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Amanda GouldAmanda Gould
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traveled in 5 countries Read more
  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 22

    Leaving Day

    November 30, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Call it menopause, call it a sign of age and understanding of the distance that separates friends and family as we follow our paths in different part of the world, but regardless, I just can’t bloody stop crying.

    As Cath did a ‘kiss and drop’ at departures, the tears came fast from both of us, despite a promise they would be suppressed. All the way through the airport, through check-in, through security, I was wondering when I would see these people again. As we get older, we realise every day is a gift and never guaranteed, this makes the goodbyes so much harder. Wade tells me to think of the visit and the good times we have had, it has not worked!

    Sitting here in the airport lounge, contemplating a pre flight drink (the no drinking thing has proved to be nothing but an out and out lie, mainly to myself) while considering the past few weeks and half listening to a group of female travellers, all discussing the trials of tribulations of raising a family, debating which sex is harder to raise and of course, the little idiosyncrasies of married life. No matter who you are or where you are in the world, we are all just trying to do our best for the ones we love the most.

    Robbie, Ellis, Cheryl, Harrison, Cath and her family. It has been a true gift to see them all and to be in a position to be able to see them all in such beautiful surroundings while experiencing a different way of life. It’s always about the people you meet along the journey of life that make it so special. We just have to remember to find joy in the journey.

    Goodbye Australia, for now.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 21

    Another Day, Another Beach

    November 29, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Our last full day in Australia has been a lot of fun.

    A FaceTime with an old friend from the UK (Kate) to start the day, catching up on our very different lives. The first time Cath, Kate and I had been together since our wedding 18 years ago and once again, it was like no time had passed, conversations just rolling on but the topics a little more serious as life experiences have dictated.

    We drove to the Seacliff Bridge, a highway that comes out over the water round a small mountain. Wade was particularly excited as it was a Jeremy Clarkson drive, he captured it on video obviously and couldn’t wait to pull over and actually walk a little on the bridge to get a real feel for the experience.

    After this, Cath took us for what I can only describe as a bush walk that required I put runners on, (which Cath referred to as fake runners, as it was clear they were a fashion item and not for any type of running - like she knows me) which led to yet another secluded beach called Jibbon Beach. Absolutely beautiful (again) and then back into a coastal type bush walk which led to an aboriginal stone drawing site. Quite impressive.

    Fish and chips for lunch at a local chippy followed by a drive through a national park where a storm came in and slowed the journey home quite substantially, leading to many hilarious car conversations discussing the bathing habits of Cleopatra.

    The second half of the Mexican Train was equally as much fun as the first, hanging out with the grown up kids of your best friend is pretty special.

    We decided to get some packing done before bed as we knew we wanted an early start to maximize time together in the morning, before heading off to the airport.

    Absolutely great evening for our final night in this wonderful country.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 20

    Life at Cath’s

    November 28, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    Up early and a hangover to go with it. A bit of a rainy day but hot all the same (in Canadian terms).

    We headed over to a wildlife park and were able to hand feed kangaroos, see more koalas, a wombat, various indigenous and endangered birds and fortunately, the spiders were nowhere to be found.

    From here, we went to a town called Paramatta for lunch where we refused to pay $40 for a burger (and left after seeing menu prices), popped to the supermarket for some authentic Australian chocolate for Bradbury and came home for a snack style supper.

    The evening consisted of a family Mexican Train game challenge (I lost) and bed at 10pm - much needed relaxation.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 19

    The Road (alot) Less Travelled

    November 27, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    I have a lot to share so am jumping right in.

    Our journey up to Ellenborough Falls was treacherous, and I am NOT exaggerating, if anything I am under-exaggerating. 40kms on gravel, but not Canadian-style gravel, more like rocks, with lots and lots of pot-holes and ruts, but that alone was not what made it is treacherous. It was the fact we were on a very thin path riding up the side of a mountain with no barrier on the side of the road, dropping off so steeply and we were so high it was a long, long way down.

    I knew it was serious, because normally on a bumpy ride, Wade’s eyes are not always on the road and for the full 40kms, they did not leave the road once. He was exhausted. I think we saw 2 other cars the entire journey there.

    Eventually, we arrived at the car park and Wade told me specifically not to end the phone navigation, as there was no signal and we needed it to get out of there. I didn’t listen, thought he was exaggerating and just ‘paused’ it, not giving it another thought.

    Once again, we find ourselves on a ridiculously narrow path with an enormous and steep drop off, thick with trees and flora that looked almost Jurassic again. I had to pass a termite hill that was equal in height to me!

    Finally, we find ourselves level with the falls on the other side of the valley. 200 metre water fall and very beautiful. We carried on to the next look out for an equally stunning view. We headed back up to the head of the falls, listened to the gushing water watching it go over the edge, and read a sad plaque about an 11 year old child who played outside of the safety of the lookout area and tumbled over the waterfall to their death.

    As we got back into the car and started up the navigation, it would not work as we could not get signal. We had to drive a while to ‘civilisation’ to a very solitary and rundown shack of a closed store and strangely managed to find free wifi. After waiting for my missed emails to finish coming in, we at last managed to reconnect to the route and found an alternative way out that did not involve quite as treacherous a journey and a shorter gravel road. After about an hour, we were back on the main road for our final 4hr drive back to Baulkham Hills to see Cath and Neil.

    I was desperate for a glass of wine by the time we got home and it felt great to see Cath again. We got dinner on the bbq and proceeded to drink a couple bottles of Prosecco (later finding out that it was me doing the majority of drinking). We spent the evening laughing (and some tears from me), reminiscing, looking at Cath and Neils wedding guest book (1998) and laughing at my entry from 25 years ago. I just cannot believe so much time has passed for all of us on our different life journeys.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 18

    Joy in Everything

    November 26, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    No surprise, it’s 8pm and I am showered and in bed, but what an exhilarating day!

    Today, 26th November, is our 18 year wedding anniversary and it is as if the universe knew, so ensured our day was magical.

    It started with a porcelain gift from Wade (18 years is porcelain, I had no idea, I am waiting patiently for it to be a big diamond year), he can be so thoughtful sometimes, and a lovely card declaring many more years of love. A long chat with Olivia to check in on the latest 23 year old news, an attempted FaceTime with Brad (he didn’t answer and has not answered my texts all day), a quick message to Ellis (he too has not replied) and am due to message Connor shortly to share a photo I think he will appreciate. Connor’s pic is of a giant axe, he pointed out to us that the Australians love to commemorate a town with an oversized landmark (think Lacombe’s fishing lure) and so far we have seen a banana, a shrimp, and now an axe.

    Anyway, keen to leave Nambucca Heads, we did not even hang around to find a coffee and were on the road by 9.30am, driving for about 2 hrs to reach a small town called Hat Head. We arrived at yet another beautiful beach, small town and a warning that snakes have been sighted in the area. It was quite a magical beach area that had inlets running down one side of the beach, from a river heading into the sea with quite a current. Dogs were living their best lives, kids taking surf life saving lessons, families just enjoying their Sunday on the beach. A really great snap of normal Australian life I think.

    By now it was gone noon and we were desperate for coffee, the incredibly small town did not seem to have a cafe. So we stopped at a small local (very run down) outdoor swimming baths (the council seem to have announced its pending closure, so there were many lawn signs promoting to save the pool) that offered coffee, we stopped and got a coffee to go before moving on.

    From here, we drove an hour to Crescent Head. Another fabulous beach, a stop at a bakery for an Australian pie (not dairy free) and a small quiche for me, I could not resist the very British looking Vanilla Slice, entirely indulgent but we were already over 10,000 steps, so why not.

    At the fear of sounding complacent, privileged, and ungrateful, I will share we headed to another beautiful beach and because it was a little rainy (and I was full from my Vanilla Slice), I did not get out the car to admire the beauty. Wade did.

    We then made our way to our stop for the night in Kew (slightly inland), but prior to arriving were planning on another little beach walk and enroute to the beach, just at the side of the road in a green space backing on to bush, in a very small town, were a family of kangaroos! It was superb, I was a little over excited to see an entire family (mum, dad, child, and joey in mum’s pouch), just living their kangaroo life, munching grass and entirely not bothered by the humans who pulled over to capture video (attached). I found it positively overwhelming and quite beautiful. I was on a definite high for the next few hours, but things were about to get even better.

    On discovering the next beach and going for a wonderful walk in the sun, we found another breakwater cove and decided to walk the length of the path, admiring a beautiful double rainbow over the open and unobstructed view of the ocean. At the end of the path, we noticed some locals off the path and looking over the rocky breakwater into a bay area. Wade asked what they were looking at. They were watching dolphins! Wade tried really hard to get it on video but they were quite shy and we only saw one come up a few times, which was incredible to see. A dolphin in its natural environment, another positively overwhelming experience that brought more tears to my eyes. What a wonderful few hours - kangaroos and dolphins!

    Back to our hotel, we enjoyed a couple of drinks over dinner (Wade’s shrimp and steak arrived but the shrimp were enormous and still had their eyes, tails and legs - yuck), eating outside and reliving our day through the pics we had taken.

    What a great way to celebrate 18 years of marriage.

    Tomorrow, we head further inland to view the final Ellis and Connor recommendation - Ellenborough Falls. Who knows what the day will bring!    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 17

    Coffs Harbour to Nambucca Heads

    November 25, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    No kangaroos today.

    However, Coffs Harbour was delightful. We walked up to the headlands, up a big hill that was the nesting ground for shorebirds I think they were called. They make their nests in the ground (see pic with all the holes) and their area is a protected habitat that happens to be the headland in Coffs Harbour.

    I am running out of words to describe the natural beauty of the Australian coastline. Stunning, beautiful, magnificent, awe inspiring, outstanding, heaven-like (that one only used for Port Stephen’s, where I thought it could be what heaven looked like, if I believed in it).

    Coff’s is an international harbour, and had a lovely harbour area with over 50 types of fish living in the harbour alone - even a stingray (vid attached). After fish and chips where the fish was caught that day apparently, we headed to our stop for the night (another Ellis/Connor recommendation), Nambucca Heads.

    I remember now when I was booking the accommodation for this night, it was a bit tough to find something decent, I thought it was because it was all booked up already. Apparently not.

    Nothing wrong with this small holiday town, insanely gorgeous coastline with incredible views every which way. It looks like a movie set it’s so pretty. We found Shelly’s Beach, there was barely a soul on it (lightly raining) but we could not let the rain stop us from a spectacular walk. It was quite rocky with enormous flat rocks embedded into the sand but looked very similar to petrified wood with what I think were veins of quartz running through them.

    After that, we headed down to the main area for another coastal walk, with the walkway protected from the ocean by enormous rocks. Over time, people have decorated the rocks with paint and drawings, messages recording their trips in Australia, messages honouring past loved ones, and generally uplifting comments. In my ‘professional’ world, it is called placemaking and it really did make the place special!

    We stayed at a place called the Beach Rooms. Recently renovated and very clean, just a little lacking in amenities, but made up for it with the view over the ocean, which we can see from our bed.

    Despite being told by Cath/Neil and Cheryl separately, that Australia does not offer a decent curry, we decided to try one in Nambucca Heads anyway. I think all Aussie Brits need to try a curry house in Western Canada because when they return to Australia, they will think their homeland version is delicious. The curry tonight was by far the best non-UK-based Indian meal I have ever had. Proper onion bhajis, lovely tikka masala (Wade) and a veggie version for me. The only slightly weird thing was the naan contained what I think was mozzarella cheese!? A small price to pay.

    Here we are again, it’s 9pm and we are showered, in bed, and sleepy. Tomorrow is our 18 year wedding anniversary and our final night on the road will be spent in Kew, after visiting another Ellis/Connor recommendation, a waterfall nearby. Then we are at back at Cath’s for the final few days of the trip.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 16

    An early morning Kangaroo

    November 24, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    I was awoken by Wade at 5am this morning at the winery. There were kangaroos outside our cabin! I tried really hard to see them but when I am woken from a deep sleep, I struggle to see (it takes about 10 minutes after waking that I can actually see properly, I assume it is a getting older thing) and I just could not focus on anything, so went back to bed knowing Wade was getting photos. Plus, I know our route for tomorrow was previously planned by Ellis to take us where we will likely encounter them).

    After a delicious full cooked breakfast through a pre-ordered vegetarian and dairy free breakfast hamper, (made by Wade, I cleaned up), we were on the road by 8.30am, hoping to be in Ballina by 1.30pm.

    We made it and were able to check in a little early. I have to congratulate myself at this point because every hotel I booked, has been absolutely lovely (apart from Yamba Beach Motel, that was the only dodgy one). Today we are in a boutique hotel that was previously a Manor House built in 1924, very nice indeed!

    From here, we had a little look around town and found a delicious hole in the wall type juicery/take away that we loved so much, Wade took a pic of their non-fruit offerings (pic attached).

    I was keen to get to another of Ellis & Connor’s recommendations - Mullumbimby, they said that after Byron Bay had gentrified so much, all the remaining hippies moved to Mullumbimby as they were priced out. They had also insisted that I book some time in an outdoor rainforest type spa in this town, so we had a couples massage booked too.

    Ellis and Connor have experienced so much of Australia and have such a love for this country, I have been eager to try and accomplish every suggestion they have provided - we really want to see it through their eyes and so far, had not let us down and I have certainly experienced things I would not have done. So to Mullumbimby excitedly we head.

    Wade had an inkling I would not like Mullumbimby, he said to me ‘think about what the kids have said, …..all the real hippies moved there after Byron Bay priced them out and it became too commercialized……This suggests you are likely not going to like it.’ I entirely disregarded these comments as I love a small independent type shop vibe and genuinely mentally questioned how well Wade actually knew me.

    Turns out, he knows me a lot better than I thought.

    The town was just an old town, nothing wrong with it all - just rather run drown with old fashioned shops, some even-too-veggie-for-me type cafes (they just didn’t look as clean as they could), and some run down/untidy houses. And absolutely no sign of a rainforest-type spa.

    Wade could not get out of the town quick enough, he wanted to go to the beach at Byron Bay, have a snack and then return to Mullumbimby only for the massage. So that is what we did.

    We retuned to Mullumbimby to locate Kiva Spa, the one the kids raved about. I pre paid for the massages when I booked online (and read about their three different mineral pools) and it was a prerequisite - should have been a a sign.

    This town was not near any rainforest that I could see, and the spa was located down a back alley (no rainforest), adjacent to I think a mechanics shop.

    I can see how its charm enticed Ellis & Connor (they are hippies), it was very ……rustic, had lots of plants everywhere and was basically outside (on being shown round, a lizard, a big lizard, ran across the pathway and the guide said at my gasp, ‘it’s ok, we share the space at Kiva Spa) with a corrugated roof and 3 pergola style structures, each with a large literal hot tub underneath it (the three pools) and a sauna/steam room, outside showers, no-defined-sex bathrooms/change-rooms, incense everywhere, and a vibe so very hippy, it was easy to see why there were so many there. We were out of place and definitely did not have enough tattoos. We tried to fit in and had a go in every hot tub, but were relieved to be called for our massages (which were great).

    I managed to snap a couple of pics of the place, but they have a strict no device policy, so only a couple.

    Until tomorrow.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 15

    Lots of Cheese & Some Wiine

    November 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After departing Brisbane at 9am this morning, we drove for 3 hours into the country to arrive at Ridgemill Estate Winery. In the middle of nowhere, it’s not quite what I thought I had booked for us. I was looking to sample some wine and have a rest day at a gorgeous little cabin, spending the day a little day drunk and the evening looking up at the stars. I was not expecting to literally be in the middle of nowhere.

    We arrived at a very small vineyard (not winery) with enough rows of vines they could almost be counted on fingers and toes alone. Kind of like a little farm with some goats, a friendly cat that sat on my lap while I read a little of a book lent to me by Goodie, and 10 gorgeous tiny cabins. The cabins are fab, a little like a smaller version of our Pigeon Lake cabin, but made mainly of corrugated aluminum. I ordered ahead a cheese/meat charcuterie board and they provide in addition, everything in your fridge for both a meaty and vegetarian breakfast that you can bbq out the front of the cabin, with a bottle of rose and apple juice to pass the time.

    We have had a busy few days and needed to unwind, so we got here early, hoping to check in before the 2pm access time. No luck, on asking what there was to do in the area, we got back on the road and headed to the Christmas Farm 15 minutes away. Totally weird. Literally, (also) in the middle of nowhere, was a farm that specialised in everything Christmas. A strange couple of barns converted into Christmas decoration wonderlands and a small cafe type thing. Christmas music blaring, we looked round (quickly) and bought a kangaroo tree decoration, before looking at the turkeys in cages (not the bush variety) before leaving and entirely questioning how the place came into existence and provided a living for the owners.

    Back at the cabin, we visited the goats and scoffed down our charcuterie board while Wade made a start on the wine. Sitting here, entirely relaxed, in a bit of a cheese coma.

    The good news is they have a x10 mirror, I can finally see my eyebrows again to shape them after a two week break.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 14

    Harrison in Brisbane

    November 22, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    I forgot what starting the day with a hangover was like. Thanks Cheryl, a night full of stories, catching up and making new memories to remember for sure!

    After the Australian fave of avo on toast for breakfast overlooking the sea at Surfers Paradise, we got on the road for the hour and a bit drive up the coast to the most northerly point of our Australia journey - Brisbane.

    With Brisbane brings Harrison! Excited to see him and in typical H style, he had booked us into a lovely room at an adjacent hotel, despite saying we could stay, his step-daughter had made it back early from Uni, so had bagged her bedroom back. A lovely shower and we were headed off for a guided tour of the sights of Brisbane and to meet his new partner, (not so new, it’s just been a while since we saw him) Gayle.

    Just got back from a fun night with Harrison, tour round Brisbane and even a visit to a Nepalese temple (I’m still looking for inner peace - there were no monks).

    We headed down to the harbour front and enjoyed a few cocktails and pizza, catching up and sharing memories. A lot of fun and a promise to see each other again in the future.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia 2023
    Day 13

    Goodbye Ellis, Hello Cheryl

    November 21, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    The day started better than yesterday (I was somewhat moody yesterday as the tiredness had caught up with me), although tinged by an upcoming farewell and subsequent sadness I was expecting on saying goodbye to Ellis.

    He took the car last night and was expectedly late on arrival to collect us (Ellis-time is a real thing) from the hotel to start our journey to the Gold Coast. 30 mins behind schedule (Wade had us checked out and was waiting in the rain for Ellis to arrive) and barefoot, we got on the road and started our short journey to Ellis’ house where we said goodbye. Wade was emotionally stronger than I, and after a very long hug, I got straight in the car and cried, a strange mix of feeling oh so proud of the life he had carved and my own selfish sadness of not knowing when we would see each other again.

    A short trek into Queensland and we were arriving at Cheryl’s already. You know it’s a good friend when you are able to catch up after 10 years and it is like a moment hasn’t passed. 3 bottles of brut (my no drinking is not going well, it’s just surrounding me and tastes so good!) and several hours of catching up on 10 years takes time (8 hrs to be exact, Cheryl has gone to bed drunk at 7.30pm lol).

    A very emotional reconnection with the benefit of a few years of wisdom enlightening our decision making of our past era. Life was different then, Cheryl was married to Harrison (who we see tomorrow) and our lives have evolved so much over the years. Her kids are similar in age to Brad and Olivia, but there was and continues to be an immense warmth emanating from her towards our family of 7 and a genuine love and understanding of our blended family (that few understood at the time) and the decisions that ensued. I felt part of me return when talking to Cheryl, no disrespect to the person I have become over the years, but my British sense of humour emerged unexpectedly and my little-understood sarcasm returned and was embraced with laughter I did not realize I missed. I love Cheryl and no doubt will feel the same way when I see Harrison tomorrow, they were our friends that first knew us as a family of 7 and embraced Olivia and I as part of Wade’s life as if there were no time before, they will always hold a very special space in my heart. Not to mention, they were in a position to lend us six thousand UK pounds that allowed us to transport our life’s belongings via container to Canada when we immigrated. Very special friends indeed.

    It is only 7.40pm and we are heading to bed (Cheryl left a few mins ago) after Wade checks my update for appropriate content - he was worried my content may be a little Prosecco fuelled for the audience. I am emotional and will likely cry again shortly as I recall the special moments from this afternoon. It’s people, not places, that make your life.

    Again, I am surprised by the overwhelming joy I am experiencing on this trip, it seems to be cementing my gratefulness for what the universe has determined I must experience.    Read more

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