I found a new hobby. Am I good at it? Heck no. Do I have the right equipment for it? Nope. (Canon, if you want to help a blogger out, let me know) But damn, I have fun doing it. I am talking about astrophotography. I was invited by my friend Kim the other day, she is taking a photography course and had to do some astrophotography in order to pass the year. So she was kind enough to invite me and I eagerly tagged along. I ended up really loving it. Even though it was cloudy so the stars there were not out in full force. I also had found that I changed the setting the wrong way. Where I initially had the correct but then changed them into the wrong settings. (Lesson learned for next time) Anywho, Underneath are some of my pictures…
I only started blogging in April 2018. Before that, I was pretty down and was not doing a lot on a day to day basis. In order to get myself out of bed more and to use my fancy DSLR camera, I decided to start Bondi to Basic. In this year in review what I have been up to ever since I started this blog. Since I work full time I usually go out and about on the weekends and take photos for upcoming blog posts. So underneath you can see my year in photo’s what I have been doing for this blog.
Are you a blogger? A traveler? a photographer? All three or none of the above? I am sure that you then have tried to play the Instagram game! Starting a travel account, a fashion account, an interior account, a photography account or something else. You have probably, just like me, struggled with getting engagement, proper followers (No bots or just follow for follow people) and an increase in traffic (If you are a blogger). I started my blogs Instagram account a couple of months ago. Initially, I got lots of followers, likes, and comments, but as the time went on it got lower and lower by the day. I find this VERY frustrating and upsetting, so I thought I would try some things to see if I could improve my Instagram and get a larger group of followers. In this post I will show you if I have succeeded, and what I have done to improve my blogs Instagram account.
I know I have been posting a lot about Bondi and Bondi Beach lately, and I apologize for that. This will be my last post on Bondi Beach this year. I promise. I just really wanted to share some more photos of this pretty cool beach suburb. I went through my photos today and I found so many cool ones, at least in my humble opinion, that I decided I want to share them with you. I know, I am so sweet! From the beach, sunsets, Iceberg club, and surfers, underneath you will find it all.
Located in the heart of Bondi Beach lies a small apartment hotel, Adina. Located at amidst bars, cafes, restaurants and boutique shops in Sydney’s most famous beach neighborhood. Just minutes walk from the beach lies a 2 story – small, contemporary hotel equipped with all the necessities that you require for a mini-break from life. Making my way to Adina was super simple and straightforward. Hopping on the 333 bus line from Circular Quay conveniently drops you off at Bondi beach. From there it is an easy 5-minute walk to the hotel. The reception area is very modern and open. With several couches, computer and access to the pool, it is very welcoming. A minimalist color palette, with soft lines and a decorative stone wall, gives a modern, but not cold feel. Varying room categories fit all types of travelers, even those who travel with children or with other couples as they offer inconnected rooms.
I am one of those people who stubbornly refuse to try something new. My dad had been trying to get me to listen to podcasts from when it first came out. But no, I didn’t think I would like it. Only a few months ago a friend of mine convinced me to try it, and I have been hooked ever since. The great upside of this is that I literally have hundreds of podcasts to listen too. Now, this is going to sound strange, but I love murder mysteries and true crime. So the podcasts that I listen too are all related to that subject in some way. In this post, I will show you some of my favorite podcasts I listen to regularly and that has me hooked.
I needed to escape the hustle and bustle of busy North Sydney the other weekend. It has been hectic at work and I needed a quick break before the summer season started. The beauty of living in Sydney means that there are loads of great weekend break destinations within a few hours. So this mini-break I decided I wanted to go to the beach, especially because it was going to be 32 degrees and I needed some chill time. So that is what I did, I booked a hotel and off I went. I wandered the streets of Bondi, watched a sunset and enjoyed some time at the beach. If you are interested in going on a weekend to Bondi Beach then check out my post underneath.
A Dutchy, Kiwi and Canadian walk into a cricket stadium. Sounds like the start of a dad joke, doesn’t it. But it happened last Sunday. I have never been to a proper game before and I was always curious what it would be like. I am Dutch, so I did not grow up watching cricket. And it is a lot more entertaining then what most people realize. So when I got the opportunity to go to a T20 game I was down. Australia was playing the final game against India at the Sydney cricket ground and my boss had some tickets left. It was a great game, but Australia lost. It was such a great experience anyways. The Indian fans are so hooked to the game, they truly support their team. Every wicket or catch they would go MENTAL. It was great to see. Underneath are just some pictures of this great evening.
One of the most stunning cities you will ever visit is without a doubt is Paris, The city of love. It truly has it all, some of the most stunning architecture, the Seine, delicious food, museums, Catacombs, Disney Land, Arc the Triumph, The Lovre museum… and some sort of weird building that is called the Eiffel Tower? I don’t know, you might have heard of it… I have been to this amazing city on many occasions and I have loved it every single time. I have spent hours on end writing an encompassing guide for you because there are some things you MUST do when you go. Get a cappuccino and a French banquette and get comfortable cause this is a long one.
Each year for my birthday I go on a little adventure. Whether it is to the Gold Coast, Jervis Bay or to Bali. I love to get away for a bit, think about life and recharge for another year. This year was the year that I traveled to Bali, Indonesia. Since I live in Australia it is only a short trip away and the weather is amazing, and the hotels are cheap. However, this trip turned into a bit of a nightmare where I had to delay my flight back home and even ended up in the emergency room in Sydney. If you are curious about what happened and what you can do to prevent this from happening, then I suggest you read on…
You can read hundreds of Sydney City guides and not many will talk about the Chinese Garden of Friendship. I wrote one of those city guides myself, shame on me! I have been living in Sydney for 7 years now, and I had never been to these gardens. And boy do I regret it. These gardens are absolutely stunning, tranquil and are cheap to enter. In this post, I will show you what you can expect when going to these gardens, which I suggest you do when you are in Sydney, cause they are pretty amazing!
The world has some amazing man-made landmarks that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list. So if you are planning your trips for 2019 and you need some inspiration, then let me help you decide where to go. I have written down 10 (in my opinion) some of the most iconic landmarks you should see in your lifetime. While most of these names will no doubt be familiar, and you sure have seen most of them on Instagram or online, you won’t be able to appreciate their iconic stature until you are right in front of them. In this post, I will show you some of the most iconic landmarks in the world.
I love Sydney! There I have said it. I have written many all-encompassing guides to different walks in Sydney, different suburbs as well as a full city guide. After pondering over what I would write about next I realized that I hadn’t written anything about Sydney by night. I can’t tell you enough how cool this city is when the sun has set! And then I am not talking about clubbing and whatnot (that’s not my thing) but I am talking about The Opera House, The Harbour Bridge and all other highrises around these buildings. This is truly a sight you must see at least once in your life. I can spend hours on end watching the city glitter at night whilst many many boats float past. Some blaring music, some enjoying the scenery whilst enjoying a dinner and some private boats just going to a sail on a water summers night. I have never seen a style of posts like this with other travel bloggers ( I couldn’t find it) so here it is. Sydney by night, what you must see, where you must go to optimize your Sydney by night experience and where the best instagrammable spots are to make your folks back home jealous. You are so very welcome…
November in Sydney is Jacaranda season, YASSS! This stunning tree in blossom is a fairytale we all want to be in. From Paddington to the North Shore, these trees line quiet suburbian streets giving a unique feel and look. In this post, I will show you where to go and what to expect when searching for these magical trees.
I get it! You have been planning a trip to the Netherlands but you are still unsure on what to see and do. The trouble is, Holland is such a stunning country that there is so much to explore! From stunning architecture in Rotterdam to those gorgeous colorful tulip fields in the countryside or the classics canals in Amsterdam. So much diversity in such a tiny country. However, if you plan your trip right, then you can see a lot in just a couple of days. Besides, even the briefest trip to this country is pretty magical… In today’s posts, I will show you some of the best of what the country has to offer. If you need a country guide then I have written an extensive guide to the Netherlands. I have also written an individual city guide for Rotterdam and (Of course) Amsterdam. Check out some amazing pictures below…
Europe is one of the best travel destinations there is. Filled with ancient history, stunning nature and amazing cities, this continent must be on your travel list. In this extensive post, I will show you 73 of the best sights throughout Europe, just so you won’t miss out. From stunning national parks to must-see unique spots, here’s your ultimate Europen bucket list.
Just before summer hits and the weather is too hot to do anything but sit at the beach and swim in the ocean, I wanted to do a quick few more walks. After finally finishing the Spit Bridge to Manly Walk a few weeks ago (plus writing about it in detail) I wanted to do something a little different this time and not do a coastal walk. I opted for a walk with a bit more shade and a different scenery then Australia’s coast, I know, I am such a spoiled brat. I did some Google searching and found the Two Creeks Walk located an easy bus trip away. It offers (according to Google) post-war cobbled tracks and stonework, Coachwood forests, sweeping water vistas, and vegetation communities ranging from moist gullies to Sydney sandstone gully bushland. I think that sounds pretty spiffy and decided to bind on my walking shoes and wander this 7.5-kilometer-long track.
I have recently started an Instagram account for this blog. Previously I used my personal Insta account, but I always felt a bit awkward posting too many pictures on there. I also had not told (still haven’t) to a lot of people that I started a blog. I guess I still feel a tad awkward about it, but that is a whole other story for another day. So today’s post is going to be a little bit different then what I normally post, well not a little but a lot. You know that I normally spend hours researching and writing posts, but today I got a little frustrated with Instagram and I thought I would write you a quick post on how amazing (if I say so myself) my Instagram account is and why I think you should follow me ASAP. Unless you are a bot… like 90% of the accounts are on Insta nowadays. So upsetting because it used to be such a cool site. Click on read more to see why you should follow me on Instagram…
Everyone has heard, seen or has traveled to amazing cities like Paris, Amsterdam or Barcelona. They have heart-stoppingly beautiful architecture, unparalleled history, amazing culture, mouth water delicious food and so much more. But, Europe is filled with gorgeous (little) towns or cities that are just as amazing. Since I thought they deserved a spot in the spotlight, I have looked up 8 amazing cities that are often missed, skipped or not even considered when planning a city trip within Europe. Sit back and enjoy some exciting travel destinations.
Byron Bay is definitely a must see when visiting Australia as it is an Aussie fave when it comes to holiday destinations. Festivals, chilled vibes, friendly people, beautiful scenery, tasty food, pristine beaches and more is what you will get when visiting this iconic town. A few months back I decided to take a road trip from Sydney to Bryon and see the amazing well known NSW coastline along the way. We stopped in Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Yamba and lastly at macadamia castle (not made out of Macadamia’s hahaha!) – just outside of Byron Bay and did the same (sort of) on the drive back. Beautiful scenery, unimaginable stunning beaches and a tonne of wildlife(Koala’s, Roos, Dingos :O), are only a handful of things you will see along the way and with a killer playlist to keep you singing all the way there, 100’s of snacks so you don’t die and a camera for those special moments, you can do it too. Keep scrolling if you want to follow me on this incredible trip that I took a few months back. I hope you enjoy!
