Hey babes!
Guess what?! While you are reading this my butt is on a 24hr flight back from Sydney, via Hong Kong, to Amsterdam!
I am so super grateful for the time I have spend down here. The amazing, mind-blowing people I have met (you know I’m talking about you!), the stunning scenery I have enjoyed, the things and opportunities that have unfolded and, last but not least, the many many things I have learned. Australia forever holds a special place in my heart.
But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. And I agree, and don’t think this is a bad or sad thing. Though I do have a tendency to try so, holding on to good moments doesn’t do you any good. Neither does reminiscing. (Says she who takes 200 photos every other day. What can I say my memory sucks!). Instead, focusing on the positive and the now is a good way to feel happy, instead of sad. In honor of that I made a little tribute of things that I loved about Australia, but also made a list of the things I love about Holland (Amsterdam in my case), and can’t wait to get back to.
Things I Love About Australia
- The climate
- The ridiculously stunning beaches everywhere
- Coconuts in every (regular!) super market
- Tons of trendy veg/vegan/organic cafes and restaurants
- Exotic fruits
- Being able to swim in the sea at 8am during spring
- 15m walk to the beach, 15m walk to hilltops with a killer view
- Outdoor yoga!
- The accents (ozzie, brittish and, my favorite, a mixture thereof)
- Nice, friendly people all around
- The nature
- The animals
- The climate….
- Hills, mountains, inclines
- Trendy suburbs with tons of veg/organic places
- The MAD sunsets
- Cool wildlife (wallabys, kangaroos, cockatoos, cuckabarras, lizards, water dragons, possums)
- Soy Chai lattes in every cafe
- Did I mention the climate?
Things I love About Holland
- Christmas during the winter
- ‘My’ park (aka Vondelpark)
- Grapes in every super market (and for a normal price…)
- A small community of people genuinly interested in plant-based & organic diets, not just because it’s trendy
- Lots of organic supermarkets/health food stores
- Being able to go set foot outside your house during the day in summer (and not spontaneously burst into flames…)
- 15 m walk to… everything but the beach
- Great diversity of cultures
- People not afraid of bluntly speaking their minds
- City life
- The bikes!!
- Fresh mint tea in every cafe (healthier than chai lattes :p)
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Great pics! Where exactly have you been to in Australia? And your pics really want to go to Amsterdam again (I’m living in Germany – hi neighbour!). The most beautiful/interesting parts in the world so far:
- New York
- Tokyo
- Berlin
- Cambodia
- Luang Prabang
- San Francisco
Hi Sonja, I visited Sydney, and some small towns here and there outside Sydney (Berry, Mullum, Byron, Bellingen). So jealous- I really want to visit Cali/SF asap!
I am so glad you enjoyed Australia! I’m an American ex-pat who lives in Australia, and I must say that I think you were spot on with a lot of stuff on your list, even though I live on the other coast (in Perth!). One thing I have to disagree about is the accent though! I do love the Aussie/British hybrid accent because that’s what my husband has, but I can’t stand SOME Aussie accents – west Sydney in particular! Anyway, welcome back home, just in time for a winter Christmas
This is my first time visiting your new site – it looks great!
Hahaha well OK the real Ozzie accent (think: Crocodile dundee) is maybe a bit too much. But its fun nonetheless!
Thank you & welcome! Can’t wait to get to visit Perth one day too!
Hey girlie!! Welkom teruuuuuuuuuug!!!:)
Looks like u had a blast there, australia looks awesome, can’t wait to go there!!
Most beautifull places in the world so far hmmm:
-Tuscany
-Yosemite national Park
-Yellowstone national park
-Lake powell USA
We’re probably goign to the east coast next summer ( Chicago- Toronto-Niagara- Boston- NY,…) SO excited about that!!!
What I love the most about living in Belgium:
- Great culture, very cozy and charming cities
- Bigger houses and appartments than in Holland
- Awesome shopping and fashion in Antwerp
- the chocolate :p
- Speculoos
- Christmas IF it’s snowing
- Awesome food ( except for the lack of vegan-raw-vegeterian dining)
- bakeries
blij dat je terug bent!!
xxxx
Most amazing places? Bali and Prague. Love your pictures! I lovr color explosions and it seems so do you.
Wow, I want to visit Australia too someday, it looks like heaven on earth
My most favorite places in the world, that I have seen so far:
1. New York City (LOVE LOVE LOVE)
2. Greece (especially Santorini, so beautiful)
3. Tuscany, Italia
4. Paris
5. Prague
And the stuff I like about Holland and my hometown
1. The icy winter > great to bust out the hats and gloves!
2. Pepernoten
3. Beachpavillions in the summertime
4. Koninginnedag!
5. Watching soccer in bars together with your whole town
Haha awesome reply! I too LOVED nyc, and I always rave about prague to anyone who wants to hear it haha. I went to Kos, Greece, last summer and it was stunning. Paris is a classic. Oh and I am eating pepernoten as we speak
.
Coole post. What I love about holland:
1. Rotterdam
2. Amsterdam
3. The directness of the duchies
4. Koninginnedag
5. Diversity of cultures
6. When it’s raining and you are all wet, going home taking a warm shower and enjoying a cup of tea in front of the heater
7. A cold clear winter day with the sun shining
8. my friends
9. biking
10. hagelslag and many things more
Most beautifull places I’ve been: Paris (my nr 1), Edinghburg (looks like a fairytale city), Istanbul, Nice, London and a little village in france called St. Pierre le Vieux.
xxxxx
And I am happy to have u back. Because I did miss u a lot. xx
Welcome home! Thank you for sharing your trip, looks like you had an incredible experience. Gorgeous pics too! I especially love the flat looking lizard and the kangaroo, so sweet!
Australia is my most favorite place on the planet and I really try to get down there every year. Luckily, Sydney is only a 9hr flight from Hawaii
Aloha!