A Day Trip to Yarra Valley - Innocent Bystander, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, and Yering Station

Can you believe it? I've lived in Melbourne for the past 8.5 years but I've never been to Yarra Valley up until last weekend.

I am embarrassed to admit it considering how close Yarra Valley is to the CBD, but I guess better late than never?

The Boyfriend and I took a short drive down to Yarra Valley and headed straight to Healesville for lunch at the popular Innocent Bystander Restaurant of which I made sure to book a day prior.

We kick started with these beautiful drinks. The Boyfriend had the Moscato & Sipsmith Summer Cocktail ($11) and I, on the other hand, chose the Moscato Granita ($11).

Both the drinks were brilliant! My Moscato Granita was sweet (but not overwhelmingly so) and very refreshing. I also had a sip of The Boyfriend's cocktail and I like how thirst-quenching it was.

To say that I love Innocent Bystander's pink moscato would be an understatement. Even though I've never been to the Yarra Valley, I've had the moscato a few times before and absolutely adore it.

We bought two big bottles home and I can't wait to open them! I may not a big wine drinker, but I do love my moscato and dessert wines. ;)

I've also heard a lot about Innocent Bystander's wood fire pizzas, so The Boyfriend and I decided we'd order one to share.

We opted for the spicy pork sausage, buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomato and chilli on organic sourdough base ($24).

It was divine; the base was thin, and the pizza although full of flavour, wasn't too heavy. If you're a big eater, you could easily finish one whole pizza by yourself.

My only complaint would be the lack of buffalo mozzarella. It would have been perfect with just an extra dollop or two of the cheese.

Three slices of pizza later, I was filled up, but The Boyfriend wanted more so we ordered the truffle and parmesan frites to share.

It was fantastic, yes, but I thought $11 was a lot to pay for a bowl of French fries. Plus, I found the fries a tad too salty for my liking.

The Boyfriend on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed it. I guess if you love your fries, then this is a must-order.

To wrap up, we ordered a canelé ($4) to share. It was my first time trying a canelé and I absolutely LOVED it! I really like how soft and custard-like the inside of the pastry is.

Paired with a thick and dark caramelized crust, I now finally understand why others rave about this little gem. It was also The Boyfriend's first try, and I could tell he was very impressed. ;)

Just as we were walking out the door, I spotted their bread stand and could not resist the organic sourdough loaf.

The Boyfriend and I bought a loaf home for dinner, and he claims it to be one of the best. That's a big claim considering how much he loves his sourdough. One day I will learn to make it for him, so he gets a loaf each week. I should get cracking on my starter soon! ;)

All in all, we both had a great experience at Innocent Bystander. Food and drinks were both great, and the wait staff were also very attentive and friendly. We'll definitely be back to try the other items off their menu. I promise it won't be another 8 years before I visit again. ;)

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Next stop after lunch was a short 15 minutes drive over to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. As its name suggest, there were a HUGE variety of chocolate, desserts and ice cream available to have in-store and to take-away.

It was a lot of fun seeing how chocolate was made, and just to see how much one can do with chocolate.

The Boyfriend and I were like kids (we're after all pretty young at heart) as we stood watching bars of chocolates going through their final chocolate coating as they travel along on a long conveyor belt at 8°C before emerging on the other end, all ready to be packaged.

There were also big, gigantic bowls of dark, white and chocolate chocolates to sample. But as I was immersed in all the chocolate, imagining myself in Willy Wonka's world, I've conveniently forgotten to take any other pictures of the chocolaterie.

The Boyfriend and I were still full from lunch, but thought we should at the very least try the ice cream.

We opted for the praline milk chocolate flavour to share and boy, it was one of the biggest scoop of ice cream we've ever been served, but divine, creamy goodness nonetheless.

A group of old ladies about 70-ish in age, were going all "OHHHH MY LORDDDD!!!" at how massive each scoop was. One of them said it at least 10 times and it was very cute of them - bless their little heart.

Before we left, The Boyfriend also bought me some premium hand-crafted truffles to take home. I love how pretty each individual chocolate looks and the packaging is really beautiful too.

I chose (clockwise from top) the macadamia, strawberry, mango, hazelnut, raspberry sweetheart and apple cider. I've yet to try them yet, but I will dig into them tonight. ;)

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Before we headed home, we made it a point to stop by Yering Station Winery on our way as I remember seeing how beautiful the winery looks in pictures.

I wanted to do a bit of wine tasting, but there were way too many people in queue, so I didn't get a chance. Although I didn't manage to do any wine tasting, I'm glad we stopped by anyway.

Yering Station is beautiful - the view from the restaurant in particular was stunning. I am hoping to return one day to dine here *wink wink at The Boyfriend* hehehe.

We took a slow stroll around the art gallery, digesting that massive ice cream and taking a couple of pictures along the way before we headed back home.

A big thank you to The Boyfriend for taking me on this short day trip - it was loads of fun! We should get out of town a little more often. ;)

As for you, my fellow readers, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. And if you haven't already been to Yarra Valley, I urge that you plan a visit soon. Maybe this weekend? The weather's looking pretty good with a top of 26°C. ;)

If you're keen on visiting the Yarra Valley, check out Wine Compass for private tours that can be tailored to suit you. Mention 'TheBakeanista' when you enquire with Wine Compass and if you book, they will buy you a bottle of wine of your choice (up to $40) on the day of your tour. :)

Where to eat in Klang? - Part 1

I don't remember if I've ever mentioned that I grew up in Klang, the royal city and former capital of state of Selangor, Malaysia... Or the city known to many as the Land of Bah Kut Teh.

When people hear that I come from Klang, the first question that I often get asked is: "Where can I get the best bah kut teh?"

Well, I think most bah kut teh's in Klang are good. But they do differ from recipe to recipe as some has stronger herbal taste than others.

As the broth at each shop taste slightly different to one another, I can't tell you which is "best" as it all boils down to personal preference.

But what I can tell you is that there are more to Klang than just bah kut teh. So today I bring to you 10 of my favourite places to go to for good eats in Klang. ;) They are in no particular order, as I like them all equally as much. Alrighty, here goes!

1) Restoran Siow Tiow (or known to locals as the Klang Hilton)
No.58, Lorong Gopeng, Off Jalan Goh Hock Huat, 41400 Klang

Image Credit: Tracy Tan 

Siow Tiow is a well-known restaurant in Klang, which has been dubbed as the "Klang Hilton". But no, it's not a hotel, and please do not expect fine dining presentation/environment etc.

It's an old kopitiam-like restaurant, but I appreciate that the shop is air-conditioned and clean. The reason why it has been labelled as Klang Hilton is the sky high price that you have to fork out, in return for fresh, tasty, amazing, fabulous, delicious... (you get the gist)... food!

So, what's good here, you ask?

Their steamed pomfret with garlic sauce. Oh, the sauceeeeee! So garlicky, but OH-SO-GOOD! No doubt it leaves you with bad breath, but a very happy and satisfied tummy. ;)

I highly recommend that when placing the order, you request for "extra garlic sauce by the side". Yes, even if you're not too big on garlic, this sauce will convert you. This is the only garlic sauce I eat.

Then order their fried meehoon as well, and slam on a generous amount of the garlic sauce.... Oh, the best combination that will definitely keep the vampires away for a good while! ;)

Their steamed prawns with rice wine is also really fresh and delicious. But I have to admit this isn't one of my favourite dishes.

For me, the must orders at Siow Tiow would be the steamed fish, fried kuey teow, fish maw and oyster omelette. Trust me, you and your dining partners will be very very impressed. ;)

2) Peng Heong Hakka Paikut Restaurant
No. 2, Lorong Gudang Nanas 1, Off Jalan Pasar, 41400 Klang

Image Credit: Hungry Go Where

Peng Heong Hakka Paikut restaurant used to operate by the roadside, near the Klang bus terminal with a small stall and several tables, where the drains are visible and rare sights of unhygienic animals/insects sometimes put you off from returning.

But I am glad to report that they have since moved to a comfortable, clean and opened-air shop off Jalan Pasar.

As the shop's name suggest, Peng Heong is popular for their pai-kut (which translates to pork spare ribs) rice. The owner, Mr. Yong, has apparently been crowned the 排骨大王 (King of Spare Ribs).

Although I am unclear as to whether it was a self-proclaimed title, but I definitely wouldn't deny that their spare ribs are really good - in fact, these are the best I've had. And probably the only place that I know of that specializes in Hakka pork ribs.

The meat so succulent and tender, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture to boot. The spare ribs, packed with flavours, is perfect with a bowl of steaming hot rice.

As pictured above, the spare ribs come served with a family secret sauce, that often goes right into my rice. I love how the sauce is salty, yet has a hint of sweetness to it.

Their Hakka meatballs fried to a crisp perfection, and the assam fish (not pictured) are also really delicious too and compliments the spare ribs well.

What I also love about Peng Heong, is the affordable price despite its popularity, ranging about RM10-15 per person - cheap and delicious! ;)

3) Melawis Fried Kuey Teow
Jalan Lintang Gangsa, Taman Melawis, 41100 Klang

Image Credit: Messy Witchen

One of the best black char kuey teow you can find in Klang. I've been eating this since I was young, and absolutely love it.

This fried black kuey teow, whilst taste nothing like the kind of char kuey teow you'd get in Penang, is very unique in taste.

It has a good amount of wok hei, and is very very tasty. I think the addition of chu-yao-zar (pork lard crackling) contributes a fair amount of deliciousness heh! ;)

The uncle who mans the place is 70+ years old now, and according to my Mum, he has been frying kuey teow (rice noodles) for over 40-50 odd years now.

One day when Mummy and I were sitting down, enjoying our fried kuey teow, I asked her if she knew whether or not he has children. "Why so busybody?" she smirked back at me.

"Because I want to know if someone is going to take over the uncle's business one day!" I replied. I hope he has plans on who to pass on this amazing recipe to. I want to be able to eat this fried kuey teow with yellow noodles every time I am home.

4) Fatty Mee Hoon Kuih House
No. 19, Lebuh Bangau, Taman Berkeley, Klang

Image Credit: Chowhound

Mee Hoon Kuih is one of my favourite comfort food... it is one dish I've grown up eating. And no place does mee hoon kuih any better than Fatty MHK House does.

Fatty MHK House is a family business, and it opens from 10am to 10pm daily. The mee hoon kuih is always tasty regardless if it's the Mom (morning), Son (afternoon) or Daughter (night) standing behind the stove, manning and cooking bowls after bowls of mee hoon kuih.

Image Credit: The New Edge

The broth is light, naturally sweet and tasty; and the mee hoon kuih (ie. hand-peeled noodles) always has the right thickness and smooth texture. In other words, the noodles were always 'al dente'.

P/S: Although I've been to Fatty countless times now, I can't seem to find a picture that I've taken of the noodles. #failedblogger So I had to make do with a borrowed one.

But let me warn you, the queue and wait for this delicious noodles, can be quite long. Try to avoid lunch hour, and head down at odd hours like at 10.30am or 3-4pm.

5) Funa Zushi Japanese Restaurant 

Unit G-01, Garden Business Centre, No 3, Jalan Istana, Klang

Funa Zushi. My favourite go-to sushi place when I am back home. I swear, they're one of the best (if not the best) Japanese restaurants in Klang! I've been frequenting this place ever since it was opened, and I still do these days.

There are usually a variety of sushi you can pick up from the cute sushi train that comes around, or if the items you want aren't on the train, you can easily place an order and have the sushi made fresh for you.

And if you're a big fan of soft shell crab, I highly recommend you pay them a visit. Here's why:

A whole plate of soft shell crab sushi with various toppings!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ They have the BEST soft shell crab sushi.

Although I love them all, the Klang Maki (pictured above, right in the front) has got to be my favourite amongst the lot! Crispy soft shell crab, rolled in delicious sushi rice, then topped with avocado, mayo and tobiko. YUM!

Even the sushi sitting right behind, that's delicious too. Similar to the Klang Maki, except with a different topping (ie. avocado replaced with mango). I know mango and soft shell crab sounds weird together, but you'll be blown away by the flavour combination.

You are allowed to go crazy, and order a whole plate of soft shell crab sushi rolls with various toppings like I did. The ones with seared beef and eel with cheese were also AMAZEBALLS!

Or go for the usual nigiri sushi with your choice of fish. Of course, Funa Zushi also offers bento boxes, and main dishes.

On days when I can stomach that little bit extra, I'd opt for their garlic or salmon fried rice. Japanese fried rice seriously, hands down, beats any other kind of fried rice I've ever had.

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Alrighty, with this post getting a little too long, I figure maybe it's best if I break it down into two posts. Part two coming up soon!

I hope this post has somehow or rather managed to inspire you to head over to Klang, my haven of good eats! ;) Till the next time, folks!

Reefsleep at the Great Barrier Reef

As promised, here's the post on my reefsleep experience at the Great Barrier Reef during my romantic getaway to Hamilton Island with my boyfriend, of which I blogged about last week.

The Reefsleep was a truly remarkable experience. Both the Boyfriend and I had such a good time - it was the key highlight of our trip.

I'd say it is sort of a 'once in a lifetime' thing which you will probably never do again. Or at least for us, we think once is enough.

Although I have to admit that it is slightly pricey at approximately $400 per person, it was so worth it.

And if you have the Entertainment Book, you're entitled to a 25% discount, which saves you quite a bit so yeah, you might want to consider getting the Entertainment Book before heading up! ;)

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When we were queuing up to board the Fantasea Sunrise, our host, Nina called out to "Michelle" and came over to introduce herself.

She then proceeded to take us through a VIP short-cut and we were the lucky first to board the ferry among the group. Yay! :D

"So... Leon and Michelle, are you guys together?" Nina asked.

"Yeap yeap," we answered as we simultaneously nodded our head.

"Oh, great! Good news guys, we haven't got anyone booked in the King room so we're giving you a free upgrade - can get some cuddles at night," she added cheekily.

Free upgrade?!! Double whoopie yayyyyyy!!! :D

We were initially booked in for the bunk room which could fit 4, only because it was more affordable. If memory serves me right, I think it would cost $600 per person (or possibly even more) for the King room.

Of course I did consider the chance of another couple booking in for the bunk room and the awkwardness of sleeping with the company of two other strangers... But guess I was lucky! :D

It wasn't long before we departed Hamilton Island for the Great Barrier Reef on the Fantasea Sunrise cruise.

After 2 hours of seasick, we finally arrived at the pontoon located just by the reef. As soon as the ferry anchored down, I hopped straight off with a spinning head and Nina ushered us to our room.

I was a tad concerned about getting motion sickness on the pontoon itself, but it is surprisingly calm. I guess it's fine as there is plenty of room to move around and Nina also did mention that the pontoon is securely moored.

Whilst everyone else who were there with us that afternoon changed in the public change room and left their belongings just sitting around as they jumped into the water for a swim, we had the luxury to change in our own room and store our bags in a locked wardrobe. Paranoia issue resolved!

Also, I am not big on public toilets, in fact I have to admit, I am quite fussy. As the Boyfriend labels me "the Princess" or "clean freak"... Hygiene is really important to me - toilet hygiene in particular - so I really appreciate having access to my own private toilet too. :)

We opted for the package which includes also a scuba dive introductory course and a guided snorkelling tour with reef interpreter for an additional fee of $80 per person.

And there, I finally went scuba diving and yes, I found Nemo! :D :D

Yay, that's one thing slashed off my bucket list. :D The Boyfriend and I really enjoyed the introductory course and are planning to get licensed, sometime soon.

I was rather worried as I'm not a good swimmer, but you know what, the instructors take pretty good care of you and I also had the Boyfriend who looked out for me throughout the dive. ♥

Y'know, I thought I was a lousy swimmer, but some other guys there were even worse than I am... *giggles* and well, we all still did it!!

So my point is, if you're thinking of giving scuba diving a go but worried/scared like I was before, rest assured, you don't really need to know how to swim. So long as you can kick your legs, all's fine. :P

However, if diving is not your thing, you can opt to go for a snorkel or take the submarine ride at no extra cost.

All snorkeling equipment including individually sealed snorkel mouthpieces are provided to everybody.

The wet suits are needless to say, rather wet and I was going all icky-yucky when I first put them on, but you know what? You feel better after you get into the water. ;)

After working up an appetite from the dive and snorkel, we were served some prepared barbecue for lunch.

Let me assure you, you'll be very well fed during the reef sleep as each day also includes a buffet lunch, morning and afternoon tea.

The day trippers departed by 2.30pm and we were left there, just the two of us, at the pontoon with our host and the reef care takers. :)

We had unlimited snorkeling, unlimited water slide opportunities... all to ourselves. Yeap, that's right, the whole pontoon and reef! ;)

The Boyfriend and I spent the whole arvo snorkelling out, and we didn't realise that we went a little too far out. We had the care takers yell out to us to "COME BACK!" Oppsie!

I was told later in the day that, if we were to swim a tad bit further, we would have crossed the safety line and the ocean would have swallowed us in. *gasps*

The Boyfriend and I took turns for a quick shower, and spent the remaining afternoon just chatting and basking in the sun.

If you know me well enough, you'll know that I'm one who tries to avoid the sun where possible. So, it is actually very unlike me to sunbathe, but guess what, I surprisingly really enjoyed it!

Oh, did I also forget to mention that we had access to the ice cream freezer all day long? I had a Golden Gaytime and a Cornetto! :P

Then came 4.30pm, Nina escorted us up to the viewing deck where she had very nicely set up some champagne and a cheese platter for us. The service was really top class, I'd say!

Yums! The boyfriend and I had since fell in love with salami + apricot cheese on cracker and have actually just gotten some to snack on over the weekend. ;)

The Boyfriend and I had a toast to life, as we watched the sun slowly set beneath the horizon. At that point in time, I thought to myself, "life cannot get any better" and I was so grateful... for everything! From meeting Leon in the oddest coincidence, to being able to go on the trip and enjoying all these memorable experiences with him. :')

It was so mesmerizing - and I have to say, my pictures do not do the view and the reef enough justice. It is something you need to experience for yourself.

After the sun has gone to sleep, the sky was in pretty shades of my favourite pastel colours over the turquoise sea water.

We had a simple 3 course alfresco dinner all set up in the underwater viewing chamber where the fishes, George the grouper and his companions, put up a good show throughout dinner.

Entree (not pictured): Lamb cutlets; Pumpkin soup

Main: Salmon fillet; Scotch Fillet steak 

Desserts: Sticky date pudding; Chocolate mud cake

Dinner wasn't sublime - I mean it is not a 3 chef hat restaurant and we need to also take into consideration that they did not hire a chef specifically to stay on board the pontoon.

The person who cooked this was trained to either mind the reef, scuba dive, or whatever it may be... but cooking wasn't their forte, and I understood that.

But as you can see above, presentation was lovely, all the dishes were freshly prepared and served warm. As much as I am a food snob, this meal was good enough to keep my tummy filled. :)

After dinner, we popped up to the viewing deck and oh boy, the pitch black sky was filled with glittery stars and it was absolutely stunning... we couldn't stay for long though, it was extremely windy that night and we were both freezing cold!

Needless to say, we were exhausted from all the swimming we did that day, and I fell asleep in the Boyfriend's embrace, whilst listening to the sounds of the water in the quiet stillness of the reef.

After a good night rest, we woke up to brekkie nicely prepared for us. Breakfast in the morning sun, as the sea breeze caress your hair... what more can we ask for?

We had the option of either cold or hot brekkie, and we decided to go for both. The Boyfriend opted for cold and he was served with a selection of cereals, some toast with jam spreads of your choice and a platter of fruits.

I couldn't go past the idea of scrambled eggs and bacons! But of course being the porker that he is, the Boyfriend had to dig into my bacon, of which I very generously shared. :P

The next batch of day trippers arrived on the dot at 11am, and we watched as the staffs repeated their daily routine all over again.

Before we boarded the cruise that ferried us back to Hamilton Island, the Boyfriend and I both popped a travel pill (whatver you call that, as long as it works) and we were completely fine on our way back. Phew!

The Reefsleep experience was a truly unique one - our host was exceptional, service was tip top and most importantly, having the place all to ourselves was simply remarkable.

The introductory dive was a really good experience too and what can I say really... I'd highly recommend the Reefsleep to anyone and everyone who is heading up to Hamilton Island.

Exclusive accommodation with only the stars and marine life as your neighbours. The only experience of its kind in Australia - what could be more perfect? ;)

I've enjoyed every trip I've been on with the love of my life (pictured above, haha I'm so funny!) including this memorable getaway! So, thank you, my dear for everything. You're the best! ♥

Hamilton Island :)

The Boyfriend and I flew away on a short getaway to Hamilton Island in mid-June (yeah, very behind my blog posts)... it was a very much needed break to escape the cold wintry Melbourne weather.

I can't believe I'm actually saying this but heck, I miss the sun!! And boy oh boy, waking up to this view below every morning was simply PERFECT..

We stayed at the Reef View Hotel, overlooking the Catseye Beach and were lucky enough to have gotten a 50% discount off with the Entertainment Book. 

Looking back at the pictures as I pull this post together makes me miss Hamilton Island. How I wish if only we could go on yet another getaway. We had such a good time there together. :)

We went for a short 5 days 4 nights trip, where we spent 2 days and 1 night out at the great barrier reef itself. It truly was a stunning and memorable experience - so much so that I've decided to dedicate a post to share my Reefsleep experience.

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There are several restaurants and cafes to dine at Hamilton Island, ranging from casual dining, a tavern to even fine dining. We didn't get to try that many places, but I've still got a few to share if you're planning to head up to sunny Queensland.

Being the cheapo Asian that I am, I brought over some bread loaves and instant noodles to fill our tummies on days when we feel too lazy to head out to eat. Seriously, I was happy just sitting out on our balcony in the sun. Very unlike me, I know.

Our first stop when we arrived with a grumbling tummy was at the Manta Ray Cafe. The Boyfriend and I shared the half-half pizza - half Meatlovers and half Brunch.

The pizzas weren't that fantastic, and there is nothing to shout about really. Edible, but not wow, if you know what I mean.

What I really loved about The Manta Ray Cafe though, was its location at the Marina, overlooking the Yacht Club. Nah, can't say no to a view like that, can you?

And of course, we did indulge in that holiday must-do fish & chips by the sea. We had the Fisherman's Basket from Popeye's Takeaway that consisted of scallops, prawns, squid and fish and chips.

It was considerably cheap, filling, and good... and my only complaint was the long wait. There was quite a queue when we arrived and it took them quite a while to prepare for our meal.

There aren't that many tables and seats available in store, but luckily we managed to secure a bench by the sea where a parade of cockatoos look on. They were so bold, and not a tad bit afraid of us - they just stood there staring at you and your food. 

We headed to the Steakhouse on our second night after we spent the whole morning snorkelling and working up an appetite.

The boyfriend had the scotch fillet whereas I, on the other hand, had the rib eye. Our steaks were served with a jacket potato, topped with sour cream and bacon. You also get to pick a sauce of your choice to go with the steak.

Verdict? I'd say it was unexpectedly yummeh... the meat was juicy and tender just the way I like my medium rare steak done - which explains why there was a long queue every night we walked past.

Steakhouse did a fantastic job... but the standard isn't high enough to meet the wow factor.

It is important to note though that ever since we tried the steak at the The Barn on Mount Gambier, we've set that as our benchmark, and so far nothing can beat our awesome experience as yet. 

The Boyfriend booked a table at the Mariners Restaurant on our last night which was absolutely divine.

I was so tempted to go for the hot & cold seafood platter, but the hefty price tag of $200 put me off... and boy am I glad we ordered ala carte.

The Boyfriend had the Seafood Tagliatelle which he scoffed down in no time. I asked if he liked it and he said something along the lines of "yeah it's good, but I prefer yours". 

Well because my whole baby baramundi was perfect! Nuff' said. 

To end the night, we shared a chocolate and macadamia brownie served with chocolate fudge and blackberry sorbet. It was no doubt a rich dessert, but all of the elements went really well together.

It was incredibly DEE-LEE-CIOUSSS! All in all, a perfect dinner to wrap up our trip. 

We couldn't ask for more... T'was a really, really good, relaxing trip and we were blessed with perfect sunny weather all week long. I had the time of my life indeed. (:

Thank you, Hamilton Island - you were what we needed most - a perfect getaway. But most importantly though, credit goes to the Boyfriend for company was best. ♥

I am already looking forward to our next holiday. I don't know where we'll go next... but I'm hoping that it'll be either Europe or Japan.

Next post on reefsleep coming up! Till then folks.

*UPDATE* Read my post on our amazing Reefsleep experience at the Great Barrier Reef, yes on the reef itself, well not literally, if you know what I mean.