5 ITEMS THAT HAVE MADE MY LIFE EASIER WHEN TRAVELLING.

Monday 27 May 2019

Back in February when I left Gibraltar to go travelling, and packed up half of my life to move to Australia, the biggest decision I probably had to make was - what do I actually need to bring with me? I'm quite the hoarder and get sentimentally attached to things so choosing what to bring and what to leave behind wasn't easy (sadly my 'Marie' from the Aristocats plush toy didn't make the cut). Reflecting on my trip to Asia, these are some of the items that I feel were necessities and made life a whole lot easier. 

tep wireless

1. Tep Wireless Internet device


If you're travelling out of your country (or somewhere that your mobile data doesn't cover) then I 100% recommend using Tep Wireless*. When planning Japan my main issue was transport, as I heard that English signage at the stations was lacking. Luckily with Tep, whenever we decided we had to get somewhere I could quickly jump on Google Maps or Rome2Rio and it would sort out all the hard work for me. Having unlimited Wi-Fi everywhere we went also meant I become 'Uber girl' 'Check if there are any gluten free restaurants in the area girl' and 'The first one to upload our photos on Instagram girl'. 

The process is simple. You choose whether you want to buy or rent a Tep device, tell them what destinations you are going to be visiting and how long for. The most popular data package works out $12.95 a day for unlimited internet. If you're someone who is on the go a lot and you are constantly moving countries, then I'd recommend buying the device - it would save you buying mobile numbers in each country! 

2. Packing cubes


These have been a life saver not only to keep things organised and easy to find in my backpack, but also because when 'unpacking' at our Airbnbs I pretty much just stacked them in the wardrobe and got what I needed from each one. Making it that much easier and quicker to pack up again when it was time to move. These are inexpensive and come in a range of colours that you can find on Amazon

3. A J Shaped Neck Pillow 


When I flew on short haul trips I never really bothered with a neck pillow, as I didn't really feel like they made much of a difference anyway and I have a pretty giraffe-esque neck so I could never get comfortable. Then when J Pillow reached out about collaboration I thought, well this might come in handy for the 8+ hour flights. The difference with this is that it supports your neck, chin and head. So you can get pretty comfy whether you're on the window, middle or aisle seat. 

4. A comfortable backpack


There is a lot of research, blogs and variety out there when it comes to choosing a good backpack to go travelling with. Of course all the pretty and good ones will cost you over £100, but then I stumbled upon this simple Cabin Max beauty on Amazon that only set me back £30 (well, my mum as it was one of my Christmas gifts). After carrying it around 8 airports, using my upper body strength to chuck it in the overhead locker 10 times, and using it for my little trips here and there in Australia - I can confirm that I will be keeping it for my 3 month trip to Asia too as it has served me well.  

5. A Kindle 


I think this has been a great travel item, but not so great for my bank account because since I don't have to worry about carrying them around, I can just keep buying them. Before I had a kindle everything used to be filled to the brim of my little backpack because I always needed to carry a book in there too, now I can open and close my bag without risking my headphones or sweets falling out. 

What are some of your favourite travel items and gadgets to pack?

G




*Items marked where gifted to me but all opinions are my own. 

A LOW CARB AUBERGINE (OR EGGPLANT) LASAGNA RECIPE.

Tuesday 21 May 2019

I stopped doing recipes on my blog once I finished university and moved back home, I think the last one may have been a white fish soup one. Truthfully, when I moved back to Gibraltar I probably only cooked omelettes, chicken and made buddha bowls, because with my mum and grandmother around there wasn't really a need for me to cook much. Now that I'm living on my own in Brisbane and have a very nice kitchen to make a mess in, I've enjoyed experimenting with more things and meal prepping and all that grown up stuff. 

If like me, you love Italian food but also know it wouldn't be great for our hips to eat pasta at every meal, then this is a great alternative recipe to traditional lasagna. Luckily, I love cheese equally as much as carbs so even though this is a vegetable substitute it's still delicious and filling. I've also taken the liberty of calculating the macros and calories per serving for you guys (thanks to MyFitnessPal) so if you're tracking/a gym buff don't worry, I've got you. 

low carb aubergine lasagna

INGREDIENTS 

  • 4 Aubergines/Eggplants 
  • 500g of turkey mince (or beef) 
  • Chicken or beef stock
  • Mushrooms 
  • 1 red onion 
  • 2 garlic cloves 
  • Can of chopped Italian tomatoes 
  • Passata sauce (I got Italian herb but you can use any)
  • Bechamel (jar or homemade) 
  • Mozzarella



METHOD  


1. Preheat the oven to 180'C

2. Slice the aubergines lengthwise in 1/3 inch slices. Depending on your dish size you should aim for 15 slices to make the layers. 

3. Wash the aubergine slices, and place them on a sheet of kitchen paper. Drizzle some pink himalayan salt (or your regular salt) and place another sheet of kitchen paper on top. Press down and leave for 10 minutes to drain out the liquid from them. 

4. Heat up a pan with olive oil. Chop up the onion, garlic and mushrooms and toss into the pan. Keep on a low-medium heat and after a few minutes throw the mince into the pan. 

5. Once the meat has turned brown, pour in the can of tinned tomatoes, crumble the stock in and add salt and pepper and any other seasonings you wish to use. Leave to simmer on low heat. 

6. Grab a baking tray and spread the aubergine slices on it. Drizzle a bit of olive oil on each (I use spray) and bake them for 7-8 minutes on each side. 

7. Now for the fun part! Layer your lasagna however you wish. Mine went something like aubergines - tomato - drizzle of bechamel - lots of mozzarella - mince mixture - and repeat.

8. Place dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until top layer is a beautiful crispy brown. 

low carb aubergine lasagna


CALORIES PER SERVING | 527
CARBS | 39g
PROTEIN | 51.3g
FAT | 17.8g


 Have you ever tried to make this before? I'd love to hear your alternative recipes! 

G


low carb eggplant lasagna

5 RESTAURANTS AND CAFES TO VISIT IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.

Tuesday 14 May 2019

When I think of food in Australia - I think healthy, colourful and creative. When you're travelling with a Vegan and Celiac, your restaurant choices tend to be a bit more niche and the menus usually tend to be a bit more creative. Whether you're looking for something instagrammable, or want to eat out without consuming all of your daily calorie intake in one meal, here are some options for every craving. 


Queen Victoria Market 


Ok so this isn't technically a restaurant, but if you're not really sure what you fancy eating then head here where you can choose from more than 10 different cuisines from across the globe. I shared halloumi fries, pavlova and paella with my friend, and I may have had a bubble tea too. There's usually live music too and a bunch of stalls and fresh produce for you to look at. 

queen victoria market


Pablo Escoburgers


My friend came across this place on Instagram after someone posted about their 'controversial' burgers in ode to Pablo Escobar. One of which comes with a dollar bill and a 'line of cocaine'. This was a pretty funky place, and the bartender creates a signature cocktail for you based on your preferences. We ended up spending around $45 each at this place, so it's not the cheapest of restaurants, but at least your burger will look good on the gram. 

pablo escoburgers


Ground Yourself Cafe


We stumbled accross this place on our way to get our nails done, and it was a delight. They have a large breakfast selection, smoothie and acai bowls and a selection of buddha bowls. I got the Superfood Salad lunch special for $10 which came with quinoa, cauliflower, goji, beetroot, kale, pickled grapes, toasted seeds and almond hummus. It was delicious. 

ground yourself cafe


Banff 


If it's Italian you're after, then head to Banff in St Kinda for an inexpensive plate of pizza or pasta. They usually have offers on, such as $7 pizzas on Monday and Tuesday. They have an interesting concept called 'paper bag pasta' where your pasta is served...in a bag. I didn't get to experience it first hand, as I went for the Chicken & Pesto Risotto and it was molto delizioso.

banff st kilda

Sister of Soul 


This was probably my favourite and most delicious out of all of them. Even though we had initially planned to go for lunch, the breakfast menu looked so good that all 5 of us picked something from there. I had the French Toast which was no ordinary french toast, it came with vegan 'honeycomb', gelato, fruit and of course maple syrup (and some flowers that I assumed were edible). The Snickers Smoothie Bowl that my friend chose looked heavenly too. 

sister of soul


Have you been to any of these? What are some of your favourite spots in Melbourne?

G


melbourne food spots



A WEEKEND GUIDE TO SURFERS PARADISE, AUSTRALIA.

Thursday 2 May 2019

I've been in Australia for about two months now, and most of that has been spent in Brisbane - because of its warm weather, its great nightlife and its proximity to lots of other great places around Queensland. Surfers Paradise is situated in Queensland's Gold Coast and is an hour drive from the CBD. I'd say Australians head to Surfers on the weekend just like we Gibraltarians head to Tarifa. They're both known for their beaches, nightlife, and the perfect windy weather to practice your surfing skills. Here's what we got up to in two days in Surfers Paradise. 

surfers paradise


Where to Stay 


If you stay anywhere along the beach you'll be able to get to everything by foot (obvious I guess). We stayed at K Resort Apartments which was a 5 minute walk from Cavill Avenue where you can find a plethora of shops and restaurants and a 10 minute walk from Surfers Paradise beach.  

We shared a 2 bedroom apartment between 4 of us and paid £35 each for a 2 night stay. The living room was slightly dated but then again all we were really there for was to sleep, make toast for breakfast and pre drink before heading out. The Wi-Fi wasn't free, so we stuck with our 4G. The apartments had air-con and we also had a bathroom each.

k resort surfers paradise


Where to Eat


Since we were on a bit of a budget, we ate in the apartment twice and had breakfast in the room too (and a helping of snacks from 7/11).

Grill'd 

If you're after a burger but want to knock of a couple hundred calories then head to Grill'd. They have gluten-free buns, vegan options and even a low carb bun that makes your burger less carby than a sushi roll. I went for the summer sunset burger - complete with bacon, avocado and pineapple. I also recommend trying the chips share plate which comes with their famous Grill'd chips, sweet potato chips & zucchini chips.

grill'd

SandBar

Located next to the beach, this place is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We came at an in between time of 12pm so all chose an Acai bowl and damn was it good. All bowls were topped with banana, apple, strawberries, coconut, chia seeds, granola (and because I'm a gluttonous individual I also added peanut butter and raw cacao).  If we would have come again, I would have definately gone for a Hawaiian poke bowl.

sandbar


What to do 


Party 

A trip to the Gold Coast isn't complete without a night out (well that's my opinion with most trips). When we were choosing where to 'settle' in Queensland we originally thought of Surfers but heard it was like the 'Magaluf of Australia' so went for Brisbane instead. I must say, I think I had one of my best nights out in Australia there. We went to Sin City and Bedroom and I think I was running out of breath by the end of the evening because I was singing so many damn songs.

If you like your aesthetics then Bedroom is a good choice - there's actual beds in the VIP area and bathroom, and the club gives out free popcorn and candy floss. 

Infinity

If you want to experience the biggest trip of your life in 20 minutes, head to Infinity. Tickets are $26 and the attraction basically takes you through a series of rooms and effects that engage all your senses. Think house of mirrors but even more confusing and weird.  

Ripley's - Believe it or Not!

I lived in London for a year and never made it to this place but I was always curious, so when we found ourselves with some time on our hands we popped in to see what it was all about. There's about 15 themed rooms and interactive areas (and a lot of bizarre stuff to check out).

Surf 

I mean whilst you're here you might as well try it right? We probably didn't pick the best time to do this (a.k.a the day after our night out) but luckily we picked 1pm for our lesson so we had the morning to recover. We went with Get Wet Surf School and paid $60 for 2 hours. We were surprised to find we actually didn't suck as much as we thought we would, and I managed to stand up on my board for an impressive 10 seconds.

get wet surf school


Rent a scooter 

We saw people on these everywhere and there are a dozen shops scattered around the area where you can rent a bike/scooter from. The coast is actually very long, so you could either go on a nice 50 minute scenic walk to Mermaid beach or electric scooter it. 

Crazy Cat Cafe

If you're travelling in a group then one of you is bound to be a crazy cat person (there were two in ours). The Crazy Cat Cafe have either 50 minute or 25 minute sessions and unlike the one we went to in Japan, you're actually allowed to play with the cats and hold them. They have quite a big menu ranging from shakes to lasagna to cheesecakes. 

Q1 Climb 

If you're after the best scenic view of the Gold Coast, you can either climb to it or simply sit at the top of the Q1 building and enjoy a nice meal and glass of wine. The SkyPoint Climb lasts 90 minutes and you climb a total of 300 stairs, so make sure you've had your kale-spinach-superseed breakfast.

iFly 

Still haven't quite mustered the courage to sky dive? Then floating in the air in a vertical wind tunnel is a good alternative with iFly. The price is $55 for 'two indoor sky flights' and is suitable for people of all ages. 

Tan

If you've done all that and wondering what to do with yourself next, then go take a nap on the beach.



Have you ever been to Surfers Paradise? What's your favourite seaside location in Australia?

G


SURFERS PARADISE guide



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