Exploring Kangaroo Island
Once more I had a chance to explore more of this beautiful island which I wrote about a while ago. You can find the post here: https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@wanderingkat/kangaroo-island-south-australian-gem
I simply love going away from traffic and crowds. To see the nature while also meeting some super friendly locals and also making sure to see new places. On this 5 day camp tour (where I was cooking for amazing bunch of people - 36 school kids and 4 teachers), I was able to try driving a van (which I've never done before and was a good practice for future travels), had some great conversations with kind, like-minded people, had a few laughs with the kids, found a weird looking quirky castle (I guess built by a local with a lot of free time), explored a few beaches, patted the neighbour's dog, saw a few local birds, tried the local cafe, shopped at the honey farm and of course made - and ate some yummy food.
As we stepped off the ferry, this was the view we saw. Not too bad at all!
Driving around KI (as the locals call it), is very easy, not much traffic and not many different roads to follow so shouldn't be a problem finding your way around. Unless you're like me and the compass in your head is not working that great (guilty).
No, I didn't get lost, but a few times I tested the power of the van (and my european driving skills) and scared the crap out of the other guy I was working with by turning too quickly as I missed a turn. Nice job van (and me), we are still alive.
And we can now peacefully enjoy some scenery from the beautiful Vivonne Bay and Emu Bay.
Vivonne Bay
Emu Bay
What a random thing to see on the beach :D
This little place wasn't open and I assume they would only be open during the weekends and during summer as there were not many people seen around.
George's castle
As we were close by, I thought checking out this castle was something easy and accessible. Didn't really know what to expect, I thought it might be a proper "pay for the ticket" kinda thing, but as I got there, soon I realised it was just 3 people present there. Me and my co-worker in the van and the older man (I assume he was the owner?), doing some gardening around the place.
We kept driving to the park and saw it is all free to enter. Complete silence and very strange looking castle with a lot of -as I call it- "random crap" around the place. It is quite common to see things like this around smaller towns as I guess collecting old stuff and building something creative for people to see, is a hobby for the local residents.
Must say, the place looks....interesting. A bit spooky but also something that makes you laugh. So if you are around the area, do check it out, it won't take you long and it's free. So may as well :D
Very creative George!
Clifford's Honey Farm
If you want to buy some local produce, this is the place to go. Clifford's Honey Farm offers so many products, from honey, treats, different cosmetics, gift packs and not forgetting their honey ice cream.
We were very fortunate that one of the teachers has a property on KI and she very kindly offered us her place to stay as we had some problems with accommodation. The place was beautiful and I feel very grateful to have this option available. If you are looking for a comfy place to stay, her place is one to consider. She does rent it on airbnb, you can find it by typing its name : Leo's place American River.
And while there, don't forget to pat the neighbour's dog that will come say hi all of a sudden :)
Higlights for me?
Two things that were my favourites on this trip away:
First: The stars!
On the first day, I ended up working around 15 hours. I was exhausted and coming to our accommodation, I was expecting to just focus and see the bed. But something else happened. As we parked the van, I looked up. So many stars seen! The sky was completely clear of clouds and I forgot how peaceful it is, to look at the sky, the stars and how intense the brightness is when you are away from all the lights, traffic, buildings...It was beautiful and made me appreciate where I was even more.
Second: The gift I received from the kids at the camp which was totally unexpected and so amazing to see.
They got me a notebook and some of the students wrote a few nice words for me to read. Made me a bit teary, I have to be honest!
So amazing, thank you little ones and wishing you all the best.
Thanks for watching, see you next time hive tribe!
Kat
Congratulations @wanderingkat! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s):
Your next target is to reach 3750 upvotes.
Your next target is to reach 200 comments.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
Congratulations @wanderingkat! You received the biggest smile and some love from TravelFeed! Keep up the amazing blog. 😍 Your post was also chosen as top pick of the day and is now featured on the TravelFeed.io front page.
Thanks for using TravelFeed!
@smeralda (TravelFeed team)
PS: Did you know that we recently launched the truvvl app? With truvvl, you can create travel stories on the go from your phone and swipe through nearby stories from other TravelFeed users. It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Thank you so much :))
i love the lost SOLES board... so creative... Have seen that. Such a pretty place. and how nice the kids created that notebook!
Yea I love to see things like this, when you really don't expect it. Always makes me laugh when seeing random creativeness.
And the kids sure made an effort, was a really cute gesture :)
My eyes looked straight to the vegan options in the café that you went. Great photos by the way. and its nice to have someone who has a property in your destination.
Yea they had a lot of vegan options, I'm not vegan but had a vegan wrap here which was delicious (pumpkin, beetroot, greens...was really filling and tasty).
The teacher was a really random surprise, I've never met her but she was really kind to give her place to complete strangers without expecting anything. She just said, she wants us to be rested enough since we have to put an effort in their everyday meals. So was a really nice things she did and made a huge difference for us :)
Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you like the pictures , it's way more pretty in real life :D
I bet its prettier in person! 🤗🤗🤗
Even though I read your post a bit late, it's really cool that you were there. You've visited a lot of places in Australia that I thought about visiting but didn't have the time, but I'm getting to know them really well through your posts haha.
I'm glad I can present some of the beautiful places you haven't had a chance to see yet. It may seem like I've seen a lot but there is still sooooo much to explore, this place is so huge! I wish I started earlier on but was focused on my studies too much unfortunately. But better late than never I suppose.
Thanks for the comment, and for your posts too, I love how you show me the places I'm dreaming of right now haha :D
yes that's right australia is really very very big... we have seen mainly the east coast at that time and when we fly there again we want to see the west coast there is supposed to be so much beautiful nature. yes haha I think also by traveling you learn so much in his young years. what did you study? I try to take a lot of time for traveling during my studies as much as possible:) haha with pleasure;))
Yea I haven't been to the West side yet either, I wanted to go to Perth a month ago for work but it got cancelled unfortunately like with everything these days..There's so much to explore on that side and I can't wait to explore it.
I studied commercial cookery (working as a chef still at the moment) but have been studying counselling for the last year which is where I'm headed (mental health).
What are you studying ?
Oh thats sad but you will certainly have the opportunity several times! Oh great that is certainly practical for yourself to have learned to cook;)) I imagine that is also interesting, especially you can make yourself there I think well self-employed or? I study law, but would like to make myself self-employed later I think with something else;)
Yea I ve been cooking for myself since I was 15 so it wasn't that hard haha, easiest study ever. I'm much more a practical person, I learn as I see things and as I work in places through experience. Wow, law that's awesome. Was just thinking the other day I should have studied law to then be able to find laws to protect people and fight for human rights! I think I'd be pretty good at it :D but I reckon it's a hard study. Totally get the being self employed thing, I'm heading there too, that was you can do anything and not be forced in anything. Only way to live I believe!