The Guts to Travel
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Destinations
    • Australia

      Things to do in Coffs Harbour and Coffs…

      February 28, 2018

      Australia

      How to Stay Fit and Healthy on the…

      February 10, 2018

      Australia

      How to Do Fraser Island in 1 Day

      January 14, 2018

      Australia

      Christmas on the Coast

      December 30, 2017

      Australia

      Down time & good friends

      December 22, 2017

  • Travel Tips
    • COOKING

      How to Stay Fit and Healthy on the…

      February 10, 2018

      COOKING

      6 Tips for Flying Long Haul (when you…

      December 7, 2017

      COOKING

      5 Tips for the Anxious Traveler

      March 18, 2017

      COOKING

      40,000 Feet Up

      March 16, 2017

  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Destinations
    • Australia

      Things to do in Coffs Harbour and Coffs…

      February 28, 2018

      Australia

      How to Stay Fit and Healthy on the…

      February 10, 2018

      Australia

      How to Do Fraser Island in 1 Day

      January 14, 2018

      Australia

      Christmas on the Coast

      December 30, 2017

      Australia

      Down time & good friends

      December 22, 2017

  • Travel Tips
    • COOKING

      How to Stay Fit and Healthy on the…

      February 10, 2018

      COOKING

      6 Tips for Flying Long Haul (when you…

      December 7, 2017

      COOKING

      5 Tips for the Anxious Traveler

      March 18, 2017

      COOKING

      40,000 Feet Up

      March 16, 2017

  • Contact Me

The Guts to Travel

My positive experience of mental illness recovery with food and exercise. And life in between.

Mental Health

Happy and sad at the same time?

October 31, 2018 0 comment

My first week at University

September 20, 2018 0 comment

Things to do in Coffs Harbour and Coffs Coast

February 28, 2018 0 comment
AustraliaCOOKINGFeatured

How to Stay Fit and Healthy on the road

February 10, 2018 0 comment

How to Do Fraser Island in 1 Day

January 14, 2018 0 comment

Christmas on the Coast

December 30, 2017 0 comment
  • COOKING

  • MENTAL HEALTH

  • UNI LIFE

  • TRAVEL

    AustraliaFeatured

    Clarity

    written by Rachael Watson
    Clarity

    Today has been an incredible day… I had planned a bit of down time today, which I did this morning – but then had a surprise afternoon out with an old friend, which was really fun!

    After meandering through the graveyard for a while, looking at all the vaults and tombs, I walked along some of the Coogee-Bondi Coastal Walk route, and found a little ‘off-the-beaten-track’ pathway down to a cliff edge, where nobody really goes. Took my backpack off and sat at the top of the cliff, overlooking the most beautiful view I think I have ever seen. The sun bouncing off the water… words will never ever be able to do it justice. For the first time in a VERY long time, I felt peaceful. Like I could think clearly. I don’t want to get too deep, but I seemed to be able to get clarity on a LOT of things that have been unclear recently.

    I actually got quite emotional while I was sitting there… To think that just 4 months ago I was literally at rock bottom, and now I am 100% at peace with myself – it’s a feeling that I don’t think I will ever be able to describe. It has made me realise that leaving the relationship that I was in was one of the best decisions I have ever made, despite the hell that I had to go through to get to this point. I feel like I am finally me again, like I spent 2 years of my life trying to be somebody that I’m not, and I’ve finally found who I really am again! Okay, that’s enough reflection for now – but it really was an intense moment of clarity, and I have made some more big decisions about how I want my life to be moving forward from this journey…

     

    I started my day with a trip to an organic supermarket to pick up some food for while I’m here. Food here in Sydney is EXPENSIVE. In fact, everything here is expensive – but to be honest, it’s worth it. I picked up some chocolate coconut yoghurt, some bananas, passionfruit, a loaf of sour dough bread and a bar of dairy milk. Gotta have some chocolate! I came back to the house and had breakfast with the landlady, who is just so sweet. We chatted for a while about her family, my family and what I intended to do while I’m here.

    After breakfast, I decided to go and find a famous graveyard (I know, weird eh?) called Waverley Cemetery. It was incredible! Honestly, really incredible. There are something like 50,000 graves there, dating back to 1844 apparently. It was quite a sight to see… it sits right up in the cliffs overlooking the sea. I took some photos and did a live video there (which is on my Facebook page).

    I stopped in a cafe called ‘Jenny’s’ after my morning walk and had a lovely coffee with hot almond milk, and a slice of toasted banana bread (a HUGE slice)…it was much needed after the climb to the cemetery. I spent the next couple of hours on the beach reading my book (tough life, I know)!

    I had planned a chilled afternoon, but a chance message to my friend Michael ended in a ride on the back of his motorbike to a place called Le Perouse, which encompasses Botany Bay National Park, and the entrance where Captain Cook sailed in and claimed the land! Being on the back of a motorbike, sun beating down on your skin is bloody amazing! We went for a short walk and took some photos, then headed back to Michael’s apartment in Alexandria and had a swim in his pool and a drink. It was such an awesome afternoon! Michael and I worked together at The Observatory Hotel in Sydney when I lived here, he was their Head Concierge at the time and knows Sydney like the back of his hand. He was an ace tour guide!

    So, back in Bronte I was bloody starving so I made some chicken & veg for dinner with some lovely coconut oil that my landlady gave me. Delicious. I headed back out for a short walk to watch the sunset and then came back to get some work done.

    Right now, I’m sat drinking some tea and writing this blog thinking, surely it can’t get any better than this…?

    February 20, 2017 3 comments
    0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
  • Australia

    Appreciate Your Journey

    by Rachael Watson February 19, 2017

    Today was a travel day for me, between places. I was moving on to a little beach village south of Sydney called Bronte. It’s just a stone’s throw from Bondi Beach, but…

  • AustraliaFeatured

    That View…

    by Rachael Watson February 18, 2017

    I’ll start where I left off yesterday – Crossfit. After the epic thunderstorm subsided yesterday afternoon, I headed out to my first Aussie Crossfit WOD at a box called Crossfit Strenue, located…

  • Australia

    Flashbacks

    by Rachael Watson February 17, 2017

    I have mixed feelings about today… Having been a Sydney local for quite a long time, I felt relatively comfortable with finding my way from where I am situated in the Northern…

  • Australia

    Two Days In The Air…

    by Rachael Watson February 15, 2017

    There’s no way to dress this up, and I simply cannot paint a pretty picture of it. That flight was HORRIBLE.

  • Australia

    That Question…

    by Rachael Watson February 12, 2017

    A question that I have been asked repeatedly this week has sparked a discussion in my mind, and I am now asking myself if I have perhaps underestimated the journey I’m about…

  • Uncategorized

    This Old Thing…

    by Rachael Watson January 26, 2017

    Carrying this old thing for almost 7 hours straight, walking up a relentless hill somewhere in Montpellier, France with nowhere to sleep overnight was probably one of the hairiest moments of my…

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Recent Posts

  • Happy and sad at the same time?
  • My first week at University
  • Things to do in Coffs Harbour and Coffs Coast
  • How to Stay Fit and Healthy on the road
  • How to Do Fraser Island in 1 Day

Archives

  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017

Categories

  • Australia
  • COOKING
  • Featured
  • Mental Health
  • New Zealand
  • TRAVEL
  • Uncategorized
  • University Life

About Me

About Me

Rachael Watson

Hi, I'm Rachael! I'm writing this blog as one of my self-help tools and if it helps others too, then that's an added bonus. Using food and fitness, I hope to overcome anxiety and depression and live an outstanding ordinary life. Oh, and I love to travel.

Keep in touch

Facebook Instagram Email

On Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

Follow Me

Penci Design

Recent Posts

  • Happy and sad at the same time?

    October 31, 2018
  • My first week at University

    September 20, 2018
  • Things to do in Coffs Harbour and Coffs Coast

    February 28, 2018
  • How to Stay Fit and Healthy on the road

    February 10, 2018
  • How to Do Fraser Island in 1 Day

    January 14, 2018

Categories

  • COOKING (4)
  • Featured (12)
  • Mental Health (1)
  • TRAVEL (19)
    • Australia (18)
    • New Zealand (1)
  • Uncategorized (1)
  • University Life (1)

About Me

About Me

Hi there, I'm Rachael. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had itchy feet. At the age of 33 now, I have decided that I can’t let me health issues continue to suppress my lust for travel, so I decided to start this blog as a means of writing about travel through the eyes of someone with mental and physical health conditions that can sometimes hold me back.

Popular Posts

  • 1

    6 Tips for Flying Long Haul (when you have anxiety)

    December 7, 2017
  • 2

    40,000 Feet Up

    March 16, 2017
  • 3

    5 Tips for the Anxious Traveler

    March 18, 2017
Promotion Image

DESTINATIONS

Promotion Image

TRAVEL TIPS

follow me on instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

LATEST TRAVEL TIPS

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Email

@2017 - The Guts to Travel. All Right Reserved.


Back To Top