A return to a land down under

I could not resist.....

In the first week of May, I made the long overdue trip to visit my grandparents in Australia. This trip, albeit slightly last-minute, is one I was glad to do as it was in 2016 that I made my last trip to see them in Sydney before I started my undergraduate studies. It is fitting that before I start my PhD program at Boston College, I should go and visit them. This trip report will be slightly different from previous iterations featuring fewer shenanigans. Rest assured, the highlight will still be the food. Many things about Sydney have changed since my last visit; however, the apartment my Grandparents live in, albeit with a couple of changes, remains the same since I first visited them as a young lad. So welcome to a blog post about revisiting old favorites and enjoyable moments with family and friends.

Highlights:

If I did not mention visiting my grandparents being the number one highlight, I would get a comical amount of grief. However, as I spent the ten days with them, I witnessed them in their element, which was a big relief. During the pandemic, with Australia undergoing some of the strictest lockdowns, I worried about how they were coping with the isolation and, more importantly, their health. When reuniting with my grandfather for the first time since the pandemic started in 2022, I was mildly alarmed by his weight loss and how slowly he moved. However, since then, he's changed his diet and tied it with the country's reopening; I've seen him at his fastest, healthiest, and most importantly, happiest. While he does get tired more quickly, he still has his sense of humor, which I have grown fond of, along with his culinary skills. With my grandmother, I particularly enjoyed our trip towards the southern coast as it was a fun day driving, just the two of us. We enjoyed a visit to the temple she frequents, along with lunch and ice cream with a stunning view.

One part of this trip I also enjoyed was taking her to try more food than her usual fare. One thing I have always admired about my grandmother is that when it comes to culinary prowess, she will try anything, so long as it is vegetarian. I took her to sample various different cuisines ranging from Vietnamese to Italian, items she wouldn't usually get unless myself, mum or my brother would take her. All this talk of food brings me to my next highlight, the food.

Since I was a young boy, a consistent memory of the country was the superb produce quality. I can happily say the produce is still outstanding. The quality of the produce translated into the food my grandparents made. My earliest memory of my grandparents was the South Indian food they would cook for me, my brother, and my mum. It is still something I look forward to this day whenever they visit. I consistently rank the South Indian food my grandparents make to be the best in the world, and I will stand by this statement.

Speaking of hot takes, I know many people will be coming at me for this, but I will stand by it. Australia has the best coffee out of the countries I have been to on my recent travels, and I'm talking about espresso-based coffee. I call it the best as there is consistency among the coffee shops in Australia, even at a McCafé (not sponsored), you can find decent coffee. Beyond the comfort foods made by my grandparents, I did get to sample different cuisine ranging from Vietnamese to Italian and Lebanese, and thanks to the quality of the produce, they were fabulous. I'll let some of my photos do the speaking.

Another highlight was exploring the city with an old friend, Rory. I've known Rory since I was about 12 years old, and we recently reconnected for the first time in coming on to a decade. He visited Singapore in February of this year, where I also met his now fiancé, Danielle (massive congratulations again to you both). We spent time reminiscing about our mildly rambunctious middle school days. We promised to visit each other the next time we were in our respective cities. We also ended up grabbing dinner with his parents, whom I remember fondly from my youth. During our short time together, Rory took me on a tour of his neighborhood. I got to experience parts of Sydney I had not visited previously and witnessed some truly amazing sights. As always, it is time I let what Australia has to offer through my many photos.

Trip reflections:

As I write this, I am currently a couple of weeks from departing to the US to begin my PhD program at Boston College. I am incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity to visit Australia and my grandparents on home turf for the first time in seven years. I was happy to see them so active and simply thriving at home. Seeing Rory again was also excellent as he shared some exciting life updates; I know he will go quite far with his passion for music studies. I know it will not be my last trip; I just hope it won't be nearly another decade before I visit Australia again.