Weekend Lunch Spot: Porch & Parlour

Porch & Parlour in Bondi is one of my favourite weekend lunch (or brunch) spots. Cosy little venue, warm atmosphere and babe'n bearded baristas (and the food is pretty good too.) But really - seasonal dishes, ethically sourced produce, super vegetarian-friendly... What more could you want with your ocean views?

I love the idea of doing the Bronte to Bondi walk, and then backing it up with a wholesome feed! Whilst I can't vouch for their meat-containing counterparts, the vegetarian menu options are comprised of simple flavour combinations that aren't too heavy on the stomach, so if you wanted to head back to the beach feeling comfortable in your bikini, you could. (I wouldn't include the veggie burger in my previous statement - it is a big deal.)

Sydney or elsewhere - where's your favourite weekend lunch spot?

green breaky bowl sans egg, grilled ocean trout + green juice

veggie + almond burger

kool noodle salad + seared beef

February.

Well, hasn't February been a whirlwind.

I can safely say that I haven't come remotely close to getting into gear with this blog. I have been completely overwhelmed with work, gigs, partying and more work - this blog has been the farthest thing from my mind.

I have officially blocked out a weekly time in my calendar to work on blog content - I've realised this blog is going to play a huge role in my upcoming life plans, so need to put the hours in until they pay off.

What do you want to hear about? Things to do in Sydney? Live music reviews? Recipes? Meditation and mindfulness? Metaphysics and spirituality?

Ha, this is as much for your enjoyment as it is for my sanity - let me know what you want to be reading.

Speak real soon xx

Diet Staples: Super Green Smoothie Recipe

The ingredients that make up my favourite green smoothie! x

Happy Saturday! If you've been following my blog over the last couple of weeks, you'd know that I have been prepping for a 30 day raw food challenge! The time has finally arrived to detoxify my mind and body - I will begin on Monday. I will be tracking all of the changes that occur right here, as well as uploading meal plans and some of my staple recipes.

Two activities that I will be partaking in to assist the detox process are dry brushing and sweating! Both provide a myriad of benefits through helping your body eliminate and excrete toxins - over the coming weeks I will write a post outlining all the reasons why you should incorporate these activities into your daily routine (such as reducing the appearance of cellulite, need I say more?)

Over the past year or so, my morning green smoothie has become a coffee-like ritual (sans caffeine so I don't experience energy spikes or anxiety). I get nervous at the thought of skipping it, and have seen so many improvements in my health and happiness from starting my day with this mostly veggie boost! They are so versatile as you can literally mix and match any fruit and veg (minus melons) to pack a nutritional punch first thing in the morning! Mentally, I also find that when I start my day with a smoothie, I don't want to steer from the clean-eating path so it serves as an encouraging tool to ensure you eat right all day.

It can be a little time consuming chopping all your ingredients and mixing it all up, so I make a batch that yields about four smoothies at the beginning of the week. (I'm not very hungry in the morning so each serve for me is only approximately a 250mL cup.) To ensure the nutritional value of the smoothie doesn't decline after spending a few days in the fridge, I freeze the smoothies and let one defrost overnight the night before I intend to drink it up!

This here is my current go-to recipe, but you can get adventurous and try different greens and fruits or a base like coconut water or almond milk. Also, your may prefer a different consistency to your smoothie so if you prefer it to be smoother you would add more liquids, if you prefer it to be thicker and with chunks of the food you could add more veggies.

Super Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

6 large kale leaves

1 large cucumber (with peel)

1 large celery stem (with leaves)

1 medium carrot

1 kiwi fruit (with peel)

1/2 pear

1 tsp chia seeds

1 1/2 cup of filtered water

1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Wash and cube all fruit and vegetables.
2. Add all fruit and veg, water and lemon juice to blender.

3. Blend until desired consistency is achieved.

4. Serve and stir in chia seeds.

5. Freeze leftovers and defrost overnight before consumption.

Until next time , drink up xxx

Life & CULT LOGIC Update: Photoset

Hey yo! Please forgive the lack of in-depth posts, I'm currently in the process of rebranding and redesigning my online store CULT LOGIC. I'm excited beyond words to release this new collection that I have curated - the designers I have on board are so incredibly inspired and talented. If you are a designer, I would LOVE for you to get in touch: I am always on the hunt scouting fashion forward, bold, statement pieces! 

The lighting in most of these photos is pretty awful (I'll have to start bringing my camera around), but here is a little of what's been going on in my life over the past couple weeks: 

Good Food Month's Night Noodle Markets, Sydney / October 2013

Art & About, Sydney / October 2013

View of Sydney Harbour from Vaucluse / October 2013

Hermit Bay, Vaucluse / October 2013

Matt Corby at the Hordern Pavillion, Moore Park / October 2013

Casey's 30th birthday at The Beresford, Surry Hills / October 2013

CULT LOGIC sneak peek, Sydney / October 2013

Alley street art off Oxford St, Sydney / October 2013

Saturday sesh at Sweethearts Rooftop BBQ, Potts Point / October 2013

Liana's 22nd birthday at Sweethearts, Potts Point / October 2013

My culinary prowess: veggie quinoa stir fry - recipe to come!

I promise to write you soon! To keep up to date with the happenings in my life, give us a follow on instagram @binkachu, and like the CULT LOGIC page on facebook for sneak peeks and updates!! Peace and love bitches xx

Health Tools: Count Nutrients, Not Calories

I remember when I first turned vegetarian, the first question everybody asked me was 'But where will you get your protein?' I know that for many different food lifestyles, whether it be vegan, paleo or even just a calorie-restricting diet, there is often scrutiny surrounding whether you are adequately nourishing your body. Oftentimes, if a person is not adequately educated in what their actual nutrition needs are, (and this is especially true of weight-loss diets) it's possible that they won't be meeting an array of their daily nutrient needs. 

In the lead up to my 30 days of eating raw challenge, I have spent hours trying recipes and making meal plans to ensure that I will meet my daily nutrient targets and am consuming enough calories. This has been so easy to manage with the webapp 'CRON-O-Meter.' (There is also a smartphone app available for download, but I'm on a budget and prefer the free version for now.)

I highly recommend using this app if you have recently set yourself any kind of food goals (particularly significant goals such as losing weight or cutting out meat from your diet.) It's so important to reach these goals in a healthy manner and not compromising our body's needs. The app calculates your daily calorie needs (whether you are trying to lose, maintain or gain weight), then sets nutrient targets based on your body composition. On top of this, the app will also set macronutrient ratio targets if you are on for example the paleo diet, or you can create your own custom preferred target ratios. You use the app essentially as a food diary, where it calculates not only calorie but also nutrient intake. Of course the figures will never be exactly precise, however it is fantastic that you can generate different reports which show trends in your diet and visually allow you to see which areas of your diet need to be improved.

Let me know your thoughts if you have used CRON-O-Meter, or if you know and recommend a similar product xx

Diet Staples: Vegan Cheesy Baked Potatoes Recipe

cold water steeping, vegan cheesy baked potatoes & a rose out of Nonna's garden

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a fabulous Labour Day weekend, I tried (not very hard) to keep myself out of mischief. 

In the lead up to my 30 day raw food challenge, I've been very conscious about eating as clean as possible, to try and reduce the potential shock my body might experience once I start detoxing. (Read a bit about my food philosophy right here.) Like most people, somewhere between lunch and dinner I feel the need for a snack. My taste buds definitely favour savoury over sweet, but this poses a problem when you consider most packaged salty foods have an overwhelming amount of artificial flavourings and preservatives added to them. 

Enter my new favourite go-to snack. 

These potatoes taste naughty enough to have come out of a packet, but they are essentially guilt free. Loaded with a myriad of benefits from the various spices in the mixture and plenty of B vitamins from the nutritional yeast (which is where the cheesy taste comes from!). Please note you could use a different preferred cooking oil, however I only ever cook with coconut oil due to it's high smoke point. I have a feeling these flavours would go well with kale chips, amongst other vegies - so watch this space!

Vegan Cheesy Baked Potatoes

Ingredients:

400g chat potatoes

3 tbsp coconut oil

3 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tbsp garlic powder

2 tsp cumin

cayenne pepper (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

2. Wash and cut potatoes into slices, halves or quarters (depending on your preference.)

3. Mix the coconut oil, lemon juice and spices in a bowl. (Coconut oil is quite solid at room temperature so it's a good idea to whisk over the stove to ensure a creamy consistency.) Add potatoes to the mixture and coat well.

4. Spread potatoes out on baking paper and pour any remaining mixture over the top.

                                                                                                5. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden and crispy.

Home Sweet Home: Sydney -siding

Disclosure at Listen Out Festival, Sydney / September 2013

Well I've officially been home a week. 

First on my agenda was the decision to set myself a 30 day raw food challenge. I have wreaked my body with absolute havoc over the past 4 or so months. My skin isn't as clear as it could be and my body feels a little sluggish, so I've decided it's time to treat myself with some super self-love in the form of detoxification. I have spent a couple days tweaking a meal plan and taste-testing some recipes. I'll keep you all updated along the way and will be sharing a whole heap of recipes and shopping lists! I have heard a few raw-diet horror stories, so have put a lot of thought and planning into my meals to ensure that I am meeting all my nutrition needs. (Not to mention it's always easier to stick to something that has been well thought out.) This detox is not about weightloss, but about increasing my vitality and enhancing the condition of my skin and body through diet. My start date is still to be confirmed (kind of, possibly, totally because the Sydney Night Noodle Markets start on the 9th of October) but it's sure to be within the next fortnight. Read more about my food philosopy here.

Next I dove headfirst into a weekendlong bender. I spent the week at a four day short course so decided the best way to proceed would be to destroy every brain cell I utilised. I spent my Saturday getting loose at Listen Out festival where I caught TNGHT, Just Blaze, AlunaGeorge & Disclosure just to name a few. In the early hours of the AM we rocked up at Frankie's Pizza and drank vodka apples until they shut shop. My Sunday ensued in a similar fashion, with drinks, hitting up The Enmore to watch Foals, heading out to The Soda Factory for the after-party and then (surprise surprise) back at Frankie's for the after-after-party. Monday really hurt. I moved from the bed to the lounge to the floor and back to bed, and the universe didn't stop spinning until 7pm.

Finally, I am in the finishing stages of curating the accessories for the new CULT LOGIC XX collection. The nature of travel makes it far too difficult to co-ordinate all the tidbits involved from overseas, so it feels like it's been a very long time coming. I'm so excited to share it all with you, it feels like my little baby! So much love has gone into the collection and I have some incredible designers on board. The website shall undergo a much needed makeover and there's some rebranding plans in the making, but these things take time and may or may not coincide with the new product launch. You can find updates on the process on facebook and instagram.

I have a whole lot of projects to keep me occupied over the next couple of months, and promise I will wrap up my time in Bali with a post (once I figure out where my photos have been backed-up to). I'll have a recipe coming to you soon, and remember that you can see what I'm up to on the gram, @binkachu - hit me up! 

Until next time lovers xxxx

here.

My Balinese Adventure Begins: The Bukit Peninsula

Paragliders sail over Pandawa Beach, The Bukit Peninsula / September 2013

Ten days ago I arrived in Bukit, a peninsula located on the southern end of Bali – it is an area still very much rich in culture and traditions, and remains yet to sell out in the way Kuta has. By chance (or as I prefer, by reason of the universe) I have had more of an authentic Balinese experience than many would even dare imagine. (I’m not just talking cold showers.)

I happened across accommodation (an eco-villa on a permaculture farm) in an untouched village where many inhabitants didn’t speak a word of English. I spent a lot of my time walking through the quiet villages reflecting on where I'm at and where I'm headed, I got a lot of reading and writing done and through meditation, I have managed to silent my thoughts for a good few minutes at a time! (Baby steps.) Testament to how little exposure some of these villages have to tourists, is the fact that every single day, I had groups of Indonesian people at the beach asking to take a photo with me. 

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Balinese style Hindu ceremony at Balangang beach. I quite literally felt as though I had been plucked from real life and placed into a scene from Eat Pray Love. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I took in all the bright colours, hypnotic music and endless offerings – it was so surreal and different to any kind of religious ceremony I have ever taken part in, but the energy was incredible and I too received cleansing and blessing.

EAT

Padang Padang Breeze – If I had to choose one dish to eat for the rest of my life, hands down I would choose the marinated mussels (which the menu should correctly amend to clams) from this restaurant. No moment in my entire life could compare to the sheer pleasure that my tastebuds experienced upon tasting this creation. The fish in Bali is always incredibly fresh along the coast, but this warung (or restaurant in English) takes it to another level.  I highly recommend ordering (and sharing only if you feel generous) one of the BBQ platters, which serve a variety of fish and crustaceans, accompanied with standard sides such as rice and incredibly delicious battered potatoes. The mojitos here go down a treat seeing as they are made with rum and NOT arak, and the staff were just delightful.

DO

Beach Hop – Some of the most pristine beaches I have ever seen can be found off the Bukit peninsula, and several are famous for their surf. Warungs along the beach will let you hire a beach chair and umbrella (don’t pay more than 25,000 rp), where you can sit and sip on a coconut (15,000 rp). Try to pay with the correct money because I have witnessed and experienced them running away with your cash and not bringing any change. Most weekends the locals will host a beach party, complete with reggae band, eclectic dj mix and bright lights – it feels a lot like a blue light disco. The beach parties are a heap of fun, you can buy beers (and mushrooms) – the locals or surfers can point you in the direction of which beach to visit on any given night.

I'll be spending the next ten days in Seminyak - my body is yearning for a little luxury and indulgence after what has been an intense few months! I will get some of the incredible photos from my time in Bukit up in the next few days, but for now: massages, sun tanning and cocktails await. xx

My Food Philosophy: Holistic Health

La Boqueria Market, Barcelona / June 2013
'Let food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be food.' - Hippocrates 

I’ve rewritten this post a couple of times over – careful not to overshare but wanting to be honest.

I have had a turbulent relationship with food, my weight and self-esteem. Rewind three years ago, and I was still a teenager riddled with anxieties about her body and plagued with low self-esteem. I was caught in a vicious cycle from approximately age 13, where I would (always secretly) diet, lose weight, plateau, eat my feelings, regain weight. Counting calories (and then later diet pills, laxatives, starvation) consumed my thoughts.

Every year I took at least a couple months off school, because I was always sick. My immune system was essentially non-existent, my skin was sallow and pale,  I would break out into acne and rashes, my mind was foggy and worst of all were the terrible mood swings I suffered. It became impossible for me to escape my emotions, I hated what I saw in the mirror and I hated myself.

All of this, I attribute to my then-diet. My diet was highly processed. I was uneducated in nutrition, and misled by advertising to believe that products labelled diet/low-fat/low-sugar/low-calorie were healthy. In the context of a product, out of a box, off the shelf, with a label - these terms are not synonymous with health. Just as fast food is artificial, these foods are loaded with artificial sweeteners, sodium, food preservatives, colouring, flavouring. There was nothing nutritious about the food I was eating, and the condition of my body and health fully reflected this.

Present day, I eat a nutrient rich, plant based diet. My diet is not always perfect, but I am very conscious about making good food decisions and focus on eating whole foods. I used to focus on the quantity of the calories I was consuming, now I focus on the quality. I have no doubts that the chemicals in the foods I used to eat played absolute havoc with my clarity of mind and emotions. (Not to mention I was always starving – how can any positive thoughts find room in a brain that can only think about when it will be allowed to eat again!) I have made a ritual of eating, and I have become so mindful of this that I can almost feel the cells in my body being nourished with every mouthful. Food is no longer my enemy, and I can enjoy it.

I never deprive myself of food - the eternal sadness which used to consume me (potentially also chemical imbalance in my brain) have disappeared, I am motived and full of energy, I have clarity of mind, my skin glows, my eyes sparkle, I’m never sick and I have lost around 10 kilos – all of which has stayed off, regardless of how much I eat. The countless changes and benefits that my body has undergone since adopting this lifestyle and since altering my relationship with food, have been so extreme that I could never go back to my old diet, and return to that starved and undernourished girl. Food is literally my medicine and has healed me of all my previous ailments.

Make no mistake – while I mention that I did lose weight, I am in no way advocating this as some quick-fix weight loss solution. This is a holistic health lifestyle approach that first and foremost seeks to nourish the body therefore increasing vitality, and serving to prevent illness (rather than curing illness with medication.) It requires far more time, commitment and dedication than microwaving Jenny Craig meals but it is a lifestyle that I have adhered to because of the way it’s made me feel. It has completely changed my outlook on life and the way I value myself, so the decision to stick with it has not been based solely on the way it’s made me look.

It’s important to me that I share my experiences and spread the knowledge which I have acquired along the way. A misconception exists that ‘diet’ products are healthy, but in reality these products are void of any nutrition and are literally poisoning our body and minds. I believe if the food industries weren’t controlled by the government, people would receive a more sound education in nutrition, and effectively, with this deeper understanding, would cease to be misled by food advertising.

I wish for people to see their self-worth and value their bodies. I hope for people to invest more time in their health, so here on out, I will post at least one entry per week outlining tips for wellbeing, reviewing health products I’ve tried or recipes which make up the staples of my diet.

Leaving London - What to Eat, Drink & Do

Beautiful houses on a glorious Sunday in Notting Hill, London / August 2013

Today marks my last whole day in London, and Europe. I had originally intended to spend a few weeks in Italy before flying home, but the value of the Australian dollar continues to drop and I'm in need of a bit of a Sabbatical. Tomorrow I start my journey to Indonesia, where I'll spend two weeks on the Bukit Peninsula realigning my mind, body and spirit. My body is yearning for some detoxification after months of partying and my mind is hazy and in dire need of revitalising. 

I'm ready for some serious soul searching (cue 'sah wanky' comments from my friends), and you will see a lot of that spill over onto my blog in the coming weeks and forever on after that. My sole purpose for creating this blog was to help me explore the different avenues which interest me (not just travel), to help me create intention and direction for myself. I know after these next two weeks I will be well on my way to working out the path that I should be paving for myself, and I can't wait to share that journey with you all.

I am so grateful for all the natural and constructed marvels I was so privileged to see on this trip, and not to mention the incredible people I travelled with and met along the way. It amazes me how diverse the cultures are from country to country in Europe, even when they are often only a couple of hours apart. It is such an incredible continent, and I can't wait until I'm back again. I'll have to come up with an overall 'best of' post when I return to Sydney, but for now some of my favourite places in London xx

EAT
The Breakfast Club - There are a few different locations for this cafe, my preferred spot being East London. The cafe is open from breakfast until dinner, and serves a variety of smoothies and cocktails, big breakfasts and burgers (gourmet of course). There is a great vibe in the cafe - it is set out like a diner and filled with an eclectic mix of retro 50s furnishings and 'junk from the owners childhood bedrooms.' The Breakfast Club is home to the most amazing tasting vegetarian burger I've ever tasted (I've probably said that before, but I mean it now) and has some delicious share-plates for starters. (Haloumi and marinated olives, yum!)

DRINK
The Ten Bells - You will never go thirsty in London, I doubt there is a single street corner that doesn't house a pub. The bars in London are all quite expensive, not to mention most will hit you with a 12.5% service charge so I opted for drinking at pubs. The Ten Bells was our local, just a few steps off Brick Lane. It doesn't matter what time of day or night, there was always a huge crowd of people with a beer drinking on the footpath (cheers Summer sunshine). It did get a bit tight for space inside with all the tables taken, but the drinks were reasonably priced and the bar staff were all darlings.

DO
Harry Potter Studio Tour - The truth comes out: I'm a huge geek. The Warner Bros studio where much of the Harry Potter movies were filmed is in Watford, a short train ride from London. The studio houses many of the original sets which were used in the films, all of which are still completely dressed. There are thousands of original props and costumes, you can walk through Diagon Alley, there are interviews with stars and set designers, you can drink Butterbeer and see moving chess pieces - and the actual model of Hogwarts Castle. I am obviously a huge fan so was completely swept away with the experience, but it was truly magical and I urge you to visit. Tours sell out weeks in advance so book ahead!

Back In Berlin - What to Eat, Drink & Do

Sunset at Brandenburg Gate, Berlin / August 2013

Just the mere thought of Berlin is intoxicating. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity of visiting this divine city two years in a row. Sydney will always be home, where I regard the dining, music, fashion and art scenes so favourably - but to me, no city I have visited quite compares to Berlin which is truly in a class of it's own. Everything about the city is so edgy, and hip(ster). It seems to be ahead of it's time in so many different aspects, Berlin sets the trend and then the rest of the world follows.
I know that fashions and tastes change, and all that I find enticing about Berlin now may bore me in a few years when another city takes it's place. But, for now, here are a few of my favourite things about the city.

EAT
Mustafas Gemüsekebap - The time I have waited in line for a kebab from Mustafas has varied in length from 45 minutes to 3 hours. Yes, three. This little street stall will change your entire perspective on kebabs. The kebab is a little unconventional - without ruining the surprise, the ingredients list includes things like feta cheese, fried vegetables and tabbouleh, but I promise you will never taste a kebab like it or this good. I recommend heading to the convenience store around the corner from the stall before you hop in line - grab a few beers to sink in the line to ease the boredom that is waiting in a three hour line. The beauty of street food! (Find a sneaky pic of a Gemüsekebap in this photoset)

DRINK
Chalet - My favourite club in Berlin (because Watergate is pretentious and expensive, and I can't bear the fear of possible rejection from Berghain more than once a weekend) runs out of a 150 year old building, located in the heart of Kreuzberg (duh!). I was initially drawn to the venue by 'all the pretty lights,' and once you go in, you don't come out. (Seriously, it's impossible to find the exit once you're a little inebriated.) The garden is amazing, complete with pond, swimming pool and lounges whilst the rest of the venue is straight up party vibe. Spread across two levels, the decor feels a little bit 1800s Alice in Wonderland saloon and you literally just get lost in the techno.

DO
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp - It has taken me three visits to Berlin to make it out to a concentration camp, but I'm so glad that I finally did. Sachsenhausen wasn't designed as an extermination camp so it wasn't huge and mainly detained political prisoners, however over 30,000 people died there. Until physically stepping foot in one of these camps, I don't think it's possible to fully grasp the full extent of what happened in those concentration camps. The media and film industries have completely desensitised us to images of violence and cruelty, but it is a completely different feeling to be standing there in a cell where prisoners of war were tortured or the barracks where prisoners slept. Sachsenhausen was a very overwhelming experience (and it's not even one of the largest or most brutal camps), visiting it made me really appreciate how lucky I am to live in Australia and so grateful that my family has not first hand experienced horrors such as these.

After 18 hours on 6 different trains, I am finally in Amsterdam. As soon as I have a chance, I will fill you in on Prague. Until then... xx

Vienna and Novalja: 10 Days in 10 Minutes

Hi.

The days have all started to merge into one and I can't remember what I ate for dinner yesterday, let alone what I was doing ten days ago. I'm currently in Berlin and getting ready to head out, but I've given myself ten minutes to semi-update your fine selves on Vienna and Novalja.

The gorgeous Volksgarten, Vienna / July 2013

Vienna - I wasn't sure what to expect of Vienna, as opinions of the city completely differed depending on who I spoke to. I loved that every street I crossed presented me with another magnificent architectural structure and that I never had to walk more than a couple hundred metres to find a spritzer. A highlight of my visit was walking across the city (literally, we walked 25km that day) towards what seemed to be some kind of giant chair-ride.... And stumbling across a theme park! Best day ever.

Eat at Mochi, the finest Japanese cuisine to delight my taste buds since leaving Sydney. (I take my Japanese food very seriously.) The wait staff were so attentive and friendly, and particularly enjoyed that I came back for a second visit. The food was literally bursting with flavour. And don't get me started on their wine list. Amazing. My heart hurts a little bit knowing that I have left this gem behind, but my wallet is relieved.

Drink anywhere along the Danube. Little bars are set up on the 'sand' banks, complete with beach chairs to enhance the summer vibe. Drinks are cheap and a few bars serve unlimited (I repeat, unlimited) shisha for only 12 euros. 

Novalja harbour at 6am, Novalja / July 2013

Novalja - After a whirlwind weeklong visit last year, Croatia holds such a special place in my heart. The Dalmatian coast is truly captivating and nothing has brought me as much joy as frolicking in the Adriatic Sea for quite some time. (Except maybe my awesome tan.) My daily 8pm ritual (before our partying madness) was to walk along the beach at sunset - it was so serene watching the sun slowly set with the sound of the tide crashing against the rocks. 

Visit the infamous Plaza Zrće, a spectacular beach inspired by the clubs of Ibiza and Mykonos. 4pm the after beach parties kick off at Aquarius, then kick on to Papaya or Noa where there is an awesome roster of DJs over Summer. Drinks are pricier than Novalja (so obviously that is where you should start your pre-drinking) but nothing like the prices you'd expect to pay at Space or Pacha.

Eat at Green Garden Restaurant. Order the strawberry and cheese salad to start, and a seafood dish for your main. Thank me later.

My ten minutes are well and truly up. I have an awesome few nights ahead here in Berlin, see you on the flip side ;) xx

Highlights from Belgrade, Giardini Naxos & Florence

In all honesty, it feels like a lifetime since the last time I had a decent wi-fi connection. I hope you'll forgive me for not keeping in touch, I've been a busy girl! In the 17 days since my online presence was last felt, I have visited Belgrade, flirted very briefly with Berlin (see the photoset here), eaten and beached in Giardini Naxos, and finally made it to Florence. 
Rather than bombard you with the countless awesome bars and restaurants, here are a few highlights from each of the cities:

The bohemian quarter Skadarlija, Belgrade / July 2013

Belgrade - Belgrade is such a cheap city, I ate like a queen and drank like a fish for next to nothing every day. Navigating the streets and reading menus was a little confusing and difficult considering the Serbian language is written in cyrillic. Take a walk down the bohemian street 'skadarlija,' there are lots of gorgeous little restaurants and bars here. Belgrade is renowned for it's river clubs, known as 'splavs.' Splavs are more expensive than bars in the city, and tourists can expect to pay around 1000 dinar entry fee if not dressed to the security guards expectation.
Eat at Zavičaj, authentic Serbian food and so cheap! I ate here three times because it just hit the spot every time. Drink at Bašta, gorgeous hidden little bar which reminded me of somewhere in Surry Hills. Reasonable prices and amazing service.

Gole dell' Alcantara, Messina / July 2013

Giardini Naxos - In all honesty, my visit to Sicily was very family orientated. I spent most of my time between the beach, or eating at one of my Zia's houses in Francavilla. From Giardini it is possible to make day trips to pretty much anywhere in Sicily, a few different places I visited were Taormina, Parco Dell Etna (yes, I climbed the volcano) and Siracusa. I can't wait to visit Giardini again, the beach is absolutely stunning and it's a convenient spot to base yourself as it's right between Messina and Catania.
It feels like blasphemy to suggest any restaurant when I know how incredible the food that left my family's kitchen was. If you don't want to eat at my zia's house, opt for one of the restaurants along the beach that don't serve on plastic plates, otherwise head into Taormina.
Visit Gole dell' Alcantara, cliffs and volcanic rocks which have been eroded over time by the Alcantara river. There is a huge geological park, not to mention waterfalls and the river which is heavenly to swim in on those typically Sicilian 37 degree days.

Roaming the streets, Florence / July 2013

Florence - Everything I expected of a Tuscan city, Florence is so rustic and simply beautiful. There is so much history everywhere, not to mention some of the most delicious food!!!!!! I went for some really romantic strolls with myself by the river and saw il ponte vecchio, a famous bridge from medieval times renowned for the shops built on it which sell gold. Some famous piazzas you must visit for there beautiful architecture and sculptures include Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio.
Eat at Trattoria & Pizzeria Il Portale. It is located right near the main station in Florence - the food is up there with the best I have eaten in Italy, and when you consider the location (ideal for a tourist trap) it is so cheap. Drink at Rivalta, a cafe right on the river. It is open for lunch and dinner and serves light tapas-inspired meals, but I would come here solely for the  drinks, view and lively atmosphere.

Budapest - What to Eat, Drink & Do

Széchenyi Bath in City Park, Budapest / July 2013

* It's 10am, I spent 8 hours on a train without sleep, I just lugged 30 kg of suitcase/handbag 1km uphill in the wrong direction and almost got hit by a car. Bear with me.

To say I am obsessed with Budapest would be a huge understatement - it is some fierce competition for Porto as the best five days of my trip to date. I covered 60km of the city by foot, drank lots of pálinka, got lost in the city at 2am on Saturday morning and spent the rest of my time marinating in the baths. My actual idea of perfection. 

EAT
Batthyáni Square Market Hall - On the second floor of the central markets you will find a little food court with a row of food stores. They all serve a variety of traditional Hungarian dishes (and mojitos?) for a few euros. In all honesty, I didn't eat out much in Budapest because the main feature of most Hungarian dishes is the meat. Seafood isn't a big thing in Hungary, and I just couldn't be bothered trying to decipher menus so I cooked most of my dinners at home. Regardless, I definitely recommend the market canteens. They food is really tasty, you get a huge stacked up plate and it costs you next to nothing.

DRINK
Szimpla Kert - If you haven't already heard, 'ruin bars' are all the rage in Budapest. They are essentially old warehouses and apartment blocks that have been filled with an eclectic mix of decor and mismatched vintage furniture, and transformed into pubs and beer gardens. Szimpla is by far the most popular (and for good reason.) There is such a cool vibe in the space - it spans across two levels and has several different rooms, there is a huge outdoor area, movies are projected onto screens around the venue, drinks are reasonably priced, you can smoke shisha, the list goes on. 

Ellátó Kert - Technically another ruin bar / open-air bar, this gets a big double thumbs up from me because it's also a taqueria and there is nothing better than a mexican midnight snack when you're drunk. They have several different tacos (with cool fillings like hongo mushroom) and DELICIOUS dips, so definitely get a couple plates of nachos. This bar is also very reasonably priced and has some yummy cocktails! 

DO
Thermal Baths - Anybody who knows me is aware of my spa fixation, it could come close to a psychological problem because I cannot get enough of them. I honestly wanted to extend my time in Budapest to visit more baths. I am so grateful to the universe for the Ottoman rule in Hungary, the city without the Turkish influence of the baths is a city I don't want to imagine.
I don't think I have quite washed the smell out sulphur out of my hair yet, here is a little outline on the baths I made it out to during my stay.
Széchenyi: By far the biggest of the baths in Budapest (I think it's also the largest in Europe), it was a maze to navigate through the building and it was very crowded. The staff weren't the most accommodating but I guess it must get tiring having hundreds of English speakers asking where the lockers are every hour.
Gellért: Probably the nicest of the baths I visited, the outdoor area was so serene and was the perfect scene for relaxation. The baths are part of a hotel so there are lots of tourists here and children occupy the big wave pool, however if I had to choose, I would visit here over Széchenyi.
Király: This bath was probably my favourite because at any given time there wasn't more than 8 people in the centre. The bath was originally built in the 1500s, it's tiny and hidden away - it's not much to look at from the outside but inside the baths it's spectacular and gives a feel as to how the authentic bath experience would have been in the past. 

My room is ready - I need sleep now. Love xx

My Past Week Pt. 2: Belgium - What to Eat, Drink & Do

Église Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Secours, Brussels / July 2013

I spent three days in Belgium, two and a quarter in Brussels and the rest in Antwerp. If I had spent any more time in the country, there is no question that I would have turned into a waffle. (I am such a sucker for what I convince myself is 'traditional' street food.) I feel that in the short time I spent there, Brussels gave me all it had to offer - it is very beautiful, but I'm not sold on the men. I well and truly perfected my 'why do you think you can talk to me/look at me' look of disgust - I even had a taxi driver on the way to my airport shuttle ask if I would kiss him !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

EAT
Exki - Technically it is a fast-food chain. It operates like a canteen (I have previously mentioned my adoration for canteen-style dining), and the food is way too natural and fresh to be classified as fast-food. Whilst Exki is definitely pricier than McDonalds, I am too happy to spend a few extra dollars when I know I am eating real food that is going to sustain my body. They have such a fantastic range of smoothies, soups, salads (the list goes on) and they cater to a range of different diets - vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free. Exki operates in a few European countries, and is 100% my go-to if I just want to eat something quick and easy. (And not junk!)

DRINK
In all honesty, all my drinking whilst in Belgium was confined within the borders of my hostel. Hendrick's was the house gin, do you blame me? We did attempt to get into a bar named Celtica's which serves 1 euro beers, however we didn't have any ID and were refused entry. (When does that ever happen in Europe!?) I don't drink beer so I just carried on with my G&T's, and all was well in the world.

DO
Walk everywhere. Both Brussels and Antwerp are quite small cities, you can cover most of the attractions in just a day. I only spent a day in Antwerp so I didn't have any time for museums or the zoo (because I went shopping... all the windows had 50% sales, I couldn't help myself), but it is usually easy enough to just stumble upon all the main attractions. Definitely spend some time looking around Grote Markt - the buildings are stunning, and there are lots of waffle & chocolate shops in the area. Also, keep a look-out for the Tin Tin murals across the city.