Beach walk

If you really want to soak up some of the most beautiful views Sydney has on offer, then I suggest you do the Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach walk. The trail takes you right along the cliffs on the coast and wanders in and out of different coves where you can go surfing, swimming, snorkelling - or just rest for a sunbathe. Lovely.
Today I did the walk with my cousin Bec who lives and works here in Sydney. Check out some snaps from the hike:

Surfing in Sydney

Today I went surfing with my cousin Sam on Maroubra beach. Maroubra is a suburb just south of the city - and we drove there in about 20 mins from central Sydney. Sam surfs regularly - whereas I do not. The waves here are so much stronger than back home, and I got pretty shoved about by the massive sets. We were in the water for an hour or so - so thankfully Sam had leant me a wetsuit top to keep me warm. I am now covered in bruises! Eek!

Sydney

Hi all.. as mentioned below.. week 27 of the Perpetual Festival has now kicked off! This week I am in Sydney Australia. It's an amazing city (I have a shed load of family here, so have been lucky enough to visit in the past). The weather right now is super - as we are heading into summer - and preparations are being made across the city for Christmas which is now just a month away! Yesterday I started my day by flying into the international airport, dumping my bags at my hotel - and heading straight out to the harbour to have a look at the most iconic images of Sydney: the bridge (one post below) and the amazing Opera House.

Week 27 has begun!

Welcome to Sydney!

Wow

This morning I woke up and was faced with this view. I couldn't stop staring at it... it was like the sea and the sky had merged as one. Stunning.

fancy some grub?

Hmm tasty grub... or should I say GRUBS!? Spotted these crispy creepy crawlies last night in a market... EWW!

Loi Krathong - the video

Check out the video I made from some of the highlights of last night's Loi Krathong event..

Ay and me (and Goy)

More photos from Loi Krathong

Loi Krathong festival in Thailand

Yesterday Thailand celebrated the annual Loi Krathong festival. The Buddhist event involves creating flower-based offerings, made with bamboo and banana leaves and decorated with candles and incense, and lighting/floating them on rivers/lakes. The name Loi Krathong means floating offering. The act of lighting/floating these creations is meant to be "symbolic of letting go of all one's grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot."
I was invited to the festival by a lady called Ay - who was my tour guide earlier in the week. She and I got on really well, and are the same age, and it was a real honour and pleasure to go to the event with her and her friend Goy.
She picked me up from my hotel on her scooter, and we travelled to a lake near Chaweng for the evening. She had bought me one krathong, and I got another one too from the stalls on the side of the road. People lit the candles and incense and floated their flowers out onto the water, saying a silent prayer in the process. After that, there were fireworks across the lake - and families lit giant paper lanterns, saying prayers as you let them float off into the sky. It was a pretty incredible sight - as people from all countries, races, ages and religions lit their offerings by the water. Check out some of my photos from the night:

Some krathongs: