Author: Sam

Etihad Stadium

Etihad Stadium, is a newish stadium in the CBD of Melbourne.

It is home to sporting events, namely AFL and Rugby Union and entertainment concerts.

On this night I went to watch Hawthorn’s last game of the season. I was so glad I flew down to watch them play.

Etihad has a real vibe. On a near full crowd the place heaves with noise, cheers and awesome lighting.  The facilities are considerate and cater for special needs. The foods is pretty dodgey like most Australian sporting venues, so eat before you come.

The easiest way to get to  Etihad is via train.  Just aim for Etihad Stadium, Docklands station. It is really easy once there and about a ten minute walk.

Fonda, Richmond

A funky Mexican place not far from the CBD of Melbourne can be found the suburb of Richmond. Fonda Mexican is a really great eats place.

I have been dining here for a few years now and it’s always great food.  The soft tacos are amazing, and all of them are worth trying.

They have wicked cocktails and I can highly recommend  the Lychee and Elderflower Magarita.

Worth swinging in for if you are in the Richmond areas, going to the MCG or shopping on Chapel Street.

The Bangalow Food Festival

Bangalow is a funky town twenty minutes inland from Byron Bay. It’s also reasonably close to the Gold Coast and a day trip is easy.

Bangalow has a many festivals, markets and events and is worth visiting.

Last minute we decide to head to the Bangalow Food Festival. With no expectations of the festival, we were stoked to be heading Byron way. 

The kids are a little older now and I am happy to give them a little bit of freedom and money to buy their own food.

My friend’s children are there aswell so they hang out together.,eating plates of dumplings, to pulled pork to home made ice cream.

There are a few scattered cooking segments, a chief cook-off and food tasting. But missed most of it.

It would have been good to have more entertainment, music or comedians… and the prices were quite expensive.

However the winter’s sun, the happy vibe, make for a good day out.

 

The Seeds of Life

On my first trip to Bali I was honoured enough to interview the knowledgeable and
food leader Ben Richards.

Byron Bay Ex pat living in Bali for many years, Ben has been a big part of the raw food movement.

His philosophies around health, mindful eating and eating plants are sensational.

He has a cafe The Seeds of Life, is in town, well scoped out by back packers and vegetarians alike, as the mecca of raw and vegan.

He recently introduced the tonic bar and I find this natural medicine at its best. Even as a trained herbalist I am blown away at the variety of drinks on offer.

I love the menu and the food selection and every time (which is quite a few times now) I am stunned at the calibre and colour of the food. Amazing.

He holds raw retreats and you can find his cafe The Seeds of Life  here.  

This is called the Sol Jar and the banana praline stick is to die for!!!

Binna Burra Gold Coast Hinterland

There’s something very Ned Kelly about Binna Burra and the Gold Coast Hinterland.

I am always surprised more people don’t visit as it is so close to the coast and yet, offers a totally different perspective of Australiana. Green bush, misty fog, a cooler climate – it is actually like leaving Queensland for the day and entering into a southern alpine region and stepping back in time. Well so I play out in my mind.

Today I just wanted to escape the four walls of my office and clear my head around some work planning.

 

The drive up requires concentration as it does weave and swerve but once up the top of Beechmont Mountain Range the views are inspiring and the traffic light.

A few of the tracks are closed at the moment – still from the floods and land slides we had at the beginning of the year. You can check on what is open when you get up there or on the QLD National Parks website here.

I like the Cave walk but it is closed today – so I have to settle for the border walk and just turn around after I am satisfied my brain is clear!

Pademelons bounce around the bush, whip birds send their amazing “whip” sound into the air and trees with hundreds of years wisdom groan in unison. I really love the Aussie bush.

Today a koala perches in a tree – a friendly reminder that wild life still dominates the Australian Bush.


The Binna Burra Lodge is a beautiful place to relax. Upstairs is a loft – the library lounge, and I have done much work up there over the years.

The cafe is OK. Nothing special and most of the menu contains gluten which is a shame.

I have been going to Binna Burra for years and it used to thrive where as no days it is much quieter. The midweek crowd is the tourist bushwalker and the grey rinse brigade.

And me! I still love it and will continue to go.

When you go for a walk in the rain you have to check yourself for leeches and when it is dry ticks. And of course like any Aussie bush carry a stick in case of snakes… and don’t touch spiders and watch out for boobie traps! The last one was a joke.

Moana Fish Eatery Canggu

I am unsure why I hadn’t got to visit this awesome little restaurant tucked away up Jl. Batu Bolong. Moana Fish Eatery has been around a while now.

The menu is extensive – salads, sushimi, cooked fish and more.

I have the grilled mahi mahi and it is delicious. Tender and cooked to perfection. The salad is small but sufficient.

The Tartare is meant to be a stand out dish and the cheesecake to finish pretty wicked too!

I got into the chalk walls and managed to knock up a little turtle.

Overall a nice open air restaurant with a good vibe. Good for individuals, couples or groups. Prices are good too! I rate this restaurant as 9/10.

With Ayu the owner…

 

The Lawn

Reclining back, watching the last of another magic Balinese day, I giggle at the outlook of The Lawn. It is like a piece of Seminyak in Canggu. A little piece of glamour in the surf village.  I don’t mind it for a change but I know it wont’ become my local. I am still an “Old Man’s” gal!

The Lawn is impressive though.

Perched on the beach, tastefully hidden, and discrete, you can chill on reef mats, watching the sun set.

It is pseudo kid friendly with an infinity pool, chez lounges and a couple of bar areas.

The cocktails are fairly standard for Bali – good, still cheaper than most parts of the world. I was a little disappointed with the menu and food but that might because I had been spoilt for organic raw choice all day, and gorging on pizza really didn’t tick my fancy. I am sure many would love their American quasi global menu.

The Lawn in summary is definitely worth a sunset visit – it maybe your thing, but you won’t know until you have been there at least once!

 

Exotica Bali Hotel – the best villa in Canggu for value

My friend asked today ” Why don’t you have your own villa in Bali?” seeing as I travel there all the time and lately have been heading over monthly.

I have looked into it, but while the ease of staying at a place such as Exotica Bali (Bed and Breakfast) is available I can’t justify the debate in my head.

Last night is the first time I have stayed there and I shall be booking ahead of time for my next visit. It books out quick!

The villa is about a ten minute walk to the beach – something that always deterred me but this is becoming the more ” hip part” of town anyway. Funky cafes, organic eats, warungs and great shops line the upper part of Jl Batu Bolong.

The entrance to the villa is lovely, the pool perfect and the staff great.

The rooms are luxurious, very well priced and have everything you need while staying away from home.

There is even a drying area for laundry and a “relaxation” space on the first floor over looking the rice fields.

I can highly recommend this place and the tariff includes breakfast!

You can book directly here.  

Bamboo Charcoal Burgers!

There are so many awesome eateries in Canggu, Bali so that eating burgers hasn’t really been high on my agenda.

However … this time round I decide to check out two burger places; Warung Cucu and Burgerz across the road. Both are located not far up the road (Jalan Batu Bolong) from Old Man’s pub.

The charcoal buns look a bit weird and at first I thought it was a marketing ploy… make the buns dark and say they are charcoal. However the buns are really infused with bamboo charcoal.

Apparently an idea from Japan.

They cook them on the spot on a BBQ and you can eat beside the pop-up looking bar area.

Unfortunately I didn’t realise the buns also had gluten (something I try to avoid) and the meat was sausage meet with plastic cheese.

I am sure burger eaters would love the buns. A little crunchy but apparently the charcoal is a great anti-oxidant and good to detox your bowel! I think I will give them 4/10 but that is mainly because I don’t eat burgers and there are plenty of healthier options available in Canggu.

Across the road is a top notch burger joint called Burgerz. 

It has the best burger I have eaten in a long time…and definitely worth me breaking my gluten free stance. The meat was great, the bun fresh and grilled and the inner bits just melted in my mouth. It had been so long since I had eaten a burger so I was pretty wrapped it was worth it.

There is a plethora of sides, and of course you can grab a bintang to wash it all down with.

The hours are pretty good too and perfect for after a session dancing to live music down at Old Mans!

Cafe Vida Canggu Bali

WOW! Another incredible organic and local produce restaurant in Canggu and definitely worth a visit.

Really impressed with the menu and food.

I had some badass salad called “The Healthy Bowl”

This is what was included: 5 grain mix: millet, buckwheat, quinoa, sorghum, amaranth, sauteed seasonal greens, cheery tomatoes, house made beans, marinated tempeh, red cabbage, roasted pumpkin, broccoli, sweet corn, kale, zucchini, carrot, lettuce greens, served with house made curtido sauerkraut, baba ganoush, beetroot hummus, and garlic tahini and dressing!

Unbelievable!

It was delicious, filling and nutritious.

I did have guests with me though, a few frogs, and a ” big mouse”! (rat)