Category: Food

Travelling the road of life

TheTravelBee

For quite some time now, I have been feeling uneasy and overwhelmed. It has kind of built up over a few weeks (maybe months) with little niggles and annoyances. Things have been slowly but surely getting on top of me. My mind has felt full and jumbled. I have been unable to think clearly and to remain present in everyday life. I have been racing ahead thinking about what needs to be done, diligently crossing things off and moving forward. All the while, standing completely still in my mind.

Finally I have realised what the problem is…………… or at least part of it.

I have stopped writing.

You see, I felt that the whole essence of my blog was supposed to be about travelling and I wasn’t able to travel. So what would I have to say? My secondary blog entitled ‘Covid Parenting’ seemed equally useless. I mean in reality I have no idea how hard it has been for many parents around the world navigating the challenges of lockdowns, I only had to do it for five weeks!! Again, what did I know, what could I say?

Yet through all this time of writing silence, people have been reading my blogs (The Travel Bee and the old ones from Stressaholics days). I had a hit today on a blog post I wrote almost 3 years ago. I was writing about happiness and satisfaction (Happiness and satisfaction – The Travel Bee). Now three things occurred to me when I saw this:

  1. I have been blogging for more than 3 years!!
  2. Random people actually read my blog (admittedly only a few!).
  3. I actually had a point back then and maybe it would serve me well to go back and reread my own writing! I wrote about finding sparks in everyday life. In reference to my blog I wrote; ‘What matters is that I am doing it, fuelling my spark, and that every time I do, it gives me a little more energy and makes me feel a little more alive.‘

How have I allowed myself to lose that spark?

I alluded in my blog post at the end of 2020 that changing the name of my blog from ‘Stressaholics Anonymous” to ‘The Travel Bee’ may have been a mistake. I had no idea what the world had install for us back then. I wanted to get away from calling myself a Stressaholic because I firmly believed I had moved past that and I still believe I have. However, ‘The Travel Bee’ name has rather restricted me.

Or perhaps I have been looking at this all wrong. I mean what is life, if it is not a journey? What is a journey if it is not travelling? We are all travelling every day. This realisation means I can actually write about anything!

Travelling the road of life

I listened to a wonderful podcast the other day called Happy Place. Fern Cotton was interviewing Robbie Williams. We all know Robbie and his music. We all know he has been through some troubled times but what I took away from this particular interview, is that we are all human and humans have a fundamental flaw. We are never satisfied.

We keep thinking if I just get past this or I just achieve this, then everything will be alright. Of course this is not true because all that happens is we find something else we want! We are in a permanent state of dissatisfaction. To top it off, we forget things! We must constantly remind ourselves of the things that matter, what makes us tick and that we will make mistakes BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN!

It also reminded me that whether we are famous, in high power jobs or the average person going about our day, we face many of the same challenges day in and day out. We have to find the things that are unique to us and feed them in order to make us feel alive and with direction. We also have to realise that happiness is not a constant, it is not something we can achieve and expect it to stay that way forever, we have to work constantly just to feel okay.

For me, writing is an important part of that process and not one I should sideline just because it doesn’t fit nicely in a box or blog title. It is a spark I should fuel, not for anyone else but for me. It doesn’t matter what other people think of it or whether anyone reads it. It matters only what it does for me.

TTB

Canal rocks, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park – WA

TheTravelBee

With social distancing firmly in place and weeks of staying at home, we were in need of a new outing for fresh air. Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, here in WA we have lucky to be able to go out for exercise or mental health purposes as long as you follow the rules. We can only be in a group of two, or in a family group (who all live in the same house) and only within our local area.

So far, we have been for upteen bike rides and visited the same coffee shop almost daily. We are enjoying our new routine, but today being Sunday and a family day, we wanted to break out and do something different.

We jumped in the car and headed to Canal Rocks in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. This has long been a favourite of mine and a place we often visit in winter or on a windy day. Today was one such day. When the swell is large, the waves crashing over the rocks here is nothing short of spectacular.

To get the best view, we like to climb up on the rocks and then sit watching. Little Miss 10 other wise known as ‘mountain goat’ took off up to the top in seconds. Dad scrambled to keep up with her, while Mr 12 and I took our time climbing up.

The colours up there were utterly breathtaking. The red rocks contrasting with the blue of the sky and green of the ocean. The white/grey whisper of clouds enhancing the dramatic outlook. Even Mr 12, the most reluctant of us was captivated.

The visit however, is not complete without a walk over the bridge that crosses the canal. Here you can see down into the water before searching for crabs in amongst the rock pools on the far side. But, be sure to watch for waves! It is not uncommon for waves to wash right over the bridge and anyone standing upon it!

We certainly felt we had a blast of fresh air and were newly invigorated as we headed towards Dunsborough and our lunch. There was only one way to complete an Aussie morning out and that was with a pie. Tas’s Bakery is a favourite of ours for one particular pie……….. the surfies pie. For those that have not had the pleasure of eating one of these, it is a meat pie bottom with a top to die for. This consists of a layer of bacon pieces, an egg and is finished with a layer of crispy cheese. IT. IS. SO. GOOD.

I am sorry but I didn’t get a photo before I greedily consumed it!

Another great day out travelling our local area.

TTB

Crown Theatre and Casino with Tim Minchin – Perth WA

TheTravelBee

For our 2019 Christmas present, we booked ourselves a show package at the Crown Metropol. A night with no kids, dinner and a show. There really is no bigger treat for working, busy parents!

Finally, last night was our night……

We arrived at the Crown at 3:30pm to face a rather long queue to check in. It was hard not to feel a tad disappointed. Dinner was booked for 5:30pm and we had to check out early in the morning, so we knew this was our only opportunity to enjoy the pool. We could see the plans of poolside cocktails slipping away!

But……. we needn’t have worried, the efficient staff chipped away at the line and we were up in our room, bathers on ready at 4pm. We headed down to the pool to a glorious Perth afternoon, a few fluffy white clouds in an otherwise bright blue sky, sunshine and drinks (oh and a lovely crystal clear pool of course).

Although there were no sun-lounges free, we found a comfy spot in the bar area and ordered a mojito each. It was a delicious and refreshing way to start our evening, a little bit fancy but not too sweet or heavy. We sat and chatted to each other. It really was lovely to be able to reconnect without the interruptions of children and every day life. It felt like ages since we really talked and listened to one another.

We had a quick obligatory splash in the pool and headed up to the room with 30 mins to get ready for dinner. Of course, as you would expect, the room was spacious and comfortable with a definite touch of luxury and class, including a complimentary bottle of bubbles on ice.

Complementary bubbles

Metropol is the original hotel in the complex, first built in 1985 but with several renovations over the years, it still looks fresh. Not quite as luxurious as Crown Towers, but slightly cheaper and a step up from Crown Promenade.

We entered The Atrium restaurant in the heart of the Crown complex at 5:31pm (not bad at all, considering what we had already squeezed into 91 mins!). From here it was a glorious feast! The buffet included seafood, Japanese, Indian, Italian, Chinese, and Thai options, as well as a traditional English roast carvery. Mr Travel Bee went straight to the seafood bar as expected.

Seafood bar

I was more conservative, although perhaps it was just pretending and started with a bowl of soup. It wasn’t long though and I was filling my plate with all sorts!! I think for me the pork belly with the divine crunchy crackling was a winner. For Mr Travel Bee it was the Oysters.

Then, there was dessert. The pictures say it all…..

I couldn’t help it, I had to taste them……..

And so….. with very full tummies we headed into the Crown Theatre for a night of entertainment with Tim Minchin. A musician, comedian, actor, lyricist, and director, we had seen him in a few things on TV and been to see his musical Matilda but really didn’t know quite what to expect.

What we got, was an evening that opened our eyes to many many things. Let’s just say he is a tad eccentric and definitely would not be everyone’s cup of tea. But there is absolutely no denying the talent this man has. One minute he is skilfully playing the piano and singing songs about growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, the next lecturing us about the internet and it’s stupidity, then religion and world atrocities, next he was singing about cheese.

We laughed, sang along, sometimes dropped our jaws in shock, laughed again and I have to admit, nearly cried as he finished the show with a beautiful song he wrote for Missy Higgins. Tim is an extraordinary talent who sees the world just as it is……. ever so slightly screwed up (he has another less polite word for it!).

Before we could call it a night and head to our luxury king sized bed, we could not resist a night cap in the Casino itself. This place has always been one of my favourite places to people watch. It is fascinating to see how some people can lay it all out, risk everything, others cautious and calculating. Then there are those just so drunk they have no idea what they are doing.

I followed my previous rules, placing a $50 bill on a Roulette table. It took a bit longer than last time, but I was lucky enough to turn it into $110 before calling it a night, my win covering our fuel costs for the weekend.

This morning after a cup of tea in bed, we were up and off to watch our son play soccer. Although a pre-season friendly, there was plenty of nerves and apprehension but the boys did well with some very encouraging play.

Looks like we will be spending many a weekend in Perth in coming months. Shame not many will be spent at the Crown though (that is unless I win a bit more than $60 on the Roulette table!).

TTB

The Colony Concept – Metricup WA

TheTravelBee

Travel can be gathering a few friends together, jumping in the car and heading out to investigate something new. Living in the South West of WA, I am spoilt for choice in terms of nearby day trip destinations. Here, there are bespoke businesses and attractions opening regularly, not to mention a stunning coastline that provides endless walks and vantage points from which to admire the beautiful Indian Ocean.

My new mission is to get out there and enjoy them….. So this week, The Travel Bee went to visit bees at The Colony Concept in Metricup! This is a new shop/cafe that has recently opened to showcase Southern Forest Honey.

When you enter, you are greeted with an array of honey and honey products. You can taste and compare a variety of honeys from different local flowers and trees. It is quite surprising to discover the distinct tastes of Manuka, Karri, Marri, Jarrah, Forest and Wildflower honeys.

In this well stocked shop, you can purchase honeys, meads, shampoos, soaps, beeswax food wraps, candles, bee keeping equipment and much more.

For me however, the most interesting part was the room next door, the ‘Bee room’. Here, you are able to see inside a hive and discover the real meaning of the saying ‘Busy Bee’. Staff explain how the hive works and the roles of the bees. It is fascinating to watch the nurses, builders and cleaners going about their business. If you are lucky you can find the Queen in amongst all the worker bees and see baby bees emerging.

There is plenty of information about the plight of the honey bee, their importance to our ecosystem and what we can do to help maintain their colonies. You could spend hours here learning about these interesting and crucial creatures.

When exiting the bee room be sure to stop and taste the infused creamed honeys and meads. My favourite was the ginger creamed honey, which I purchased to take home to the family. I wasn’t sure whether the kids would like it, but it turns out Miss 9, Master 12 and Mr travel bee all loved it, it’s subtle ginger taste not overpowering the honey but rather perfectly balancing it.

My friends and I settled out in the alfresco area over looking the dam for a spot of morning tea. I was impressed with all the finishing touches from bees painted on the walls to the bee inspired crockery.

We opted for the scones and a coffee each and were treated with an unusual selection of toppings. Here, instead of just jam and cream, there is fresh butter, apple and cinnamon infused honey, homemade plum jam and whipped cream. The scones were a generous size allowing for them to be cut into quarters to enjoy each different topping.

And enjoy we did! We all had a great morning tasting, learning about bees, enjoying morning tea and some great conversation.

For those with children there is also a nature playground featuring logs and tyres (no plastic), designed by kids. We didn’t try it out but all have kids and agreed it looked pretty good!

A highly recommended south west day trip both for visitors and locals alike. 20 minutes from Busselton there is something here for everyone.

TTB

Combating the holiday blues…. with food!

TheTravelBee

Returning from a holiday always sucks. There is something so liberating about traveling, the feelings of freedom and adventure. When it is all over you can’t help but feel trapped by the humdrum of normality.

For me, this week was tough. The kids are not yet back to school, so it isn’t quite ‘normal’ but it was near enough. There was work, food to cook, washing to do, sports commitments and health appointments to attend. There were big bills too, with the credit card being hit with overseas transactions and a set of braces for my son.

It was all starting to get me down. I had to have a stern talking to myself …….. life is what you make it girl! There is no point sitting at home wishing I was back on holiday. I had to get out the door and do something fun, meet some friends, have a chat and eat some yummy food. Oh and yes ……. start planning the next holiday!

Lucky for me, I had a work lunch scheduled yesterday. We met at a restaurant called Nicola’s on the main street in Bunbury. I was not familiar with the place, having not really visited the centre of town in years, but my colleagues assured me I was in for a treat.

I decided on the ‘market fish of the day’ as I often do (I don’t tend to cook fish often). It was crimson snapper on a bed of Parmesan mash, topped with an olive and tomato salsa. As I was driving, I accompanied this with a glass of lemon, lime and bitters, my go to ‘sober’ drink.

It was delicious. At first I thought it didn’t look all that big, but once I started eating I knew it would be the perfect portion. The mash was indulgent and filling with its hint of cheese, the fish delicate and perfectly cooked. The tomatoes and saltiness of the olives topped it off perfectly, each mouthful pure pleasure.

When I finished I felt perfectly full, not uncomfortable and not needing more. I thought to myself, a coffee would finish things of nicely. But then the waitress informed us of the dessert special for the day…… banoffee pie. Seriously, this is probably the only dessert I can not resist!!

Fortunately, one of colleagues came to the rescue and offered to share one with me. Perfect….. I could try the pie and not feel too guilty about it, I quickly agreed to the deal!

It was amazing with the richest most decadent caramel, topped with whipped cream and sliced fresh banana. A touch of raspberry coulis breaking through for a taste sensation.

As expected, the girls were quite right I had enjoyed a lovely treat. Not only was the food amazing but so was the company. I am the ‘newbie’ at work but they have all been amazing at welcoming me into the team and making me feel like a valued member. I am excited about the future holds with these lovely, kind women.

My day wasn’t over yet. After driving back home and having a little rest, the family headed out to meet some friends at Amelia Park tavern for dinner. I know…….. how terribly piggy of me!

It was so lovely to catch up with friends and get out of the house on a Saturday night. The kids all get on well and we barely saw them as they played on the lawn, from time to time coming in hot and sweaty for a drink or food. We sat and chatted while sipping our cider and wine.

When it came to eating, I had to opt for a salad with lunch still weighing quite heavy! I went for a roast pumpkin, mushroom and halloumi salad which was delicious. Presented slightly different to what I expected, the pumpkin in wedges on the bottom with the mushrooms and halloumi layered above, then topped with greens and crunchy chick peas (which were surprisingly yummy).

I guess home ain’t so bad after all! I just have to make myself get out there and enjoy it. There are so many wonderful things on our doorstep here and it is my mission this year to discover them. From food and wine experiences, to beaches, walks and boating. Look out South West WA, The Travel Bee is coming!

TTB

The best prawn ever!

TheTravelBee

It is funny how we don’t treat ourselves to the pleasures on our doorstep until we have visitors. This week we have family from the UK with us. Six days to enjoy the wineries, beaches, forests, and food, with wonderful company and in this amazing place we call home.

Yesterday, we started with a meal in a very nice winery. Perhaps ‘nice’ doesn’t quite cover it, it is the type to which some people might arrive via helicopter for a spot of lunch. Nestled away in the rolling hills, as you look out from the veranda you see rows and rows of lush green grape vines, in the distance parched hills of brown with black cattle grazing, enormous gum trees and the bluest of skies with just a few wisps of white cloud. With a glass of wine in hand it was heaven and very Australian.

Yet it got better. When the starters arrived I really truely was in heaven. I don’t often write about food but I really wanted to describe these prawns so that I can remember them forever.

There were three large tiger prawns arranged prettily on the plate (of course they were garnished and had a side of greens, the details of which seem completely insignificant, compared to them). They had their heads and tails on but the shell removed from their bodies. Perfectly done with minimal effort for the diner. They were seared in something salty and just slightly smoky, simple yet so tasty. They were light and buttery and simply melted in the mouth. Cooked to perfection.

I had to force myself to eat them slowly and enjoy every mouthful. I was mean. After years of sharing everything with my husband, he got the tiniest of morsels to taste. Yet he agreed with my summation…….. the best prawn I have ever eaten.

One mistake. I didn’t take a photo! But it is probably for the best as you would all be trying to lick your phones!!!

The rest of the meal was beautiful. All five of us agreed. The lamb shoulder that fell off the bone won my husband’s heart, the dessert of chocolate tart and mango sorbet my brother in law’s, the marron my sister in law’s and chicken liver parfait my mother in law’s.

But those prawns…..

The best part was, it was all a gift! My mother in law’s treat for the birthdays and Christmas. You can not beat an experience present, especially one like that. So thank you for a great experience and my best prawn ever!

Let’s see what day 2 of touring at home brings!

LLS

Days 1-9: Glorious food – USA and Canada

TheTravelBee

As we go off the tourist beaten track and head into the Canadian wilderness, I wanted to reflect on the happiness of my stomach!

I had this notion that while on this trip, we would be eating burgers and chips every day. Boy was I wrong. I had completely underestimated the multi cultural background of these giant cities.

From street food (a whole different entity to that which I have encountered in other travels of Asia for example), to Restaurants of all kinds, to hotel breakfasts, to pubs, we have been utterly spoilt.

Now, unfortunately I have no photos of food (shame my sister isn’t with us, she loves to image food). But, I will have a go at describing some of my favourites.

Night 1: Times Square. Shredded Peking Duck crepes from a street vendor. Thick, succulent pieces of duck with plum sauce and fresh crunchy cucumber and spring onion. Teamed with an ice cold beer. Yum.

Day 1: Ellen’s Stardust Diner. Broadway. This place actually didn’t rate that highly for the food but as I have not previously mentioned it, here is as good a place as any. Here we had a traditional American breakfast of Eggs, Bacon and tater tots (kids super happy with that). But, the special bit was the entertainment (another moment when my son’s jaw dropped and his eyes popped out of his head) as the waiters broke into song as they served you. A special highlight was the rendition of Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ (both kids know this song from school and weirdly enough we have now heard it in several different places on this trip!).

This Diner lost 17 waiters to Broadway shows last year, so you can imagine the quality. Was so much fun!

Day 2: Fresh Strawberries from a street vendor in the middle of Manhattan. Juicy, sweet and plump. The family all agreed one of the best Strawberry experiences ever (and we eat a lot of them!).

Night 4: Sbarro. Times Square. Most amazing Italian buffet. Charged by weight this place had yummy bright fresh salads, pastas, meat (including amazing but heavy meatballs!) and pizza. With a glass of red in hand, I was in heaven.

Night 5: Family Restaurant. Niagara Falls. Baby Back ribs and Buffalo wings. My son’s introduction to baby back ribs. He was actually speechless. He mumbled something about why had we not told him about these before!! (Probably because we don’t see them too often). Also a very funny moment here worth mentioning…….. our son asking our waiter if he could please get Dad drunk so he will spend more money in the Arcade!! The waiter thought it was hilarious and did proceed to constantly offer more beer (although Dad resisted!).

Day 7: Poutine. Street vendor Toronto Waterfront. A local delicacy we had previously been told about, fresh cut chips, gravy and cheese curd. Simple but so good (probably our daughter’s favourite). Perfect while sitting on a wall watching a French speaking rock band!!

In addition to all this we have had huge buffet breakfasts (not every day!), sushi, Thai, burgers and chips (had to be done at some point!) Lebanese kebabs, salads, fruit and ice cream!

The next 10 days we actually have cooking facilities so no doubt my skills in the kitchen will not live up to the last week or so. However, the bank account will be grateful for the break!

SAA