An Australian adventure
Returning to the land down under for a travel odyssey ✨🫶
I’ve recently returned from a three week trip to Australia. It was an exhilarating, emotional, beautiful, exhausting, magical, calming, wild and wonderful experience. And that’s only describing a handful of the feelings that the trip brought.
I feel like I’m still processing the experience at the moment as my jet lag is still lingering in the background. When I first arrived home I felt like I was living the day backwards. But the sunlight, sights and sounds of Australia have remained and will be in my heart forever more.
It was my first flying experience since 2019, so naturally I choose to jump in feet first with a 23 hour flight to Sydney via Singapore. It seemed a bit mad and very long, but for a chance to experience a Christmas in the land down under I was prepared to go on this epic journey. My planning and preparation was key to the trip as this was going to be the furthest I’d flown alone for a long time along with all my medication. It did feel scary and there was an air of uncertainty about it but it also felt exciting. In my body I knew I could do it but my mind did need a little convincing. I felt a deep surge of relief when I finally landed in Sydney, my eyes welled up and I almost cried. I had made it and this in turn inspired me to write.
Over the course of my trip I wrote on and off in each place and complied a little odyssey of parts. It’s a piece that I’ve enjoyed writing and it’s made me realise how much I love to travel.
I hope you enjoy reading about my adventures, it was truly a pleasure to write about the experience.
“…we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment.”
Hilaire Belloc
Packing the suitcase
Wow, I’ve not packed for a long haul for a long time. Looking at the piles of clothes I started to panic and began to fold and roll everything. How on earth is this all going to fit? For days people had been saying to me ‘have you started packing yet?’ to which I replied a disgruntled ‘no!’ But with two days to go, thank god their question influenced me to get things in order. Must not forget the eye mask and neck pillow (yes, I am that person)
Yikes! it feels super weird getting out shorts, sandals and t-shirts. It’s bloody freezing here.
Part 2
Sitting at the airport
Everyone is scoping out their neighbours and wondering who else will be on their flight. The rush to get something to eat and wolfing down fish & chips and a brownie. Lots of excited and eager people. Sitting in an airport with Christmas decorations listening to Christmas songs is a strange sensation. Getting ready now, how can the time go so fast?
An interesting phenomenon always occurs when I’m about to go on a plane, I always feel the urge to call someone.
Part 3
I made it
I made it, over 23 hours later. Wow, what a journey. I can’t quite believe I made it. I left London on Saturday and now it’s Monday in Sydney. The craziest feeling. I finally arrived into the city on a train, when it pulled into Circular Quay Station I was greeted by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. What a sight to behold.
Later in the day
I’m now sat in the Sydney Opera House waiting to go on a tour. I spoke to a lovely lady who quit her job 18 months ago, she has been travelling across Australia ever since in a camper van. Its so inspiring when you listen to other people’s stories.
The tour was fascinating, we even got to go on the roof and experience a little sneak peak of Swan Lake. A worthwhile experience even though I felt dazed!
Part 4
4:30am Tim Tam
Jet lag woke me up at 2:30, 3:30 and then again at 4:30am. At this point I was so hungry so inched my way to the kitchen in my hotel room and took a Tim Tam ( one of the many I ate during this trip) out of the fridge. It felt so surreal to be in Australia and eating a Tim Tam. I can’t believe I’ve made it all this way. I have a sense of pride, I feel I can do anything if I set my mind to it.
Part 5
The ferry
Today I went on the ferry to Manly and it was beautiful. The breeze was fresh and the water was so blue. I felt like I skimmed across the water, following the shimmer of sunlight that dappled the waves. It was a sunny day and so many people were at the beach. Everyone had such a joyous feeling about them, the sunshine seemed to brighten their day.
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Part 6
Spaghetti Carbonara at The Rocks
On my third day I really craved pasta so I decided to try and find an Italian restaurant. I found one at The Rocks and sat at a table by the window eating carbonara watching the world go by. Eating by myself always seems calm and peaceful. You can take your time, take in the surroundings and enjoy eating at whatever pace you want. There is no rush and I always find I really enjoy the food.
Part 7
Fish and chips at the Opera Bar
It was 37 degrees at 5:30 at night and it felt like I stepped into an oven when I left my hotel. The 10 minute walk around Circular Quay felt like an hour, the final destination the Opera Bar. I was so sweaty by the time I made it and I immediately realised that it was packed. Tables were full and a queue had formed to get a seat. I ended up chatting to a mother and daughter who were also waiting. We decided to sit together so we could get a table quicker.
They were so sweet, we had a lovely conversation and dinner. Turned out they lived in Sydney but they also had connections to where I live, such a small world and we even shared a tomato salad.
Food and conversation opens so many new connections, it felt so freeing to be in a place and feel completely comfortable with myself and my surroundings to be so open. We said our goodbyes at the end of the meal and wished each other well.
I got my final scoop of ice cream in Sydney and walked back to my hotel, content with an evening well spent.
Part 8
Melbourne Christmas lights
Had a wonderful meal at Daughter in law - lovely Indian food in Melbourne and then I went to Graces and had the most beautiful gelato I ever tasted, pistachio and cardamom! Wow…it has to be my favourite flavour now. The told us that they imported the pistachios from Italy and boy you could taste the quality.
Walked around Melbourne centre taking in the sites and waiting for it to go dark to see the projections and lights. It was the first time I actually felt Christmassy - trees, projections, garlands and candy canes along the bridge over the Yarra river. The festive feeling came in strong tonight.
Part 9
Art and Art Galleries
There is nothing more that I love than going to an art gallery, the joy of discovering what it’s hot in a different city and seeing how they curate their pieces. The art scene in Melbourne is spectacular, the National Gallery of Victoria never disappoints and The Lanes always provide amazing street art that changes as each new artist spray paints over and starts again, creating a living and breathing art space. It’s so inspiring and unique.
Part 10
Lunch with the Ibis
Sat at a little café on the Southbank in Brisbane and can’t help but laugh at the spray bottle of water on each table.
The foe that the water is for is the Ibis bird, it’s a little sneaky intruder that lurks by your table waiting to pounce on any leftover food. Hence the spray bottle to keep it at bay. It’s a wildly brazen bird and it doesn’t give a damn and I love it.
Part 11
The art of waiting
This trip has taught me a lot about the art of waiting and not being so frantic and wanting things instantly. Things will happen when they’re meant to, people will be there when they need to be. Things will be seen when they need to be seen.
It made me realise instant gratification is not the answer, although this way of thinking and living has been pumped through our veins 24/7. Waiting takes time to process but it’s totally worth it. It only took me going to the other-side of the world to truly realise this. I thought I could do it well, but this trip has made embrace the art of waiting wholly.
Part 12
The groove of a new hotel
It’s funny isn’t it when you are traveling how quickly you get used to a certain hotel, its location, quirks and shortcuts. The room layout and the bed. When you move onto another one I always find I am unsettled on the first day. Like I’m starting again and having to create new routines. Each one has had unique feature and feeling. But then I find I’m ok on day two, almost like I’ve forgotten the one before and taken up a new hotel life which supersedes the previous one.
Part 13
Pondering on the Wheel of Brisbane
I had a very determined moment where I decided I wanted to go on the ferris wheel in Brisbane to view the sights. It was only when I was in the pod that I realised that I was scared of heights and being in a slow moving glass pod high up was not ideal. It took me four goes around before I came back to a normal heart rate and could breath. $22 dollars later and I felt like I’d had an out of body experience. The views were spectacular but I also felt like I’d been through an ordeal…
Part 14
The freedom of travel
I’ve not worn a scrap of makeup since I’ve been here and it’s been liberating. I love the freedom and the fact that in each new place I am a little fish in a big city and life carries on around me. It’s so freeing and peaceful.
Part 15
Christmas Eve eve
Sat in a deli on a side street in Brisbane on the 23rd December. Shorts, t-shirt and a balmy 28 degrees. So strange to have a hot Christmas- the last one I had away was freezing cold in 2004. So now I’ve experienced two polar opposites.
Being in the southern hemisphere is so different from being in the northern hemisphere at this time of year. I was a child when I last was away for Christmas, enchanted by the snow and Christmas atmosphere in New York and now I’m an adult in Australia and it feels so different. A summery Christmas is quite a mind boggling change.
side note - after this was written I ended up staying in my hotel lobby (thank god it was nice, had air con and a nice diffuser ) for 6 plus hours as my family were stuck as their flight was cancelled. We were meant to meet up in Brisbane and go to Noosa earlier that day. Now we faced a car journey after they landed at 10:30pm. It was a whole moment when I realised my Christmas plans had taken a very Home Alone vibe, as I was stuck in a different city whilst my family was stuck in another with cancelled flights due to storms.. scrambling to find a solution. 😂😅🤪
Part 16
Beach Christmas
A dip in the ocean and a walk along the beach was a beautiful way to spend Christmas morning. The ocean was blue, warm and inviting. I closed my eyes as the sea air filled my nostrils. A calming vibe washed over me. The beauty of no expectations of the day and letting it unfold was so refreshing. It felt calm and mellow. Spending it with those that I love in the sunshine gave the day a whole new dimension. It felt iconic and very Australian to go to the beach at Christmas.
Part 17
Realisation
It’s interesting isn’t it that near the end of a holiday is when you finally get into a groove. You almost have the routine down to pat and then you realise you have two days to go. You can imagine staying longer but also you do feel ready to go home. It’s that bittersweet spot that you are longing for your own bed and your comforts but you truly feel like you have a measure of a place.
Part 17
Last day at the beach
I walked down to the local beach at 4pm to get the last of the ocean breeze and azure blue sky. Standing breathing in the salty air whilst the waves gently lapped against my feet created a wave of peace that washed over me. It was the end of the holiday and I wanted to be by the sea. My safe place and sanctuary, the light was spectacular and I did a couple of yoga stretches. Just taking in the moment.
Final Thoughts
Australia you have been a gift, an experience I will never forget. Revisiting places again in my mid thirties has been such a different experience. I feel more confident in my self and my ability to travel solo, remember all my medication and deal with the orientation of new places and public transport. Taking in the sights and being thankful that I can experience this part of the world again. Creating memories that will last a lifetime and reflecting on the journey will fill my thoughts for months to come.
I hope I get to experience more travel in 2024 as I have realised it makes me feel happy and complete. New experiences and environments light up my world and build up my confidence. Surely more of that can only be a good thing.
Have you travelled to a destination that has changed your life? I would love to know!
Wishing you all a Happy New Year!