May 2023 – On The Road

THE secret TO finding YOUR photography VISION

May 30,2023 Leave a comment

finding your photography vision isn’t just about improving your technical skills; it’s about finding your sense of why you’re taking the photo. On a photography course with the eminent Carla Coulson, Mrs romance shares the vision she’s discovered that’s taking her photography to the next level.

Brought to you by Olympus.

“Don’t show them how it looks, show them how it feels.”

This quote has been in my mind the whole time I’ve spent with at the amazing “Visionary” workshop with Carla Coulson in Puglia in the heel of Italy.

Every photographer has their own distinct vision. I spent six days exploring Puglia with a small group of fellow photographers; each day we went to the same locations but nobody took the same photos. even if we were standing next to each other, taking a look at the same scene, there was something different and distinct in everyone’s eye.

Even if you don’t think you’re creative, I’m telling you that you are.

Your story and your past will help you tell the stories that you see in front of you now. Your eye will be drawn into something different and that’s your distinct photography vision.

Finding your photography vision

Be brave

I can’t remember how I first come across Carla Coulson’s photography, but we bonded through our blogs and connected through social media. and after meeting her person, I knew that her photos share the true heart that she puts online as well.

When I saw that she was running a photography workshop in one of my all-time preferred countries, Italy, I really really wanted to go. It took a push from my friends Carly and Kate, and support from Jim for me to say yes.

Yes, to spending time on my creativity, yes to investing in my photography, and yes to opening up to new experiences and challenging myself.

The week in Puglia was everything I’d hoped for and more. I met the most beautiful group of people and was inspired every day. I learned things about myself and I’ve made new friends.

I know I’ll treasure this time and I want to share some of my insights on how you can find your photography vision too.

I’ve tried to capture it in this video below, but it’s so hard to encapsulate the feeling.

Finding your values, finding your photography vision

One of my most significant personal values is freedom. It’s why I do the job I do here with the blog at Mr & Mrs romance and I chose a life where freedom is so essential for me. I felt that this week of photography training was actually giving me consent to be totally free with my work.

I love that Carla wasn’t prescriptive about how to take a ideal photo. There is no one way to shoot and it’s about finding your distinct photography vision and style, and capturing the story that you want to tell.

That story could involve your feelings, the values that you have; do you see beauty? Do you see joy, suffering, family, love? any emotion can be captured in your vision and allow you to tell a real story through your photographs.

”Details in photos are like clues”

With my Olympus OMD EM 5 mark II video camera in hand, I set out to explore every day. I was up early shooting at first light and also experimenting at night with movement and slow shutter speeds.

As Carla says: “details in photos are like clues – a piece of the puzzle to inform better story telling. We can search for the ‘right’ words using different photographic techniques.”

Over the week we learned some techniques and all the photography guidelines and then how to break them. As Carla explains: “photography is a personal vision. It’s an individual way of taking a look at the world and capturing a photo that tells a story”.

Vision is what allows you to recognise a photographer’s work from a single photo and finding your personal vision takes time. I feel I’m just at the start of my journey but I know that my vision is about freedom, conversations and being near the water. These are the times I felt many alive when I was behind the camera.

It’s essential when you’re developing your vision to absorb as numerous inspirations as you can. and then to let your true inspirations come out as well.

Where does inspiration come from?

During the course, I found myself as inspired by my classmates as I was by the teachers. My classmates were such an amazing group of women to be surrounded by.

We inspired each other with our different individual stories. It released our own personal vision, which really allowed ourselves to be totally free and capture what we saw.

I know we’ve taken a little piece of Carla’s heart that she shared with us, and put our own heart out into the world as well. This might all sound a little “woowoo” because photography ought to be technical, right? but there’s so much much more to it.

But when you’re shooting with a great video camera (I love the Olympus cameras – even on auto) your vision is what you’re choosing to capture. and then when you’re ready, you can switch your video camera to full manual mode and put your own stamp on your pictures.

Let your style develop while you’re finding your photography vision

It’s interesting to see how my style developed during the week from being quite passive and just observing architectural details to really getting in close and telling my own story with the locals.

I can’t wait to bring these techniques and suggestions home to Sydney and get much more involved with the stories around me. I’m thrilled to see how my vision continues to develop.

Thank you Olympus for being by my side on this journey, and thank you Carla for your generosity, knowledge and passion. special shout out to Loc Boyle, an amazing Australian photographer working with Carla, who also helped me take some photos for Hair romance like one of my preferred photos below.

How you can find your photography vision

Now my travels are continuing with Jim, who’s said he’s discovered some differences with how I take photos now. even after just a week I’m changing my eye to find a new angle and getting closer to tell the story.

This course has also helped me find my patience. instead of just taking the shot without thinking, I’ve learnt to wait for that extra moment that changes a photo from a single image into a whole story.

I’m also pulling back from just shooting the details, and capturing the whole scene so that we can take you along with our travels and really show you how it feels, not just how it looks.

We’ve got a lot much more messages lined up from Italy; I hope you delight in following along with our stories and sharing our vision. and if you want some much more suggestions on advancing your travel photography skills, here’s our post on taking your travel photography to the next level.

I thought the secret to finding it would require travel and for me it does. but you can also find your vision by travelling in your hometown or from your desktop.

For much more photography inspiration, follow Olympus’s #OlympusInspired hashtag across social media, where you can see people discovering their own photography vision.

COCKTAIL ROMANCE: DARK as well as stormy THE AUSSIE method

May 30,2023 Leave a comment

Sweet, sour, fizzy, the gentle warm of ginger as well as the distinct flavour of rum – the Dark as well as stormy rum mixed drink is an absolute classic. however we believe our Aussie twist on this tasty drink is quite bloody great – we’re quite happy of it.

Sydney’s been both dark as well as stormy this week, so we believed this mixed drink would be ideal for this Friday Drinks. We’ve made our own version of this traditional drink, utilizing only Australian products.

The original Dark n stormy mixed drink came all the method from Bermuda. The Gosling Rum business really has the name trademarked (that’s why we’re calling ours a Dark as well as Stormy).

The ingredients:

The rum

We chose to utilize a golden rum rather than the dark Black seal rum Goslings use. Iridium from install Uncle Distillery in Far-North Queensland is smoother than many golden rums. It’s likewise made of sugar cane molasses. So there.

Mark, the owner of install Uncle, creates some fantastic spirits. His gin is well worth investing in.

The bubbles

Ordinarily, a Dark n stormy utilizes ginger ale or ginger beer. Instead, we chose to utilize an Australian apple cider to bring the fizz. Pressman’s Cider is made with Aussie apples as well as provides the mixed drink an fantastic body.

The herbs

To counter the sweetness of the cider as well as the rum, we added a dash of Shrubs from Currong Comestibles. These syrups are made of Australian bush fruits. The one we utilized – the Riberry – is sour sufficient to balance the drink perfectly.

This drink is ideal for one of those evenings where the storm hasn’t shown up yet as well as the humidity’s truly kicking in. So refreshing.

Aussie Dark as well as Stormy

Here’s what you need:

1x Iridium rum

1x dash of Riberry Shrub

1x chunk of peeled ginger

1x wedge of lime

1x bottle of Pressman’s Cider

Lots of ice

2x lime wedges to garnish

Here’s what you do:

Muddle the lime, ginger as well as Riberry Shrub in a mixed drink shaker.

Add the rum as well as some ice as well as shake well.

Double strain into a mug over lots of ice.

Top up with cider as well as garnish with lime wedges.

If this is a bit as well strong alcohol-wise, Pressman’s likewise does a mid-strength cider which is just as tasty.

Alternatively you might utilize half cider as well as half soda water.

What’s your preferred rum cocktail? What do you drink when the humidity is making your head explode? tell us in the comments.

Images by Mrs Romance.

10 reasons WHY YOU should check out ENCHANTED KINGDOM IN LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES

May 29,2023 Leave a comment

The Philippines has no Disneyland but it proudly has its world-class theme park, Enchanted Kingdom in Laguna, Philippines. since I was staying in Sta. Rosa, I got to go to Enchanted Kingdom with Kandace (Kach’s youngest sister}. It’s also very near their place. We spent the whole Saturday afternoon at EK before I went to the airport to catch my flight to Cebu.

It’s my first time in Enchanted Kingdom as well as in Laguna, so I definitely had fun in my time there. You can also check out my San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines Guide, and Liliw, Laguna, Philippines Guide, too! but check out my experience with EK, first:

Lake tune Kol: equine Trekking High In The Mountains Of Kyrgyzstan

May 26,2023 Leave a comment

one of the numerous things we truly wished to do while on this trip with central Asia was to go on a multi-day equine trek. We had trekked to high altitudes as well as over passes by foot as well as now it was time to install a equine as well as let him do all the work.

We shown up in the little town of Kochkor as well as talked with the friendly as well as useful lady at Shepherd’s Life, a little business which assists with neighborhood based tourism. We arranged for an English-speaking guide, 3 horses, 2 nights sleeping in yurts with regional families, 2 breakfasts as well as 2 dinners. We would trip for 2 days as well as 2 nights leading to our final destination of tune Kol Lake. We scoured the little village for some food for our lunches while on the trip as well as had a great night sleep at our homestay.

The overall expense for our trip was $250 USD, including a taxi trip to the equine pickup point, as well as back to Kochkor from Lake tune Kol. You can get in touch with Shepherd’s Life, or Kochkor CBT, which are both found on the primary road in town.

We had a great experience with our guide, however all trips have mixed evaluations online.

Checking out the market for some food to bring on our trek

The complying with morning when we awoke, the skies were looking rather bleak as well as grey. The common looking weather condition for the Goats On The road had discovered us again! We still chose to go ahead with the trip as well as set off in a vehicle with our guide to the even smaller village of Kyzart, where we would satisfy our horses. during the trip out there, the sky opened up as well as we were totally poured on, not a great sign.

When we shown up in the village, the darkness seemed to lift as well as we had a patch of blue sky as well as sun directly above us! We packed up our horses, Nick’s was a handsome black equine so we named him Denzel Washington as well as mine was a blonde/orangey coloured equine so we named him Mustard. Our guide Scott, Denzel as well as Mustard would be our companions for the next two nights.

Saddle up! Me with my horse, Mustard
We walked along with dry brush, over little creeks as well as towards the towering, snow-capped mountains in the distance. We liked being on our horses, it took a bit of getting utilized to with the saddle, the reigns as well as exactly how to manage the horse, however overall, they were quite tame as well as listened well…until we reached our very first downhill bit of the trip into the valley. Mustard was not moving. He had no wish to go downhill, perhaps he was traumatized from a previous downward slope experience, I don’t know. Scott had to find up behind my equine as well as coerce him down the hill.

Mustard was fine on the flat lands, however not going downhill!
We stopped for lunch after riding for about 3 hours. The little patch of sun was still directly above us as well as we ate lunch near a little river. We got out our stove as well as pot as well as cooked up some immediate noodles with hard-boiled eggs as well as cheese on the side.

Enjoying our lunch break by the river
As we continued trekking we might see the storm starting to completely engulf the mountains in a thick, white fog. all of the sudden, it started to hail! Our time with the sunny patch was up. We were pleased we had the sun for as long as we did though as well as just as I was accepting the rain as well as was going to make the very best of it, we rounded a bend in the hillside as well as Scott stated “there, we will sleep in those yurts”. It was music to our ears.

Our comfortable yurt for the night

A Kyrgyz household lives in two of the yurts as well as they have set up a third one for tourists to sleep in. We ran inside the family’s yurt just as the hail had relied on a total downpour of rain. We sat near the warm stove, spoke with the mom as well as grandma of the household as well as played with two lovable bit grand-daughters. The mom of the home was anxiously sweeping as well as organizing her home, bringing in some dried dung for the terminate as well as cooking up some freshly baked bread for us.

Fresh bread getting prepared to go in the little “oven”
We delighted in the soft, hot bread with some homemade apricot jam as well as butter churned fresh in the yurt. We huddled under a blanket as well as viewed as the rain came down in sheets. We attempted to discover Scott’s complex card game with made-up guidelines as well as we taught him our conventional travel card game, crap head. We likewise tried a few of the Kyrgyz fermented mare’s milk that the household had made…it was similarly as poor as the one we tried in Mongolia!

Trying the Kyrgyz range of fermented mare’s milk, called Kumis

That evening the mom cooked us a tasty spicy soup with rice as well as mutton, together with bread as well as great deals of tea. We snuggled up into our sleeping bags, pulled 3 other blankets over us as well as quickly passed out.

The next morning I woke up at 6:30 as well as looked outside – it was snowing. I went back to bed, believing we wouldn’t be moving over the pass today. however around 9:00 all of us got up, had breakfast, saddled up the horses as well as set off. The sun had come out once again as well as we were able to take off.

Getting the horses saddled up for the long trip ahead of us
The views on the second day were otherworldly. It was nothing however blue skies ahead of us. We climbed up as well as up, zigging as well as zagging towards the 3,700m pass. Our horses huffed as well as puffed as well as skidded over the rocks as well as slushy snow that blanket the ground. Hawks soared high above us as well as the only seems were those of our horses hooves as well as their breath.

Nick as well as Denzel heading up the steep hill to the pass
We had just done a 2 day trip around Karakol as well as our muscles were still sore, it was good to have the equine groaning going up the pass as well as not us!

Me as well as Mustard making the trip as much as the pass, much better him walking than me!

The jagged peaks surrounding us were breathtaking as well as just when we believed it couldn’t get any type of better, we shown up at the top of the pass as well as saw the view of tune Kol Lake down below. just stunning.

Us with Scott as well as our horses at the top of the pass, we made it!

At the top of the pass, we satisfied a guy on horseback bring a rifle who told us a pack of wolves had killed one of his horses as well as he was now on the search for the murderous predators. since of the snow in the lower lying mountains, the wolves can search under the white camouflage as well as therefore, they ended up being braver. They leave the high peaks of the hills they typically roam as well as make their method down to the valley in browse of livestock to feed on.

On the search for the wolves that killed his horse

After our chat with the hunter, we made our descent into the valley below. Again, Mustard wasn’t as well pleased about going downhill, however this time around I might sympathize with him. The ground was muddy, wet as well as slushy. The horses had a difficult time going down the mountain, slipping as well as moving the whole way. So, to make it simpler for my horse, I got off as well as walked with him instead. After a minute, he stopped, laid down as well as started rolling around in the mud, covering my saddle as well as blanket with dirt.

It was official, he didn’t want me riding him!

After awhile I attempted to get back on, as well as once again he didn’t want to move. Scott as well as Nick whipped him in the butt as well as he lastly set off. We concerned a muddy hill where I just understood Mustard couldn’t deal with it. His legs buckled beneath him as well as he fell on his side into the hill. fortunately I had been planning my program of action in situation this happened. I whipped my left leg out as soon as I felt Mustard waver so it wouldn’t get crushed between him as well as the hill, dropped my hands to the ground as well as just type of rolled off.

Mustard as well as I were not getting along!
Mustard as well as I both laid against the mountain for a few moments before getting up. For the next couple of hours, I walked him. We were certainly not getting along anymore. I believe I provided him as well much leeway at the beginning as well as he understood he might get what he wanted!

After riding for about 3 hours, we reached the end of the valley as well as shown up on the shores of glistening Lake tune Kol. The sun was sparkling on the water, the ground we were walking on was lastly dry as well as the towering snowy mountains as a backdrop were the icing on the cake.

The mountain backdrop at tune Kol Lake was stunning

The final 2 hour trip to our yurt stay was beautiful as well as when we shown up we didn’t want to leave. We wandered along the lakeshore as well as couldn’t assist however look in awe of the mountains surrounding us. having the mix of snow as well as sun against the blue lake as well as our white yurt was really magical.

The shores of Lake tune Kol

Our yurt for the night – what a view!
We delighted in our final evening playing cards with Scott, drinking some beers as well as devouring a house cooked meal. Scott was an outstanding guide as well as our very first equine trekking experience was one to remember.

Having beers as well as dinner with our guide, Scott

Don’t miss The new equine Trekking choices in Jyrgalan!

Located just a 45 minute drive from Karakol is the village of Jyrgalan. In June, 2017, we marked out the new Keskenkija path which can be done on foot, or horse. There are likewise numerous other day, or multi-day equine treks in the area. get in touch with Destination Jyrgalan at: destination.jyrgalan@gmail.com for much more information. Or, send us an email as well as we’ll be pleased to help!

Have you ever been equine trekking? What was your experience like? tell us about it below!

Check Out Our Song-Kol equine trip Video!

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BARS MARCH COCKTAILS, CHICAGO BLUES and A summit OF travel

May 25,2023 Leave a comment

What an end to busy February! I don’t know if you felt it, but last month seemed to drag on a bit. January (aka practice Month) zipped by but Feb pulled teeth.

Now it’s over though, I kind of miss dear old February. and March is gearing up to be a formidable month too.

Starting with a trip to Thailand, March is looking like it’s going to be full on.

In this Edition, we’re sharing essential info on Bars March – an outstanding bar-based fundraiser focused on helping rescued dogs find a home – exciting news on Aussie flights to Chicago and what we got up to at this year’s travel summit in Sydney.

We hope you delight in this weekly Edition.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

Tonight, we’re in the stunning recesses of Hubert – an upmarket bistro in the heart of Sydney. but we’re not here for dinner. As we take these winding stairs deep into the restaurant, our thoughts are of Chicago and the blues.

That’s because talented young musician Michael Damani from the original Chicago Blues All stars Band is playing us in for a meeting with choose Chicago, the windy City’s tourism board, and Qantas.

Michael’s music is common of the style you’ll find in Chicago – my preferred us city. but 2020 has been earmarked as Year of Chicago Music, implying the city will be full of the sounds that Chicago is well-known for: Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Hiphop.

As Michael entertains us, we contemplate other terrific news we’ve heard from representatives of Qantas Airlines: starting April 2020, direct flights from Brisbane to Chicago will be flying four times a week.

Good news for us!

This afternoon, we’re meeting with the ultra-talented Mikey Enright, owner of the outstanding gin bar The Barber Shop.

He also runs The duke of Clarence next door – an outstanding reconstruction of a good old English pub. It’s honestly like being transported back home!

But we’re not here to admire our surroundings… well, we are a bit. much more importantly though is this year’s Bars March special cocktails.

Bars March is an annual fundraiser that’s in its 10th year. Throughout the third month, proceeds from specially crafted drinks at participating venues (the Barber shop and the duke are two) go towards saving rescue animals.

In NSW, it’s the animal welfare League, in VIC it’s save a canine Scheme.

In the Barber shop this year, Mikey’s serving this stunning gin and tonic he’s calling Warner’s Tonica. Here’s what you get:

45ml Warner’s Rhubarb Gin

120ml artisan Pink Citrus tonic

Method: build over cubed ice

Glass: Bordeaux glass

Garnish: Lemon wheel, finger lime halves. basil sprig, juniper berries

Warner’s Gin is from the UK and is known as being the first to bring out pink gin. Their pink rhubarb gin, which includes actual rhubarb juice, is quite something and goes perfectly with Mikey’s own proprietary (and delicious) tonic.

Owner-distillers Tom and Tina Warner are also enormous dog-lovers, so their gin fits in even more.

Next door in the duke of Clarence, Mikey’s created something very special for Bars March.

This is the halfway to Harrington – so called because the Warner’s Distillery is in Harrington in the British Midlands. It’s a stunningly well-balanced cocktail, using two different types of Warner’s gin:

30ml Warner’s London dry Gin

30ml Warner’s Rhubarb Gin

20ml Watermelon juice

10ml Lemon juice

10ml Finger lime cordial

3 drops salt bush

Method: add all ingredients, dry shake, wet shake, strain

Glass: Gold rim coupette

Garnish: Toasted rhubarb nest

Get this one while you can – it’s a fantastic cocktail. I’ll be sad to see the end of March, but possibly they’ll keep the halfway to Harrington on the list permanently.

Make sure you get down to either the Barber Shop, the duke of Clarence or any of the other venues taking part in this amazing cause throughout March and show your support.

This morning is a coffee morning. Not because we’re particularly tired, but because we have to be switched on for the whole day.

Today is the travel summit by TravMedia – a network for travel writers and photographers, agents, PRs and tourism boards. It’s one of the most helpful resources in our industry and today is the physical culmination of the concept.

Thankfully, Christina and I are with our outstanding pal and talented writer Christine Knight.

The summit is in full swing here at the Sofitel darling Harbour.

We’ve heard from some amazing speakers – the likes of editors and editors in chief of Qantas Magazine, Virgin Australia, better homes & gardens travel and Gourmet Traveller, multi-award-winning writers like Catherine Marshall and Rob McFarland and a host of directors of comms companies.

At the moment though, we’re hearing from today’s keynote: the global editor of CNN travel Barry Neild. It’s inspiring to hear from these amazing people. I don’t think we even needed that much coffee!

With the summit drawing to an end, we make our way upstairs to the stylish surroundings of the Sofitel’s champagne Bar. looking down over darling Harbour, it’s the ideal place to unwind, debrief and imbibe.

There’s even a sabrage sword here and for $25 extra, the staff will open your bottle this way. It’s pretty dramatic and thankfully Barry steps up to have his bottle cut open. The man’s got style!

This morning is an even earlier start to an even much more demanding day. Today is the IMM – TravMedia’s international Media Marketplace. It’s a bit like speed-dating for travel correspondents and suppliers.

At last year’s IMM, we won company class flights to the States, but I don’t think we’ll be as lucky this year.

Still, it’s probably the most amazing networking forum we’ve ever been to and an vital resource.

Apart from all the outstanding opportunities today has presented us with, it’s these two beautiful ladies Christina really wants to see.

These two spectacular drag queens are part of the pop-up replica of famed Bell’s Milk Bar – the nation’s longest continuously running milk bar – in broken hill in the NSW central darling Region.

Representing the somewhat surprisingly dynamic drag culture of the far West of NSW, and also the broken Heel festival coming up this September, these ladies are a lot of fun. and Christina’s extraordinarily well-matched dress and hair fit best in!

It’s been an exciting, fulfilling week ending a month full of surprises. Here’s to March and even much more fun.

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

THAT’S THE SPIRIT! 21 AUSTRALIAN CRAFT DISTILLERIES TO watch

May 21,2023 Leave a comment

Something’s occurred to make the top shelves of our local look so good, the mixed drinks at our favourite speakeasies taste particularly punchy as well as our indie bottle shops handle a new lease of life. What’s doing it is Australia’s craft distilleries as well as the fantastic things they’re doing.

From an market insider, right here are 21 Australian distilleries that are doing fantastic things. These are the ones to watch.

21 Australian craft distilleries you must look out for

(from A to Z… almost)

1. Archie Rose, Rosebury, NSW

The very first distillery to open in Sydney for over 160 years, this small-batch attire is making some fantastic vodka, gin as well as white moonshine, however the aged whiskey as well as rye they’re working on is going to be excellent.

Best of all, head to the distillery in Rosebury for a tour then go to the bar they’ve opened there. It’s a cracker.

2. Bakery hill Distillery, Bayswater, VIC

Bakery hill creates an fantastic array of single malt whiskies as well as has done since 1999.

3. Belgrove, Kempton, TAS

Owner as well as head distiller Peter Bignell truly is one of a kind. His mad scientist approach to distilling is making some gorgeous white, a truly fantastic peated rye as well as an fantastic ginger whiskey.

Peter is the only distiller in the world who heats his still with biodiesel from his café, the leftover rye grain is fed to his sheep which make fertilizer for his next crop.

4. Black entrance Distillery, Mendorooran, NSW

A just recently opened distillery, Black Gate’s mum as well as dad Brian as well as Genise Hollingsworth are bottling some excellent single cask malted whisky as well as some extremely smooth rum too.

There’s likewise some extremely fascinating quandong liqueur coming from the Hollingworths as well as their vodka’s obviously rather tasty too.

5. Castagna, Beechworth, VIC

A father as well as son team, the Castagnas have focused on vermouth. They’re utilizing the grapes they grow on their vineyard as well as infusing over 30 botanicals likewise grown on their property.

6. Fanny Bay Whisky Distillery, TAS

Only opened in November 2014, these guys are starting to turn out some extremely smooth single malt whisky.

7. Great southern Distillery, Albany, WA

A gorgeous distillery producing a big variety of different kinds of spirit. Anything from absinth as well as grappa to gin, whiskies as well as brandy, the grain they utilize comes from the regional area of the southern wheat belt.

8. Hippocampus Distillery – now part of Boatrocker

The wheat-based vodka these guys are making is extremely soft as well as full of flavour. If you believe vodka doesn’t have a flavour, you should try a few of this stuff.

I never believed vodka tasted of much either however my mind was flipped when I satisfied the lads from little Mouth Vodka.

9. Hoochery Distillery, Kununurra, WA

If you’re looking for salt of the earth, you can’t get much saltier or earthier than Spike, who has Hoochery. He runs Western Australia’s longest running legal distillery out of Kununurra, where he’s lived since 1972.

The rum Spike brews right here is free from whatever other than fantastic components as well as a great deal of love.

10. Ironbark Distillery, N. Richmond, NSW

Coooking up some fantastic spirits, Iron Bark’s truly producing some fascinating things here. Wattle seed as well as Ironbark gins, chai spirit as well as corn rye moonshine, this bit location is doing fantastic things.

11. Loch Distillery, Loch, VIC

The gin as well as whisky has only been coming from this country-town distillery since March 2015 however they’re already making an impression.

12. Melbourne Gin Company, Melbourne, VIC

A somewhat more instated ginnery, MGC’s gin is excellent. We very first tried this stuff when in Melbourne for The Gin Queen’s very first ever gin-tasting session and were suitably impressed.

13. Mount Uncle, Atherton Tablelands, QLD

Producing most likely our extremely favourite gin, mark Watkins’ Botanic Australis is full of Aussie botanicals he’s replaced to produce this truly Australian London dry gin.

Mount Uncle likewise has a number of other brews such as a single malt whiskey called The huge Black Cock as well as a marshmallow liqueur called attractive Cat. extremely entertaining – however extremely tasty too.

I likewise like the sugar cane molasses rums – Platinum as well as Iridium – as well as their vodka’s not poor either.

14. Poor Toms, Sydney, NSW

Full of strawberry as well as eco-friendly apple flavours, bad Toms gin all comes out of the 200 litre still owners Jesse as well as griffin bought with all the money they had.

They suggest a strawberry garnish with a bad Toms G&T. seems great to me!

15. Redlands Estate, TAS

Owner Dean grows his own barley to make into the single malt whisky coming from Redlands’ stills. They likewise make an fascinating variety of liqueurs as well as schnapps that are worth inspecting out.

16. Shene Estate, TAS

From an estate that dates back all the method to 1819, the distillery right here is now back on the shed creating a Tasmanian dry gin. By 2018 the promise is for a single malt triple distilled Irish style whiskey.

17. Starward, Essendon Fields, VIC

A labour of love, the whisky coming from the Starward still is golden, fruity as well as sweet.

18. Stone Pine, Bathurst, NSW

The London dry gin from stone pine is worryingly simple to drink, as is their rum. however the spiced rum that head distiller Ian Glen has made called Dead Man’s Drop is something else.

19. Whipper Snapper Distillery, Perth, WA

I was lucky sufficient to be in Perth to see this excellent bit distillery being opened. Its very first spirit – crazy Uncle – is a tough white moonshine whiskey however the barrel-aged stuff coming out now is smooth, flavourful as well as extremely drinkable indeed.

20. William McHenry & Sons, Port Arthur, TAS

This family-run distillery is in truth the most southerly distillery in the country. The variety of gins coming from the McHenry stills are award winners for a reason, as well as the whisky set for release soon is bound to be excellent too.

21. Young Henry’s Distillery, Newtown, NSW

Previously only understood for his craft beer, Richard Adamson now creates his own gin Noble Cut. It’s the only gin currently in Australia to utilize a hop-based spirit instead of a grain-based one. The result is rather different to most gins you’ll taste as well as well worth a try.

With so much happening in the Australian craft beer as well as spirits industry, it’s a extremely interesting time to be of drinking age right here in Australia. With records being smashed everywhere by these bit Aussie firms, going out for a drink isn’t going to be the same.

If you want to try these brands as well as discover out more about what’s happening in the craft as well as shop drinks world, inspect out top shelf celebration in Melbourne. most of these guys will be there.

Look out for the Nip of Courage crew, who’ll happily talk you with most of these brands as well as what they’re up to.

Do you have a favourite craft spirit? What’s your favored tipple? tell us in the comments!

Images by Mr & Mrs Romance.

THE best LESBIAN travel blogs

May 21,2023 Leave a comment

Updated: 10/3/2020 | October 3rd, 2020

I’ve added an LGBT column to the site to make the site is much more inclusive and talks about issues that affect some members of our travel community. In this column, we will hear from voices in the LGBT community about their experiences on the road, safety tips, events, and overall guidance for other LGBT travelers. This week, Dani from Globetrottergirls shares some of her favorite lesbian travel blogs.

Ever because I started traveling full-time in 2010, I’ve been an avid blog reader. I am subscribed to dozens of blogs, and I have went to numerous places after finding out about them on blogs.

Boracay in the Philippines, for example — I read about it on blogs.

Or Las Lajas in Colombia, which I went to this year, seven years after learning about it through a travel blog.

The lovely French town of Colmar? I am now keen to visit it after it popped up on several blogs I read.

Without travel blogs, I would have never found out about these places. The same goes for cafés and restaurants, ice cream shops and bars, small art galleries, and great hostels. I read blogs for travel inspiration all the time, but also for travel suggestions when I research a destination I am planning to visit.

While there are dozens of couples’ travel blogs, solo female travel blogs, and a fair number of gay travel blogs, there have never been numerous lesbian travel blogs.

At least, until recently!

It seems that in the last year or two, there are a lot much more people that are selling everything they own to go traveling, and that is also true in the lesbian world. For years, the L in LGBT travel blogs was filled by only a handful of blogs, but there has been an explosion of lesbian travel blogs recently and I am thrilled to see the lesbian travel blogosphere expand.

These girls have inspired me with their stories about off-the-beaten-path destinations such as Bahrain and Cuba, piqued my interest in destination weddings, and made me consider spending all my savings on a campervan and heading out on the open road.

If you are searching for travel inspiration, I recommend checking out the following lesbian travel blogs — and of course you don’t have to be an LGBT traveler to delight in them:

1. 2 mothers Travel

Lara and her wife Deb travel with their two kids, showing that it is possible to travel with young children.

Recommended entry: “Europe: 6 Weeks, 2 Kids, 1 Suitcase”

2. straight On Detour

Prue, a photographer from Australia, and Becky, a travel writer from England, have been traveling the world together because 2012, when they met in Thailand.

Recommended entry: “You’re ready to travel the World: but Is Your Relationship?”

3. totally free Wheel Drive

Laura and Camrin are two girls from Wisconsin who, in June 2017, packed up everything they could fit into their Jeep Grand Cherokee named Tina and started traveling around north america while working remotely. Their plan is to hit up as numerous national parks as possible, to Couchsurf, to housesit, to use WWOOF (to work on organic farms), and to see how far they can get while traveling on a budget.

Recommended entry: “The amazing Grand Teton national Park”

4. Vagabroads

The Vagabroads are Sunny, a former criminal defense attorney, and Karin, who used to be a network engineer. The couple, who hail from Nashville, TN, sold all of their belongings to go on an indefinite overland journey down the Pan-American highway through the US, Mexico, and central and South America.

Recommended entry: “Volcano Boarding the Cerro Negro Volcano in Nicaragua”

5. once Upon A Journey

Roxanne and Maartje are two beautiful blondes from the Netherlands who shared a dream of traveling the world together. In March 2017, they made their dream a reality, starting their journey in Russia with an epic train trip: the Trans-Siberian express all the way to China. The girls are in Southeast Asia now and are planning to head to new Zealand next.

6. The freedom Travellers

Victoria, a Brit, and Elaina, an Aussie, met at work in Australia. They quit their corporate jobs in 2014 and have been traveling ever since. So far, they’ve went to 39 countries together.

7. Dopes on the Road

Meg Cale and her wife Lindsay met online, dated long-distance while Meg was teaching in South Korea and Lindsay was in the United States, and finally got married last year.

Recommended entry: “We Eloped: Yup, Lindsay and I got married in Ecuador,” about their South American destination wedding.

8. Gabriela here and There

Gabriela is an adventurer who has been traveling full-time because 2016 and is on a quest to visit every country in the world. Her current country count is 77!

Recommended entry: “Backpacking in Bahrain”

9. travel with MK

Mei and Kerstin have beening together because 2002. originally from Luxembourg, they share all kinds of travel stories and itnerviews with other travelers. They’ve lived abroad in a handful of countries and share remarkable photography. lots of inspirational content here!

Recommended entry: “Less-Known towns in Europe”

10. Wandering Soup

Kat and Amber are two black foodies who have lived abroad in several countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Bali, and Vietnam. They make videos, have a podcast, and also run a travel company. Their site has tons of helpful suggestions for expats and slow-traveling nomads.

Recommended entry: “Where to getaway – for LGBTQI of Color”

***
I am thrilled to see the growing number of wanderlust-inducing lesbian travel blogs. All these blogs show though that there is always room for quality content on the internet, and there are still not enough lesbian voices out there.

If you’re an LGBT traveler, I hope these blogs offer the inspiration and guidance you need. and if you’re not an LGBT traveler, these sites are still fun and informative to read!

Dani Heinrich is the vagabonding writer and photographer behind GlobetrotterGirls.com. originally from Germany, she has been nomadic because 2010, when she quit her corporate job and embarked on a round-the-world-trip. You can also follow her adventures on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Book Your Trip: Logistical suggestions and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s extensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it numerous times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

5 pro tips FOR night photography

May 21,2023 Leave a comment

Taking a fantastic picture at night or in low light conditions can be extremely tricky. While we were enjoying the sights of Sydney’s celebration of light vivid Sydney, we got to talk to some pro professional photographers about their top techniques for taking ace night shots.

Mrs romance has always liked photography. I believe that’s quite remove from the shots she publishes right here on MrAndMrsRomance.com.

I’ve been with her on a few shoots she’s done. It’s so fascinating all the things you have to think about behind the scenes to get that master shot you’ve got in your head.

With night photography, things are even more challenging. It’s surprising exactly how much your eye can see that no camera might ever pick up. Your brain likewise filters out so much extraneous info that an objective camera lens can’t.

Shooting in the dark is one of Mrs Romance’s favourite things to do. playing with the light as well as the shadows – she states it’s not just about photographing what you can see as much as what you can’t. Muy profundo!

She likes discovering new techniques to enhance her night photography, so when we got to chat to some incredible professional photographers at vivid Sydney, she was in her element.

Here are the top tips from 5 top shutter junkies:

5 top professional photographers share their favourite night shot tips

Lauren Bath

Travel photographer, expert Instagrammer as well as social network influencer.

Lauren’s top tips:

“When shooting fireworks or quick moving light installations you requirement a quick shutter speed to catch the action instead of blurring it out.

“To accomplish quicker shutter speeds at night time you’ll requirement to open your aperture as well as boost your ISO. I was discovering ISO 1600, f2.8 as well as 1/4 second was about perfect for the projections on the Opera House.”

Lauren Bath

W: laurenbath.com
Ig: @laurenepbath

Rob Mulally

Travel as well as way of life photographer, as well as Instagrammer.

Rob’s top tips:

“Look for natural surfaces as well as reflective surfaces to bring your night shot alive. Shoot from different heights other than eye height. everybody sees at eye level so whatever else is interesting.”

Rob Mulally

Ig: @robmulally

Mark Cushway

Published iphone professional photographer as well as Instagrammer. Black as well as white, as well as minimalist photographer.

Mark’s top tips:

“Recently I’ve only been utilizing my iphone 5s. Unless you want your pictures to be poster size, you don’t necessarily requirement anything else.

“I utilize either the native camera app on my iphone or Procamera 8. This provides you the unique capability to move the focus point as well as exposure point separately on your shot, which makes shooting at night much easier as well as more flexible. You can likewise change the ISO of your phone camera with this app.”

Mark Cushway

W: MarkCushway.com.au
Ig: @mark_pc

Luke Tscharke

Landscape as well as natural world photographer.

Luke’s top tips:

“Adjust your shutter speed for moving lights. I normally shoot on a tripod however if you don’t have one, play around as well as take 20 shots; you’ll get one that’s not as well blurry. Shoot at 1/60 second for handheld night shots.”

Another awesome impact Luke told us about is to utilize your zoom to produce a laser beam effect. set your shutter to about a 1-second exposure, take the shot then zoom all the method in or out. try both for different effects.

Luke Tscharke

W: LukeTscharke.com
Ig: @tscharke

Steve Casey

Landscape as well as long-exposure photographer.

Steve’s top tips:

“Make sure you utilize a tripod for long shutter speeds. To produce a starburst impact on lights, utilize a extremely high aperture (F8+) as well as sluggish your shutter speed right down.”

Steve Casey

W: StephenCaseyPhotography.com.au
Ig: shirty_i_am

Make sure you inspect these guys out on Instagram as well as have a look a their site galleries too. truly amazing, inspiring photography.

Do you have any type of tips for shooting in low light? What’s your favourite type of photography? tell us in the comments!

What To expect From an Egyptian Nile cruise

May 20,2023 Leave a comment

To experience the wonders of the Nile while sailing in a mini hotel is one of the most pleasurable experiences one could have while visiting Egypt. With a mixture of luxuries a dash of history and sprinkle of fun, the magical water of the Nile is sure to conjure up a most memorable vacation.

Many travelers have not been made aware of the differences between a nile cruise, dahabiya or felluca. This article will help you fully understand what one should expect from a Nile Cruise.

See Also: The ultimate guide To Backpacking Egypt

Most River Nile Cruises operated between Luxor and Aswan visiting each bank as well as several stops in between to the temples of Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna. usually taking three to four days the journey can be extended to seven days with stops to Dendera and Abydos before continuing its regular route. Lake Nasser cruises sail between Aswan and Abu Simbel visiting the temples at the South of Egypt.

A Dahabiya is a smaller wooden boat that can be sailed by wind power containing a maximum of ten cabins. While a Felucca is an open air sailing boat that usually contains no cabins.

See Also: 16 epic travel Adventures To have Now

When to book a Nile cruise trip?

The high season that is the best time to book in terms of weather would be November to March, which sees temperatures with nighttime highs of 20 degrees Celsius. The low season may to September which means prices would be lower but the sweltering southern Egyptian heat might be overwhelming for some.

How Do You reach Your Nile Cruise?

There are very few international flights arriving to the south of Egypt, so the easiest way would be to take a short flight from Cairo to either Luxor or Aswan. There are several coach operators that also provide comfortable seats for the journey south as well as the train operators.

Entertainment on Nile Cruises

Most cruises come with full animation teams that operate discos, galabia parties and belly dancers, each night usually being something different such as the Nubian folkloric shows.

Nile cruise Food and Beverage

There are two types of Nile cruise package which are:

Nile Cruises on full Board Basis:

Most Nile Cruises are full Board. All meals are included and are in an open buffet style, some days there are many varieties, depending of the type and quality of the cruise boat; these meals are served with a fixed timetable. In Some Cruises, Tea and coffee is available, while on the move, every day at 5:00 pm. other drinks are offered in the bar area.

Nile Cruises on All Inclusive Bases:

Usually only seven day Nile cruises include the option of being all Inclusive that means all food and all beverage such as mineral water, soft drink, hot drink, coffee, tea, juice and local alcohols.

What Is the check In and check out Time?

Nile Cruises check In Time:

The normal check in time is at 11 am for most cruises, this means that if by chance you get in early morning you could drop off your bags and spend the time exploring or checking out the sites and when you return your cabin would be ready.

Image By Accor Hotels
Nile Cruises check Out Time:

The checkout Time is at 8:00 After Breakfast. If your flight or train is later that afternoon you could still use the hotel facilities with the exception of the rooms or restaurant and go or exploring until your departure time.

What to wear during a Nile cruise Trip?

During your daytime exploration it is recommended to wear light and airy clothing, as the heat even in winter can sometimes be overwhelming, it is also recommended that you remember modesty in public places. At night the desert might be a little windy or chilly so something to keep warm is also recommended. While onboard swimsuits and shorts are completely acceptable.

The best Nile cruise Itinerary

There are several variants as to how your tour can go but the typical 5-days Luxor to Aswan or the 4-days from Aswan to Luxor are recommended.

A typical 5 day luxor aswan nile cruise itinerary:

Day 1: meet & assist at Luxor airport or railway station, transfer and embark your Nile cruise before lunch then enjoy tours to east bank (Karnak temple & Luxor Temple). – Overnight in Luxor.
Day 2: tours to West bank — Valley of the Kings & temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Overnight in Edfu.
Day 3: tours to Horus temple in Edfu and the temple shared by two gods Sobek & Haroeris in Kom Ombo. – Overnight in Aswan.
Day 4: tours to the High Dam, Philae temple & Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan. Overnight in Aswan.
Day 5: Disembarkation after breakfast. Optional tours if your flight is in the afternoon. transfer to Aswan airport or railway station.A typical 4 Days Aswan Luxor Nile cruise:

Day 1: meet & assist at Aswan airport or railway station, transfer and embark your Nile cruise before lunch – tours to the High Dam, Philae temple & Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan. – Overnight in Aswan.
Day 2: tours to the temple shared by two gods Sobek & Haroeris in Kom Ombo. – Overnight in Edfu.
Day 3: tours to Horus temple in Edfu, the east bank (Karnak temple & Luxor Temple). – Overnight in Luxor.
Day 4: tours to the West bank – Valley of the Kings & temple of Queen Hatshepsut. then transfer to Luxor airport or railway station.

With an average of 300 cruise operators, the options are plenty, docking in Luxor or Aswan getting to the marinas are usually a step, hop and skip away from the train station or airport with a taxi. Making sure that you go with trusted tour operators, that have been known for providing quality service in ensuring a smooth trip from start to finish.

Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon associate and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This means we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.

7 romantic CITY stays FOR A special SYDNEY getaway

May 17,2023 Leave a comment

There’s something about the romance of checking into a beautiful hotel. even when it’s in your hometown. The trouble with choosing the perfect hotel in Sydney for a special occasion is there are so many. Here’s our shortlist.

This article has been written in partnership with Hotels.com

We’ve said it before, but Christina and I love a staycation. playing the visitor in our hometown really appeals to us. plus if you forget to pack something, you can just nip home for it!

Sydney probably has more than its fair share of exceptional hotels. So – with our wedding anniversary coming up – finding a stay in the city to celebrate has been a priority.

But then again, we’re always on the lookout for a chance for a fun staycation in Sydney.

If you’re on the hunt for a celebratory staycation spot or you’re visiting Sydney and want a shortlist of the good stuff, keep reading.

We’ve put together a list of what we think are the best hotels for romance and style in Sydney. and if you book online, there are plenty of savings to be made.

7 romantic city stays for a special Sydney getaway

1. West hotel Curio Collection

65 Sussex St, Sydney

Perfectly located on the reverse side of darling Harbour and close enough to Chinatown to walk to dinner, the West hotel is a great option for a fun night in the city. It’s part of the Hilton Group, but there’s nothing of the cookie-cutter corporate in this hotel.

Rooms are interesting and comfortable, and management here have an eye for design and bespoke. A recent initiative with Australian designers and floral decorators saw one of the rooms in the West hotel transformed into an incredible forest scene, where you could sleep amongst Botanics.

The restaurant and bar – Solander – at the West hotel is also excellent, with a confident food menu and elegant lighting to make for a romantic date night dinner.

Check prices for West hotel Curio Collection here.

2. Skye Suites Sydney

300 Kent St, Sydney

Skye Suites are the quiet achievers in hotel terms. This suite-only hotel chain and its purpose-built properties are hiding in plain sight all over the place. The Skye Suites Sydney is right in the heart of the city.

The design of this hotel is beautiful, with comfortable rooms that are perfect for a romantic weekend – or a much longer stay if you’re visiting for a while.

But it’s really the subterranean pool that makes this hotel sing. designed by award-winning architect Koichi Takada, the white fins across the ceiling and down the wall give the room a mysterious, luxe feel.

Check prices for Skye Suites Sydney here.

3. Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park

161 Elizabeth St, Sydney

Recently upgraded, this Sheraton is now officially Sydney’s first ‘Grand’ hotel, and the title comes with lavish touches to make any stay here amazing.

Views out over Hyde Park and the city are unparalleled. and the decadence of the rooms, bars and restaurants inside this hotel make the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park very worthy of a romantic stay.

Check prices for Sheraton Grand Hyde Park Sydney here.

4. little Albion guest House

21 little Albion St, Surry Hills, Sydney

Tucked away in the laneways of Surry Hills, the little Albion boutique guesthouse is a cosy home from home. Each of the rooms and suites is individually styled and decorated, and finer touches like the T2 tea, help-yourself Nespresso machine and Molten brown toiletries make this little place quite special.

There’s even an honesty-system cocktail bar in the lobby where you can mix your own drinks, then jot down your room number and what you’ve taken.

For our video walkthrough look at the little Albion guest House, click here.

Although the little Albion is made up of a converted school house and church from the 1900s, inside is a blend of elegant 1920s chic and 1970s glamour. It’s a beautiful spot and perfect for romance.

Check prices for little Albion guest house here.

5. four seasons Sydney

199 George St, The Rocks, Sydney

The four seasons is in the ultimate Sydney location. close to circular Quay, the Rocks and the city’s bar district, you’ve got so much on your doorstep here. Plus, if you choose your room well, you get an iconic view out over the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

As well as exclusive use of the rooftop pool, you also have access to one of our favourite bars in the city Grain, plus the hotel’s excellent restaurant Mode.

Mode also acts as the hotel’s breakfast restaurant, which is well worth getting out of bed for. check out our full review of the four seasons Sydney here.

Check prices for four seasons Sydney here.

6. The Langham

89-113 Kent St, Millers Point, Sydney

Long listed as one of Sydney’s premium hotels, the Langham in its discreet situation is a haven for style and sophistication. Sandwiched between Observatory hill and Barangaroo, its Rocks location means you’re tucked away for a very intimate, secluded staycation.

Talking of sandwiches, the Langham’s club sandwich is a national-best award-winner – as is much of its food. The restaurants and bars here are luxuriant, refined and beautiful.

And for beauty and relaxation, the Langham’s subterranean sanctuary Day spa by Chuan is unbelievable.

Check prices for The Langham here.

7. Park Hyatt Sydney

7 Hickson Rd, The Rocks, Sydney

The Park Hyatt Sydney is in that Venn diagram sweet spot of a being luxury hotel, a waterfront property and being centrally located in the heart of Sydney city.

Its bar and restaurant look out over Campbell’s Cove, which leads on to unprecedented views of the Opera house and circular Quay. Meanwhile, the Harbour Bridge looms over your left shoulder as you look out at Sydney Harbour.

Rooms have that elegant, low-key luxury you get in a sophisticated, top-class hotel, and every room has its own private balcony.

But up on the Park Hyatt’s roof – quite literally its crowning glory – is the hotel pool. Daybeds, loungers and the pool itself look down on the harbour and Sydney Opera House. quite a place for a dip.

Check prices for Park Hyatt Sydney here.

Having too many options for where to stay in Sydney is a great problem to have. Each one of these places offers all the romance and luxury you could hope for – either as a beautiful staycation or for an out-of-town visitor seeking something special.

In this situation there’s no such thing as being spoilt for choice – how could any of these hotels possibly spoil anything?

Archive May 30, 2023