Australia Exploring #3!

Yesterday was one of those days where I just had to go to the beach. Priorities though: I went for a manicure first (a really awesome one) and then I met my friend for lunch before we walked to the beach. 

First of all, lunch was flipping amazing. I can't remember the name of the place we went but the sandwich I had was one of  the best. It was somewhere in Port Melbourne on Beach Street I think, so hunt down the good places on there and I'm sure you'll come across it. They also do these pretty awesome berry smoothies.

It was so frickin' hot though and I am as pasty as it gets so me and the sun don't always mix well, but I put my factor 50 on (if a higher one existed I would be putting that on instead) and off we went to the beach.

We stopped at Princes Pier on the way to the beach, seeing as it was only a couple of minutes away and it proved to be quite the photogenic spot on a beautiful day.

And as for the beach, well it was very sandy and I got sand in places I didn't even know sand could go but all in all it was a fab day!

Katie x

P.s. For those of you wondering, yes, my pasty, milk bottle skin did get burnt - it resembles a tomato instead now :(

Australia Exploring #2!

I decided to give my solo adventuring another go yesterday and I managed with a little more success this time! I did get lost and walk for a hell of a long time before I came to the realisation I had no clue where I was, but it's all good because I figured it out and got there eventually (just so I don't look like I have zero navigational skills, because I do have some (I think), I would like to take this moment to point out that my friend gave me directions and missed out a vital point for along the way: turn left)!

My  adventures took me to two places because I just happened to come across one as I was searching for the other and I thought why not go there as well. 

The first place I went to, rather spontaneously, was The Shrine of Remembrance and I have to say it was extremely interesting. I love history so being able to read all about Australia in WWI left me right in my element, and the building itself was incredible - just make sure you don't have an aversion to steps before you go because there's quite a few, but it's well worth it and the view at the top is amazing.

The second place, the one I was originally trying to get to before I took my little detour, was the Royal Botanic Gardens and maaaan had I looked forward to going there. I have never been to a more peaceful and beautiful place ever and, despite the fact I spent a good couple of hours there, I know there's still loads I haven't seen. It's one of those places that I think I could walk around forever and still always find something new. I can only describe it as exceptionally stunning and that doesn't even do it justice.

Fun little story; when I was at the Royal Botanic Gardens there were lots of people taking photos of each other and I thought 'wouldn't a picture surrounded by all of this be lovely, I'll ask someone to take mine', so I did. I asked a gentleman who didn't speak a lot of English but seemed lovely and was already taking pictures, he agreed with lots of nods and smiles and I gave him my camera and showed him which button to press. Now what I didn't realise when I gave this nice gentleman my camera was that he thought of himself as a bit of a photographer, so he proceeded to go from different angles whilst he knelt down on the ground (mate, I don't need to see all my chins and lumps and bumps in every photo). He then asked me to do different poses only, due to the language barrier, I didn't understand this so he started demonstrating and what could I do apart from my best to re-enact them?! So here I was, in this beautiful place, surrounded by stunning views, getting a million and one unflattering photos taken of me, even though I only asked for a simple one - which I still didn't really get in the end. But hey, it's one funny memory to look back on!

Also, there were these really cute ducklings.

Katie x

Australia Exploring #1!

Today was my first proper day of exploring in Melbourne because, although I attempted exploring yesterday, I'm not gonna lie, it was a massive failure - I couldn't even figure out how to get to the beach and it just made me really depressed for the day. So today my friend (who is currently living in Australia) took charge and at points she wasn't much better than me but she still managed to get us to Hosier Lane, which is somewhere I have been so excited about seeing!

It had all of this incredible street art, all different varieties of it in every, shape, size, form, colour and detail. I was in awe.

Some of it I couldn't even believe people could create in the first place, never mind put so much time and effort into.

One of the things I love about it is that the artists put all of that effort into it and so many people pass through it every day and appreciate the amount of heart and soul that has gone into it even though the creator knows it's only temporary. They do it even knowing that someday, in the near or far future, someone else is going to come and put their mark on Hosier Lane and paint their own incredible story over it. 

If you ever visit Melbourne, this is the one piece of culture, an undiscovered, one-of-a-kind type of culture, that you need to come and see.

Come to the other side of the world and they can
still read my mind.

#FreeTheNipple

Preach it.

Katie x

My Favourite Place

I have many favourite places in this world but one of them is a big love of mine in Nottingham: Rufford Park. 

Whenever I feel stressed or anxious about anything, or even if I just need some fresh air, I love to go there. 

It's one of the most beautiful places all around the year. When the lake's frosted over in the winter and your breath is clouding the air in front of you, or when the sun is beating down in Summer and making the lake glisten over every inch; it's always stunning.

If you ever come to Nottingham I recommend you put at the top of your 'Must Visit' list. Although I love places like Sherwood Forest too, it's just the constant calm of Rufford Park that attracts me to it. You have more room to think than you'll ever need, and you can walk forever and always find something new to see every time.

Katie x