It is a lonely life being on the road. ...

Another day, another flight.

Beautiful Australia pt2

Like my last work related trip, I am fortunate that I get to see quite a bit of Oz.

This weeks travel has taken me up to the Central Coast, NSW. 2 hours drive from Sydney up the Pacific Highway heading toward Newcastle and I am now here at The Entrance, NSW.

My hotel room faces the beach and am listening to the lull of sea waves as it hits the rocks.

Lovely :)

Kitchen stories - Dried fried chicken (varuvel) and lentil curry

It has been a while since I last put up an update of my kitchen escapades.

So what came out of my kitchen this week? Felt like having some home cooked food like my mum makes.

I didn't have a few spices and forgot to add in a couple of others until it was done but all in all, it wasn't too bad :)

Think BF still prefers the curry version tho.

Happy birthday BF !!

Good friends, good food, good fun.

Weekend fun activities.

The weather was too good on Sat for us to not take advantage off. So what do we do, strawberry picking!

We headed down to the nearest farm to us which turns out to be in Keilor. 1/2 hr later and we are picking and dipping (as BF says, 1 for the basket, 2 for me). Bonus was - it is also the only organic strawberry farm in VIC so we def were eating healthy.

Lovely fresh picked sun kissed warm strawberries... Mmmm...

Back home to Melbourne - and... Guess what I brought back with me?

There has to be something I do to bring the stormy weather wherever I go. After the massive thunderstorm experienced in Sydney yday, guess what greets me after a few hrs back home today ??

Pic taken from my coz who lives in a high rise apt in Prahran.

Drowning Sydney

Like drowning rats, Sydneysiders were scurrying all over the place trying to keep dry - most not very successfully.

It doesn't help either that Sydney CBD is geographically very 'hilly' with ups and downs in numerous areas thus making the torrent of water rushing down in large pools esp near pedestrian crossings.

The aftermath? Blackouts to around 20000 households, downed traffic lights with a stop on rail and flight services 16mm falling in 10mins.

Sydney at night

I figured I'll finish up today's blog entry by snapping Darling Harbour from my hotel room.

Wet Sydney

Raining cats and dogs here now. Melbourne weather has hit!! Although it looks closer to KL rain by the torrent of water coming down.

Work trip - Sydney, NSW (again)

It is a tad gloomy here in Sydney today .... But isn't this a gorgeous view to wake up to every morning.

Long weekend getaway - Fiji

It has been a fantastic weekend. Since it is a public holiday today, BF decided to take advantage and have a mini break thus turning the 1 day break to a long weekend.

So on Friday, he drives us to the airport and announces that we are heading to Fiji! So all the complaining of early morning flights went out the window when one gets lovely surprises as these.

The flight itself was fairly uneventful. We were on and indirect route via Brisbane before heading to Nadi and when we reached Nadi. There was a taxi pickup and after a 1/2 hr drive, we arrived at the Westin Hotel & Spa Fiji on Denarau island.

As it was a short trip, there wasn't much planned except to relax (and eat). I checked the weather beforehand and it was reported to have thunderstorms and showers for the duration of the stay but there was not a dark cloud in the sky for the whole length of stay! Imagine waking up to waves hitting the beach and friendly cheers of 'Bula' from locals and tourist alike. I am not going to lie - I was a tourist true and true on this trip. I didn't venture out of Denarau, being quite content in staying there and just exploring the other resorts and facilities. ( Westin is under the Starwood Group so we could walk to the adjoining Sheraton Hotel and Sheraton Villas, use their facilities and beaches and just charge all back to our room!)

So after 4 fab days of doing nothing, am blogging from Nadi International Airport. Recharged, revived and rejuvenated. Am already considering heading to Fiji again ( different island next time) - or to Cook Islands. Hey, who knows?

View from our hotel balcony :)