The Aussie Expedition

In June of 2017 I'll be traveling across the world to study abroad in Australia. Follow along on my Aussie Expedition! 

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The Australian Food Diaries: Cairns

Cairns is a coastal city and our hotel was practically sitting on the beach, so you’d better believe that I was going to get some good food along the pier. The area around our hotel was overflowing with restaurants, cafes, juice bars, gelato shops, and take away counters. It wasn’t hard to find some really good food spots here!

Bellocale 

Most of us were trying to budget how much we were spending on food, but my friends and I decided to go out and have one really nice dinner while we were here. Our mission was to find a place with two key things: seafood and pasta. We came upon Bellocale, a small but upscale Italian seafood restaurant just a few streets away from our hotel. I got fresh scallops with herb, garlic, and lemon. IT WAS DIVINE. My friends got an assortment of seafood linguine and other pastas and I got to taste test them all. Bellocale does good work, I’d give it a 12/10.

Grill’d

This place is a buzzy burger joint right on the pier that has a variety of healthy burger options, not to mention they donate to charity for every meal ordered. I ordered a standard cheeseburger with avocado fries and herbed mayo dipping sauce. One thing to take note of is that in Australia, all burgers come with a big slice of beetroot which I found out after my lips starting turning bright purple. It was nice to come back to a classic burger after being hard pressed to find one anywhere else. The burger was really fresh and tasted better than some I’ve had at home, while the fries were just the right amount of spicy and flavorful. Too bad we don’t have any in the states!

Mooz and Gellochio

Alright, we’ve already been over the fact that I LOVE dessert. Which is why I had gelato almost every night that we were in Cairns. There are tons of gelato and ice cream spots all along the pier, but Mooz was right around the corner from our hotel and had the best gelato at the best price. They had the best cookies and cream gelato I’ve ever had and I went to Italy last summer so that’s saying A LOT. Just a few shops up from Mooz is Gellochio, another gelato spot but their claim to fame is their amazing fresh fruit popsicles. They had all sorts of flavors like mango, passionfruit, kiwi, lychee, and so many more. they even had ice cream popsicles dipped in chocolate. I got a little overeager and took a few bites out my kiwi popsicle before taking the photo which may have ruined the esthetic, but I was too excited/hungry to care.

That’s my last food post for Australia! Next stop is Japan, which will prove even more interesting because I love to try new foods. Over and out for now! 

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Cairns

I don’t usually like picking favorites because I try to see the best in everything, but Cairns is an exception. This city was warm, sunny, and tropical which was so satisfying after how cold the past cities were. We spent the most time here out of all of the cities we visited and we packed in a lot of activities, most of which involved swimsuits. Here are the highlights from Cairns!

Surf Lifesaving Lesson

We took a bus out to Palm Cove where we met with a surf rescue team who taught us the essentials for rescuing someone in the ocean. We started out by jogging on the beach and then stretching out for 15 minutes to make sure we were warmed up. They taught us the fastest way to move through the water to get to someone and how to use the rescue surf boards. It was a challenge to keep your balance on the boards sometimes but it was fun to learn how to use them out on the water. 

Rainforest Tour

A group of us took a bus tour into the Cairns rainforest. We went down a natural waterfall, swam underneath Milla Milla falls, a volcano crater, and a lake that (supposedly) had a single crocodile swimming somewhere in the water. Mind you, we were in the middle of the forest and were swimming in the natural landscape which means that the water was FREEZING. It was totally worth it though. I love being outside and this was the perfect way to see more of what Cairns had to offer.

Tjapukai Cultural Park

This was the most culturally informative and engaging part of my trip. Tjapukai is a cultural center that shares the culture of the Djabugay People, the original people of Cairns. We watched traditional dances, didgeridoo performances, and a short film/reenactment of the Djabugay story of the creation of our world. They taught us how to throw a boomerang and spear, and how they were vital parts of their traditional hunting methods. I loved learning from and about Djabugay culture and I’m so appreciative that a cultural center like this exists where people like me can go and learn. 

Cairns Art Gallery

We had a decent amount of free time in Cairns, most of which was spent by the ocean, but I took some time to explore more of the city by myself. I went into the Cairns Art Gallery and was able to wander around for a bit. There were three exhibits displayed at the moment and it was nice to spend time somewhere quiet that didn’t disrupt my reverie. 

Whitewater Rafting

To set the scene: Imagine what jurassic park looks like. That’s exactly what the Cairns rainforest looks and feels like. Our entire group went on a whitewater rafting tour through the rainforest and it was totally different than what I was expecting. I’ve been whitewater rafting before on the Snake River while visiting family in Wyoming, but that type of rafting has always been me sitting down in the front holding onto the rope for dear life while my uncle controls the raft with a set of paddles. This type of rafting required me to be self-sufficient and paddle as part of a team. The dangers of rafting that we had to try to avoid were falling out of the boat and keeping a grip on your paddle so you don’t accidentally knock someone’s teeth out. Based on the look of pure terror in most of the photos, both were A LOT HARDER TO AVOID THAN I THOUGHT. According to our group leader, the past two years someone from the study abroad group has lost teeth from being hit in the face with a paddle on accident. Luckily, no one from our group lost teeth. It was tons of fun and loved every second of it even though some of the rapids (and our guide Esther) did their best to flip our raft.  

Kuranda Koala Gardens

BEST PART OF MY TRIP HANDS DOWN. Why? I got to hold a koala and fulfill all of my life goals. The Kuranda Koala Gardens care and rehabilitate animals native to Australia, one of those animals being Ivy, the super cute koala who wouldn’t let go of my arm when I held her. We also go to interact with wallabies and kangaroos who were very excited to see that we had some treats for them. Crocodiles, sugar gliders, owls, snakes, Quokka, among other animals were all part of the garden as well. 

Cairns was the last stop on this study abroad, which means my time here has come to an end. I still have one more post for the food in Cains, but I’m waiting in the airport to get on my plane to Japan so expect to see another post about my solo travels!

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Sydney

We had the shortest amount of time in Sydney out of all of the other cities on our trip so we definitely did as much as we could with what little time we had. Here are the highlights from my time in Sydney! 

Bridge Climb

On my first night in Sydney, a few people from our group decided to climb the Sydney Bridge. It was the perfect time to do it because it was the final night of Vivid Sydney, a huge lights festival where the entire city is lit up! They had changing light patterns on all the buildings, including the Sydney Opera House and all of the boats in the harbor. It was a long way up but because we were the last group of the night, our tour guides played music and let us hang out at the very top of the bridge for a bit. It was one of the most memorable parts of my trip so far! 

Boat Tour

The next morning a group of my friends and I left for a boat tour out of Darling Harbor to see some of the famous sights of Sydney such as the Opera House, bridge, and some of the smaller island and peninsulas surrounding the city. it began to rain on the boat which wasn’t very fun but it cleared up fast and it ended up showing us a rainbow at one end of the city! 

Blue Mountains National Park 

Okay, so this part of our trip wasn’t technically IN Sydney. It was a day trip that we took to the town of Katoomba to hike through Blue Mountains National Park. I’m a total nature girl so this was definitely one of my favorite things about this trip. We were able to see some of the most amazing parts of nature, like the Three Sisters and the Leura Cascades. 

That’s it for Sydney! I don’t have a Food Diaries post for Sydney because most of the food I had in the city were just snacks on the go and a quick meal at a local pub before we went out to explore the city and the mountains. I’m in Cairns right now and we’re doing TONS of fun stuff, so wait and see what’s in store for my next post!  

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The Australian Food Diaries: Canberra

About 98% of the food we had in Canberra was prepared for us at the AIS in the athlete’s dining hall. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner was all taken care of for us but we did manage to make it into the city for an afternoon to try one of the most instagram-worthy desserts known to man.

Patissez

This small cafe is home to the Freak Shake, a giant, creative, and elaborate milkshake. I ordered the Michael Jackson shake which consisted of chocolate chip cookie dough, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream with hot fudge, white chocolate, cookie crumbs, brownies, and a toasted marshmallow.  

My friends ordered a bunch of different flavors as well, so I was able to try most of the flavors on the menu. Even someone who doesn’t like milkshakes would love a Freak Shake, even if only for the pure enjoyment of looking at how cool they are. The Pretzella shake with pretzels and Nutella was the perfect blend of salty and sweet, the syringe full of strawberry syrup in the Cheshire Cat shake was unique and creative, but the toasted marshmallow on mine was the definitely the best (although I may be partial due to the fact that I love smores). 

I may have been inspired to try something like this myself once I get back home...

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Canberra

After Melbourne we made our way to Canberra, the capital of Australia. First things first, Canberra was FREEZING! It’s winter over here because we’re in the southern hemisphere and Canberra is the coldest city that we’ve stayed in. Here are the highlights of this part of our trip!

The Australian Institute of Sport

The AIS is where we stayed during our time in Canberra, which was a really exciting opportunity. If you’re unfamiliar with the AIS, it’s a compound of facilities that were created for the top athletes of Australia to live and train in. Students and researchers also conduct projects and research in the labs available as well. We stayed in the old athlete’s dorms which consisted of our own private room and shared bathrooms in a 6-room block. The majority of our time was spent here participating in full days of sports-related activities. We got to listen to lectures from PhD students staying at the AIS on topics like nutrition, strength and conditioning, and psychology. We also participated in bootcamp style workouts from some of the athletic trainers after touring the different facilities within the AIS

We met with two of the female basketball players staying at the AIS and participated in a skills session. Basketball isn’t my best sport but it made it that much more fun to learn how to play it properly. We went to one of the women’s basketball games held at the AIS the next day to support them and watch them in action. One of the most mentally challenging things I participated in while at the AIS was taking an ice bath. It honestly doesn’t sound that difficult, but pushing yourself to get into freezing cold water goes against everything your mind wants you to do. It was freezing and awful for the first 30 seconds, but it was SO cool to feel my body adjust and work with the temperature because you don’t even feel the cold if you stay still in the water. It’s probably not something I’ll be doing all the time when I come home but it was something I’ll never forget!

University of Canberra

The University of Canberra is our host university and we went to go on a tour and meet with some of the professionals there. Our first session was with the head coach of the Brumbies Rugby team who let us tour their training facility and told us all about the game, their training and competition methods, and how rugby differs from other sports. Afterwards we toured the campus, had lunch, and went to a training session with Olympic track and field athlete Laura Wells. We did some conditioning exercises, learned proper foot position for running, and then had a few sprinting competitions to wrap up our practice.

Next stop, Sydney!

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The Australian Food Diaries: Melbourne

Have I mentioned that I want to study nutrition? I have a major passion for food, so much so that I’m working towards a career centering around it. Part of why I love traveling so much is that I get to try new foods and experience different cultures and practices surrounding it, which is why I’m recording the different food I try while I’m abroad. Australia isn’t extraordinarily different from the United States when it comes to customs and types of food, however, they are well known for going above and beyond for brunch as well as experimenting with different ways to experience the food we already eat. 

MORK

You might already know about Mork through a Buzzfeed video that aired last month which highlighted their campfire hot chocolate. You can find the video that details how they make the hot chocolate here. Basically, they burn wood chips in a special smoke gun and trap the smoke in your glass. You pour your hot chocolate in the smokey glass, sprinkle in some charcoal salt, and then dip your marshmallow in. OF COURSE I HAD TO TRY IT.

We walked pretty far to get there and had to wait over an hour for a table but man, it was WORTH IT. Not only was the chocolate smoky, rich, and amazing but it was also such a unique experience.The setup made the whole experience exciting, especially because it was hands-on. Their menu was full of other interesting combinations, like dark chocolate with a kaffir lime, white chocolate, and coconut foam on top that my friend Kristina got. 

I also got a chilled chocolate drink with vanilla and orange peel foam on top to take away on our walk back, because more is more right? Mork was a delicious, one of a kind experience in the world of drinkable chocolate. 

Donut Time

Are you sensing a theme? I have a giant sweet tooth, which is why we had to stop at Donut Time. This place is tiny, and by tiny I mean that only one person can fit just inside the doorway where the register is and the rest of the building is partitioned off for the kitchen. It was the literal definition of a hole in the wall.  

We snagged some donuts to eat on our walk around town but it was so hard to choose just one (I definitely wanted all of them). Luckily my friends were nice enough to let me try some of theirs so I got to taste ALMOST all of them. Good for me there’s another one in Sydney so I can try the rest.

Rustica Canteen 

I promise that I’ve tried solid meals and not just desserts on this trip. My friend Marissa has been studying abroad in Melbourne since February so we were able to meet up and get brunch together. Rustica Canteen was hard to find because it was down an alley and then down another side alley. It seems like most of the really unique places are hard to find. Their brunch offered traditional options prepared in non-traditional ways, like their Eggs Benedict with pumpkin sourdough and pulled pork/trout. 

I ordered chai that was the perfect blend of spicy and sweet, as well as savory corn waffles with poached eggs, greens, and avocado. The waffle was unlike anything I’ve ever tried, mostly because I’ve never tried a savory waffle before. I really loved mixing up a food that I traditionally eat as sweet and trying it as savory, especially because it was so good!

That’s it for my food diary of Melbourne, next one will be for my stay in Canberra!  

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Melbourne

After not having any wifi at our hotel in Melbourne, we’ve made our way to Canberra and I can finally post an update on my trip! Here’s what I’ve been up to for the past few days.

HiSense Courts and the Melbourne Cricket Ground

We were able to play a match of tennis at the HiSense courts, which professionals use to train. I’ve never played tennis before but it was tons of fun to learn about and get tips from some of the trainers. Afterwards we walked next door for a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. We learned about the history of cricket, the stadium, and got to tour some of the more behind the scenes part of the stadium, like the press briefing room. Later we got to watch an AFL game and experience what it’s like to be at an Australian sporting event.

Exploring the City

There’s lots to see and do in Melbourne, which is a mix of very old and very new buildings. There’s street art all around the city, especially on Hosier Lane which is known for its murals and art. There are museums, galleries, restaurants, brunch spots, and the possibilities for activities are endless. We walked about twelve miles each day while we explored all that the city has to offer!

The Great Ocean Road

We spent an entire day touring The Great Ocean Road outside of Melbourne. It was interesting to learn that the entire road is actually a war monument and that there are three coasts along the Great Ocean Road: The Surf Coast, The Green Coast, and The Shipwreck Coast. It was incredible to be in one of Australia’s National Parks and witness some of the most amazing natural sites in the world, like The Twelve Apostles. AND we got to see koalas in the wild!

That’s it for now, I’ll update more in the next few days while I’m in Canberra. Keep an eye out for some of posts where I’ll be highlighting the food in each city!

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Late Night Trepidation

It’s 1:43 AM on the day my flight leaves for Australia, I’m sitting in a pile of clothes, and the nerves have finally set in. Studying abroad is unbelievably exciting and I’ve had this idyllic image in my mind of calmly jetting off to another country and having the time of my life. But now that the moment to leave and strike out on my own is upon me I find that my head is full of the ‘what if’ possibilities. What if my luggage gets lost? What if my connecting flight is delayed and I miss my other flight? What if I can’t navigate my way around the airport? What if I don’t make friends? What if??

The pre-departure anxiety is real and can be overwhelming. It happens to best of us, especially when you’re thrown completely outside of your comfort zone. But leaving your comfort zone is exactly how you grow and learn so much more about yourself. I’m still nervous, but in a very excited way. Next time you hear from me, I’ll be Down Under!    

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The Art of Packing

I’ve traveled enough to know that packing is skill learned through practice, and I consider myself a pro. What can I say, I love organizing and packing is like a real life game of Tetris. Before I jet off on my own study abroad I wanted to share the tips and tricks I’ve picked up on past adventures.

HARD SHELL SUITCASES 

Hard shell suitcases are the BEST for long trips. They tend to offer more space than a traditional soft shell due to the fact that you can pack things into both walls of the suitcase and most come with an expandable zipper if you really need to cram in a few more souvenirs. They’re more durable, organized, and here’s the real bonus; they’re waterproof. Nobody likes wet clothes and damaged gifts after your suitcase has been sitting outside on the rainy tarmac waiting to be loaded onto the plane. 

PACKING CUBES

Studying abroad presents an entirely new challenge for even those who have mastered the art of packing: taking enough to last the entire trip but leaving enough space to bring things home. Those in need of organizing meet your new best friend, the humble packing cube. Packing cubes are excellent at helping maximize the space you have and organizing the goods you plan on taking with you. The ones I bought come in a variety of sizes from Amazon Basics, which you can find here

BACKPACK

Having a decent backpack to take with me is a necessity. I needed something that was small but would be able to fit my camera and gear, wallet, water bottle, and still have a decent amount of space to fit a jacket or souvenir if need be. The REI Trail 25 pack is the perfect daypack to take with you. It’s light and smaller than most daypacks (It feels just a bit bigger than small hydration pack), but it can hold A LOT. Plus it has lightly padded shoulder straps and lots of organizational pockets. You can find it here

SNEAKERS 

I don’t care where you’re traveling to, a good pair of sneakers is an absolute MUST. If you’re studying abroad you’re probably going to be walking a lot while you explore the country you’re in, so do your feet a favor and invest in some comfy sneakers. I’m studying The Australian Sporting Industry through ISA and we’ll be out and about doing all kinds of sports related activities so I invested in a new pair of Nike Revolution 3s, which you can find here.  Treat yo self.

FINAL ADVICE  

Remember that with packing, less is more. If you can take less with you when you go, you’ll be able to bring more back and you’ll less likely be charged excess or overweight baggage fees at the airport. Always take some necessities with you in your carry-on in the tragic event that you checked bag is lost or held up somewhere. Most importantly of all, HAVE FUN! #utahabroad #goabroad

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Social Media Submission: Salt Lake City-If You’re Not Living Here, You Should Be

This past summer a friend informed me that she was considering moving to Salt Lake City for school. Her resulting curiosity in the city that I grew up in excited me and I jumped at the opportunity to share a piece of my life with her, which I’ll do here with you as well. 

The most important thing you should know about Salt Lake City is that it offers something for everyone. The stereotypical image of a dirty, sullen expanse of concrete that comes to mind with the word ‘city’ does not apply here; Salt Lake City is thriving with life, energy, and activity. 

Foothill

This area of the city is named for resting right on the foothills of the mountains. It has access to many trails with unparalleled views of the Salt Lake valley, including one of my favorites known as ‘The Living Room’. It’s a great hike to go on with friends, particularly at sunset.

If your favorite band is performing in the city, hopefully the concert will be at the Red Butte Gardens Amphitheater! The garden venue overflows with flowers and greenery, and the outdoor seating is perfect for cool summer evenings

Avenues

The Avenues are known for picturesque houses and steep one-way streets, but there are a surprising amount of parks and businesses nestled in its neighborhoods. If you find yourself in the area, stop by Cucina for an AMAZING Caprese sandwich. I love food so much that I’m getting a degree in it and I’m serious when I say that no one does it quite as good as them.  

If you got that sandwich to go, then walk/drive/bike a few blocks west and explore Memory Grove. Just below the Capitol, it’s easy to see why it’s a popular destination for photographers and dog owners.

Downtown

Salt Lake City’s downtown hosts an eclectic blend of food, businesses, and entertainment. You could stop for sushi at Takashi’s, Italian at Settebellos, or take pictures of the mural outside of The Pie Hole before you get pizza like I did.

If you’re looking for a break from shopping at nearby stores or just need a quiet place to study, then Salt Lake City Public Library is your destination. It’s a shelter from the hustle of the outside world and a perfect place to get coffee and read that book you’ve been meaning to start. 

Sugarhouse

Haven to college students in the city, Sugarhouse is home to trendy coffee shops, local businesses, and is the beating heart for any local markets. If you’re visiting in the evening, drive down 1100 East to see Twigs flower shop brightly lit neon. 

Then catch dinner at Hub & Spoke, which serves American comfort food and breakfast all day long.   

From food and outdoor adventure to entertainment and urban settings, Salt Lake City has it all. If you’re not living here, you should be.

(All photos are mine)