poland

london part i  //  london part ii  //  campaign  //  paris  //  poland

we were still in london while waiting for a bus in the city. i had butterflies in my stomach telling dan i was so excited and nervous at the same time to go to poland. i didn't know what to expect. we got on the bus and traveled through the country-side of england until we reached standsted airport. we took off in the plane while i filmed outside the window and as quickly as we got to paris, we landed in poland. 

dan's family were waiting for us at the airport, and as we walked out of customs, we all hugged hello even though we've never met before and i couldn't understand polish - my butterflies instantly disappeared with how warmly they introduced themselves. as soon as we walked outside the cold air stung my skin and painted my arms with goosebumps. i was too distracted by the first thing i noticed which was the sun in the distance about to set, differently to how i've ever seen it shine before to care about the cold though. we hopped in the car and were taken to their home in the country where we had dinner, looked at photos and fell asleep.

we were in poland for three days, and i couldn't thank dan's family enough for making it the most memorable three days ever. they took us somewhere new every day, explaining to dan the history of the places we were visiting and dan translating for me. i learnt a few polish words and his family were very patient with me when i was trying to talk, i could say hello, good, thank you, beer, cold, water, yes and no. we made do with those little words i knew, and somehow language was hardly a barrier while i was there. 

dan and i are longing to go to poland again soon, it would be so lovely to be able to spend a longer amount of time with his wonderful family exploring, hanging out and taking pictures. im so happy we got to do this though, coming to poland was definitely a highlight of our trip.

i was obsessed with the beautiful forests we constantly passed while driving.

the city was filled with blossoming trees.

on the first day we were there, they took us to walk through the city of gdansk.

there were lots of people dressed up so they could busk on the streets.

gdansk is beautiful, i love all the buildings and how they're all decorated with different colours.

the oldest church in the city. we were about to walk to the very top.

halfway through walking to the top of the curch.

we then went to an old army barracks were you could also see the entire city from.

driving back home.

some photos from dan's uncle's backyard.

we went for a walk around the empty lots close to dan's family's home.

it felt like the sunsets in poland last forever.

dan and his cousin, karol.

that night we had a big bbq where i put away my camera and just enjoyed the company.

we woke up on the second day, and they wanted to take us to a real european forest which was just a short walk away from their home.

dan and his cousins.

beautiful backyards.

half and half.

i have always wanted to see a pile of logs in a forest!

walking back home. the air out here was so fresh, it made dan and i sleepy.

when we got back from the forest, we got in the car again and drove 20 minutes to the next city.

walking through the city of sopot.

the baltic sea.

here we walked to very end of the longest pier off the baltic sea.

the last minutes of light at the baltic sea.

sun setting in the next city; gdynia.

driving back home at the end of a long day.

this was the morning of our last day in poland.

we drove into the country to see an upside down house, i still couldn't get enough of the scenery.

and the forests..

i would love to live in one of these houses!

on our way back from the upside down house, we made a stop at a gorgeous lake. a natural lake like this is something else i have always wanted to see.

dan & i.

we stopped at a lookout to see the lake and trees from up high.

that afternoon we went back to dan's uncle's house and more of dan's family came over to say hello and goodbye. we all sat around and talked (dan translating for me!) and drank coffee. before we knew it we were hugging and waving goodbye at the airport before jumping on a long flight back home. we'll definitely be back soon.

last but not least, dan and i were filming throughout our entire adventure overseas, and dan put a little video together from the hundreds of clips of silly faces, beautiful landscapes and busy streets. our memories from london, paris and poland: 

london part i  //  london part ii  //  campaign  //  paris  //  poland

paris

london part i  //  london part ii  //  campaign  //  paris  //  poland

we woke up one morning before the sun rose and made our way in the freezing cold to the train station in london. we bought two coffees and two amazing blueberry danishes and waited to board our train to the city of love. still sleepy-eyed but filled with excitement we crossed beautiful oceans of land on the eurostar, saw countless fields of flowers and little houses sitting quaintly in the middle of nowhere.

we arrived in paris just a few hours later - i love how you can just hop on a train in europe and a few hours later you are in a completely different city. we had one day to see everything we could. it was beautiful and sunny and my camera clicked endlessly at everything i saw. 

ears popping as we ride above ground and under the sea on the eurostar.

taking photos of all the beautiful buildings with balconies covered in flowers.

the streets were still quiet in the morning.

scaffolding.

so many people in red coats!

an ordinary starbucks decorated in a fancy building.

making our way past the louvre.

so many people on the streets had bicycles. 

painters painting.

we took a cruise down the seine river.

we watched and people waved at us as i was taking pictures of them. we almost saw a girl fall into the river as she started sliding down the stone ramp.

green trees, green boats, green water.

 i finally got to see the carousel i have wanted to see since i was sixteen years old.

saying i was a little excited to see the carousel is a bit of an understatement!

we spent the rest of the day walking around the city.

dan taking pictures of people selling key chains on the street.

map reading.

one last look at the eiffel tower.

a big messy round-a-bout and a pack of cyclists.

the gorgeous gardens close to the louvre. 

taking a little break after walking around all day.

exploring the outside of the louvre.

taking pictures of strangers on the way back to the train station.

balcony conversations.

the last picture i took before falling asleep on the train ride home with my camera still sitting soundly around my neck.

london part i  //  london part ii  //  campaign  //  paris  //  poland

london part ii - kew gardens

london part i  //  london part ii  //  campaign  //  paris  //  poland

the days of rain we had in london were few and far between. today was a little different. we woke up to a cloudy windowsill, the air was cold and sharp down my throat as we walked towards the bus stop. the streets were busier than ever today as we decided to explore kew gardens. we jumped on a double decker bus and rode far away, out into the suburbs. the houses in kew were big and beautiful. they were decorated with manicured gardens, all pretty and perfect.

for as long as i can remember i have always wanted to visit kew gardens. it has been my dream to see their giant greenhouse in real life and take some pictures of it. we don't have anything that looks like this in australia, and just as i imagined the whole day was dream-like and beautiful. it rained but we didn't care, the sun still came out on occasion to warm our frozen skin. here is our day in pictures.

busy baker street.

we thought the bus wouldn't fit in the tunnel.

arriving at kew gardens, it felt like a dream.

inside the greenhouse. it was hot like an australian summer inside and the glass of my lens fogged up.

the pretty plants inside the second greenhouse.

we kept tripping over while trying to take a picture.

dan distracted by a squirrel running around in the trees. it's the first time we've ever seen a real squirrel! 

basking in the warm sunshine.

dan made a friend.

juice breaks as clouds started to roll over and cover every inch of the sky.

exploring the last greenhouse (while taking shelter away from the rain) that had 7 different environments. every room you walked into felt like you were walking into a different country in a different season of the year.

the rain finally stopped while we were inside the last greenhouse and i was finally able to get some pictures with the pink cherry blossoms.

swans are my favourite.

the sun came out again, the most beautiful way to end a perfect day.

 i can't wait to visit you again kew gardens!

london part i  //  london part ii  //  campaign  //  paris  //  poland

london part i

london part i  //  london part ii  //  campaign  //  paris  //  poland

flying over l.a.

i know you have all been patiently waiting to hear about my adventures overseas and today i've finally finished putting everything together. there is so much to say and so much to show and i didn't want to miss out on a single second. i decided to split the blog posts into five different posts which will be published over the next few weeks! so on with the story..

a few weeks ago i was flown to london to shoot a campaign (which i will reveal everything about soon) and our stay there was amazing. dan and i were in london for two weeks and after a day there it already felt like home. we woke up early, some days even before the sun rose, and walked around the city until we felt like collapsing. my camera was home around my neck from the moment i was out the door and i hardly ever put it down for a second.

the flight over was long but i was filled with excitement and butterflies as the big aeroplanes took off leaving tiny cities behind and landed in different countries, slowly getting closer and closer to london. when we arrived dan and i were eager to explore the city and took a walk around. the first day we were there was the only day we were lost, but i didn't mind one bit walking down streets i didn't know and not knowing where to go next. 

the days afterwards were a beautiful mess. we spent every second in between model castings, location scouting and meetings getting to know london and taking pictures of everything we saw. the city was blooming and there were busy people everywhere. we rode in taxis forcing our eyes shut whenever they u-turned on a busy street or squeezed in between too-tight places with cars, buses or people on either side of the taxi, we walked down long flights of stairs to watch live music in venues underground, we flicked through boxes and boxes of records in soho and had dinner at different pubs every night. 

london won over my heart and i hope to be back there again soon, and again soon after that. i could spend forever wandering the streets and living the way we did for two weeks. 

 lost on the streets on our first day in london and dan trying to figure out which way to go.

 the end of baker street, close to where we were staying.

the entire city was blooming.

 coffees in pretty cafe's before location scouting.

one of the streets of a location we were shooting at.

the cat of the house we were shooting the campaign.

more gorgeous locations scouted in the suburbs, filled to the brim with hand-made love and kick-knacks.

the pretty balcony of our hotel room overlooking the streets. the sun would shine on us early in the morning while we were drinking coffee. 

back in the city, walking around after a model casting in knightsbridge.

spending the afternoon in museums.

 getting excited for my picture with the dinosaur.

 dinosaurs are the best.

a band busking on the streets.

in a live butterfly museum, where i never knew i was scared of butterflies.

 souvenirs. 

 busy oxford street.

walking around the streets of soho.

 catching the tube.

spring-time shoots in the sun. i was lucky to meet ailera stone who was lovely and put together this little shoot for us! i'll be blogging all the photos from this day soon..

the evening before we left for paris, dan and i decided to go to london eye & see the big ben.

the view of the city from the top of the london eye.

big ben.

dan and i spent our last day in london sitting in hyde park under the shade of the trees.

london part i  //  london part ii  //  campaign  //  paris  //  poland