Feature On This Day

On This Day: Mooloolaba Beach Sunrise 2015

April 24th 2015 - Mooloolaba Beach Sunrise

When you have owned a camera and taken it with you a lot, one thing you end up with is a lot of photographs. With the purchase of my new computer earlier this year I have now allocated a hard drive just for storing photos. Which currently holds around 27,000 images, from travels, wanderings and everything in between. While this is probably less than half of my actual pictures, it is quite a number to manage at times. I have a lot more on other backup drives which were used to save space on my computer.

Over the time I have been taking these photos there are so many that I have just never got around to sharing. Of course, many images are also not worth sharing, either too dark, too bright, or who knows why I even bothered to take the photo. But there are also some gems tucked away in there as well, that I would like to dig out and share.

On This Day

So I have decided to start sharing some of these images with you from time to time. The series will be called “On This Day” and will include a photo from the specific date in a previous year. I will also share a little about the image from what I can remember. There is always a chance that I might not remember a whole lot, but often I have other photos around the time that will help me along.

The one key thing I will mention is that this will not be every day, that might get boring quickly. So what I plan to do is just put one in every week or so, and I will try and mix up the days of the week to keep it interesting.

On This Day 24th April – Mooloolaba Beach Sunrise

April 24th 2015 - Mooloolaba Beach Sunrise

Today I am taking you back to the 24th of April 2015. On this day I was in Mooloolaba Queensland where I was staying for three nights. I recently revisited the location, and you can read a little in my recent post about Mooloolaba.

I have stayed in Mooloolaba a couple of times now, and there are a couple of things that I like about the area. But the main one is just how close you are to the beach in many of the hotels. Even though the hotel I chose was not right on the beach, it was a two-minute walk at most.

On this day I was up early to catch the sunrise, and it was quite a beautiful one at that. It sits somewhere in the middle of my scale of magnificent sunrises. The location gives it a particular look over a rather calm ocean on this particular morning. To the left of the image, it might look like a sea monster. But, in fact, that is a group of swimmers from the nearby surf life-saving club.

What Do You Think?

I plan to run with this idea for a little while, sharing some past images. But, I would love to know your thoughts. Do you like the idea, hate the idea or think that I could do something a bit different with it. Why not let me know in the comments below or get in touch with the contact page.

Coffee Feature

Coffee, Life In A Cup – Week 16, 2018

Coffee - The Anchorage Cafe

There was a long period of my life that I would state I did not need coffee in my life. At the time that was a very true statement for me, I did not need coffee. Just like now I don’t need coffee, but I find that it is a much more interesting part of my life. There are two main aspects to this that I find of interest at times.

The first is the type and variety of coffee that I drink. It is quite easy to see coffee as the one standard drink that you quickly pick up a tin or bottle in the supermarket. Likewise, that quick drink you grab from a random cafe in the morning on the way to work. But when you start to dig in, there is a rather wide variety of coffee available. The coffee can be a blend or a single origin and can taste different depending on how it is made. It can be made so many different ways and each creates that slightly different feeling.

There is also, of course, the places that you can get coffee, something that I am trying to share with you through this post each week. One of the aspects that I love to see is the different look and feel that different cafe owners go for. Some take extreme care in every aspect of the look and feel in the cafe. With some cafes not particularly looking great. But at the end of the day, it is the coffee that counts and you can rarely judge the coffee you get from the look of the cafe.

Speaking of the coffee you get there are some great spots in the post this week. So lets take a look at the spots I have shared.

Monday, 16th April 2018

3 Giraffes Cafe

Location – 200 Preston Rd, Manly West QLD

Coffee – Abrisca

Coffee - 3 Giraffes Cafe

There is one thing for sure that if you are paying attention when driving past 3 Giraffes you won’t miss the cafe. Sitting atop their awning are three giraffes as a nice little sign that you are in the right spot. The cafe inside is nice and simple and the coffee which comes from Abrisca is also quite good.

Tuesday, 17th April 2018

The Bean & Leaf Cafe

Location – 165-169 Broadwater Terrace, Redland Bay QLD

Coffee – Wolff Coffee Roasters

Coffee - The Bean & Leaf Cafe

The Redlands has two cafes with the same name, The Bean & Leaf. There is one in Redland Bay and one in Cleveland. Although The names are the same and I believe the owners as well, they both have their own personality. I do like the feel of the one at Redland Bay a little more it is open and airy. Of course, there is the coffee as well which they are serving at both locations which come from Wolff Coffee Roasters.

Wednesday, 18th April 2018

Frigg

Location – 10A Frank Street, Labrador QLD

Coffee – Fonzie Abbott

Coffee - Frigg

When I am in an area that I have not visited for coffee before it can be rather difficult to make a choice about which cafe to visit. Often a search for the term “cafe” on Google Maps returns a lot of results and just comes down to picking. So that is what I did and soon picked out a cafe called Frigg. Not sure where the name came from but I was keen to try them as they are serving Fonzie Abbott Coffee. Unfortunately, they need a bit of work to get the coffee right.

Thursday, 19th April 2018

Caffeination Station

Location – 138 Tingal Rd, Wynnum QLD

Coffee – One Espresso

Coffee - Caffeination Station

Wynnum has a number of good spots for coffee, while some of them are in the heart of things some of them are also on the edges. Caffeination Station might be one that you have missed unless you get to see it from the train each day. It is just outside the area that you would normally walk around Wynnum but could be worth taking those few extra steps for. The coffee says One Espresso, but I cannot find much information about the brand, but it tasted ok.

Friday, 20th April 2018

Pourboy

Location – 271 Grey St, South Brisbane QLD

Coffee – Mecca Coffee

Coffee - Pourboy

If you are looking for some great coffee in South Brisbane it is difficult to not visit Pourboy. They used to reside in the city and have moved digs to one of the new developments here. They are serving up coffee from Mecca Coffee Roasters with a few options to chose from. They have a regular blend, a single origin and filter coffee available.

Saturday, 21st April 2018

Crusoe’s Cafe

Location – 12/152 Shore St W, Cleveland QLD

Coffee –

Coffee - Crusoe's Cafe

Crusoe’s is a spot that I enjoy visiting sometimes and taking a little time to sit by the water and enjoy my coffee. But there was one morning I visited and while the water view was there, it was more a view of the rain than the harbour. So I decided to find a table inside out of the elements and enjoy my coffee next to the old small batch coffee roaster they have on display. I don’t beleive they still use it, but also cannot be sure which brand their coffee is either.

Sunday, 22nd April 2018

The Anchorage Cafe

Location – 1 Cabbage Tree Point Rd, Steiglitz QLD (Horizon Shores Marina)

Coffee – Adore Estate Coffee

Coffee - The Anchorage Cafe

Recently I took a drive through the area around Cabbage Tree Point and Jacob’s Well. Positioned between these two locations is Horizon Shores Marina where they also happen to have a great cafe. The Anchorage Cafe is positioned looking out over some of the wet berths of the marina, a great view. They are serving coffee from Adore Estate Coffee, which I enjoy but don’t find in that many cafes.

Coffee

I would be interested to know how you feel about coffee. Do you just stick to instant coffee, enjoy the same coffee every day or go out of your way to find a great coffee experience? Just let me know in the comments below.

Announcments

Travel Explored Week 16 Round Up

Travel Explored Week 16 Round Up

The past week has to say the least been a little interesting. I am still working through the process of getting a new car and still very much in the searching stage. So while I am taking my car out for short essential trips, that is about all. I am spending a little time on the bike, notching up some 129 kilometres on it this week. But I have also had some biggish distractions in considering the future of this blog and my online ideas.

So let’s quickly break these out, starting with the car search. Where I live is not exactly next door to car yards. But at the same time, I do not entirely see the point of going around car yards with the ability to search online these days. That being said I did head to a couple of yards on Saturday and very much narrowed down what I am looking for. Which comes down to two different vehicles. A Toyota Camry or a Hyundai i40, both of which are full-size sedans and certain years that will come in at roughly the price I want to pay.

From the car situation to the blog situation. At present, while I do love to travel, I also realise that I am not doing quite the amount of travel I would like to be. I have at present been posting daily for a little over two months and wonder if this is best serving you my audience. I am contemplating at the moment how I post, what I post and even another project as well. But it is still not fully developed enough to share with you. I can tell you that as soon as it is fully developed enough I will be sharing a little more here.

Anyway time to get into some new content and a little of what I have been reading this week. We have some coffee and a few experimental posts where I have been resharing some of my pictures from my travels. In these experimental posts, I have been trying to dig a little deeper in the image. Either trying to explore the image more or a little of what the image means or how it comes to mean something.

New Content

Monday 16th April 2018
Insert Coffee To Begin – Week 15, 2018

Coffee - First Coffee Co.

In the coffee this week are a couple of cafes that I have very much enjoyed with some great coffee to share. Two come from Wellington Point Café Mila and First. The rest are around Brisbane and include, Same Same But Different, Urban Providore, Arte & Gusto, Stone Throw and Bell Jar Café. I am ever surprised at the coffee that you discover at some of the most unlikely spots.

Tuesday 17th April 2018
An Afternoon Walk At Noosaville

Noosaville - Noosa River

The last of my posts from the time that I recently spent in Noosa and Caloundra. The first afternoon in Noosa I took some time to walk along the river and parklands that bordered it. Taking some time to have a look at the shops and cafes that are in the area as well.

Wednesday 18th April 2018
A Visit To Stonehenge in England

Stonehenge in England

A look back at the first time that I visited England and how I got started arriving in the country. I share a little of the experience and the far from best choices that I made in my bookings. But it all worked out, with a great experience and tale to tell.

Thursday 19th April 2018
A View of the City of Reykjavik

Reykjavik, Iceland

The one thing about the way I travel and explore a city is that sharing the experience in a blog is difficult. Becuase I manage to fit so much into one day, I end up with far too much to share in one post. Especially at the time I was travelling, I was sharing maybe 7-10 images each day. But many days I had two or three times that many that I would like to share. One photo, in particular, that should have made the cut that didn’t is this one from Reykjavik in Iceland.

Friday 20th April 2018
First Overseas Photo – Vancouver, Canada

First Photo Overseas - Vancouver, Canada

The first few days when I arrived overseas were something of a blur. That is beside the fact that the first day is rather extended by the time zone change and the travel. But in that first couple of days, I end up not sharing very much photos, because there were not many. But like the image above from Reykjavik, this one also missed the cut. It is, in fact, the first ever image I took after leaving home.

Saturday 21st April 2018
A Little Out of Focus in Budapest

Budapest, Hungary - A little out of focus

As I was looking through some photos this one popped up and very much gave me a thought of how I came to visit Budapest in Hungary. I was staying in Vienna and a day trip to Budapest came up as an option to fill some spare time. So while it was not the focus of my trip, it did pop up along the way.

What I am Reading

5 reasons why you should consider buying an Icelandic SIM card for your trip to Iceland

While doing some research earlier in the week I came across this post. I was contemplating the idea of when I travelled through Europe the difficulties of getting a sim card. While these days I consider spending more than just two or three days in a city or country, buying a sim card would be rather practical. Being that Iceland is high on the list of places to revisit this is great information.

VAN Converted into Quaint MOBILE BOOKSTORE

Ok if you clicked the link I will absolutely admit, there was no reading here (maybe I should rename this section). But this was a video that very much got my attention and started the ideas mulling in my mind. It is an idea that I rather like and I did consider going 100% at starting my own in Brisbane. However, will start out with a little more restrained research first and see what happens in the future.

Camping in Colorado’s Lincoln Creek | Photo Essay

If there is one thing that I love it is getting out into nature with the camera and seeing what this planet has to offer. The next best thing that I can think of is reading about and seeing how someone else enjoys that natural beauty. Although I honestly have no idea if I will ever make it here, this is the sort of place that I would love to explore sometime int he future.

Thank You

I would like to thank you again for stopping by this week and checking out what I have had to share. Also for those who spotted it, sorry for some little issues with a half cut post publishing a little early. I had the post scheduled and had left the post open on the computer without saving it, so the half edited version posted. Hope to see you all again next week for another great roundup of posts.

Coffee Feature

Insert Coffee To Begin – Week 15, 2018

Coffee - First Coffee Co.

There was a time in my life when I used to say that I did not need coffee to live my life. I did not see that caffeine could provide anything, no additional benefit or boost in any way. To a very large extent, I still stand by this and do believe that if I choose to I could not drink coffee. But we all know I am not going to do that anytime soon, I still have to share a coffee with you every day for the rest of the year at least.

I do not find that I am reliant on caffeine in any way and that the purpose of coffee for me is not an energy-boosting thing. In fact, there has been a couple of occasions where I believe the coffee might have dropped my energy. Coffee is also not the first Beveridge that I reach for in the morning. I often will consume over 1 litre of water before my first coffee. Speaking of the first coffee that can be even up to three hours after I get out of bed.

In some ways, I think that I would be more than happy to drink water when I am out. But coffee definitely does have a more interesting taste and flavours that can be different in every cup. If that is the case with water it is often not a good thing. Anyway, here are another seven coffee shops to check out from Brisbane and the Surrounds.

Monday, 9th April 2018

Same Same But Different

Location – 640 Oxley Road, Corinda, QLD

Coffee – Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters

Coffee - Same Same But Different

Unlike some cafes that I find by using the maps, I discovered Same Same But Different as I was driving along. I sometimes just get inspired to drive to an area and see what is around and that is how it happened here. I noticed the name before anything else and thought it was something different so stopped in to check them out. The coffee comes from Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters so the experience was a good one.

Tuesday, 10th April 2018

Cafe Mila

Location – 12/685 Old Cleveland Rd E, Wellington Point QLD

Coffee – Two Seasons

Coffee - Cafe Mila

Cafe Mila is a place that I have visited a couple of times in the past. But either I have a bad memory or the decor has changed a little, may have to dig through the archives and find my photo from last time. A great little spot for a coffee which is made with beans from Two Seasons, so think I will be back here again soon.

Wednesday, 11th April 2018

Urban Providore

Location – 210 Oxford St, Bulimba QLD

Coffee – Open House Coffee

Coffee - Urban Providore

There are not many cafes that you can talk to the fish while enjoying your coffee. One that I have found is Urban Providore at Bulimba. The cafe has a very nice bright and open feeling but also intimate at the same time. Of course, there is the fish on the table in the corner to chat with, not sure if it has a name. The coffee comes from Open House Roasters, and so far this is the only spot I think that I have tried their coffee.

Thursday, 12th April 2018

Arte & Gusto

Location – 5/409 Honour Ave, Graceville QLD

Coffee – Kuhl-Cher Coffee

Coffee - Arte & Gusto

When I visited Arte & Gusto I had a very specific reason for heading to this cafe. It was all about the coffee, which you might ask is that not the reason that I visit every cafe. You are very true, that is the reason, but in this specific case I wanted to try they specific coffee they are using for a second time at a different cafe. The coffee is Kuhl-Cher Coffee, which is I think reasonably new, but the experience and the taste of the coffee here was great.

Friday, 13th April 2018

Stones Throw

Location – 1/371 Logan Rd, Stones Corner QLD

Coffee – Belaroma

Coffee - Stones Throw

I remember coming to this cafe when it used to be called Belaroma, or at least I thought it was. Now it is called Stones Throw and sits in the middle of the Stones Corner Precinct. They are still serving Belaroma Specialty Coffee, but otherwise things look quite similar. I am not sure if they might make some more changes along the way, I guess I may have to come back and see.

Saturday, 14th April 2018

First Coffee Co.

Location – 2/360 Main Rd, Wellington Point, QLD

Coffee – Single O

Coffee - First Coffee Co.

Sometimes there are coffee shops that surprise me a little. First Coffee Co turned out to be one of these. I noticed the small hole in the wall next to the bike shop at Wellington Point some time ago, and did not stop at the time. Since then I passed by many times, but never found a reason to stop. But eventually decided I had to give it a try and sure enough I had been missing out for a long time. Great coffee which comes from Single O and great friendly people. Also the coffee comes in these awesome cups.

Sunday, 15th April 2018

Bell Jar Cafe

Location – 18a Thorn St, Kangaroo Point QLD

Coffee – Belaroma

Coffee - Bell Jar Cafe

I am often surprised by the coffee shops that I find sometimes. Not always because of the look inside, but the fact that I somehow missed seeing them for so long. Bell Jar Cafe, sits just off a very busy road that I drive somewhat regularly. But like many things you need to know it is there to see it. It was only by chance one day I caught it on the edge of my map that I found it. A nice little spot with coffee from Belaroma Specialty Coffee, the only problem can be getting parking at times.

Coffee

There we have it another week of coffee and I do have one question for your this week. How do you start your morning with coffee, is it the first drink or something later in the day?

Announcments

Travel Explored Week 15 Round Up

Travel Explored Week 15 Round Up

The saga of my car continues this week with the visit to the mechanic on Monday not resolving much. In fact it found me with even more of a problem, that the car needs money spent and is not worth spending money on. The result has been that I have been out and about on the bike a little more this week.

In fact, when I took a look it was on Wednesday this week that I went over 1,000km year to date. As of today, I have ridden a total of 128.7 KM. With the car essentially off the road, I have been doing a little more on the bike. It does help to make up for a few days I have missed with being away and bad weather in March.

I have also managed to get back on track a little and everything has been on time this week. One thing I have been thinking a little about the frequency of publishing here, which has been daily now for a little over to months. I still would like to try and maintain this, but it is something of a challenge on two fronts. The first is just having enough ideas to share with you, they do generally come up. The other is rather similar but more along the lines of writing posts of quality that do have value for you as the reader.

When it comes to content this week there are a couple more updates from my time on the Sunshine Coast. You will also get the week started with the regular dose of coffee and a couple of tips throughout the week as well.

New Content

Monday 9th April 2018
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee – Week 14, 2018

Coffee - Min & Co

The week of coffee is a good selection from around Brisbane and includes a couple that I do want to get back to soon. The featured image is at Min & Co in Woolloongabba, and I want to get back here to see the new coffee roaster they now have. Also featured this week was Blunder Coffee, Cups & Wells, The Corner Store Café, Chatterbox, One Stop and Clancy’s. Remember if you know a good coffee shop around Brisbane let me know so I can head down and check it out.

Tuesday 10th April 2018
A Wander Around Alexandra Headland

Alexandra Headland - Beach

I made a stop at Alexandra Headland while visiting the Sunshine Coast. It was probably less than an hour as there is not a lot here. But there was a nice spot for a coffee and some nice parkland to walk through. It is a great place if you want to stay somewhere just a little outside the busy areas of Mooloolaba or Maroochydore. But still close enough to walk to either if you want to.

Wednesday 11th April 2018
Preparing To Travel – Electronic Books

Preparing To Travel - Electronic Books

When we are preparing to travel some of the small details can be easily forgotten. Something like ensuring that recent book you purchased had downloaded to your device. Or maybe it is finding a great place to get a hold of some books without having to spend a small fortune.

Thursday 12th April 2018
Slowing Down Your Road Trip

Slowing Down Your Road Trip

While I have not had many opportunities to travel on road trips, they are my favourite way to travel. You get to see so much and there are so many places to explore. But the further you go in the smaller amount of time, the less you see, explore and discover. I would love to cover the same distance between Brisbane and Canberra that I did last year in four days again. But to do the trip again I would like to take two or more weeks.

Friday 13th April 2018
Looking Along The Coast Of Málaga, Spain

Looking West Over Malaga, Spain

The short post I shared about Málaga, Spain and about researching cruise ports, was an experiment. If you follow me on Instagram you might know I share travel photos every day. I have been looking to cross this over a little and share some extended stories about individual photos on the blog. So I would love to know what you think about the idea, you can let me know in the comments below, or use the contact page to email me.

Saturday 14th April 2018
Meandering Along At Mooloolaba

Mooloolaba - Beach

While spending a few days on the Sunshine Coast I had a little time to take a walk around Mooloolaba. It is a place that I have been before but never got around to sharing it here on the blog. It is a great spot if you want to stay someone a little more central on the Sunshine Coast, with plenty of cafes and a great beach frontage.

What I am Reading

Two Days In Seattle, WA

If there is one thing that I do enjoy is reading about other’s experiences in places that I enjoy visiting. Seattle is one of those places that I have visited and would return to in a heartbeat. Reading about the experience on Girl Gone Travel was rather interesting. I think that they managed to fit into two days more than I have done in the almost two weeks total I have spent in the city.

The Historic Downtown Vancouver Railway

It is somewhat ironic I think that two of the cities overseas that I enjoy visiting are so close to each other. But it was just by chance I came across this post this week as well. It was interesting to read about something that I did not even realise was there. Even though I would have visited Vancouver three times while this railway would have been running. Something to keep in mind for the next visit to find it and check it out maybe.

In Search Of Suffering

It might be a long post but, this one caught my attention for the subject of the Camino. A friend of mine walked a reasonable length of the same trail only in maybe somewhat better conditions. Although it is something that I would like to do, a little reading in this post has put it back a little for the time being. Especially ensuring that the time of year I might consider it is definitely not around winter.

Thank You

I would like to say thank you if you have been reading along on the blog. I do appreciate everyone that reads the posts that I share. If there is anything that you would like to know or share with me please feel free to do so in the comments below. Alternatively, you can use the Contact Page to connect with me directly. I hope you have had a good weekend and a good week ahead.

Coffee Feature

Keep Calm & Drink Coffee – Week 14, 2018

Coffee - Min & Co

When it comes to drinking coffee there are many different reasons why people do. On an individual level, it might be for relaxation or motivation, or maybe a good reason to connect with others and be social. There can be health benefits and there can be reasons why it might not be a good idea to drink coffee for you at all.

The thing I have come to realise is that there are many different reasons why people drink coffee. I personally drink coffee for the pleasure of experiencing something different. Which is one of the main reason why I go out of my way to explore and discover new coffee shops. However, I can also understand that for some people that is the furthest thing from their mind. There is a good chance that they are just seeming a drink that is familiar and comfortable.

One thing that I cannot understand is what the appeal of adding milk or sugar to the coffee is. Since starting to drink coffee as a long black, I have tried in total maybe half a dozen coffees with milk and none with added sugar. To me, the milk takes away so much of the character of coffee. All of the coffee’s I have tried with milk, I have also tried black and they have almost all been so much better.

But enough about who and how we drink coffee, it is time to check out some great places for coffee. Of course, as usual, the week has seven days and I have seven coffee spots to share with you.

Monday, 2nd April 2018

Blunder Coffee

Location – 4c/146 Blunder Road, Oxley, QLD

Coffee – Dancing Beans Specialty Roasters

Coffee - Blunder Coffee

Many of the coffee shops I visit I find just by looking at the map. However, while that was sort of the case with Blunder Coffee, I choose to come because of the coffee they have. I have enjoyed Dancing Beans Coffee at one other spot so decided to try it somewhere else as well. I am definitely glad that I made the stop as the coffee here was great and somewhere I would recommend trying if you are near Oxley.

Tuesday, 3rd April 2018

Cups & Wells

Location – 230 Lillian Ave, Salisbury, QLD

Coffee – Wolff Coffee Roasters

Coffee - Cups & Wells

There is a little saying that you might be familiar with along the lines of “third time lucky.” That seemed to be the case with me getting to visit Cups & Wells. I had driven past once over the Christmas break when they were closed, and again when they were forced to close due to a power outage. So back for the third attempt and success, they were open with a table inside (thankfully as it was a rainy day). They are serving coffee from Wolff Coffee Roasters which always tastes good.

Wednesday, 4th April 2018

Min & Co

Location – 41A Wellington Road, East Brisbane, QLD

Coffee – In-House Roast

Coffee - Min & Co

Although I am not the biggest fan of development it does have its upsides. In this case, a new unit block in East Brisbane has retail space below and one of the first things to open was Min & Co. It is a little while since I visited though and the view that you can see here has changed a little I understand. Min & Co is also roasting coffee in-house, and at the time of my visit, the coffee roaster was not installed yet. I am going to have to get back soon and check it out, maybe find out when they are roasting.

Thursday, 5th April 2018

The Corner Store Cafe

Location – 113 Sylvan Road, Toowong, QLD

Coffee – Marvell Street Roasters

Coffee - The Corner Store Cafe

The places that you find when you are in areas that you are not familiar with is sometimes amazing. A visit to Toowong and a failed attempt to visit one cafe led to a walk around a few blocks and finally reaching The Corner Store Cafe. It was even better to find they are serving a rather nice coffee by Marvell Street Roaster which comes from Byron Bay. The cafe while definitely taken over the location, does have some rather nice old time corner store look and feel both inside and out.

Friday, 6th April 2018

Chatterbox

Location – Mt Gravatt Plaza, 55 Creek Rd, Mount Gravatt East QLD

Coffee – DiBella Coffee

Coffee - Chatterbox

In the past I have not gone out of my way looking for coffee shops in shopping centres. However, one day when visiting Mount Gravatt Central I decided to take a closer look at the coffee shops. Chatterbox caught my eye as it looked interesting and not like the usual spots you find in the suburban shopping centres. So I stopped for a coffee which comes from Di Bella Coffee and found it quite a nice spot to visit.

Saturday, 7th April 2018

One Stop Cafe

Location – 78 Middle Street, Cleveland, QLD

Coffee – Merlo

Coffee - One Stop Cafe

Cleveland has quite a large range of options when it comes to coffee. So it can sometimes be a bit of a challenge to pick just where to stop for your coffee. I have come to find my favourites, but I try not to pick faourites when sharing my spots each week. One Stop is quite a friendly option and they are serving coffee from Merlo.

Sunday, 8th April 2018

Clancy’s Espresso

Location – 1/198 Wynnum Road, Norman Park, QLD.

Coffee – Single O

Coffee - Clancys Espresso

It was not all that long after Clancy’s opened on Wynnum Road in Norman Park that I first visited. It was only a week later that I returned again, to share the spot with a friend. Even helped out the environment here a little by using my keep cup which I got as a Christmas present. They are serving up some great coffee from Single O and one spot that is always on the list to return when in the area.

Coffee

There we are another week of coffee. I would be interested to know how you take your coffee, you can let me know in the comments? Also why do you drink coffee?

Announcments

Travel Explored Week 14 Round Up

Travel Explored Week 14 Round Up

I must say that this week did not get off to a productive start for me. Through the long weekend for Easter, I let things slide a little and found a little trouble getting the momentum back from there. There were a few days where I end up publishing posts a little late and that even includes this one today. But not to worry, I think that I am back in a place to get things on track next week.

Next week and the week that has just passed have included a little of the ongoing saga which is my car. I own a 2010 Holden Cruze, which I purchased new just over eight years ago this week. The past three months have seen multiple visits to the mechanic and some expensive repairs. In the morning it is back to the mechanic again, thankfully just for a service. But the engine light has been on as well in the last week, so who knows what is up now.

I don’t say this so much to complain, these things happen in life and you do just keep on moving on. However, I share it because it does get me thinking that it is about time to start looking for another vehicle. With my thoughts being not so much towards a car at the moment but more a van which I could convert for travelling in. To be honest I did not overly enjoy the campervan experience in New Zealand a couple of years ago. However, looking at the idea of having my own van converted in a way that makes logical sense for usability I think works. Time will tell how all of this is going to work out though and I can guarantee that if I go this route it will end up on the blog here.

Anyway, while some of the content might have been a little late this week, there is still a full schedule here. There are a few posts from my time away up around Noosa and Caloundra in the past couple of weeks. But I would also love to hear any thoughts from you about what you might like to see going forward on the blog. So if you have any suggestions please consider leaving a comment below or getting in touch through the contact page.

New Content

Monday 2nd April 2018
Wake Up To Drink Coffee – Week 13, 2018

Coffee - Bellissimo Coffee

Week 13 saw four coffee roasters from around Brisbane & Gold Coast featured. I almost considered sharing all roasters but decided to stick with a mixture of coffee roasters and cafes. The photo above is from Bellissimo a coffee roaster located at Bulimba. The other roasters featured include Veneziano at West End, Silipo Coffee at Ashmore and Aromas at Murarrie. While the cafes that rounded out the week include Two Shots and Frontier Coffee House who both serve coffee from Dramanti Artisan Roaster. With the last spot, I shared being The Espresso Bar at Victoria Point.

Tuesday 3rd April 2018
A Morning Walk Around Caloundra

Caloundra - Pumicestone Passage Inlet

Recently I had a chance to spend a couple of days at Caloundra. Whenever I travel I always try to get out for a morning walk and while I was in Caloundra this was no different. In this post, I share a few of the spots where I walked along the Coastal Pathway and main street. Also a little look at the spot where I stopped for the morning coffee.

Wednesday 4th April 2018
New Computer! One Month Later

New Computer! One Month Later

For a couple of months, my five-year-old MacBook Pro had been starting to play up. Finally, at the beginning of March, it decided to give up. Rather than spending the money trying to repair it, I opted to spend a little more and get a new computer. I was a little surprised to find just how much better a new computer can be in terms of speed. You can find out a little more about what I like about the new comptuer in this post.

Thursday 5th April 2018
Walking Shelly Beach To Caloundra

Shelly Beach & Caloundra - Shelly Beach View

While I do often walk in the morning when I am travelling, there are also other times of day for a walk. In this case, while staying in Caloundra I took a walk from Shelly Beach to Caloundra in the afternoon. There are many great viewpoints along this route looking out over the ocean. But there are also many memorials to the people who have served Australia in military conflicts as well.

Friday 6th April 2018
Sightseeing On A Budget

Sightseeing On A Budget

While travelling I have always been somewhat conscious of the amount that I spend on sightseeing. While in most cases it has not been a large part of my consideration. There have been times that I noticed just how much difference it can make. Sometimes it is as simple as taking a walk, or looking for the place that offers free entry. In other situations it might be finding a discount offer or package that includes seeing multiple attractions.

Saturday 7th April 2018
Going For A Wander At Woombye

Woombye - Memorial Park

Woombye is a small community in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. I have stopped here on a couple of occasions in the past and it is a nice spot for a little walk. On this occasion, I captured some photos and share a little of this town with you. If you are heading north from Brisbane it could be a great point to stop off for a break as it is not too far off the motorway.

What I am Reading

 

Pumpkin Island Paradise

The name Mark Fitz is one that I have seen many times on Instagram in the past year. Whether it is coming up that he has liked a photo or seeing many of his great photos. Finally, I find out that he has a blog when I came across this post about a small island with a unique name that he visited. An interesting spot and somewhere that I would definitely like to check out one day.

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Venice Beach, California

The first time that I travelled I had this idea that Los Angeles would only ever be a place that I would transit through. I did not see the side of Hollywood many people want to explore or know what else was around the city. However, on my second trip, I had some days to spare at the end and decided to spend them in Los Angeles. I wish I had had this post available than as it would have helped me get much more out of Venice Beach. A spot I end up spending about an hour in, mostly along the beachfront.

Walking Tenerife – Erjoes to Masca

The mention of Walking in the title is probably what drew me to this post. But the photos in the post have inspired me to want to visit the area for sure. While The island is part of Spain, it lies in the Atlantic Ocean of the southern coast of Morroco. So I don’t think it will be the easiest and most accessible place to get to from Australia, but it is definitely on the list.

Thank You

I hope that you have enjoyed this collection of posts for the week, even if it is a little late. As usual, I would love to know what you think so feel free to leave a comment below. Alternatively, you can also let me know if there is anything else you would like to see me sharing on the blog.

Feature Lifestyle

New Computer! One Month Later

New Computer! One Month Later

At the beginning of March, I was somewhat forced to get a new computer. I could have pursued the option of getting it repaired. However, after much research online, that looked to be less than an ideal option for two reasons. The first being that numerous people with the same problem had trouble getting the repair done correctly. With the second reason being that if the fault was what I suspected it would not be far from a $1,000 to repair anyway.

As you can imagine I felt that $1,000 was a lot of money for a repair on a five-year-old computer. But it is also a large part of the cost of just buying a new one. So ultimately I bought myself a brand new Apple MacBook Pro 15″, which you can read a little about in the post “The Challenges of Technology.” At the time I talked about the process of transitioning to a new computer.

So today I would like to share a little about the changed and benefits that I have found with the new computer. While the processor may not provide a huge increase of speed it is the other components that give most of the benefit. The main one being the computer memory which is

New Computer Benefits

For months if not well over a year I had been saying how good it was to have a computer that just kept going. In some respects that was very true, it is rather nice not having to transition your computer too often. However, at the same time, there are many things that you end up just living with. A system clogged up with software and data, slow boot times, slow times to load software and those random glitches that leave you waiting. All of those things have been somewhat addressed and resolved with the new computer.

Software & Data Reset

Over time with just about any computer you end up with extra programs and especially extra data throughout your system. The software can be a bit of a problem when you start adding in one-off programs that you never end up removing. But even more so the data can be an even bigger problem.

You start out with the best intention to file all the documents and files in a good way, but over time it just starts to get messy. In some ways, this new computer has forced me to use even better practices because the hard drive is smaller. However, I do still worry about how it might be in six or twelve months time. But One benefit has been that I have had to start storing photos on a different hard drive. With my old computer, I was already having to archive photos every three to four months due to low space. With a smaller hard drive, this would happen even more frequently, so I have started with a better process.

Much Faster Boot Times

One big problem I had with my old computer was how long it would take to start up if I shut it down completely. I never timed it but from pushing the power button to being able to fully use the computer would be measured in minutes. Ultimately I tended to just close the lid and let it go into sleep mode. In some ways, this became a problem as well, because on a number of occasions it did not quite go to sleep. It would end up hanging, not usable but not in sleep mode and the whole computer would be burning hot to the touch when I would go to use it again.

With the new computer, I can go from pushing the power button to using the computer within 30 seconds. Some of this is just the reality of a new computer, and some of it is a matter of different hardware. For example, the new computer has a Solid State Drive (SSD) for storage. An SSD Drive will allow the computer to access files and software much quicker, ultimately allowing it to start quicker.

Software Instantly Loads

Somewhat like the way the computer would take a long time to start, the software was very much the same. I could wait for some time from selecting the software until it was loaded and ready to use.

The new computer many of the programs that would take lengthy amounts of time to start before now open almost instantly. Some of this is the result of the SSD Drive, which allows software to load faster. Another aspect is that this new computer does have twice the amount of memory, with 16GB instead of the 8GB in the old computer. While I had to be somewhat specific in the choice of models, this was one important aspect I wanted.

No More Random Glitches

The old computer was having more and more random glitches that would occur at the most inconvenient times. One I already mentioned above where the computer would not fully go to sleep and as a result would become very hot.

Other problems were the root of why I got a new computer. There were ongoing little problems with the computer memory. It would cause a screen glitch and then an automatic reset of the computer. In most cases, I did not lose any work, but on a couple of occasions, a loss of work did occur. Not to mention the loss of time that was associated with having to restart the computer.

There was also the time that was lost due to little problems with the trackpad and times when the computer would just freeze momentarily. They were much less noticeable, but of course still provided a rather problematic experience at times.

New Computer Results

Overall the new computer has been a huge change of experience. Now with this new computer, I realise just how much I was making do with something that was essentially sub-par for today. I find that I can do get so much more done in the same amount of time. Firstly, because I can get started on the work so much quicker. But secondly, because everything just happens and I do not have to face the constant thought of what the computer might do to require a restart.

A new computer is going to work out different for everyone. Because there are so many different configurations and setups the new computer I buy will be considerably different to another new computer. There are many factors that can play into what results you might get from a new computer. So while my experience has been great, someone else might get a new computer and it is way below expected.

Coffee Feature

Wake Up To Drink Coffee – Week 13, 2018

Coffee - Bellissimo Coffee

I have something of a confession to make when it comes to coffee. I am one of those people that drinks coffee on a daily basis, but never after midday. Some people seem capable of consuming coffee at all times of day but never have a problem sleeping. For me, all it takes is one cup much after midday and I seem to be awake half the night.

I do wonder at times if it could be the sort of coffee. My preference is to only drink espresso or alternative brews on freshly roasted coffee. I can count on one hand the number of times that I have consumed instant coffee. Likewise, I can count, on one hand, the number of times that I have consumed decaf coffee. For some reason, these other coffees just do not have any appeal to me. Which may leave me drinking coffee only in the morning but that is something that I am happy to live with.

Getting into this week’s coffee there are a couple of nice spots in here along with a number of coffee roasters. Although the experience at a coffee roaster can vary between establishments I have found they are a great place to get great coffee.

Monday, 26 March 2018

Two Shots Espresso

Location – 71 Cambridge Drive, Alexandra Hills, QLD

Coffee – Dramanti Artisan Roaster

Coffee - Two Shots Espresso

Starting out the week with a little stop that I made at a cafe in Alexandra Hills called Two Shots Espresso. The photo is not all that interesting, but it is a great spot for me to meet one of my friends. A somewhat convenient location for both of us even though on this day I was on my bike waiting for my car to be serviced.  Two Shots Espresso is serving up some nice coffee from Dramanti Artisan Roaster so pop on down if you are in the area.

Tuesday, 27th March 2018

Veneziano

Location – 369 Montague Rd, West End QLD

Coffee – In-House Roast

Coffee - Veneziano

It took me a few tries to get down and visit Veneziano Coffee Roasters again. After visiting once I enjoyed the experience with a number of single origins available I wanted to get back. But a number of times where the timing or day of the week was just out finally got back to a visit on a Saturday Morning. The experience did not disappoint, the coffee was perfect, but I think the barista ensures they all are, as we saw one down the drain that did not meet the standard.

Wednesday, 28th March 2018

Silipo Coffee

Location – 9/54 Bailey Cres, Southport QLD

Coffee – In-House Roast

Coffee - Silipo Coffee

There are a few options for coffee all over the gold coast, but if you are looking for something around Ashmore Silipo Coffee is the way to go. The cafe sits in front of their roastery and they have some great coffee both blend or single origin. Along with a number of interesting pieces to look at both for sale and display. I liked the small coffee roaster in the back of the room, would not mind having something like that at home to roast my own coffee on.

Thursday, 29th March 2018

Frontier Coffee House

Location – 145 Redland Bay Road, Capalaba, QLD

Coffee – Dramanti Artisan Roaster

Coffee - Frontier Coffee House

Frontier Coffee House is a favourite local spot in Capalaba where they serve up coffee from Dramanti Artisan Roaster. The small cafe is a great spot to sit early in the morning and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. You can choose from a table inside or maybe out on the deck, but that depends a lot of the weather and the season which is better.

Friday, 30th March 2018

Bellissimo Coffee

Location –  33 Oxford St, Bulimba QLD

Coffee – In-House Roast

Coffee - Bellissimo Coffee

Bellissimo is a coffee roaster located in Bulimba towards the river end of Oxford Street. At times it can be a rather difficult spot to get a seat due to the popularity it has in the area. But it is worth the time to find a seat and try the coffee from their blends to a single origin they have some good coffee. If you stop by and they are busy, just take a wander down to the river and by the time you get back there may be a table available.

Saturday, 31st March 2018

Aromas Espresso Bar

Location – 60 Alexandra Place, Murarrie, QLD

Coffee – In House Roast

Coffee - Aromas Espresso Bar

Aroma’s Espresso Bar is a nice spot to visit for both coffee and tea lovers alike. If you are one for tea there is a whole wall full of different teas to try, you can see it in the right of the photo above. Coffee lovers don’t get quite as much choice, but there are ten different coffees up on the wall to choose from. Plus if you need anything else coffee related from chocolate coated coffee beans to an at home espresso machine they have it here.

Sunday, 1st April 2018

The Espresso Bar

Location – F01/1 High St, Victoria Point QLD

Coffee – Giancarlo by Grinders

Coffee - The Espresso Bar

Sometimes it is nice to be able to almost walk for the coffee in the morning and The Espresso Bar is close enough to do this. They have a nice spot under the awning that is out of the morning sun and serving up some Giancarlo Coffee by Grinders. What more could you want, well ok maybe a cake from the cabinet, but way to early to eat for this Intermittent Faster.

Coffee

Thank you again for checking out my coffee adventures. Where have you been for coffee this week, I would love to hear your tales, just leave a comment below.

Announcments

Travel Explored Week 13 Round Up

Travel Explored Week 13 Round Up

The past week has been a little bit of a comedown after having a few days away the week before. Even though it was a short break and just a little north at the Sunshine Coast, it is still a change from the ordinary. While it might have been just five days away, it has been something of a struggle to get back into the regular routine. It has only just sort of come back together over the weekend, even though it is essentially a holiday weekend.

Talking about being away and the long weekend, though also brings me to another thought. Over the next two weeks around South East Queensland, is going to be a very busy time. Not only is it the regular school break when it is not that easy to get away anyway. The next two weeks also covers the Commonwealth Games which are being held on the Gold Coast. With some overflow venues not too far away from home. It will make for an interesting time, although I am not attending anything regarding the games, there is going to be a lot of extra people around. So I do not think that I am going to want to travel all that far from home for the time being.

Anyway into the round-up from the last week. I think that there are a few posts that are quite interesting this week and hope you will agree. I would love to hear your thoughts on any of the individual posts or just your comments in general.

New Content

Monday 26th March 2018
Coffee, What I Live For – Week 12, 2018

Coffee - Dramanti Artisan Roaster

To start the week there was another great collection of coffee spots from around Brisbane. Above is one of my favourite spots, the roastery cafe at Dramanti Artisan Roaster in Morningside. But also featured this week was B + C Lab Cafe, Passiontree Velvet, Le Bistro, Tighty Whities, Frankee & Co and Sunday’s Cafe. I do find it surprising sometimes that I can keep on finding more great cafes, but they do just keep appearing.

Tuesday 27th March 2018
A Walk Along Burnett Street in Buderim

Buderim

Last week I had the chance to travel to the Sunshine Coast. Spending four nights in the area on the northbound trip I had some time to take a walk in Buderim. The area here is a lovely spot and great for both a little look at some unique and interesting shops. But there is also quite a range of great little cafes along the street here as well.

Wednesday 28th March 2018
Considerations When Booking a Back to Back Cruise

Are You Considering Booking Back To Back Cruises

Before I ever set foot on a cruise ship I discovered one of the benefits of booking a back to back cruise. That benefit was having more time on board the ship without paying a whole lot more. While it will vary from cruise to cruise, it can be a great way to make an extended break more affordable. There are of course other benefits but you will have to take a look at the article to find them out.

Thursday 29th March 2018
3 Reasons To Pay For Good Accommodation

3 Reasons To Pay For Good Accommodation

When it comes to where I stay while travelling, I do like to pay for a little comfort. In this post I cover the three main reasons why I like to pay a littl extra for my accommodation. While the considerations might be different for everyone, these are the ones that I find the most important for me. Likewise I would be interested to hear about what other people think as well.

Friday 30th March 2018
Exploring Around The Town of Eumundi

Eumundi - Main Street

The town of Eumundi is located towards the northern end of the Sunshine Coast. It is a great small town to visit and take a walk around, which is just what I did recently when staying in Noosaville. The town has some history to it and if you happen to visit on Wednesday or Saturday some rather popular markets.

Saturday 31st March 2018
Pay For Experiences! Not Things

Godley Head view over Christchurch Beach

When it comes to experiences the ones that you get to physically experience in the first person are best. Although it is often so much easier to just buy things these days. But when it comes to things or experiences one of the most important questions to ask is what will you remember later. Will you remember that random thing you bought that you lost interest in after a week, or will you remember that physical experience that you fully experienced?

What I am Reading

You’re Probably Pronouncing These British Towns Incorrectly

Sometimes an article catches your eye for the feeling that you have had the same experience, which is just what drove me to look at this one. I visited New Zealand as part of a work trip and found myself making very similar mistakes. Just purely because I did not know about some of the variables of the way letter combinations are pronounced. Thankfully the people I was working with quickly set me straight and did not leave me hanging.

17 Ways Qantas Is Going to Make a 17-hour Flight Comfortable for Passengers

A topical article for this week is the first flight on the new Qantas route from Perth to London. The trip will cover the distance in a single 17-hour 20-minute stretch and a little less for the return. They do seem to have made some interesting choices in fitting out the Boeing Dreamliner aircraft. But that drew me to this article was the fact that I visited the Boeing Factory in the months just prior to the first deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner. At the time the factory had completed 787 aircraft parked in any space they could find, awaiting the final regulatory approvals.

An Insanely Cool Kid-Friendly Weekend In Cleveland

It is some time since I would have been classed as a kid, although some people do tell me to stop acting like one at times. Either way, though this looks like a pretty good spot to visit for both the big and the little kids. There is plenty in Cleveland that looks like it would interest me, so maybe it is somewhere to add to the list for a visit.

Thank You

I hope that you have enjoyed a look at this week’s happenings on Travel Explored. You can always get in touch with the comments below or the contact page, I would love to hear from you.

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