Tag Archives: Retirement abroad

Australia

Sydney Australia Part 3

On our final full day in Sydney we decided to venture out and take the ferry to Manly Island. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our time in Sydney, and the moment we stepped off the ferry, we knew we were in for something special. The ride over was unforgettable in its own way. We had the perfect weather and the ferry ride was smooth and enjoyable.

 

As we left the harbour we watched the skyline stretch across the horizon. We could see Opera House from the water and from that angle. It was impressive. The sails of the opera house were shinning against the blue of the water.

Sydney Skyline from the Ferry

It was one of those views that seemed surreal and photos do not do it justice. 

Once we arrived in Manly, we wandered along the main street, taking our time as we browsed through the local shops, each with its own unique charm.

We saw surf boutiques, handmade crafts, cozy cafés and bars. The whole area was buzzing with energy but had this laid-back, beach-town feel.

We took our time and explored the shops and eventually, we found our way to a rooftop restaurant overlooking the beach. We enjoyed a nice meal and we were lucky enough to get a table with an incredible view of the beach.

View of Manly Beach

After exploring Manly Island we headed back to Sydney on the ferry. Once again we watched the breathtaking harbour views. But our day wasn’t over yet. After getting off the ferry we made our way to Darling Harbour for dinner.  We were in luck because it was the last evening for this dramatic Drone show in Darling Harbour. 

Ray and Shelley at Darling Harbour Sydney

We managed to find an excellent restaurant that had a great table for us to watch the drone show event. 

Our Table at Darling Harbour

This turned out to be one of the best nights of our time in Sydney.  As we ate, a drone light show lit up the sky, The drones dancing over the water in perfect formation. It was impressive and mesmerizing to watch, It was a blend of technology and artistry that left us smiling.

Dinner itself was unforgettable too. We decided to be adventurous and try kangaroo, and to our surprise, it was absolutely delicious. 

We had it paired with a beautiful bottle of Australian wine, it felt like the perfect way to celebrate our last full day in Sydney. 

Kangaroo meal in Sydney

We walked back to our room and the city lights were reflecting across the harbour, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for every moment. Manly had given us sun and seaside charm, and Sydney had given us magic after dark. It was a day a great day.

Tomorrow we are off to a new adventure.

“See you later Mate!”

Australia

Sydney Australia Part 2

We decided to spend the day exploring one of Sydney’s most fascinating attractions, the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium.  From the moment we stepped inside, we were surrounded by an incredible underwater world.

There were huge tanks with schools of tropical fish, some were uniquely different and other with bright colours.

We walked along the tanks looking at these fish and then at one point we felt like maybe we were the ones on exhibit because the fish were looking at us.

Of course, the sharks were impressive. Walking through the glass tunnels with these magnificent creatures gliding silently overhead was both thrilling and humbling.

It’s hard not to feel a sense of awe seeing such powerful animals so close.

We spent time in the tunnels watching the different sharks and stingrays swimming calmly all around us.

It was truly impressive and a little humbling watching these amazing creatures.

We even saw some dugongs which was a first for us. They are truly a unique and different looking creature. The dugong is largely dependent on seagrass for subsistence and lives near coastal seagrass areas. The northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay are believed to be the dugong’s main area of these amazing mammals. 

A dulong swimming in the aquarium.

We came to the penguin exhibit, which was curious to us. We watched those adorable little creatures waddle about and dive into the water. They looked so happy sliding across the ice and swimming effortlessly. They made us laugh at how clumsy on Land they are but graceful in the water.


We saw different jellyfish, they were on display in long glass tubes filled with different types. It was almost hypnotic watching them with their softly glowing colour and gently pulsing through the water. These creatures that looked like something from another world.

Towards the end of our day we came to an area which permitted us to literally pet some of the sea creatures, such as starfish.

Ray touching a live starfish

This was amazing experience, they are soft and quite smooth feeling. We even got to touch and feel Shark eggs.

Ray holding a shark egg

Spending the day at the Sea Life in Sydney was truly a fantastic day. We saw and experienced some amazing things. What an adventure!

Australia

Adelaide National Wine Centre of Australia

Shelley and I spent a wonderful afternoon at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide. It was a great spot for anyone who enjoys a fine wine and a touch of history of the wine industry.

The building itself is an elegant architecture, designed to reflect the rolling curves of wine barrels and the beauty of Australia’s wine-growing regions.

We began our visit by wandering through the interactive displays that explain Australia’s winemaking heritage. The exhibits walked us through the process of wine from the vine to the bottle.

There was a map which explained the diverse wine regions spread across Australia.

 

We were intrigued by the digital tasting tables, where we could explore information about hundreds of Australian wines at the touch of a screen.

After taking in the exhibits, we decided it was time for a more hands-on experience.

We settled into the area entitled “Wined” its a very cozy and inviting space that overlooks the Botanic Gardens.

There, we indulged in a tasting of several South Australian wines, each one unique. To complement the tasting, we shared a platter of local cheeses and meats. They paired very nicely with the wines.

As we enjoyed our wine, one of the staff members shared a bit more about the centre’s history. The National Wine Centre opened in 2001 as both a tourist destination and an educational hub dedicated to promoting Australia’s wine industry. The centre gave us more of an appreciation of Australia’s remarkable wine culture. The combination of history, taste, and atmosphere made it a great experience.

“Life is meant for good friends, adventures and wine”

Australia

Perth, Australia

Shelley at the waterfront in Perth

We started our adventures by flying with a direct flight from London Heathrow to Perth Australia. The 17:30 hour flight was a tad long but it actually was nice knowing when we landed that we were there.  


Perth’s city centre is a mix of sleek glass towers, modern buildings and older heritage buildings which was quite interesting. 

We found ourselves slowing down often, pausing to look up and take in the architecture that gives Perth its unique character.

We noticed that there were lots of statues and unique features almost on every corner.  So of course Ray had to interact with some of the statues.

We took a day and decided to explored and enjoyed the beautiful weather. We walked along the waterfront of the Swan river and this quickly became one of our favourite spots.

 
View of Perth from the shore of the Swan River
walkway along the Swan River in Perth

The waterfront is awesome with well manicured plants, trees, and walking trails. From there  we headed on a short bus ride to the Botanical gardens.

What an amazing spot, the gardens are nestled within Kings Park, overlooking the city skyline and the Swan River. 

Shelley at one of the many look outs in the Botanic Gardens

It covers 17 hectares, and showcases more than 3,000 different species of the state’s unique flora. 

We wandered through the paths, and encountered an assortment of plants and flora. The botanic gardens also celebrates the Aboriginal culture.

we walked along some of the interpretive trails that shares stories of the land’s traditional custodians.

That was quite interesting and enjoyable reading about the history of the land and plants. 

We strolled on the paths, stopping to admire flowers and trees we’d never seen before. There were birds singing and flying about.

It was so peaceful and relaxing. It was the kind of place where time seemed to move slower, and we were grateful for that pause in our trip.

We were tired at the end of the day having walked over 15 kilometres, we went back to our room to rest up for tomorrows adventure, wine tasting tour.

“Laters”

 

United Kingdom

Exploring Hampton Wick in London

We went to visit our friends Alejandro and Lorraine in London, and together we took a day to explore the Hampton Wick area.

There’s something magical about stepping into an area where history and nature intertwine so seamlessly. Our day in Hampton Wick,  which is tucked along the River Thames in southwest London, was fantastic.  We explored the rich history of the area and enjoyed sharing the day with our friends Alejandro and Lorraine.

Ray, Alejandro, Lorraine and Shelley in Hampton Court Park

 They were our unofficial tour guides and  showed us this unique part of London It made the day feel like a mini countryside escape in the middle of the city.

We began our walk in Kingston upon Thames with Alejandro and Lorraine leading the way, crossing the Clattern Bridge.

This bridge is the oldest surviving bridge in London. Dating back to the 12th century, it has stood through centuries of change, from medieval markets to modern-day shoppers bustling around Kingston. Alejandro and  Lorraine pointed out how easily this hidden piece of history can be overlooked by people rushing past.

Just a short walk from the bridge, we came to a small fenced in Stone on display. This unassuming stone turned out to be the Coronation stone. It is an ancient sarsen block tied to one of England’s most fascinating traditions.

This weathered stone is believed to have been used for the crowning of several Saxon kings between the 9th and 10th centuries, long before Westminster Abbey became the coronation site.

Standing there together, we reflected on how this simple stone once held kings and the weight of a nation’s hopes. It was one of those moments where Alejandro’s love of history and Lorraine’s eye for detail made us appreciate it all the more.

We continued on and walked into the Hampton Court Park.  It is a massive park area and was once Henry VIII’s hunting grounds,. It is now home to herds of majestic fallow deer.

In the park it was not long before we spotted deer and a lot of them. Lorraine was the first to notice them quietly grazing under the trees, and we all stood in silence, watching their graceful movements.

Lorraine in Hampton Court Park

We took our time and walked through many different areas of the park. We came across  so many deer and they would just simply watch us walk by. No fear from these protected deer.

There is a golf course within the park area and we saw an albino deer standing in the shade as golfers walked by.

There were wide open meadows that felt more like the countryside than in the city.  The whole experience was like being in a nature reserve with deer running freely throughout.

We came across an area known as the long water and at the end is a  great view of the Hampton court Palace in the distance.

Hampton Court Palace

It truly was an enjoyable day and reminded us just how much London has to offer beyond its bustling center.

“Travel and have a good chinwag with strangers”