AUSTRALIA

Australia was always a place I wanted to visit. The stereotypical koala and kangaroo images alone, just bring back childhood memories of wanting to venture to this far, oceanic continent. I guess the great distance definitely plays a part here. It is the chance to go beyond. Cross all those countries and be somewhere completely new, that I did not yet had the chance to discover. 

As in most cases, my journey started out in Sydney. Landing at the Sydney airport went smoothly, then I quickly purchased my first Oceanic Acai bowl and focused upon making my way to Bondi. It was going to be our base for the next couple of days. I did not want to stay so much in the city itself, but rather feel the beachside vibe.That is what I wanted to experience. I usually book my accommodations via booking.com or airbnb. This time I found a perfect beach front airbnb for great value and completely recommend doing just that.

I am not sure if it is because of the ageing process and the fact that I am 25 now, but the time zones affect me more nowadays. However, in the case of Australia it worked out perfectly. By going to bed and waking up early, I think that I really got to experience the "Bondi" feel. At 6 am, you could already see the promenade getting filled with athletic runners and keen dog walkers, whilst the beach was busy with individuals practicing yoga. The healthy lifestyle just pulsates within the little ecosystem that is Bondi. 

Even though Bondi is thought to be quite touristic and filled with backpackers, it wasn't too intense for me and I really enjoyed my time there. November is just before the high season and the masses don't arrive till December. I really recommend going during that time! As it is easily possible to rest and have a great holiday alongside enjoyable weather conditions. Luckily, the weather was perfect when I arrived as all the storms happened just before..and then after I left!

I will be honest - I only went into inner Sydney to see the Opera House as I spent most of my days in Bondi, Bronte and Manly. As most people will say, the Bondi to Cogee walk is totally worth doing. Whether you are running or simply waking, the views are just idyllic and really pull together what this area is all about.

Whilst running the route I found a great cafe in Bronte. It is called The Three Blue Ducks and it has THE BEST AVO on toast that I have ever eaten. If you are a meat eater, I totally recommend trying their bacon roll. Anything in this spot is delicious. My routine consisted of going on a run and stopping by to have brekkie there on the way back - then eventually calmly strolling back to Bondi with a happy belly.

After a couple days in Sydney, I took a plane a little up the coast to Gold Coast where I checked out GC itself as well as the infamous Byron Bay. This place really has this laid back surfer hippie feel that I enjoy on such getaways. Time flows very slowly, people get up early in the am to go surf and you can find acai everywhere. Whilst sharks did not fail to appear nearly every day, I tried my luck with the surf. Easy living, is what I would define it as. In Byron, I stayed at a camping site called 'The Nest' with 'glam' tents. The price was very travel friendly and I did not see the need to spent much more. This camp is just a 5 minute walk to the endless Tallows beach (if you have not seen what it looks like, definitely google it!) that just lures you into its shores. Definitely check out this beach if you venture to Byron. If you go even more Southerly, you'll find even more hidden spots and beaches - with very little other people. Just explore.

During one of the days in Byron, I even made a day trip to Nimbin - home of the Mardigrass festival and supposedly the "weed capital of Australia". I am not going to lie that the trip is not particularly worth taking as the town is a little run down and filled with a lot of 'lost' souls. Even thought the phenomena may be intriguing the journey through the beautiful hills was far more interesting than the actual destination. The bright green colours completely captivated me during the drive, which was just an hour long.

One thing was certain, I could not leave Australia without giving a Koala a little cuddle. Whilst I was on my way to Brisbane, I quickly stopped off by the nearest sanctuary. In my case it was Currumbin - it had good reviews, so I gave its go. As much as I never support these sort of tourist activities, it has always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to go to Oz and hold one of those guys. Apart from the fact that I was met with THE most stereotypical US tourists there it all went smoothly. On top of this I also got to see some kangaroos which were also impressive.

Next and last up was Brisbane. As out of that airport I was going to fly to the South Pacific country of Vanuatu. To me, Brisbane was just another busy city. I really feel like most of the big Australian cities that I have seen just remind me of their American counterparts. Therefore you can imagine that for me it was the chilled beachside towns such as Coolangatta that truly stole my heart. However, watching little toddlers training water safety with their parents in Sydney also was something that defined the lifestyle here for me. No can deny that Australia is definitely a place of nature, quality family time and good breakfasts!

MY MUST DO'S

- Indulge in the delicious avo on toast at Three Blue Birds in Bronte. The meat eater alternative - bacon roll - highly recommended it    too as it was insane too.
- RUN the Bondi to Coogee walk
- Look for unique clothing/jewellery/cosmetics in Bondi beach - I loved the boutiques and the attention to detail in aesthetics and design
- Definitely visit Coolangatta in Gold Coast
- Byron is a must, the laid back hippie vibe just pulsates through this small coastal town
- Avoid Nimibin, nothing to see there apart from some old crack heads (I think the years of glory for the this "weed" village have passed")

Top 6 Magazines

In the recent weeks I have been reading a lot - whether it is a book or these magazines I have put netflix aside and given much more focus to things that lie beyond the black screen. I cannot stop reading the following magazines and I just love it. I have gotten so much inspiration as well as information from the titles I will name below. I cannot deny that their aethestics, visuals as well as the graphic content really intrigued me and definitely contributed to me picking them up in the store. However, the most important part is that as I flipped the pages and read on - it just kept getting better, What I love the most about the following titles is their orginality and the transcendence of the norm as well as the brisk way they are curated - they that fresh touch, whilst still sustaining character. 

Suitcase

If my mind could be put into a magazine - Suitcase would be just it. Everything about this lifestyle issue is just idyllic. From tasteful travel inspirations to freshly fashion ideas, this magazine is curated in the most perfect and effortless manner. The image quality as well as edit is ever so pleasing with the colder tones that seem to rise from the pages and transport you into the world that lies beyond them. Another great thing about this mag is it's size - super handy to when you are on the go or travelling - which after reading Suitcase will be very likely to occur. The locations they find and spots they recommend are uncommon but will definitely appeal to the most picky readers. Yet again, a triumph or aesthetic genius and great content in one! Last practical thought: the small format is super handy, especially when travelling or on the go!

Label Magazine

How did I not know about this one before?! A polish magazine focusing on all aspects of design and what lies beyond it. I really like the fact it caters for both english and polish speakers, making itself accessible to a much wider audience. I feel that design has become the talk of more and more publications as the years roll by. I guess this has something to do with our realisation that design is essential and present throughout all aspects of life, to all of us. Even though we are not all first hand designers, a creative need dwells within us all and there is no denying that there is a little part of us that really appreciates design - we are all creators in some way. Each issue of Label focuses upon a central theme, whether its Women in design or a Japan themed issue - each publication follows a nicely laid out scheme of a Designer.  



New Philosopher
I guess since philosophy has always had a sentimental place in my heart and mind - every time I am in the UK, I try to purchase the New Philosopher. Each issue focuses upon one theme and thoroughly explores related theories and ideologies surrounding such an issue. Most recently, I read the issue that focused upon food and its importance in our daily doings. The New Philosopher is a great starting point for those who were never involved with Philosophy as well as a nice way to keep on top of things for those who are keen philosophical explorers. 

Kukbuk

This issue is published solely in polish - with the title that plays with the polish take on the english word Cookbook. This issue is filled with beautifully curated pages focusing on cooking and lifestyle. I really like the big format of this magazine and how well it is put together. The high quality images make you want to cook straight away and experiment within the realm of your kitchen. I love how recipes in this magazine is closely linked with culture.

Usta Magazyn
This si another polish magazine. First of all, I have to say I LOVE the texture of its pages. The materials used to produce this piece have been well thought through and it will be appreciated by aesthetic enthusiasts. What more, the articles are really interesting ranging from various debates about important current topics, lifestyle or simply food.