Travel – The Poppy Files

Tag: Travel

Melbourne Moments

Larni & Cherida

I have just spent the weekend in Melbourne on my biannual trip with my dear friend Cherida. We both converge on the Victorian capital from Adelaide and Hobart, for a weekend of bliss.

A weekend where we bid farewell to our little families for three days of freedom and friendship. These trips represent a little full stop … punctuating our lives for a few days to enable us to catch our breath and to truly reflect and recharge. Where we enjoy long conversations over cups of tea and exquisite pastries.

My eyes are continually averted to the shiny bright lights of a big city, where we wander with no time limits. An urban beauty that is such a contrast to my ‘normal’ at home where beautiful beaches, forests and natural scenery are dominant features. I love the contrast of the glitzy shops, designed spaces, considered lighting, fashion forward thinking and skyscrapers reaching up to the blue, blue sky. xx

Melbourne Virgin Lounge The Journal Zomp Shoes Top 3 By Design Jac + Jack Camilla & Marc Marimekko Oter Oter Oter Oter Oter Oter Oter Oter The European Pellegrinis Bar Hill of Content H&M Bassike Bassike Bassike Bassike The Emporium Acne Studios Florist Higher Ground Cumulus Inc. Melbourne Parliament Street Station ACDC Lane Hopetun Tea Rooms Haighs Chocolates Hunt Leather Prada Prada

Tuesday, 19 July 2016 0 Comments Short URLCumulus Inc., Higher Ground Melbourne, Melbourne, Oter, Restaurants, Shopping, The European, TravelTravel

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Star of the Show

Bay of Fires

Last week I was working again with Tourism Tasmania, hosting a national travel magazine featuring the beautiful Bay of Fires and a somewhat famous Australian model, who I am unable to disclose until the article is published in June/July. I will keep you guessing until then!

I had the pleasure of working with some amazingly talented women who were orchestrating the shoot – a Managing Editor, an Art Director, a Photographer, a Make-up/Hair Artist, the model’s Agent and a Stylist.

A Stylist that I have been following on-line for quite some time, so I was a little star-struck when I met Inez Garcia of Inez Daily! An avid reader of her blog, it was humbling to meet someone face-to-face that you kind of feel like you know in the on-line space. She was delightful and obviously one very stylish lady!

The real star of the show however, was the amazing Bay of Fires. Never one to disappoint it turned on its best side, despite the dark clouds threatening to spoil the shoot. Some of the crew stayed at the delightful Eden at Bay of Fires where we were able to enjoy a nice lunch together, take in the view and reflect on the sheer beauty of this place. Xx

Bay of Fires Eden of Bay of Fires

Tuesday, 15 March 2016 4 Comments Short URLBay of Fires, Eden at Bay of Fires, Photoshoot, Travel, Travel MagazineTravel

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Jackson Hole ♥

Oh Jackson Hole – you have my ♥!

Nick and I have just returned from the most amazing ski trip to Jackson Hole in Wyoming. A decision that I didn’t make lightly, but with my sister Cath encouraging us to go and happy to look after Poppy and James, plus with the help of Nick’s family, I knew they were in good hands. For my peace of mind, I even completed a comprehensive spreadsheet depicting school pick-ups, drop-offs and weekend rostering!

The proverbial ‘umbilical cord’ was stretched on departure but after immersing ourselves in the cocoon of our United Airlines Flight 99 across the Pacific, where we watched oodles of movies, slept and ate, I felt more relaxed. We transferred in Los Angeles to finally arrive at our destination and to the most stylish airport I have ever seen … and to a contrasting, snowy landscape. A landscape so gobsmackingly beautiful … and it was just Nick and I, together for 12 days of snowy bliss!

Arrival Jackson Hole

The Mountain

Nick and I both love the snow and have skied/snowboarded in many beautiful locations around the world, but Jackson Hole sung a little song to me. Nick visited two years ago to stay with his old school friend – Pat, and has been talking about returning ever since. Pat lives in the Gold Coast but returns to Jackson Hole each year with his family. It was wonderful to stay with them in their apartment and also to meet their local friends that they have made over the past 15 years.

Jackson Hole is nestled in the mighty Teton Range – an impressive mountain range rising directly from the valley floor. With our lift tickets in hand – tickets that enable access to over 2500 acres of in-bound terrain, with a vertical drop of 1261 metres and an uphill capacity of moving 17,833 skiers per hour, this mountain means business. We had 133 named runs to explore and explore we did – for 9 ‘blue-bird’ days straight!

Each day we fell into a beautiful rhythm of getting up early, eating a hearty breakfast and catching the 8:20 am Blue START bus from town. Lining up for the 9:00 o’clock ‘Gondy‘ (Gondola) our early morning groomers were the best runs of the days and we churned them out on the Teton, Apres Vous, Casper, Thunder and Sublette Chairlifts, feeling exhausted by lunch. We were definitely ready for that burger and fries from the Handle Bar, washed down nicely with the local brew – Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR’s).

In the afternoon we would venture back out again until the lifts closed around 3:30 pm. Our Apres Ski drinks would take us back to the Handle Bar or the local fave, The Mangy Moose. Back on the bus and reminiscing about the day, we would often see a real Moose on the side of the road. Oh Jackson Hole!

Jackson Hole The Tram Thunder Top of Thunder On the Summit of Rendevous Nick on Wide Open Nick, Larni & Gary - Teton Chair Chloe, Jasper and Pat Larni Cody Peak Waiting for the Tram Top of the Gondy Pat & Nick Nick The Gondola Nick and I Groomers The Crew at Casper Nicko in his element The Posse

The Town

I love mountain towns and have spent much of my youth working at local hills in Canada including Grouse Mountain and Ben Lomond in Tasmania. I have loved holidaying to Whistler Blackcomb, Red Mountain and Powder King in Canada and closer to home to Thredbo, Mt. Hotham, Mt. Buller and New Zealand in recent years.

Jackson Hole – a true mountain town, was no exception. I fell in love with it as soon as we arrived. A town where outdoorsy types rub shoulders with cowboys and their Dodge Ram ‘Heavy Duty’ rigs loaded with several snow mobiles are parked outside Outdoor/Mountaineering shops. We experienced Cowboy Bars, a game of ice hockey, we watched the Super Bowl final with new friends and saw an ice skating rink in the local square, adorned with stag horns.

Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Town Square Heavy Duty The Sylish Life Outdoor Brands The Town Square Waiting at the bus stop

The Food

All I can say is that I was glad I was snowboarding for 4-5 hours each day as we definitely hit the mountain fare in style. Burritos, Burgers, Chicken Wings, Fries, Pretzels, Elk & Red Bean Chili, French Onion Soups, Waffles, Cookies and Beers. I’m definitely looking forward to being back home to those summer salads and my Pilates and yoga classes.

French Onion Soup, Burger and PBR's Chicken Wings The Handle Bar Em and her Pretzle Carbonara Night Elk Burgers Jumbo Margarita's Bin 22 My favourite cookie from Casper Restaurant Waffles

Home Sweet Home

Returning home after many, many hours of flying, was bittersweet. Seeing Poppy and James launch into our arms made me realise just how much I missed them, but also how important it is to follow your dreams and pave the way for them! I can’t wait to take them to Jackson Hole, for a family holiday in the snow. Xx

Leaving town Jackson Hole Airport Boarding Passes Back in Melbourne Presents Galore Daniel Boon Hat Poppy in her new gear

Saturday, 20 February 2016 3 Comments Short URLCowboy Bar, Holiday, Ice Hockey, Jackson Hole, Skiing, Snowboarding, Travel, USA, WyomingTravel

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Contrasts

Great Bay - Bruny Island

We have just had a night away on the boat for the weekend. On Saturday afternoon after a lovely day time sleep to the gentle roll of the Chanel, we anchored in Great Bay on Bruny Island to go to Get Shucked for some tasty oysters – a la Kilpatrick and a Virgin Mary.

As we were waiting for our ‘Mother In Laws Kilpatrick‘ to cook a family visiting from China pulled in and were most delighted to pat Maisy, who was tied up at the gate greeting these visitors with a zesty wag of her tail. They were so taken by their experience that the ‘Mum’ pulled out her selfie stick and took several photos of her and Maisy – who obliged accordingly.

There were gushes over our little curly-haired blondies with more photos taken, in front of the signs and with their oysters.

As I wandered back over the road in our gumboots, onto the beach and into the dinghy with our dog and two blondies in tow, this experience got me thinking. Thinking about the contrasts of life. We live in this ‘isolated’ southern island, with desolate beaches, bush as far as the eye can see, savouring seafood that is freshly plucked from the ocean and enjoying simple days with our family. I wondered what kind of world they lived in – a high rise in Shanghai, surrounded by a billion people perhaps?

I love living our life in our Tasmanian home, but there are so many ‘lives’ to be lived in all manner of locations. I sometimes forget how ‘the other half’ live until I am reminded of my past travelling days or when I meet new people who marvel at all the unique values of Tasmania.

So Maisy is probably famous on some Chinese website by now, but we are still tinkering away on the water, fossicking for shells, picking flowers, marvelling at dolphins and making more family memories. Xx

Get Shucked