COVID19 has got me craving an overseas holiday like crazy. It's true that if you know that something is forbidden that it becomes even more desirable to you and travelling abroad has become that much longed after yearning for me. I have dreams where I am in destinations far away doing things that are completely inconceivable, dangerous and downright illegal to do right now. However, this craving for travel has made me reflect upon some of the best adventures that I have experienced in my travels, and I am so blessed to have had many. Here are some of my personal overseas highlights and experiences that I am exceptionally grateful to have been fortunate enough to enjoy.
Saw this movie recently, and I know for sure that this is the last place on earth that I would want to travel to, so I'm definitely not starting at Hotel Coolgardie!
- Eating croissants, cheese and baguettes in Paris - oh my thighs!
- Visiting the Parisian catacombs and Versaille.
- Staying in a chateau in the Loire Valley.
- Going to the Tower of London and walking across Tower Bridge.
- Seeing Stonehenge, the real Magna Carta and the Roman Baths in England.
- Staying in a castle and sleeping in a 4-post bed in Bath.
- Eating fish and chips in Salisbury.
- Getting baked in Amsterdam and eating too many frites.
- Sailing the canals and seeing tulip fields whilst bike riding in Holland.
- Driving the autobahn across Germany in a new BMW.
- Eating dumplings, sauerkraut and pretzels and drinking too much beer in Munich.
- Seeing the snow covered mountain ranges between Germany and Austria.
- Riding the vaporettos in Venice and getting lost in the streets.
- Visiting the Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Square.
- The smell of good coffee and leather as you exit the train station in Florence.
- All of the art and antiquities that I saw in Florence, especially Michelangelo's David.
- Eating handmade fresh pasta in Florence.
- Visiting the colosseum and the Roman forum in Rome.
- Going to the ruins of Pompeii.
- Discovering that wine is cheaper than water by the bottle in Rome....when in Rome right?
- Eating pizza and gelato in Rome.
- Staying in The Plaka in Athens and eating street food, especially the souvlaki and baklava!
- Standing at the sight of the Acropolis.
- Seeing Delphi - the navel of the world and climbing Mount Parnassus to the home of the oracle.
- Cruising the beautiful Aegean Sea to Mykonos, Santorini and Crete.
- Seeing the spectacular Santorini sunsets and white washed buildings.
- Crazy bartering in Turkish street markets.
- Drinking Turkish apple tea after a traditional Turkish massage.
- Eating the best Thai street food in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
- Staying on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
- Racing through the Bangkok streets in a tuk tuk.
- Eating Pad Thai and fresh fruit at the floating markets in Thailand.
- Riding an elephant through the jungles of Chiang Mai on my 40th birthday.
- Seeing the ruins at Sukhothai Historical Park and Ayutthaya in Thailand.
- Shopping at markets and getting loads of good massages in Thailand.
- Visiting the Monkey Forest and rice paddy fields of Ubud, Bali.
- Eating delicious spicy pork ribs at the roadside warungs in Bali.
- Doing a tea and coffee (including that cat-poop coffee) sampling in Bali.
- Seeing the incredible Gardens by the Bay in Singapore at night.
- Shopping for hours in the streets of Chinatown.
- Eating curry and navigating the Mustafa Centre in Little India.
- Feasting like a king for a few dollars at the hawker centres in Singapore.
- Having a Singapore sling at the Long Bar of Raffles Hotel.
- Glow worm caving in New Zealand.
- Going to Hobbiton.
- Flying down the side of a mountain on a luge in Rotorua.
- Zip lining through the forests of Rotorua.
- Sailing Lake Taupo in New Zealand.
- Seal watching and collecting Paua shells on the beach in Wellington.
- Snorkelling in Vanuatu.
- Kayaking around the small islands in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
- Eating seafood and drinking cocktails on the beach all night in Vanuatu.
Saw this movie recently, and I know for sure that this is the last place on earth that I would want to travel to, so I'm definitely not starting at Hotel Coolgardie!
HOTEL COOLGARDIE
Release Date: 2016
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 83 mins
This confronting and at times distressing documentary from director Pete Gleeson focuses on an outback bar called Hotel Coolgardie, a pub situated between Australia's most remote city and it's largest gold mine. It is also a pub where the majority of the patronage are made up of desperate, disillusioned and mostly roughneck blokes, many of whom work the local mines.
Fresh off the plane from Finland, backpackers Lina and Steph undertake a three month consignment to work behind the bar at the Hotel Coolgardie to earn some fast cash. Unbeknownst to them, their arrival in town signals the locals to the arrival of some 'fresh meat' and the girls must continually fend off relentless advances from the booze-addled patrons whilst also dealing with their rude and demanding new boss.
This documentary is so affecting, I felt physically unsettled, uncomfortable and afraid for the poor Finnish girls welfare for the entire duration. What we are seeing here is an unflinching portrayal of a masculine and dark side of Australia that I thought had died a thankful death years ago, but apparently it hasn't. And as you watch these poor women get rotated out every few months for another batch of attractive and completely unaware backpackers, it's just heartbreaking stuff to behold. As a woman, this Australian documentary made me feel deeply ashamed and sickened.
FINAL SAY: Toxic masculinity and small town alcoholics.
4 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 2016
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 83 mins
This confronting and at times distressing documentary from director Pete Gleeson focuses on an outback bar called Hotel Coolgardie, a pub situated between Australia's most remote city and it's largest gold mine. It is also a pub where the majority of the patronage are made up of desperate, disillusioned and mostly roughneck blokes, many of whom work the local mines.
Fresh off the plane from Finland, backpackers Lina and Steph undertake a three month consignment to work behind the bar at the Hotel Coolgardie to earn some fast cash. Unbeknownst to them, their arrival in town signals the locals to the arrival of some 'fresh meat' and the girls must continually fend off relentless advances from the booze-addled patrons whilst also dealing with their rude and demanding new boss.
This documentary is so affecting, I felt physically unsettled, uncomfortable and afraid for the poor Finnish girls welfare for the entire duration. What we are seeing here is an unflinching portrayal of a masculine and dark side of Australia that I thought had died a thankful death years ago, but apparently it hasn't. And as you watch these poor women get rotated out every few months for another batch of attractive and completely unaware backpackers, it's just heartbreaking stuff to behold. As a woman, this Australian documentary made me feel deeply ashamed and sickened.
FINAL SAY: Toxic masculinity and small town alcoholics.
4 Chilli Peppers
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