Touch down.

The first 10 days of our Australian adventure we spent in the cozy Sydney suburb of Manly. Manly is a popular day trip destination for tourists because of it’s beautiful beaches and small town feel. While it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of the CBD, I think it was the perfect place to rest up, adjust, and figure out the important bits (tax file number, bank account, mobile, etc).

We felt very fortunate to be able to stay with one of Mike’s friends from teachers college because Sydney is expensive! (Manly actually has some of the highest real estate in all of Australia.) Plus, it’s always nice to see a friendly face when you’re new to a place.

xo, jill

3 flights later.

Hostel style.

It’s Thanksgiving in Canada today. Of course, we couldn’t let the holiday pass without a little celebration. (I love celebrating two Thanksgivings!!!) It definitely wasn’t as cute and polished as the last two years (here and here)… but I think we did a pretty good job with what we had.

A friendly Canadian, Elizabeth, joined us for dinner which consisted of…

A “little turkey” aka chicken for them, pumpkin soup, salad, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and apple crisp. Pretty delicious. Now let’s just hope the hostel thief we’ve encountered lately doesn’t make off with the left overs!

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada…all the way from Newcastle, Australia.

Looking forward to America’s turn in a few weeks!

xo, jill

Hostel style.

It’s Thanksgiving in Canada today. Of course, we couldn’t let the holiday pass without a little celebration. (I love celebrating two Thanksgivings!!!) It definitely wasn’t as cute and polished as the last two years (here and here)… but I think we did a pretty good job with what we had.

A friendly Canadian, Elizabeth, joined us for dinner which consisted of…

A “little turkey” aka chicken for them, pumpkin soup, salad, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and apple crisp. Pretty delicious. Not let’s just hope the hostel thief we’ve encountered lately doesn’t make off with the left overs!

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada…all the way from Newcastle, Australia.

Looking forward to America’s turn in a few weeks!

xo, jill

A little Australian update.

A few people have been asking just what exactly are Mike and I planning to do in Australia. Well, so far we’re not quite sure!

We spent our first week outside Sydney staying with friends in Manly. The second week we traveled up the coast and spent a few days in Newcastle. Right now we’re in the small town of Bellingen with plans to move further north in the morning.

After that… still working it out!

xo, jill

PS You can follow me on Instagram! Username: cox_jill

I’m glad to report that Mike and I arrived safely in Australia about 5 days ago. We’re staying for now with a friend of Mike’s in Manly, which is right across the harbor from Sydney.

So far we’ve been setting up our bank accounts, applying for a tax number, and enjoying the sunny but chilly weather. As I had been warned, the internet situation could be better. That means you might not be hearing from me as frequently as I’d like, but I’ll do my best.

xo, jill