Day 5: New Year's Eve In Bali

The last day of 2015. Wow. Not to sound like everyone else out there, but man has time flown by this year. It feels like a couple of weeks ago I celebrated my 20th birthday (it was actually in the start of October), I've just finished the first semester of the year (actually in June) and only a month or two ago I celebrated Kieran's birthday (it's actually at the end of February).

This year left me with so many good (and bad) memories. But, being the person I am I literally just forget and push away all the negative just so I can soak up all the happiness I have had during the year.

I did feel a little sad when I sat down with Kieran and we were talking about everything that we had accomplished this year. I just didn't really feel like I had anything noteworthy or important to mention. This year was sort of just a middle year for me. I am mid way through uni, kept the same job and haven't really done anything else crazy or out there. But I did pick out that it is a good thing to keep a steady job and I did achieve my first distinction at uni and I managed to save up enough money to buy myself a car and come on a holiday to Bali. So off the top of my head those things were pretty important to me because I have been wanting to buy myself a car and travel overseas and I managed it all on my own which is something to be proud of. 

This New Year's was going to be the first one I have spent out of Australia (ever) and the first one in at least 5 or 6 years that I haven't spent at my trusty summer beach holiday (aka my real home) by the beach. It was going to be interesting. 

The day starting off with fresh fruit and some eggs on toast for break, followed by some shopping to be done at Seminyak Square accompanied by lunch. I bought a few things but overall I was pretty disappointed with the shopping there. Everything was expensive and there weren't many street markets (that is where all the good stuff is at). The shopping was definitely much better in Kuta and Legion, so I am hoping I will get the chance to go back there and buy some more because I have spent barely anything here!

After shopping out in the heat we went back to our villa and went for a swim for a little while before getting dressed and heading out to a bar with the whole crew and having a few drinks to get us going for the evening. I was definitely getting so tired by this point I really didn't know how I was going to make it through the night. 

We had dinner altogether and then starting drinking some more, ending up in the pool in the main villa because that's right, it is stinking hot in Bali! It was super chill and honestly not really what I had in mind or imagined for my New Year's, but somehow it all just seemed right and it worked. New Years in Australia was 9pm (our time) and we kind of starting celebrating it all then because everyone (myself included) still feels like that time is super later and we were all exhausted.

One thing that is absolutely insane here, are the amount of fireworks. Honestly, since the early afternoon until well through the night (technically the next morning) fireworks were constantly going off. Some were far away but you could see (and hear) them in the distance. Some were so close I could swear they were just out on the road outside the villas. There were so many loud bangs and bright lights I didn't know whether to be excited, annoyed they wouldn't stop or concerned someone may have just blown themselves up (lol). 

Eventually Kieran and I left the group and came back to our room and that was when all the deep talks about what we accomplished this year and what we loved happened. Even though we spend a lot of time together and are always out and about, I don't think we sit down and have those kind of talks that often because we are too busy with all the other stuff. It was a beautiful way to end the year, even though it wasn't what I imagined it was somehow perfect in its own way. 

We ended up falling asleep just before 11:30pm but that's okay, we knew we made the most of the day and that we needed to rest up for the adventures 2016 would shortly be bringing us. 

Peace, love and happiness to all I hope you all had a magical New Year's (if not, I hope 2016 brings you better times). I am so thankful for what (and who) I have in my life I can not wait to adventure into a new year.

Follow my adventures on Instagram and Snapchat @krristelley

Thank you for reading (again)

Kristelle xxx

City of Sydney

Hey everyone!

So yesterday I actually left my house to do something other than work, visit my boyfriend or go to the local shopping centres! I visited the city and it was such a beautiful winter day. The sun was shinning and it was lovely out in the sun. I think Winter is my favourite time to visit the city (providing it is a sunny day) because the weather is cool enough for you to enjoy sitting in the sun by the harbour and there's just something about winter sunshine that I love.

One of my friends suggested that we go into the city to the big book store (I'm an obsessed book freak) and I though it was just such a great idea. Along with the book store we also looked in all the shops at clothes that we wish we could buy and ate lunch by the water.

We started the day off by looking in the Victoria's Secret store in the Queen Victoria Building and I was severely disappointed by it's small size and lack of anything being sold there. Times like this I wish I lived in America so I had the luxury (?) of being able to shop at Victoria's Secret. The one in Sydney only sells fragrances, a few bags and a small collection of underwear. I want the bras and most of all I just want their yoga pants and sweaters. One day, is all I have to remind myself, I'll go to America and be able to shop at Victoria's Secret properly. I could buy it all online, but there's no fun in that (for this) to me because I just want to shop in store. 

We went to various other shops during the day including Topshop and Sportsgirl and a lot of others that I can't even remember. So basically right now I am obsessed with those big floppy felt hats (I have no idea what they are actually called) and everywhere we went in the city that day we saw girls wearing them! I'd ordered a black one in the mail two weeks ago and I was still waiting for it to arrive so I was quite disappointed everyone else had one and I didn't :-(

must always awkwardly selfie in shops with good mirrors

After shopping, we made our way to the bookstore. At first I was slightly disappointed because I thought it would be multiple levels, but as we wandered around the store I was less disappointed because I realised it spread out quite far and was large for a bookstore, considering so many I know of have had to shut down due to lack of business now. I enjoy books. If someone gives me a good book and I get into it, I'll sit there all day and read it until I'm done. It doesn't matter how tired I am, I'll read until either
        a) the book is finished
        b) I fall asleep with the book in my hand
But it's probably been a pretty even mixture between the two outcomes when I read. The stand out books that this has happened to me with probably includes:

1. The Harry Potter Series- I read these when I was like 8/9/10 years old (I think) and these are the initial books that sparked my love for reading. I would stay up all night reading and I remember my mum would always have to come into my room and tell me to turn my light off and go to sleep because it was too late to be reading
2. The Hunger Games- I didn't get into these books until after the first movie had come out and I watched the first movie and I decided I had to read the books. After I started I couldn't put them down. I read all three books in three days because I just had to know what happened. 
3. Looking for Alaska- This is probably my favourite John Green book and I couldn't put it down until I knew how the story ended. I probably cried for a while after finishing it too
4. Leaving Paradise- a recent addition to my collection by Simone Elkeles and I fell in love with this book after a chapter. I couldn't put it down all day and by that night (however late it may have been) I was done reading and jumping online to order the next book in the series. 

So as anyone can tell by what I've shared so far, I love books. I will read anything anyone recommends me, but I think my 'type' of book is more "young adult, romance, main character goes through struggle to find themselves". I enjoy these the most. I'm currently reading 'It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini' for anyone who might be interested. I'm nearly finished it and I have enjoyed it. 

In the bookstore we looked at all types of books, from the books that I love, to the business and marketing books (that is what we both study at University together), books on tattoos, fashion, inspiration and motivation and yes even the "relationship" books. I'm not sure why they call the "relationship books" that because they are all about sex. But well I enjoyed the bookstore.


After shopping (a better description is probably a lack of shopping and more window shopping) and the bookstore, we walked down to Darling Harbour and ate Maccas by the water. It was such a beautiful day out there in the winter sunshine, there was no way we were going to eat inside. It was so peaceful (aside from the noise of many other busy city goers and children- due to the school holidays). We got to sit around and talk and eat and admire the beauty of the city. I enjoy the buildings too, not only the harbour and the landmarks. I probably get my love of buildings from my mum as she designs houses for a living.

out by the harbour (me on the right)

Sydney is such a beautiful place

where we ate lunch by the harbour

Overall I would have to say I had such a lovely day out in the city and I'm glad the day was kind to us. It felt like a long train (and bus ride too home for me), but it was worth it.

Thank you all for reading,
♡ Stelle

Outfit of the day
Loose White Knit Jumper from Jeans West- $49.95
Boyfriend Jeans from Dotti- $79.95
Black 'Chunk' Windsor Smith Shoes- $89.95
Oversized Sunglasses from ASOS- $15.95
Pink Tank Top from Valleygirl- $9.95