BOTANIC BRITAIN, red wine FROM THE WEST as well as SOUTH AFRICA right here WE COME

As the departures entrance makes its last phone call on September, we prepared ourselves for an October so full of travel it’s type of crazy.

In a great way!

With travel to Africa as well as the USA coming up, by the time October concerns an end, we’ll have taken practically 20 flights in just one month. as well as we can’t wait!

But this week, we’re prepping for this amazing trip to South Africa, we’re inspecting out a new release on some red wine from WA as well as we see Luke Nguyen’s restaurant in Sydney’s Botanic gardens to discover much more about see Britain’s newest travel trends.

It’s difficult to believe we’re getting prepared for our very first ever trip to the African continent. Christina as well as I are so thrilled – we’ve tried a number of times to get to Africa, however plans never seemed to work out.

Now, thanks to South Africa Tourism, we as well as three other Australian travel journalists are travelling to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to begin our legendary trip with South Africa.

It’s difficult to understand what to pack on a trip like this, however one thing’s for certain: our photography set is complete! Olympus is extremely generously financing us these two amazing lenses to handle safari, which is going to make all the difference.

The M.Zuiko digital ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 on the best is a new lens from Olympus as well as is so versatile. It’s likewise truly light compared to other lenses that provide the exact same amount of zoom (this thing can essentially double in length) so it’ll be ideal for broad landscape shots of the Kalahari Desert while likewise getting in close when the wildlife shows up.

We’re likewise taking with us the outstanding M.Zuiko digital ED 300mm f/4.0 IS pro from Olympus, which has so numerous features like 5-axis interior stabilisation, it’s dust as well as splash-proof as well as astonishing resolution it’s going to take our wildlife photography to a different level.

Before we head into the wilderness of the Kalahari, we’re making the most of one of our preferred Sydney specials I’ve got a feeling numerous locals don’t understand about.

It may come as a surprise to discover that El Loco – the Mexican-themed restaurant at the slip Inn in Sydney does a truly incredible burger. We were definitely shocked the very first time we had one.

Even much better than that, every Monday, you can get a burger for $15, as well as pints are $6 too. difficult to beat.

Now that the sun’s back out right here in Sydney, we’ve taken a break from packing as well as are enjoying a glass of red wine this afternoon.

Houghton, which has been making red wine because 1836, is one of Australia’s many awarded wineries, as well as their new Reserve variety appears like it’s going to bring on that trend.

The Reserve Chardonnay is incredibly drinkable, discovering that challenging balance of fruit-driven freshness as well as creamy oaked richness, as well as there’s lots of length on the surface too.

As for the Reserve Shiraz, it’s likewise a beautifully balanced wine. The cautious play between stylish tannins as well as the umami sweetness of cocoa produce a ideal medium-bodied example of a contemporary Shiraz.

Both these wines will react well to cellaring – if you have the willpower. as for pricing, they’re both $14.95RRP from major as well as independent sellers across Australia.

It’s been a while because we delighted in a red wine from Western Australia. It’s a much-overlooked red wine region with some exceptional wines, as well as the Houghton wisdom variety truly represents.

The wisdom Chardonnay 2018 is rather a wine. superbly full-bodied, this is what a WA Chardonnay (and I desire other regions would take note) ought to taste.

This is without a question a well-crafted wine, barrel-fermented as well as left on its lees for nine months has provided this fantastic Chardonnay lots of cereal notes as well as smooth texture.

And I even like the label!

Find your bottle from Dan Murphy’s or from Houghton’s direct right here – $40 RRP.

A kookaburra on a indication to the Opera home – this ought to most likely be an add for Sydney city, which is ironic as we’re off to lunch in the Botanic gardens to satisfy with see Britain tourism board when we area this guy!

Lunch is in Botanic House, best in the middle of the Botanic gardens overlooking the bay.

Of course, we’re thrilled about chatting the the see Britain team, however with chef Luke Nguyen running the show here, we understand the food is going to be something special.

We’re welcomed with a Hendricks gin as well as tonic, as well as a table covered with different garnishes – from rosemary to raspberries – to add to our drinks.

Combinations of flavours provide our G&Ts a taste of England, Wales as well as Scotland – strawberries as well as basil, raspberries as well as mint, as well as cucumber as well as rosemary respectively. as well as while we decide, a Beetles tribute band entertains us.

We’ve seen from our menus that there’s an English tone to the food, however as lunch is served, the humble fish as well as chips with mushy peas is a bit much more than that.

This crispy-skinned seared barramundi, its house-made tartare as well as dense mushy peas is a bit even more down the road than your typical chippy back home.

As for the beef option, this thick-cut striploin is tender as well as tasty, the roasted beetroot as well as confit eschallots is excellent.

While we eat, the see Britain team talk us with a number of different jobs in location at the moment in the UK to continue the stable flow of visitors to their shores.

In spite of all the political nonsense happening there at the moment, the UK is still extremely prominent in the tourism sector, as well as an essential part of the GDP (around 40% in fact).

Although London is the apparent drawcard for the nation, see Britain is working difficult to motivate visitors to check out even more afield, to see life beyond London.

In England’s northeast, the building of a parkland is underway that will be four times the size of Sydney’s Botanic Gardens, while our last trip to the UK definitely highlighted the depth of the culture goes much deeper than just the capital.

Here’s a ideal example of that from our trip to the lovely town of Lavenham, Suffolk.

Dessert is available in the type of either cheese (a incredibly savoury brie, a crumbly cheddar as well as an unctuous stilton) or this Eton mess.

For some reason, the cheese isn’t popular, so I switch my ice cream, Pimm’s marinated strawberries as well as meringue for all the dairy goodness I can reach!

Tonight, we’re at a celebration for our remarkable good friends Ken as well as Heidi’s birthdays. We’ve discussed these men before when Heidi introduced her book Her middle name Is Courage.

Their legendary soiree tonight is in Balmain as well as has the style of ‘reincarnation’ – either somebody you believe you were in a previous life or somebody you want to come back as.

Obviously, I’ve gone for a Guru look, while Christina’s come as an Italian contessa, which fits as she purchased that gown from a bit vintage store on the shores of Lake Iseo in Italy.

It’s an legendary celebration with great deals as well as great deals of Scarborough Chardonnay – Heidi’s as well as our favourite.

Everyone’s truly put in the effort for the celebration with so numerous excellent outfits. Heidi’s come as a Spanish gypsy as well as Ken to her left is the most incredible ’60s throwback you’ve ever seen. He’s even got the goldfish platform shoes!

In the background of Heidi’s speech you can see Marilyn Monroe as well as a Roman soldier. There are likewise a couple of Einsteins here, a rugby player as well as his WAG, mom Teresa as well as even a Princess Leia.

It’s the ideal evening as well as the ideal venue. The Balmain Rowers’ Club sits best on the water looking out to the west. A unforgettable night with some fantastic people.

It’s a sluggish begin this morning, the plentiful pourings of Chardonnay got the much better of us last night.

But we’ve moved far sufficient to work out lunch.

Knowing that we’ll be away from house for many of next month, we’re getting a super-charged bowl of Japanese goodness at Gumshara Ramen in the city.

The ramen bowls right here are rather extraordinary, made with a bone broth that is out of control.

Christina’s got a Hakata ramen that has a light soup, however I’ve gone whole hog with a spicy tonkotsu ramen thick soup as well as a soft-boiled egg on top.

The ramen right here is so tasty as well as feels rather wholesome too. The pork is tender as well as the noodles completely cooked. So good.

If you haven’t been right here before, this is now your priority. It’s in the eating world food court at the back of Chinatown, as well as it’s money only.

We hope you’ve delighted in this regular edition – the next one will be concerning you from South Africa!

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx