Fish Eye 2

I recently brought a Fish Eye 2 and have been having fun experimenting.

Haven't quite got the hang of it, after years of exclusively using a digital camera and snapping away freely, a film camera has taken some getting used to! I have to admit I had trouble putting the film in, oh the shame. 

I didn't know you could get copies of your film shots put on CD now! Handy.

Here are some pictures from NYC. A bit dark unfortunately ( though it was really overcast) , I need to do a whole lot of practicing.  

Central Park

Midtown East

Super convoy of police during the U.N General Assembly

This was my second roll, I had some better shots on the first roll I took but unfortunately don't have them on a CD.

Does anyone else use a Fish Eye? 

NYC Part Three ft. A New York Moment

Despite some last minute self doubt on whether or not it was a good idea to do this trip by myself, it was without a doubt the best decision I have ever made. The sense of absolute freedom and independence was addictive, making coming back home that extra bit harder. 

To those contemplating a solo trip, I strongly encourage you to do so. It was a great chance to self reflect, get caught up in my own thoughts and helped me clarify my future goals. 

Despite this, there are of course times where you wish you had someone to turn around to and say "Did you just see that?!" or to be there to take your happy snaps. Rather than have my photo album looking like I robbed a post card shop, I took to accosting innocent bystanders when the view was too spectacular to pass up so I have a handful of photos with me in them.

On one particular day I was on an absolute mission to get to The Metropolitan Museum of Art as I had been told that they hold Friday evening drinks on the rooftop during the warmer months and the view was to die for. I had a plan formed that started with me visiting the MoMA and then going straight to The Met, this was of course thwarted by 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendal and Laduree. Somehow 5 hours disappeared into a retail black hole. 

By the time I got to the Met some hours later my feet were screaming for mercy. I also severely underestimated just how HUGE the place is. After seeing as much as I could, I began to try find the rooftop which was another mission in itself. I was THIS close to giving up, but I made it in the end and you know what, it was so worth the effort.

As it happens, my camera battery died just as I got there so all I have is my faithful iPhone snaps. Looking over the treetops of Central Park out to the city skyline as the sun set was a view I will never forget. 

I knew I had to have a photo, so I bit the bullet and asked the people next to me if they wouldn't mind taking one. The obliged, and the next thing you know ( and I am talking within the space of 2 minutes!) they have invited me to join them for dinner that evening! Now I am not the kind of person who usually does things on a whim and would usually politely decline, but I thought, why the hell not? The only thing I had planned was going back to the hotel to massacre some macarons. 

We got to talking there on the rooftop, and after deciding that it didn't seem likely that they would murder me,   we caught a cab down to Hell's Kitchen to a thai place for dinner. They were a great bunch of people, so much fun and their stories had me dying with laughter. Somehow I found my second wind and powered on through the evening and had the most amazing time before parting ways.

And you know what, I have my one photo from that rooftop to remind me of that evening for the years to come. 

Ahh, memories!

xx

NYC Part One ft. Touristy Stuff

Prepare yourselves for a series of long winded and picture heavy posts on my trip. You have been warned!

I flew into NYC on September 11 in the evening and was glad to finally be there after two flights, not to mention SO SO SO excited!

Driving into Manhattan with two giant beams of light shining up into the sky representing the twin towers was an eerie but unforgettable sight. Got to my hotel and dropped off my bag and considered going to sleep for about 40 milliseconds before I realised that would be futile with the levels of excitement I was experiencing so I went for  a walk. I have to say, I have never felt so at home walking out into a place I have no idea about at night. Yep, NYC was the place for me!

I made arrangements to meet up with a Big Apple Greeter before I left but didn't hear anything so thought it fell through but I ended up having a message at the hotel that he would be meeting me the next day which was a surprise. Big Apple Greeters are a volunteer program made up of NYC locals that show visitors around different areas of NYC depending on what your interests are, being art, food, shopping or what not. I know it sounds a big naff but my greeter Joel was really friendly and I had a great few hours with him on first day. He took me around Chelsea, East and West Village. 

Can I just say, I could easily live in any one of these areas, a brownstone building in a leafy street would suite me just fine!

Looking like a jet lagged hot mess in Washington Square Park  on my first day. 

Had the best weather while I was there, the first few days it was actually pretty hot and after that it was beautiful fall weather.

I did the usual touristy things like go up the Empire State Building. The glow coming from Times Square is amazing!

Please excuse my craptastic camera. 

Looking at the Chrysler Building

Also went up to Top of the Rock ( Rockafella Building) on a beautiful clear day. 

Reduced to taking photos of my self due to flying solo!

I love that Central Park was set aside for public use and it hasn't been developed on after all this time. 

Speaking of Central Park, I loved it. I LOVED IT. I hired a bike a couple of times and cruised around listening to Yeezy and loving life. It's massive, full of super hot fit runners and so many nooks and crannies....

....and views likes this. Yep a massive lake in the middle of the park. 

I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and had a bit of a look around Brooklyn on one day. 

A walked around the former World Trade Centre site where construction is well underway on the new Freedom Tower. I didn't see the memorial as it was all booked out as you can imagine. 

St. Peters church is directly opposite and was still cover in white ribbons from the anniversary services. I mean every piece of fence etc etc was COVERED. 

I saw How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying on Broadway. It stars Daniel Radcliffe ( aka. HARRY POTTER). It was a great show, really funny. I usually pretend I like musical shows and then get really bored when I don't know the songs but I honestly liked this. 

Times Square, where slow walkers go to die. In my world slow walking is a crime. It was like being stuck in an Easter Show crowd. Couldn't get out of there fast enough!

There are some really beautiful buildings in the city, like Trinity Church which is down near Wall Street. The grounds were beautiful and the gravestones were from the early 1700's. Just a friendly reminder for ya'll, Australia wasn't even settled by that time!

Federal Hall, where the first President George Washington of the US was inaugurated. 

I took the Staten Island Ferry down past the Statue of Liberty one day for a look but didn't get off because I wasn't really that interested. Was good to see it from afar though.

OK I think that was enough for one post! More to come....

I'm Back Baby

Apparently all good things must come to an end, and thus I am back from my trip and back to reality.

To put it simply, I had the most amazing time of my life. Every hope and expectation I had in my head was exceeded, and then some!

I'll be posting all the bits and bobs of my little adventure ( including the copious amount of things I brought back with me) and I hope you don't get too sick of all this NYC talk as I know it's all I have been talking about for quite some time. Hey, not much exciting happens with me so this is the highlight of my year!

I'm back at work today and I have to say I have the sads big time that I can't go out for Pinkberry frozen yoghurt ( my new obsession) or grab a bagel for breakfast.

Keep tuned!

With love from a lady who is sorely missing these kind of views xx

Packed ( HAH!) and Ready

I'm going to NEW YORK CITY tomorrow!!! EEEK! 

I am so excited. No work for two weeks, the city of my dreams and copious amounts of shopping and eating. How could it get any better?

I am so not into the whole packing thing though......see Exhibit A 

Some undies and suitcase in a suitcase. Yeah, I've got some work to do. 

I had a few people ask me about the travel wallet I showed in the video I did a couple of weeks ago so I thought I would throw up some pictures.

The brand is Modepelle (never heard of it before) and it cost me about $60.00 from a bag and luggage store in Chatswood. 

Plain red leather and ticket/passport separators. That's all I wanted!

I've got my walking shoes sorted. 

They are from Zierra ( previously known as Kumfs haha!) . They are the closest thing to a plain ballet flat with some sort of support I could find. Luckily they don't have a orthopedic look to them but do have lots of support which is what I need as I have high arches in my feet. Unfortunately I spend $190 on  Kumfs. Name changes don't fool me!!!!

I've got my on board beauty products ready to go. Changed my mind a little bit from what I previously said I would take. In the end Vitamin E cream and oil, Kosmea Rosehip Oil, a travel size Bastiste dry shampoo, roll on perfume and deodorant made the cut!

Oh and these face wipes to keep fresssssssh!

I've got my maps ready to go!

Now I am just rambling. I am really really excited!

Can't lie though, I am a little worried about these news reports of a credible threat of a terror attack on NY/ Washington to coincide with the 10th anniversary of September 11. For those playing at home, I fly in on the evening of September 2011. I really didn't think when I booked that it would play on my mind too much but after spending a week re-living the aftermath of 9/11 through the media and these news reports, I just can't help feeling that it wasn't the best idea!

Nether the less, it's all booked now and there is nothing I can do about it. I am going to have an amazing time, I just know it!

I SERIOUSLY CAN'T WAIT!!

Best News Ever

I just read online this morning that the French pastry house Ladurée ( started in 1862! ) has recently opened up a store on Madison Avenue in New York. Be still my beating heart!

This is obviously a sign from above, a sign that I should stuff myself with salted caramel macarons until I cry tears of  joy which taste like sugar and happiness.

It's a shame I don't have a bath where I am staying, I could have done it Blair Waldorf style.

 By the way , do you remember when she and Serena went to Paris? I die. I just realised I am in need of a serious Gossip Girl fix, they should hurry up and finish filming the next season!

Oh and once last thing, how good do these religieuses look?! Choux pastry, you are so delicious. 

10 DAYS!

Something New...

I tried my hand at a short video today, be the first to witness the awkwardness of learning to speak to yourself in a empty room! Ha!

I thought I'd talk quickly about some things I am planning on carrying with me on the plane when I head overseas in two weeks. 

Hmm......way to show a weird place in the video YouTube!

Perhaps I'll be brave enough to attempt another video soon, let me know what you think!

I'm going out for tapas now, YUMMM! xx

Tick It Off

As I slowly loom closer to my 22nd birthday I feel I am perhaps more inclined to think about my interests and what kind of direction I would like my life to take.  I've been thinking a lot about what kind of things I can involve myself in to achieve a sense of growth and self exploration in my life.

Here are a few things I have been considering.

Volunteer:

I have wanted to start volunteering for the longest time, specifically with one organisation which I have an interest in starting a career with but it has proven to have the worst communication system in the history of the world so my efforts have been fruitless.

Instead, I recently started volunteering for a program called SAIL ( Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning) which provides free english as a second language tutoring to primary and secondary students. There is a growing Sudanese community in my local area, so a program of this type is extremely valuable. It's run on Saturday morning which means I don't have to schedule it around work and so far it has been a fantastic experience with some really great kids. It is run in both Sydney and Melbourne so if it sounds like something you'd be interested i suggest you check it out!

Attend adult ballet classes:

Have wanted to do this for a few years now but haven't been able to find anywhere close by to home/work. Now I have, I can't wait. I must add I am terribly nervous about the whole idea of dancing in front of a bunch of strangers, not under the influence of vodka sodas in the middle of a club . I thought it would be a great way to add to my physical activity and hopefully when I get the basics down pat, fun!

Get a tattoo:

OK I guess this doesn't really count but I have been Google imaging the shit out of tattoos this week so it is fresh on my mind, ha ha.

I'm considering I am doing this while I am in NYC, just to add to the thrill of getting my first tattoo by doing it on the other side of the world.

Travel:

I think I bang on enough about my upcoming trip ( 6 WEEKS TO GO!!!) that you'd all know I'm about to kick this goal off.

Figure out what I'm going to do with my life: 

Le sigh..... a work in progress!

I should add that this little blog has been fantastic, sometimes my brain feels so blergh and stale, it's great to come here and write about anything and everything and even better that you lovely people read it !

Have you got something you have always wanted to try? Or are you doing something at the moment which makes you HAPPPPPPPPY? I'd love to know!

Write it Up

I first discovered Typo while on a blogger meet last year. I was oblivious to the fact it even existed.

My how times have changed. I can't even type Typo without experiencing the desire to purchase stationary that I will likely never use.

Whilst looking for a travel wallet the other day I saw this super cute notebook. Is this not the perfect travel journal for my upcoming trip?

I want to do quite a bit of writing when I am away so I have a great read to look back on in the years to come.

Now to keep searching for the ever elusive non-ugly and at least slightly practical travel wallet. 

Suggestions welcome!

Have you ever kept a travel journal?

Byron Eats

Thought I would do a quick post of some of the places we ate at in Byron Bay. Crappy iPhone pics ahead ya'll! Still haven't worked around the embarrassment of taking proper photos ha ha. 

The Balcony Bar and Restaurant

Popped in here for a cocktail after we got some Thai for dinner at the near by Asian Joe's.

I had a lychee caprioska ( I am a total caprioska/ mojito fiend) which was soooo yum but I had to palm the rest off to T as I was driving. BOOOoOoO, but on the other hand road safety comes first people!

We got a cheese platter which came with the most crisp green pear in the whole world. All pears should be crisp, not soft! The fig bread and quince paste was delcious too.

T got some sort of Kiwi cocktail which I sipped a bit of and it was so great. When we went back the next day I decided to order one. It was good until I realised that the frothy white stuff was egg white and I couldn't drink it anymore. Does anyone else get freaked out by raw egg whites? Wrong wrong wrong!

We also hit up a dip plate which featured a yum beetroot dip and a hummus that could only be described as 'meh'.

St Elmo's Dining Room & Bar

We seriously ate so much the day that we went to St Elmo's so we weren't even going to get dinner. That was until we remember our lives basically revolve around eating so we went out anyway haha!

So glad we did! I ordered a jamon plate with pickled vegetables. I love jamon and I really loved this jamon in particular. On top of some crusty bread with pickles, it was lovely indeed.

I have a pretty big statement to make. The cocktail I ordered was THE BEST OF MY LIFE! It was called a 'Vanilla Peach Mule' , made with vanilla infused vodka, white peach puree, lime and ginger beer. So very good. I was quite sad indeed that I could only have one.  

T ordered Roast dry-aged Angus rib eye, slow cooked onion, silverbeet, parsley and garlic. He reports it was  amazing. I concur from the bits I tried. T gets his meat done rare which I normally can't handle, but the fact I keep nibbling on some of this was testament to how good it was. 

We ate at a bunch of other places but I'm sorry to sad I didn't take any more photos!

Byron Bay Trip

Have just returned from the most amazing 3 day trip to Byron Bay with T to celebrate our sixth anniversary.

Words cannot describe my happiness! Our accommodation, the weather, EVERYTHING, was perfect.

We stayed at 'Summerhouse' which was the most perfect place about a 10 minute drive out of the centre of Byron Bay. It is a HUGE house with separate rooms and shared common areas. Luckily for us there was only one other couple there who checked out the next morning after we arrived so we had the place to ourselves. The view was absolutely breathtaking ,photos don't do it justice.

Each morning we woke up and wandered out to the common area where breakfast was cooked for us! Youghurt, delicious muslies, fruit salad, hot breakfasts ,coffee on tap and pancakes anyone?!

Sitting out on the deck with a plate of cheese and a glass of wine was heavenly. The weather was so warm , I didn't want to move.

 View from our balcony off our room. 

 If it has been summer, I would have been in this pool all day long.

Apart from driving around town ( we hired a car) we also drove up to the Bryon Bay Lighthouse which apart from being the most easterly point of the Australian mainland, has stunning views. The hike back up the stairs nearly killed us , it got soooo hot. 

Looking out from the lighthouse.

My beloved ♥

Forcing T to take photos of me doing jumps. May have nearly killed myself attempting cartwheels.

 Main Beach, Byron Bay. Best place to sit and eat fish chips and people watch.

 Love you T, you crazy kid! xx

Ode to Winter: I Hate You.

It's cold, it's windy. I'mma be getting up in winter's grill about how it's such a jerk! I know it's not even winter yet but from the day I have to begin a search for hole less stockings to wear to work , it all goes downhill for me. 

Am currently missing these sorts of views.

Fiji last year...wahhhhh.

And fun warm weather friendly activities.....such as KAYAKING!

I want to live on an islandddddd!

Quick breakdown of my hatred for the cold: You get rained on more often, it's dark when you finish work, winter clothes cost more, you need to wear MORE clothes, wearing more clothes makes you feel quite rotund, your feet get cold and no one wants to share a bed with you, salad for lunch suddenly become the WORST THING EVER, you fall asleep with your electric blanket on and sear off half your body etc etc etc. 

I could go on all day.

Are you a summer lover like me? Or do you get all freaky over winter? I'll promise not to judge any cold lovers out there....maybs.