Dubrovnik, Pearl of the Adriatic

Flashback to April 2013...I remember the burst of pride and accomplishment at having completed my 30-day hot yoga journey. Hot yoga has become such an important facet of my life; it helped me recover from a breakup and it gave me strength, physically, mentally and emotionally. It is an avenue for me to relax and focus on myself, even if only for 1 precious hour. My resolution in 2015 is to continue to incorporate hot yoga into my life and work on improving my flexibility and strength.

2013 was indeed a year of self-discovery, and memorable for some of the less conventional travels that I embarked on, one of which was Croatia. So without further ado, here are some of my favourite highlights in Croatia:

The Old Town and Walls of Dubrovnik

Yes, Dubrovnik is yet another walled city in Europe. The walls were built to protect the city from barbaric invasions, as Dubrovnik occupied a strategic spot at the entrance to the Adriatic. Based on my recollection, I'd also walked the walls of York (England) and Rothenburg (Germany). On our first day, we spent our time getting lost in the old town, meandering through the maze of streets and alleys and perching ourselves at Bar Buza for drinks while admiring the view of the Adriatic sea. 

The next morning, as advised by many guidebooks, we set off early to walk the old walls. Unlike the other walls I'd walked, we had to pay an admission fee for this. Don't get me wrong, it was worth every cent...the elevated walk offered spectacular views of the harbour, old town and the distinctive orange-tiled rooftops. 

It was a good idea to start early as we didn't have to jostle with the crowds until mid-late morning.

And because we had such lovely (read: hot) weather everyday, we indulged in gelato as often as we liked. My favourite was Dolce Vita, a small parlour hidden in a narrow alley.

Sydney highlights (Part 2)

After a long hiatus, I'm back to blogosphere! Was eagerly anticipating the documentation of my travels but my heart sank when I realised that:
1. I have to complete Part 2 of the family Aussie trip which took place in 2012.
2. I have to patch up 2 years' worth of travels.
3. My aged computer is operating at sub-par speeds.

However, I am determined and I shall not let little inconveniences get in my way!

*****

So we return to the capital of NSW, to our sorry accommodation at the YHA, and spent a couple of days there. On our first morning, at my insistence, we trooped down to Surry Hills, a quaint and quirky neighbourhood.

Cute building - love the red door with the metal grilles and black arches. 

Before the trip, I'd read lots of good reviews of Bourke Street Bakery, so we decided to head there for breakfast.

No sitting space inside and something like only 10 (?) tables outside.

Our yummy spread.

Not quite their kinda thing but I think they enjoyed it too!

Who doesn't want to stay at the Strawberry Hills Hotel?

We also visited the Sydney fish market for fresh seafood. We headed to Peter's, as recommended by my friend. There was a large variety to choose from, you name it - lobster, oysters, fish, squid, prawns, sashimi, etc. How it works is this - you pick and pay for your catch raw and then bring it to the cooking stations and specify how you want it cooked. There's another price to pay for the cooking but I don't remember it being too expensive.

One minor grouse. We sat outside and the seagulls kept eyeing our food and swooping down upon us. Though none of them actually attacked us or the food, it made the whole dining experience rather uncomfortable, especially for a bird phobic person like me.

A major highlight for me was watching Regina Spektor in concert at the Sydney Opera House. Gotta love my dad, he had never heard of Regina (and neither have I), but he was still game for the concert. 

Another pic of the lovely Sydney Opera House.

It was Mom's birthday and we surprised her with cake from Godiva.

Fortunately for us, Regina did not disappoint! I enjoyed every bit of it, from her quirky singing to the acoustics, and the charged atmosphere of the concert hall was pure electric.

Overall, it was a fabulous trip and we all had a good time! I've often said I'm not a big fan of Australia (sorry!) but Sydney definitely left an impression and I would love to go back someday.