Schnitzel in Vienna

Getting off the plane in Vienna meant only one thing… Schnitzel. After landing, we raced to our hotel to dump our bags then walked to find Vienna’s best schnitzel. We had a booking at Lugeck who’s owners first started serving Weiner Schnitzel in 1905! I’m unsure if it was the BEST Schnitzel I’ve ever had but at 10pm post 11hr flight it was much appreciated.

A cold and drizzly start to our first day in Vienna was not a deterrent for us, we set off on a free walking tour to fill our morning we immersed ourselves in the city's history, walking from the famous State Opera to the imperial Hofburg and eventually finished up at the iconic St. Stephen's Cathedral. After seeing the sights Vienna had to offer it was time to eat the food! I’d seen a famous Viennese “coffee house” dessert on Instagram and finally it was my time to try it! We lined up for around 30 minutes to secure a table at the famous Demel Kaffeehaus in the centre of Vienna and finally were seated and got to try Kaiserschmarrn which is a fluffy pancake that is shredded and topped with rum-soaked raisins and stewed plums. Demel is renowned for having the best rendition and let me tell you, they did NOT disappoint! That afternoon it was time for yet another schnitzel of course, this time at Meissl and Schadn, the sister restaurant of one Doug and I discovered two years ago in Salzburg and spent Christmas at. Of course the schnitzel was AMAZING but also HUGE so we shared one between two and had all the trimmings (Austrian potato salad, yum). Afterwards the “kids” decided to do a bit of Christmas shopping so we headed over to Belvedere Palace Christmas Market where I strongly hinted at what I would like Santa to bring me. We then finished the evening at a mall shopping for board and card games so that we’d have something to keep us occupied on our upcoming cruise.

Austrian Christmas (aka Christmas Eve) had finally arrived and the first snowfall as well! The “kids” got a bit of a sleep in while Rob and Wendy headed to a tour of the Schönbrunn Palace. The kids then decided to head to the Museum of Illusions, where we spent the morning taking hilarious pictures defying logic and gravity. We then headed to the Imperial Treasury at the Hofburg Palace, where we got to see impressive jewels and even part of the tablecloth from the Last Supper! Speaking of supper, we were getting hungry so we headed over to meet the parents at a snowcovered Schönbrunn Palace and strolled the Christmas markets there looking for something to nibble on! Sausage in hand we then headed to something VERY cool on the palace grounds, a ZOO! The Zoo was massive and took us 3hours to get around, we saw everything from Cows (okay, probably didn’t need to go to a Zoo to see those), Kangaroos (again, probably could have seen them more locally but not with snow), but also met some very friendly elephants, hungry giraffes and one very happy panda! Exhausted from a big day of exploring, our day wasn’t quite finished yet, it was time for… MORE SCHNITZEL… but with a twist, we would be making it! Nabeil shared his secrets on how to make Schnitzel, crispy as hell and fluffy as heaven and let me tell you, THIS was the best Schnitzel we had in Vienna and probably my life! The key is to get the veal super thin, flour and egg wash TWICE before crumbing and then fry in deep oil, we aren’t winning any health awards here. The result was a super puffy, fluffy, crispy crust and amazing tender Schnitzel 10/10 in my books. Our dessert was Apple Strudel which, despite me learning in Salzburg, still did not go to plan! After being told off for not cutting the apples thinly enough I bowed out, sipped some Austrian sparkling wine and left the prep to the experts before digging in. It was time for bed, and to see if Santa came!

Santa came and so did MORE SNOW! Well, the first snowfall in 28 years on Christmas in Vienna to be exact (it was short lived and melted upon touching the ground, but I’ll take it!). After a late brekky, I took advantage of the fact that I had already done my Christmas shopping so popped my pyjamas on, watched the snow and watched my favourite Christmas movie, Four Holidays. Everyone else's morning looked a little different with them running around to buy their presents and of course, a tree to put them all under! Well, somehow we ended up with TWO makeshift Christmas trees in our hotel lobby but that was okay, we all exchanged gifts, some sentimental and some very practical. As it was Christmas, not much was open for the day so we headed over to some very touristy but fun attractions, the first was Sisi’s Adventure which was essentially a virtual reality short history about the Empresses life. We then went across the road to Vienna Time Travel, which encompassed 10 or so rooms, taking us through the history of Vienna from the Roman Empire to WWII. We all then split up to go our different ways, with Doug and I ending up at a traditional Viennese pub, drinking Radlers and learning how to play Yahtzee (which will feature heavily from here on out). We then met the entire family for a traditional Austrian Christmas dinner where we had all the traditional English style foods like roast beef but also some Austrian delicacies like roast goose with potato dumplings (was okay) and an amazing beef broth and pancake soup (my favourite). We finished dinner off with Gingerbread (of course) and Vanillekipferl which always reminds me of Christmas as my Oma makes an extra big batch every year just for me. Our final stop of the night was a spectacular light show “Lights of Creation” within the Votive Church. While it was freezing, it was absolutely stunning with lights bouncing off of the ceilings and alter, depicting the story of creation, from the Big Bang to the development of life. It was the perfect way to end Christmas.

Our final day in Austria had arrived, but the kids weren’t spending it in Vienna, it was time to hit the slopes! It was quite a trek to get out to Stuhleck but VERY worth the trip. The snow was incredible and runs so long they took half an hour each (or maybe that was just my slow skiing, haha). Several hot chocolates were had and after a very quiet train ride home it was time for a big sleep in preparation for a big day of travel to Norway!

 

BKK

After months of planning, booking and quietly building excitement, the day finally arrived. Hutch Fam Trip was officially underway. Yvonne dropped Doug and I at the airport, we met Russ, and just like that we were airborne. Nine short hours later we landed in Bangkok, shuffled our way through an impressively long immigration queue, and jumped in a taxi into the city. A quick pasta dinner with Rob and Wendy was all we managed before calling it a night. An early start was looming.

The 6am wake up was softened by the fact that our hotel had already opened the breakfast buffet. Fried chicken for breakfast? Bangkok, you have my attention. Our over enthusiastic tour guide was ready and waiting and, because it was a Saturday, Bangkok traffic was unusually kind. We slipped out of the city with ease, watching the orange sun rise slowly over the skyline.

Our first stop was the River Kwai Bridge, part of the infamous Death Railway built by Allied POWs during World War II under Japanese occupation. Standing there, it is hard not to feel the weight of history. A place that looks peaceful now, but holds stories that are anything but.

From there we headed to Erawan Waterfalls. Seven tiers, with the top sitting around 2km high. That does not sound too bad on paper, but let me tell you this was a VERY dicey hike. Wendy sensibly tapped out at waterfall two and opted for a swim. Russ, Doug, Rob and I pushed on through the blistering heat until waterfall five, where Doug decided the effort to reward ratio was no longer stacking up. He opted for a dip instead, complete with fish nibbling at his feet. Against all odds, Russ, Rob and I made it all the way to the top. Hot, sweaty, and extremely proud of ourselves. Going down, however, was almost harder than the climb up. Back at the bottom, a cold drink and a traditional Thai lunch never tasted so good.

Next stop was Hellfire Pass Museum and Memorial Walking Trail. The museum, funded by Australia, tells the story of the POWs forced to build the railway through the mountains. Rob had thoughtfully prepared us by making us watch The Railway Man, which gave the experience even more weight. Walking through Hellfire Pass itself, you can still see markings in the rock, remnants of tools, and artefacts left behind. Quiet but powerful reminders of what happened here.

Our final stop for the day was Tham Kra Sae Bridge, clinging dramatically to a cliff face above the river. Stunning views, and a fitting way to end a big, heavy, unforgettable day.

Back in Bangkok it was a quick turnaround. Thai food for dinner and straight to bed.

I had dreams of sleeping in the next morning, but Doug does not holiday that way. Instead, we were up and off to the local markets where we tried mangosteen, a purple skinned fruit with creamy white flesh that tastes far better than it looks. From there we headed into the kitchen for our cooking class.

First up was Tom Yum Goong with prawns. Something Doug and I had seen a hundred times but never tried. Turns out it is insanely simple. Water, lemongrass, kaffir lime, ginger, chilli, coconut milk, a few vegetables and prawns, done. And it was AMAZING. Doug has been instructed to add it to our weekly rotation.

Next came Pad Thai. Which I thought I was doing reasonably well until the chef predictably stepped in to rescue it. This was followed by Penang curry. Just as easy and an instant crowd favourite. But the real star was mango sticky rice. Beyond simple and possibly my favourite Asian dessert of all time.

With very full stomachs and some light negotiation about what to do next, we headed to Chatuchak Weekend Market. Thirty five acres. Over 15,000 stalls. Russ, Doug and I wandered for hours before deciding to beat the heat and head up to a rooftop bar overlooking a Christmas market. The Mahanakhon SkyWalk was right next door, so it would have been rude not to. We went up to the 75th floor where the boys did the tilt. Stepping into a cage that leans you out at a 65 degree angle over the city. I chose to sit that one out, but they swear it was incredible. Then up to the 78th floor for the glass skywalk and uninterrupted city views.

Our Bangkok finale was a tuk tuk food tour. Four hours of zipping through the city, Chinatown, Michelin star food stalls and tiny hole in the wall spots. Highlights, again, included mango sticky rice and charred chicken noodles, where we were taken out the back to see the kitchen. Open flames and all.

Exhausted, full, and completely satisfied, we had officially done Bangkok. Next stop something much more chilly...

Raja Ampat, like being in a Disney Movie

Well, Raja Ampat isn't particularly easy to get to. It took a Drive to the airport, 8hrs to Jakarta, 6hr layover, 4.5hrs to Sorong, 3hr wait, 3hr ferry, 2hr speedboat just to get there!

We arrived at lunch time on Saturday to torrential rain. Despite only having 3hrs sleep over a 40hr period we were determined to not nap. We managed to stay awake for the 5pm briefing to find out what we were doing the next day and struggled through a 7.30pm dinner before a long sleep. 

Our second day called for an early wake up, luckily there were clear skies as we set off for our first dive of the day. We arrived near a pier and upon our decent saw a turtle, eagle rays and a million different types of fish. After a quick break and refuel we set off to our second dive site, at two tiny islands.

Day 3 was jam packed with a 7am call time. Our first dive of the day Melissa's Garden which was my absolute pick of the trip! I felt like Ariel in the Little Mermaid, floating amongst some of the most vibrant coral and marine life I've ever seen. Even better was that we had a private tour guide so could go at our own pace and take it all in.

We then stopped off at Piaynemo Island and hiked the 300 stairs to the look out. The view was phenomenonal. Second dive was at Batu Rufus where we saw a mantis shrimp (Doug's favourite animal) and swum in a real mermaid lagoon that was as colourful as a disney movie.

We then stopped off at Rufus Island for lunch and a relax before our third dive at Famwall where we spent most of our time following a turtle! 

Doug thought I'd done very well with all of the activities so I was finally granted a rest day. We had a bit of a sleep in, then after breakfast, we wandered to the other side of the island barefoot, snorkles in hand and trailed by a cat who clearly thought she was part of the group.

It felt like we had our own private island with no one in sight, or perhaps a deserted island where we had been stranded haha. Doug and I spent hours drifting over coral gardens, snorkelling until my book was calling.

After such a relaxing day all we needed was... a bump in the road. It turned out our ferry for our last day had been cancelled and our options were either leave a day earlier or pay $1600 for a private transfer. After having no luck with our travel insurers we decided on the less risky option and decided that this would be our last night in paradise.

Another early morning, another set of tanks. Our first dive of the day was at the manta cleaning station huge, slow moving rays sweeping past getting cleaned by their fishie friends. At one point the current picked up and I genuinely thought I was going to float off to sea!

We motored to another island for two more dives. The current didn’t let up and we definitely got a work out! 

We rushed back to catch the afternoon ferry to Sorong. However, it almost didn’t make it. A 30 minute delay then 3 hours with no air con (despite being in "first class", packed in like sardines... we were not particularly happy by the end of the ride.

Eventually we got in to our unintended stopover in the shanty town of Sorong... late, sticky and just in time to collapse before our early flight to Bali to see our friends!!

Komodo

 

Ski Weekend in Queenstown

 After a VERY bumpy landing and barely touching down safely we did make it to magical queenstown in one piece. We jumped in our rental car and drove the 15 minutes into town where we sorted out ski gear, tickets and checking into our hotel. Our first night was an early one with dinner then a spa - ready for an early wake up. 

Day 2 consisted of skiing, skiing and more skiing. We went to the Remarkables and despite some heavy snowfall managed to get a good 6hrs of skiing in before making our way back to Queenstown and to Soda, a restraunt overlooking the lake. A quick pre-bed jacuzzi soak was required to rest our muscles. 

The next day was all about conquering fears - but first.... Frisbee Golf! Given I don't think I've ever thrown a Frisbee I wasn't surprised that Doug absolutely smashed me! Then after a Ferg Burger lunch it was time. I had somehow managed to stay away from videos explaining what I was about to do... first off Doug laughed his way down the terrifying 134m bungee drop (crazy) and then it was my turn. While I wasn't doing bungee, I had opted for the swing... something that I thought would be easier, turns out some people think the swing is worse. The swing consists of a 70m drop then swings you back and forth a few times until you are pulled up to safety... sounds easy right? No. After a few minor tears, shaking, massive anxiety, Doug managed to get me on it and safely strapped in. A massive squeal erupted out of me and down we went. Being pulled back up was almost as bad as being dropped!! Am I glad I did it? Yes. Will I do it again? No. Fatigued by my adrenaline rush nothing too crazy was on the cards that night... a walk through the towns pride festival, dinner and a soak in the jacuzzi when we got home was all I could manage.

On our third day the mountain weather was still bring unkind so we found ourselves dodging the rain and doing activities instead. A few games of bowling, shuffle board and a cheeky quaddie all sufficed as an excellent wet weather timetable. We ended the night with Coconut Margaritas at Margo's and hand made artisianal chocolates.

Our final day and the weather looked PERFECT. We woke up super early, stopped off for a pie at Ferg Bakery and tracked the hour to Cadrona. Despite the mountain being a touch slippery and neither Doug or I being able to fit chains properly we managed to make it safely up the mountain in one piece just in time for the first chairlift to open. The sky was bright blue, and a fresh 20cm of snow had fallen overnight making for the most amazing skiing. Doug and I tackled the Blue and Red runs with ease due to the powder snow and long, not too steep runs. After a full day of skiing (and a few hot chocolates) we were both exhausted but happy. We managed to find the ONLY Chinese place in town and tucked into an early dinner. I managed to find the famous hot cinnamon doughnut van on the way home and it was the perfect end to our little ski trip.

- K x

Tokyo

Day 1:

Waking up feeling a bit under the weather didn't dampen our spirits as Doug and I embarked on an unforgettable journey through the streets of Tokyo. After catching up on some much-needed rest, we ventured to Omoide Yokocho, better known as Piss Alley due to all of the bars and tiny hole in the wall eateries. We sampled many delights, some well known, some foregin but still exciting (whale?) and some that we thought we knew... but defintiely didn't (a very suspicious chicken). 

The highlight of the day? Mario Karting! Zooming across Rainbow Bridge and circling Tokyo Tower felt like stepping into a real-life video game, with Doug by my side as my co-pilot. The adrenaline rush was palpable as we navigated the bustling streets, laughing and cheering each other on throughout the exhilarating adventure.

Day 2:

Day two was packed with excitement as Doug and I delved into the heart of Tokyo's bustling districts. Starting off with a visit to Gigo 1 in Akihabara, we were both mesmerized by the endless array of tech gadgets and anime merchandise. The allure of the pokies added an extra thrill to our exploration, making it a truly unforgettable experience - although no wins on either of our parts.

Next up, we embarked on a high-tech sushi train adventure, ordering anything we wanted on an iPad watching our sushi whizz past us almost instantaneously! 

We then strolled through the eclectic streets of Harajuku (no Harajuku Girls) on our way a shrine where we received our fortunes.

When in Japan, eat as the Japanese do... so dinner was at Pizza Mauro - okay not strictlyJapanese but some of the most amazing pizza either of us has ever had. 

The night ended with a stroll through Kabukicho, where we said goodnight to Godzilla. 

Day 3:

Day three promised more enchanting experiences as Doug and I set out to explore Tokyo once again. Our first stop was Team Labs, where we were both immersed in digital flowers, running water and light rooms - all in the name of art!.  

Another sushi train lunch (I loved it so much the first time) fueled our excitement for the next adventure: attending a sumo wrestling tournament. The atmosphere was electric as we watched the mighty wrestlers clash in the ring, cheering on our favorites with enthusiasm - we even placed a few bets between us - but it was almost impossible to tell who would win!

I can't believe Tokyo, and our mammoth trip is at an end... did it satisfy our desire to see the world? Yes. But it has also sparked a monster and now all we want to do is travel again!!

7 weeks
13 countries
23 flights
74,291kms

Until next time,

- K x

The Happiest Place on Earth - Japanese Edition

Day 1: DisneySea Delights

 

Our adventure at DisneySea kicked off with a whirlwind of excitement as we embarked on a quest to conquer every ride on offer. We got in early due to our hotel privillages meaning we had access to some of the rides half an hour before the public!

 Here's the lowdown on our thrilling escapades, complete with our verdicts out of 10:

•           Journey to the Center of the Earth:8/10
•           Indiana Jones: 7.75/10 – so fun that we decided to watch the movie that afternoon!!
•           Raging Rapids: 8.25/10. We loved it so much, we had to do it twice... in a row! 
•           Sinbad's Adventure: 5.5/10 
•           20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: 6/10 
•           Aquatopia: 6.5/10 
•          Tower of Terror: 9/10 – my first tower of terror experience...and dare I say, I loved it!!
•           Fortress Experience: 2.5/10 
•       Mickey's Big Band Beat: 6/10  
•         Nemos Underwater Adventure: 7/10 
•          Soaring Fantastic Flight: 7.75/10 

 

The night was topped off by an amazing fireworks display over the park - a pretty magical day.

 

Day 2: Disneyland Adventures

After a heart-pounding 25 minute sprint to Disneyland, courtesy of Tokyo's cashless transport system, we almost missed our half hour head start but we were ready to dive headfirst into another day of Disney magic.

• Space Mountain: 8/10 
• Big Thunder Mountain: 7.5/10 
• Splash Mountain: 7/10 
• Cinderella's Great Hall: 6/10
• Monsters Inc.: 6.75/10 
• Pirates of the Caribbean: 6.75/10 
•  Star Wars: 5/10 
• Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters: 6.5/10 
• Pinocchio: 3/10 
•  Snow White: 4.25/10 

And there you have it – our whirlwind tour of Disneyland, complete with thrills, spills, and plenty of Disney magic!

 - K x