Cold

My cunning plan didn't quite come together.... Rather than skipping the winter, I skipped some weird extended autumn. The past week it's been minus something, with a max of minus 18 one night last week.

And I love it! It's white everywhere, it's properly cold and it's been sunny most days. People are ice skating on the Amsterdam canals, which I don't recall having seen before in the 10 years I've lived there. In Leiden some cafe had even put some tables and chairs on a frozen canal: al fresco hot chocolate! Now all I can wish is for it to be sunny until Saturday so I can take my camera and capture the wonderful sights.

Country nr 3

Petronas Towers, a photo by Gypsy Saskia on Flickr.

Guess where I am? ;-)

The last day of my hols. One more night in KL before I start my 18 hour journey home. It's a good thing I've been to KL before as I feel incredibly inactive. I start my mornings in the pool, walk to one of the malls for lunch, laze in my hotel room with iPad and books in the arvo and walk somewhere for dinner. That's it. And man, it's nice.

Just taking in the scenes, drinking an iced coffee while watching the world go by and reading are the most relaxing thing. And the food, oh, the food. Bebimbap, Laksa, butter prawns, nasi rames, I've had all sorts of great Asian dishes. Even tried durian ice cream but just like the fruit, it's not for me.

Though I hate malls in the US, I love them here. So many nice cafes, food courts, and Chanel and Dior window shopping is a good way to spend some time. Behaved reasonably well: did some Uniqlo shopping simply because we don't have them in NL, got one of Chanel's limited edition nail polishes and bought Aesop creme that is actually cheaper here than in Oz.

So...last day tomorrow before heading to the airport. If all goes to plan I should be drinking a Melburnian coffee in my Amstie apartment by 7am on Sunday. Nice.

Souvenirs

When I first started travelling, I did the proper tourist thing and bought very generic souvenirs. I still have my Zimbabwian wooden giraffe and my Darwin didgeridoo, but most souvenirs are long gone. These days, I hardly bring anything but food home. When I spent two months in Cape Town in '09 I brought home loads of (desert) wine, as well as chilli garlic peri peri from a winery, syruppy balsamic from another winery and some other bits and pieces. In my bagpack here in Mebs sit a kilo of coffee beans (an ideal Melbs souvenir plus I've run out at home and will need coffee pronto on my return), a bottle of white port from a NZ winery and two desert wines from Victorian wineries. Plus some spices and stuff from a Vietnamese shop in Abbotsford. These souvenirs won't last forever but with every flat white and every cheeky glass of desert wine before bed, I will remember my wonderful holiday. And isn't that the purpose of a good souvenir?

Auckland

Auckland harbour and its Princes Wharf, a photo by Gypsy Saskia on Flickr.

My last day in Auckland already. Time flies! Having a wonderful stay with the most amazing hosts. Brien and Lynn, whom I met in '98, have gone out of their way to give me a great time. Island trip, Parnell, Mission Bay, fancy supermarket (I am a foreign supermarket junkie), nice food all the time, just fantastic. Oh, and I should mention the wine. These people can drink! Great chance for me to try loads of beautiful kiwi wines.

Victoria for the win!

Banksie's ranch on the Peninsula, a photo by Gypsy Saskia on Flickr.

A quick lazy post before I go to New Zealand tomorrow. Victoria has been good to me! I stayed with friends in Carlton North and West Melbourne, made a trip to the Yarra Valley with Em and spent two wonderful days on my mate's ranch in the Mornington Peninsula. I've been to heaps of wineries and drank some great coffees! Boxing Day test was fun, even more so when we won. And I bought two pairs of shoes today (oops...).

Can't upload pics directly from my iPad but there are a few more on Flickr.

Melbourne!!

In about 48 hours I should touch down in Melbs. Fingers crossed I won't have a 60 hour delay like last time. I cannot wait to catch up with my dear friends, spend Christmas in my mate's pub, spend a few days in the G and drink loads of fantastic coffee. Oh, and sun. Sun is good. Woohoo!

London baby

Last weekend was my last weekend in London for 2011. And what a nice weekend it was. The city is so lovely when it's all Christmassy. I stayed with Melburnian friends in Notting Hill, which is an area I've only ever visited as a tourist or to go shopping. Staying there, and being out and about on Portobello Road when the shop owners are preparing for the crowds gave a whole different view of the area. I also finally made it to Primrose Hill, and enjoyed my Saturday morning walk there.

Other than endless walking I caught up with loads of work friends which made me realise once again how blessed I am with the people who have crossed my path in my three years there!

Gail's in Portobello Road before the tourists get there

Christmas music in Peter Jones on Sloane Square

My granola fix and some chocolate