Adventures Down Under Part 6 - Cairns

Tropical Cairns is the gateway to the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling on the Reef was truly a highlight of our entire trip; once you take the 90-minute boat ride from Cairns harbour, there is an unbelievable amount of beauty and diversity just below the water's surface. We loved swimming along the edge of a steep coral ridge and seeing giant clamshells that looked straight out of "The Little Mermaid." We also visited nearby Kurranda, a funky little rainforest town where we got to ride a skycar over the canopy and an old-time scenic railway (with "gold-class" upgrade that included open bar and snacks--yay), and hubby hugged a koala who refused to let go. I didn't really blame her.

Adventures Down Under Part 5 - Sydney

Sexy Sydney's dramatic waterfront vistas at Circular Quay, Manly and Bondi Beach are breathtaking, and the iconic Opera House does not disappoint. The city is chic, gorgeous, and expensive. We had delicious meals at Rockpool Bar & Grill (sister restaurant to the famous Rockpool at Circular Quay, the Bar & Grill has an art deco vibe, impressive selection of Scotches, and Spanish-influenced menu) and Iceberg's on Bondi (best view in town--go for lunch so you can see it). We also loved dining al fresco at the many waterfront restaurants on Circular Quay and at Moo, a fantastic burger joint in Manly. There are a number of public gardens to enjoy, and a cheap ferry ride gets you the best view in town.

Adventures Down Under Part 4 - On the Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road winds along Australia's southern coast, passing through little surfing hamlets and temperate rainforests and hugging spectacular limestone cliffs. It was inspired by California's Pacific Coast Highway and is truly one of Australia's most awe-inspiring sights.

Adventures Down Under Part 3 - Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia's amazing "second city," unfortunately off the beaten track for many American tourists who come to see Sydney, the Rock (Uluru), and the Reef. Although it lacks a recognizable landmark like the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne's charms lie in its fantastic food and shopping. The Crown Complex, on the south bank of the Yarra river, is reminiscent of the Las Vegas strip, with a casino, high-end shops, and fine dining. We enjoyed a delicious, non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner at Le Bistro Guillaume, owned by one of Australia's most famous chefs. Chinatown and Greektown (Melbourne boasts more Greeks than any city outside of Athens) are not to be missed, and the legend of Ned Kelly permeates the city.

Kodachrome Gyspy Book Club - Best Reads of 2011

It's already March and I am finally getting around to posting my favorite books from 2011. Fortunately, these are worth the wait. Interestingly, all happen to be non-fiction this year. I really am getting old.

Cleopatra: A Life (Schiff). A captivating account of one of history's most legendary figures that debunks many of the myths surrounding Cleopatra's life. She was not, for instance, a beautiful, gold-digging temptress. She herself was the richest person in the world and was probably not a great beauty (the only authentic portrait of Cleopatra is from the gold coinage that was in circulation during her reign). She was a shrewd negotiator, political operator, and military strategist who controlled currencies, suppressed insurrections, forged alliances and defied her adversaries. Excellent writing and detailed research makes for a fascinating read. Cleopatra certainly earned her chops as my childhood heroine by the time I finished this book!

Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef (Hamilton). Wonderfully well-written personal history by Gabrielle Hamilton, chef/owner of Prune in NYC and recipient of the 2011 James Beard award for best chef in NYC. Hamilton is certainly a reluctant chef, having no formal training and even leaving the culinary world to pursue a creative writing degree, only to eventually return. She has strong ideas about everything from food to family to sexuality and her intense passion comes through in her writing. Some of the best moments in this book are when Hamilton describes the essence of nourishment.

My Korean Deli: Risking it all for a Convenience Store (Howe). Another first-person narrative, this time about a man from Plymouth, MA who marries into a Korean family. In between his day job as a literary editor at The Paris Review, Ben and his corporate lawyer wife buy a convenience store in Brooklyn for his mother-in-law to run. The double-decker culture clash (Ben vs. his Korean in-laws; the family vs. the convenience store clientele) makes for some amusing anecdotes. Inspiring reading for anyone who feels overextended.

Bossypants (Fey). Uproariously funny autobiography by Tina Fey, star of TV's 30 Rock. Fey tells the story of how she got her start in show business and offers other hilarious thoughts on life. I also loved her insider's take on other stars like Amy Poehler, Alec Baldwin, and unnamed, high-maintenance hosts of SNL over the years. Her insights on how funny women are perceived in the entertainment industry were particularly thought-provoking.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) (Kaling). Somewhat similar to Bossypants, in that the book is hilarious and the author is a female comedy writer on a hit TV show, this time Mindy Kaling from The Office. But this book is more of a collection of essays about a variety of topics, as opposed to a true autobiography. Kaling is very relatable and this is a fun, honest, self-deprecating take on working in comedy, romance, friendship, childhood, and other concerns.

Adventures Down Under Part 2 - Wildlife

As we traveled throughout eastern Australia, from Cairns in far north Queensland to Melbourne in the south, we encountered many fascinating, exotic--and sometimes dangerous--creatures. Hubby enjoyed interacting with some of them, including feeding kangaroos and wallabies, hugging a koala, and letting brightly colored parakeets land on his head. I preferred to remain safely behind my camera lens at all times.

Adventures Down Under Part 1 - Canberra

Hubby and I jumped at the opportunity to spend two months in Australia in late 2011, and the trip was a fantastic adventure. We were based in Canberra, the sleepy capital city, and toured the country on the weekends.

Although Canberra can't compare to the gleaming metropolis of Sydney or the foodie haven of Melbourne, it certainly had its charms. The Tidbinbilla nature preserve within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is home to kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, cockatoos, and even duck-billed platypuses. The beautiful and moving Australian War Memorial overlooks Lake Burley Griffin and, along with Parliament House, is one of Canberra's signature landmarks. We had some fun meals (and didn't go thirsty either) at Mecca Bah and Urban Pantry in Manuka, Italian & Sons downtown, and Poachers Pantry out in the wilds of ACT.