Wonders of Tassie

Three weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit Tasmania for a short five day getaway with family. I was lucky enough that my examinations ended earlier than normal, and as a result was able to accommodate the trip into my schedule :)

With regards to popularity, I'm not too sure how much Tasmania fares on that spectrum. All I did know about the state was that it isn't quite the metropolis of a city if you're looking at having a vacation that revolves around that aspect. That said though, there were a few art galleries and museums that were worth visiting. However, we didn't have the time to visit these places as we were only there for a very short period and our main focus of the itinerary was to visit the Cradle Mountain.

Altogether, we spent the first two nights in Hobart before spending the next two up in the Cradle Mountains. The final night was spent in a hotel next to the Hobart airport before catching our early morning flight back home.

Hobart in itself was quite an interesting city. Not the type of city I would live in, but picturesque-wise it was definitely breathtaking. The city centre isn't as congested as the other cities around Australia, and there aren't a lot of high-rised buildings either. Given the hilly nature of the city, I doubt high-rised buildings would be safe. Mountains can be seen from almost every spot, and the number of stars that could be seen at night was just magnificent. It was beauty beyond compare and in this aspect, Hobart has lots to offer. My dad was the main driver throughout the trip (curses Aisyah, you should have your license by now!) and I think he was pretty taken aback by how steep some of the slopes were!

We stayed at a nice little two storey motel / apartment whilst we were there. It was located atop a hill and the view was just gorgeous at night as it overlooked the city and the Tasmanian Bridge. However, seeing as we were only there for two nights, we weren't given the unit with the better view. It wasn't too bad however, the place was really cosy and (rather big) for a pax of 4 people. I think I should mention now that my dad actually made bookings for five people as my aunt was originally supposed to join us on the trip but due to personal reasons backed out at the last minute.

We technically only had one full day to spend roaming around Hobart. We arrived Hobart at around 4 in the afternoon on the first day and as it was winter, the days end really early in this part of the world. The sun sets at around 4.45 and by then there's hardly anything to see at the time. So we made full use of our second day in the city by visiting Mount Wellington and roaming around the weekend markets (Salamanca Market).

The highlight of my short day trip in Hobart has to be the journey up to Mount Wellington. It is during times like these that I am grateful to be the passenger in the car because I get to enjoy the beauty of the scenery around me whilst my dad drives us up to safety. I'll let the pictures below do the talking :)

The view was simply breathtaking from the top of Mount Wellington. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's visiting Hobart. It wasn't too far from the city, it took around 30 minutes to get there by car. I love places like these, it really reminds me of how vulnerable we humans are as compared to mother nature. Such beauty :)

The Salamanca markets was quite an experience too. Over in Melbourne it reminded me a lot of the South Melbourne markets, except that the vibe was a lot more relaxing somehow given the live bands and the number of people that were chilling by the grass. That, or maybe it was the overall feel a person gets when she's on a holiday :P It was nice to walk around and view the crafts and food that were available, it was a nice end to the day :)

The next morning saw us leave bright and early at 8.30 to head over to Cradle Mountain. This without a doubt was the highlight for my dad. I'm pretty sure he travelled all the way to Tasmania to visit the Cradle Mountains. 

The journey to the mountains wasn't exactly the smoothest one. Weather wise, it was cloudy and gloomy that day (and for the rest of the time we were there) and the mist was really thick as well. That, coupled with the long windy road and five hour drive took a toll not only on the driver but on the passengers too. I was the navigator for the trip, so my responsibility was to make sure my dad was alert the whole time. This also meant that I had to stay awake the whole trip too. 

The mist that we saw for three straight hours.

We arrived Cradle Mountain at close to three in the evening. Sadly, the weather up in the mountains wasn't the most welcoming. It was raining the moment we arrived and pretty much stayed the same way for the next few days we were there. I find that this isn't so weird in Australia where the weather tends to get wet when they're in the midst of changing seasons. There is also no scientific fact or proof behind my previous sentence so don't quote me please :P

We stayed at one of the lodging places there. Besides the tourist information centre, Cradle Mountain hosts several different lodging sites. The place we stayed at was really cosy, and we particularly liked it because of the indoor heating that was provided. Though I'm pretty sure all the accommodation sites had indoor heating given the location. But really, we were very satisfied with our place. 

Seeing as how it's a nature park, getting along the cradle mountain was fairly easy. Should you wish not to drive up to the starting points of each hiking route, the only journey you need to make is to the information centre (there is only one there). A shuttle service is provided for anyone who wishes to get along the mountain, and all you need to do is purchase a ticket for the shuttle and you can bring yourself around the area the entire day. There are several different passes that are available depending on how long you're going to be there, but we purchased the day pass as we were only going to be tackling a 2hr hike. 

We took the Dove Circuit, and I was really bummed out that the weather was not in our favour because it voided us from what would have been a beautiful view. Needless to say, I was just very grateful then to have been safe and sound where I was and tried not to complain too much. Besides, it was still very romantic in its own way despite the wetness of it all. 

In the evening we visited a conservation centre that housed the MVP of the wildlife in Tasmania - the Tasmanian Devil. Now I'd seen a tasmanian devil before - not personally but in pictures - but I'd never heard the sound the animal made. We took a shuttle to the centre (the shuttle picked us up straight from the reception of our accommodation). Our driver warned us to not be alarmed upon hearing the cry of the animal, a warning I took almost too lightly.

I don't have any photos from that night as it was freezing cold and we were out in the open to view the animals. What I can say is that the photos wouldn't have done any justice to the sounds that I heard that night. The Tasmanian Devil without a doubt was given the name "devil" because of the way it sounds. I wish I could describe it aptly, but the closest I can get is to ask you to imagine every possible sound you'd ever heard an animal make and mix all that up together.

One thing I enjoyed the most about being up at the Cradle Mountains was the amount of wildlife I got to see right up close. There were pademelons, wallabies and wombats everywhere. In fact, we saw a few paddy's right in front of our deck.

As opposed to the mainland, majority of the wildlife in Tasmania have a high survival rate as dingos (the main predator) isn't found there. In fact, we saw several more whilst we were hiking along the Dove Circuit. Our driver also brought us along for a little sightseeing session after our conservation trip. All we needed was a spotlight really, most of the animals were out hunting at night and it wasn't too difficult to run across one. That said, the speed limit up in the mountains was set to about 40km/h for most of the areas. Mainly for the safety of the drivers but also due to the animals that cross the roads on occasion. May I add that the pace in which a wombat waddles across is really really slow?? It's so ridiculous... ly adorable!!!! :P Imagine a stubby square lump waddling across the fields hahaha how cute?!

We left early the next day to make our 5hr journey back to Hobart. We stayed at the airport hotel as our flight was at 5.30 in the morning the next day. We arrived Hobart in the evening, had dinner and then slept before waking up and leaving at 4.30am for the airport.

Overall, I'd definitely want to visit Tasmania again. I'd love to go to the Cradle Mountains once more in a better season and hike up their other tracks. There is so much to do up at the mountains if you're an enthusiast about nature, hiking and camping. It's also really friendly for families with children as they have several trails that cater to people of all athletic levels. I'd also love to explore Hobart a lil more and travel to Launceston because I've heard that city has lots to offer too. All in all, Australia's just a beautiful country that has lots to offer :)

Looking very much forward to my next holiday in the future. I enjoy all sorts of holidays, but it's always a different sort of relaxation that comes with a holiday that exposes you to the beauty and wonder of mother nature. Just me, the sky and the trees.

I hope this lengthy post makes up for my month long absence, I've missed this space very much.

Till then,
xx.

Photos taken and edited by me.

Drinking 3litres of water everyday - 10 years younger?!

When I stumbled upon this post on Facebook more than half a year ago, I felt sceptical about the results. I mean, I've seen what photoshop can do to pictures and as much as it can help to beautify pictures, it also deceives you from the truth. I find it hard to believe pictures that I see on the internet nowadays, especially those that stem from articles proving results of experiments or products that supposedly work. 

However, I do know that water is important and am aware of the fact that I used to drink a lot less than the daily intake required. It used to affect me quite a bit, to the point that having issues with my bowels due to the lack of water happened so often it became an indicator for me to start drinking. 

Fortunately, I only started realising the consequences of not drinking enough a few months ago.

You would know by now that I apply make-up, and it has reached a point where I don't feel comfortable leaving the house without it. The main reason though? My dark eye circles.

I don't only have dark eye circles, but at a tender age of 21 years I already have several lines underneath them. I've been told that these lines are here to stay and are a result of my eczema and dry skin. However, it reached a point whereby no concealer could hide the fact that I looked very tired and perhaps much older than my age. Furthermore, if eczema wasn't enough to cause dry skin, having lack of water in my system certainly wasn't helping much. I felt like a human sized shrivelled up prune.

Image Credits: Pinterest

So one day, I decided to put the experiment to the test. I made a promise to drink at least 3 litres of water everyday (hitting a maximum of 4 litres) and here are the results:

These photos are 100% true to what you see, the only difference is the lighting during the time I took the photo. I can safely say that I see a significant change in my face as a whole, it's definitely a lot more plump (in a good way). However, what I love the most about this experiment is the effect it has on my eyes!! The area around my eyes are so much more plump now, and the lines are not as visible as they used to be. Also, it's not obvious in the photo but I noticed that my dark eye circles have reduced significantly too. I can't say for sure if this is an effect of the water or just my having proper sleeping hours but I would like to think the water had a role to play. 

This is the first time I've seen a photo comparison of my eyes before and after the experiment and I am honestly quite amazed at the results. I kid you not, this is real life!!

10 years younger? Okay maybe not, I definitely do not look 11... but I know I sure feel good about myself! Drinking 3 litres of water has not only helped with my appearance but I feel less bloated and a lot more energised and healthy as a whole. The only thing I dislike about this process is the number of trips I have to make to the toilet each day :P

To conclude, the article was true!! The effect may have been more significant for the lady in the article considering her age as compared to mine. I personally saw the difference in my complexion after two weeks of drinking 3 litres of water everyday. The important and tricky part is to be consistent with your intake. However, please do not drink more than 3 litres if possible, and I would highly recommend you seek a doctor before you head on to try this. People can die from drinking too much water. Remember that too much of a good thing is a bad thing too! 

One thing you have to be warned about is that this does not in any way help you to lose weight. It certainly does assist in detox (I cannot emphasise the satisfaction I feel after taking a huge dump hehe) but the only way to lose weight is through exercise and clean eating! Drinking does make you full though, and that causes you to consume less food which could help you lose a few pounds in the long run. 

Do let me know if any of you try this out!! I really would recommend it. I fail to drink 3 litres some days, I won't deny that it's hard to keep track of the amount of water you're drinking. I personally like to lay off drinking so much on long days because I'm not exactly a fan of using the public toilets either. Trust me, you will need the toilet very often. 

Happy drinking!! :) 

xx

Lipstick Revamp for Spring!

I realised I have yet to get down to writing a beauty related post (the main reason why I started this blog in the first place)! It has been a while, but I am back :)

If I failed to mention it before, I'll mention it now: Spring has sprung in Melbourne town! The weather has been temperamental as usual (we experienced winter weather this past week), but thank goodness because today's the last day of cold! Weather forecast looks promising for the days ahead, and I simply can't wait for all the sunshine in the world to come my way :)

Now that spring has arrived, I don't feel right using my red lipsticks anymore. Does anyone else feel wrong having to use reddish hues during spring? I don't know, perhaps it's just me. I feel almost... rebellious doing so :P

So given that I no longer wanted to use red, I headed to the local drugstore and purchased new lip candy! :) This was definitely a form of therapy considering the amount of stress I was going through at that point in time due to school work. 

I am LOVING these new lip colours so so much. It's often rare for me to find a pinkish hue that matches my skin tone. I am incredibly jealous of girls who can pull off pink shades, I think they are such a lovely colour but unfortunately does not go with me :( 

If you also didn't already know, Revlon has to be one of my favourite brands thus far when it comes to lipsticks. For these two ranges in particular, I realised that there was no need to have applied lip balm before putting on the lipstick. My lips were still incredibly moisturised throughout the day, and that's saying something because my lips can't go a day without moisturiser else it gets chapped. If you do choose to apply lip balm beforehand, be warned that the effect you'll get from the lipstick won't be as matte as you'd like. Rather I found that the texture was very slippery almost, and it wasn't a very nice feeling to have. I preferred it much more without the lip balm on. 

I have been using these colours everyday since I've purchased them, and I am madly in love with the mood it puts me in! :) I usually mix juicy papaya with tutti frutti because the combination really packs a punch.

It feels so much more like spring now with these newest additions to my lip collection. I hope this lasts though, I tend to change the colour of the lipstick I wear according to my moods. It helps to make life just that bit more interesting.

How do you like these colours? Are any of them in your personal lipstick collection? ;) I'd love to know!!

Have a lovely weekend ahead ♡
xx

The Body Shop BB Cream

I'm not sure if I've mentioned how avid of a fan I am of The Body Shop. Not only are their products affordable and smell good, they always work for me and they have excellent service to boot. It doesn't matter which part of the world I'm in, each Body Shop girl I've come across provides me with excellent service and is always helpful in answering my queries. I find this especially helpful for someone who's still experimenting with make-up and facial products. Always feel welcomed in the store :)

If you also don't already know, I'm a huge fan of Zoella. Now considering how The Body Shop is a British brand, its only natural that products are released there first before anywhere else in the world. So when I saw this make an appearance in one of Zoe's daily vlogs, my mood was dampened when I realised that it hadn't yet been imported and placed on the shelves in my local store. You can only imagine how long I anticipated for it's arrival.

This is most probably the first BB cream I've used from the company. When it comes to make-up, my first option is usually powder (I use The Body Shop's Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder). I've never really been a fan of BB cream because I find that it cracks on my face due to my dry skin. I have to admit that I was actually slightly hesitant on trying this product despite my excitement because I was afraid that it wouldn't work on me. 

How wrong I was. 

Not only is the tea tree extract healing and perfect for my skin, but I don't have to apply concealer on my under eyes either! It's easy to apply on the face, and it provides perfect coverage to last the day :) My face doesn't dry up either, although I do have to say that I did apply hefty amounts of moisturiser prior to the BB cream. 

My skin tone is definitely evened out with the cream. I actually think I prefer the after-effect the BB cream has on my skin as compared to powder. It looks more natural and the colour blends in better. Facial powder tends to leave a thin layer on your face (of a colour a shade lighter than your skin tone). Or perhaps it's just me, I may have purchased the wrong powder shade for myself (it was recommended by the salesgirl though...)

But I would definitely recommend you to try the BB cream!! :) A downside is that it only comes in two shades, 01 & 02. So if your skin tone can't match that of the shades then that's a problem... Though I don't think that'll be much of a problem because I think the cream kind of evens out to match your skin (or maybe it's just an illusion my mind is playing on me hahaha). I've also read on other blogs and reviews that it works well on all skin types - oily skin types included! It's been great for me so far and if my skin is extremely dry and sensitive then I don't think it'll hurt to try it :)

My entire make-up collection is from the Body Shop oh my. Well, all except my lipstick. Can I be your ambassador please Body Shop? I can live in your store anytime. 

Have any of you tried the BB cream yet? Or is anyone else a huge fan of The Body Shop? We should be friends!! Hehe :) Have a great week ahead! :)

xx.

I'm obsessed

... with lipstick.

As a child I've always toyed around with my mother's lipstick collection. It was such a joy back then to be my mum's little stylist, I remember choosing the lipstick colour each morning as my mother was preparing herself for work. My mother had her fair share of colours, her collection wasn't huge but it was enough.

I've always wanted a huge lipstick collection. Maybe one that's similar to Zoella's. Perhaps I shall one day have enough in my collection to open a store *inserts delirious eyes*

Anyway, my current favourite lipstick brand at the moment has to be Revlon. I suppose it's considered a drugstore product (correct me if I'm wrong) but for the price I'm paying for these, I'd hardly consider them drugstore.

Here are some of my favourites from my collection:

This has to be my FAVOURITE thus far. I don't know if you've noticed how used the tip is. I am in love with this colour. I have pretty tanned/brown skin, so the orange gives me a nice healthy finish. I love this series in particular because I don't find it very dry on my lips. I've always had very dry lips up till today, but the lacquer balm is moisturising enough for me. 

This was the first matte lipstick I added to my collection. I decided to be adventurous when I purchased this because it's a dark red - a colour I was not bold enough to wear before. I used this during Eid celebrations this year back at home, and received compliments for the colour :) I've been using this quite often recently, the colour is perfect for winter. 

This next one is a very light red, and I find myself having to apply several layers due to the shine effect it has on my lips which makes it almost invisible. Butttt I LOVE this. I find that it adds a subtle pop of colour and gives me a healthier glow. I use this on days I'm not feeling too adventurous.

This next one looks pink, but it actually comes out as red! This is similar to the first photo I shared, except that it's a matte balm instead. I haven't been using this as much because I haven't been able to match it with my winter outfits. Hoping to using more frequently once spring comes!

This final one was the first purplish lipstick I added to my collection. I never thought I'd end up with a purplish lipstick but this colour was too pretty to resist. It's perfect for winter, and the fact that it's shine rather than matte, once applied it sits lightly on your lips and the colour isn't too overbearing. Glad I made the bold decision to purchase this!

So that's about it for my top 5 from my collection. And no, I don't only own Revlon in case you were wondering :P I don't own any of the higher end lipstick products... YET. Since I'm still rather new to this whole idea of applying lipstick, I thought I'd invest in a few cheaper yet good quality ones to practice with before I invest in more expensive ones. Although at the current moment I don't have a thing against Revlon. It also helps that their ambassador is Emma Stone (the only reason I tried it in the first place). 

Ah right, that's about it from me for today's post then! Till the next one

xx.