All posts by Sara

14 days on the road. Let’s make it 365?

We’ve just done 14 days on the road over Christmas and New Years. Back in Sydney and it’s time to start planning for the big one as in the big trip. The year of 2015 is going to be a travel year. Ever since me and Pax met we’ve talked about doing a big trip together. “If haven’t killed each other living together for a year it’s time to go”. We have a wedding in Thailand on the agenda in March but other than that the road is pretty much open 🙂 Welcome 2015 – we’re going surfing! Where?! Maybe Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Central America….
Some photo’s from the road below.

Pedro our trustworthy van is staying at home this year.
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sidewalk-secrets-travel-blog-surf-roadtrips-cronulla--2827But he fits 4 surfboards, 3 camping chairs, a gas stove, 10 liters of water, two hammocks, cooking stuff, camera gear, lap tops, skateboards. Pretty much anything, it’s so nice not having to pack and travel light for a change.

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Australia must be the best country for road trips, you’ll find toilets (with paper), out door showers close to every beach almost, outside free BBQ’s and why not a little picnic house when the sun is to strong.

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Happy holidays & the new GoPro 4

Guess what I got for my birthday?! Oh yes a new GoPro the version 4 – I’m so spoilt, ha ha! Anyways it’s already Day 10 of our Christmas/New Years roadtrip on the South Coast and here’s some water shots from the last few days. We’ve got so many photos and videos but not to much internet. Waves been pretty small and the summer seems to be hiding somewhere 🙂 Anyways enjoy the holidays and we’ll see you next year 🙂 Lot’s of love <3

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DCIM101GOPROGOPR1516. This is one of my  all time faves on the South Coast – Green Island or Cunjurong point.

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Let’s go surfing Paxito!

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sidewalk-secrets-travel-blog-surf-roadtrips-cronulla--39Water was even nice for body surfing…

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The Last Event for the Women’s Pro Tour – I love female surfing!

Did you watch it? I think I’ve said it before, I’m not a big sport fan at all. I’ve manage to surprise myself – I’ve been watching the asp women’s pro surf tour religiously this year! This morning I got back from my yoga class and was sitting down with my breekie just to find out that the event was back on and that Courtney Conolouge knocked out Stephanie Gilmore in the Quater finals and before I had time to finished my coffee Bianca Buitentag won over Sally Fitzgibbons in the third quarter final! The president of the Sally fan club on Croydon Street (me) felt a bit down but hey that left only Tyler Wright that could take the title from Stephanie Gilmore in a surf off (meaning Tyler would have to win the event) Ha ha it’s been such a nail biting morning and all the girls have been surfing so amazingly! Ah what an inspiration. So congratulations to Carissa Moore to the win and Steph to her sixth world title!

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& me I just really want some small fun waves for the weekend 🙂

 

Lazy Sunday ocean dwelling

Not much going on the last few weeks. I’ve been away for work and now it’s almost December – end of the year… We had a nice visit from the Gold Coast over the weekend – Kumi came down so we went for a drive. Not to many waves around but ocean is getting warmer and it was so hot on Sunday so nice for a paddle 🙂 I got a wrist strap for the GoPro and figured I’d take it for a try – it’s a bit to big for me but worked alright. Let’s see if I can get a wave with it next time 🙂

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The Maui Pro – last event of the year

I’m glued to the computer watching the last event of the year for the women pro surfers as is’s on! Right now Round 4 – the worlds four top surfers are all ready for the quarter finals – I think they will run quarter finals tomorrow – waves looks amazing! Courney Conolouge just scored a  19.40 heat total – some amazing surfing happening!

Weekend stuff and a 9 feet log coming this way?

I’m pretty sure I’m suffering from some sort of post holiday trauma by being back in the office and not eating enough nasi goreng…

So Friday at 5:15 PM – here’s my pick up!the-sidewalk-secrets-photo-blog-travel-road-trip-cronulla-south-coast-2515

Heading south on the M1 – just flying through traffic and watching the sun go down.
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Woke up to this, photo’s might not show it but the Golf Course looked pretty much the best I’ve ever seen it. Just that there was a bloody longboard competition on so we decided to keep looking for waves.
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To messy/small/windy/wrong swell direction/ugly/not feeling it – you name it – we found it. the-sidewalk-secrets-photo-blog-travel-road-trip-cronulla-south-coast-2525

So back to the drawing board = keep on heading south… the-sidewalk-secrets-photo-blog-travel-road-trip-cronulla-south-coast-2527

We probably would have paddled out here but then skippy said locals only and scratched his nose and I’m not sure what that means so back on the road. Again.
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This looks like a brand new spot for us – and only two people out? We would have paddled out here if it wasn’t to crowded?the-sidewalk-secrets-photo-blog-travel-road-trip-cronulla-south-coast-2529

Here we go – did not find waves but Noel, Billy & Takea!the-sidewalk-secrets-photo-blog-travel-road-trip-cronulla-south-coast-2531

& this guy wanted to join to…the-sidewalk-secrets-photo-blog-travel-road-trip-cronulla-south-coast-2534

So now it looks like we might have found some surf but not to sure, so just doing some board drumming…the-sidewalk-secrets-photo-blog-travel-road-trip-cronulla-south-coast-0023

Really looks like we’ve found something?the-sidewalk-secrets-photo-blog-travel-road-trip-cronulla-south-coast-0028

Oh yes when in doubt – let’s surf the pond!
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(Actually we did surf and I borrowed Noels mini-mal and I had about a million fun waves so now I feel like I have to buy a long board. Like a 9 feet log. But with that comes a logistic issue since someone is very against having roof racks on top of the VW. )

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You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can’t put a dollar sign on

However this is Bali in dollars or Rupiah – just for my memory.

Visa on Arrival 35 AUD per person
Departure tax 200 000 Rupiah18
Bike rental 2 bikes 600 000 Rupiah for 8 days – monthly is still 600 000 Rupiah
Accommodation Kuta – between 150 000 – 250 000 Rupiah per night fan/aircon
Accommodation Medewi – 200 000 Rupiah – fan
Small Bintang – from 20 000 Rupiah – Large from 30 000
Large bottle of water – 4000 Rupiah
Airport transfer to/from Kuta – 100 000 Rupiah
1 hour massage – 55 000 Rupiah

& a veggie burrito from Mojo’s is still 32 000 Rupiah 🙂

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24 hours in Canggu – Birthday Crash for Pax

I was to tired to drive all the way back to Kuta yesterday so we decided to stop in Canggu for a night and celebrate Paxitos b-day.

Having birthday brekkie at Canteen after two hours on the scooters from Medewi with to much time behind trucks spewing their fumes in your face.the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-24-hours-cangu-crash-2457

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Drinks and live music at Old Mans in Canggu – this is where the hipsters hang. the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-24-hours-cangu-crash-2479

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Thanks team Ireland for supporting 🙂 Much love!the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-24-hours-cangu-crash-2493    the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-24-hours-cangu-crash-2466

Cruising around in Canggu for a bit. Good food, awesome coffee and nice views. the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-24-hours-cangu-crash-2499

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& that’s it now we’re at the airport heading for Melbourne and then Sydney. I’m glad we’ve had a few good surf sessions, time to catch up with a heap of people and yeah sampai jumpai lagi Bali!

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The rabbit fan has passed out on me for the second time today….

Hammocking and hanging out

It doesn’t take long to get used to the traveling life again, we’re spending a lot of time doing not to much which takes up a lot of time for some reason. Since we spent a lot of time here there’s a lot of familiar faces and Bali is just one of those places that people come back to and tend to stay for a long time so we’ve been pretty busy doing some catch ups with friends we haven’t seen in a while.

Surfboard parking outside room number 9 – sembilan. the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-3434

Stopping by Maruf and his lovley wife Dewi who has a cute little warung up the street for a coffee and some food. the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-surf-2440

Maruf does surf trips to G-land (Pax has been last time) and Red Island – much recommended. This time we don’t have enough time for it. the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-surf-2441

Picking up our washing – now we smell good again. the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-surf-2443

Longest left hander in Bali? Anyways so much fun!the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-surf-2452

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Another coffee – tastes so good after surf 🙂 the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-2433

Bintang and sunset timethe-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-surf-2448

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Bogans lost in Bali

3 days in Bali so far and we’ve been busy little bees. How crazy is the new air port? A lot of things changed here but a lot of things are still the same. We stayed the first few nights in Kuta just sorting bikes out and Pax had the very important Grand Final to watch. This morning we got up super early and made our way up to Medewi after having a quick look at the waves in Balian, and got here about eight or nine and not to many people out in the surf. Super fun 3-4 feet waves bit windy but not to bad. So much fun easy the best surf I’ve had all year 🙂 So stoked. My skin feels like it’s shrunk a bit. My sholders are sooo sore. And I’m so happy to be back 🙂

First night in Kuta, all that was left was a fan room with two singel beds, so romantic 🙂
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We found long lost traveling friend Niki to come watch the game with us. the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-2377

Saying hello to the best ding repair in Kuta, Narukis surf shop.the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-2369

Bali style driving on the foot path 🙂 Thank you for the photo Niki.the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-2392

Petrol stop on our way to Medewi, not kidding we finally found petrol at the forth petrol station we tried, the first three was all out. the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-2393

We’re staying at Medewi Beach Inn, new since we where here the last time and they even have wi-fi! 200 000 RP per night – done deal.the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-2395

Post surf eating Pax is snaking all my Beng-bengs.the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-2402

This just in – Medewi beach now has a shower (where I manage to drop and ding my board)the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-bali-indonesia-medewi-kuta-2404

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Sampai jumpa nanti Sydney

the-sidewalk-secrets-photography-cronulla-sydney-airport-3Here we go finally on our way, see you later Sydney can’t wait to wake up in Bali tomorrow 🙂 We’re already at the airport in Sydney, early enough to have a few drinks. Both of us “randomly” screened for bombs and drugs as usual. And I’ve got some dollars back (the VAT) for leaving with my new surf board.  Puss Puss

Pax taking the fins off, it’s really quick and easy if you have FCS 2 fins… If you don’t you shouldn’t pull them out, you have to screw… just saying. It’s not like anyone tried that this morning, no. image

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Sydney is HOT HOT HOT!

Someone said there’s a new September weather record with two days over 30 degrees in a row or something like that. Doesn’t matter it’s like summertime again – the last days has been so freaking hot here in Sydney! I’m loving on walking in thongs again and finally it’s still a bit of daylight left after work.  Some photos from last night, we had take-away dinner by the beach down in South Cronulla after checking the waves on our way home. Wish I had time to surf after work because it looked so clean and fun, maybe after next week when we change the clocks. And it’s 2 days left until Bali…sidewalk-secrets-travel-blog-surf-australia-pax-sara-cronulla-2334

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A 6″2 super pink monster + me

Friday after work we went to pick up this little thing from our friends at PCC surfboards in Cronulla.  the-sidewalk-secrets-travel-blog-surf-australia-2318

I’m soooo stoked, finally I have a surfboard again and she’s custom made just for me. So Saturday morning we packed the van up and headed for the coast – me pretty keen to find some waves to say the least. Brought some friends along and decided to paddle out at the beach break in Bendalong, it was a bit windy and bumpy but fun. Spent the rest of the weekend around Green Island, surfing, eating, chilling and that – such a hard life 🙂

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the-sidewalk-secrets-travel-blog-surf-australia-2317“I’ve seen it/them/that somewhere around here” – Pax is making coffee for the weekend crew.

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ME HAPPY – BALI – NEXT WEEK – ADUH!

Yesterday – talking about the labor day-Pax birthday week that we’ve both have off in October. Figured we’d do a roadie maybe up north somewhere. But then I’m not sure well I ended up booking tickets to Bali instead. It’s just for a week but still bikini surf and 5 dollar massages – here I come. It’s the most expensive tickets to Bali I’ve ever booked from here and also the shortest stay with only 8 nights but we’re off next Friday and I’m so happy!! I can’t wait for that heat to hit me when I step out of the plane, waking up somewhere in noisy Kuta complaining about how much things have changed since last time. Getting a bike and driving off to find some waves somewhere. Eat Sleep Surf on repeat.

Stephanie in the water – screening in Australia

The documentary on Stephanie Gilmore, five times world champion is finally screening in Australia next month, in Sydney on the 23 & 24th of October, have a look at the website for more dates. Steph won her first world title at the age of 17 and the director Ava Warbrick has followed her since her third world title win. I love Stephs surfing style and that she’s into her retro boards, there’s so many cool clips of her riding that single fin out there. Stoked to get to see this docu at the cinema next month 🙂

SYDNEY – GERRINGONG – BENDALONG – MILTON – MOLLYMOOK. RETURN.

We’re back on the road, or at least we where for the weekend. Drove down to Gerringong on Friday night, Pax watched the game (uhmmm the AFN, NRL or whatever it’s called)  at the bowling club while I lost my money at the pookies. Saturday morning we headed for Bendalong and Green Island hoping the waves where gonna be alright. Uhhh not quite was just a 30 minute non stop paddle, every time I stopped paddling it was like the island was moving forward.

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The ASP world tour – how good is it?!

Been trying to watch the Swatch Pro event online but I’m in the wrong time zone but this morning I watch the final on my phone while getting in to work.  Stephanie Gilmore against my favorite Sally Fitzgibbons in the womens final. Steph just surfed so well and won with a 19.50 total and her 10 scoring wave was just so freaking good so well done Steph 🙂 Anyways Sallys good result put her ranking up so she’s currently number one in the world! I hope I’ll be able to watch the rest of the tour as it heads to Europe, 3 events left this year. Go Sally!

Fed Up the movie – We now have more people dying from obesity than malnutrition

I watched the documentary Fed Up last night, about how much sugar there’s in processed food today compared to 30 years ago. Most of our groceries comes from the fruit and veg section of the supermarket (I’ve been vegetarian since I was 15 and trying to stay away from dairy as much as possible these days) but still it’s so hard to avoid sugar – it’s everywhere and if something has a package there’s almost always some sugar hiding on the label in one way or the other.

In 1980, there were zero cases of childhood type 2 diabetes in the US. In 2010, there were 57,636. That is scary figures. More people die from obesity than malnutrition. It’s just sad to think about. One thing that I found specially shocking is the food served in the school cafeterias (again in the US) – it’s a 100% junk food with no nutritional value whatsoever. I really believe that food that was made in a factory aren’t that great to eat. Have a look for yourself.