Australia Zoo
When you hop on a plane to “the land down under” you cannot leave without seeing a kangaroo. It’s a right of passage, part of the Australian experience. It was, for me, one of many highlights while I was adventuring abroad.
The Australia Zoo was home to the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. The Irwin’s are still heavily involved with the zoo and displays can be found throughout the property. It’s well worth the day trip for animal enthusiasts and tourists alike. It’s about a 60 minute drive from Brisbane which allows you to have a full day of family fun. If driving isn’t your thing, there are plenty of day tours that head to the zoo as well.
I was excited to see all of the animals but I think the koalas really stole my heart. They were so cute, curled up in the trees – I even got to pet one. They’re so soft! The kangaroos were of course another highlight and the wombats too. You can feed the kangaroos at the zoo which makes for a great experience. However, do follow all of the rules that are posted around the zoo. Remember, these are wild animals and they can be unpredictable. Approach them with caution.
Shows throughout the day provide you with the opportunities to see some of the animals up close. I thought the crocodile one was pretty neat. Check the schedule upon arrival for all of the showtimes. With so much to see, there’s no way that you’ll get bored! There’s plenty of places to grab a bite to eat and they do have gluten free options. Make sure you’re equipped with sunscreen, hats and water – all of the Australian necessities. Have a great day checking out all of the animals!
Stradbroke “Straddie” Island
Straddie is truly a hidden paradise, a popular vacation spot and the best place for some rest & relaxation. This island is located 30km southeast of Brisbane and it’s the world’s second largest sand island! It is home to some of the most stunning beaches I have ever seen. If you’re into water sports – grab your board because there’s no shortage of waves to catch along the coast. It’s home to a slower pace of life and a break from the hustle of the city.
Buses do operate on the island but they’re on a limited schedule. There’s no rush to get anywhere and that’s 100% okay. There’s also a taxi service which we utilized on our way to the beach. Our driver was so kind and provided us with a ton of information about the island, the people and what to see and do. He was awesome!
There’s no shortage of beaches to choose from on the island – I explored the Point Lookout area and Main Beach. I did ‘The Gorge Walk” which I highly recommend because the views will make your jaw drop! The mixture of the rocky coastline, white sand and turquoise water will leave you in awe. Plus, I saw a kangaroo in the wild (so now I can say I successfully experienced Australia, right?)!
Sirromet Winery
If wining and dining is your thing, don’t miss out on Sirromet Winery located just 30 minutes outside of Brisbane. The property is beautiful and overlooks Moreton Bay and features $5 wine tastings (you get to pick 6). I’m not going to lie, the wine tasting was my favourite part becase the wine was great and I got to learn about their products. Having worked at a winery in Nova Scotia this past summer – I was interested to learn about winemaking on a different continent. The staff were extremely friendly and the property is well worth a walk through. Plus, chances are you won’t get out of there without a delicious bottle in tow. Have fun!
Whether you’re petting kangaroos, relaxing at the beach or sipping on some wine – you’re guaranteed to have a blast! So what are you waiting for? Book that plane ticket!
xoxo,
linds
Check out the next leg of the adventure: Great Barrier Reef
Hey world!
The next morning, we went downstairs at 8:30 am thinking we’d just be walking out to the street in front of the hotel to ride bikes for this guy’s video. Nope. There was a driver waiting for us in a very nice car. He got out and introduced himself as being a tour guide for the Sri Lankan Tourism Board. Turns out that we were about to be a part of a very legitimate ad campaign.
We were so grateful to have had this experience. We felt great because it was spontaneous and unique and a hell of a good story. We would have never gotten such an incredible view of Pidurangala and Sigiriya had we declined. We were treated like stars and got to meet some really friendly and talented locals. Then they asked if they could use us for more scenes because we ‘fit the image.’ We accepted, partly out of politeness and partly out of interest to see what else was in store.
After the coconut scene, we had been out filming with these people for more than three hours! We were pretty tired. They asked us to do one final scene. This time, we accepted purely to be polite. This final scene was so corny– and intense. We had lines to say, marks to hit, and two co-stars. It was hot and we were tired. But we did it, and they dropped us off safely at our hotel FIVE HOURS after they picked us up. What we expected to take 15 minutes took way longer than that. The crew understood that we were tired and that they had asked way more of us than was expected. Even though my friends and I were a little irritable by the end, it was so worth it. It was a really fun day and an experience that we could have never paid for or planned. Plus, we have this cool memento of our trip:
Before I dive into all the things I liked about this airport, there is one MAJOR downside to it. Without a local (Indian) phone number, wifi access is limited to just 45 MINUTES per passenger. Yes, without an Indian SIM card, you cannot use the internet for even an hour. And the timing is consecutive, so you can’t use it for five minutes and then check back in an hour later– once you log in, your clock starts ticking. Don’t get me wrong, I can live without the internet. I quite enjoyed being alone to read and people watch. But it was frustrating being in transit and not being able to let my family know where I was or when my flight would be leaving. If it got delayed or cancelled, I’d have no way to let them know. The only exception to this is the airport hotel, which I will get into shortly. So just a heads up, if you find yourself headed to CMB, download your Netflix in advance and use your internet time wisely.
I was really grateful to be able to get a room, except for one issue: when I arrived at the front desk, I asked the price of a room in Canadian dollars and was told it would be $120. That was reasonable as the hotel is a higher standard than any Holiday Inn or Best Western, and at that point, I was tired almost to the point of tears. It was worth it to me. When I got back to Canada however, my credit card statement read $240. Double. I’m not saying that isn’t a fair price for the room. It was beautiful, clean, and had all the amenities. I’m saying that I would have crashed on the public seating instead because I didn’t have that kind of budget. I wish I had been told an accurate price.
After checking out of the hotel I got a western-style breakfast (my stomach couldn’t handle any more rice and curry) at the only place I could– Starbucks. Then, having finished all four books I brought on the trip, I stopped by the bookstore and bought a few more for a really good price. I found a comfortable seating area, ordered a fresh orange juice, then I curled up and read for hours.
When I couldn’t sit still any longer, I got up and explored the many shops and museum-like art installations. I bought a beautiful pair of smart, genuine leather slip-on shoes for a great price (probably would have passed if I knew how much I had spent on the hotel!) and headed to my gate. I still had a solid eight hours to go until my flight, but I needed a change of scenery. I grabbed lunch at Café Indiana– which was awesome because Indiana is my middle name!– and then curled up in the comfy seats and watched Netflix and read until my flight. Unlike most major airports, food and drinks weren’t astronomically priced, which I appreciated. Right before boarding, I grabbed a couple snacks and a bottle of water. I was in for a 16-hour flight and looking forward to sleeping through most of it.
Verdict: Mumbai Airport has everything you need for a long layover. Food, entertainment, and comfortable areas to rest. Everything is fairly priced, but be aware of the cost of the hotel. I would recommend this airport for your next flight path. Keep in mind my several hiccups, and you’ll be a happy traveler.
My friends and I arrived in Ella around 7 pm on Friday night. We stayed at the Pasla Hotel which is right on the main strip near all the restaurants and shops. It was dirt cheap at only $25 CAD, and although the room was huge, it was super basic. Good enough for us though! We freshened up after the long drive (Colombo to Ella by car is about 6 hours) and headed out for dinner and drinks. Our friends had recommended Cafe Chill and for good reason– it was amazing. The food was delicious, the drinks were deadly, and the atmosphere was, well, chill. I’m talking open-air, beanbag chairs, friendly staff, and no worries. I was so relaxed (and a little buzzed from the mojitos). The nightlife in Ella is pretty great, and I don’t know if the tourists go for the nightlife or if the nightlife only exists because of the tourists, but either way, you can party with both locals and travelers and it’s a really fun time.
After we made it back to the hotel in one piece, we took a quick break, showered, grabbed lunch, and then got a tuk-tuk to the well known Nine-Arch Bridge. It was about ten minutes by tuk and then a 15-minute steep climb down to the bridge. I did not expect the climb and was wearing flip-flops. Fun times. Again, it was worth the struggle. The bridge is very beautiful and we were lucky enough to catch the training going across, which made for nice photos. After chilling out for a bit, getting our pictures, and enjoying dangling our feet over the side, we climbed back through the tea fields to our kind tuk driver who waited for us and brought us back into town.
By that point in the day, we were pretty spent from all the hiking. We decided to again enjoy dinner at Cafe Chill, then we headed to another bar, 360, for a few more drinks before bed. I slept so well that night. It was an early rise again the next morning to catch the train back to Colombo. We sat down for breakfast at 360 and grabbed chocolate-banana roti to-go from Downtown Roti Hut. The roti was for the long ride ahead of us, and they were freakin’ delicious. Make sure you buy your tickets early and arrive at the platform early as lots of people are waiting to get on, but that being said, finding seats wasn’t too difficult a task. The train ride from Ella to Colombo takes 12 hours. Yep, you read that right. We were on the train from 9 am to 9 pm. Bring snacks, books, and download some Netflix cause you’re in for a long ride. Please, don’t let the length of time turn you off of taking the train. The views are phenomenal and the vibe is so chill– at one point, some locals broke out their instruments and started playing music. Sit in the doorway and dangle your feet for a while as the scenery rolls past. Be in the moment, appreciate where you are and what you’re doing. It can truly be the experience of a lifetime.
Ella was amazing. If you find yourself in Sri Lanka, don’t miss it. We didn’t fit in all the tourist attractions because we wanted a relaxing weekend (and it was still exhausting), but if you’re up for the challenge, I’d suggest fitting in the waterfall between Ella Rock and the bridge, and Little Adam’s Peak for sunrise on Sunday morning. It will be tiring, but do-able. Another perk about visiting Ella: it’s in the hill country so you can escape the scorching heat and enjoy a cooler climate– still about 20-25 degrees Celcius. Really lovely.
