Travel Travel Travel

Hi everyone!

I'm on summer vacation in Italy right now, so not much time on the computer, but I have put together a short video on my other blog site here if you want to take a peek.

I'll be back online in a few weeks, but for the meantime, check in with my other blog as I update it more regularly.

Byeeeee

I love this Flight Attendant Video

Also check out my other blog here to see what I have been up to in my latest travels....I just got back from Switzerland and Paris.

Where am I?

Hey you! I am still here, but if you want to know what I am really doing, check out my newer blog here. I am still posting on here of course, but more often at my new one as I journal my Raw and Vegan food adventures more frequently.

Don't despair though, I have an awesome trip coming up this week, so I will be sure to share some travel stories very soon.

And I am also in planning mode for our upcoming summer trip to Albania and Italy, so stay tuned for that.

Come on, come over to the other side at Girl on Raw.

Update from Lil Girl on Tour (my sister)

Check out this marathon letter I got from my little sister K yesterday. I loved reading it! I first wrote about her here.

Hi All,

I am loving this new lifestyle and I’m trying desperately hard to stay in Italy as I don’t want to leave this ‘bella’ country!! I know some of you are aware that I arrived in Milan but I actually live on the coast of Italy at Santa Margherita (2hours by train to Milan) The coastline in Italy is amazing. Where I am staying is very close to France (Nice, the French Riviera), the mountains hit the sea and all the housing is built on the hills. From far away it looks like the buildings are going to roll off the mountain and into the sea. It’s a marvelous view surrounding you especially at night on a vespa.

Basicly my job role is to wake up, have breakfast with the two girls I tutor. Seeing they are nearly teenagers they sleep in till very late (until about 9:30am). That means I can have a sleep in too but my sleep in is until 8am as I get up to have a jog around the Italian beach or countryside. Once they have finished breakfast, we get ready for the beach (if the weather permits).Whilst we put on our sunscreen and wait 30mins for it to sink in, we read an English book. After we have done some English exercises it’s time to play in the water.

I’ve finally overcome my fear of swimming in the water, only because I’ve been assured there are no sharks in the ‘Mediterranean Sea’. I’ve forgotten how fun it can be a child and the games we play in the water are so simple. We are at the beach until 12:30pm because we need to be home in time to shower and have lunch at 1pm.

I am loving the Italian diet as lunch can be a simple rice dish with tomatoes, olives and of course olive oil. Once we have finished that the next course comes which is usually some meat and today brosscino. It is like proscitto but it is beef and it was served with shaved parmesan cheese on top. We always have fruit after each meal and a selection of stone fruits and cherries is what we’ve been used too. After lunch is my two hour break as I am not required to start again until 4pm.

At the moment I’ve been trying to find sufficient internet as Italy seems to be non existent when it comes to internet. I’ve finally found some wireless internet in the main park in Santa Margherita which is at the front of the beautiful coastline. Or I’ll sit in my room and keep practicing my Italian as I hope to have a real Italian conversation with a local in a couple of weeks.

Once I start back at 4pm the girls have just finished their school homework. Yes Italians get homework on their summer holidays because they get 3 months off for summer not like Australians with only 6 or 7 weeks off. So the girls are quite drained from that so we go outside for exercise. We usually just walk around town and they ask me about boys. I shouldn’t have said this but I mentioned that Robert Pattinson from ‘Twilight’ is attractive and now they keep telling me my heart is breaking for Robert or am I thinking about kissing Robert and so on. These girls are like the little sisters I’ve always wanted (as my family remembers, I wanted to swap my younger brother for a girl when I was 3 years old). The12 year old loves running so she forces me to jog with her which is really a good thing.
I finally made friends with the locals as there was a little hiccup to start with. I meet a boy called ‘M’ who asked me to go out with his friends. Being a little naive and with his broken English (Italian’s don’t speak very good English compared to other European countries) I thought we were going out with him and his friends. He thought it was a date as I was clearly not interested in him. I went out with him and he introduced me to basically everyone around our age in Santa Margerhita. It was a wonderful night though as he took me too my first discoteque which was overlooking the Italian coast. The sight was absolutely gorgeous and I can’t wait to go back!! After that evening he dropped me home and I texted him, ‘thanks for a great night’.

The next night I went out with a British Nanny I met and we get on really well. She had to leave at 12:30am and people don’t start going out in Italy until 11pm (so the night was very early). As she left I bumped into some people ‘M’ had introduced me to the night before. This time I met them they had a New Zealander with them who spoke fluent Italian and English. Perfecto!!! I hang out with them whilst A, (the New Zealander translated most of it). I found out that I had a lot I common with L as we were chatting about bands we like (with the help of A of course). He mentioned that ‘Mars Volta’ was his favourite band and I’m like ‘Oh My god they are mine too, I’ve seen them 3 times’. After we finished partying L asked if we could catch up tomorrow and I gave him my number.

The next day L called me and we arranged to meet at the Cinema. I thought he was going to take me ‘Transformers’ but we did was so much better. We went out for appertivi which is like drinks and antipasto before dinner. He had a notepad as he found it easier to understand some words and that if we wrote it down and my phrasebook was a lifesaver (the Italians find my phrasebook hilarious as there is a page about sex and the always try to say things in English when we’re out drinking). After appertivi we went to dinner at a restaurant and L bought me my first pizza. He was very happy about that. Although we couldn’t speak English it was surprising what we discussed. He asked about Australia and knew that we were all convicts (hehe) as he asked if that was true. He asked about the aboriginals and we discussed their suppression and he also knew about the hole in the ozone layer. The one thing I’ve noticed about Italians is education is very important and their schooling system is a lot harder than ours. L is studying psychology and communication at Milan but hopes to become a journalist as he loves writing.

After dinner we went for a walk along the coast still talking music and indie films as we big fans of films like ‘Donnie Darko’, ‘Lost in Translation’ etc. The funniest thing he said all night that ‘It was weird how he’s studying communication but he can’t communicate with me properly’. It was a good night and the most interesting time out I’ve ever had with someone. Who would have thought I’d be communicating with someone through a notepad.

The next night I met Lorenzo and his friends out for apperitivi and they had a friend there G who could speak fluent English and Italian. Due to my naivity once again and not realizing that Santa Margaherita was a small town. M had phoned up L angry that him and I had been out for dinner. They have known each other since they were 2 years old. They are not best friends but know each other. I didn’t realize I’d done anything wrong but they told me not to worry. The good thing is L has gone to Milan for the week so hopefully this all dies down. Everyone has told me to worry because M is strange.

I went out last night with L’s friends and have met more people and a lot of girls now. It’s great as everyone here is so welcoming so I’ve got a little crew I can hang out with. The best thing about it is it’s forcing me to learn Italian because most of the conversations I can’t participate in. I could have taken the easy way out and just found all the English people but I’m glad I’ve persevered and am hanging out with Italians. I don’t want to go to the UK and I’m really thinking of nannying in Milan. I could get a part-time nannying live in job and teach in English speaking schools as there is a need for them.

I miss you all and will let you know more interesting adventures as they occur!!

Ciao
K (lil Girl on Tour)

Look What I Made the Crew for Lunch Today!

Look what I made the 3 Carnivorous Air Crew on board for lunch today....(and one for meeeee!)

They polished their plates clean before I even had a chance to finish munching on mine...perhaps it was because I was talking too much hehe.

Two of the guys still wanted Feta, but for mine and one other pilot's, we had 100% RAW & Vegan.

One pilot asked, "now when I want to order this for lunch again, what do I ask for?"

I told them to tell Becci (if she is their Flight Attendant next up) that Robyn makes the best salads. Knowing how competive Becci is with her food creations, it would guarantee them a wayyyy better lunch. Hee hee. Let the competition begin.

Oh and check out this Birthday Cake Becci slaved in my kitchen making yesterday and today. Her kitchen is still lacking a few Gourmet Raw tools and she fell in love with my (ahem, ok my man's) Vita Mix Blender. Seriously, this cake was the best thing to come home to after being away for work on my birthday night last night (boo hoo). Oh that and the animals oh and of course the man ;).

This cake was AMMAAAZZZING! Can you believe not one animal was hurt in the process and it is completely RAW. Becci and I have been giggling all night though after sharing just one slice. Hmmm Carob and Cacao must make you high!

Here you go! Try a slice?

What do you think some of the ingredients might be?

Lil Girl on Tour (introducing my sister)

My baby sister (ok she is 26) has taken the plunge and decided to pack up and check out what the world has to offer. I got a mysterious Facebook message 12 hours after she left home last week, to say she had been isolated in Hong Kong airport, with suspicions she might have Swine Flu. She couldn't call but only had access to the Internet, so you could imagine my reaction. I was beside myself. A week later (today) and I finally get this group email from her:

Hello,

I have finally made it to Italy but there were a few hurdles before I got here. I left Brisbane, arrived in Hong Kong 9 hours later feeling clammy and had a sore throat. I got asked by customs if I had any symptoms of swine flu, I just mentioned that I had a sore throat. Thinking that it wasn’t going to be a big deal (as I didn’t have all the other symptoms), they took me away to where a group of people were sitting with numbers. They called mine out after about an hour as I had no idea if they were going to let me walk (like many I had seen) or put me in quarantine.

I was told I had a high temperature and that they were going to take me in an ambulance to the hospital to check if I have swine flu. They put a big sign on my room saying ‘waiting for ambulance’. As I waited I got onto my laptop, luckily there was free internet and got through to (my sister) who got mum online and I let them know what was going on. I was surrounded by people covered head to toe in protective gear thinking that I had swine flu and could infect them.

By the time the doctor saw me at the hospital he told me that I’d have to stay in Hong Kong for two days to receive my results. I told him that I was leaving for Italy the next day and he said that’s unfortunate but he couldn’t help me. I frantically rang my travel insurance to see if I was covered by this and they told me I would only be covered if I have swine flu (as after two days of staying there I might not have it). To change my flight was going to cost me another $1200 and this was beginning to turn into a nightmare. Eventually they did the testing and then let me go. It was another doctor who had released me from hospital and she told me that I should have information tomorrow if I have swine flu. I asked her what time she would call me and she said that they’ll only call me if I have swine flu. That was really strange so I decided then and there that I was going to the airport no matter what and if customs stopped me I must have had swine flu.

My idea worked and I got through customs with no problem but customs asked if I had two passports as they saw both and the only thing he mentioned is that I like to change my hair colour. I was still nervous as I waited for my flight. I thought that some people from customs would come and grab me and say come with us. But in the back of my mind I also thought they’d be happy to get rid of me if I did have swine flu. The only time I felt secure was when the plane was leaving for take off. I made my flight to Zurich, Switzerland virtually no turbulence, fantastic!!

I arrived in Switzerland and then had 50mins to get to my connecting flight to Milan, Italy. I didn’t realize but the flight from Zurich to Milan went directly over the Swiss Alpes. I was very much a tourist during my 40mins flight to Milan as everyone seemed quite bored with the scenery (having seen this numerous times) whilst I took lots of pictures out the window. I was also very tired but knowing that his marvel was underneath me was enough to keep me awake.

I arrived in Milan and changed clothing as the weather was quite hot. When I stepped off the plane I knew I was in Italy as the people are fashionable and beautiful. The people are very hospitable and some helped me when I had trouble with my luggage. As I bought my ticket the good looking ticket sales men noticed that my passport was from Australia. He started asking me about Australia, telling me he has family over there and would like to go. I had to stop chatting and quickly board my train as it was about to leave. I had another good looking man help me with my luggage as I boarded the train. We started talking and he also just flew from China. He is a fashion consultant (I don’t know what that means) and also lectures at a Milano University teaching fashion business. We had a great conversation and he gave me his card to keep in touch.

Once I arrived in Milano, Luigi (a friend of mine) came to pick me up. He knew my schedule and walked me to my job interview and took all my luggage back to his house. I had the job interview for a school in Milano as I’ve been assured that’ll they be able to get me work at any school there, the only problem is it’s not as much pay is in the UK. I’ve got the next two months to decide whether I want to live in this beautiful country and learn such a romantic language or earn good money in the UK and come visit this place. It’s going to be a very hard decision as I’ve already fallen in love with this country’s culture and customs.

After my day in Milano with Luigi I boarded a train which he had arranged for me (very hospitable) to Santa Margherita. I arrived and met the new family I will be working for. They are very lovely people and I feel I’m spoilt as all I do is provide English lessons for the girls, take them to the beach and out to other activities from Monday to Friday. I have all day Saturday and Sunday off plus Wednesday and Friday nights off as well. All my meals are provided as they are cooked by Elena the girls mother. And the meals are absolutely beautiful, traditional Italian cooking!! The food here is so fresh, I’ve never been so excited to eat fruit before. Today is Sunday as I’ve just been to the beach, read some of my Heath Ledger biography and I’ve come back for lunch where I don’t do anything. I rock up, have lunch, then I can do what I want. It is hard to take in that this is my job as I do feel obliged to help but usually am told just to sit down.

Family is very important to the Italians and I can see that with the family I live with. Their mother stays at home and provides for the girls whilst their father works full time. Their father works in Milano and comes here on the weekends (which is my time off) to spend time with his family. The girls are very courteous and seem to have a great relationship with their parents. I have not experienced the typical Italian male that I’ve been warned of and I wonder if people over exaggerate. The typical Italian man I’ve noticed is very in love with his partner and seems to be quite generous. The men I have met have not been sleazy but very polite, generous and very attractive!! This place is full of beautiful men and women!! I really feel I’ve found where I belong hehe, it’s going to be a hard decision about where I want to live.

Miss you all and if I do decide to stay you should come and visit this magnificent place!!

Speak soon

K (lil Girl on Tour)

Santa Margherita

PPP and I are hoping to meet up with her on our upcoming holiday to Italy (remember I just came back from Rome and am planning a return for a holiday???) and hopefully get to enjoy some time in her new home of Santa Margherita.

My new Bloggy blog

I have a new (ish) blog. It has been months in the making but I can finally launch it and I am really excited.

As each day has become more Raw Food focused, I thought it best to make a new blog dedicated just to it! I have quite a bit in store and so much has been happening with regards to this, so if you are at all interested in your health, and want to find out what the hype is with this Raw business...pop on over here:

www.girlonraw.com

I will still be maintaining this blog, as of course I am still doing plenty of travel, but come on over and check out what I have going on over here too!!!

Look forward to seeing ya!!!

Travel Review: Beirut, Lebanon

Time for another Travel Review!!! After my stop in Rome recently, I made it to Europe of the Middle East; Beirut. I loved it. Having been on the IT list for a while now, but never having either the guts (yes it still can be a turbulent country having died 1000 times and revived 1000 more, especially with upcoming elections, you can never be too careful) or the opportunity to visit in the past, it came up recently as quite a surprise.

Three days in Beirut, staying at a beach/city resort was perfect. As the summer starts to heat up back in my home, it was nice to escape to a moderately cooler climate, just before peak season kicks in.

The first evening was spent getting to know Beirut’s mid week nightlife (which at midnight is not that great mind you). Allowing our cab driver to take us to wherever he thought best, we ended up downtown at a lovely little club called Taboo, playing a combination of 90’s R&B hits that we recognized and Lebanese pop hits which of course we didn’t. Not sure if we were being ripped off by the bartenders (as we gave US dollars and were given change in Lebanese Liras) or the duty free tequila we'd had in the hotel room before hand had caught up with us, we decided to call it a night around 3am, to ensure we didn’t waste too much of our following day.

The weather didn’t disappoint, with a poolside salad lunch and couple of cocktails to help ease the slight headache from the night before. Ideas of traveling inland soon abated when we realized it was 6pm already and once again time to find a place to eat and drink.

Gemmayze strip in downtown Beirut was our first stop, with finding a place for dinner and wine my idea, but PPP happy to find a hip cocktail bar, whichever of the two we came across first. He won this time, and we settled on Gem, which the bar tender told us is short for the Gemmayze tree which is what the area was famed for, with the plant growing only in that region of Beirut. He spoilt us with a few different delicious cocktails, and realizing we had missed dinner, I settled on some bar bites.

Al Amin Mosque

Walking down Gemmayze street a little wonky from our delish cocktails I was confronted with the most magnificent sight. The Al Amin Mosque. So overcome with it's beauty I had to take a moment and sit in the car park just in front to take it in. After a short while we were all of a sudden aware of the sound from the boom boom room to the right of the mosque. Flashing lights from what appeared to be a rooftop open air bar at the top of an 8 story building. We were drawn like the rats in the pied piper story. On arrival at the red carpet entrance on the ground floor we were amazed at the designer dressed peeps sprawled out on the sidewalk looking us up and down in our clearly not dressed up enough duds. Hey we were travelling. But yeah I did feel a bit skanky in my T-shirt dress and gold flip flops. Note to self, next trip to Beirut, pack the Prada (oops I don't own Prada). Clearly we were not going to be allowed in by the burly bouncer, so I smiled and asked which club it was. He responded 'White'. This is the hippest club in Beirut.

Buddha Bar

Never to be discouraged, we decided to head off to find our own cool club, and settled on Buddha Bar. Although it was uber quiet being a Thursday night, the top floor still had a group of at least 12 locals and the bar was still serving. I knew they were locals because every Arabic song that would play, PPP and I would take a drink break and sit back down at our table and witness some elaborate hip shaking and with every western dance hit that we recognised, would ensure a break from our neighbous and we'd show them our thang. We even danced some salsa which made PPP's night!!! Buddha Bar had a great 3 or more levels, an massive Buddha that every floor had a perfect view of and fantastic music, so would of been great to see it packed out on a weekend!

The next day was a recovery in room day, with room service and in house videos til PPP had to take his flight home that afternoon. Did I mention that PPP arrived in Beirut to surprise me on my trip and I had no idea he was coming? Brilliant. He thinks he was being romantic, I think he couldn't let me get one up him on countries I have visited. Just for fun we are compiling a spreadsheet to keep a tally. B wants in as she reckons she will beat us both. That's what she gets for having worked for Emirates . Stay tuned for the competiton!

All in all Lebanon has a great history and beauty, especially if you travel further inland to places like Byblos, but the main advice I was given regarding what Beirut would have to offer, was mainly dining and partying, which I think we definitely touched on. A trip back is definitely on the cards.

Delicious Raw Sushi

Ok, well most Raw Sushi is raw by nature (raw tuna or salmon usually) however I got the idea to make this RAW dish from Fitnessista and trialled it on my fellow FA and pal from London Commercial Airline days, B, after I discovered Jicama at my local supermarket (can you believe it? In the Middle East? I was uber excited.) after a midnight excursion to the supermarket on camp. Here is B trying to find her favourite box of dates to nom nom nom on. I got the recipe for the Tuna part here (second recipe).

So following the rough directions and also adding a bit of my own flair I came up with these rolls.

B (who is also on the Big Fat Raw Experiment with me) loved them more than I did initially but wasn't til my 5th one that I started to actually enjoy the taste without having to smother them in Tamari (wheat free version of Soy). Ideally I should have made a large green salad to enjoy on the side, but we were so excited to trial these mock tuna sushi rolls that we just hoed into them. YUMMO.

After dinner B complained of a chocolate craving. So out I pulled my Cacao Butter (little over it's expiry date so needed to use it up). Having no recipe I basically followed my gut and added a whole heap of Cacao Powder to the butter I slowly melted over a bowl of hot water. I added a touch of Lacuma and once it was all melted, I placed some raisins and dried cranberries into my ice trays and ladled in the chocolatey goodness. 10 minutes in the freezer and we had RAW chocolate pieces. YUMMO. Pretty decadent and not something I would not eat everyday, but just enough to get a taste without too much guilt. Double YUM!

I'm a Guinea Pig

Alongside approximately 170 others on Monday 1st of June I began a Big Fat Raw Experiment.

Whilst the aim of the experiment is mainly for weight loss, I am looking forward to seeing what other great responses to the program my body experiences when the experiment culminates in 10 weeks time.

Check out more here.

Adoptee #2

Whilst Greensies prepares for her two little darlings (and my god daughters) in August complete with double pink pram I am busy about enjoying my own little arrival complete with pink accessories.

How could you not love a face like this!? A mixed breed terrier who was abandoned and requires lots of love but gives lots back in return.

With plenty of volunteers offering to look after her when I have to go away as she has just a lovable and easy going personality. With an afternoon dog walking group meeting close by, I am looking forward to more incidental exercise and meeting other like minded animal lovers. Lucy has already made fast friends with my friend's bigger desert dog, so puppy day care with each of them could also be an option as well.

On the plus side she is a lap dog who is completely toilet trained and fits through my cat flap to go outside. On the down side, I really hope Sam the cat is ok with the new addition to our animal family, but will have to reinforce to him that he really is the Top Cat. So far so good. Sam comes to me for cuddles still whilst Lucy barks him away and they both have lots of fun chasing each other back and forth on the front lawn.

What kind of breed do you think Lucy might be?

Blog Lovin'

Apart from my good old favourites that are in my Blog Roll (yes I read them all!) I have come across some super cool blog sites right now I just cannot get enough of. If you are looking for inspiration check these hot mama's out!

• Fitness Sista - Great food and Exercise inspiration by a sassy hottie from the states. She teaches 6 fitness classes a week and details her meals inclusive of photos and recipes. YUMMO. She will keep your motivation at a high level.
  

• The Flying Mum - another flight attendant chronicling her times on and off the ground.

• The Vegan Foodie - some brilliant recipes for the more conscious of eaters

• Prior Fat Girl - she details here her successes and failures with her weightloss, detailing her workouts and diets.

• Jim Jam Sandwich - my friend and previous housemate from London. All her gifts and cards are hand made with love and she will even make to order (she is for me with all these weddings and births I am expecting this year!). Check out her range, she has some beautiful stuff.

• Real Food Tulsa - Penni is currently running a Big Fat Raw Experiment with over 170 real people as her guineas (I am one of them!) for a 10 week experiment for weight loss. Watch this space.

• Eat Live Run - A 22 year old fitness professional who also love to bake! Check her out!
  

Travelling Raw

About a year old, this article I found online is a great incentive for me to keep it 'raw' when travelling which is mostly a challenge for me. It offers great hints and tips on how to remain on track for those of you who are budding raw foodist's and those of who have been raw for sometime but would like to know how to keep it together whilst travelling. The toughest bit.

Also another great article here by Princess Superstar on one of my favourite RAW dedicated websites where you can also become a member of their social network Give it To Me Raw and connect with like minded individuals. Dhrumil Purohit is the man behind both sites and a very cool raw food advocate at that. Every so often they feature a My Way segment (one of my favourite bloggers from Perth, Casey Thomas was also featured here recently) which encourages the writer to detail their week and include their diet information.

Princess Superstar is most reknown for this club beat (oh how I love it! Takes me back to Ibiza clubbing last year!) and I love her honesty in her journal (she broke a few times, but man, didn't she pay for it!). I also love her tips on how to stick by her 'rawness' although she travels so much; almost as much as me.

Travel Review: Rome

What an amazing city! I knew it was going to be a no brainer, that I would fall even more in love with the entire Italian way of life, even though this was only my first trip to the country itself.

Right on the eve of the mayhem that is the Champions League festivities in Rome where Barcelona challenged Manchester United (and subsequently won!), in a competition that sees an estimated 10,000 Brit’s descend onto the boot shaped country ticket less, hoping to gain entrance to the game on arrival or in the very least a glimpse of what excitement is in store for both supporters. I was grateful we were scheduled to leave the day before the game. As much as I love the game, this recent violent murder in Ireland following a football match is a reminder how clueless the supporters can sometimes be and I am grateful I was able to witness half of this cities football fever without too much of the pain.

Ever since I used to beg to go over to my grandparents neighbour’s house to play with their daughter Giovanna and stay until lasagne dinner and attend my father’s soccer end of season wrap ups at the Italian patriarch coach’s spaghetti nights, I have long held a secret desire to be Italian. Coupled with my frequent visits to the Italian Club as a young adult on their family open days, watching a typical stage father pressure the then Origlasso Twins (now the Veronicas) to sing pre rehearsed cover songs to a back up tape, whilst pushing my sister’s punk band off stage (they were classmates), whilst Italian nonna’s danced with their grandchildren and young teenagers frolicked with their friends around Italian themed food stalls, I sometimes think I was born with the wrong ethnicity.

And Rome did not disappoint. All my wondrous pre-conceived notions of Italian life, people and architecture were correct. This city is truly beautiful. Of course I understand that Rome is NOT all of Italy and in 3 days I was bound to only pick up on so much of the city that it mainly has to offer it’s tourists, it still was amazing. The fashion, the language, the food, the buildings, the style….amazing!

Now whilst I cannot report to have done ANY of the must do attractions (I had promised PPP as we have planned an Italian holiday in August and I am not sure I want to do the Coliseum more than once), I can tell you what I did do which I still feel is typically Italian.

Limon Terraza

• Sat on the Limon Terraza of our city hotel every night with the crew, sipping on chilled Limoncello & local white wine, whilst watching the sun go down over the capital.

Spanish Steps

• Walked and walked and walked (including up the famed Spanish Steps more than once) where everyone just seems to sit and wait for nothing in particular

• Spent wayyy too much money in a ‘typical’ Italian grocery store aimed at tourists, but only because I felt I couldn’t return home without some authentic pasta, sundried tomatoes, pesto, balsamic vinegar and olive oil

• Charmed by the local wait staff that make being rude seem acceptable and actually enjoyable (oh and we had some fabulous service too)

• Love love love the 2 course meal I became accustomed to for both lunch and dinner each day. Usually a spinach or ruccola (rocket) salad with a smaller serving than what you would expect pasta or pizza.

• The Italian Style, describing it just cannot do it justice. Even the women, as they age, still look amazing with their sun kissed skin and lean bodies and I don’t believe I saw them wearing anything but heels, even walking the cobblestone streets, oh and don’t even get me started on the young men, carrying their scooter helmets off to have an espresso in their well cut shirts.

• Oh and yes the scooters. Not very many Vespas as you would imagine, but has definitely left me with the urge to upgrade my little 2 stroke engine and get my Euro style helmet sooner than I had thought. And the miniature trucks I saw a plenty. How do they manage to fit anything (including the driver!) in there?

• Stayed in a very beautiful, but very old, original state city hotel. Very grand (inclusive of marble lion that greets you at the majestic staircase entrance) but also lacking is some modern necessities especially if there on business trip. I am told though this is very typical of accommodation in these parts of Europe.

This trip was made even more memorable by the fact that my current read is Eat Pray Love where the main character, author Elisabeth Gilbert resides for 3 months. I am now onto the India part…maybe I should head off to an Ashram next.

Basically the main tourist attractions of this country for me are still to come on my upcoming vacation in August, but 3 days in one of the world’s most beautiful cities was heaven enough to hook me. I look forward to getting to know you better in a few months Bella!

Hotel: Grand Plaza Rome

Travel Review: Musandam, Oman

Well, it sure has been a struggle to keep up to date with my posts these last 6 months, but who would have guessed it, GoT has been TRAVELLING!

Apart from my annual trip home to Australia recently (more on this later), I had the opportunity to visit a part of the world I may have otherwise overlooked. Oman.

Often I remind myself that one day I will not have such easy access to all the wonderful locations that are basically on my doorstep right now, so I must seize the opportunity to explore these places whilst I can.

Musandam was brought to my attention through a friend of mine, who had recently visited on a weekend trip and highly recommended the tour company we used.

When most people think of a trip to Oman, they think Muscat, but we on the other hand chose to go for the lesser know part called Khasab.

We were greeted at Dubai airport by our own driver, then taken the almost 3 hour drive over the border along the coastal drive overlooking the Gulf of Arabia and the Hormuz Strait. Such an interesting drive with the gradual change from golden sand, to red sand (oxidised as PPP informed me) to outcrops that covered the horizon on arrival to the border of Oman.

Arriving at our cliff top hotel at around lunchtime, we had a couple of hours to spare before our 4WD safari to Jebel Harim (which is the highest peak of the Musandam with views of the Hajar Mountains.)

Our tour guide pointed out Bedouin villages along the way and some fossilised animals.

On our way home we asked for a recommendation for dinner and were taken to the best car park diner in town. So good we went back there for dinner the following night. Don't let the stray cats winding their way around your legs as you sit at communal tables in the car park put you off. They knew the food was just as delicious as we did.

The second morning we were picked up with a group of 8 other tourists (mainly Germans infact), and took a short ride to the jetty where for a small price we were able to hire some snorkelling gear and then herded onto a traditional Omani fishing boat called a Dhow. After some leisurely stops along the way to view fishing villages (most of which only accessible by boat and not road - even the local children have travel to school by boat), interrupted pleasantly by some playful dolphins alongside our boat, we stopped for some snorkelling and lunch. The leftovers of which the local fish ate out of my hands when I jumped back into the gorgeous blue water.

Later that afternoon was spent relaxing by the clifftop pool of our modest hotel, waiting for 6pm to roll around so we could order our alcoholic cocktails (Omani Law dictates that alcohol can only be served between 12 & 3pm and after 6pm). Back off to dinner at Al Sharmalia again then home in bed by midnight.

Our last morning followed a very relaxed style of a brief town tour including a visit to Khasab Fort (now a museum which once stood right at the waters edge only now to be part of a disappointing reclaimed land development with a Carrefour shopping mall to take away to ocean view).

With a few more hours to catch some last rays before our drive back to Dubai airport and our flight home ready for work the next day.

A big thank you to Khasab Travel & Tours for being such wonderful hosts. A locally run company with individualised service and knowledgable tour guides. A word of warning for the faint hearted though. The 4WDing experience did have me white knuckled for most of the time!

Khasab Travel & Tours

DUBAI OFFICE:

P.O. Box 34110, Dubai, U.A.E.

Tel: (+971) 4 2669950; Fax: (+971) 4 2686857

Email:khaztour@emirates.net.ae

KHASAB OFFICE:

P.O. Box 50, Khasab 811,

Musandam, Sultanate of Oman.

Tel: (+968) 26730464 Fax: (+968) 26730364

Email:khastour@omantel.net.om

Baby News (x2)

How does one prepare to be a godmother?

I have been bestowed the honour of god mummy for Greensies' baby girls (affectionately termed Tweensies). She is expecting twins in August and has kindly requested me, along with 3 special others, to play godparents which I am crazy excited about.

This begs the question however (for me at least), in this day and age, what is expected of a godparent??? To be honest, in my limited knowledge, it is a tradition that means that if, god forbid, anything was to come of the child's parents, as godparent you become responsible for the child's wellbeing and upbringing in their place as their guardian. But are there any other requirements other than spoiling them rotten (which I intend to do with or without the title)??? The day I was asked, I couldn't help but pop out to the nearest Gymboree (I was on a training trip in the USA) to buy some pink tutu's and matching play suits for Tweensies which I am just dying to meet!!! Of course it doesn't matter that it will be atleast 2 years before the little ones will be demanding to wear their dress ups for the weekly grocery shop. My only worry, is the other god mummy going to spoil her twin as much as I will mine ;)

We celebrated with a baby shower in the style I am most fond of, High Tea with a glass or 3 of champagne.


Venue: Tisane Tea Room
Location: Fortitude Valley, Brisbane

I need your help? What do you think being a God Parent involves? Anything I need to know in preparation?

An Oldie But A Goodie - I Still Call Australia Home II

This song always gives me goose bumps and even more so with my impending trip back home to the sand land, so I thought it was more than appropriate to share with you. I will never tire of watching it (there are many versions if you haven't seen them check them out on You Tube). Most Aussies away from home would surely relate.

Do I have to go back?????

Edit: Quick Cleanse detox has been delayed due to social obligations I couldn't help but enjoy whilst home. Take II next week; yes I am human!

Quick Cleanse Detox System

Tomorrow starts my 15 day detox. I am really looking forward to it and every time I have done it in the past (this should be my 6th time over the last few years I think) I have never felt deprived and somehow have managed to drop a few kilos whilst doing my digestive system the biggest kindness. This could not have come at a better time. With 3 weeks holiday (2 weeks here in Australia then a short weekend break with PPP back in the Middle East) it should be a breeze, plus I have the luxury of access to some of the best fresh produce here compared to back in the sandpit so I am going to lap it up and enjoy it whilst not having the pressure of work to perform.

The detox system, involves taking herbal supplements throughout the day to assist your bowels, stomach and liver to eliminate toxins as well as a diet of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and seeds and nuts with NO animal proteins or dairy. Although there is not a huge emphasis on the diet requiring you to eat RAW, this time I would like ramp it up a notch and see how I fare with an increase in RAW compared to previous detoxes.

I have always felt amazing after a cleanse of this nature, and have even been known to half a 15 day course with a friend or partner to keep costs down and to give my body a taste of the detox without having to do the full course. Even just the recipes on the manufacturers website are enough to whet your appetite. I'll keep you updated with my progress.

The Other Woman

I am HOME SWEET HOME (Australia) for the next week or so, and it is so wonderful to be back. I think it is the simple things you realise you miss and then appreciate when you have the chance to come home after many years away (like the blue skies, friendly sales assistants, familiar shopping haunts and non existent traffic jams), not to mention the catch up with family and friends.

This trip has been solo however, with PPP left back in the Middle East, but he doesn't seem too disappointed with another lady to steal his affections whilst I am gone. I don't mind although I have warned, she will be kicked to the curb on my return. His response: "Careful, she has a nasty growl."

Introducing Miss Davidson, Harley to be precise. Gives my little 2 stroke scooter a run for it's money.

I am looking forward to getting back to have my turn on her back and after speaking with a friend about her and her partner's Harley trip around Europe a few years back, I cannot help but day dream about our upcoming trip to Italy and how being on the back of one of these could make it very unique, albeit the lack of luggage space.

First things first however. I need to get a hotter helmet than this one!

How Flight Attendants Make Their Day (and Yours) More Enjoyable

This is brilliant! Wish I had this on my Continental Flight from Houston to Savannah couple of weeks ago. Also better than the toilet paper game that used to get played to death on my longer flights on my previous airline. But I used to like introducing the crew as 'Candy, Mandy, Sandy and I'M RANDY' (groan!). Still hearing that one Sky High Boy?????

Enjoy!

London Stopover in February

Can you believe these pictures? Although a little late on the uptake, I thought you might like to share in the delight we had on our 4 day stopover in London in February. With nothing more in mind other than a little shopping, checking out some Raw and Vegetarian restaurants (more about that soon), seeing a West End show (Avenue Q - oh so so funny) and playing catch up with our London friends, we were pleasantly surprised with what Mother Nature decided to bestow on us late Sunday evening whilst we were enjoying a bevvie or two at Prince Albert Hotel in Notting Hill.

Yes this is the afternoon (Winter in London get's dark wayyy early)

Oxford Street the following morning (approx 10am). This is the quietest I have ever seen this popular shopping street. Some shops were closed all day as staff were unable to make it into work.

The boys trying to find a restaurant for our lunch in Notting Hill.

It was amazing how much of a grinding halt the whole country came to with the snow. Public transport was severely impacted (buses cancelled completely), and of course flights in and out were cancelled and delayed. PPP's mate who had come to visit us from Brighton for the day on Sunday wasn't able to leave our hotel for home til Tuesday morning....so much for our romantic couple of days in London together!!! Ha ha.

My blogger and fellow Aussie pal Casey was also impacted by the weather on her trip...we wanted to meet up for a herbal tea but both our schedules were crazy....especially with the snow! Check our her awesome blog here!