Tag Archives: Places to visit

Please summer don’t go!

March 20, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

Adelaide is so lovely at the moment… it is not too warm, not too cold, it is perfect time to enjoy beautiful walks in the city and reward yourself with a nice iced tea sitting at the terrasse of your favorite cafe enjoying the sun and the life going by!

Lovely iced tea and waffles at cafe Troppo

I wish summer time could stay a little bit more… When I used to live in the north hemisphere the 20th March was a happy day for me because it was the first day of spring and I could already think about the nice places in Paris where I would go, the outdoor restaurants by my work place where I would eat, the cute summer dresses I would buy, the markets, the beautiful flowers and the lovely sun on my face ❤ but now it is different I live in Australia and today it is the first day of Autumn! What does Autumn look like in Australia… I have no idea… it is my first time here!

I have been told that after mad March, Adelaide needs to recover and it will be very quiet. People will stay at home, cook and relax! I am not sure I want to do that… I enjoy walking around, exploring the city, going to the beach, spending time with my new friends! I guess I can still do that even if the weather is colder… right?!

So here are a few activities I intend to do now the weather is getting cooler:

Rent a free bike and ride next to the beautiful Torrens river!
Keep on exploring the city thanks to the City council self guided Tours and Trails: http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/explore-the-city/see-do/maps-and-trails/tours-and-trails
Go more often to the Food Court in China Town (by the way I love Mum Kimba Korean cuisine), so nice and yummy!
Buy nice teas at T2 on Rundle street and enjoy the new comforting flavors (Choco Tchai with almonds milk mmm).
Climb on Mount Lofty, in the hills, everywhere… Sport is good for your soul and your body!
Take the train more often and start exploring the surroundings (I wish I could go back to Peninsula Fleurieu, so beautiful… and in autumn the colours must be lovely).
Do more shopping at the Central Market and buy cheese and bread (when winter is coming I generally start to dream about “raclette” or “fondue”: French dishes involving a lot of CHEESE).
Treat myself with some mouthwatering milk rocky roads from Haigh’s chocolates: they only produce them during the cold season and they are to die for!
Find a cosy cafe with a fire place where I can read new books and write beautiful pieces… hey wait a minute, there is a fire place in my new house in the living room 😉 I am already picturing myself with a cup of tchai latte and a nice blanket… too bad I don’t have a cat to complete this perfect winter scene!

Well… it sounds like a good plan to me! What about you? What are your favorite activities when the weather gets colder? What do you recommend me to do in Adelaide in Autumn?

PS: maybe I am being a lit bit too dramatic… Autumn does not seem very cold in Australia… actually this weekend is going to be very hot with 27 degree on Saturday and 32 degree on Sunday… I think I can still wear my summer dresses… the umbrella, the boots and the pullover can wait, YOUPI 🙂

australia, lifestyle

Cricket Match decoded by a French girl

March 17, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie 6 Comments

When I was living in France, I have never been a sport fan. I have been only one time to the French tennis open (Roland Garros), I have seen one day the “Tour de France” because the riders were biking in the city where I was living and I have never been to a rugby match which is a shame when you think that the city where I originally come from has the best team ever (ASM). I guess it was not really my thing at that time… but living abroad made me more curious I suppose and now I enjoy discovering about sports I am not familiar with and cricket is definitely one of them!

Sunday for the first time, I took part to the Cricket World Cup 2015 at Adelaide Oval! It was nothing like I would have ever imagined… First, I discovered that a cricket match is VERY long: this one started at 2pm and ended at 10pm… so you’d better come prepared because it is a long time spent on a plastic seat! Forget what you know about other sports or logic because cricket is really different!

I – The atmosphere

A cricket match is like a French family lunch on a weekend where everybody sits, eats and chats during HOURS about anything and sometimes stops when there is some “action” like a drunk uncle talking no sense or no more wine in the cellar or worst no more bread! Frankly, I was surprised to see that the people are not focus all the time on the match… actually they are chatting about what they did last weekend, their jobs, their families and eventually the match when a team scores! I have seen some people reading the newspaper, other enjoying a glass of wine, some texting on their Iphones… it is a very relaxed event where people are reunited in the name of cricket! In my opinion, the ideal is to come with good friends of yours, have some beers, some junk food, entertaining conversations and enjoy the show on the field! If you have good company, it is a nice way to spend your Sunday.

II – The game

I am not sure I understood the rules… but I managed to get a few things! So there are 2 teams playing on the field so you pick the one you want to support (generally I base my choice on the jersey colour). It is a bat and ball game so basically one team bats and the other bowls and then it is the other way around. The goal is to score as many runs as possible, easy! It is good to do a WICKET or a FOUR (people seems to be happy when it happens). It is bad to do a LEG BEFORE WICKET you don’t want that, never! I personally like the WICKET thing because the stick flies in the air and there is a little flashing light on its end which is pretty original.

The cricket match is divided into periods which is good so you can go in peace during the break to the food stand in the meantime to get some nachos or fries… because there are not actions all the time during the game so you don’t want to miss it when it occurs… it is like fishing, you never know when the fish is going to bite and you want to be there when it happens! Applaud and stand up when your team scores and don’t hesitate to encourage them shouting “Hit the Ball!”, “Come on guys!”, take some pics and post them on Instagram and you’ll be all right 🙂 people won’t even noticed it is your first time!

III – The environment

I think we are really lucky in Adelaide. The oval is so beautiful, colourful, very modern and gigantic! This stadium looks like a convention centre. The bathroom are very fancy like in a SPA, there are even candles, can you believe that on a match day!? Also, it can be very warm in the stadium during the afternoon (hey, we are in Oz world!) so bring a hat, sun glasses, sun block and a fan! Like I said a match can last until late at night so bring a pullover, a scarf and a jacket too or you’ll be sorry because it can get chilly! A nice way to end the evening after a match if you are still hungry is to head to the Bakery on O’Connell street in North Adelaide or The Orignal Pancakes kitchen in the CBD, they are both opened 24/7 and pretty closed from the Oval!

In my opinion, it is worth going at least once in your life to a cricket game especially with a group of friends you want to catch up with! I am glad I did, I mean it is always fun and refreshing to experience new things. I must say I spent a good time and I liked the atmosphere. I hope crickets fans won’t be offended by my vision… again this is cricket decoded by a French girl who attended to her first match… it is clear I am not Don Bradman 😉

food, School, Short trips

Highway to heaven

March 14, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie 9 Comments

I was 30 years old and it was my first time in the USA. My Californian friends had invited me on a road trip on one of the most scenic drives in the entire world: the iconic Highway One. We drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles and each day was a combination of natural beauty, breathtaking scenery and acknowledging life’s quality.

One of our final stops was in Santa Barbara, in a restaurant called ‘La Superica’. It looked like an old Mexican barrack with its white walls and blue windows. It was not fancy at all and it was nothing like what I would have picked to conclude a mind-blowing trip. But as soon as I went inside I felt that the atmosphere was very welcoming. It was packed with joyful people enjoying lively dishes and for a minute I forgot that my journey was nearly over. I ordered tacos and as soon as the food was placed on the table I understood why my friends took me here.

The fresh handmade tortilla was beautiful with a golden shade of yellow contrasting with the different mouthwatering ingredients sitting on its heart. I could smell the fragrant odour of the corn flour with a zest of lime tickling my nose. The meat had a lovely brown caramelised tint and smelt heavenly. It was tender, smoky, juicy and cooked to perfection. The red salsa was thick, creamy and attractively opaque in colour. I could tell the tomatoes had been cooked slowly and mixed with toasted Mexican chilles and chipotle peppers. The topping was a symphony of colours where the chopped green vegetables were dancing with the fresh herbs under a moon of white creamy cheese. I could see the finely minced onions blending with the minced crisp cabbages promising a textural crunch.

No sooner had the fresh taco touched my palate that I felt shivers and stopped. It was absolutely divine! An exquisite pleasure invaded my senses filling me with all California. Each bite, each colour, each flavour had the taste of my trip on the mythical Highway One. I could see the sunny valleys, the Spanish missions, the rugged beach and the surf towns. I could smell the farmers’ stalls on the side of the road, I could hear the Pacific Ocean crashing down below the steep cliffs and I could feel the intoxicating warmth of the Californian sun and the presence of my friends forever with me.

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This text is one of my assignments from creative writing class. I was asked to write about a vivid memory in 400 words so I picked a special moment I had the chance to experience a couple of years ago with my dear Californian friends: Teresa and John. My roadtrip in California was an amazing journey and I hope someday I will write the full story and share with you this beautiful and breathtaking adventure!

australia, lifestyle

This is a frogs’ world…

March 13, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie 6 Comments

Who would have guessed that South Australia’s most iconic cake is actually a “frog cake”? When you think about Australia, you think about a koala, a kangaroo, a platypus… but a frog?!

But it is true and it is a popular cake which was created in 1922 by the famous Balfours Bakery and they became the mascot of this institution. It is said that the creator found his inspiration after traveling to France!!! I am not showing off… I am just telling what I know 😉 Afterall, aren’t French people called “the frogs” or in Aussie language “the froggies”? My theory is that Mr Balfour felt in love with France and one of our iconic cute pastry called “petit cochon” (little pig) and he thought that it would be so nice to have a cute animal shape cake in his shop that would remind him of France and French people, and tada the frog cake was born! Hey… a French girl can dream?! Anyway good on him…because like I said it was a huge success. In 2001, the frog cake was listed as a state heritage icon of South Australia… so you’d better respect the frog!

So basically a frog cake is is a very sweet dessert with the shape of a frog’s head with its mouth opened. The texture is pretty smooth: it is a sponge base with cream and covered with thick layer of fondant icing. Originally you could only find those in green colour (most popular choice) but with the success they also created a pink and a brown frog! I think they look adorable and they must be lovely for tea time, they add colour to the table and give a kind of Alice in wonderland style!

A lovely exhibition took place recently in Adelaide to celebrate this iconic South Australian dessert! One hundred artists and institutions (School, hospital staffs etc) were given a ceramic Frog cake (3 times the size of a normal cake). They were asked to imagine their own frog cake for this special event raising funds for mental health. What a lovely and inspiring idea I must say…

When I heard about this exhibition, my curiosity was challenged and I had to go. First because I have seen those unusual cakes a couple of months ago but never imagined it was part of SA culture. Secondly I loved the idea that they turned this classic cake that seems to be quite ordinary as birthdays treat into something creative, original and extraordinary!

My friend Nasim (from Iran) was happy to join me in this adventure! We are the same we like to discover more about our new culture! Futhermore, she loves art so it was really interesting to visit this gallery together and share our opinions.

The ceramic frogs were nicely decorated, it was very creative since each artist gave its own vision. We saw great pieces and we actually spent a lot of time gazing at each one and trying to understand the point of view of the artist.

We particularly both enjoyed Emma Hack’s work (she is a famous for her body painting and owns an art gallery in North Adelaide), her ceramic frog was the expression of beautiful mother nature.

I also liked Sophia Nuske’s frog and the Women’s and Children’s hospital’s decorated frog. There were many beautiful smily frogs and I wish I could get one for my home!

I have really enjoyed this exhibition and I thought it was a beautiful way to honor and celebrate this South Australian heritage. Nearly all the cute frogs were sold to help a good cause!

It seems that South Australians still have a sweet spot in their heart for this unusual but classic little froggie cake ❤

Adelaide Convention Center painted on a singing frog

Sadly the exhibition in Light Square Gallery is already over but if you have missed your chance, you can always cheer you up by biting into this typical South Australian cake… and what a better place than the iconic Balfours Bakery! For those who are not into frogs they also offer an amazing range of pies that must be delicious! As for me, it should not be an issue, since French people have the reputation to eat frogs legs and to LOVE it… so this sweet version should be a… piece of cake for me haha!

Balfours Bakery – baking since 1853

91 Exeter Tce

Dudley Park, SA 5008

Tel. 08 8368 5305

http://www.balfours.com.au

australia, lifestyle

Adelaide Writers’ week

March 7, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie 4 Comments

No wonder March is Adelaideans’ favorite month. There are so many shows running at the moment. It is such a lovely time of the year and a beautiful way to say goodbye to summer! The offer is massive and the hardest part is to choose because you want to see everything! Actually, I wish I could party everyday… but as a “working/student” I must save money so I have to restrain myself. Hopefully there are many free events and that is what I love about Adelaide, they do their best to please every taste and every budget!

Each year, Adelaide hosts the “writers’ week”: a unique free event! This is an absolutely charming festival celebrating an important art form: WRITING. The writers’ week offers the opportunity to meet national and international authors, to hear about their books and to share their visions. http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2015/writers_week/adelaide_writers_week

It is an outdoor event taking place in the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden. The park is beautiful with the garden roses and the palm trees. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, very casual… I like the way they keep it “simple” and intimate. It makes it even more special and appropriate to share a true passion between writers and readers.

My friend Nasim (from Iran) and I decided to go to the Writers’ week on Thursday 05 March afternoon and we listened to Esther Freud talking about her book “Mr Mac and Me“ set at the onset of the First World War. Esther is a British novelist and actress. Her family is famous: she is the daughter of painter Lucian Freud and great grand-daughter of Sigmund Freud! It was really interesting to listen to her talking about her book, the war and the little village where the story takes place. It was a little bit hard for me to understand as we were sitting in the back so I had to real focus on the words. I must say the Q&A session was really good and it was also interesting to hear about the author’s personal life as she had quite an original childhood. As a child when she would visit her father’s studio, she was so used to see nudes paintings, it was very natural for her and part of her life. So when she was 16 and he asked her if she would mind sit for him, she immediately accepted and took her clothes off. Actually she said that posing naked for her father was much easier than taking her clothes off in front of a lover – which made the audience laugh! I hope it does not sound like the typical French cliché that the only part I got clearly is this episode 😉 haha… Actually I recall seing Esther’s nude painting at the Tate Modern when I was living and working in London and I am glad I could hear the true story behind this piece of art as I felt a little bit uncomfortable at the museum.

My favorite presentation was from the author Favel Parrett “When the night comes“. She is such a lovely and interesting person! Basically, her story explores the relationship between two different characters who left their mainland to seek for a better life. Isla is a isolated young girl who lives in Tasmanian and Bo is a Danish sailor on his way to Antarctica. Bo enjoys sharing his fascinating stories about the life on board of the Nella Dan ship that transports people and cargo between Australia and the Antarctic research station. The power of the story lies on the amazing description of the journeys and the detailed life on board which will make you travel with the characters. All inspired by the author’s own experience during her Australian Antarctic Arts fellowship used as research for her novel! http://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2012/fellowship-to-tell-the-story-of-longest-serving-antarctic-ship

The Q&A session was also very interesting since the author explained how hard it was to let the characters go when the book was finished. She spent 2 years writing this novel and it was like Isla and Bo were part of her life. She also explained why she chose this title since people were surprised because when you think about Antarctica you think about light, ice, white snow, sun (by the way leave me a comment once you have read the book and I will reveal you why she picked this title). She also told us how hard it is for her to come up with a title as she changes her mind quite often. She also insisted on the fact that it is useful to have a good editor to walk you through and to say “ok, now it is done, stop” since she could have kept on doing more and more researches and re-write again and again about her story and her characters. She added she would be thrilled to work again on a ship like she did a couple of years ago because it is just you and the immensity of the sea balanced with the confined life on the boat that becomes your home and your family! It must be an incredible experience… Anyway, I have really enjoyed her presentation and I will definitely read her book!

Actually it is quite funny because I happened to have a conversation about Antarctica 10 days ago with an old friend of mine… Life is funny sometimes, don’t you think?! So my friend John (from California) told me that he would love to take a trip to Antarctica and he is meaning it! I was like “well, good for you” but maybe I should be more enthusiastic about it too since I have never been that “closed” from Antarctica! I must say I was feeling a little bit skeptical… probably because I have never considered this destination before, why would I!? It sounds like a cold no man’s land to me… but now after hearing about this lovely book and story I am willing to give it a go, I have totally changed my mind about it. It sounds like an expedition, an exciting and unique adventure!!!

This is what I like about books, it touches your heart and gives you new perspectives. Writing is about creating, communicating, expressing and connecting with the world… I can’t see better events than Adelaide Writers’ week to celebrate this overwhelming feeling! All in all a fantastic journey where imagination and creation have no limits!

australia, lifestyle

Let’s get crazy: it is mad March!

March 6, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie 3 Comments

There is a lot going on at the moment in our city! Adelaide is a hive of activity: streets and parks are lively, full of music and new faces. The iconic Fringe Festival is in town!

Every year, Adelaide becomes the capital of Arts by hosting many quality events featuring: Opera, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cabaret, Literature and Visual Art. The festival is considered to be one of the world’s major celebrations of the arts and cultural events in Australia. Have a look at the program, it is quite impressive: http://www.adelaidefestival.com.au

The city has so much to offer! No wonder there are so many tourists at the moment visiting Adelaide to enjoy the entertaining shows. This year the festival’s theme is: Experience something new! Since it is my first year in Australia, I can totally relate to that. I mean everything is a new experience for me here and I love it ❤

I personally took part to the Writers’ week and I am planning to go to the French films festival too! Some friends invited me to the garden of unearthly delights in Elder park with a bunch of colleagues. First time they mentioned it I thought I heard “the garden of unhealthy delights” haha. It was really nice: good food (Aussies barbies = Australians’barbecues) and music in a very casual and friendly atmosphere! The perfect place to relax after work: http://www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au

We have a long weekend coming since Monday is a bank holiday in Australia and everybody is talking about: WOMAD (World of Music Art and Dance)! It is a very popular festival with 400 artists from all other the globe making Adelaide dance in the glorious Botanical Garden. I have heard that artists such as: Buena Vista Social Club, Sinead O’Connor, Youssou N’Dour, Neneh Cherry… will be here 😉 It is still time to buy a ticket as I heard that there might be discounts on Monday: https://www.womadelaide.com.au

Speaking of Youssou N’Dour and Neneh Cherry, do you remember their beautiful song “7 seconds”? It was a hit in France in 1994 and I was a teenager… If you pay attention, you will notice that a part of the lyrics are in French https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqCpjFMvz-k

So it seems, in March in Adelaide, there is no time to rest! The more you are outside enjoying the variety of events in the CBD, in the parks and by the Torrens river… the better!

This is why I believe it is called “Mad March” because each day is a party that you have to join in!

australia, lifestyle

“El jardin de las munecas” (the garden of the dolls)

February 9, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

When I am passing by this house on Wright street in Adelaide CBD, I feel afraid and curious at the same time. There are mutilated dolls hanging in the trees in the garden. It is so creepy but I can’t help looking at it each time and wondering why it is here for? What does it mean? Is it the masterpiece of a lunatic? or some garden ornements that I don’t get?

I still remember the day when I tried to take a picture of it. Some grating noises started and got louder… and there was no way I could tell for sure if somebody was trying to scare me (and having good fun) or if the house was haunted or something… maybe it was just the wind and the trees were rubbed against the metallic gate… but it did not feel right and I was unable to take a good picture of it!

Another day, I went by and the garden gate was opened and there was a glass of water on a small table under the porch… so I assume somebody lives in this place. If I am correct then I am wondering why some dolls are hung in the trees, with screws in the head… Maybe the work of a twisted mind…

I had a discussion with my brother about it and he told me that it reminded him of “la isla de las munecas” (the island of the dolls) in Mexico. I have googled it and what I found is pretty scaring… Basically there is an island there full of terrifying dolls hanging all other the place: some are injured, others are decapitated or blinds… supposedly to honour the spirit of a dead little girl. If you dare you can visit the place but be prepared to be followed by soulless eyes…creepy… creepy…. http://www.isladelasmunecas.com

But back to my story or should I say my unsolved mystery… I was so intrigued that I looked on the internet if I could find a ghost story or strange events about Adelaide.. but I could not find anything related to this house facing Whitmore square on Wright street.

I had absolutely no leads, no evidences, no clue! So I decided to let it go… Afterall I am not Veronica Mars and I am here to enjoy my time in Adelaide and not try to investigate on some strange dark secrets.

I sent the picture to the City newspaper (just in case) and I moved on… both literally and figuratively. I stopped “obsessing” about it and anyway I moved from CBD to North Adelaide …so the creepy house is not on my usual path anymore.

I had actually nearly forgotten about it… but a couple of days ago it came back to my mind and it was quite unexpected! I was walking in North Adelaide charming streets, gazing at the birds and the trees when suddenly I have seen this horrible and scaring painting on the pavement leaning on a tree!

Four white little kitties standing on a shiny blue sheet: the simple idea of having a painting like that hanging in my living room is already giving me a headache. But there was even more scary to come… somebody used a black pencil to blind the cats, like they were crying blood tears or something… they looked like satanic cats… I could not help wondering if the owner of this painting made it himself?! Then you can imagine his wife complained about it so he decided to get rid of the painting in the street hoping somebody would appreciate his sense of home design… Or another scenario is that a simple passer by or a psychopath decided to ruin this kitty scene to spice up its day… You never know, can you?!

Don’t worry for me, I still sleep very well at night. And despite these 2 creepy scenes, I still think Adelaide is a charming city… like I said before, there is always something new to discover here and it is impossible to get bored!

By the way, if somebody knows anything about “el jardin de las munecas” (the garden of the dolls) on Wright street, I am definitely interested 😉

australia, lifestyle

Walk with me…

February 8, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

Thursday morning was absolutely lovely: sunny, nicely warm but not too much… so I put my hat, my sun glasses and my sun cream on and I have decided to go for a nice walk in the south east part of the CBD!

Here is a little bit of history about Adelaide: “In the late 19th Century, people from all social levels lived in the south eastern corner of the city. The wealthy occupied mansions on East and South Terrace, the growing middle class lived in Victorian villas in Halifax and Gilles Streets, while the intervening small cottages were filled by workers who were able to walk to work or work from home.” (source Adelaide City Council)

Many victorian mansions, villas and cottages are still here… some have been renovated, refurbished, extended… I think they are really pretty! It is interesting to look at these houses, their architechture and to imagine their history.

I really enjoy walking in Adelaide and I think it is a nice way to explore my new city. There is always something new to discover. The streets are so peaceful and so quiet… no wonder that Adelaide is called “The village in the city” – I can’t agree more on that!

I have found this free self guided tour and it is very entertaining: http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/assets/documents/MAP-TRAIL-historical-walking-village-city.pdf

The walk starts in the east part of Carrington street and there are exactly 28 stops along the way. A map and a detailed description is provided for each stop so you learn about the history of some interesting mansions, villas or cottages. The tour is supposed to last 1 hour and a half but if you are like me, getting lost, taking pictures… make it double time!

You would think how can you possibly get lost with a map and in a small city like Adelaide… awkward… but true! It happens to me quite often actually… Hopefully Adelaide CBD is not huge so I don’t get lost for long. When “desperate” or in a hurry, I consider using my Iphone and I find my way rapidly… see I am not hopeless! But you know what, I actually enjoy to get lost because you never know what you can find out.

“Getting lost is just another way of saying: going exploring” – Justina Chen, North of Beautiful

I want to get lost in Adelaide, I want to see more of this beautiful city, I want to know the names of all the streets, I want to be able to name the different birds and flowers I see… there are so many things I still don’t know.

Someday I will know Adelaide like the back of my hand. Someday I will live in a charming Australian villa like the one on the picture. I particularly fancy the verandas and the balconies… so elegant and also so romantic!!! When this day comes, you will find me sitting under the porch in a wooden rocking chair reading a book with a home made iced tea… Why don’t you join me? 😉

australia, lifestyle

Learn to swim like a dolphin

February 6, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

Sometimes I dream I have a house on the beach so I can wake up each morning with the sound of the sea, enjoy my chai tea latte while gazing at the waves and eventually if I am lucky catch sight of some majestic dolphins…

It used to be only a dream but since I live now in Adelaide, I tend to think that maybe someday… who knows?!

Actually when I have learnt I was moving to Australia, I got excited and automatically started to think about things I wanted to do, places I wanted to visit. The first thing that came to my mind was “See the wild dolphins”!

We moved to Australia in September 2014 and I decided I will go and see the Dolphins the day of my birthday! I guess I wanted to make it special! I think it is nice sometimes to spice the day!

So when my birthday came, I went to Port Adelaide as planned. First, I started the day with a lovely breakfast at the Red Lime Shack: I had freshly made waffles with banana ice cream, berry coulis and pure maple syrup. I also drank a chocolava smoothie, basically raw cacao, bananas, coconut and dates. Everything tasted sooooo good, it was a perfect birthday breakfast to kick the day! https://www.facebook.com/RedLimeShack

Then I headed to the port and took a nice cruise with Dolphin Explorer. I really recommend them, the staff is so friendly and the captain is really nice and good fun too! http://www.dolphinexplorer.com.au

It was a very pleasant moment I must say. I was sitting on the upper deck, my hair dancing in the wind, listening to the Captain’s comments about Port Adelaide history. Suddenly a group of dolphins showed up and started to swim along the vessel. They were absolutely gorgeous. What a moment!

The cruise went on and I really enjoyed my time. At some point, people started to get inside the boat to have lunch in the restaurant. I chose to stay outside to enjoy the show as much as possible!

A group of young people showed up on the upper deck with beers and sodas to celebrate which I thought was a good idea. I mean even if you are not lucky and you do not see a single dolphin, you can still enjoy a lovely cruise with a fresh drink.

Later, I decided to make my way to the lower deck and I am glad I had this idea because I was in luck! Actually a dolphin started to swim only one meter away from me. It was a magic moment, I was totally hypnotized, I could not believe my eyes. It was so closed from me…

I know this sound silly but the dolphin looked so happy, so free… enjoying the swim, sometimes jumping, going up, going down, playing with the boat. It woke up my inner child and I was totally amazed… it was a lovely feeling. I could not help smiling…I felt so good, so happy, so alive!

“Dolphins are social mammals, capable of enjoying their lives. They form close bonds with other members of their group.”Peter Singer.

When you think of it, we are not that different. We need to bond with people, to be part of “groups”… We are unique but in the same time we are shaped by our social environment. Our need to connect with others is fundamental and gives us meaning. It is part of our happiness to share and to interact. It is what makes our lives so special and interesting. Don’t you think?

It is as simple as that: learn to swim like a dolphin through life, meet as many people as you can, connect with them, make friends, enjoy your time on earth and above all SMILE!

australia, lifestyle

Stay bold and fearless!

February 4, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie 3 Comments

Traveling and living overseas has definitively become a part of who I am. I wouldn’t say that I am a new person now but I feel different for sure!

In order to embrace my new lifestyle I had to adapt, to learn, to compromise! Sometimes it was not easy but each victory, even smalls onces have helped me to grow in a beautiful way. Today I feel confident about my future, determined to be happy and above all bold and fearless!

I mean if you can get over of moving to another country far from your family and friends, leave your comfort zone, learn a new language, deal with the uncertainty… you can get over (nearly) anything!

It takes courage, patience and motivation to build a new life but it is also very enriching and so rewarding! Each day is a challenge with a situation to overcome. Sometimes you succeed and sometimes you fail. It does not matter because the most important is to keep trying! You gain strength, confidence and suddently you start to do things you would never have considered before: Yoga, Chinese class, creative writing workshops with native people, a blog in English, driving lessons… and this is a wonderful feeling!

For those who are sharing the same lifestyle, I am sure you agree on the fact that living abroad has pushed you to experiment new things to have new perspectives, to have new projects and also to deal with your fears…

Speaking of that, on Sunday I was invited for a walk in Morialta conservation Park (an amazing place 20 minutes away from Adelaide). I was really thrilled because I love the “Australian wild” the kangaroos, the koalas… I was already picturing myself walking in the rocks, gazing at the trees and the flowers, listening to the birds, crossing a river… dancing with the butterflies!

It turned out that I was completely wrong! I was not invited for a walk in the rocks but for rock climbing instead! At least I got the word “rock” right… I knew I was not going to go shopping in Adelaide CBD for sure haha! This is the thing when you are learning a language, sometimes you think you understand and you say “Yes, sure, count me in” and the minute after you realise you made a huge mistake and you feel a little bit silly!

But like I said, the whole point of this experience is also to try new things and as I said now I am bold and fearless… So guess what, I did it! I have never done it before but somehow I have managed to climb this gigantic rock… of course I was scared and not really relaxed but I succeeded! I was really proud of me and really glad I did not give up. And it was not easy because I was not wearing the right shoes… my Converse trainers are pretty but they are not ideal for this sport!

In conclusion, it was a lovely day, it was challenging and fun! I have learnt some climbing techniques, how to use my body , how to use the rope… it was very interesting. Furthermore Morialta park is absolutely gorgeous with splendid waterfalls, the scenery is amazing and there are a lof of wild animals (I have seen a kangaroo). I would be happy to come back for a nice and long walk next time!

I have really enjoyed this new adventure, I would not call myself a Lara Croft (yet) but I am glad I did not let my fear decide my fate!