Canberra

S and I headed down to Canberra over the Queen's birthday long weekend. We stayed at the same hotel as the previous year; perhaps the start of a tradition.

Heathcote National Park: Kingfisher Pools & Lake Tooloma

My last day trip during my "summer break" was to Heathcote National Park, located south of Sydney and close to the Royal National Park. I completed a bushwalk to Kingfisher Pool with a slight detour to Lake Tooloma on the return journey.

Where Have I Really Been

So where have I really been? Let's break it down into categories.

Where Have I Been

Over the past 12 months, I have been spending an increasing amount of time offline. It all started in June last year when I deactivated my Facebook and Instagram account in an attempt to curb my social media consumption. It was a great decision - I suddenly had more time to do the things I really enjoyed (such as reading). It also forced me to take a step back from the curated lives of so many and live and focus on my own life in a healthier manner.

Bangkok

In Bangkok, we walked a lot, ate cheap street food and sweated a lot.

Wat Pho

Wat Pho, one of the oldest wats in Bangkok, is known for the 46m reclining Buddha. It was first constructed in the 18th century by King Rama I and underwent a series of expansions and renovations by the subsequent kings.

Pattaya

The next leg of our journey was in Thailand; Pattaya and Bangkok to be specific.

We caught the cheap airport bus to Pattaya, walked in the hot weather for far too long with our luggage (a recurring occurrence on our trip) and finally made it to our nice hotel. Our accommodation up until that point had been on the budget side and it was definitely nice to have a great shower and a comfortable bed.

Hanoi

The main reason for our visit to Vietnam's capital - Hanoi - was to embark on the Ha Long Bay tour. Subsequently, we didn't have much time for the city itself; it was effectively a day combined.

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is one of the most iconic places in Vietnam. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and is also one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It is an enormous bay with dark turquoise water and thousands of limestone karsts covered with thick vegetation.

The name means 'descending dragon' and according to legend, the karsts were formed from the dragons who came to protect the Vietnamese people from enemies. They scattered emeralds and jade - which formed the karsts- into the ocean to form a natural barrier and prevent any future invasions.

Hội An

Hội An - the place that everyone seems to know and talk about. A historic port town active from 15th to 19th century, the town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. It has retained the original and traditional wooden architecture and street plan.

Warning: image heavy because I love all the photos of the yellow buildings.

Stars

I miss seeing the stars. A yearning that has been bubbling beneath the surface for the past 12 months.

I miss feeling insignificant in this big, great world. Being present in the moment and being forced to realise my existence is a mere blip in the grand scheme of things.

Da Nang

Remember how I mentioned that we preferred to explore a city on foot? Continuing on with that idea, we decided to walk back to our hotel from Marble Mountains.

The good: It was one straight and - thankfully - flat road. Also, as it was approaching sunset, it was slightly cooler. Marginally.
The bad: It was 8 kilometres.

Marble Mountains

The coastal city of Da Nang has played an important role in Vietnam's history. During the 16th century, it was a key port for European and Asian merchants. It was where the French landed in the 19th century; the start of French colonisation and rule. Further, it was where US troops landed in 1965 to join the Republic of Vietnam's war efforts.

Fast forward to present day, the city is a bit of a strange place. But more on that later.

Ho Chi Minh City iii

After arriving back in Ho Chi Minh City from Củ Chi, we headed out for food.

Củ Chi Tunnels

During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong built an extensive network of underground tunnels which were used to transport supplies, house combatants and allow combatants to discretely move around during attacks.

Ho Chi Minh City ii

Cà phê sữa nóng. Vietnamese coffee. Strong black filtered coffee with the glorious elixir that is also referred to as condensed milk.

This was one of the top food items that we wanted to try in Vietnam. Enter Ca Phe Ba Lu (193 Phung Hung, District 5) located in Cholon. Cholon is the largest Chinatown in Vietnam, dating back to 1788.

But first, we had to get there.

Ho Chi Minh City i

Formerly known as Saigon and the capital of South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam with over 8 million inhabitants. It is a city full of history, culture and motorbikes / scooters. They also have a Stark Tower!

But first, let's rewind.

Books for Vietnam & Thailand

In the blink of an eye, almost half the year has flown by and I am down to single digits until my trip. I originally had plans to create a really funky packing video. But alas, I couldn't find the energy or the will to do it. Instead, I thought it would be fun to create another travel reading list, similar to what I did before my trip to Mongolia.

Dear You

Dear You,

I am no longer seeing red. Actually, it was a little blue after the encounter. But now it has reverted back to the natural state where I don't see any colour when I think of you.

Intangible Goods

Art & About installed an installation, 'Intangible Goods' in Sydney CBD a few weeks ago. It was a vending machine that contained various packets based on the top psychological and emotional needs of Sydneysiders. Read more about the results of the survey.

I purchased Bravery and Connection.

Easter Break

Unlike previous Easter breaks (2016 & 2017), the four day long weekend was comparatively relaxed. I spent most of the time offline and with a book in hand (although neither of the books I read were any good).

Although I feel as though I didn't leave Sydney, that is technically incorrect. On Good Friday, I headed out to Jellybean Pool at Glenbrook, a stone's throw from the Sydney metropolitan border. This was a revisit - I wanted to take S to experience the natural beauty of the swimming hole.

I Don't Love My Job & That's Okay

If I had a dollar for every time I was exposed to the message that I should pursue my passions, well, I wouldn't have needed to get a job!

"Do what you love and you will never have to work a day in your life!"

Sure, I was passionate about a lot of things - I loved watching TV, reading, eating breakfast food for dinner and subsisting on potato. But could I create a career out of those 'passions'?

And the better question was - should I?

Boat ride around Sydney Harbour

A few weekends ago, I joined S's family on a boat trip around the harbour. We embarked at Woolwich Pier and headed out towards Cremorne Point via the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Adventures in Sydney: Narrabeen Head

Move aside Barrenjoey Lighthouse, the best lookout on the Northern Beaches is definitely Narrabeen Head! On one side, it overlooks the relatively unknown Turrimetta Beach.

Monthly Recap: February

February was about:

Experiencing and coping with anxiety; dealing with job insecurity; baking spicy chocolate chip cookies; watching 'The Greatest Showman' at the open air cinema; being brave enough to jump off the pier into the water; growing my confidence in deep water; eating semla; visiting the library bi-weekly; feeling exhausted constantly; taking iron supplements; planning and getting excited about my trip in May.

Bombo & Kiama

The beautiful South Coast is a mere two-hour train journey from Sydney. There are stunning beaches and unique geological attractions such as the Bombo Headland Quarry. The quarry consists of basalt columns, remnants of the blue metal quarrying conducted in the late 19th century.

The last - and only - time I had visited the area was 5 years (!!) ago. On that occasion, I caught the train to Minnamurra and walked to Kiama. This time, I decided to commence my walk from Bombo station, backtracked to Bombo Headland, then headed to Kiama and the Little Blowhole.

Adventures in Sydney: Warriewood Wetlands

I frequently open Google Maps and zoom into green areas in the hope of discovering a new place to explore. This often results in disappointment as I simply discover that it is a golf course. But I pinch out with my fingers and continue my hunt for another green spot on the map. And that is how I discovered wetlands that were not too far from home.

Warriewood Wetlands - spanning 26 hectares - is the largest remaining sand plain wetlands in the northern Sydney region. The 2.4km boardwalk weaves through the wetlands and, despite being located next to a road, it felt world's away from civilisation.

[Video] Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

A few months ago, all national parks in NSW had free entry and - taking full advantage of this because who doesn't like free things - S and I headed to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. We parked at West Head Lookout and went on a short bushwalk to Great Mackerel Beach. Near the end of the track, it was more bushwhacking than walking. A fellow walker let us pass on the "path" and said, "you can scare away the snakes for us".

Monthly Recap: January

January was about:

Smothering my body with sunscreen; recovering from indulgences of December; waiting for summer storms; sighing with relief from the Southerly; clambering up and down rocks; holding onto my bikini top in the waves; re-learning how to swim; feeling proud about treading water for 10 minutes; accidentally straying from the trail; scratching my legs from dried twigs and branches; getting eaten alive by mozzies, enjoying the <25°C days; devouring books; signing up to a library near work; getting excited about the library's ebook selection; eating less processed food; struggling to get into the swing of blogging; and planning for the future.

♥s
Music: Darius Rucker album - When Was the Last Time*
Book: Australia Day - Melanie Cheng

* I am pretty devastated that I didn't realise he had a Sydney show which is now sold out. 

Adventures in Sydney: Two Creeks Track

Too often I delay things simply because, 'I will get around to it one day'. As I don't foresee a move from my current location within the next few years, I take the places nearby for granted and slowly become complacent.

Recharged

Hello!

It is the second week of 2018 and the first week back at work. The last two weeks have been absolutely glorious and it has been the most relaxing break I have had in a while. My self-imposed digital ban wasn't overly successful however I did manage to spend a lot of time offline. Admittedly, trying to achieve a total ban was a bit ambitious.

It was a break filled with reading and bushwalking, my two favourite activities in the entire world. Keep an eye out for upcoming posts about the places that I visited. If you don't already follow me on Goodreads, please do! I love to see stalk what other people are reading.