Istanbul

(I always feel I need to apologise for phone photos, two weeks with only hand luggage meant no DSLR on this trip)

I was so happy that I had the chance of visiting Istanbul in my last month overseas. We were there for a week over Christmas, not that you had any hint that it was Christmas Day, apart from the few shops around the Spice Market selling flashing Christmas hats and plastic trees. I organised couchsurfing for myself and the two friends I was travelling with, and it was one of the best couchsurfing experiences I've had to date. A friendly, super interesting couple who lived in Kadikoy on the Asian side of the city. They were so hospitable and such interesting thinkers, and I loved having a drink with them in the evenings and discussing the situation in Turkey and their views on it. It's such an interesting country, and definitely one of my favourite cities that I visited last year. I feel like I say that with every city, but I really mean it with Istanbul! Living on the Asian side was great; hardly any tourists (that time of year anyway), authentic markets with the most beautiful Turkish food. The food! I must've had at least 2 baklavas a day (the sweetness set off by strong Turkish coffee), several turkish delights and spoonfuls of super sweet, addictive halva. Istanbul is so good at street food! Mussels on street corners, stuffed with rice and as many as you want served in your hand with a squeeze of lemon, fish caught in the Bosphorus and put straight on the grill, served with spices and salad in fresh bread, sesame covered simits, freshly squeezed pomegranate juice. And if you can, grab a table (crates with wood on top) and have a pile of charcoal barbecued chicken with bulgur and salad, or some pilaf, or a mixed kebab plate with pide and garlicky yoghurt sauce. Recommened by our couchsurfing hosts, we went to Namli Gurme at Karakoy for brunch (walk around the Galata area afterwards, my favourite part of the city). There, you choose what you'd like from a huge delicatessen-like window and choose what barbecued meats or eggs you'd like prepared, and then they bring a huge platter to your table of what you selected, served with crusty bread. Stuffed vine leaves, marinated olives, filled peppers, amazing goats cheese, tapenade and spreads, spicy chicked skewers and pastrami omelettes.
It was nice to live on the Asian side and have a Turkish tea (always served in a real glass) in the mornings on the ferry, and a hot salep (a delicious milky, sweet & cinamonny drink) in the late afternoons, watching the sun set on the way back.
I have photos from an island we visited saved for another post, otherwise, you'll find most of the noteworthy things we did in a travel guide. I can recommend simply packing good walking shoes and exploring the city's streets by foot. I always felt safe (apart from getting caught up in a demonstration near Taksim - avoid those. Or maybe don't, it's really great to see the people make a stand for what they believe in, but better with a mask for the tear/ coughing gas).

Visit Turkey if you have the chance!

Liveable

There are some cities I love, but can't imagine living in. Lisbon, for example. Or any city in Italy really. Copenhagen was different though - it was much less sterile than I imagined. I've got a small obsession with Scandinavian countries - started by my absolute favourite Danish crime series 'The Eagle' (high school addiction), a trip to Norway 4 years ago and my recent Denmark visit. I'm planning a trip to Helsinki in October, a country I already feel I'm going to love from what I've heard from my Finnish friends.
In Copenhagen, definitely visit the Torvehallerne food markets and try the amazing open-faced sandwiches and cinnamon pastries, and go to the Norrebro district for the ethnic food - the best lamb schwarma I've ever eaten (and I've tasted a lot). Walk around the Rosenborg palace gardens, go to Nyhavn for an ice cream and visit the crazy Christiania hippie community in Christianshavn.

Wien

Some time ago I spent a long weekend in Vienna. I'd been there for a day once before and wasn't so impressed then, but decided to give it another chance. Despite raining most of the time, I'm so glad I went. We stayed in a great old apartment found on airbnb.com (how good is that site?!) with high ceilings and walls full of vinyls (from Finnish punk to South American 'hits'). I loved having Viennese coffee and cake each afternoon, taking our time walking through the Albertina (definitely secured a spot as one of my top 5 favourite galleries), walking through the Naschmarkt markets and Schoenbrunn palace gardens. Vienna felt like a mix of Berlin and Paris (if that's even possible).

Como

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My budget for Italy (and the rest of the year for that matter) was very tight. If you ever find yourself around the Lake Como district with a nagging feeling that with your budget probably didn't even allow you going on the trip - but there you are anyway - try:

Stay:
In Riva al Lago
Via Crespi, 4 /p.zza Matteotti 4, 22100 Como
A Bed & Breakfast (alas no breakfast during off-peak months), very affordable, clean & surprisingly un-kitsch for Italy, situated less than 20m from the lake.

Eat:
Breakfast
Let's be honest, in Italy you'll rarely get a hearty omelette or nutritious muesli for breakfast. Como has dozens of typical Italian standing cafes where you can get an excellent cappuccino and croissant ('brioche') for around 2 euros (which automatically goes up to 3 euros as soon as you sit on a chair at a table. Opt for the table and enjoy people-watching.
Dinner
El Merendero
Via Crespi 4, 22100  Como
Stay away from anywhere with a menu in 4 different languages and horribly-styled pictures of the dishes, offering a 'tourist menu' (often with a surprise 10 euros worth of service fees and taxes added to the bill). We were lucky to find a great & affordable restaurant full of locals right under our accommodation with amazing, perfectly thin-based woodfire pizzas without an excess of toppings.

Do:
- Buy a ferry day ticket & spend the day hopping around the towns on the southern part of Lake Como (see previous post). Definitely visit Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo and walk around Bellagio - preferably at sunset.
- Take the Como Funicular up the mountain & hike down.
- Wander around the city of Como - the cathedral, wonderful little delis (enough temptation to bring back a bag full of Grana cheese, truffle oil & Chianti), cafes and boutiques. It's clear that Como is an area for the rich.
- Do a day trip (or two) to Milan and Lugano (Switzerland) - both short train trips away.

Loco

  
On Saturday evening I took some photos of the El Loco pop-up restaurant/ bar at the Opera House for Broadsheet Sydney. I'm a long-time reader of Broadsheet and find its content of a really high standard.
I was a tad disappointed at first when I compared my originals with the sucked-out colour and vibrance of some of the images on the website. I study design and thought I knew about these things, but long story short, I was working in the wrong colour space while editing, hence the photos look completely different on the website than on my screen.  Anyway, it's still a thrill to see my photos online. Have a look at the full article here, it's definitely worth a visit on a summer evening.

North

The Bank Cafe

67 Molesworth St, Lismore

Anywhere that is set in a historic 1930's building, has a shelf stacked full of Monocle magazines with menu that can rival any inner-city cafe's, is good with me.

The Top Shop
65 Carlyle Street, Byron Bay
The best haloumi burger I think I'll ever taste, perfect New Year's Day food. Thanks Rachel for the inspiration to come here.

Today, 10 years ago, my family and I moved to Australia. At the time, it was a difficult move - away from our family, friends, culture and (seeming) security of jobs and a home. Looking over these photos of my recent holiday in Australia though, I truly am thankful for this beautiful country and all the opportunities I've been given here.

I really loved Lismore and its surrounds in northern New South Whales. Everything was so beautiful and lush - a stark change coming from a week in dry, hot Melbourne. I've always considered myself a city girl but I can definitely imagine living a year or so somewhere around Lismore or Byron Bay, perhaps something to think about once I finish my degree...