NYE in Sydney

This was our first New Year’s Eve in Sydney, and as we were blessed to have visits from back home, we wanted it to be special and memorable.

When I started making plans (5 months in advance) a lot of venues had already been sold out, hotels tend to have a 2/3 nights minimum length of stay during this period, and cruises were ridiculously expensive. I then came across the closed events that the Royal Botanic Gardens offer and signed up to be notified of their pre-sales.

And so, when the email reached my inbox I had already made up my mind of what to do. We booked the Lawn with a view event where we would have a gourmet picnic at the park with a privileged view of the fireworks. Nothing could feel more Australian than a picnic! (well perhaps a barbecue, lol)

The doors opened at 6:40 PM and closed at 8:30 PM. We were there for the opening, so that we could get a good spot, but didn’t have to queue for long. As soon as we got our tickets and bags checked, we were immediately pointed to the right area of the park where we were given our picnic hamper and a bottle of water. We picked a location, there were clearly marked areas allowing for people to move around without any disruption, got our blankets out and got comfy.

After a trip to the bar, we spent the time playing Uno cards, talking, eating (food was yummy!), joking around and before we knew it the New Year was upon us! The fireworks were beautiful and the spot was awesome 😀 It was indeed a special and memorable experience!!!

The following day we read very bad reviews from one of the other events at the gardens and felt so lucky that we had chosen right!

Leichhardt Long Lunch

This past Saturday we were blessed with an “Indian Summer” day in Sydney. The thermometers went up to 28 C in the inner-west and the sun shined bright and warm.

The Leichhardt Long Lunch was on and it was a perfect opportunity for us to browse the different stalls (all from local business) have some nice lunch, and drinks, sit outside, and even learn some new recipes at the cooking demonstrations.

The tiramisu and pistachio ice-cream from Bar Italia were amazing and we loved the sample of passatelli with mussels from the chef at Capriccio.

I find these events a great way to cultivate and maintain the community spirit. Sydney is a huge city but each suburb has its own vibe and identity which I firmly believe should be preserved.

Leichhardt is well-known for its Italian community and many restaurants so I can’t think of a more perfect way to celebrate it than with an outdoor long lunch 🙂

Twilight Parade – Chinese New Year

Last Sunday, it was the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Sydney. We didn´t have the opportunity to attend many of the celebrations, or even checkout the lights and sculptures that were around the city, but we certainly did not want to miss the Twilight Parade.

After our disappointment with the celebrations in Brisbane, and having watched Sydney celebrations on TV the previous years, we were excited to see it live.

We were not disappointed 🙂 It was fun, lively and it featured many aspects of the Chinese cultural in a Western country. Here are some pictures:

Jellyfish Restaurant

It was hubbie’s b-day on the 23rd. What better way to celebrate than discover another one of Brisbane’s best restaurants. This time we went to Jellyfish in Eagle Street Pier. The location is prime and the view of the bridge, lighted up at night, is a plus that compliments a beautiful meal.

We first heard of this restaurant in Masterchef The Professionals, as one of the contestants, Rhett Willis, (2nd place), was the head-chef there. I am not entirely sure if he is still is…

But it was not the celebrity factor that made us want to try the restaurant but rather their fish menu. They have at least 6-8 different types of fish daily and they are renowned for their freshness.

We both love seafood and we were not disappointed. Not only to fish was fresh and perfectly cooked but everything else was superb. The side dishes and desserts were awesome. The service was impeccable and the waiters were professional and polite without being stuck up .

All in all, it was a perfect dinner date and I truly recommend it to the seafood lovers out there.

Making Portugal proud

Well done, Cristiano 🙂

Merry Xmas from Down Under

Wishing everyone that shares this Aussie experience with us, a wonderful holiday season 🙂
Be happy!!!

One year…

Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Time does fly indeed! I can´t believe that it has been a year since we arrived in Australia!

I have grown accustomed to going to sleep to the sound of the flying foxes, who like to nibble the berries in the tree near my window, and wake up to the sound of the kookaburras and lorikeets.

I no longer find it strange when a possum or a bush turkey cross my path in the street or when an ibis approaches me in the park whenever I am having a snack.

I have started to shorten words and find myself saying brekkie, barbie, tradie, Woolies, Maccas, etc.

I have held a koala and I have patted and hand-fed kangaroos and wallabies.

I have celebrated Xmas in the summer.

I have eaten crocodile, emu and roo (short for kangaroo ;-p).

I have had picnics at the beach, barbies in natural parks, gone antique shopping , rummaged the city in search of the best coffee, and made some new friends.

Overall, it has been a crazy year. It has been though but rewarding. There still a long way to go until I can call Australia my home but I am getting there, slowly but surely 😉

Let the next year rock on!!!

When the distance hurts too much…

Mum´s cake last year

My mum´s birthday was yesterday… I miss her so much and on special occasions like this I find myself missing home like crazy…

Last year we were all together, we all sang happy birthday, we all had a slice of cake and some Port wishing her many years of health and happiness ahead.

I had to wait all day to call her due to the timezone but the first call she got in the morning was mine. We talked on the phone some 30 minutes or so, and told each other how much we are always in each other´s heart. Though the physical distance is big there is nothing that could ever come between us and our unconditional love.

But once you put down the phone, you don´t feel so strong or positive anymore. You feel sad, you miss home, you wish you were there and you feel that you´re missing out on so much.

I have been living abroad for 7 years, though this is the first year that I have been so far away…, but it doesn´t get any easier…

I wouldn´t change my life and I feel so grateful, happy and blessed to have been given the opportunity to live in other countries, to be able to experience so many different cultures and to grow as a person in such a wonderful and rich way. But it doesn´t come without a price and some days your heart just feels tiny and the distance hurts too much…

Then you thank the universe for the amazing family and friends that you have back home and that are a huge support in your expat life. You thank the universe to be able to live in a “dream land” and to have so many amazing experiences. You give thanks for your health, for your amazing significant other, for all the good that surrounds you. You then pick yourself up, put a smile on your face and go out and face the world for a brand new day 🙂

Brisbane Festival – Riverfire

Riverfire – Southbank

At the start and end of the Brisbane Festival there is always a massive show of fireworks, music, and lights known as the Riverfire. We did not want to miss it so we headed to one of the busiest vantage points in Southbank. It was super crowded but the show was definitely worth it and the crowd was calm and well-behaved ;-p

I loved watching the fireworks being launched from the tall buildings in the CBD and seeing the whole city come to life! And this time, I was camera-ready!

Riverfire – Southbank

Riverfire – Southbank

Riverfire – Southbank

Riverfire – Southbank

Next time, we will try Kangaroo Point Cliffs as you get a great view from the bridge and it is not as crowded…

Brisbane Festival – City of Lights

Brisbane Festival – Southbank

We missed the Brisbane Festival this year as we were on holiday when it started and moving houses during it 😉 It was a shame but we did manage to catch one of the daily night shows, the City of Lights, in Southbank. It was awesome!!!

The most amazing, for me, were the acrobats who danced, drenched in water, to the sound of the music and blended with the lights magnificently, resembling fire breathers at times.

I forgot my camera at home (again!) so my poor old mobile phone did its best and captured some images which will give you a clue of what it was all about ;-p

Brisbane Festival – Southbank

Brisbane Festival – Southbank

Brisbane Festival – Southbank

Brisbane Festival – Southbank