January.

I can't quite believe it's the end of January already. We've already done one our of the twelve months out of this year which really is slightly terrifying but a round of applause to everyone for making it through January which is, let's be honest, probably the worst of all months. However, as months go this one has been pretty good for me. 

I started January and 2015 celebrating the start of the new year in Sydney which was a pretty awesome and unbeatable way to start the year for sure. It was something we'd talked about but until December weren't sure was going to happen so the fact we managed to get there in good time to enjoy Sydney and NYE was incredible. It definitely got the year of to a good start. 

Spending the last month in Yamba enjoying the beaches, looking after the dogs and the bird has been a lot of fun and super relaxing. Although it's also been stressful at times because we haven't been able to earn the money we'd have liked it's been a nice time really enjoying what's around and what this small part of Australia has to offer. We do a lot of travelling around but we often move on quite quickly and don't always get to see everything we'd like but we've really taken advantage of the not having anything to do and seen as much as possible. 

As always we've done a fair bit of driving but it's been worth it to see things we wanted to see. We really go to explore Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour and just spend the whole day wandering around and seeing what there was to see. It's been nice to get to some new places we haven't seen before particularly Byron as I feel it's a place you here a lot about so it was good to go and see it myself. 

Off course we've been enjoying the beaches and spending a lot of time in the water particularly on the hot sunny days, although the weather has been a bit grey recently when the sun comes out to the beach it is. We both love the beach so it's been good throughout the month to get some quality beach time, and at some different and beautiful beaches *cough* Byron beach *cough*.

As expected when there's a kitchen to be used I'm in it. While we've had a kitchen again I've been enjoying creating some yummy food - a lot of Asian, but also doing some baking. We were left with a huge bunch of bananas which all went ripe on the same day so of course I had to make some banana bread with it and we were enjoying it for a few days afterwards. It's always nice to have some homemade food in the house. 

So that's pretty much my January I'll be ending the month with my first hair cut of the year and hopefully a trip to Australia Zoo on the weekend. 

I hope you all enjoyed January and got 2015 off to a cracking start?

Until Monday...

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Getting some 'me' time

Every now and again we all need a good pamper night. An hour out of the day to spend some time on yourself making yourself feel great. Pampering your skin, your hair and just generally yourself. This is something I strongly believe in and when I'm back home Sunday evenings were always set aside for a hot bubble bath, a hair mask, a face mask and a mani-pedi. However, whilst travelling it's hard to find the luxuries and the time. 

Luckily we've been staying in friends of Jack's house and I've had a bit more time and the peace and quiet, and nice clean sheets to enjoy a pamper session. Aside from the hot bubble bath everything else was as such and in this post I'm going to give you a few tips to make sure your pamper night is just splendid, I'm talking Sanctuary Spa style, okay maybe not but as good as.

First step, wash your hair. But not in the shower or in the bath. Wash your hair over the bath and leave the conditioner in until the last moment. Let your hair really drink up the conditioner to get it feeling lush and silky like it should.

Whilst your hair is enjoying it's moment pop on a face mask, I really like the Montagne Jeunesse range and often pick different ones up. You can get masks and peels for all types of skin and they always make my face and neck feel great afterwards. Have a look online for which one you think would suit you best but you can pick them up in most drug stores. Once you've applied the mask to your face and neck sit back and relax with a good book or favourite TV show for about 15 minutes. 

A face mask is a great way to really cleanse your skin of the wake and make you feel like a brand new person. Use on a Sunday and feel great for the week ahead. 

Once my 15 minutes is up I wash the face mask off gently with a soft wash cloth so as not to over exfoliate. If the pores on my nose are particularly clogged, which is a problem for me, I'll use a Biore pore strip just to rid of the remaining dirt. I wouldn't recommend them unless you really suffer with clogged pores as they can rip the skin and sometimes make problems worse, but if you really feel you need them only use them as a last resort. 

Once all that's done I cleanse and tone my face as normal. At the moment I'm using the Garnier micellar water and soothing toner which I love, however the toner isn't available anymore but I'd recommend the refreshing toner in it's place. I gave up face wipes along time ago after reading a lot of horror stories about what they actually do to your skin and the dirt on it, but particularly for a pamper night try and avoid them to really give your skin the drink and attention it needs.

Of course as always I follow the skin regime with a good moisturiser. I'm particularly enjoying the L'Oreal skin perfection moisturiser at the moment and have found it really lives up to it's title. My skins much better for it and looks so much clearer and fresh after using it. 

Once I've done all I want to with my face I move onto the mani-pedi. Obviously I remove any leftover nail varnish and then give my feet a good scrub with Body Shop's peppermint foot scrub. It's really great and getting rid of all the dry skin and it repairs all the damage you might have. I then moisturise my feet and hands with whichever hand cream I'm using at the moment. Then comes the fun bit. I prep my nails with the four way buffer block you can get at most drug stores. I always push my cuticles back and then use a base coat before painting my nails with a polish of my fancy. Because its summer here at the moment I'm loving bright colours and sparkle. 

I find freshly painted nails make me feel great. I like having my nails done and they make me feel more together and ready for the day. 

Next I moisturise my whole body with a body butter. I really like the N Spa body butters as they're really thick and creamy and make my skin feel really hydrated. For me this is key to a pamper night. It's something I always forget so when I have the time I really like to make sure I don't forget this step. Also these body butters smell great and are relatively cheap.

Lastly wash out your conditioner and revel in the lush feeling of your locks.

I hope you enjoy pampering yourself, let me know if you do in the comments below.

Until Friday, 

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Picking up a paddle board

If I told you I spent the weekend standing up on a board on a beautiful beach off the NSW coast, you'd probably think I'd been surfing. Well, lovely readers, you'd been wrong. I've actually been trying out stand up paddle-boarding, or SUP if you're really down with the kids. 

Stand up paddle-boarding is a fun water sport that developed out of surfing in Hawaii. It's probably been round for donkeys years but it really took off around 2005 and it's a big thing out here in the land down under. Another variety is simply paddle boarding where you can sit or kneel on the board, though in my opinion standing up is much more fun.

Jack and I are lucky that friends we're staying with at the moment have got a paddle board so we've been able to have a few adventures out recently. For someone like me, that would be someone with the balance of squirrel that's been on a five day bender, this is a great alternative to surfing. I know for a fact that I'd struggle with surfing because I have appalling balance, but these boards a wider, longer and more balance meaning I find it easier to stand up and stay standing up. Although it still took me a few tries to find the best way to stand a lot of 'Jack no don't leave me on my own'. 

You can use these of flat or choppier water which is great. When it's a bit choppier they tend to be used more like surf boards, hence I prefer finding the flat but it's a good way to try out some surfing. I've really taken to this water sport and really enjoy it as a good way to relax and enjoy the scenery whilst still being active.

You can hire boards all over Australia if you want to give it a go before forking out for one of your own, because they are a little pricey. Find links below for some SUP hire companies in some great locations, but you can literally find SUP hire shops all over the place so always go into surf shops if you want to have a go because it's great fun, and a great way to spend Australia Day. 

Sydney harbour and Manly

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Airlie Beach & Townsville, North QLD

Perth, WA

Have you tried stand up paddle-boarding? Let me know what you thought in the comments and if you've got any other water sports you think I should try. 

Until Wednesday,

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Cinema trip Tuesday's

I love watching movies and I particularly love watching movies at the cinema. My first experience of the cinema, in theory, should have put me off for life (why play Hercules so loud Port Solent cinema?) but alas it did not. The cinema is just one of my favourite places, maybe that sounds a bit weird and nerdy but it's true. Don't get me wrong I love curling up on the couch with a blanket and some chocolate to watch a movie, but nothing quite beats going to the cinema to see a new release. 

A cinema trip is expensive though. I know it probably comes down to a rise in movie piracy and therefore a decrease in attendance to movies or something like that, but me as backpacker me cannot afford an average trip to the cinema. Even if I ditch the popcorn, which is a big deal, it's still a pricey night out. 

However, I've found that cinemas we've been local to recently (Bunbury in WA and Grafton in NSW) offer a cheap Tuesday movie viewing. All the regular movies and a discounted price, and no concessions. This has definitely made going to the cinema slightly more enjoyable (no guilt for spending money) and also a more frequent occurrence for Jack and I. 

Over the last couple of months we've been to the cinema more times than I did in the whole of 2014. I kid you not. 

In the next few weeks I'm hoping to get a couple of reviews up of the last two movies I've seen as the rest were so long ago it's unfair to decide to review them now, I can't really remember all the details. But as movies are something I really enjoy, I feel they'd be a welcome part on the blog for me and hopefully for you too.

What films have you been to see recently and what would you recommend I see next?

Until Friday...

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The downsides of travelling

Don't get me wrong I'm absolutely loving Australia and travelling, and as I've said before I've definitely got the travel bug. But, as with most things, there's always a downside. Aside from missing my family, friends and creature comforts (oh dressing gown I look forward to being reunited), some of the downsides I've found is money, finding work and having time. That's not to say that every stressful bank balance check is made worth it in the end, or accepting any work that comes your way or crossing the Nullarbor in a record 4 1/2 days. It's all worth it in the end but it doesn't make it any less stressful.

Jack and I have spend most of our time out here away from cities. We've seen them when we've been close enough, but in all honesty once you've done the regular touristy things they're all the same. Big grey buildings, shopping centres and far too many people. Everyone does the cities, so why stay there? However, again there's a downside. Finding jobs in the cities isn't so hard. There's tonnes of bars, restaurants and all manner of companies looking for backpackers to hire. However, when you're travelling around the quieter countryside it's not so easy.

We've been lucky to find work on farms relatively easy, thanks to other people's kindness. But other than that finding work has been tricky. And of course along with finding work hard to come by comes a depletion of money. Finding money to do the fun, cool and exciting things after you've paid for food and petrol can be tricky. It's always stressful but you'll always make it happen. You were going to buy the branded jam, by Coles own instead. It all adds up. 

The other thing we've found tricky is finding time, alongside work to do things. You're normally only left with weekends, and in this country by the time you've got somewhere you've really only got one full day. It's so annoying because we often leave a place feeling we haven't seen enough but we've learned our lessons and are getting better and getting it all done.

When it comes down to it there's always going to be more to do and see than you can afford or have time for, so number one tip, prioritise. Find the things you want to do, know how much they cost so you can budget accordingly, and make a list from number 1 to whatever and then you won't wind up not doing the things you really want to do. Australia is a huge country, bigger than most realise and there's things to see all over the place, you'll never likely to see it all so prioritising is key. 

When it comes to work and finding work, number one tip is never say no. Unless of course it's ridiculous, horrible work that you really couldn't bare doing, don't turn any work down. It's not forever, it can get you to the next place and it's always easier to find work when you've got it already. A thing to remember is that there are 1000's of backpackers out there looking for work and the fact you've been chosen is pretty good, if you turn it down there will be loads of people behind you who won't And don't forget Gumtree caa be your new best friend but so can going around the town/city with your CV in hand and a smile on your face, even if all you've heard all day is 'sorry we're not looking at the moment.'

Now money. It's a tricky one because by the time you've done a fair amount of travelling it begins to feel like no amount of work will get you anywhere, but it will, it really will trust me. One way of getting the funds going again is to really budget. Know how much the things you want to do will cost and set a certain amount aside each week to put towards it and don't just throw the money around. You could probably live without the nice new pair of shoes you've set your heart on, but you'll regret it if you can't afford to do the things you really want to.

Travelling isn't always fun and games but it's all part of the experience and it definitely teaches you how to really be independent. If you have tips for making travelling a little easier in terms of money don't forget to let me know in the comments below. 

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It's all about Byron Bay

Byron Bay is a beautiful spot in northern New South Wales that you've probably heard about. I certainly had but I wasn't really sure what to expect. I'd heard very mixed reviews after all.

I'd heard that there wasn't that much to do, the place was over run with backpackers and tourists but I'd also heard it was a bit of a gem in terms of scenery and beaches.

In a way none of them are hugely wrong. Apart from the fact that there is quite a bit you can do and it was more than easy to find things to do for the whole day we were there. We didn't do a whole lot apart from wander around the amazing shops, eat lunch and go for a swim but we already want to go back to either to do the same thing all over again or to find some other things to do and look at. To be honest you don't need to DO a lot to have a great day there. 

There's loads of companies in Byron Bay that offer different activities you can try. Sky diving, surfing, paddle boarding the lot. It's not hard to find somewhere you can do these things and book up. I would advise checking things out online first though to get a good idea of what you want to do and how much it will cost. 

If you're not wanting to spend a lot of money Cape Byron Lighthouse is a cheap attraction with stunning views. There's also beautiful beaches around the coast to enjoy including Byron Bay of course and also Belongi Beach. If you're up for a short drive it's worth driving down to Lennox Heads where you can enjoy the calm waters of the lake, or again a beautiful beach. 

The shops in Byron are great with a variety of high end and cheaper shops for everyone to enjoy. There's definitely no way you can feel out of place in Byron Bay, there's something for everyone to see, do and enjoy. It's a very relaxed town so it's great for an easy going day.

Finding somewhere to eat is definitely not an issue either and you don't have to spend a lot either. There's loads of choice, Italian, Mexican or just a laid back light lunch. Jack and I opted for Aquarius which was a lovely chilled restaurant offering light lunches but also bigger meals if you were particularly peckish. I went for a tropical frappe and a roasted pumpkin and eggplant salad which was beautiful and something I really want to re-create in my own way so keep your eye open for that in the future. The price of the food here was so reasonable and it was so tasty. Definitely recommend trying it out.

I loved Byron Bay and I'm so looking forward to going back and exploring some more. We had such a great, relaxed day and it was the perfect way to spend a Friday.

Have you been to Byron Bay, what did you think of it? Let me know in the comments, and as always let me know if there's any where you think we should check out. 

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Drink more water!

Everyone knows that water is essential to your health. Water is needed to replace the fluids that your body loses through sweating, breathing and going to the toilet. So essentially water is an essential ingredient to prevent you from getting dehydrated which occurs when your putting out more water than your putting in. But apart from the obvious, don't get dehydrated, element of drinking water there are many other benefits that come from keeping your water intake up.

Feeling tired and low on energy? Drink water. When your muscles don't have enough liquid they don't work as well making performance worse and essentially you feel like slobbing on the sofa and doing absolutely bugger all. Drinking more water will help maintain the amount of fluid your muscles need to help you feel energised and ready to go.

Water can also help you focus better. Considering your brain is mainly made up of water drinking more of it will help you focus better and be more alert. Essentially water can help you stop you feeling tired, lethargic and like everything is such a massive effort. 

Not drinking enough water can result in feeling bloated. Your body retains more fluids as it is basically scared it's not going to get any more. While it might seem a bit backwards you can often cure water retention by drinking more fluids i.e. water. As you drink more water your body releases fluids leading to feeling less bloated. (N.B bloating isn't always caused by water retention and can be down to kidney problems so if it is a persistent problem you may need to see your GP). 

Drinking plenty of water can also keep your skin looking glowy and youthful, though don't expect it to erase wrinkles. Your skin contains heaps of water and acts as a barrier to stop you losing too much so keeping yourself hydrated keeps your skin hydrated and can help prevent break outs and slow your skin from ageing. 

And yes, not drinking enough water can lead to constipation. When your fluid intake isn't high enough your colon will draw water from your poop to make up for that which will lead to constipation. Drinking plenty of water keeps everything moving and makes everything feel a lot more comfortable. 

Not drinking enough also effects urine and your kidneys. When you're not drinking enough your pee will be dark, smelly and more concentrated. More water means urine flows freely, is light in colour and free of odour. If you are always not drinking enough you may be more likely to get kidney stones. 

And of course drinking more water can help with headaches. Again because such a large percentage of your brain is water when the brain hasn't got enough water (without grossing you out too much) it shrinks and pulls away from the skull causing the pain we know as headaches. Therefore drinking water can ease and prevent headaches. Although again, if you are constantly getting headaches and drinking plenty of water go to the doctors. 

So how much water should you be drinking? Well experts, of which I am not for the record, say about eight glasses a day is a good amount. I try to drink 3 litres a day as a standard especially whilst I'm in Aus as heat and high altitudes can cause dehydration to be more rapid. If you're exercising drink relatively regularly throughout (roughly every 10 or so minutes) but don't drink heaps during exercise as you may feel sick, drink little and regularly throughout exercise and continue to do so afterwards to ensure you replenish the fluid you loose in exercise. 

So, readers, I challenge you to try drinking roughly two litres a day for the next two weeks and see how you feel. Don't forget to let me know! 

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