'straya

australia is like the states. colonized by the english a hundred years apart from their colonization of america. so everything is the same. except u drive on the right side. it's like LA. coastal city, plenty of sunshine, relaxed beach life but not pretentious. aussies hit the beach because they enjoy the sun and water sports, la-ers go to the beach to tell everyone they went to the beach.

it's been 8 years since my first trip in australia. i was 40 lbs lighter and wide eyed, thirsty to see and try and do everything. i came alone for a work trip and only spent 3 days in sydney where i met amanda for the first time. she helped me book a hotel in potts point, hotel devere, where i had my first taste of vegemite at toby's estate across the street (now closed). no smart phones and no gps, i trekked the city with a map and a backpack walking into downtown alone, hopefully waiting for amanda to get off work to hang out with me....

8 years later...the lockout laws have changed sydney's nightlife. dead streets, no hookers, no shots, no bottle service, everything was dead....but i came for the beach. i hit the beach every single day and i was just as excited for a swim on the 10th day as i was the first day. u carry ur beach life in the trunk of your car....you feel hot, or feel good, and u drive ten minutes in any directions. find a park and jump in the water. 20 minutes and the day is exponentially better.

i came to eat australian bounty of the land. australian milk tastes sweeter and richer. the butter tastes creamier and a darker golden color. the 5 dollar yogurt from the supermarket was phenomenal. bread is a much higher quality from unmodified wheat flour. lamb doesn't taste as gamey. the beef is fresh. the rock oysters look meaty but when u eat it, its got that creamy uni consistency. prawns, bugs, lobsters, abalone, the seafood is amazing. i came for chinese new year...and the chinese food is also amazing.

amanda grew up in the eastern suburbs. aka 90210 or the hamptons...an affluent suburb of jews and range rovers where the jagged coastline creates haven for the chinese to invade amidst real estate speculation. and so every morning i had a coffee and an avocado toast. and everyday we did something active. like yoga. beach. swim. paddle board. running. and everyday we ate three full meals. and everyday we drank.

make sure you know how to order your coffee. aussies are particular with their coffee. high quality espresso's. all hot. only americans order iced coffees and there's no venti....

intercontinental....

the tiger

a green coke. with 50 percent real sugar...i prefer fake sugar....

yoga....

cruising for dudes...

prawns on the bar bee

a morning paddle...

the ivy...

chinese new year harbor bridge!

she wants to get married here...

coopers - this beer was quite refreshing

kambala sunset...

bondi icebergs...

doyles.... gross...cockroaches...

this is hilarious....

coogee beach

googles...work from home....

year of the monkey...

after a trip to cabramatta...we went to granefville to visit the lebs...

point piper - kind of reminds me of balbianella

hermitage foreshore walk....i did an 8 mile run over 2.5 hours. didn't even feel like much of a run. more like a touristy walk. run walk swim run walk swim. i kept hitting beach after beach and just had to swim in all of them....rose bay, shark bay/nielson park, vaucluse bay, parsley beach, camp cove, watsons bay...doyles...and then i ran back on the other side of the peninsula first along gaps bluff and down along the ocean