BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE BLONDE

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Wild things

Some of my favorite pics from my trip to the Featherdale Wildlife park outside of Sydney.

Don’t let this cute, fuzzy face fool you.  Just recently it was made illegal for you to hold or cuddle the Koalas and apparently this little guy is the reason why.

Making a run for it!

This Wallaby was rubbing his belly trying to tempt us to give him some treats.

I love this guy, holding my hand while I fed him.  My heart just fell to my feet.

Sleeping beauty.  I want to take them all home!

Happy Monday!

Planes, trains & automobiles

On the last night of every trip and over nice dinner, my husband and I ask each other what our favorite part of the trip was and how the trip has changed something about ourselves. For me there were too many favorite parts to this trip, the train ride across the outback was amazing but so was having a young kangaroo hold my hand while I fed him, I almost died it was so precious!  

So what did I learn about myself?  Well, I learned that I am able to travel by backpack (some of you were doubting, you know who you are), although it was not easy or my preferred method of packing.  I also learned that I am very reliant on the internet, this is mostly due to the fact that Australia makes it incredibly difficult and expensive to access Wi-Fi was driving crazy.  Despite that, the most important thing that I learned was that disconnecting for a few days allowed me to really take in the experience, meet amazing new people and enjoy the journey with the one I love the most.

City Beach in Perth.  After we left Melbourne, we flew west to the city of Perth where the Southern and Indian Oceans merge.

The Indian Pacific railway runs all the way across the continent of Australia from either Sydney to Perth or Perth to Sydney with several chances to stop and explore the outback and the most beautiful views.

Above: Our accommodations includes two bunk beds and a newly furbished bathroom.  Small but cozy

Below: The Main Dining car where we ate delicious 4 course meals everyday

View from the train on the outskirts of the city of Perth.

Our second day on the train we stopped in the township of Cook, formerly home to 40 people, it now has a population of 4.  The family that lives in Cook solely depend on the railway to survive.  This family helps to refuel and restock the train with fresh water and the train in return delivers to them food and supplies.  Pictured above are the old jail cells and out house that still remains in this ghost of a town.

Inside the kitchen:  Of course I walked into the kitchen to say hello but the moment they threw me a towel I was outta there!

Since the dining car is so small, you had to share your table with other people which gave us an amazing opportunity to meet new people.  Other than other couple from Canada, we were the only other foreigners. Most of the people on this train were Australians and they all seemed to be very proud of their country and thankful that we were there visiting.
Our last supper on the train:  Western Australia King prawns and Pumpkin Ravioli and of course no dinner is complete without the Australian wine.
All in all, the railway was an experience of a lifetime.  Ken and I are both “old souls” so the fact that we were the youngest passengers by about 30 years did not bother us in the least.  We met the most interesting and friendliest people.  I think Australia as a culture has the most friendly locals.  We met a retired couple that travel all the time, before this trip, they back packed all the way through Vietnam and stayed with local families along the way.  We met a lot of people from Queensland which said if we ever come back to look them up, they would love to show us their state.  
I think the best part of traveling is making new connections and it’s a great excuse to come back and visit and feel more localized.  Although we saw much more of Australia than most of the people we met from AU, there is still so much more to see.  It’s an incredibly beautiful country with the most breath taking coastline and I know that one day we will be back.

Driving optional

Australia seems to be a country of drivers but I love to see when cities like Melbourne have bicycles for hire all around the city.  Wish Los Angeles had these.

We are actually all the way on the other side of the country and leave later today to start our 4 day train journey back to the South Pacific.  

Twelve Apostles

Fresh after completing his fifth Continent in a quest to run a marathon on all 7 continents, my husband and I boarded an overnight train from Sydney to Melbourne yesterday evening.  With only 30 minutes of time between trains, we dropped our bags off, grab a quick Starbucks to re-energize and we’re off for yet another adventure.  Since I hadn’t booked any of the arrangements, (because I’m not that organized), I didn’t really know what I was in for today.  An hour and half later, we arrive in the town of Geelong where we hopped on a bus and set off down the coast of Southern Australia for a drive on the Great Ocean Road. 

Stopping to take a break in the quaint surf town of Apollo Bay, Victoria Australia

Pictured above and below are the Twelve Apostles, rock formations that have formed from thousands of years of erosion from the strong current and powerful waves caused from this Southern Facing stretch of coastline.

Pictures above and below are from Loch and Gorge, where ship wreckage remnants can still be seen from helicopter.

Above:  This rock formation is called the London Bridge, it at one time had two arch ways but due to the crashing waves one arch is all that remains.

PIctures above and below are the Bay Islands.  All I could think about while looking out onto the deep ocean was that somewhere directly ahead is Antarctica.  It blows my mind to think that it’s so close even though it’s still pretty far away.

The land that I saw today is by far the most beautiful I have ever seen.  Sprawling lush, green hillside filled with sheep and cattle on the right side of the road and rock cliffs, crashing waves and cold blue ocean on the left.  The land here is pristine, almost completely untouched.  This is definitely a place worth coming back to someday.

Sydney Australia

So we FINALLY made it to Sydney yesterday morning after a dreadful 19 hours of traveling.    As if the weird staff on our flight (a wig wearing male attendant who decided mid flight to remove his awful wig) wasn’t enough, I stayed awake the ENTIRE flight!  Jet-lagged or not we hit the pavement running, well not exactly running, saving that for tomorrow’s marathon!

View of downtown Sydney from the Quay

Famous Sydney Opera house which I found out today the roof is entirely made up of ceramic tile.

Haviana Vending machine.  Clever but it’s freezing here so I had to pass

Perfect cold weather fix…Singaporan Laksa.  Because of the huge Asian population here there is so much delicious Asian cuisine, one of my favorite dishes

We had to end the day short due to Anti-American protest in the CBD where we are staying.  More pics to come!

Moving the world

I’m always enamored by people with interesting jobs.  Listening to them speak passionately about what they do, inspires me to find the same.  To me, my husband has one of the more fascinating jobs of anyone I know.  For the past 6 years, he has worked for one of the largest global shipping companies, MAERSK.  We have been fortunate enough to travel the world, experience new traditions and make wonderful friends, all through his work.

So when he told me yesterday that they were celebrating the 100th Anniversary of MAERSK, I knew I wanted to share some of my favorite pics from their INSTAGRAM account, @maerskline.  Check it out, it’s pretty amazing!  

Happy Anniversary MAERSK and thank you for allowing us to see the world with you!

India

Not sure that hand stands on the bulb are in alignment with Safety Regulations?

Vessel passing through the Panama Canal

Market in China

The MAERSK 20 Kroner.  We tried to collect as many of these as we could when we were in Denmark last year.

Senegal

Hong Kong

CEO Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller (who just passed away in May) and his wife Emma.  He was said to be like the “King” of Denmark.  Often the cab drivers in Copenhagen would drive by the Maersk office and ask “how is the old man?”  One of my favorite stories of him is when he would come to visit any of the terminals or offices, none of the employees would use the elevator because he didn’t use the elevator, he only took the stairs.  Even at 90 years old, he would climb up the gangway to board one of his vessels (might I add, this is extremely dangerous for someone half that age).  Truly a legend!

Beyond the Outback

In a little over 2 weeks I will be on a plane heading to Sydney Australia.  I’m already starting to get excited, like a kid at Christmas.  Unlike other trips in the past, this time I have to pack especially light, I mean REALLY LIGHT!  We will be riding a train across the Outback and everything I take must fit in a backpack!  (rhyming was not intentional!)

Here’s what I’m thinking I need for my trip at the moment.  I will have to try really hard not to keep adding to this list or my husband is going to have a fit!

1. NIKE Sportswear ROSHE  2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Shoulder bag  3. URBAN EARS in Ocean  4. Won Hundred Black dress  5. Won Hundred White Tee  6. Ten Over Six scarf  7. Fjallraven Vintage backpack  8. NIKE training pant

Space Odyssey

Yesterday’s shoot I styled with photographer Nat Sin featuring Audrey Kitching started out as a “fencing” themed shoot.  Once we got in hair and make-up and into the first look, it became apparent that the recent passing of the first man to walk on the moon was subconsciously inspiring the entire crew.

Here’s a sneak peak and the behind the scenes photos of yesterday’s shoot.

Thanks to Angelique and Lisa for the beautiful Hair and Make-Up

Happy Monday!