Snapshot Saturday: Postcard #7 Nimbin, New South Wales

by Gay Mitra - October 22, 2011August 12, 201410

It’s day 122 of our our round-the-world trip, and we’re back in Gold Coast, Queensland. I am already missing Byron Bay, but I also missed (way more than expected) walking around a mall so that’s what we did first thing yesterday at Surfers Paradise. In a week, we’ll be heading to Sydney once again and…

Largo Do Senado: And The Family Chaos Continues

by Gay Mitra - October 17, 2011August 12, 201419

He was missing when we all hobbled out of our beds. Despite slumping into a coma late, my father awoke early. He was suffering from a terrible case of diarrhea, acquired days before flying out of the Philippines, yet his meekly obedient feet submitted to the command of the travel bug in him. He wandered…

Snapshot(s) Saturday: Ti Tree Lake

by Gay Mitra - October 15, 2011August 12, 201449

While our fellow sun worshippers contentedly basked on Tallow Beach and body surfed the erratic waves, we searched for a lesser known work of Mother Nature. A mere fifteen-minute stroll from our cabin in Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park, brought us to Ti Tree Lake. Tea Tree Lake, as some would spell it, is no ordinary…

Oktoberfest, Munchen: Inebriated, Inevitably

by Gay Mitra - October 13, 2011August 12, 201418

“Dees ees your dream, ja? Aaktoberrfest.”, his query was more of a confirmation.“Uhm, ja. Very big dream.”, I admitted, though a bit taken aback. The crowd was raucous, I barely heard him. The air smelt of alcohol, roasted chicken and grilled sausages. Tent waitresses donning the dirndl sashayed up and down the aisles carrying six…

Luna, La Union: Hitching A Ride With An Infant

by Gay Mitra - October 11, 2011August 12, 201426

After an hour and a half long battle with nausea, I was defeated. For the first time in ages, I threw up in the bus. I could not even recall when was the last time such thing happened. Mind you, I’ve been on countless buses, boats and even a habal-habal when I had a baby…

Snapshot Saturday: Postcard #6 Cape Byron Lighthouse, New South Wales

by Gay Mitra - October 8, 2011August 12, 201420

It’s day 109 of our our round-the-world trip, and we only got a couple of weeks left to make the most out of our temporal residence in Suffolk Park. It’s been a glum spring the past few days. So as soon as the sun peeked through the gainsboro clouds, we jumped in our beat up,…

Sinhala New Year: Of Firecrackers And Fireflies

by Gay Mitra - October 6, 2011August 12, 201411

… Drumbeats too. My husband and I strike without plans. When we arrived at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake last April, we had no idea that the country was celebrating Sinhala New Year. We only found out when a cab driver told us that there were no public buses in service for it…

Travel Blogging 101

travel videos

by Gay Mitra - October 5, 2011August 12, 20140

I am more of a backpacker than a blogger, if you know what I mean. Some days I think I creatively write, and most days I throw a tantrum because of that annoying thing called writer’s block. Pardon the title, but this post is actually not some kind of travel blogging tutorial. Last month, Lai…

Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco: Clam Chowder In A Bread Bowl Please!

by Gay Mitra - October 3, 2011August 12, 201431

To admit that we headed to San Francisco for the primary purpose of slurping and gobbling clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl for lunch may cause a few raised eyebrows and exaggerated gasps… But uhm, it’s the truth. Not to see the Golden Gate Bridge nor the cable cars, but to have that hearty…

Snapshot Saturday: Wild Horses

by Gay Mitra - October 1, 2011August 12, 201427

Batanes… Where horses run free. And run away from Journeying James.The wind hit us hard. I struggled to keep my balance, and so did everyone. We were merry nonetheless, and making the most out of SEAir’s Batanes Winter Bloggers’ Tour. We ran around Batan Island’s pasture like kids, and shrieked with delight when we caught…