New South Wales

SYDNEY

If you know me, you know I have a bit of a sweet tooth. Whenever I travel, I look up where I can find the best frozen dessert in town. So I *conveniently* booked a hostel my first night that was within walking distance of the best gelato place in town: Gelato Messina. I tried their Salted Caramel & White Chocolate + Coconut & Lychee. Amazing. They have a few flagship stores throughout NSW, Victoria, and Queensland.

Gelato Messina: Salted Caramel & White Chocolate + Coconut Lychee

I have to say, I didn’t realize how multicultural Australia was. They have a huge Asian population, which I should have realized when I was doing research and saw how large their Chinatown was… the fact that even had a Chinatown should have told me a thing or two! Let’s just say I felt like I was reliving my Asia travels last year.

Chinatown is every budgeting-backpackers best friend when traveling. Think fresh, cheap, Chinese baked goods, and souvenirs. Chinatown is enough to make me wish I lived in a larger city. Stop by Emperor’s Garden Cakes & Bakery for a pineapple bun (or whatever your pastry-craving desires) and if the queue isn’t wild, pick up an Emperor Puff (a custard-filled cream puff) right next door. You’ll know you’re in the right place if there’s a line for it. That’s what piqued my interest! The puff was served piping hot, and tasted okay, but it’s personally not something I’d queue up for again.

For food, my host took me to a favorite local place known for it’s dumplings. If you are looking for authentic Chinese food and homemade dumplings at a really good price point, wander about to 8 Quay Street, “Chinatown Noodle Restaurant.” Most dishes are under 10$, making it a hotspot for students. Also, don’t be surprised if you’re seated next to a stranger. In true Chinese fashion, they’ll try and accommodate you however they can!

I would never have found such a place if it wasn’t for my host. If you haven’t tried Couchsurfing, I definitely recommend it. I’ve posted about it a few times on my Instagram, but through Couchsurfing I’ve made friends from all-over. A special shout-out to my Sydney Couchsurfing host, Hang!

While in Sydney, one has to do their famous Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. I enjoy Denver, but being landlocked feels pretty restricting sometimes. I never appreciated the beach when I lived in Florida, but goodness gracious was I so head over heels for these views on my hike.

It was about 6 kms, and without stopping, should take you less than 3 hours return. But if you’re leisurely (really, really leisurely) strolling and are just in complete awe of the views, and taking a million pictures every few yards like I was, it can easily take you an extra hour. And I say to completely enjoy and take it all in. Bring lunch (or pick up something along the way), people/surfer watch, and pack your swimsuit if it’s nice out. You’ll pass multiple beaches and baths that are so beautiful that even though it’s “winter,” you’ll be so tempted to dip your toes in.

And ~*girls*~ there is a women & children’s only bath a little past Coogee called McIver’s Bath. It’s the last one left in Australia and only takes a gold coin donation to enter the Girl’s Rooooom (The Amanda Show, anyone??!).

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MANLY BEACH

My last day in Sydney, Hang and I adventured to Manly Beach. It’s a ferry ride from Sydney, and it was a beautiful day that day. Manly reminded me of Venice Beach in California, where you had an area of shops and buskers, and places to eat at, but you were never more than a stone throw’s away from the beach. You get the best of both world’s over there.

It was interesting to see that for Australia’s winter, there were locals laying out in swimsuits, while some people were bundled up in sweatshirts and beanies… all within a few feet of each other! Of course, there were a decent amount of surfers and loads of crowds to people-watch.

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I had asked a few locals what (aside from marmite & Tim-Tams, haha) would be considered an “Australian dish.” A couple of them had said fish ‘n chips! Hang’s favorite fish ‘n chips place on Manly is a place called Fishmongers. So of course, we had to go! They have a set menu, but also catches and specials that change every so often. We both went for their ginger salmon, and it was amazing. A great location really near to the beach, we did takeaway and had ourselves a picnic.

Walk along the main beach and towards the end you’ll find yourself climbing to the top of a peak with an incredible view of the sunset. Perfect way to end my trip.

Sunset at Manly — Perfect last hurrah in Australia ❤

Two Weeks Down Under: Koalas, the Coast, and the Coolest People

I spent two weeks “down under” this past June. The flight there took a little over 14 hours (thank goodness for in-flight entertainment). I left on a Saturday, but with the time difference, I started my trip off in Sydney on a Monday. And it was the Queen’s birthday! I had flown in just in time to celebrate, obviously.

I visited at the start of winter. So that meant more layers, and less tourists (most of the time). I was told that it can rain quite a bit during this season, and there had been torrential downpour in Sydney the week prior to my arrival. But the day I got there, it was sunny and gorgeous. I stayed in Potts Point, about 20 minutes from the Botanic Gardens and a stunning view of the Opera House and Harbor.

Woolloomooloo (say that three times fast)

View from the McElhone Stairs in Potts Point.

Lookout from Lady Macquarie’s Chair of the harbour.

I could continue chronicling this my travels listing all the sights I saw day to day, the places I ate at… but I’ll touch on the highlights for me, and for what I highly recommend you fit into your Australia travels as well.

To start, the territories I visited were New South Wales (Sydney, Byron Bay, Katoomba, Newcastle, Manly Beach), Queensland (Brisbane), and Australian Capital Territory (Canberra). If you look at a map, that’s all along South/Southeast Australia. Now, if you look at a map and compare the size of Australia to the rest of the world, you won’t be surprised as to why I decided to focus my trip within a specific area of this giant country (it would be worth another trip to return and visit a different part Australia, trust me).

I’ve got some posts in the works, but I hope you’ll read on and enjoy what I have so far of my little travel diary about my visit down unda!

The national flag in the capital of Australia: Canberra.

So Into Indie

Down an unassuming alleyway off of a side street in Tianjin’s Nankai district, resides a true gem. This gem goes by the name of Indie Bar, a favorite spot among expats and university students alike. Last month, I posted about my top three Tianjin to-dos… this place deserves the #1 spot. It’s #1, and that’s why it has the honor of an entire blog post.

Indie Bar is run by Jesse and Rain, the warmest couple you’ll ever meet. Jesse is a Canadian transplant, and Rain is a Tianjin local. Indie serves from a full bar (the only place in China I’ve found that can serve a proper whiskey ginger), and whips up some Western favorites, from pizza to pancakes, all at reasonable fares.

My first visit, I went to Indie with a co-worker. My co-worker had been there before, and we still got lost along the way… consider the journey to find this place as your “initiation” into Indie Bar, as everyone gets lost trying to find this place for the first, second… sometimes even third time. It doesn’t help that there’s no sign on the outside that you can see from the street. Upon entering my first visit, all of the patrons were in the middle of some cowboy-wild west card game. Nobody was off to the side by themselves, awkwardly lingering. And two seconds after we got drinks, we were asked to pull up chairs and join in on the game. It was nice to feel so welcome, and unlike the “newbie” that I was in Tianjin.

The older sister I’ve never had, Rain.

Winners Y’all (yes, that was our team name)

Indie has such a relaxed atmosphere. It’s nice to go there and recognize familiar faces and unwind after an especially busy day of teaching. I frequent the bar on Mondays for movie night, and Wednesdays for trivia, but any day of the week (except for Thursdays, as they’re closed) you’ll find something going on: live music, a bar-wide game of charades, or you can take your pick from their mini library and curl up with a book or relive childhood and challenge your friends to a good ole game of Monopoly. They had a killer Halloween party, and friends I made through Indie hosted wonderful Thanksgiving parties.

Indie Bar just celebrated its two year anniversary in September, and I foresee it celebrating many more to come (although possibly in another location). It’s more than just a bar. It’s a community. Before I started going here, I felt like a stranger in Tianjin. But through Indie, I’ve met some really terrific people who are expats like myself, going through the same bouts of missing home, struggling with the language barrier, and trying to find themselves in this great, big, and scary world.

The struggle to find this bar is worth it. Easier said than done when you look at getting lost as part of the adventure. I didn’t expect to find a place so welcoming, and so wonderful in Tianjin. But places like this do exist thousands of miles from home. Don’t be afraid to get out and discover them. I’m so into Indie (as is anyone and everyone who stops by this bar), and I promise you would be too.

It’s wild to think that I only have a little over a month left of teaching before I spend the next couple of months traveling a bit through different areas of China, other parts of Asia and Europe… but more on those plans later. I just feel like six months in China is nothing. To some people, yes. I can understand that six months can feel like six years. But not to me. There’s a part of me that wishes I had only just arrived. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun.

Happy late Thanksgiving, y’all! Hope you ate lots and lots. Cheers.

Love from Tianjin ♥

Trivia winners!

Bathroom graffiti wisdom.

Monday movie nights.