A Curious Lunch and Local Art Stop in Kaniva

While road-tripping across Victoria towards Adelaide last month, my husband and I decided to stop roughly midway in the regional town of Kaniva for lunch. Kaniva is a remote town, located about 400 kilometres, or roughly four and a half hours’ drive from Melbourne on the Western Highway. 

It’s here we found a gorgeous retro-styled vintage café that specialises in vegetarian and gluten free options called Heartfelt. This was our lunch go-to during our nine-hour drive westbound. We also decided to stop here on the way home to Melbourne after the Adelaide Vegan Festival.

What I’ve learned through travel is that you can never experience the same destination in the same way twice. Kaniva, despite its small town vibe and modest population of just over 1000, was no exception. Both times we visited Heartfelt, there was a new vegan-friendly, gluten-free salad four our local vegan lunch. A chickpea and roasted pumpkin salad with herbs and orange segments folded throughout and sprinkled in sunflower seeds was enjoyed in the warm sun at an outdoor table while sipping on a grapefruit mineral water. The weather in Kaniva is usually warm and summery; a relaxing lunch to break up the monotony of our long drive. While paying the bill a quick wander through Heartfelt’s interior was candy for the eye – vintage, upcycled crockery and trinkets, cute bunting, local artwork and gloriously restored furniture. It’s all fitting, considering this was originally Kaniva’s Gilpin Variety Store back in the day.

On the return trip, the salad choice switched to a wild rice and roasted beetroot salad dressed in seeded vinaigrette and topped with more of those sunflower seeds and lush green herbs. Outdoors was also switched for the indoors as we took a seat by the sun-drenched shop window. I ordered a soy fair-trade latte to partner my salad, yet it was served in a mug! This was big country value and hospitality when all I was expecting was a Melbourne-sized latte glass. It’s no wonder Heartfelt serves its namesake so warmly and welcoming to weary travellers like this; it makes turning to the long road just that little bit easier.     

Mike Baird's Year Of Living Dangerously

 

Is the end nearing for NSW Premier Mike Baird?

It depends on who you ask, but if the state's 44th premier decides to leave office, the contenders for the top job are already being lined up by commentators following a tough year.

The man himself appears unfazed, reportedly telling the National Press Club last week he wants "everyone to relax," and telling the audience that while Canberra was good for a holiday, he had no intention of going federal.

And what might prompt Baird, once the country's most popular premier, to abandon office? Well, a number of issues haven't gone his way in 2016.

FAIRFAX

The new Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, watches Premier Mike Baird throw some papers across the room in parliament after he was appointed the NSW Nationals leader, in Sydney.

There are two stories about Baird and his government running side by side this year.

In June Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian revealed a rudely healthy 2016 budget showing the state had no debt, was close to full employment and was in the midst of record infrastructure spending. Last month Berejiklian said the budget surplus will be $4.7 billion.

The state will also make a cool $7 billion from the privatisation of electricity company Transgrid, the first of three such privatisations the government has in mind.

"This result is a stunning result for the people of NSW," Baird said on Wednesday.

Despite having a positive story to tell, there are numerous issues weighing on Baird's leadership.

Baird has been under sustained criticism for the state's lockout laws, and sustained a heated backlash over the state's Westconnex, Sydney Metro and the light rail projects.

The State Government's current stance on land clearing has also left it open to criticism.

He's also faced jarring denunciations from high profile legal eagles over moves to recast the make-up of the state's anti corruption watchdog, a move viewed by some, including the opposition, as vengeance for the Independent Commission And Crime Commission's investigations into numerous Liberal (and Labor) politicos.

PETER RAE/FAIRFAX

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian announce the lease of Ausgrid in October.

These moves, which may lead to the replacement of ICAC Commissioner Megan Latham -- the motives behind which are highly debatable -- have set the state's battle against corruption "back for years" according to one former ICAC commissioner.

And all this after the Premier's backdown on the Greyhound racing ban -- a ban that arguably helped to heap on the drubbing at the Orange by-election, costing coalition partners The Nationals a seat they've held since 1947.

Baird's Deputy Premier, Troy Grant, stepped down from the NSW Nationals leadership role to be replaced by John Barilaro in the wake of the by-election, which saw Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party claim victory after the Nationals called for a re-count.

FAIRFAX MEDIA

Baird has come under sustained criticism over his government's moves to change the make up of ICAC, which saw commissioner Megan Latham resign this week.

Shooters' candidate Philip Donato beat The Nats' Scott Barrett by 50 votes.

One of the men touted as Baird's potential successor, Planning Minister Rob Stokes, on Friday put himself at odds with the Federal Government by having a forceful go at its negative gearing policy.

Labor, which has capitalised well on the greyhound issue and has used the Orange loss to call for council amalgamation reform, on Friday launched an attack on Stokes and Baird's other potential successor, NSW Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian.

FAIRFAX MEDIA

NSW opposition leader Luke Foley (left) and NSW shadow Minister for gaming and racing, Michael Maley, on July 31 as they call for the Greyhound industry to be reformed, not banned.

"The State's approach to fixing the housing affordability crisis is six years behind the mark all because the Baird Government has relied on one policy -– adding more supply," NSW Deputy Opposition Leader Michael Daley said in the statement, which named both Stokes and Berejiklian.

The Premier is ending the year amid pressure for a cabinet reshuffle, tipped for December or early next year.

With the next NSW election set for 2019, Baird has room to recover.

But with key parts of his agenda complete or on track -- council amalgamations, asset sales and infrastructure projects -- and signs his problems aren't going away, the former investment banker may not want to.

Turning Can’t into Vegan Gluten Free Can-Do at Abitza Café in Upwey

We are all reluctantly familiar with the word ‘can’t’. Recently, I’ve had to incorporate a gluten-free element to my vegan diet, and the word ‘can’t’ is starting to emerge more in my travels. Food outlets are accommodating, but usually to a certain extent. I understand that, and I’m definitely not one to seek out special treatment. Though, now I need to for health reasons. A sunny drive into Upwey in Melbourne’s outer east meant a lunchtime stop to try out Abitza Café. There was word that vegan options are free-flowing here, except I wasn’t sure how many vegan gluten-free options would be available.

Stepping into Abitza is like arriving home. This converted shopfront is a little deceiving in the sense that there are a couple of cosy breakout rooms furnished by tables and chairs, a comfy couch and cushions. Before even taking a seat, we stand politely near the counter to discover we can choose a spot wherever we like and we’re encouraged to come back to the counter and order as we wish. Sue is warm, smiling and the matriarch of this calming whole foods café. Her warmth travels along to the acoustic tune from above; the soulful urban poetry of Tracy Chapman’s self-titled album.

Sue quickly showers us with glasses, a big vessel of water and unwavering hospitality. “Yes, we can do something for you,” she declares. After a little back-and-forth, I discover that my lunch choice – Vegan Burger – will be a vegan, chickpea and lentil burger (spiced lightly), potato chips, fresh garden salad and a serve of raw pumpkin salad and sided by vegan mayonnaise (all sans bread bun).

When we go without, we are blessed with what we get in return and I realise that Abitza Café is all about what it can do for its ‘amazing’ customers. No sooner am I feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for Sue’s positive ethic, my chai tea arrives in front of me together with its own teeny-tiny bowl of cinnamon. I pinch some of this sweet-smelling spice and roll its scratchy fineness between my fingertips. I sprinkle this light brown powder over the cloud of soy milk froth then lift the cup to my lips as my nose catches that brief scent of cinnamon. The chai, made from scratch here at Abitza, is a melody of spice and sweetness without a need for added sugar. The gentle flow of warm, nourishing chai brings homely warmth to my body; this meal is going to be alright.     

My meal arrives with impeccable timing; within minutes of finishing my moment with a cup of Abitza’s chai tea. Finely chopped raw pumpkin salad is folded through a layer of fresh spinach, topped by sliced tomato and cucumber that’s speckled by a seeded dressing. A dollop of vegan mayonnaise tries to hide under my thickly cut chips. That’s what those chips are going to be dunked in before slicing through my wholesome chickpea burger. My vegan gluten-free burger is transformed into a filling lunch that sees me out through the rest of the afternoon.    

A Curious Lunch and Local Art Stop in Kaniva

While road-tripping across Victoria towards Adelaide last month, my husband and I decided to stop roughly midway in the regional town of Kaniva for lunch. Kaniva is a remote town, located about 400 kilometres, or roughly four and a half hours’ drive from Melbourne on the Western Highway. 

It’s here we found a gorgeous retro-styled vintage café that specialises in vegetarian and gluten free options called Heartfelt. This was our lunch go-to during our nine-hour drive westbound. We also decided to stop here on the way home to Melbourne after the Adelaide Vegan Festival.

What I’ve learned through travel is that you can never experience the same destination in the same way twice. Kaniva, despite its small town vibe and modest population of just over 1000, was no exception. Both times we visited Heartfelt, there was a new vegan-friendly, gluten-free salad four our local vegan lunch. A chickpea and roasted pumpkin salad with herbs and orange segments folded throughout and sprinkled in sunflower seeds was enjoyed in the warm sun at an outdoor table while sipping on a grapefruit mineral water. The weather in Kaniva is usually warm and summery; a relaxing lunch to break up the monotony of our long drive. While paying the bill a quick wander through Heartfelt’s interior was candy for the eye – vintage, upcycled crockery and trinkets, cute bunting, local artwork and gloriously restored furniture. It’s all fitting, considering this was originally Kaniva’s Gilpin Variety Store back in the day.

On the return trip, the salad choice switched to a wild rice and roasted beetroot salad dressed in seeded vinaigrette and topped with more of those sunflower seeds and lush green herbs. Outdoors was also switched for the indoors as we took a seat by the sun-drenched shop window. I ordered a soy fair-trade latte to partner my salad, yet it was served in a mug! This was big country value and hospitality when all I was expecting was a Melbourne-sized latte glass. It’s no wonder Heartfelt serves its namesake so warmly and welcoming to weary travellers like this; it makes turning to the long road just that little bit easier.        

While Kaniva is a predominantly rural, farming town of sheep stations and wheat crops, the town idolises its farming animals through artwork around town in a celebratory spirit. This made me wonder how a remote town that relies on animal agriculture can depict animals – sent to slaughter – in outdoor art installation in a human-like context. I didn’t start questioning this until I visited the Curious Beasts Art Exhibition at the South Australian Museum once we reached Adelaide.

The exhibition was a curated collection of prints from the 15th to the 19th century from artists such as George Stubbs, Albrecht Dürer and Francisco de Goya. During the Early Modern Era, ‘most people believed that God had created animals for human use and accordingly viewed them in the context of human concerns’. Curious Beasts provided a snapshot into art that stemmed from the wonderment that artists had about animals from far-flung countries. These prints delivered to audiences – that may have had a lack of access to travel – knowledge about exotic animals, which isn’t always a bad thing. Though, that ‘human use’ was a constant over-hanger throughout the exhibition.  

If I could pull another quote from the exhibition: ‘When we look at animals, we often reveal something of ourselves.’ Curiosity, if piqued enough in the context of art, can distort interpretation. It’s through this curiosity when, oftentimes during Curious Beasts, animals were depicted in bizarre, even grotesque, circumstances. Within some prints, animals were painted as humans wearing suits and in daily life situations where roles were reversed.

This reflection brought me back to my point about experiencing a destination with new eyes each time you visit. By the time I reached Kaniva on the return, I realised that this style of curious artistry is still occurring in present day; in art installations here in Kaniva of all places. Which then made me start to wonder – if sheep are portrayed in a human way through this art, then why are sheep still being harvested through animal agriculture for human gain? It’s a deep question I contemplated for the rest of the drive back to Melbourne.    

GPSmyCity: Customised GPS-Guided Travel for Meandering Travellers like You

As a meandering, mostly self-guided, traveller, I like to let the road lead me the way; from discovering local secrets and amazing local food to unwaveringly warm hospitality from the locals who know the area the most intimately.  I enjoy bringing my discoveries to the web through my blog, and sharing the deep insights that amplify my experiences. Travel has an immeasurable way of delivering us these unique experiences.  

We are also heavily reliant on the use of a smartphone during our travels and we can make our travel even more intimate through the use of a GPS and using apps or sourcing travel articles online. Recently, my phone decided to die from a memory deficit though I was quick to replace it with a sparkling new unit. And, it’s only recently that I’ve discovered the unlimited benefits of apps. Admittedly, I am a late bloomer when it comes to adopting technology and weaving it into my travel. In the case of apps, at first, my old school mind was a little wary.

It was about this same time when GPSmyCity approached me to file some of my travel articles to their GPS fuelled app so that they can be transformed into self-guided city walks. The beauty of my travel articles being accepted by GPSmyCity is that I can experience the wonder that this new world of apps can provide me personally, while broadening the horizons of my wayfaring travel readers for the benefit of their own travel. GPSmyCity is currently mapping out these self-guided walks for cities around the globe, using individualised travel articles, in one central location. Imagine the unlimited bandwidth of local travel knowledge, all housed in the one GPS app? Travellers like you can be led the way to many dot-points so you can truly experience a destination in an intimate way – like me! All you need to do is pick and choose the articles you want to access and before you know it, you’re motoring along on your way.     

Gratefully, I have had one of my travel articles accepted by GPSmyCity – ‘Mapping out a Vegan Foodie Tour of Inner City Sydney’. What a way to pop my app newbie cherry, hey? Incredible. Another thought that is racing through my mind is the realisation that anyone who buys and downloads the app can experience some of the memorable local spots that I have, though experiencing these spots in their own unique way. My travel articles are now written from a vegan perspective, yet I’m so thankful that vegans and non-vegans alike can access my local knowledge so they too can travel the vegan road – whether it’s out of curiosity or a lifestyle necessity.

I’ve never been one to include the actual directions to the spots I focus on, yet GPSmyCity does this for travellers, making the self-guided approach all the more easy and accessible. Plus, you just upload the guide you want, so no fluff or filler to deal with. You can create your own bank of guides, depending on the roads you follow. How customisable and unique to your travels?   

Celebrating Milestones over High Tea at Street Organics

The end to 2016 is only a cornerstone away. I’m finding myself in deep thought about the celebrations that have occurred this year, along with the celebrations to come as Christmas inches closer by the day. When we celebrate an occasion, food is almost always a major part of it, just like the friends and relatives we invite to help us celebrate our best moments in life. The centrepiece for a birthday is always a birthday cake, a Christmas celebration is always surrounded by copious amounts of food and desserts including a Christmas pudding. Wedding anniversaries may involve getting dressed up to hit the town and enjoy a gourmet meal with a beloved, life-long partner.

In October this year, my husband and I celebrated our ten-year wedding anniversary. Reflecting over these last ten years, I realised we have both celebrated our days together with countless meals cooked at so many restaurants both here in Melbourne, interstate and abroad overseas. Part of our journey together has also involved deciding to go vegan. Going vegan, in itself, has been a ground-breaking trip for both of us. On an individual level we have each achieved some tremendous personal goals in health and wellbeing. To celebrate our ten years of marriage, and celebrate the vegan road travelled thus far, my husband booked in a surprise high tea at Street Organics in Malvern, here in our hometown Melbourne.

I love taking high tea at Street Organics, ‘passionate advocates for toxin-free living and organic food’, for a few reasons. High tea is served as organic, vegan and gluten free, I can enjoy gorgeously fragrant teas along with vegan goodies served on a tiered stand, the upstairs dining room is reserved only for high tea diners among pretty surrounds, and Street Organics has a way of marrying organic food with a healthy lifestyle.

We settle in on this drizzly, overcast day (just as our wedding day started off) over a red clover and lemon tea, served in a dainty cup and saucer, before the first tower of food arrives. It’s when the tower arrives that I continue reminiscing over our special day ten years ago. We had chosen to serve our first meal as husband and wife, and to our guests, in three tiered towers over three courses just like this. It’s uncanny how history repeats somewhat, only this time it’s all vegan and gluten free. Raw zucchini rolls stuffed with fresh, raw veggies and spouts, raw blueberry and passionfruit plant-based cheesecake, and decadent squares of creamy raw caramel slice; all tasty and bursting with fresh flavours. To toast this delicious first course, and our celebration, we’re served kombucha and lime mocktails. Our little celebration for two is relaxing and intimate with vegan food being the crown to our milestone day.

By second course, we’re treated to a plant-based cheese board of nut cheeses – red capsicum and spring onion and dill. To slice and smear it on we’re supplied with dehydrated vegie crackers and vegan-friendly, gluten-free seeded raw bread. A handful of dried figs complement the experience of pecking over the board while combining cheeses on these little platforms of tastiness. The trick is to balance the cheese to bread/cracker ratio; at times it’s easy to over-serve on one or the other!

As we approach fullness, we still have one more course with which to seal our celebration – just like our wedding, it’s the anticipated dessert course. And again, sweet favourites are served on two tiers: generous slices of chocolate and peppermint plant-based cheesecake, rich chocolate tart and mini jars of smooth avocado cacao mousse garnished with fresh strawberry and crushed nuts. A soy chai latte scattered with cinnamon is a warming finish to this celebration for two.

While our ten-year wedding celebration reaches its end, I realise that there are still many long and exciting roads, filled with many yummy vegan experiences, yet to be travelled together. Sharing the journey with my beloved partner is a big part of that fun.

Finding our Travel Flow in Adelaide

My husband and I decided to travel to Adelaide for the weekend a few years back. Chris had always wanted to see his AFL football team, the Hawks, play interstate so we booked in a weekend to Adelaide to fulfill one of his travel dreams.

On the morning of our departure, Chris realised that he had lost his wallet. “Yikes!” My mind started to spin. “How on Earth are we going to get on the plane without Chris having any ID? How are we going to hire the car waiting for us in Adelaide without a credit card? How will we be able to leave a security credit card swipe with the hotel?” Worry immediately set in. Yet, like any trip, we breathed in deep, accepted our predicament and headed for the airport to try our luck.

When we arrived at the airport, we realised that we had pre-booked our e-tickets under a carry-on luggage classification. We sped to the self-check-in stands and checked in as fast as we could. No ID needed here! We breezed through security and boarded the plane flawlessly. Phew.

Once we landed in Adelaide, we discovered that it’s a city bursting with possibilities, whether it be sport, culture or the arts. What would our possibilities be with only a limited supply of cash? Our question was answered early on when we tried to pick up the hire car. No credit card to swipe for security, no car hire we were told; company policy. We were left with no other choice but to cancel our booking and we were sent on our way with an apology. We checked my wallet and dug out a small amount of cash that was just enough to catch a taxi to our hotel in the city.

Upon arriving at our hotel, we hit another snag in our course. Without a credit card, we needed to provide a $200 cash security deposit. I still had cash in my savings account and handed over my EFTPOS card. “How are we going to eat this weekend?” I started to panic. We thought quickly then made a deal with the hotel. If we pay the security upfront we can ask for $50 back after each day of our stay, so we could cover the basic expenses. They obliged willingly, given our circumstances. “Hooray! We can eat!” We checked in to our room after another sigh of relief.

We started exploring the city by foot and calculated a few things that would go our way during our weekend away. After wandering through the city’s relaxing, and free, public parklands and admiring the city’s gorgeous colonial architecture in neighbouring backstreets, we located a few spots for a cheap eat to get us through our main meals of each day. One such find was at the unassuming Adelaide Casino across the road from our hotel. For around $11 each we scored a cooked lunch that kept us going for the rest of the day. This still left us with cash leftover to take us on a tram ride to the front beaches of Glenelg. Such a lovely daytrip that was within a hop, skip and jump from our lodgings. We wandered in the sunshine along Jetty Road and learnt more about the history of this seaside suburb at the Bay Discovery Centre; a free museum for visitors to Adelaide.

We also found out that we could catch a free public bus outside our hotel on North Terrace that could take us straight to the game the next day. Luckily, we paid for our footy tickets in advance!

By the Monday, we checked out with memories of Chris fulfilling a travel wish, despite the Hawks losing to Port Adelaide, a fun weekend away with plenty to eat and do, and enough cash leftover to get us to the airport then home.

Our little trip to this beautiful Australian city taught us a few lessons in travel. Anything can go wrong when you do travel and almost every mishap can be overcome with a little ingenuity. You just have to find your flow and accept to go with it. If the mishaps keep surfacing and you can’t overcome them, then it may be time to change course for a new destination.

Thankfully, for us, Adelaide remained our destination for the weekend and rewarded us with more travel memories to last a lifetime. And as for Chris’ wallet? It was eventually found…under the driver’s seat in his car once we arrived home.

Have you experienced a travel mishap or some not-so-fun travel bad luck? I’d love to hear about your brush with travel bad luck and how you managed to bounce back from it.
Leave your stories and thoughts in the comments section below!