The Holistic Passport

Wife. Traveler. Aussie Living.

[holisticpassport]

Why Paris Means So Much More

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. Mostly because I got so tired of the constant noise on the internet from everyone screaming ‘look at me, my life is worthy of attention’. I guess I got to the point where I learnt to stop telling everyone how great my life was and just started letting my life speak for itself. I still post photos, but my engagement and care about the social media world has dwindled. But I also realised something else.

  I used to write for other people—for my friends and family to know what was going on in my life. But my focus shifted to knowing that the people who cared the most were already aware  of my movements and checked in consistently. I write in a journal several times a week. The sanctity of privacy has become more valuable.

Having said that, I miss posting diary style posts. The good old days of Tumblr and Blogspot where SEO and affiliate marketing weren’t the goal. When sharing because my heart felt moved to was the point. When I wrote in my authentic voice and didn’t produce content to fit ‘my brand’s voice’.

  I went back home to California and Ohio this year. I hadn’t been back since I got married in 2017, and I had left a whole life in boxes in my mom’s garage. I’ve kept journals a majority of life, as young as eight years old.

  And when I had the opportunity to dive into those boxes, I knew I had very much put away my past and forgotten the little girl who’s dream in life was to be a writer. What constitutes being a writer? Simple: someone who writes.

  If we based it on monetary value/getting paid for what you do, people like Emily Dickenson wouldn’t be classified as a writer, and what a shame that would be. She knew who she was, what she loved, and she did it regardless of whether it brought her money or fame.

  I believe reading diaries to be one of the most incredibly insightful forms of literature, the most famous probably being Anne Frank’s. We dive into the mind of the human experience. A tiny book contains the universe manifested on paper. They capture not only an individuals’ emotions and personal perspective/experience, but depicts history through a lens that only one singular person can convey.

  As an (non professional) anthropologist, it was the most fascinating study to review my own mind and life, my growth and my history as I opened those boxes and pulled out scrap papers, notebooks, lists upon lists, lyrics, essays from high school and college on studying the thing I loved the most: literature.

I discovered a life plan list I had made at 15 (several lists in fact), and all of them included becoming a writer. Truthfully, I had shunned this dream after hearing a boyfriend’s family harshly criticize their cousin for choosing to study English in college, having the same dream as me. I felt shame and embarrassment at having obtained my AA in comparative literature and having nothing to show for in terms of a profession. 

And I wasn’t interested in doing copywriting or hustling to make money from a personal blog documenting my travels. It may not have given me a profession, but at the age of 30 I know what value that degree has given me.

  I was hit with nostalgia and remorse for ever forgetting this passion and this version of myself. Also on my life plan list (and every list I have ever made up to this day) has included one major dream: to spend two-three months in Paris studying the language, art, and having an apartment near the Eiffel Tower WITH A CAT.

  I have had this vision as long as I can remember. My mom got me Eiffel Tower posters, a house warming gift of an Eiffel Tower wine rack, and Parisian charms on a necklace. I took French in high school even though I lived in southern California and definitely sometimes regret not taking Spanish.

  And most recently I’ve discovered, out of everywhere in the world, I have the least amount of French DNA in my body. I am more African than I am French. So why this insane drive and love of francophone culture?

  I think on some spiritual level, I knew this vision was supposed to play a key moment in my life, was supposed to be a part of my story and an overarching theme throughout my journal writing for all of these years.

I went to France six years ago just for a week, but I can easily say it was the best week of my life. Booking a one-way ticket to Paris was a catapult to a journey I had no idea was waiting for me and would find me living on the other side of the planet married to a wonderful man.

  But it wasn’t easy getting there.

  I had the opportunity to go do something similar to my vision in Salzburg when I was offered an au pairing position for two girls for nine months. But I was with a partner who didn’t want me to go. I also turned down a full-ride scholarship to college to stay with him. Ultimately I wanted an unconventional life of travel, and his job was central to LA so we parted ways.

  I was offered another opportunity a few years later to au-pair for a little girl in Paris for six months. I was with a partner who didn’t want me to go. My values remained the same where I wanted a life of travel and felt like I was dragging my partner to want the same as we planned to teach in South Korea, but I knew his heart wasn’t in it and he wanted a cosy life. So we parted ways.

  Cam and I started housesitting in July of 2017. We vowed to spend a year doing this and seeing how we liked it. I loved it, but Cam was averse to so much upheaval and wanted stability/no chaos, and given a bit of tumultuous in his 20’s, it was completely valid.  

But, then came Covid. We spent all of Covid in lockdown in Australia not only within the first three years of our marriage but of our relationship. I found myself reeling as we bud heads on the notion of building a home vs. establishing a lifestyle of travel which was even more impossible because of Covid. I was drowning. It felt like my soul was ripping from the inside out as I thought I found myself in another partnership (this time a bit more permanent), where I felt like the bad guy for knowing intrinsically that I couldn’t be with someone who didn’t have the same values of travel as a lifestyle. I questioned my authentic self and thought maybe I was wrong for wanting these things.

When Covid lifted, Cam and I had a powerful aligning moment of saying to each other that if we didn’t leave now, we never would and we would end up resenting each other. So we sold 80% of our belongings, got a storage unit and first went to Mexico this year, then locked in housesits from April all the way through the rest of the year. We unloaded our storage into a five month sit to pair down even more in preparation for being able to housesit more broadly around the country, not just Melbourne.

  And as we’ve established this life, this chaotic but beautiful journey, I still felt sad. I had all but given up on my dream of going to Paris on my own for two months because what husband would be comfortable with their wife being away for that long? I wanted a partner for so long who would travel with me, and it seemed counterproductive to want to still go to Paris, a romantic, city without my husband.

  So I stopped writing it down in my manifestations journal believing it was never meant to be.

And two weeks later, a housesit on my platform popped up in Paris. An apartment in the 15th Arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower... for two months... with a cat.

  I screenshot it and sent it to Cam as a joke and said ‘I want this with every fibre of my being. What an absolute dream’ thinking nothing really of it other than that I was sure 50 people would apply for it immediately and since I wasn’t even in Europe, I’d never get it anyway.

  Cam’s response: Apply. Can’t hurt to try.

  I paused and thought ‘that’s true, I can just send a message and if I get it, figure out the logistics then.’

  After submitting it, I received a response the next day. I was the first to apply and she wanted to Zoom chat. Two days later, whilst on the zoom chat, she confirmed me for the sit while I was on my anniversary weekend away with Cam in Shepparton, where his and my relationship initially began from that first one-way trip to Paris in 2016.

What has ensued over the last month has been an unfathomable level of shock, courage, fear, and finally excitement. My initial reaction was gut wrenching anxiety to the point I almost thought my intuition was telling me I was going to die on the flight, don’t go. Like THAT much of a nauseating feeling.

  When I spoke to my therapist a week later, a flood work of emotions and tears came out. My brain couldn’t comprehend the scale of this. It couldn’t understand that for the first time, me leaving my partner to travel on my own wouldn’t result in a breakup. Even more fear came up about my worth being tied to my productivity and how I was actually terrified to do ‘nothing’, but just be.

  I’ve been a partner to someone since 12 years old. I have never once lived on my own except for one month in Jervis Bay, and it was the most spiritual, creative, growth-filled time of my life. But it was filled with difficult conversations being away from Cam in our first year of marriage/relationship and not knowing how to navigate separation anxiety.

  I’ve had a lot of financial insecurity in my life losing family homes, parents divorcing, and not leaving bad relationships for years because I felt I didn’t have anywhere else to go because I couldn’t afford it on my own. I have always had to be in survival mode since 15 years old, and it’s taken a massive toll on my health. So to go to Paris and not HAVE to work—to recognize that this didn’t happen all those times before because it was meant to happen at a time in my life when I could financially do it with the unending support of my partner who encouraged me to go—I’m forced to ask the questions:

who am I when my worth isn’t tied to my productivity? Who am I when I’m not in fight or flight mode? Who am I on my own, without a partner to factor in to my every choice and decision on a day to day basis?

  My therapist has made me see that I haven’t allowed myself to truly ‘play’ in many, many years. To sit in a park by myself and read with nowhere else to be and nothing/no one to pull me away. To ask ‘little Veronica’ what she would like to do and is she getting everything she needs. To re-parent myself and tell her she’s safe to play, not to worry about money or work or housing or a partner.

My tax refund covered my flight for the exact amount. I sold my camera, and Cam and I worked nearly seven days a week the last month to fund my trip with ample wiggle room. If I was single, I’m sure at some point I could have saved enough on my own to go to Paris. But knowing that my partner fully supports me—after so many times putting my dream on hold for men who wouldn’t do the same for me—I’m so insanely grateful.

  And our communication has gone from strength to strength with honesty, recognizing triggers and approaching with curiosity instead of defensiveness, holding space for all the emotions that came up for both of us in me taking this trip, discussing fears at length... all I can say is holy shit, don’t ever settle for a boy, get yourself a man.

  When I’ve told people over the last month that I’m going to Paris, they’re reaction is of course jealously and they say, “oh so you’re just going on holiday”. But it’s sooooo much more than that. There’s so much history behind it... my history. And I plan to write about this experience so that if someday my diaries are ever published long after I’m gone, maybe it’ll inspire someone. That’s all I ever aim to do in this life, is just inspire people to go after every single dream they have an never compromise on your authenticity and truth.

  To tick off this trip will be to complete a bucket list I made 22 years ago. And in doing so, it revives and allows that version of me to integrate into the woman and person I am becoming—with new goals and dreams to achieve that I am already creating with my partner. This season of life is nothing short of profound bliss.

[holisticpassport]

My Covid Story

Apologies for any spelling errors, I’m on a time crunch. I’m a few hours out from leaving for my first flight since July 2019 (and before that, March 2018). Heading out to Sydney, I’m a mix of anxiety and absolute excitement. In January of this year, our sublet was almost up in Eltham and Cam and I had plans to pack up the car and begin doing workaways around Australia to help rebuild communities devastated by the historic wild fires (doesn’t that feel FOREVER ago?). When our sublet became available for a full lease transfer, we changed our minds to stay in our space, so that was the first instance of travel being knocked out of the picture. Then we had Valentine’s weekend open to go visit some friends in Tasmania, so we booked tickets and upon waiting in the airport, our flights were cancelled due to inclement weather. DAMN.  Mid-march came around and it was Cam’s birthday, so we wanted to get out for a weekend of camping in our big bell tent, find a gorgeous spot in the woods out east near Warburton. When we arrived, every camping spot for an hour’s dive any direction was either full or completely not open at all. We picked a spot off a random road and spent one night there, but some rangers came by and said we couldn’t stay there due to the possible danger of logging trucks not seeing us. So that was a bust.

Then as you’re aware, this time frame leads up to the very tumultuous third week of March when Melbourne officially went into its first lockdown due to COVID. I documented this time in journal entries which I will add at the end, but ultimately the lockdown went until June, and the state reopened too quickly/had a fiasco with quarantined cases getting out of a hotel, thus sparking the second wave. We had flights booked to California for June to see my family and then planned to travel around Mexico for a few months, but that dream was quickly squashed when flights out of Melbourne ceased to exist at all. Months later, I had a flight booked in July to go to Sydney where I was to have my eggs extracted for donation. The day before I was to fly out, second lockdown went into effect and the flight was cancelled (thus forcing me to have the procedure done in Melbourne and cause a huge, historic controversy between Melbourne IVF’s CEO and the medical director of IVF Australia about how to transfer frozen eggs over a closed border!).

I’m struggling to comprehend just how important and meaningful my ability to travel today is. To think back to the first time in history, watching borders around the world close, flights become grounded, and witnessing a global pandemic unfold whilst in a foreign country—I remember thinking at the beginning how unfathomable the scale of it was. When people talk about things not seeming real or like it’s a dream you can’t wake up from, that’s exactly how it felt. I questioned whether I needed to go back to the U.S. in fear I might not see my family for years or be with them if they got fatally ill. Would I be able to even go back if that happened let alone would I be able to re-enter AU (the answer was no). And thank god I didn’t go back considering the absolute cluster fuck of a mess Trump made of the pandemic. But also, thank god my family has been healthy and safe. The level of fear for their safety was at an all-time high as civil tensions grew when the riots around the country kicked off in conjunction with the pandemic. I wrote to all of them to have a plan to escape to Mexico and get their passports if Trump won the re-election. This was a genuine fear I’ve never experienced before.

The level of frustration, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, self-hatred for lack of productivity during lockdown, and uncertainty about so many facets of life weighed down on me during this time. But I know how much worse our time could have been. I was immensely grateful for the fact that we had a home and incredibly gracious landlords who were human and understood the financial difficulties of this unprecedented time when so many became homeless as job loss skyrocketed. We were so fortunate that I was able to continue working even 2 days a week through the lockdown as a barista and Cam was able to get government support for six months as a NZ citizen who lived in AU over 10 years when so many other New Zealanders were forced to return to their country because of the time limit stipulation for support. We only had two family members contract Covid and were young and healthy enough to survive when so many families will be without a member at the holidays this year.

And I acknowledge my privilege in that my identity is so closely entwined with the ability to travel, that while it felt suffocating to not even have the choice to travel anywhere outside of a 5km (3mile) zone, I fully empathize with those in parts of the world where they could not walk more than 50 meters from their front door or people who didn’t have windows/balconies in apartment buildings who were going out of their mind. All of that does not diminish the struggles I faced with not being able to travel, but it does always keep my perspective in check. My trip today signifies how a city and a country came together during the most difficult period of our lifetime, followed strict government guidelines, and came out after 120+ days in full lockdown on the other side of a pandemic, now able to cross state borders without isolation or quarantine. To go to a live music show,  have drinks on rooftop bars, walk around outside without a mask on, and see people going about their daily lives again on public transport and see a city bustling with energy—the months of mental hardship and growth was all to get back to a post-Covid world. Even though a vaccine is not out yet and we need to be cautious, the level of hopelessness has diminished significantly, and I’m not terrified my trip might be cancelled in two hours. I’m actually going this time!

There is also a whole other facet to my time in lockdown and that of course is the personal development and mutual growth in my marriage! That’s a whole separate post though which I hope to get out soonish. But here’s a bit of something I started a few months ago. Enjoy.

 ********

I remember when it first started in the news; like a minor blip of a story flashing at the bottom of the screen: some mutant virus had infected a couple dozen people in some random city in China. I was working solo in a café serving the employees of a major shoe distribution company in the warehouse district of Collingwood, Melbourne. The TV was on in the cafe but muted the first few weeks of January as the main stories were about the most devastating wildfires in the history of the world, and we all just felt a communal helplessness. As the numbers grew in China and the story became a daily headline, the first case was announced in Queensland on January 25th. Everyone stuck around a few minutes longer each day after they were handed their coffee. I think back to the moment when Wuhan, the epicenter at the time, reported 1,500 cases and I thought surely there can’t be much more than that. This is just media sensationalizing something small. This whole story will blow over in another week or two.

If only.

It was summer in Australia, and my husband and I were planning what to do after our sublease was up in mid-March. I commuted daily from a suburb 50 minutes north called Eltham, a creative and eco-friendly heritage town. We lived in a triplex made of adobe mudbrick, surrounded by native forest, a communal garden, and enjoyed huge artisan windows that brought in natural filtered light through the towering trees. Our little studio was a quiet haven away from the chaos and constant flurry of people in Melbourne, especially during summer as it brought travelers from every corner of the globe. There was no way we could have possibly known that this little paradise would feel like a prison after six months in the world’s longest lockdown due to a global pandemic caused by that little virus in some random city in China now known worldwide as COVID-19.

As the weeks passed by in February, more and more countries began reporting cases. I did not understand how pandemics worked as the last one I was alive for and could remember was H1N1 in California, and I was about 17—far too consumed with college applications and boys to think about world affairs. The Spanish Flu was never something that was particularly emphasized in our history classes, so it didn’t even occur to me to compare what was happening now to that point in time. Then again, this was incomparable because in 1912, the world was a less globalized economy and there were no commercial flights transporting thousands of passengers across the globe daily. By the first week of March, my daily rush-hour commutes became the first real difference I noticed. The number of morning passengers on the train platforms dwindled from 50 to 25 to 5, and eventually, to just me. As the train stopped at over 30 stops from where I lived to the city, my carriage wasn’t even remotely full at 7 a.m.

There was less foot traffic in the city. Flinders Street Station, one of the two largest hubs that saw thousands of people daily, was eerily quiet and empty. We were two weeks out from leaving Melbourne to go travel, planning to go to New South Wales, AU to help rebuild communities that were ravaged by the bushfires. I was desperate to travel this year, and we were so close to leaving. I had picked up some other barista work in an advertising agency closer to the city. But day by day, office workers were being told to work from home if they were able to. Hand sanitizer became readily available in the café, bathrooms, and around the office. I remember staring out the window of this high rise building that overlooked the lush green stretch of Albert Park and thinking it looks so normal outside. Every day, I looked at the news in Australia, which I had never really done before. Industries were shutting down, and the panic was setting in for thousands of casual workers in the hospitality industry as it was only a matter of time before we would be shut down too.

Melbourne is a cultural hub filled with travelers who typically come here on a Work and Holiday Visa which gives them 1-2 years to work and live in AU. Most find work in hospitality as there are over 40,000 restaurants and cafes in this region. You couldn’t go a single day without meeting someone from another country which is why I fell in love with this city. I worked as a freelance barista through agencies that called for workers to be able to step in if someone called out sick or quit unexpectedly and they found themselves short. But my agencies had gone completely silent in the week leading up to the industry shutting down. There was no more work and travelers were finding themselves stranded. I journaled daily in the lead up to my final day of work in the city as I knew something big was happening, and I wanted to be able to recall when it all began. I also knew we would not be travelling anytime soon, around Australia or otherwise, when national and international borders began closing around the world.

 March 17th, 2020

All that’s being talked about is COVID-19. Entire countries are closing borders and going into complete lockdown. Italy has been inundated with patients in hospitals and now have to choose who lives and who dies. AU isn’t taking nearly as intense of measures, but the general atmosphere is not normal. All events with over 500 people have been cancelled. Those who have traveled anywhere must self-quarantine for 14 days or face a huge fine. Some people still don’t take it seriously, thinking/acting like it’s just a normal flu when in reality its ability to be passed on and even re-infect someone a second time is much higher than the rate of a simple flu. In the states, my family says all the restaurants and schools have closed, even the Hollywood entertainment industry has closed down. So many independent contractors, myself included, are without means to live because there’s no emergency government funding in place. It shows what’s truly flawed with the system. Luckily Cam has full time work still, but for those people who have kids and no daycare options? No partner or family? Those who are traveling and can’t get back home? This is devastating for all of us, but them in particular. Supposedly, there are rumors that the virus dies with the warm weather, but AU is headed into winter. It could be why the virus isn’t as big in places like South America and Africa (*note* countries from these two continents are now in the top 10 most infected places as of September 2020) Europe is completely shut down as is New Zealand. I have flights to California in June, so I’m hoping I can still go. For how weak my immune system is, I’m surprised I’m not more concerned because I’ve been continuously reassured the virus only attacks those with underlying conditions, mainly in the elderly population. Even in calm, tight-knitted communities like ours in Eltham, we’re seeing the best and worst of humanity come out with people hoarding resources, but also there are those offering rides for people to stores or grocery drop offs to their homes. I’m very interested to see how the next three months progress all around the world. Right about now, it’d be nice to hide away in a beachside house in Mexico. (*Mexico is also among the top 10 most infected countries now*)

March18th, 2020

The government should announce today whether hospitality industry will close, potentially putting Cam and I both out of jobs. Luckily our landlord is being highly accommodating. Trump is giving Americans $1,200 and has postponed tax season by 3 months. Only seems he does something decent when it’s to keep the economy from tanking and his money is protected.

Cam and I both have throat annoyances and headaches. We should try to stay home, but can’t afford it. Today, they’ve dropped gatherings of 500 down to only 100 people, yet shopping centers and public transport remain open, which I would think are the riskiest places for transferring infections. It’s been stated this is a once in a decade event that will change the course of history.

 March 19th, 2020

Amidst all the chaos from morning to night, people are finally taking time to nurture their interests and creativity. I’m taking two courses on sustainable fashion and fashion in design. I’ve also applied to be a mentor for women trying to gain work and leadership experience at an NGO called Fitted for Work. They have stylists that help women to prepare business outfits and tailor their resumes/do mock interviews. I’ve looked into an MA program I’m interested in at Warren Wilson College back in North Carolina. I think looking forward is the only way to keep the fear down about how long these shut downs may last possibly through June. The world economy is going to see some extremely confronting realities it hasn’t seen since the Great Depression. For the moment I’m looking into teaching English online which I’m already certified to do, just to try and earn some money. I’ll be interested to see all the art that comes out of this period and the photojournalism that captures this historic time.

 March 21st, 2020

We went over to Williamstown (Cam’s parent’s house) as Cam had two shifts out that way. Restrictions in cafes are now 1 person per 4 square meters, so in the 100 person limit already imposed, it’s now down to 25. I’m nervous for Cam to keep working and going on public transport. It’s high risk and unethical in terms of coming in contact with people we could transmit it to without knowing (asymptomatic) because it takes 14 days to even show symptoms. We made the choice to start self-isolation come Monday as we can see in the next week or two the same spike will be here in Melbourne as we’ve seen in Italy and most likely soon to see in the U.S. Reading other peoples’ accounts about how they continued life as normal as though nothing had changed in Italy is exactly where AU is projected to head towards.

 March 25, 2020

As of Monday, AU took drastic measures to ensure safety and closed many non-essential businesses with a series of daily updates for more and more businesses to shut or only stay open for takeaway. Overnight, nearly 80,000 people in hospitality work were laid off or lost work, Cam and I included. A stimulus package of 66 billion dollars was announced and Cam qualified for government payments through Centrelink because he’s a kiwi who’s been here over 10 years. Other kiwis who haven’t been here that long are completely without any kind of support from the AU government, even though in NZ, Aussies are supported. A very backward, selfish system who told them to go home.

We went to Centrelink on Monday at 7:45am in Greensborough (suburb over from Eltham). By 8:30 am when the doors opened there were over 200 people in line. The government has been terribly confusing with their messages out to the public, highly unprepared. People are confused about what they can and can’t do, what businesses are remaining open, who is eligible… it’s a mess. Why are liquor stores and hair salons considered essential?? There have been spikes in young people getting this virus as young as 18, and they are dying. The virus coats your lungs like a jelly ultimately blocking oxygen. We did what is hopefully our last grocery shop because being in the store is just as contagious as a café. There’s no safety or hygiene measures in place. We had gloves on and people were dancing around each other in the aisles to maintain 1.5m social distance.

The U.S. is becoming the new epicenter with horrific rapid spreading, particularly in New York. Flight around the world, including as of today AU, are being stopped and we can no longer leave the country at all.

  To Be Continued…..

[sickfiction]

[trescharmantes]

[mnwisco]

[cosmicportal]

[tylerknott]

Where we both come from never mattered half as much as where we’re heading.

Daily Haiku on Love by Tyler Knott Gregson (via tylerknott)

[elasan]

[grayskymorning]

[jaclynpaige]

[tylerknott]

Let us simplify, reduce down to the basics, and begin again.

Daily Haiku on Love by Tyler Knott Gregson

*Please pre-order my upcoming book, Miracle in the Mundane, link in bio!!*

(via tylerknott)

[little-secret-witchling-deactiv]

[fungusqueen]

“Take care of the land…someday you’ll be part of it”

- sign on our hike in Chantry Flats

[3rdquartermoon]

-

[lovergroves]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXDoSlNgs8m/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=24c3ubci7uq9

[holisticpassport]

A Day Trip From Melbourne: Belgrave

    I’ve been craving a little nature the past month as Cameron and I have been moving around the city a lot (now officially in Williamstown!), and the frustration of traffic, rowdy shenanigans on the weekends, and obsessively learning about the social media business online has all made for a bit of stir-craziness! I didn’t want to rent a car or book an Airbnb because it was the Queen’s Birthday (public holiday), and everything was three times the normal price. So instead, I planned for something Cam and I have wanted to do since we got together which was to take a train all the way to the end of the line. We intended to go wine tasting, but many places were closed due to the long weekend and the winter weather being restrictive. During my research surrounding Ferntree Gully, I stumbled upon a place called Trees Adventure Park which was walking distance from the train line we’d end at called Belgrave (though ‘walking distance’ if you’re physically fit because it’s up and down several steep hills! This did not go over well with my hip issues, but that’s beside the point). The park was a ropes course with zip lining, and although my back and hips are still out of sorts, I wanted to prove to myself I wasn’t completely limited.

           Our mutual friend, Carlie, joined us, and off we went! If you’re interested in an easy day-trip escape from Melbourne, I highly suggest this excursion to Belgrave! 

     We all met up at Melbourne Central around 9 a.m. for the one-hour train ride to Belgrave. Watching the scenery change from cement to greenery after a fresh rain was exactly what I was looking for. Once we arrived, we trekked past the quaint shops lining either side of the road and the Puffing Billy Railway. This is a famous train line that can easily be added to your day trip, but we were starving and keen to get to the Botanist Café located right next to the Trees Adventure’s entrance. After a 10-minute walk straight up hill, out of breath and hangry, the café (although hours stated online they were open) was closed! It was lovely to momentarily look at and catch our breath in the garden before returning, defeatedly, down the hill into town again.

    We had passed a cute place the first time called Mareesa’s Café. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any of their social media online, so this is a little hidden gem! There were a lot of vegan and vegetarian options, and the owner was also the chef. P.S., it’s nearly impossible to find pumpkin pie in Australia, and she made a homemade one that was to die for! 

    After an hour recuperating from our mini-hikes and filling our stomachs with delicious food, we went back up the hill and ventured straight into the ropes course park. Adult tickets run at $49 AUD which gives you two hours to try any of the color-coded courses after an initial safety training session. We accidentally chose a difficult one right off the bat that took an hour and a whole lot of upper body strength. 

    By 2 p.m., we were absolutely energy drained and wanting nothing more than a celebratory beer (and more food because us city folk like to eat a lot). We intended to go to Oscar’s Ale House, but they didn’t open until 5 p.m. In retrospect, we probably should have thought better of going on a public holiday weekend, but lessons learned. We asked the local barista from our breakfast spot if there was a good place for some chill drinks. This is when we were introduced to an eclectic bar/lounge called Sooki Lounge which boasts a large list of delicious, less-stocked liquors such as Absinthe and Mezcal. Cam had a black absinthe, and I sipped on a sherry barrel aged tequila while Carlie had “the best floral cocktail she’s ever tasted”, so that may tell you a bit about the quality of this place, never mind the avant-garde décor and furnishings. 

    Around 4 p.m., we caught the train back into the city, but we wanted some dinner because the fries from the lounge didn’t quite suffice. Pizza was on our radar. I feel zero guilt about how much we indulged, just in case you’re judging me slightly at this point. We scouted online and found Santoni, a three-story restaurant with a rooftop bar in Glenferrie. With lovely staff, fantastic food, and a great atmosphere on the roof, this place was fully booked on all three levels for a Saturday night (we arrived just as someone was leaving before the rush. Score!). Some wine, good conversation, and observing the well-dressed people compared to our workout gear finished off our rejuvenating weekend. 

Know of other great day-trips via public transport from Melbourne? I’d love to hear your stories or take advice on other great nature getaways. Shoot me a message or comment!

[holisticpassport]

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Moved to Melbourne

           When I left the U.S. to backpack through Europe and Asia for three months, I never expected I would end up at the complete opposite end of the world in Australia let alone permanently living here and marrying a local.

           While becoming an expat is an exciting and romantic prospect to some, there also comes practicalities when you move to a new place. You must embrace the nuances of a different culture which can present challenges, and I’m here to make it that much easier should you decide to come to Melbourne long term. From other blogs and articles I’ve seen, they’ll tell you about the temperamental weather, how St. Kilda isn’t really a beach, or how the coffee culture is on a whole other level—all general things you’d discover pretty easily on your own. But what about the not so easy things or the questions you really can’t seem to get answered? Here’s the top 10 things I wish I knew before I moved to Melbourne.

1)      Gumtree is Craigslist

           From my experience and perspective, most of the world uses Craigslist for posting jobs, selling items, etc. Australia decided to create its own platform for the same purpose called Gumtree which you wouldn’t know unless someone told you (you’re welcome). Gumtree is a great resource for house hunting and buying/selling things, but not so much for job researching which brings me to my next topic.

2)      Jora and Facebook Groups Will Save You SO Much Frustration

          If you’re coming on a Work and Holiday Visa, there are definitely some things you’ll want to know in this section, because finding a job is not easy unless you know how and where to look. Jora is the equivalent of Indeed in the U.S. It’s mainly for white collar/office jobs, but I’ll tell you right now unless you have a strong sales type personality or a personal connection, you will not get an administrative (or even retail) job on a WHV. This visa basically restricts you to hospitality and farm work (I had six years of experience in both fields and a strong resume, but it didn’t seem to matter at all). Resumes barely matter when it comes to hospitality, as well. They will trial you on the spot for a barista or bar position, and if you can’t pour a beer or latte art, there’s little likelihood of you getting it unless someone is willing to train a newbie. But, in order to even find these positions, joining these two FB groups will help you immensely: Melbourne Barista Union and The Melbourne Bartender Exchange. The most important site you’ll need to know in regards to farm work and getting your second year visa (if you want to stick around to explore the rest of AU) is Farm Work Australia. Number one tip for Americans: you cannot do your farm work in Victoria. It must be done above the Tropic of Capricorn Line (basically Northern Territory), or it DOES NOT COUNT. I learned the hard way after six weeks waking up at 5 A.M. to pack pears. Don’t make my mistake. The upside to the WHV for Americans is that hospitality jobs also count towards your second year visa (but again, only above that line). 

3)      Best Bank (Commonwealth)

          This one won’t be as long because I don’t have all the comparisons to make, but basically if you want a good bank that won’t charge you crazy fees, gives you access to same day deposits and transfers, and lovely customer service, I suggest Commonwealth. I initially went with NAB, and I’ll just say I had a very poor experience with them setting up my joint account as well as it takes two days to get access to transfers or deposits which doesn’t suit my needs. I need my smashed avos and espresso martinis now, not in two days.

4)      Tattoos Are Not a Stigma

         This won’t be totally relevant to people without them, but if you’re worried about tattoos in the workplace (more so hospitality or retail, less for offices) they’re totally accepted even encouraged! Melbourne is such an artistic city when it comes to outward expression, and the more tattoos you have, the more you’ll fit right in with the city’s bohemian (or hipster) vibes.

5)      Best Hostels

          I’ve stayed in over 30 hostels around the world, so I think I can confidently say what makes a good one. But, it also depends on what’s individually important to you. Melbourne has hundreds of hostel to choose from, and I could write a whole article on this alone, but the two I would go back to (even for a weekend to get out of the house) would be Base Hostel and United Backpackers. Base Hostel is situated in a prime location in St. Kilda, so if you’re coming in for the summer season, this spot is ideal for living that coastal life with tons of shops, bars, and cafes on Acland Street (even though St. Kilda isn’t really a beach). They have a great bar downstairs with events happening almost every night (Boozy Bingo anyone?), travel coordinators on site to help you book trips around AU, and large bathrooms within the rooms, not in the halls. Win! United Backpackers is another hostel located in the city directly across from the famous Flinders Street Station. This spot is more ideal for experiencing all the museums, restaurants, and numerous theatre shows that come through. There is a basement bar that hosts game nights and pub crawls, a HUGE kitchen overlooking Flinders Station, and a cinema room with bean bags to lounge and relax. Mind you, these are two of the more expensive hostels, but you certainly get what you pay for.

6)      Where to Live

          Depending on what you want to get out of your time in Melbourne, I’ll give you some tips on the areas I know about. The most popular suburbs are Brunswick and Fitzroy. Brunswick is known for Sydney Road which boasts live music almost every night of the week at any given venue. Cafes and op-shops (or thrift stores) line either side of the street, and there’s definitely a grunge vibe to it with graffiti art and posters for upcoming shows. Fitzroy is known as hipster central. Boutique shops, vegan/vegetarian restaurants, and craft beer breweries are what this location is all about plus even MORE delicious cafes to choose from. There are a tremendous amount of great areas to live in Melbourne, and everything is so easily accessible via the public transport system, but if you try to seek housing in one of these areas in particular, you will find that there is fierce competition.

7)      Healthcare and Public Transport are Impressive

           Being from the U.S., we don’t have what is called a Reciprocal Agreement with Australia, meaning I can’t get a medical card which would allow me to receive free or extremely inexpensive healthcare should I need to go to the doctor for basic things, and in turn, Australians can’t get this luxury either if they are in the states. Having said that, Australia’s healthcare system is quite good. Out of pocket, I can pay between $40-$75 for a visit, get everything I need done, and my prescriptions are ¼ of what they would cost in the states, which is absurd. When it comes to emergencies though, having private travel/health insurance is necessary. As far as public transportation, I lived in California and Ohio where public transport was pretty much garbage. Melbourne has trains, trams, and buses and is truly an incredible system that runs effectively 95% of the time. It has several phone apps that give you the most up to date information, and all forms of transportation use the same payment system through Myki.

8)      Amazon Exists, but Isn’t That Big

          Amazon is probably something I miss the most about living in the states. A distribution center opened in Melbourne within the last year, but it hasn’t taken off or had a great impact on Australia in quite the same way as the states. E-bay and Aliexpress are the most used sites for online shopping, but shipping times are often the biggest hindrance. I may sound like an impatient millennial, but seriously two-day shipping was the best, and people here need to give Amazon a chance once they get more products on their site.

9)      Experience the Magic Bus

          One of the best things I did at the beginning of moving to Australia was jump on a spray painted school bus with 16 other people from all over the world through a travel organization (non-official) called The Magic Bus Australia. We drove for three weeks from Melbourne to Perth and drank funnels of goon (or terrible box wine) on perpetual rounds of rock-paper-scissors, slept in tents throughout the Nullabor desert, visited stunning beaches, showered in car washes, and completely lost all track of time. If you want to skip the stereotypical (expensive) trips to Uluru or see small towns in the bush rather than only stay in the major cities observing the standard tourist sites, this is the trip you need to do. Read my full blog on the Magic Bus here!

10)  Melbourne is Made Up of Travelers

          At first I couldn’t put my finger on just why Melbourne was different from the 25 other countries I’ve visited. Eventually, the concept of home came to mind, and I discovered that after returning from my first time traveling abroad at 18, I no longer felt like I had a ‘home’. That feeling only ever reappeared again whilst among other travelers. The notion of the states being a melting pot pales in comparison to Melbourne. Sure, coming from Venice Beach, CA, there are a lot of tourists. But you go into a café, and the barista is American. Go into restaurants, hotels, retail stores—a large majority are American. Melbourne? You can’t go a single day without meeting someone from another country in any given profession or hearing a different language on public transport. Immigration is always a hot political debate in AU, but I find it’s what makes Melbourne so truly unique compared to other places. When I meet someone from a different place every day, I get the constant high of traveling which makes me the happiest, and a ‘home’ is where you should feel the happiest.

There are dozens of other things I could rattle on about, but hopefully this gives you a little insight and aid when thinking about or currently integrating into Melbourne life. Have something you want me to write more about? Message me! Otherwise, follow me on Instagram at @holisticpassport and @vonnie_mackie to stay up to date with my travels and life in this beautiful city!

**I am not paid for any affiliate links, I just really like these companies!**

[holisticpassport]

Kind Travel

      The past three months have been a time of deep inner reflection and discussion about what my husband and I want for our future. For my birthday, we attended the Off Grid Living Festival in El Dorado which hosted a variety of tradespeople, workshops, crafts, and sustainable products including model tiny houses, solar panels, and water powered portable lights! After talking with the person who builds tiny houses for a living, we found there were a lot of laws surrounding them in Australia regarding sizes. We’ve decided to go with buying a partially converted school bus for less legal hassle, but we will need space to work on it. While up in El Dorado for that weekend with Cameron’s parents, we stayed at an incredible Airbnb on 100 acres of bushland that also had a café (#thingsbaristasgetexcitedabout)! We learned a little bit about the history of the place and why the café was no longer running, but ultimately, we determined that we all have a shared goal of owning a bit of land together in the near future with a similar layout. 

     That weekend put a lot into perspective for us about the kind of life we’re striving towards. In conjunction with the café we want to run in our traveling house bus, I hope to be working as a virtual assistant. I took a five-day VA boot camp course that got me into gear thinking about my passions, what I’m good at, and what I value in working with my dream client. By the end of the course, I determined I’d like to work with eco-conscious tourism and hospitality businesses, lending my years of administrative work experience as well as my dedication to sustainability and passion for travel. When I finally narrowed down my niche and what services I could offer, I researched businesses fitting in line with these values and came across Kynder. This company, founded by Louree Maya, started last year in San Francisco and has already been featured in Elle Magazine, Conde Neste Traveller, and Pebble Magazine. Read her interview here with Vix Lawson, founder of Bought to Beauty Bespoke which helps sustainable companies with eco-friendly promotional products. Kynder provides a unique platform for restaurants, retreats, accommodations, plus many other hospitality establishments that practice kind travel and sustainability. They currently have members in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America.

     It was like love at first sight, and I HAD to work for them in whatever way possible. They offer an ambassador program which I immediately applied for realizing what an incredible opportunity it would be to start gaining members in Australia! I’m now the first and only proud Wayfairer (ambassador) in Australia, and I’m tremendously excited to see how this company will grow and what my contribution will be. While working as an ambassador for them, I’m still attempting to get my virtual assistant website up, but as I have no experience in web design, it’s proving an interesting challenge. Every trial and error is a lesson I suppose.

     Besides all that exciting life stuff, Autumn is in full swing now with rain, cold winds, and gorgeous colors that I never got to see in Melbourne last year because I was up in Shepparton packing pears. I fall more in love with this city every day and am eager for my spousal visa to be approved so I can officially be here without any worries! There will definitely be more blog posts in the upcoming months as I transition to virtual work and establish my online presence. Until then, go check out Kynder, and take a peek at my featured piece on Internationelle.org about my time in Thailand!