Coffee Feature

Instant Productivity: Just Add Coffee – Week 8, 2018

Posted on February 26, 2018
Coffee - Ivy & Lark, Chermside

Making a cup of coffee seems simple enough, whether you are using instant coffee or roasted coffee. However, what many people may now know is just how many different ways there are to make that simple cup of coffee.

While the more common options are the instant coffee, you make at home with hot water. You will also be familiar with the regular espresso that you find at cafes and coffee shops everywhere. However, there is also cold drip, cold pressed, syphon, stovetop, Aeropress and filter. When it comes to filter, there are even multiple ways to make that.

While I won’t go getting into any in-depth detail on what all the methods entail today, it is something to consider. It blows my mind just how many ways coffee can be made and how each different process can produce a different result. I hope to put together a few posts in the future on the various methods and how they each work.

Monday, 19th February 2018

Black Lab Coffee

Location – 6/11 Kuring Gai Ave, Tarragindi, QLD

Coffee – Locale Coffee

Coffee - Black Lab Coffee, Tarragindi

Black Lab Coffee is a spot that I had been planning to visit for some time. A friend had mentioned they wanted to go and check it out but we just never could work out a time to go. So after they moved away, I decided I had to stop in and check it out.

The Boss (Audrey, the black labrador) was waiting to greet me at the front door. While the cafe very much caters to our four-pawed friends, they do also serve up some great coffee for us humans as well. Hope to have a chance to revisit this spot soon.

Tuesday, 20th February 2018

Peaches Cafe

Location – 2/190 Birkdale Road, Birkdale, QLD

Coffee – Single O

Coffee - Peaches Cafe, Birkdale

Finding new cafes when they open is not always straightforward, especially when they are in areas I think I know. Peaches Cafe is one of those spots, they opened at Birkdale, in a spot I often drive past. However, it was not until recently that I discovered they were there.

I stopped in for a coffee and found they are using coffee from Single O, a roaster I quite enjoy. But I think there could still be a little work on getting the coffee just right. So will have to stop back again soon to see how they are going.

Wednesday, 21st February 2018

Ivy & Lark

Location – Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre, Gympie Road, Chermside, QLD

Coffee – Five Senses

Coffee - Ivy & Lark, Chermside

The further from home a cafe is the harder it is for me to get there for coffee. The first problem is the other cafes that seem to distract me on the way. The second problem is that I just struggle to drink coffee after lunch time and still get to sleep at night.

Thankfully some days I have things that I have to do in specific areas and if I get moving early enough, things all work out. Ivy & Lark at Chermside is one spot I had wanted to visit for some time and finally when I needed to be nearby early I for a chance to visit. They are serving up coffee from Five Senses, and I gave the single origin a try which came from Ethiopia.

Thursday, 22nd February 2018

Let Minnow

Location – 57 Park Avenue, Clayfield, QLD

Coffee – Nat’s Coffee

Coffee - Let Minnow Cafe, Clayfield

As I approach Let Minnow Cafe, I realised that I had been to the location before. However, as it turns out when I thought back, it was a couple of years ago. At the time the building was not a cafe but a pet shop I believe.

I may be a little biased since I prefer going for coffee and do not own a pet, but this works much better as a cafe. The coffee being served is one I discovered on a recent trip south to Northern NSW, called Nat’s Coffee. The coffee was great, and I also took the opportunity to have a bite for breakfast which was most enjoyable.

Friday, 23rd February 2018

Bruno’s BNE

Location – 212 Cracknell Road, Tarragindi, QLD

Coffee – Five Senses

Coffee - Bruno's BNE, Tarragindi

Bruno’s BNE is a spot that I have visited a few times and quite enjoy trying the coffee. While they do have a house blend, they do also have rotating feature coffees. You also get a bit of choice where you sit with some tables inside in the front and large back deck that overlooks a nearby park. A great spot to stop for coffee and have enjoyed some of the food here in the past.

Saturday, 24th February 2018

Street Lab Specialty Coffee

Location – 1/1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD

Coffee – Scouts Honour Coffee Roasters

Coffee - Street Lab Specialty Coffee, Fortitude Valley

Street Lab Specialty Coffee is one of those spots that is something of a concept cafe. The name leads you to find a cafe with some great coffee from Scouts Honour Coffee Roasters. What you might not expect to see is they also have a range of sneakers and other apparel. Of course, I come for the coffee, but it can be interesting to take a little look at the other side of the cafe as well.

Sunday, 25th February 2018

Goodness Gracious Cafe

Location – 250 Oxley Road, Graceville, QLD

Coffee – Wolff Coffee Roasters

Coffee - Goodness Gracious, Graceville

Sometimes finding a great cafe can be a good and a bad thing. Great cafes often have a couple of big downfalls that they can get rather busy at times. The other downfall is that they can be that busy that quality can slip a little.

Goodness Gracious is a great cafe, but they can get rather busy. The last time I visited and the photo I have is evidence of this with us stuck sitting against a wall. The other problem was that on my first visit the coffee was great, for the second visit the coffee was not quite up there. Hopefully I will get back again soon and get another great coffee.

Coffee

There is all for another week talking about coffee and some of the spots that I have shared this week. As usual, I would love to hear about any places that you think have great coffee around Brisbane. But also if you want to let me know about a spot further afield, interstate or overseas, please do I can add it to my list for when I am travelling.

Announcments

Travel Explored Week 8 Round Up

Posted on February 25, 2018
Travel Explored Week 8 Round Up

Welcome to the weekly round, in this post I hope to bring everything together for the past week. Putting it in one place for those that don’t have time to check back every day, but who still want to catch up on my new posts.

The week started out well for me, with some plans to explore a couple of places to share on the blog. I got to get out once on Tuesday to visit the area around Jacobs Well. Nestled in between Brisbane and the Gold Coast the area is currently very much focused on farming. However, there are some rather extensive plans for the future in this area that will likely see it developed into something of a satellite city. A development like this will only bring the Gold Coast to Brisbane Corridor one step closer to one continuous area.

Through the progression of the week, the rain has played into dampening my plans. But not to worry, I never honestly see the rain as a big problem, just that it means I need to delay things. But either way, I have a list of some 50 or so places around Brisbane and surrounding areas. I want to explore these places and share them with you over the coming months.

I think that is about all I have to start this off, so let’s take a look at the new content and a little of what else I am reading.

New Content

Monday 19th February 2018
You Had Me At Coffee – Week 7, 2018

Coffee - St Coco Cafe, Daisy Hill

If you have been following the blog this year, you will realise that I might have a love of coffee. Again this week I got to share a few great cafes, with a couple from down south in Coffs Harbour and Gosford. But also a great selection from around Brisbane. The cafes that featured this week were Supply Coffee, Dramanti Artisan Roaster, St Coco Cafe, Merlo Coffee, Oliver James Coffee, Hunter & Scout Cafe and Zanzibar Riverside Cafe.

Tuesday 20th February 2018
Weekend Photo Walk at Bulimba

Bulimba - Ferry Terminal

After sharing a little weekend challenge, I took my advice and headed out for a small photo walk. The area that I decided to visit was Oxford Street at Bulimba. The area here is an excellent spot for coffee, food, shopping and movies. I enjoyed the walk and capturing some of the areas in photos, even though I have visited many times before.

Wednesday 21st February 2018
Favourite Sunsets From 2017 Part 2

Sunset - Gold Coast Spit, 5th February 2017

Over the past few weeks, I have been sharing some of my favourite sunset photos from the past few years. With this post, it almost finishes what I have in my archives. But there are some great ones to finish off this series of posts. So if you like a good sunset photo why not check this collection out. You can also find others from this series here – 2014, 2015/2016 and 2017 Part 1

Thursday 22nd February 2018
The changing Prices of Cruising

Just like many other aspects of the travel industry the prices of cruises can fluctuate quite significantly. Many factors play into what price you might pay, and in this post, I take a look at a few of the more common ones. Things like the area of the world in which you live, supply and demand, and the time in the sales cycle which you book.

Friday 23rd February 2018
Wandering Around Cleveland Point

As I mentioned in the opening of this post, I am looking to share some more of the local areas near me with you. One that I have recently visited to share is Cleveland Point. In the past, I have visited Cleveland Point extensively both to capture the sunset and as a nice spot to catch up with friends. Take a look and maybe if you live in or near Brisbane consider making time to visit Cleveland Point yourself and take a look.

Saturday 24th February 2018
Be an Observer When Travelling

Observer - Catania Stairs with colourful pots

One of the things that I often find when travelling is how much more I tend to see than others. While I do tend to travel solo, for the most part, there have been times when I have got to know the difference between what I see and what others see. Often this is the result of discussions with others on tours, cruise ships, or time spent with friends. Learning to observe a little more when travelling or even at home can be a great asset to see and experience more.

What I am Reading

I have a few interesting posts for you this week if you are looking for something a little more to read. I specifically find this part of the post interesting as it forces me to go out and read other people’s blogs. Something that I am not always that good at doing myself.

9 Times You’ll Regret Being Cheap When You Travel

There are some of these things that I have experienced and of course some that I have not. But I cannot say that I have regretted any of these decisions yet. The ones that I have experienced such as early flights and public transport are experiences. I have never booked a hostel for the reasons mentioned, and the rental car company doesn’t have to be cheap to leave you waiting for the shuttle.

The RTW Trip Giveaway: A Winner’s Update (Part 1)

When I came across this post I kind of wish, I knew about the contest at the time to enter myself. But the next best thing about any experience I believe is reading about it through someone else’s eyes. I am going to have to keep an eye out for some more updates, as the questions that Nomadic Matt asks are a little different to the typical travel experience that many share.

How to Travel to Iceland on a Budget

I found this post as a result of the previous post on Nomadic Matt’s website. Heather, who has this blog was the winner of the contest that Nomadic Matt ran, so I decided to check out her blog. Having a little look at her post about travelling to Iceland caught my attention as it is a destination that I have loved visiting. Being a solo traveller when I went I can see the benefits of some of the things that she mentions.

Thank You

I hope that you have enjoyed the round up this week. If you have any comments, thoughts or requests please feel free to leave a comment below.

Feature Travel Tips

Be an Observer When Travelling

Posted on February 24, 2018
Observer - Catania Stairs with colourful pots

All to often when travelling it is easy to get caught up in the rush to get and see everything. Getting to the airport and than getting to the hotel and getting around all of the attractions. But there is just as much if not more importance in the detail you don’t see by trying to rush around to much.

Observing where I am and what is around is something that I have done often when travelling. As a result I often see many details that other miss. Heading off on a different path and finding places others did not know about. Gain a better view of where I am and sometimes been able to show respect where others don’t.

Seeing The Details

Getting caught up in racing between attractions and transport can leave you missing a whole lot of the finer details in a city. While every detail is not always important, they are things that can enhance your experience.

Being a photographer at heart I spend much of my time looking for the detail. I am often bring up the tail end of the tour group because I am looking at everything. The food in the window of a store, the pots lining the stairs of a side alley.

Observer - Catania Stairs with colourful pots

There are places that maybe don’t have the detail or might not have anything interesting to show. But at the same time how do you ever know if you are not observing your surroundings and seeing for yourself.

Taking A Different Path

Just like seeing the smaller details of a city, there are so many places to explore. While at times it may not be wise to follow a path less travelled, depending on the city you are visiting. The path less travelled can also show you some amazing things.

There are times that I have discussed when taking a different (let alone any path) could be challenging. Recently I mentioned this in the ports I would not choose to return about Acapulco. While in other ports taking those paths less travelled have resulted in some amazing finds. Such as the beautiful spots I found in Dubrovnik that most people never got to see.

Observer - Dubrovnik the path less travelled

See More

When you become an observer as you travel you tend to see more. Because you are using your own eyes to seek it out and not just following the directions of what to look at by the tour guide.

I take every chance I got to look at everything else that is around me when exploring a city. I might be heading for one attraction or sight, but I am looking at everything else along the way. Sometimes this means that it takes me twice as long to get anywhere but I feel the experience is so much greater.

Respect Others

I have found that observing my surroundings in some situations has a much greater purpose in some areas. Especially when I am visiting some sacred or memorial sights, I am constantly observing my surroundings.

Often what I see is many visitors to these places that are just doing what they want. Getting their photos and rushing through so that they can race through the next attraction as well. Only to see the other visitors that are there not to see another tourist attraction. They are there to remember a loved one, or to pay respect to someone they knew. It is only through observing where you are that you can properly show respect to those who have a reason to be there.

Be an Observer

I believe when you travel the act or duty to be a better observer is very important. It does not take a lot, but it does take making a conscious decision. A decision to slow down a little and truly see where you are and who is there. Instead of just rushing from one attraction to another.

Around Brisbane Feature

Wandering Around Cleveland Point

Posted on February 23, 2018
Cleveland Point - Old Cleveland Lighthouse

When it comes to places in my local area that I enjoy visiting, Cleveland Point is one I have visited more than most. Whether catching up with friends for coffee, photographing the sunset or just enjoying some time by the water.

At High tide, Cleveland Point is surrounded by water with Raby Bay to the west and Moreton Bay to the east. However, when the tide goes out the area is surrounded by mud flats. Which is one aspect that makes it rather interesting to many and means at low tide you can essentially walk out into the bay to some extent.

Raby Bay View

Looking to the west of Cleveland Point you get a view across Raby Bay towards Cleveland and Ormiston. There are remanents of the jetty’s that used to jut out into Raby Bay visible depending on the tide. The area is also a spot to watch boats heading in and out from the nearby Boat Ramp. A little more to the right of this

Old Cleveland Lighthouse

The Old Cleveland Lighthouse still stands at Cleveland Point, although not in it’s original location. The lighthouse was constructed on the opposite side of Cleveland Point between 1864 and 1865. One interesting fact about the lighthouse is that for the era the hexagonal share was unusual, with most lighthouses being round.

If you would like to know more about the lighthouse, there is an information board next to the lighthouse. Alternatively, you can visit the Wikipedia page which includes many of the same details Cleveland Point Light.

Time For a Picnic

Another fantastic aspect of Cleveland Point is the extensive picnic facilities. There are three large undercover area’s with multiple tables and BBQ’s as well as a couple of other tables around. You will also find a good sized playground for the children and toilets are also available. The only problem that I have found with Cleveland Point is a definite lack of parking at times.

The Lighthouse Restaurant

If a picnic is not your thing or the weather is not the best you can still enjoy a coffee or meal at The Lighthouse Restaurant. There has been some form of hotel/kiosk/restaurant in this site since the late 1800’s. However, it was around the 1980’s that the current building started taking form. There have been a number of owners and facelifts to get to where it is today. But as it stands The Lighthouse is a very popular place for visitors and locals to enjoy a coffee, fish and chips or other meal.

Cleveland Point - Lighthouse Restaurant

Sunset At Cleveland Point

If you have been reading some of my recent posts you might be familiar with what sunset looks like at Cleveland Point. There is one of my sunset photos below from Cleveland Point. But you can also find some more in a recent post called Favourite Sunsets from 2017 Part 1 which all come from Cleveland Point.

Sunset - Cleveland Point, 5th May 2014

Come Visit

Whether you live locally or you are just visiting the area Cleveland Point is great to spend a little time. As you can see whether it is day or evening there is a little to see or options for food. So why not come and take a look and enjoy this beautiful part of Redland City.

Cruising Feature

The Changing Prices of Cruising

Posted on February 22, 2018

A cruise can be an excellent option for a holiday, especially if you want a reasonably good idea of what you are going to pay up front. However, when you start looking at what a cruise will cost it can be significantly different at times. The reality is that cruises prices fluctuate based on numerous publically known and unknown factors. Sometimes knowing about some of these factors can help you to make better decisions when booking a cruise.

Brochure Price

When you look at a brochure from the travel agent for cruises, the price is almost never accurate. Often the price quoted in the brochure for a cruise is more than you are likely to pay. The reason for this is that the brochures must be printed months if not over a year in advance.

Mostly, the price you will see in the brochure is something of an inflated price. There are times that you may end up paying the price in the brochure or potentially even more. But when setting a brochure price, there are many things that could impact the ability to offer that price. I may be guessing a little here, but it would be better to put out a high price up front and be able to discount it later. There would be a lot few disappointed customers that end up paying more than expected.

Availability

The number of bookings and subsequent remaining availability can have some impact on the price. If a cruise is popular expect to pay more for a cabin. If a cruise gets close to being fully booked and there is limited availability the remaining cabins will be more expensive. There is no benefit to discount the remaining cabins unless it is very close to the sailing date.

On the other side of this point if a cruise is not selling well there is a chance you will see it discounted. At the core, this is likely based on the nature of supply and demand. However, at times I think you will see the potential for some artificial variances in the supply and demand. In part, this is due to the segmentation of the global cruise market. One cabin may be available in one market for a certain price, which means it cannot be available in another market at the same time.

Online & International Agents

As I just mentioned the cruise industry is a rather segmented industry. Prices and availability can vary to a large degree from country to country. Leading to what I pay for a cruise in Australia is quite different to what someone else will pay for the same cruise in the same cabin from America. With the difference rarely ever being just a matter of currency exchange.

I decided to look for an example of this and found the following cruise with a significant difference in price. The cruise is a 14 night Eastbound Transatlantic departing Tampa onboard the Rhapsody of the Seas. If I book this cruise from Australia in an Outside View Stateroom, I will pay AUD $2,742.00. However, booking the same cruise from the United States would cost USD $1,536.00.

Both prices were on the May 6th, 2018 sailing for two people in one cabin and booking through the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line website. A simple conversion on the USD price would give a cost of AUD $1,941, a difference of AUD $801 from what the website shows. Even though that is a big difference, that is the reality of cruise pricing. In general I just find that it is much easier to stick to looking at deals in the currency I am paying in, to avoid disappointment.

A Little Research

Depending on where you want to cruise there are a couple of ways that you can know if you are getting a good price. One place is a website called Cruise Sheet; they have a graph and details about the price range of a specific cruise. While it does not help predict what the price is going to do, it can help to see if the price is high or low compared to where it started.

Cruise Sheet Sample

If you are looking at a cruise that is often repeated than it is time to do some research. For example, if you were booking a cruise to the South Pacific Islands or Carribean the same cruises occur quite frequently. What you can do is look at the same cruise at different times or on different ships. You might find that one particular cruise seems much more expensive, but you can save money just by booking a different date or different ship. Often this can lead to some significant savings, but will need you to be a little more flexible on your dates.

Getting A Better Price

Sometimes all is not lost if you book at one price and find a lower price later on. But it will all depend on how you booked and what the restrictions are on your booking. It is worth asking the question when booking what the policy is and what the conditions are.

While often the price will be pretty much set once you have booked there may be opportunities to change this. However, that will almost certainly depend on the both your booking agent and the cruise line. It will likely depend on what the cancellation policy is for your cruise and if there are any fees associated with making a change.

Price Protection Policy

Some travel agents may offer an option to pay an additional fee to secure the ability to get the best price if the price changes. The value of such a policy will rely heavily on the total cost of the cruise you are booking. A short low price cruise may not have much potential to drop in price, so you are just throwing away money. On the other hand, a more extended cruise that costs a bit of money could have a potential for a decent price drop.

Before taking on any policy like this make sure you read the details and find out about any exclusions. Personally, I have never taken one of these policies and cannot say if they are worth the cost. That is a decision you need to make for yourself, if it is something that is available.

Onboard Cruise Deposits

If this is not your first cruise and you have booked an onboard future cruise deposit you may have some additional benefits. Often these deposits allow for changes up until the final payment date. But that is not to say that every price drop is worth pursuing and you need to look at what is included in each price.

Onboard Credit & Other Inclusions

If you have booked a cruise which included onboard credit you need to check if changing the booking for a price drop will impact this. Your original reservation may have included onboard credit or other inclusions. But when the price was changed these same inclusions may not be available.

Consider if you were to book a cruise for $2,000 which included $200 of onboard credit. Later you see the same cruise advertised for $1,900 with no onboard credit. Your initial reaction might be that you can get $100 back with the reduced cruise fare. However, you may not realise that you are also losing $200 of onboard credit. At the end of the day you will be $100 worse off.

Book & Cruise

At the end of the day though sometimes you just have to make a decision and book your cruise. Decide what price you are happy with paying and book it. I have missed a few cruises in my time by waiting too long and by the time I decide they are booked out. But often a little research will give you a good idea of a reasonable price, and at some point, you just have to decide.

Feature Photography

Favourite Sunsets From 2017 Part 2

Posted on February 21, 2018
Sunset - Gold Coast Spit, 5th February 2017

Last week I shared with you some of my Favourite Sunsets From 2017 Part 1. In that post, I shared with you four sunsets from Cleveland Point throughout 2017. Today I will be sharing with you another five sunsets from 2017.

Unlike the last post all of the sunsets that I will share with you today I have travelled a little way from home to capture. Some just down the road to the Gold Coast, while others were part of a road trip to Canberra or my South Pacific cruise.

Travelling Sunsets

One thing that I love about travelling is getting to see the sunset from a different perspective. When you are at or near home it does tend to get somewhat the same. Maybe the rays will show up a little different or the cloud will look interesting. But essentially it is very similar most days. But when you travel there is almost always something a little different to what you are used to.

Gold Coast Spit, 5th February 2017

Sunset - Gold Coast Spit, 5th February 2017

While this photo might have been taken a just a little prior to the sun setting, it was not to far off. It was on this afternoon that I attended my first Instameet with a group of Instagrammers at the Gold Coast Spit. The afternoon started near looking out to the Pacific Ocean with the sun behind us. However, as the sun was heading for the horizon a small group headed to the other side of the spit to capture the sunset. It was on the way over I spotted how the light was spilling between the trees and could not help taking this photo.

Pacific Ocean, 25th February 2017

Sunset - Pacific Ocean, 25th February 2017

It is one thing to capture a sunset across the water. But it is not every day that you can capture a sunset surrounded by hundreds of kilometres of water. That is unless you are on a cruise ship.

It was on the last afternoon before the ship would arrive back to Brisbane that I capture this photo. We were roughly 275km northeast of Brisbane level with Maryborough or about 170km east of Fraser Island. It is something that I do enjoy capturing the sunset or sunrise when cruising. Maybe I should consider a post of cruising sunsets and sunrises.

Gosford, 8th November 2017

Sunset - Gosford, 8th November 2017

Gosford was the third overnight stop on a little road trip I did to Canberra in November 2017. It was not always possible to be in the right spot at the right time to capture the sunset because I was travelling with other people. However, on this particular afternoon, we just happened to be out looking for a spot for dinner when I noticed the sunset. We made the stop and captured this photo with the boats on the water just before the sun disappeared below the mountain.

Dubbo, 11th November 2017

Sunset - Dubbo, 11th November 2017

Another opportunity that I had to capture the sunset on the road trip in November 2017 was in the town of Dubbo. Again we had taken a short walk to look for something to get for dinner and I took a little detour down to the river. I was quite happy with what I was able to capture without much preparation. I think that if I had some more time in the area there would be a couple of spots that would make for some nice looking sunsets.

Coolangatta, 28th September 2017

Sunset - Coolangatta, 28th September 2017

Coolangatta is a place that I have visited quite a number of times in the past few years. However, while on previous trips I have been up and about early to capture the sunrise, I rarely get a chance to capture the sunset. One the most recent trip at the end of September 2017, I took an opportunity while waiting for friends to capture the sunset.

I played with a couple of vantage points, but it just seemed that I kept getting closer and closer to the water. I kept dodging the waves as they came up the beach. But it was within seconds of this photo that I mistimed a wave and found myself trudging up the beach with wet feet. The things we do for a photo at times.

Chasing The Sun

It looks like that brings to an end my look back at some of the photos I have captured. Although it was as I was writing this that I had a thought. It will require me to dig a little more deeply into the archives on my photography. But I may still have some sunset photos from 2013 or even 2012. I will take a look and may share another post. Otherwise, the next post will be coming in January 2019, with my favourite sunsets from 2018.

Around Brisbane Feature

Weekend Photo Walk at Bulimba

Posted on February 20, 2018
Bulimba - Ferry Terminal

On Friday I put out a little challenge for people that enjoy photography over the weekend. At this stage, I am still unsure just how it went or if anyone even saw it and considered participating. But true to my work I took my camera out on Sunday and went for a walk along Oxford Street at Bulimba in Queensland.

For those who might have missed the post about the challenge, you can find it at Weekend Photo Writing Challenge. It was merely a challenge to encourage people to get out with their camera and subsequently share their journey. If you missed doing it over the weekend, don’t feel like you missed out. The idea is that you can head out anytime with a camera take some photos and share the story. Anyway, below is my little story from my visit to Bulimba over the weekend.

Bulimba

The suburb of Bulimba is located around 4km to the northeast of the Brisbane CBD. Located on the south bank and somewhat surround by the Brisbane River Bulimba is a very accessible suburb. However, it is also a trendy suburb with a growing population and plenty to attract visitors to the area.

For those that do not live in Bulimba, Oxford Street is the primary attraction. A one-kilometre strip lined with cafes, restaurants, shops, a movie theatre, a park and some houses. The suburb itself does have a few other highlights, but for my visit, I just wandered Oxford Street.

Brisbane River

Bulimba - Brisbane River

The western end of Oxford Street ends right at the Brisbane River. It is here that there is a ferry terminal which is frequently serviced from around 5.20am through until midnight. If you want to find out the times for a specific ferry you can find them on the Bulimba Ferry Terminal page of the Translink Website.

Bulimba - Ferry Terminal

The Bulimba Ferry Terminal itself is a historic site and forms part of a heritage trail which runs the length of Oxford Street. The terminal itself was built in the 1920’s and has been modernised and upgraded since.

If you would like to follow the heritage trail, there is a sign with details on the left as you exit the ferry terminal. In the above picture, you can see the sign just in front of the rubbish bin.

Oxford Street

Bulimba - Oxford Street

You can arrive at Oxford Street from the east by road from some different streets. Alternatively, from the west, you can reach Bulimba on the Brisbane River by ferry. While there is parking on the street, this will likely be the most significant challenge if you drive, there is never enough.

It will entirely depend on the day of the week and time of day that you are here if you will find a park easily. During the week it is challenging with commuter parking and limited time zones. However, on weekends a good spot to look is Godwin Street, on the left about two thirds along Oxford Street.

Cafes

One of the biggest drawcards for me is the number of cafes along the street. While there are a number of the chain stores, you will recognise such as Coffee Club, Max Brenner and Shingle Inn. There are also numerous one of local spots that are great to visit as well such as Ambrosia & Co and Villa.

Bulimba - Urban Providore

One of the spots I enjoy visiting is Urban Providore, at 210 Oxford Street. It is just off Riddell Street, and they serve a great range of food and drinks. I especially enjoy their coffee which comes from Open House Coffee Roasters. But I have experienced the wood-fired pizza here before as well and keep looking for a reason to try it again.

Bulimba - Coffee, Bellissimo Coffee

Speaking of coffee, there is a coffee roaster located on Oxford Street. Bellissimo Coffee has their roastery at 33 Oxford Street, and while it is away from the busy end of the street, it is worth the walk to try the coffee.

Bulimba Memorial Park

One of the main features of Oxford Street is one whole block that is a dedicated parkland. The park is known as Bulimba Memorial Park and contains some sports fields that are multi-purpose. With sports such as rugby, soccer and cricket being played from time to time. There is also a bandstand here and play equipment for the children.

Bulimba - Bulimba Memorial Park

The park is more commonly known as Bulimba Memorial Park. Although the memorial here names the park Bulimba Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Park and is dedicated to those who served in World War II.

Bulimba - Shaded Pathway

There are three sides of the park that face the streets. The image above is the path along Oxford Street which borders the park and has some lovely large trees that shade the area. The other two sides have similar trees and make for some beautiful areas to sit and enjoy the parkland.

Bulimba - Energex Power Box

One of the interesting features I have been noticing around Brisbane of late is the painted power and signal boxes. I spotted one on the edge of Bulimba Memorial Park and decided to include a photo of that as well.

The box has been painted as part of the Artforce project operated by Urban Smart Projects. The name of the work on the box is “Shapes of Heritage” and was completed by the artist Debra Hood. You can visit the links to find out more about the specific work and the artist.

St John The Baptist Anglican Church

Bulimba - St John The Baptist Church

St John The Baptist Anglican Church has been a part of Bulimba for some 125+ years. The first service held in the completed church was on the 29 September 1888. Sometimes it is quite amazing to think about a building such as this standing in place for so long while so much has changed around it.

Oxford 152

Bulimba - Oxford 152

One other little piece of artwork that caught my attention today was the painting along the bottom of a wall at Oxford 152. Located at 152 Oxford Street, Oxford 152 is the local pub for many locals and visitors alike. I have visited this spot a few times, both to eat and drink with friends, but it has been some time since I went inside.

Visit Bulimba

The few photos I have shared with you today only scratch the surface of what Bulimba has to offer. If you are in Brisbane, I would highly recommend taking the time to visit Bulimba and take a look for yourself. I think you will find there is food to meet just about any desire. Along with plenty of options for coffee and dessert, or even consider catching a movie.

Coffee Feature

You Had Me At Coffee – Week 7, 2018

Posted on February 19, 2018
Coffee - St Coco Cafe, Daisy Hill

For quite some time I had been a little hesitant to share about my coffee on this blog. To me, this blog was about travel, and that is what happens when you physically transport yourself to a new destination. However, over time I have found that drinking a variety of different coffee can be something like travel.

I would say that your ordinary cup of coffee is nothing special to write about. But when you start dipping into some of the more unique and speciality variations on coffee there is a whole lot more to coffee. In particular, I have found two different aspects that can help to transport you in your mind to another destination.

The first is the people that you meet. They come from all different backgrounds, some local and some from far away places. When you get the chance to talk to them and find out about their experiences it can be like sharing a travel story. Plus all too often it is great people that make a great cafe, as opposed to solely the coffee.

The second aspect is when you start to try some of the single origin coffees. As the name indicates, these are coffee beans that have come from a single place of origin, either a country or region of a country. When you start to get into these coffees, you can find some rather particular and distinct flavours that arise. These characteristics can also be somewhat distinct from coffee from different parts of the world.

Monday, 12th February  2018

Supply Specialty Coffee & Bar

Location – 15 Orlando Street, Coffs Harbour, NSW

Coffee – In-house Roast

Coffee - Supply Specialty Coffee & Bar, Coffs Harbour

In November 2017 I had the chance to travel from Brisbane to Canberra with a couple of Friends. Along the way, we made overnight stops in some towns, with the first being Coffs Harbour. In the morning I took a walk before the others woke up and picked out a good looking spot for breakfast. That spot was Supply Specialty Coffee & Bar, where they roast their own coffee, and it was some rather good coffee as well. From memory, it was a single origin from Colombia. I am just disappointed they are some 400km from home, and I cannot easily stop by for another one.

Tuesday,  13th February 2018

Dramanti Artisan Roaster

Location – 94 Tingal Road, Wynnum, QLD

Coffee – In-house Roast

Coffee - Dramanti Artisan Roaster, Wynnum

I think Dramanti Artisan Roaster in Wynnum has to be just about my favourite cafe in Wynnum. Or it is the one that I have visited the most times. However, I do get the feeling that more than a few others agree with me, as it can sometimes be somewhat difficult to get a seat.

Although they do not do so onsite, you might have deduced that Dramanti is also a coffee roaster. In the beginning, I believe that the coffee was roasted at this location in Wynnum. However, the cafe got more popular, and they had to move the roasting off-site. Now roasting their great coffee from a roastery cafe at Morningside. It is still rather nice to get back to where it all started for them in their cafe at Wynnum from time to time.

Wednesday, 14th February 2018

St Coco

Location – 3 Cupania Street, Daisy Hill, QLD

Coffee – Wolff Coffee Roasters

Coffee - St Coco Cafe, Daisy Hill

Unlike some areas Daisy Hill does not have an extensive offering when it comes to cafes. But what they lack in numbers they make up for in quality with St Coco; they do have one great spot to grab a coffee or even a bite to eat. They are serving up coffee from Wolff Coffee Roasters, and have a great looking menu to match. On my visit, I did enjoy scrambled eggs on toast as well but did not think to get a photograph of that delicious meal.

Thursday, 15th February 2018

Merlo Coffee

Location – 349 – 269 Colburn Avenue, Victoria Point, QLD

Coffee – Merlo

Coffee - Merlo Coffee, Victoria Point

I do try and find something good about every coffee shop I visit. The main plus to Merlo Coffee at Victoria Point is that they are close to home. Although I do not tend to visit all that often as I have found many other spots where the coffee is better. I do think they could do a lot to improve the coffee here. But primarily decided to share this spot as evidence that I do visit a lot of places, and don’t always get a flawless experience.

Friday, 16th February 2018

Oliver James Coffee

Location – 16 Austin Street, Newstead, QLD

Coffee – Single O

Coffee - Oliver James Coffee, Newstead

Oliver James is a little spot that I discovered primarily as a result of visiting another new cafe on the south side of Brisbane. That new cafe was called Clancy’s and is at Norman Park; it turns out his sister is the head barista at Oliver James. So, of course, I had to come over and check out the coffee. While both cafes offer coffee from Single O, both cafes use different blends. I very much liked Oliver James, it is just a small cafe though so not a whole lot of seating is available, but the coffee is excellent.

Saturday, 17th February 2018

Hunter & Scout Cafe

Location – 307 Honour Ave, Graceville, QLD

Coffee – Fonzie Abbott

Coffee - Hunter & Scout Cafe, Graceville

Oh, the places you just happen to find by taking a chance to visit somewhere new. The original plan I had for the day we visited Hunter & Scout was a trip to the Gold Coast to visit some coffee shops. However, that day also happened to be the last day of the school holidays. So with no plan and no idea where to go, I scrolled through Google Maps and spotted Hunter & Scout.

Hunter & Scout have a great spot at the end of the strip of shops on Honour Ave at Graceville. There is an indoor area and an extensive outdoor seating area. The coffee they offer comes from a roaster at Albion by the name of Fonzie Abbott, definitely some good coffee. I will be looking for a chance to get back to this great spot sometime soon.

Sunday, 18th February 2018

Zanzibar Riverside Cafe

Location – 6/69 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford, NSW

Coffee – Campos

Coffee - Zanzibar Riverside Cafe, West Gosford

To finish the week, I am sharing another coffee shop from the road trip in November 2017. The third night of the trip we spent in a hotel in West Gosford. As I had done the previous two mornings, I headed out for a walk and found a great little spot for coffee. Zanzibar Riverside Cafe was serving up Campos Coffee and seemed like a rather lovely spot to take some time to relax after the morning walk. Also, an excellent place to get some coffee to bring back for the others before we got on the road again.

Coffee

I hope that you have been enjoying these weekly coffee posts. I would be interested to know if you can see the connection between coffee and travel that I described at the start. So why not let me know in the comments below or leave me a message on one of the social media platforms.

Announcments

Travel Explored Week 7 Round Up

Posted on February 18, 2018
Travel Explored - Week 7 Round Up

In the past, I used to enjoy sharing a post on Sunday that would bring together everything from the week. The post would include a summary of each post for the week, along with a look at what else I had been reading and what was coming the following week.

I have been thinking about going back to these posts and I have decided to start with it this week. There will be a little change to the format that I used to use, but I hope you will enjoy seeing everything together for the week.

Primarily what I will be sharing is a quick overview of the new posts on Travel Explored. I will also continue to include a few links to other content that I am reading. As always I would love to hear your feedback either in the comments below or through any of my social media profiles.

New Content

Monday 12th February 2018
Coffee, Where Ya Bean! – Week 6, 2018

Coffee - Noego Coffee Co, Ormeau

Every Monday morning starts the week with my weekly coffee post. I share seven coffee shops in this post which I have shared to Instagram in the previous week. The week was kind of a theme week and focused primarily on coffee roasters. Included in this post is Grinders Coffee, Bear Bones Specialty Coffee, Vivo Coffee, Noego Coffee, Blue Sky Coffee, Studio Solo & Co and Extraction Artisan Coffee.

Tuesday 13th February 2018
Top 4 Cruise Ports I Don’t Need To Revisit

Acapulco - Mexico

When you are travelling there are just some places that don’t do all that well at connecting with you. Maybe they have left you with a bad feeling when you visited or just don’t have anything that captures your imagination. In this post, I cover a few of the cruise ports that I have visited that kind of left me feeling this way.

Wednesday 14th February 2018
Favourite Sunsets From 2017 Part 1

Sunset - Cleveland Point, 2nd April 2017

Recently I have been sharing a little look back at some of the sunsets I have photographed over the years. In this post, I shared a nice collection of Sunsets from 2017 that I captured at Cleveland Point.

Thursday 15th February 2018
Grinders Brew At Home Class

Grinders Woolloongabba

I recently attended a brew at home class at Grinders Coffee in Woolloongabba. I decided to share a little about this experience along with some photos. Although it is very difficult to translate taste and smell into words and pictures. I hope that it might inspire others to seek out similar experiences and try something a little different.

Friday 16th February 2018
A Weekend Photo & Writing Challenge

Weekend Photo & Writing Challenge

I had a little idea to put it out there for people a little challenge to get out and take some photos. But not just take some photos to write a little story around them and share it. I am going to be keen to see if anyone does take on this challenge. But I know I will be sharing my own results in the next week.

Saturday 17th February 2018
Apple Airpods – My thoughts After Two Months

Apple Airpods - Package

I am someone that does end up with a lot of different and new technology. From Cameras to Apple Airpods and some things in between. Every time I get something new I think I should write a little about that. But in the end I never get around to it, so I have finally fixed that up and sharing a little about my Apple Airpods.

What I am Reading

While I do write and share a lot of content of my own, I do also come across other interesting posts from time to time. I also think that if I find it interesting there is a chance that someone else might also find it interesting. So I will be sharing a few of those other posts that I find each week.

On Abandoning Schedules

I came across a little post on a blog called Emily Writes, which seems to be someone in a very similar position to me. I find that I do not stick to a schedule, there is some repetition to my days, but for the most part, it happens to be sheer coincidence.

Montville, Maleny and the Blackall Ranges, Australia

After seeing a comment from Jess at Watt Where How, I decided to take a look at the website. Their time in Australia caught my eye and I took a look at one post for an area that I have personally enjoyed visiting. I always find it interesting to see what the perceptions of others are on places I feel somewhat familiar with.

Thank You

I hope that you have enjoyed this first sort of summary post for 2018. I am hoping to continue sharing this style of post in the coming weeks and months. I feel that it is a great option for those who don’t have time to look every day to just have a quick browse and see if there is anything interesting. If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to leave a comment below or send me a message on the contact page.

Feature Lifestyle

Apple AirPods – My Thoughts After Two Months

Posted on February 17, 2018
Apple Airpods - Package

I rarely either get a chance or get around to sharing my thoughts on the different products that I use. However, I have found the Apple AirPods to be something that has quite surprised me.

When I say I would not purchase them myself, I honestly mean it. There is no world in which I believe for what I need headphones of any sort are worth more than about $15. In fact, if the Apple AirPods I have, get lost or stop working in any way I would not go and buy another pair. But in saying that I do for the most part hope the paid I have last forever.

Getting Apple Airpods

I would never have purchased the Apple AirPods for myself. But it turns out just before Christmas 2017 that a friend got tired of watching me try to untangle my headphones. I had been using different pairs of Apple Earbuds for around a year to counter a sound problem on my iPhone.

Headphones

So it was somewhere around the third time I was trying to untangle the earbuds that day he asked where to buy the AirPods. I ran through every reason why they were not needed, why they were not what I wanted and problems others experienced in using them. He was not having it and headed to the closest Apple Store.

At AUD 229.00 they are not a cheap purchase, especially when you have perfectly good if somewhat tangled earbuds. But I guess he thought it was worth the price to no longer have to watch me untangle the earbuds.

Apple Airpods - Package

My Objections & Thoughts

I figured the best way to talk about the Apple AirPods was to look at my original Objections and how they have played out. There were a number of objections I had to getting Apple Airpods in the first place. Having read about them and even researched some reviews initially seeing if they were justifiable. I loved the idea, but you can only love an idea to a certain value.

They May Fall Out

When I first heard about what Airpods were, I was certain they would be something that would easily fall out. I have had enough trouble keeping my regular earbuds in, but at least when they fall out, they are still attached. The AirPods, if they were to fall out who knows where it would end up. Even after watching one lady walk laps daily on my South Pacific Cruise with Airpods in and no trouble I still was not sold.

Apple Airpods - In Ear

Having been using the Airpods now for close to two months, I have not had them fall out of my ear once. I still have the thought in the back of my mind that it could happen. But I am getting a little more comfortable with them, and not avoiding quite as many drains as I was. I have even got brave a couple of times and used a single one when riding my bike. It works but is not practical.

People Speak About A Sound Delay

One of the biggest complaints that I had read about the Airpods were sound latency and being out of sync. Discussions of a noticeable difference in sound compared to other options were abundant.

The reality is that if there is a sound delay or not is only noticeable if you are doing something such as watching a video. If you are talking on the phone, playing music, listening to a podcast, there is no discernable way to identify a delay. If there is it is something that I don’t know about (ok I don’t know about lots of things) or is not that much of an issue for me.

They Are Too Expensive

As mentioned above the price for the Apple AirPods in Australia is around $229.00. The cheapest I could find them listed in a Google search for a new pair was $225.00.

To me having never paid more than around $30 for a pair of headphones, this is a big jump in price. As long as I can in some way plug headphones into my device, I do not need anything else. There is a difference between having something and using it all the time and needing it.

The Battery Time

Initially, the claims on battery seemed like maybe they could be a little far-fetched. Often the claims on battery life for a device seem somewhat difficult to achieve in the real world. I have not attempted to verify the battery life claims that Apple Makes, 5 hours on one charge and 24 hours with the storage cafe. But to date, I have never come up flat when I need them.

Apple Airpods - Case

My usage patterns are probably quite similar to what Apple might have expected. In general, I might use them for one to two hours when walking, before returning them to the case. If I am on a call and that is what I am using them for it is rarely more then 10-15 minutes. So as long as they are stored in the case, I am seldom going to run down to 50%. My only concern is what sort of life the battery will have in the Airpods on continuous charging.

Some Ongoing Thoughts

Probably my biggest problem to date with the Apple AirPods is an intermittent problem with static. My phone is almost exclusively in my pocket when listening to a podcast with the AirPods. Maybe one out of ten times the sound will get static and not be clear and continuous. If I take the phone out of my pocket, it often fixes the issue. But I just wonder why most of the time it is not a problem, and on occasion it is.

There are two other small issues I have had. The first is that initially, I was hanging up on people when going to answer a call. The result of misunderstanding what a double tap on the AirPod would do. It turns out that it activates Siri and does not answer the call, Opps. The second issue is sometimes the Airpod is not detected in the ear. Not a problem in most cases, but if you are trying to get it in to answer a call, it can be a problem.

There is no doubt that they can be a great asset. There are no cables to get tangled and mostly they just work. However, I still could not see myself paying the price to purchase them again if anything happens to the set I have. I would be more comfortable with a price around the $100 mark. I am sure at some point in the future the perceived value of the Apple AirPods will align to the price for me.

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