My thoughts about Ora

Hi all!!

I apologise for my lack of posts lately. It really has been a while since I’ve written on my blog… Now that I am back at uni and getting into a bit of a routine again I promise I will be better!

Today, I would like to share my thoughts about a cafe which I discovered on the weekend called ‘Ora‘, located on Whistler street in Manly. Now Ora is not your typical cafe… Nope, definitely not. It is quite different actually, starting from the fact that no paper napkins nor plastic straws are to be found there for example.

So, what is Ora in a nutshell?

Ora is an organic cafe in Manly which thrives on the idea that you can eat yummy healthy food.

What type of food do they serve there?

The cafe serves breakfast and lunch, including drinks and snacks. Although the food options are rather limited, the menu caters for a range of taste buds and the drink list runs for a few pages. Whether you are more of a sweet tooth, enjoy a typical bacon and egg sandwich or fancy trying something different, Ora has got you covered. However, what struck out to me the most was the original meal options like the savoury porridge served with bacon for example (see photo below!). In terms of drinks, naturopathic teas are the cafe’s go-to as well as the novel ‘Tumeric Latte’ which I got the chance to try!

Overall experience?

I really enjoyed having breakfast there with my family on a fine Saturday morning. The vibe is relaxed, the staff is friendly and attentive and the design of the cafe rocks! Plus you will definitely feel nice and full after your meal as the portions are generous which is always a bonus.

Thumbs up?

What I liked the most about Ora is that the place definitely centres around serving organic and nice food but, most importantly, it is not about ‘cleansing’ or being ‘vegan’ or anything extreme like that. Ora genuinely aims to create yummy wholefood which is sustainable, makes you feel good and is delicious! The package deal really. And price wise, dishes costs $20 or under so not too bad!

So, Ora, you have my thumps up!!

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Sydneysiders need to do the Spit to Manly Walk!

Fellow Sydneysiders,

It has been a while since I’ve posted something on my blog. I apologise. I cannot say I have been so busy that I have not had one single opportunity to write. Saying that would be a lie. I have had a few moments here and there where I wanted to post something but for some strange reason I was finding it difficult to. Why? Because somehow, I could not seem to get the ball rolling and write away when I was starting a new blank document. I kept on doubting myself, feeling silly about what I was writing. I think that it may have had something to do with a commercial law assignment which I have been working on. As much as I enjoy studying law (as I love the way if frames my mind/thinking), I do find that it tends to hinder my creative flair (and because I am not naturally very creative, it can become an issue).

 

However, I recently fell upon a beautiful little post about the concept of ‘creativity’ by Hatrik – click here for the link. This post simply made me smile. It reminded me that every one has a sense of creativity delved into their souls no matter what form it may come in. Whether it be a musical talent, special skills with colours on a canvas, a good ear for lyrics, an attachment to literature, or simply a strong imagination (and the list could go on). So, instead of doubting myself as to the quality of what I wanted to write about, I just let my mind take me wherever it wanted to take me… which has lead me to writing this post.

 

Let me get back on track with the topic of this post: The Spit to Manly walk.

 

Growing up on the outskirts of Paris, I never really got a chance to go for long walks by the ocean on my weekends. Now that I have moved to Australia, the sea has become almost a drug for me! When I travel, I realise that not every city is as gifted as Sydney. Not every place on this planet allows you to get a breath of fresh air whenever you feel like it by simply walking along the beach. It is definitely something Sydney Siders should treasure because we are so lucky to have this opportunity.

 

The Spit to Manly is a particularly beautiful and entertaining walk. With a distance of 10km one way, waking down the path will allow you to observe beautiful surroundings and you might find that your mind starts to wonder. I recommend doing the walk with a friend, your dog, or your family (but doing it on your own can be very relaxing as well allowing to focus on yourself and maybe spend a bit more time looking around).

 

I have done the walk many times but recently I did it with a really good friend of mine and we talked so much I did not even feel that I was walking for such a long time. I also regularly run part of the walk with my dog (Kenzo). He loves it! There are some areas of the walk where I feel like it is just him and I and he often gets a chance to run in the sand and splash around in the water. Recently, Kenzo and I showed my siblings and my dad our little treasure and we did the full walk altogether. It was a great opportunity to talk and catch up with each other.

 

Tips for the walk:

Take a small backpack with you as some items may just make the walk that little bit extra nice for you:

• CAMERA! I guarantee you that you will stop (more than once) to capture the beautiful scenery you will be passing. The sunrise and sunset are particularly breathtaking.
• Water bottle (if doing the walk on a warm day you will be thankful to have packed water – the walk can get a bit tough as there are many stairs in some parts of it. Note that there are also water stations along the way to fill up your bottle).
• Picnic (there are a few areas that are very nice to stop at for a picnic, most notably Clontarf Beach, North Harbour Reserve and Esplanade Park).
• Swimmers, goggles and a beach towel (the walk literally follows the coastline and there are plenty of different spots to go for a dip in the sea. Such a great way to refresh yourself and, if you’re lucky, you may spot beautiful fishes underwater!
• Don’t rush it. Take a moment to observe the nature around you – it is beautiful.
• Start from the Spit Bridge and walk towards Manly as once you will be in Manly there are many different places to go for brunch/lunch to reward yourself after a long walk. There are also many buses departing from Manly, which can bring you back to wherever you need to go.

 

Bellow are a few of my personal photos taken on the walk last week with my family:

 

Peaceful sunday morning breakfast at Manly Wine

How great is the feeling of going out for breakfast?! I certainly LOVE getting up in the morning to go for a walk, take a good breath of fresh air and try different kinds of breakies. Let me introduce you to a really lovely place called ‘Manly Wine’. 

I discovered this place earlier on this year where I had a really lovely dinner styled by refreshing sangria and delicious unique food. The decor of this bar/restaurant definitely adds to the friendly, relaxed ambience which lightens up your mood as soon as you step foot into the place. The ‘booze this way –>’ sign (pointing to the bar) which is one of the first thing that reaches your attention as you enter reflects the style of the place. But don’t get me wrong, Manly Wine bar maintains a very high standard of service in the midst of such ‘chilled out’ atmosphere. 

What a surprise was it to discover the place was also open for breakfast! The busy night-time bar transforms itself to a lovely morning cafe. The rather simple and short menu caters for all morning cravings: granola, toast with range of toppings, coffees, etc. I absolutely loved my granola covered with yogurt and a yummy berry compote as well as a sneaky piece of toast with avocado and egg. With a view facing the sparkly blue water and joined by my sister, mum and friend Kelsey my morning was simply delightful. I would really recommend this place!

Here’s a link to their website if you’d like more information: http://manlywine.com.au/