Welcome back! I’ve just concluded my third week down under, and I can’t believe how fast time passes. here This week was packed with adventure, but in hindsight, it was a foodie-friendly one where I also took time to slow down and appreciate Australia’s culture and beauty.

Foodie Adventures 

I have to be honest, Australia has fantastic food. The best sourdough bread I’ve ever had is casually sold at the supermarket. There are so many gems that you won’t be disappointed with the food everywhere you go. On Tuesday, we went to a restaurant Ariana discovered from TikTok offering a pasta and wine pairing for just 19 AUD! While the special is for only one pasta they choose each week, I was pleasantly surprised, which would be an understatement. The pasta we got to have was a lamb ragu with gnocchi. I didn’t think I liked lamb, but I was mistaken. It was tender and melted in my mouth, and it was terrific. I tried an Australian rosé, the server’s favorite, and appreciated that it was locally produced. As an appetizer, we all split sourdough bread with pistachio honey butter, and wow! I could have been happy from the bread and butter alone. We already have our reservation booked for the following pasta special night. Another thing that stood out beyond the food was the atmosphere that the restaurant created. The music was futuristic jazz that created the perfect ambiance for conversation and enjoying delicious food. Wednesday was Chinese Lunar New Year, so from class a few of us casually walked to China town to enjoy some authentic food that was life changing. My dumplings were delicious and my chopstick game is coming along. On Saturday, we spent the afternoon at Tamarama Beach and returned to a restaurant in Bondi that we had been to the week prior. I love pasta and got the special penne alla vodka with chili and cream. That was the hottest pasta (as in spicy) I’ve ever eaten, and I could barely feel my mouth. I can recognize a great vodka pasta, and this one was exceptional. Sunday was an all-day Manly Beach day- my new favorite beach! Ariana and I went to Norma’s for lunch, and they made their own focaccia bread. Before lunch, I wasn’t too familiar with focaccia, but now I’m a convert. We both got the classic prosciutto sandwich, and the pear jam slightly spread across the bread was chef’s kiss. It was so fresh with the arugula that it was the perfect pick-me-up before spending the day bouncing between the sun and the shade. For dinner, I had some fish tacos, which were light and simple, but they hit after a long day. Dessert was quickly the best, next to Norma’s Ariana and I spotted, more like smelled, warm cookies from ButterBoy. By the time we arrived, they had sold out all the cookies, but about 15 minutes later, a fresh batch came out. I got the Nutella cookie, and nothing with Nutella could be bad, but this was exceptional. So, to say that I’m eating well is an understatement. The Aussie life is the good life.  

Paddington Markets 

I had been waiting at least a week to visit the Paddington Markets. Even though I’m not a big shopper, I love to see what local entrepreneurs are selling and how it differentiates from the offerings at home. Ariana, Jackson, Lauren, Maddie, Sienna, and Stella were all committed to going to the markets. So we checked Google Maps to see what bus to take, and we took our usual 440 bus that we take to class. Sienna and I were both looking at our apps and riding along. It was all great when Maddie and Stella told me we should have gotten off at the last stop, which is what I thought. It turned out that there are two Paddington Markets! One that is only open on Saturdays and then the Paddy’s Markets Haymarket, which Sienna had plugged into her phone. We quickly got off at the next stop and had a brief 10-minute walk to the market—personally, I loved getting the extra steps. That “quick” walk turned into a longer one as we took several detours into shops. That was when the first “damage” took place, and I purchased The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden. It was my first thriller, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I think I’ll be looking for a different genre for my next book. Eventually, we arrived at the market, and it was very charming. All the vendors were so genuine and welcoming. Most of the vendors were selling jewelry, artwork, and trinkets. It was perfect for collecting souvenirs for my loved ones at home. I also came out of it with a new pair of earrings and a ring. I loved seeing all the handmade pieces and everyone interacting with the local community. I hope to make it to Paddy’s Markets Haymarket to compare the two experiences. 

Tamarama Beach: A Precautionary Tale  

After the Paddington Markets (or “Paddy Markets,” as we’ve nicknamed them), we went to Tamarama Beach. It is a smaller beach compared to Bondi, but just as lovely. It was late afternoon when we arrived, and it felt like a relatively private beach. The sun was peeking in and out of the clouds, but it was warm enough to lay out and read my new book. After about an hour or so, I got antsy and couldn’t keep lying in the sand. I decided to explore the area. First, I went away from the ocean towards the grassy areas, and there wasn’t much there besides a little cafe and the restrooms. So I quickly turned back and headed to the sea. The beach isn’t very long; Google says it’s 80 meters or roughly 263 feet. I stared into the endless ocean for several minutes and let the cold waves brush against my feet. Then, I walked the shoreline, which, if someone was watching me, looked more like I was pacing because it was so short. The coastline had several bluebottle jellyfish; Tamarama is infamous for them. After enough pacing, I explored these massive rocks, which many locals seemingly gravitated toward. With nothing but time, I let myself act like an explorer in an uncharted land.

I let go of what I knew and observed my surroundings. There were smaller pools of water that seemed ordinary at first glance, but I’d stand there just waiting to see what, if anything, would happen. Upon seeing my shadow cast overhead, I observed several tiny fish and how they would camouflage against the rocks. The little pools of life that existed were fascinating to observe. I love hunting for seashells, whether collecting them or just admiring them. I found this interesting one in the water, but being in Australia with crazy animals, I didn’t just put my hand into the water and touch it. I lightly moved it with my shoe, and I thought it was safe when nothing happened. So I put the shell down on the rock I was standing on, and a moment later, slowly, the shell had gotten taller. I’m sure a displeased snail found itself out of the water just ever so slowly. I felt terrible and knew I had to return it to where I had seen it. I couldn’t help but chuckle as I was now hesitant to grab the top of the shell because I knew there was a snail in there, whereas a moment ago, I did it so fearlessly when I thought it wasn’t inhabited. I kept walking, hopping onto rocks and taking in my surroundings. It felt almost childlike, as if I were an explorer with no expectations. At the end of the rocks, locals enjoyed a natural wave pool, sheltered from the larger waves. I wanted to go in, so I quickly returned to my group to see if anyone wanted to accompany me on the adventure. Sure enough, Ariana, Maddie, and Jackson were willing. So I took them on the journey, and Maddie went into the water with me. There was a lot of seaweed that had us both on edge, as it seemed to shift and take on eerie shapes in the water. After spending a short while in the water, we returned to the main beach area, and Maddie wanted to go into the ocean.

I agreed to accompany her, and we started pacing the short shoreline with the water going up to about our shins. We started discussing seashells, and I began to see if I could find any. As I walked through the water, I suddenly felt like a whip had snapped around my left ankle. And suddenly, I was yelling angrily because my ankle was stinging. So, while I never directly saw the infamous bluebottle jellyfish, it’s fair to say that I was stung by a jellyfish— talk about an Australian experience! It did sting and hurt, but luckily, it only lasted for about 20 minutes. The lifesaver advised me to apply ice or hot water to it, and fresh water immediately eased the sting. My precautionary tale isn’t to go into the water but remember that you’re not the only one there, and bluebottle jellyfish show no mercy. 

I look forward to next week’s blog. We’re headed to Melbourne this weekend, and I have no doubt there will be more stories to share.

Cheers!

-Alexa