Today is the day where we hit the mall and get the health supplements that my parents had been pestering me about. Vitamins and other health supplements are notoriously expensive in South East Asian countries. So they had been texting me almost every day with an updated shopping list.

"Rundle Mall" on both sides of the street

I didn't manage to find Augusta, Oliver, Horatio or Truffles, the pig statue mascots of the area but stumbled upon this charming fountain instead.

This fountain was cast in the late 1800s.

There is always a first.

This is my first experience with AirBnB and my brilliant hosts, Sarah and Jess. I've to admit, AirBnB was not my first option for accomodation in Adelaide. The high cost of a hotel room in Adelaide put me off, and I'm glad it did.

Hesitant at first about staying with complete strangers, I went online to do research. Horror stories galore. Along with the existing paranoia of getting murdered in my sleep.

Sarah and Jess's place was the break I needed. I wasn't comfortable if a male was under the same roof as I was. Their apartment was located in Marden, not too far from the wedding venue (in case I needed to take public transport) and looked cosy. We communicated a fair bit through the website before I placed my booking with AirBnB for their place. The important thing to know when using AirBnB is that ask as many questions as you need to your hosts, before booking their place. Your safety must not be compromised.

Arriving horribly late after getting whirled off on a express tour of Hanhdorf and koalas, I apologised profusely to the ladies and settled into my new room.

The bed is very comfortable

Some things to keep you entertained

Ignore the mess. I had 2 hours to get dressed for dinner

Although the room was sparse, it was welcoming. I wanted to curl up and sleep when I got in! However I had to get ready for Chinese wedding tea ceremony, followed by dinner. As the wedding is held at a park, it was not convenient for the ceremony to be held there.

The ceiling to floor wardrobe had enough hangers for me to use. My hosts explained how the appliances worked and showed me where to help myself to breakfast. They even prepared a small booklet in the room of the public transportation routes and sights to see in Adelaide.

It was glorious waking up to the Australian spring mornings. I have more faith in AirBnB now due to Sarah and Jess's efforts making my trip more memorable.

You have to remember, AirBnB is not a hotel reservation service. It allows you to interact with prospective "landlords". So be considerate, no one is going to make your bed, there is no room service,there is no bellboy. You will be sharing a living space that belongs to someone or is someone's home. So be good, considerate and kind.

Sarah & Jane's place in Marden
Website: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/452455 

A wedding in Australia!

My first ever away cross an ocean wedding invitation!

My lovely childhood friend, Jo, was going to have her wedding ceremony at a lovely garden in Adelaide and she had invited me. She had invited some of our other friends but people began to drop out as the wedding date approached. Soon I was the only one left. I stuck to my guns and was determined not to let her be friendless. At least not from this part of the world.

I think that if a promise was made to attend a very close friend's wedding, it should be kept. IMO, certain memories are worth more than silly budgets.

It was unnerving to go to Australia again after so many years. I was surprised that I could sort out my visa, hassle free online. The last I went to Australia, I had to go to the airline office, present some ID and get the visa stapled in. Yes, many many years ago,

As the desert appeared in the window of the airplane, it was just breathtaking. Hmm, how close is Adelaide to the dessert?

On touchdown, I had a flashback of an incident with the Australian customs the last time I entered the continent. Basically they thought I was trying to plane hop. Puh-lease. Anyway, I insisted that the bride to be to wait at the clearance gate (in case the same thing happen again). Customs at Adelaide airport was very efficient and I went through without trouble.

Lots of hugs later and a T Bar Tea Salon later, I was sitting in the back of the car on the way to Hahndoft for lunch with the grooms family and friends. I kept telling my friend that I felt I was getting kidnapped and bundled cross-country.

Tea rack at T-bar

Hahndorf is a small but boasts of the oldest German settlement in Australia. I was given time to roam the streets with my friend's family and I was done within half an hour? It's a quaint village with restored Fachwerk buildings. I didn't pick up anything there except for some hello gifts for my AirBnB hosts. My first AirBnB experience!

Soldiers' memorial

I thought the aprons were very cute but it was out of my budget

Shops like these lined the street

 Lunch was at Hahndorf Chinese Restaurant. I couldn't whip out my camera and start shooting as it was after all a family get together lunch. Stragglers like myself were invited to join. The restaurant owners were close family friends and are from Kuala Lumpur! As I pitched in to help serving food (lots of aunties and uncles around), we started talking and found out that they used to stay in the same area as my grandmother. The groom did much of the cooking (he used to work part time there to learn kitchen skills) and we all tucked in. The eggrolls.... thumbs up!

I must admit that I did feel like I was intruding at times, but my lovely peeps made me as much included as possible.

Jo's husband then brought us up to Cleland Wildlife Park, a conservation park where visitors can interact with local Australian animals. It's like walking into the bush and encountering large groups of wallabies within reach. Of course, that won't happen in real life but it looks like that in the park. Kangaroos hop free and are not skittish of humans. It's a good place for a first time visitor to Australia or kids to get close and personal to the bigger animals. You may want to carry along some wet wipes to use after you are done touching them.

Spot the wallaby

Local wandering birds

Lone dingo in his winter coat

These shrews were everywhere!!

Trails through the park

When on the trail, you will see Giant Kangaroos

and baby kangaroos

Just beware of the geese. They can get quite territorial.

It's a good place to spend some time with the family wondering around.

Jo sent me to my hosts for my accommodation during my time in Adelaide. Her husband came up with me just to check the place out. I really appreciated his kind gesture because you never know with strangers. My experience with AirBnB in my next post!

Hahnorf Chinese Restaurant (hi uncles!)
Address: Main Street, Hahndorf SA 5245, Australia
Tel: +61 8 8388 7448
Price: AUD$$

Cleland Wildlife Park
Address: 365 Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers, SA 5152, Australia
Tel: +61 8 8339 2444
Email: clelandwildlifepark@sa.gov.au
Price: AUD$$