The one about Melbourne

I’ve been remiss with my blogging over the last week and have really missed it! I had a draft of my post from last Tuesday all queued up to automatically post, and have been pretty out of pocket ahead of even that.  But I’m back in action. You see, I needed a full 5 days or so to recover from the trip that was Melbourne.

{Part of} Melbourne from our hotel

Hosier Lane

Cheesing at the Brighton Beach Boxes

I. AM. OBSESSED. Dear Melbourne, you are one of my new favorite cities. Love, Abby. Fresh, funky, foodie, and fun. (Gotta love an alliteration.) {And I will also apologize for the fact that all my pictures are iPhone – the big girl camera didnt make it on this trip, sadly.}

Melbourne word cloud via TrulyDeeply.com.au

Barr and I had a solid 5 days of time in Melbourne, and it just wasnt enough! I have on my blog list to put together a few little travel itineraries and must see lists for tourists and visitors to places like Melbourne, Sydney, Dubai, Perth, etc, but for now: the low-down on this particular trip 🙂

• Melbourne basics:
  • Public transportation is a breeze! Make sure you get a Myki card to traverse the tram (largest tram system in the world) and train systems.
  • Named the “World’s Most Livable City” by the Economic Intelligence Unit for the 4th year in a row – I can see why!
  • I loved popping down the little laneways and arcades throughout the city – some of them looked completely deserted, but harbored some of the best shops and cafes.
  • Many of the Victorian-era buildings are exceedingly well-preserved against a backdrop of some of the newer skyscrapers.
  • Layers, layers, layers! Weather in Melbourne changes at the drop of a hat (from what we could tell even over the course of 5 days!), so layers are essential.
• Food: A foodie and coffee snob’s heaven!
  • Our first meal in Melbourne was at Rice, Paper, Scissors – amazing Vietnamese small plates and after the red eye from Perth, the coffee was a good boost too 😉
  • We grabbed drinks at Black Pearl and our bartender was Australian, but went to UNC! Small world. Oh, and the drinks were a treat too.
  • Melbourne is said to have the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Greece, so this fact, coupled with the fact that Masterchef (one of my favorite shows, you’ll remember) judge, George Calombaris owns (several) Greek eateries in Melbourne, I had to visit at least one. Gazi was it! Gazi was authentically Greek and their customer service was just the best – plus they could make everything gluten free! Masterchef sighting sold separately.
  • Coffee is sacred in Melbourne. I wouldn’t categorize the following as the “best”, but I though they were pretty good {skinny} flat whites! And trust me, there are shops on every corner (even a Starbucks or two), so you can easily pick your poison: Market Lane, Seven Seeds, Axil, Dukes Coffee Roasters, or just wander down Degraves St or Centre Place for plenty of options.

Via TheInteriorsAddict.com

• I won’t list every single restaurant (only one more), but here are some of the super cute cards that I snagged from a few of the restaurants we stopped by:

Hihou (unique Japanese), Cumulus (out of this world breakfast), Borsch, Vodka & Tears (need I say more?), Rice Paper Scissors (aforementioned), and Movida (authentic Spanish tapas)

• Claypots. This was such a treat and one of our favorite spots. A local Melbournite (?) graciously brought us here for dinner in St Kilda. The seafood was so simple and flavorful and the atmosphere was really unique and funky – plus there’s a great bar next door.

Claypots decor in the outdoor seating area

• Sights:
  • Melbourne has an extensive network of quaint laneways and arcades sprinkled throughout the city. Two of the more well known are Hosier Lane (“urban art” aka graffiti) and Degraves Street (tons of coffee shops and teeny cafes).

Hosier Lane urban art

Hosier Lane artist at work

Centre Place

• The Brighton Beach Boxes are well worth a visit. They’re privately owned beach sheds that the owners paint in a colorfully fun manner – and we were told they can go for up to $500k!

The beach boxes on Brighton Beach

Melbourne from Brighton Beach

Hanging out in the red, white, and blue beach box

Barr doing a little ‘roo boxing

Barr captured this hilarious shot of a ocean kayaker photobombing some wedding shots 🙂 Would love to know how those bad boys turn out!

• The Royal Botanic Gardens are absolutely breathtaking…and huge!

Botanic Gardens in Melbourne

Botanic Gardens in Melbourne

• Being the huge book nerd that I am, visiting the State Library of Victoria was such a treat. Not only were there a seemingly endless number of rooms of books, but the architecture of the library itself would distract even the most studious individual.

Loved the library’s carrels!

Barr taking it all in at the State Library of Victoria

• I stopped by the National Gallery of Victoria for the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit – that particular exhibit was so-so, but the permanent exhibits made up for that! (That, and the costume on display below):

A JPG number worn by none other than Beyonce!

Case in point – neat to see IRL!

So there you have it! We’ve heard folks say that Sydney is like your one night stand and Melbourne is like your girlfriend, and in a weird way, I have to agree – Melbourne has wooed me, hook, line and sinker. 🙂 Until next time…

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The one about FIFO

When we first learned of a potential move to Perth, being the planner that I am, started looking at the rental market in town – I was immediately struck (and perplexed) by the excessive use of the abbreviation F.I.F.O. in many of the listings. Obviously I Googled: “fly in, fly out” indicating that an employment whereby the employee works in a remote area and instead of relocating them (and their families) to the worksite, the employee flies out for a period of time, returns for a similar stretch of time, before returning back to the remote site.

Obviously this was a prevalent way of life (and employment) in Perth given the number of times it was referenced in real estate, but I didn’t realize there was such a culture around this type of employment in Perth until we moved here. The mining industry in Western Australia is primarily what drives FIFO.

Here you can see how FIFO workers across the country fly in (and fly out) of northwestern WA, where most of the mines operate:

Image via The Australian

Given that many of the mines/ports in Western Australia are far from (or in smaller) towns, the FIFO lifestyle is utilized. It is estimated that by 2015, there will be over 63,000 FIFO workers in Western Australia.

A common sight at the Perth Airport (or just Perth in general)  – the “orange collar boom” (image via PerthNow.com.au)

I’ve typically heard that FIFO work is about 2 weeks on, 2 weeks back in Perth. And of course, just like with any type of work, there are benefits and drawbacks, but given the importance of mining to Western Australia, there is never a shortage of news stories on FIFO work and workers. No matter where you stand, however, there is no denying the importance and sacrifice of FIFO workers here in Australia.

And lastly, as a demonstration as to how deeply ingrained and commonplace the FIFO culture and lifestyle is in Australia, below is my new favorite commercial (I literally turn into a blubbering mess any time it comes on TV here) – it features 5 Aussie travelers (flying Qantas of course!), coming home to their families (Qantas’ new slogan is “Welcome Home”), and one of those travelers is none other than a miner, presumably FIFO.

Until next time…

The one comparing expat Dubai vs. Perth

I hesitated using the “vs.” in the title of this post because I don’t want to make it sound like these two fine cities are competing (in this case, for the affection of the expat Blantons)…because in my mind, they are not. There is no “winner” or “loser” in this little post/exercise, but rather just something I’ve been ruminating over for a few months now. I don’t know how many people make this jump from one of these cities to another, but as a summation of the two, I thought it would be an interesting view. So without further ado….

• Dubai
  • Significant and established expat community: Only 10% of the population in the UAE is Emirati, leaving 90% to the expats (and Americans are few and far between).
  • Cultural diversity: Dubai is the biggest melting pot of cultures that I have ever had to privilege to experience. The vast number of different languages, religions, foods, home cities, and traditions in this city is mind boggling and humbling. I loved that aspect. The downside to this, however, would be that there are some significant communication barriers that ensue. If you’ve ever had to direct a cabbie around or ordered takeout in Dubai, you know what I am talking about.
  • Muslim country: Islam is the official religion of the UAE and the religion permeates into the civic laws and practices. While I didn’t have to cover my hair, there are certain rules citizens must abide by and of which to be cognizant.
  • “Haves” and “have nots“: I have never before seen more wealth displayed by material objects than I did in Dubai (cars, villas and apartments, jewelry, clothes, shoes, food, etc). I have also never before seen such a marked discrepancy between the rich and the poor. Dubai was (and still is) being built upon the backs of tens of thousands of laborers, who work all hours in the heat for very little pay.
  • The lack of seasonality: The best way to describe the “seasons” of Dubai are hot, hotter, and “don’t go outside or you’ll melt”.
  • Ease of travel: I forgot the exact stat, but there is a ridiculous percentage of the world’s population that lives within an 8 hour flight of Dubai – that, coupled with the fact that DXB is the Emirates airline hub, means that there is continual easy, quick, and lovely travel all within a quick (single) flight.
  • Hotel and restaurant scene: I love Charlotte, NC, Houston, TX, Louisville, KY and yes, even Durham, NC, but I wouldn’t say that any of these cities are hugely “trendy”; if a hot new hotel or restaurant opens in the states, it typically is in LA or NYC. Globally, you could probably include London and Dubai to that list. And even though I am the furthest thing from trendy, it was fun to go to a new restaurant or hot spot in Dubai that could only boast other locations in London, LA, NYC, etc.

• Perth
  • Western similarities: I did love the cultural diversity in Dubai, but it was nice to move to a city where English was most everyone’s first language, we could easily find a church to attend (note: there are churches in Dubai!!! We were never religiously persecuted, but Protestant churches in Dubai were few and far between, that’s all), we could hold hands in public, and I could purchase wine with ease.
  • Aussie slang: This is a positive and a negative. On the plus side, I’ve loved learning that while Australians do speak English, they have their own twist with different words and phrases that are completely uniquely Australian – it’s fun! On the (kinda) downside, initially I did have trouble understanding certain faster clipped accents or aforementioned terms. Not really a “downside” I suppose – it’s all part of the adventure 🙂
  • Wine and coffee: The wine and coffee in Perth (and basically Australia at large, from what I have experienced) are heads and shoulders above anything I’ve ever had before – perfection.
  • Isolated: I’ve written to this point before, but it can’t be overstated enough (especially if you’re considering a move to Perth), the city is isolated. There are some great spots within driving distance and Bali is only a 4 hour flight (not to mention all the smaller perhaps less well known WA locales that are within a faster flight such as the Kimberley’s, Exmouth, Albany), but even getting to the east coast of Australia is a long(ish) flight – not just a hop, skip and a jump to be sure. You’ve just got to be ready for long flights (but the perk of that is racking up those frequent flyer miles!)
  • Weather changes: Our first few weeks here gave me a bit of a pause when I thought about my prayers for rain in Dubai because it felt that all we had in terms of weather was rain, rain, and more rain. A friend (and fellow expat) asked the question of “Do we live in Perth or Seattle?” Completely valid query. That being said, the temperatures were mild (for winter!) and we did get some sunny days. And then once winter started to wrap up and spring began, you’d be crazy to complain. The season changes are more subtle than I experienced in the states, but it exists, and for the most part, the weather here that Ive seen is excellent.
  • Gorgeous natural green spaces, walking paths, and waterfronts: Dubai had a handful of green spaces and waterfronts, but most were completely manmade. Perth has some of the loveliest parks, hiking trails, vineyards, lakes, riverside running paths, and beaches (no artificial islands in sight).

Image via Emirates

• Dubai and Perth
  • Expensive: Dubai and Perth are pricey. Period. End of subject. Groceries, rent, cars, eating out. That being said, Dubai’s taxis and petrol are super cheap!
  • Beaches: Ask me if I would choose between the beach and the mountains and Ill choose the beach every single time. Dubai and Perth have fabulous, free beaches in abundance. I will really miss living within either walking distance or a ten minute drive when we eventually head back to the states.
  • Safety: While I didn’t ever feel that Charlotte was “dangerous”, Perth and Dubai are exceedingly safe cities. Of course one always has to be aware of their surroundings and the neighborhood (and not be unnecessarily reckless), but the crime rates in Dubai and Perth is minute and that helped me rest easy.
  • Fabulous local/drivable opportunities: We have been blessed to do a lot of local travel near to Perth (Margaret River, Swan Valley, Lancelin Beach) and Dubai (Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, camel riding in the desert) – these quick weekend or day road trips have been some of our favorites.
  • Dream fulfilling: This is a bit of a personal one (and cheesy), but as our time abroad draws to a close, I can’t help but reflect on these last 18 months as some of the most fulfilling, fun, and humbling of my life. There have been ups and downs (nothing is perfect, y’all!), but Barr and I have wanderlust and have a tendency for itchy feet and choosing the “harder” path sometimes, and our times in Perth and Dubai have filled our desire to live abroad and be citizens of the world to a “t”.

The one to understand daylight savings in Perth

How misleading of a blog title. Why? Well, Perth does not go through the biannual tradition of “springing forward” and “falling back” an hour. I remember asking some Australian friends if they did DST here and was met with incredulity and scorn – “What’s the point?” was their anthem.

What’s interesting (which I guess is in the eye of the beholder) about daylight savings time in Australia is that some  states do change their clocks, while others (like WA, the Northern Territory and Queensland) refrain. So on the first week in October, Sydney, Melbourne, and the rest of the DST-practing Aussie cities sprung forward (it is spring here after all).

The Australian states, for your reference

After doing a bit of research, I can see why some native Perth folk get heated and opinionated on the subject of DST here: the issue of whether or not Western Australia should engage in daylight savings has come up in referendum and put to a vote multiple times in recent memory (most recently 2009, but similar experiments and subsequent votes took place in 1974, 1985, and 1992). In 2006, the Western Australian government put forth a 3 year trial period whereby Western Australia would practice daylight savings for 3 years and after that period, would vote on the referendum.

In the weeks leading up to the vote in 2009, apparently the campaigning was relentless (timely given upcoming election day in the states – stay strong, North Carolinians who I am sure are sick and tired of hearing campaign ads!). Those in favor of DST were primarily business people, who maintained that it would make dealing with businesses from the east of Australia easier during the summer as it would reduce the time difference. On the other side, those opposed were farmers and many in rural areas of WA, as well as a good chunk of people who just thought it wasn’t relevant in this day and age.

Finally, in what I can call Western Australia’s “hanging chad moment“, the vote was upon them – it was such a big deal that non-voters were fined $20-$50 and the government ending up making a cool $622,000 on said fines. Anyhoo, the referendum to maintain daylight savings in Western Australia was ultimately struck down with 55% of votes against, and that, dear readers, is why Perth does not practice daylight savings.

So to friends and family in the states who recently “fell back” an hour, I am sorry you lost an hour of daylight and I am also sorry that we are now even further in time difference from you (however please bear this new time difference in mind when you decide to Skype/FaceTime/call) 😉 Until next time…

The one where it was Halloween in Perth

With October almost over (what?!), in addition to the lack of pumpkins in Perth, I’ve also noted a general missing Halloween vibe. Yes, there may be a bit of an overload of said “vibe” in the states, with entire grocery store aisles loaded with candy and specific Halloween costume pop-up stores, but the other extreme that I’ve noted here in Perth is a bit sad as well. (Side note: check out Lynda’s post on her blog, Longhorns and Camels, discussing the same topic as it relates to Dubai vs. the states)

Candy aisle in a Houston area grocery store. Image via Longhornsandcamels.com

I’m not sure if it’s the seasonal difference here insofar that October falls in spring and that harvest time that is associated with Halloween is lacking or if (per Wikipedia) Halloween is seen to be “too American” and not really relevant to Australian culture, but  something tells me we won’t be seeing too many trick-or-treaters on Friday. So to bring a little of our American influence and Halloween fun and frivolity to Western Australia, Ashlie and I threw a Halloween costume party this past weekend for some of our expat friends. Dress up was encouraged and we had a great time prepping some festive foods. And while the party was supposed to be held in a local park, Perth weather had other plans, but we didn’t let it rain on our parade 😉

Ole!

The pumpkin wasn’t a fan of guac 😉

Rice krispy treat pumpkins

A little Aussie flair with a round of cricket!

The kinda sorta Village People 🙂

Say PRUNE

A gaggle of pirates

Two Halloween beauties

The kidlets taking refuge inside

I hope all my American readers have a great week leading up to the 31st, and eat some candy for me 🙂 Until next time…

The one with the horse racing in Perth

Having a husband who hails from Louisville, Kentucky, the importance, drama, and overall sport of horse racing has been deeply ingrained upon me since pretty much day one of our relationship. Though it looks like I was ready for the races well before I met Barr…

The Kentucky Derby (and Churchill Downs in general) is held in great reverence by the Blantons – my first Derby was a magical one, where I learned (sort of) to place bets (I still pick based on the name and/or the jockey’s silks’ color) and wear big hats:

What babies we were!

While we haven’t been able to make it to the Kentucky Derby over the last few years, we have been blessed to watch the ponies run around in the track in Dubai, and now Perth!

Last weekend I attended the Crown Perth Opening Day at Perth Ascot. The crowds were more manageable, the betting a bit different, and the hats a tad smaller, but nothing beats a day at the track.

I only placed one bet the entire afternoon, but didn’t lose any money, which is always a plus!

Those storm clouds managed to hold off until the end of the day

And the races and horses aside, the focus was the fascinators and ensembles – WOW! The money, thought, creativity, and time that women put into their outfits and teeny little hats (which are more akin to works of art in my opinion), is mind-boggling.

Our little group snagged a table next to the Myer Fashion on the Field fashion show. Y’all: these women aren’t messing around with this – the preparation and rules that go into this competition is hardcore. The winner gets a cash prize and is also awarded an all expenses paid trip to the Melbourne Cup in November to compete in the Australia-wide competition. Suffice it to say that it’s kind of a big deal. Here were the top 3 outfits of the Perth grouping:

Personally, I think our group looked just as good 🙂

And just to show you that there were indeed horses there, here is Andi’s Boy, the horse I bid upon (and won!)

A full day of fascinators, races, and fun company – you can’t beat it! Ill have to go back next time with my Kentucky boy (though I don’t think he’ll have the same appreciation for the fashion that the ladies did). Until next time…

 

The one with the truth about pricey Perth

I hope it is crystal clear that I do really like Perth (examples of my continued affinity for this fine city can be found here, here, and here); however, one of the toughest aspects of living in this city would be the exorbitant expense one incurs just by doing the most basic things.

Paris, NYC, and Perth

This was never more evident than when I returned to the states earlier this year and made a grocery store run. In Perth, $100 (USD) worth of groceries creeps up on you quickly – I can barely get out of a Coles or Wooly’s here with 3 or 4 days worth of necessities (and no, not even “fancy” groceries…we’re talking basics) for that amount. No bueno. When I was back stateside, however, I was pleasantly surprised (okay, you could have picked me up off the floor so great was my delight and shock) that I could get twice as much food (and throw some wine in that mix for good measure) for half of  the same amount in Perth. To all Charlotte, NC Harris Teeter’s: I will never take you for granted ever again.

And this is just one example. I could go on and on, but as my dad always told me: nobody likes a whiner 😉 So instead I’ll just give y’all some cold, hard facts:

• The exact ranking varies based upon which survey is referenced, but Perth has, in the last 7 years or so, always been on a global listing of one of the most expensive cities in the world (check it out here and here if you want your proof)
• The mining and energy boom (and subsequent wage spikes) in Western Australia is the oft-referenced culprit of these high prices on anything from groceries to rent to a drink to your morning coffee
• Perth’s isolated location also doesn’t help its cause in keeping prices down; the labor (or do you reckon I should say “labour”?) alone to get certain goods out to Perth ends up costing the consumer dearly

There you have it. And here I thought Dubai would eclipse Perth in daily costs, but no no my friends – Perth “wins” (?) that one every single time. Ahh well. When you have lovely weather, scenery, wine, and people, there has to be some hitch, right? Until next time…

Image via PerthNow.com.au (also, clearly this is an old picture given how the skyline looks now…)

The one with kayaking on the Swan

After a busy few weeks of travel, things have been a tad slower on this side of the island…not that I am complaining! The weather has been incredible over the last month or so, and there is no shortage of fun stuff to do outside here in Perth.

One of those activities was organized by my friend Ashlie. Last week, she booked a few of us kayaks for a little boating fun on the foreshore of the Swan River. Ashlie and Lauren both have little ones who got to join in on the fun too!

The two little buddies taking on the Swan and Perth by kayak!

Of course the morning we booked in, it was was bit windy and the water a bit choppy, but the sun was shining and little K even managed a wee nap on the kayak with his mom…wish we had a picture of that – it was the cutest thing! Although I don’t know how he managed to fall asleep as there were several mini “crashes” (Lauren said it was like bumper cars in kayaks), and by the end, all of us were pretty much soaked, but it was still a fun way to spend the morning!

American gals conquer kayaking on the Swan River

Ashlie booked the kayaks at XXX in South Perth on the foreshore of the Swan River, just off the running path – you can’t miss it. The guys working there (I believe one was the owner) couldn’t have been more helpful and kind – I definitely recommend it and will hopefully be back again for kayaking…or sailing…or stand up paddle boarding – they have a lot of water fun! 🙂

Happy skippers, B & K

Happy Hump Day, and until next time…

The one with the Queen’s Birthday

I’m baaaaaaack!! We returned to Perth yesterday morning from a week long trip to Mauritius – it was a bit last minute, but it was a vacation that had been on our bucket list for awhile now, and when the timing worked out, we jumped on the chance. More on that journey later in the week once I wade through the pictures…

Mauritius was paradise

In the meantime, we have a public holiday here in Perth today! What is the occasion, you may ask? The Queen’s “Official” Birthday.

Hey girl. Happy Birthday, officially!

When I first heard about this public holiday, I was a tad confused as I thought that her birthday was celebrated in the UK in June at the Trooping of the Color (although anyone that is a weirdo that loves the royals like me knows her actual day of birth is in April..duh); however, the Commonwealth countries hold the annual celebrations at a date/season that best coincides with their good weather. June is fall/winter for Perth, so Western Australia holds off until September. September 29, 2014 to be exact!

I get HOW many pieces of cake??

To that end, Western Australia is unique in their birthday timing compared to the rest of Australia. Every Australian state except Western Australia holds the public holiday on the second Monday in June because here in WA we have Western Australia Day on the first Monday in June, so as to not jam pack June (and to align with school holidays here as well as the Perth Royal show – their version of the state fair), Perth and the surrounds ring in the Queen’s birthday on the last Monday in September. There are also some random WA city exceptions.

So there you go! ❤ any excuse to discuss the British royal family 😉 Until next time…

The one where spring arrived in Perth

Last week it didn’t really seem like spring here in Perth. Lame. But what a difference a week makes!

Perth CBD from King’s Park

Cottesloe Beach

Temperatures have upped all the way to 25/26C (that’s ~78F), with the forecast for this weekend slated to be 32C (91F)! While I don’t miss the oppressive Houston or Dubai summers (or late springs/early falls for that matter), I did miss warm weather and continual sun – what can I say? I must suffer from seasonal depression disorder 😉

I am so thrilled with this sudden shift in temps and sunshine that I took advantage of it this week and spent lots of time outside in two of my favorite Perth outdoor spots: King’s Park (larger than NYC’s Central Park!) and Cottesloe Beach.

King’s Park

King’s Park, Perth

Police on horseback

Spectacular spring day

One of the floral displays

ANZAC Memorial

A portion of downtown Perth from the park

Cottesloe Beach: I love this beach! Clearly it has the turquoise waters and fine white sand 🙂 but I think the forestry (Norfolk Island pines, primarily) and pathways that line the beach on the back make this a special spot.

Cottesloe

The Cottesloe Pylon

The Indiana Teahouse is a building you’ll see featured prominently in photos of “Cott” (I put this in quotation marks because although a lot of people call Cottesloe “Cott”, I don’t think I’m cool enough to do that yet); the Indiana Teahouse was built in 1910 as an ice cream parlor. Now it’s a little restaurant spot right on the beach.

“Cott” and the Indiana Tea House – you can really see those pines that line the beach

Indiana Tea House building (and a few sunbathers – they were brave because even though it was sunny, it wasn’t exactly bikini weather!)

Thank you for indulging me with [landscape] photo overload…the scenery was just too good to pass up!

Have great weekends, y’all – and until next time….