Tag: beach

If this doesn’t inspire you to take that Fiji holiday, I don’t know what will

As if you would need even further inspiration to go to Fiji, but here’s 20 reasons to take that Fiji wanderlust to the next level

Fiji the little gem in the South Pacific. Palm-fringed beaches, over 300 islands, beautiful traditional villages, crystal clear waters and possibly the nicest people in the world. I absolutely loved my time in Fiji and its taken me awhile to write this post as I just wasn’t sure my words could do justice to this stunning country but here we go..

Bula

If you had a pound for every time you heard this traditional Fijian greeting during your trip then trust me you would be extremely wealthy. Everyone says it even the tourists and not only that it is always said with a huge grin. Even when I say it in my head I smile. At one of the resorts one of the gatekeepers jobs was to be the Bula Bula man to whoever entered and my word did he do it with enthusiasm.

Being serenaded with calming island tunes

The moment you step off the plane and into the terminal the serenading starts. Yep right there in passport control. Then at dinner, and then with cocktails and we even got serenaded while sailing around the islands. Such beautiful voices it really just added to the feeling of being in an island paradise. If you were serenaded like that in the UK it would feel super weird but not in Fiji, in Fiji you wanted it to never end.

Literally every shade of blue

I thought growing up in Australia that I would have seen all the shades of blue but alas I was wrong. So wrong.  Fiji opened my eyes to more colours and shades then I had every imagined the colour wheel could contain. The water, the sky, and the horizon in between. If I was ever only to remember one thing about Fiji it would be the blues.

The weather

Sunny and hot – Yes, please!. I should warn you that it can get pretty windy at times and this can lull you into a false sense that you aren’t burning so do keep that factor 50 on at all times. The weather is perfect for those early morning beach walks, lazing in the water days and alfresco dinners.

The People

Fijians are the BEST! They are kind, good-natured, funny, helpful, generous and have the most amazing memories. We were spread out over three resorts and all the staff remembered not only our names straight away but what we drank and who was in our group. Even the Fijians that we came in contact with on the streets and in the villages all were lovely, chatty and very welcoming. Everyone just seemed so happy.

You can take thousands of photos of palm trees

Yep, thousands.

The Fijian Farewell song (Isa Lei)

We had this beautiful song sung to us a few times during our stay. Google the words they are so emotive. The most touching time we heard this was the final night our whole family was together. I think we all got a lump in our throats. The words and the way its sung is just so beautiful and a fitting farewell for our time there. I think every country should have a farewell song.

Fiji water, Fiji gold, Fiji Bitter and  Fiji cocktails

Ok, I made that last one up.The cocktails were pretty on point especially when served at a swim-up bar or slid down the bar to you! Fiji Gold and Fiji Bitter were a big hit.  I always thought people who drank  Fiji water were just a bit pretentious but now I’m on board. Must be the electrolytes. I  even brought a bottle back and although I keep filling it up with ‘normal’ water, I can kind of trick my mind that I’m there in the sun drinking it.

Snorkelling

Every day started with watching the sunrise then snorkeling right outside our resort. I think in another life I was a mermaid, being in the water really is my happy place and this was just the most energising way to start each day. We saw so many starfish, brightly coloured fish, coral and some huge clams. I even saw a sea snake and then promptly swam as fast as my little legs could take me back to shore.

Coconuts

Bill at our resort told us that we didn’t need to worry about coconuts dropping on our heads as the elders in his village said that they had eyes. And low and behold they kept their eyes open and didn’t drop on us. One day we were walking along the beach by a nearby village and there were a couple of guys up a palm tree with nothing more than a rope and machetes cutting down the coconuts. In any other country if someone approached you with a machete you would run for your life but no in Fiji he was just offering us a coconut for free to enjoy on our walk. See nicest people ever.

A $7 note

Yes, a $7 note and yes its legal tender. Hilarious!  It was put into circulation to commemorate the Rugby 7’s winning gold at the Olympics. Is there any better way to celebrate a countries success?

Island hopping

One of my favourite moments in Fiji was when we were on the ferry and as if out of nowhere there was this small sandy, palm tree studded island that looked like it had just popped up out of the ocean. There are over 300 islands to explore some easy to reach and others require seaplanes and helicopters. Try and see as many as you can and even the ones owned by resorts have day passes so you don’t need to spend a fortune staying on them to reap the benefits.

Mainland

As lovely and picturesque as the islands are you almost be forgiven for not wanting to spend any time on the mainland.  However, the mainland has many of its own charms and is as equally. If your flying internationally you’ll arrive in Nadi and the drive to the coral coast or even Suva will give you an insight into the day to day life.

Sunsets and sunrises

I watched the sunrise and set every day and every day and it was different. It also resulted in a memory card full of the suns movements. The way it affected the tides, the colours it created and contrasted against the silhouettes of the palm trees. I would sacrifice chocolate forever if I could have that each day of my life. There is just something so good for the soul watching the sun rise and fall over the ocean each day.

Sailing

Any place with water involved if always best seen from on top of it and sailing around the Mamanuca islands way pretty damn perfect. We had the captain an crew playing guitar and singing with their dulcet island tones, a bbq lunch served while staring at the islands, weaving through and around uninhabited islands and then jumping straight off the boat into the water. If I recommend you do anything in Fiji spend a day doing this.

Villages

Traditional villages, kava ceremonies, colourful houses, women’s crafts, meeting the chief and so many smiling happy faces. Whilst I appreciate parts of the traditional villages have been tailored to the tourists it is still really interesting in walking around and absorbing their life and also contributing to their economy in buying souvenirs rather than buying at the tourist shops.

It’s perfectly acceptable to wear a flower behind your ear and a shell necklace

Enough said.

Stars

As there is very little air and low light pollution the sky at night is clear as clear can be.  The stars put on one hell of a good display.

Fiji time

Everything runs on Fiji time and you’ll get on board with this almost as soon as you start saying Bula instead of hello. No rush, no worries.

Family

The reason I was in Fiji is that my sister and brother in law were getting hitched. Initially planned as an elopement they then decided to have the family there (thank the lord!). So we travelled from all over Australia and in our case from the UK to be with them. It was an intimate affair with only immediate family, 2 friends and a cousin -15 in total.  And what an insanely romantic and beautiful place to tie the knot.  One of the reasons I loved Fiji so much was the family time we had.  Many of the resorts are aimed at families and that isn’t just families with younger children its families of all ages.  We laughed, we swam, we went down water slides very fast, we ate, we cut some sick shapes on the dance floors, we explored, we took millions of photos, we had girl time, we watched our dad embrace Fiji life and wear a sulu when walking our sister down the aisle, we marveled at the views and we all cried when it was over and time to head home.. Fiji and little nuggets wedding will hold a very dear place in all our hearts. One of the best family holidays.

Until next time Fiji.  Vinaka vakalevu

Pin for later

It’s not just me that feels like this check out a post by Debs World who had similar feelings https://debs-world.com/2017/10/21/how-fiji-got-under-my-skin/

7 things to do in St Kilda – Melbourne

Melbourne is my favourite city in Australia. Always has been always will be. It feels less touristy than Sydney, buzzier than Canberra, bigger than Brisbane and then I’ve not visited the other capital cities so sadly can’t validate my love for Melbourne against them. But I’m pretty sure Melbourne would always win.

Growing up in a VERY small country town I loved when we would go to Melbourne in the summers. We’d go to the Australian Open and MCG, shop in ‘cool’ shops, eat out in fancy restaurants, wander along the Yarra, travel by tram, shop the at the Queen Vic markets, marvel at the Crown Casino decorations and spend far to much time getting myself lost in the captivating Melbourne side streets. One suburb of Melbourne we would always visit and still always visit is St Kilda. A trip to Melbourne isn’t complete without it.

St Kilda is around 5kms out of the city centre and is easily reached by tram or bus. It’s on the coast so if you are feeling brave you can even go swimming in the crisp Port Philip Bay water. There are key points of interest there as well as the amazing cafe culture that will keep you feed and watered on your adventures around Melbourne. The boutique and vintage shops offer a great shopping experience and the beach and pier just help to slow down the pace of the city life.  With the beach, esplanade and parks there is plenty of places to get active on and off the water. We once stayed just off the esplanade and with my new roller blades I decided that was the only way I was going to get around. This was of course back when roller blades were cool. If you grew up in the 90s in Australia you would also know St Kilda frequented heavily in The Secret Life of Us. I LOVED this show and alway used to wander part the Espie Hotel imagining I was in the show hanging out with Deborah Mailman. Yes 16 year old, rollerblading me was soo cool.

Alas, I digress. I love St Kilda a lot it’s my favourite suburb in my favourite city so here are my 7 favourite things to do in St Kilda

1)St Kilda  Beach &  Sea Baths

This is the most famous beach in Melbourne and whilst Melbourne doesn’t always get the warmest of weather all year round you can swim in the beach year round. But you may freeze. There is also the sea baths located just off the beach which have the history of the area and pier shown through pictures so you can see it back in its heyday. There are lots of activities available both on water and land by the beach from windsurfing to beach volleyball and as you can imagine it’s a hugely popular with locals and tourists alike enjoying the beach lifestyle


2)St Kilda Pier

You can’t to St Kilda and not walk along the historic Edwardian pier. You really can’t. The pier was built in the 1850’s and is cloaked in history.  It also feels very British- the Brits do love a pier and you can tell from the piers of  Britain were a good influence on this build. There is a kiosk at the end of the pier which is a lovely spot for a cuppa and cake. There is also a colony of penguins at the breakwater but they aren’t always out to play so you could be lucky in seeing them. Visiting this pier is just a lovely change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the city.
3)The Melbourne SkyLine

I love a city skyline and standing out on the pier looking back over the city you get a gorgeous panoramic view of the Melbourne Skyline.  I don’t think there is anywhere else in the city you would get views like this. It’s also particularly beautiful at sunset so have an early evening stroll along the pier and look back over this striking city.

4)Luna Park

The big (slightly creepy) smiling face of Luna Park is a firm favourite in St Kilda and Melbourne alike. It’s been there since 1912 and is one of two Luna Parks operating in Australia (the other being in Sydney just under the Harbour Bridge). It doesn’t cost anything to go in and walk around but if you did want to go on any of the rides there is a charge. I’m not one for roller coasters ( I’m a bit of a scardey cat) but I do love walking around the park. It’s all very old world theme park with street performers, funny mirrors and old school games.  https://lunapark.com.au/

5)Acland Street & Fitzroy Street

Food and drink in St Kilda is amazing! From the restaurants with all cuisines covered, bohemian/hipsta bars, trendy cafes and coffee shops to the bakeries stocked with the most lust-worthy cakes and sweet treats. I get about 10 pounds heavier just looking at the menus and shop windows in these streets.

Getting fat just looking at these!!

6) Esplanade Markets

We always try and get to St Kilda on a Sunday to see these iconic markets. They are full of wonderfully creative items and you can always pick up some real gems for presents and souvenirs.  For more details on the stall holders check here http://www.stkildaesplanademarket.com.au/index.htm

7)Palais Theatre

I’ve sadly never been to a concert in this beautiful Art Deco theatre but I do have a huge appreciation for the facade of this grand building. Even if you don’t go in its one of those places where you need to stop and stare. Just off the ESplande and next to Luna Park it’s a beautiful juxtaposition of old world class vs the bright lights of the theme park. We also met Janelle Timmins from Neighbours circa 2007 on our neighbour’s tour there so obviously a very dear place in our hearts. Haha!

Have you been to St Kilda and love it also? Anything I’ve missed off the list? Do let me know in the comments below.

 

Weekend Adventures- The Jurassic Coast

What surprises me most about southern England is the coastlines you can find. From the sandy beaches in Cornwall, the muddy estuaries in Somerset, pebbles beaches of Devon and Dorset and then the most stunning rugged coastlines of the Jurassic Coast.

The other half and I ventured down to the little village of Lulworth to experience this beautiful area.

All of last summer I wanted to come and visit however I’m almost glad I didn’t go in the summer and in fact went on a windy, chilly early Spring day. I think it added to the romance of the landscape also it was a little less busy.

Our first stop was at Durdle Door. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The ‘door’ and the coastline that surrounded it. The walk down to the beach is relatively easy but the walk back- jeez it was like a little gym work out. Sturdy footwear is a must. There is lots of Coast walks around the area as well that we didn’t get to do as we were only there for a day.

Durdle Door is a stunning rock formation which separates the beach and also Man O’ War Bay. The water in this area is a beautiful shade of blue and when the weather is good the swimming, snorkelling and kayaking would get you even closer to experiencing these dramatic coastlines.

Also, note for others don’t ask your partner to take a photo of you and then accidentally put your handbag by his feet. He’ll trip and almost fall off the cliff.  Not one of my finest moments.


After Exploring Durdle Door we headed down into the town and cove area to the lovely typical British seaside village of Lulworth.  It is world famous due to the unique geology of the area. The water was a little cold (bloody freezing) so no swimming or rock pooling for us but I can imagine in the summer it would be lovely. You can also take The coastal path from Lulworth cove to Durdle Door for even more views. One thing to note is the car parking pay and display covers you got both Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door so make sure you buy enough time for both.


Before heading back we stopped off at Lulworth castle. The castle is closed on weekends due to it being a very popular wedding venue. Getting married in a castle would be amazing #disneyprincess

Even though we could see inside the castle the grounds, church and exterior of the castle were spectacular. As it was slightly out of season it was really quiet but I can imagine there would be lots of picnics on the grounds and further exploring in the huge park. I even heard there were peacocks but sadly didn’t see any only spring lambs

The castle is from the 17th Century and was initially a hunting lodge for the aristocracy. It’s experienced fires and being seized by the Roundheads but is still standing and still showing so much history.

I can thoroughly recommend this area and look forward to heading back to see what other treasures the Jurassic Coast has to offer.

For more information on these areas see the following links

www.jurassiccoast.org

https://www.lulworth.com/


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My Little Kitchen

One of the best things of being away is doing things that you don’t normally do. On our recent trip back to Australia my partner and I got up at 5am each morning and went for a walk along the golden Gold Coast beaches. At home we would always enjoy a lie in but the sun is up so early in Queensland we didn’t want to waste a second. We would then on our way back home stop and have breakfast. I’m not going to lie one of those breakfast dates did happen at Macca’s. Don’t make that face- we were on holiday and hotcakes are my WEAKNESS!

But then on one of our ‘breakfast dates’ we came across a lovely little place called My Little Kitchen. Located just off the beach in Broadbeach it had a beach vibe and decor to suit.

My sister and her husband opted to join us on this morning so we all had high hopes of a yummy breakfast. They had a small selection of tables outside with a bigger area inside. Obviously most people opted for outside which is what we did. They boasted great coffee but as none of us drank coffee I can’t comment on it. What I can comment on is there amazing smoothies!

I had the Very Berry Blast and it was possibly the best smoothie I have ever had berries, yogurt, almond milk and ginger. The right pick me up for early mornings. I could literally dink this smoothie every day of my life.  The deliciousness didn’t stop there. We tried a few things off the menu- my partner and brother in law had the eggs beni, my sister had the DIY breakfast board and I had the Caramel Belgium Waffles. All are thoroughly recommended and were delish! For a look at other things they have on the menu you can find here http://www.mylittlekitchenbroadbeach.com.au/mlkmainmenu

It was so good that I also had lunch there the very next day. We had tapas which isn’t on their online menu.  I am not sure if that is a regular lunch option or not but it was available when we visited. We had the most amazing squid and prawns. Team those up with the smoothie mentioned above and I would be set for the rest of my life. Almost 2 months on and I still am thinking about them.

On both visits the service was great and welcoming. The only down side is that the bathrooms are shared with a hotel next door and it all just felt a little odd. Other than that the decor was relaxed, great artwork (by a local artist) on the walls which is also for sale and the food played to all the senses.

For the Gold Coast the prices were reasonable however the exchange rate to pounds did push it into the higher breakfast bracket. Another issue that we found in both Australia and NZ is that some places add on a public holiday surcharge to bill and this can range from 10%-20%. As we were away from the 23rd December to 10th of Jan we did seem to have a hell of a lot of public holidays. Something to bear in mind if you are travelling to these countries over the festive season.

If you find yourself on the Gold Coast then make sure you do stop by its a great little find and trust me you won’t regret it.

 

For more info – http://www.mylittlekitchenbroadbeach.com.au/

 

 

Australia Day 🇦🇺


Today is Australia Day (although technically due to time zones I’m a little late) anyhoo in the UK it’s still Australia Day.

I’ve had as an Australian Day as possible considering I’m on the other side of the world when the temperature only just slipped over 5 degrees. I’ve eaten timtams, twisties and rum balls, gone to Walkabout with fellow Aussies, watched Crowded House’s recent concert at the Opera House and listened to Hamish and Andy’s podcast on the way to and from work. I know so Australian 😂

I love Australia Day mainly because I’m fiercely proud of my country and where I am from.

It’s a day when I think of my home among the gum trees (clothes line out the back, verandah out the front but sadly no old rocking chair) on usually a cold and chilly UK day. I get jealous of the public holiday, the sun, the lamingtons, the BBQs, the fun everyone is having loving our beautiful country. However I know that Australia Day isn’t the same for all Australians. Especially our indigenous Australians its the date that represents when their land was taken and when they were invaded.

And for that I am sorry.

This is why I’m dreaming of days on beaches like this and with so much respect, understanding and hope that one day that all of Australia can celebrate our beautiful island home together on a day that causes no pain only pride for ALL in our nation.

Xx

Inspiration 

I wanted to go out and see something in my local area today but as per most people I’ve seen a lot of the key places. What’s a girl to do next- well if your me you go onto Instagram and look for inspiration.

I live in Somerset in the UK so went onto @loveforsomerset feed and saw a pic of this fab light house in Burnham on Sea .

Nice little walk along the beach and 100 or so photos later and now I’m here sharing with you. Goes to show you gotta keep uploading your travel pics you never know who’ll come across them and set off in your footsteps 👣👣👣🌏