The best breakfast

A lonely forgotten banana

MASH

One egg

Mix and pour in a pan

Flip and serve

Served here with goat yoghurt and home stewed strawberries.

Disclaimer: presented better with aid of a spatular for more perfect flipping. 

“Hollandse Nieuwe”

We biked by a 'Nieuwe Haring' sign and our local tour guide suggested we stop to try a traditional dutch snack. Not knowing what to expect Liv, Rios and I agreed. I waited outside to watch our bikes, eagerly awaiting. 

Dutch Herring a silvery fish that is most abundant in the coastal waters and the Dutch are taking it far from the North Sea. The Raw Dutch Herring it’s a typical Dutch snack and it can be bought at street-side herring fish stalls.

Olivia trying her first bite. 

Quite excited by this beautifully presented snack, complete with mini dutch flag. 

Herring is actually not eaten “raw”. Yes, it looks raw and it is uncooked. However, it is not raw, but in fact “prepared” for consumption.

After the fish is caught, its head is cut off and all the guts are removed except for the pancreas, so that its enzymes can soften the fish. They are giving it its peculiar, lovable taste, smoothing texture, and making it easier to digest. This process is called in Dutch “haring kaken”.

The herring is also salted for conservation and frozen before being sold for consumption, in order to kill all possible parasites.

So, in fact, salted herring (Hollandse nieuwe) is fermented herring.

Our fine looking dutch tour guide. 

Finding Neverland

After a big Saturday at the baseball followed by a night out in Brooklyn Sunday was not treating me well. Determined to make the most of my limited time in NYC, after a few episodes of Broad City (just to get me in the New York mood) I headed to Time Square. 

Not only is this a great spot to be engulfed in advertising but also the heart of Broadway. What better way to combat a hangover than some culture with a Broadway show. 

Time Square = tooo many people

A few months ago, as a follower of @MatthewMorrison on Twitter, I noticed him posting about his latest Broadway show. Excitedly I checked if Finding Neverland would be on when I was in New York. Anyone even a little familiar with Broadway would know that the seasons are incredibly long and I'd actually have been very unlucky if it had spotted before I arrived. 

Matthew Morrison is perhaps my favourite character on Glee. Glee is my one of my not so secret guilty pleasures. I do like to save up episodes and binge when I'm home sick. Nothing makes me feel more cheery than pop song mash ups joint with perfectly choreographed dance moves and outfits to maximise cheesiness.  

Mission in mind I made it to Broadway with a half hour before the matinee show to find where I was going and get a ticket. 

The discount ticket sellers said it was too close for the show to sell me a ticket. So I went to the box office. Although she got in trouble with the ticket booth attendee a lady told me she had a spare ticket. This women, who's name I can't recall - but let's call her Grandma, had bought all her 9 grandchildren and their three mothers from a few hours north on the train for a day in NYC. One of her grandsons had a soccer game so I became their cousin. 

 

In true American style they were very impressed I was all the way from New Zealand, and by myself! 

Grandma had bought the tickets four months earlier so they were great seats and I have her my remaining cash but it was just a fraction of the ticket price. 

Sweet view. 

At half time Grandma had to be held back from causing a scene asking a women in front of the kids to remove her hat. "It's blocking the kids view, and why is she wearing a hat inside? AND it's a darn ugly hat anyway!"

A kind girl took a photo for me with my very broken iPhone. I look like I have no hand.

Oh and also the play was great. The kids were excellent actors with beautiful voices. Such a heart warming story of course with a few tears. But a lovely afternoon. 

Tea-Rex

This guy is just great!

Hunting the Capivaras

Olivia had found these critters at the lake before so we got on our bikes and went a hunting. 

Capivaras is the português name, so referred to as capabara in English. They are the largest of the rodent family and can weigh up to 91kgs and are found in a bunch of places around South America. Living in both water and on land.

I wasn't sure where we would see them, in the scrubs? Under the trees? And then there they were floating in the water!

We found them!!!! YES!

Loved the front guy covered in slime !

Olivia's boyfriend Rios told us that they actually take the Capitvatas away from the lake when there get to be too many because people EAT THEM! These crazy Brazilians. Although I must say they do have a fair bit of meat on them.

This one got out for a walk about

Roll over, Roll over...

Was so stoked to find this little guys, and they were excellent entertainment for some time. We bought a fresh coconut to enjoy well we watched them. 

The man selling coconuts came over because he thought that we were watching birds (they like to eat the coconut meat) but then laughed and laughed at the Capivatas. He made a noise that gave them a fright and they all dived under the water and swam away SO quickly. Mr. Coconut man swore that he did nothing..

Luckily after a few minutes they appeared out from under the scrubs into view again.

Later this same day we saw dolphins swimming at Ipanema Beach - apparently a very rare sighting here in Brazil! So was very lucky!

F*ck You, I'M AN ANTEATER!!!!

Saw this amazing street art of an Anteater, and had to reenact my all time favourite meme.  

Sorry Ma and Pa for the language but this guy is the appropriate response to MANY things in life. That is why he is my favourite. 

There was also this guy along the wall who was also pretty tops.

One Month Down!

I write from Rio de Janeiro! 

It is officially one month since I left Perth and one month since my travels began and what a great start to my #Funemployment 

New Zealand 

Although I had been in Auckland the month earlier for a brief visit it was so nice to return on happier terms. Last minute my flatmate Bec from Perth joined me for the start of my time in NZ which was great.  We relaxed at my family's Bach on Waihekeand I got to show her a bit of Auckland. Bec was lucky enough to take a crash course in meeting ALL Grace's friends and family. Faces to the names she had heard so much about in Perth. 

Bec and I on Waiheke

I headed South Island to visit my Grandma, Aunties and Uncles and a few close friends. Which was great. My Grandma in Dunedin is always lovely to see and full of great stories. She also has the best homemade muesli  

Returning to Auckland and comedy festival had started so I went to various shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. So great. I really enjoyed seeing Trygve Wakenshaw's Nautilus. A fellow kiwi, Trygve and I became friends when he was in Perth for Fringe World so I took my entire family along to his show fortunately we all have the same sense of humour and loved it. My dear friend Charlotte organised a surprise date day for me for my birthday present (from feb). We kayaked over to Rangitoto Island with Auckland Sea kayaks, which was an amazing. Aside from a little sea sickness on the return trip home - cured by singing 90s classics, a perfect day out! Would highly recommend. 

View from the beach to Rangitoto

A little less organised than I had hoped, after a final few days of catch ups, I left Auckland on May 4th to enter new territories, South America ! 

Chile

Santiago was my first stop. A manageable 11.5 hour flight from Auckland. I was greeted by Pablo a friend of a friend who was the most fabulous generous host !  He taught me so much about Chile. Especially about their tendency for all natural disasters of all forms, volcanoes , earthquakes, floods, fires. We went to the movies on evening and he explained to me in English the warning about what to do in an emergency "there are warnings about evacuations everywhere because an emergency will happen sometime".

I solo adventures to a beautiful seaside town called Valparaiso.  It was here in Valparaiso that I finally relaxed into holiday mode. I enjoyed wandering the street art covered lanes and calming my mind which had been so buzzy with sorting out all life in Perth. 

Valparaiso

I returned to Santiago and Pablo took me and two of his friends to his beach house for the weekend. This was bliss. Another coastal town Pichilemu is a hot spot for surfers. Pablo took us to visit the salt lakes which form when the river meets the sea. It was the most serene and beautiful place. So calm and quiet and a lovely spot for photos - of which we took many. It seemed like a rule when we left the house that all of us were required to be carrying two cameras not including our phones. 

Jetty at the Salt Lakes

Upon return to Santiago I had a couple of days to wander the streets and see a bit more of the big city before heading across the continent to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Home for the past two years to my very good friend Olivia. 

Brazil

Liv and I on a hungover mission to a secluded beach.

I have been having the best time in Brazil! Olivia and her boyfriend Rios have also been so good to me. It has been great to see where Liv has lived for the past two years and getting right in to Brazilian culture, including a fabulous glitter filled party. I write from Rio, but I have just returned from Igazu Falls which is on the boarder of both Paraguay and Argentina. I took a day over the boarder into Argentina to see the best view of these breath taking falls. It was a full on couple of days which included a spontaneous sky dive and checking out some Toucans ! 

A few days to relax here in Rio then off to Brasilia with Olivia, Rios and another friend of Livs. Should be great. 

Love Grace xx

South America, Santiago #1

I left Auckland on Monday 4th of May after almost two week of bliss back home in New Zealand to explore new territory, first stop CHILE!

I am lucky enough to have a brilliant Chilean friend, Sebastian who I have known for a number of years. He lives in Sydney. As he is from Santiago he set me up with his friend Pablo.

It was still May the 4th when I arrived. Which was a treat because Pablo is a huge star wars fan!

Welcome feasting of traditional Chilean style hot dogs.

My very poor attempt at a panoramic of the beautiful view from my room. I would like to say this skill improved over my time in Chile...it is obviously an acquired skill. 

Tree incased in crates. I like it. Simple, yet effective.

Our New Zealand Buddy Bear

Buddy Bears are a series of painted, life-size fibreglass bear sculptures originally developed inBerlin, Germany. The first Buddy Bear was created by the German businesspeople Klaus and Eva Herlitz, in cooperation with thesculptor Roman Strobl in 2001.
United Buddy Bears, however, are primarily about their message - a message of peace, international understanding and tolerance among the nations, cultures and religions of this world.

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding"

True that Albert E. 

A true chilean completos (hotdog) AMAZING. That is covered in delicious avocado.

Pit stop.
Coffee and Chileno treat, with a side of free WIFI.

I walked WAY further than I needed to got lost to the metro, ended up at a further away station...BUT I got to see this cool bridge. So colourful. 

B A N A N A S

Another beautiful sunset against the mountain back drop.

Parks and Recreation is ALL I can think every time I saw these guys!!

This was a wall surrounding a construction site...and someone had added a little peaking head and a larger boys head peering over the top.

It cracked me up every time I walked past. 

Extraction of Current Hygienist

 

This week I resigned from my current Dental employment.


When pondering the most appropriate subject matter for my email resignation (not the way I would ideally like to resign but how it works in this practice!) I asked some advice from a fellow hygienist..turns out just like Harry Potter, there are many many dental puns.

'termination of employment'

'extraction of current hygienist'

'time to gap it'

 

'this tooths gotta go'
 

My hilarious friend Amanda aided in writing a whole new resignation letter for me...just from dental puns.

 

'it's all Wong for me here, I can't caries on like this, I've become abscessed with teeth and need to fracture our decaying relationship.

'I'm going to gum it down for you, I've become abscessed with teeth so I'm fracturing this relationship. You carie on without me, I'll be all white. I'll brush off all your tears and leave with my crown intact. To composite for my leaving, you'll have fun filling my position. 
Please don't polish off all my leaving morning tea before I get there or my veneer of composure will be eroded'

I'm leaving at tooth hurty this afternoon, hope you can fill the gap, see ya scaler!'

The Quizners Of Azkaban

 

 

 

J.K Rowling is an amazing lady, not only did she create Harry Potter, she is just bad ass.

 

 

 

 

A number of things on one day bought JK Rowling's awesomeness to my attention and I was organising a team for a fund raiser Quiz Night. I decided to put it out there to our team that I would like a Harry Potter Pun for our team name...and things escalated very quickly. 

 

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Quizardry"

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Team"

"You're a Quizzard, Harry"
 "Expelli-answers"

"The Neville wears Prada"

Some of the suggestions and then of course we settled on:

"The Quizners of Azkaban"

As a good hostess I  decided to introduce all attendees to each other, referencing both how I know them and their most suitable Harry Potter character so everyone gets a bit more of a back story. 

Stefan - I meet through my housemate Amy, he is a podiatrist/pun master and sings guitar and plays at open mic nights. He's a similar healthcare/arts combo to myself which I quite enjoy. George Weasley; he's a joker at heart but also full of exceptional quirky ideas.

Ty - I also know through my housemate, Amy. We meet last year and may have been on a couple of dates once upon a time (shhh!). He also has an excellent real job engineer /comedy combo. Oliver Wood; a Gryffindor champ. Fit and sporty, a born leader, Quidditch captain.

Turns out Ty is an exceptional artist also !

 
Amandine - she's French/auzzie and speaks a bazillion languages. I introduced Amerdine to Big Help Mob November last year and she has volunteered at so many missions!!! It's impressive. Fleur Delacour; she's French and exotic. But also super tough and will give anything a go! Also she gets to marry bill Weasley so winning.

Bec - is my housemate, she is pretty great. If you haven't meet her you are in for a treat, that's all. Hermione Granger; Bec is bright and logical but also secretly pretty bad ass. 

Jon, Amandine, Laura and Bec

Laura - I know her through her housemate nick who works for Big Help Mob. Laura is a nurse but also a professional connections attender and my soul competition for Queen of the Gays. Helga Hufflepuff; one of the cofounders of hogwarts and hence everyone's favourite house is named after her. An inspiration to many.

Jon - I know through the couch surfing scene in Perth, a fellow kiwi Woopwoop! Cedrick Diggory: because he's all about being the sports (quidditch mostly), but also very kind and loyal.

Kim - I also know Kim through couch surfing/frisbee. She's a little Irish pot of gold! Luna Lovegood: she is often referred to as the anti hermione (no offence to Bec) believing in the possibly impossible. A true gem to be around.

 

Laura then decided I should be Lavender Brown - "Cause you're a little bit of a stalker but everyone still loves you".  I was happy with this as I do enjoy the colour purple and she's a cute stalker (see image above).

 

Hard at work.

 

We may not have come out tops on the points table but boy did we win on team spirit!! Fun night all round (and yes if you were wondering I did buy everyone glow in the dark wands)