Travel Stories | Expat Life
I did not expect this to happen so soon (or ever!)… but life and friendship are taking me…
…
back to Abu Dhabi!
It will be a quick visit to attend a very special wedding, plus a side trip to Singapore on the way. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on some wedding crafts and celebrating with the happy couple. There might be a few favorite snacks I’d like to get a taste of too!
xo, jill
PS I scheduled a few posts for while I’m gone. See you next week!
Thanks, Rebecca!
xo, jill
From the Hip Friday features photos taken without the use of a viewfinder. If you have a photograph that was taken from the hip you’d like to share here, please contact me!
Believe it or not, this big mango was one of the “big things” I was looking forward to seeing even before arriving in Australia. My friends Shirley and Tom have photos of themselves with the mango, and so does Mike (from a previous trip). I decided that I needed to have one too! So when we had a day to spare in Airlie Beach, I convinced Mike we should drive a few (78) more kilometers up to Bowen.
Yes, it was worth it. I don’t love this photo of myself (it was laundry day), but I have it!
The Bowen Mango was completed in 2002 and is of the local Kensington Pride variety. There seems to be a bit of debate as to whether or not the big mango is upside down. It is displayed with the stem on the bottom, which is how farmers pack the fruit, instead of how it would hang from a tree with the stem at the top. Have you ever wondered what it costs a to build a big mango? $90,000.
Big Thing: Kensington Pride Mango
Location: Bowen, Queensland
Rating: 
(mainly for sentimental reasons)
I definitely wouldn’t mind having a mango that big to eat…
xo, jill
Before arriving in Australia, I heard plenty of stories about all the free camp sites throughout the country. Turns out, that’s not exactly true. Sure, you can sleep in your car or camper van in hidden spots along the road or parking lots… but you’ll be violating the “No Camping” signs that are posted just about every 5 meters. I definitely saw a few people getting tickets for doing just that. After asking at a few information centers, we were told that free camping in much of Australia (mostly the east coast*), is a thing of the past.
However, there are still a few free places** here and there and the gorgeous Johanna Beach is one of them.
Camping at Johanna Beach instantly put me in a good mood. You know how you can sometimes get tired of moving around and having to spend money right and left? Johanna Beach was a nice respite from that. Getting to camp in an amazing location and not having to open my pocketbook? I love it.
We spent our time relaxing on the beach and cooking up a tasty dinner.
Mike and I have done a lot of camping in Australia (70+ nights), and this location was one of my favorites. Just bring your gear, good food, and plenty of drinking water… you’ll be set.
xo, jill
*We met people who confirmed that camping in the west is still mostly free.
**I just came across this website specializing in free campsites in Australia. If you have time to plot out your trip beforehand, it might be helpful.
Continuing on with our Great Ocean Road roadtrip… we headed towards Cape Otway in search of koalas and the lighthouse. We were not disappointed. This is the place to see koalas in the wild. Once we reached a point in the road where several other cars were stopping, Mike and I decided to hop out and get a good look. Of course, my the battery in my camera died after my first photo. Thank goodness for back up point and shoots!
We walked from tree to tree staring at the koalas and taking photos. They are seriously so cute. I especially loved the mama and baby koala. That’s just too much.
Back in the car I started counting koalas as we headed to the lighthouse. I think I lost track around twenty? It’s practically a safety hazard because your eyes are much more interested in scanning the trees than the road. Luckily, we made it to the lighthouse without incident.
As much as I do love lighthouses, paying $18.50 to enter one is a bit ridiculous. We decided to skip the lighthouse itself and took a short bushwalk instead. From the path we were able to see the lighthouse in the distance. Considering it was free, that was good enough for me!
xo, jill
PS. To see some really great koala photos at Cape Otway visit Kristina’s blog here!
Near Lorne along the Great Ocean Road, we decided to stop and check out Erskine Falls. On the way there we saw several people outside of their cars staring at something in the trees… a koala!
Not very much water was coming over the falls, but it was a pretty little detour nonetheless. We also “officially” began the Great Ocean Road this morning, if the archway is to be trusted.
xo, jill
