  And, I've always wanted to go to Download, "The UK's Premier Rock Festival".  I'd be pretty darn happy with this year's line-up.  (Oh, and while I'm already in the UK, I may just need to skip over to Italy and visit one of my BFFs Shawna who I haven't seen in ages and have never met her bambinos and she has THREE of them now with another on the way so I'm due for a visit and yes, this is a terribly long run-on sentence.)

Wipe away the fairy dust and pixie glitter to join the real world with me.  My guy and I aren't really the Valentine's Day sort of couple.  We'll have his son that night.  He'll probably just throw some meat on the BBQ, and I'll make an awesome salad.  It will be made with love, we'll enjoy each other's company, and that will be just perfect for me.  

But.......if anyone reading this has unlimited funds and wants to surprise me, well...I like surprises!

*Yes, I know "kajillionaire" is not a word.