As my final days in Australia slip away beneath my feet (for the time being, of course), I’ve started focusing less on bureaucratic preparatory matters and more on squeezing in as many farewells as I can. This past Saturday, my grandparents took me out for a bon voyage lunch at the Hyatt (previously blogged here).
The lunch buffet was far more impressive this time around, with the cold seafood and salads taking up the entire centre table in the restaurant, rather than simply one half of it. The desserts, too, had their own table.
Look, I don’t condone segregation. Never have, never will. However, if the situation is that a surfeit of vegetables and fancy salads have caused an overflow of deliciousness, then I will slowly nod my head.
In addition to the seafood I showed you last time, the Hyatt provided us with Moreton Bay Bugs, fresh oysters, a cold grilled sardine salad, and several other seafood dishes I didn’t get around to trying.
This was my first time trying Moreton Bay Bugs, and I found them even nicer than the crab. Also, the sardines were impressive, particularly because they improved the shininess of my hair. That’s what happens with fish oil, right?
Even better than my seafood plate, though, was the extravagant and enormous salad I concocted out of fresh vegetables, pickled vegetables, grilled vegetables, chickpea salad, roasted pumpkin salad, caper berries, croutons, and a chilli dressing.
It was enormous.
And glorious.
But enormous.
By the time I finished my abundance of colour, my parents and grandparents were already onto dessert, so I jumped to my feet to follow suit.
The Hyatt’s hot food section never piques my interest, but dear heavens that place makes good jelly. Last time, I was blown away by how true the fruit flavour of their raspberry and pineapple jelly was, but I do believe that this weekend’s raspberry and blackberry jelly trumped even that.
Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for this wonderful lunch, the gift that ensures I will be able to buy dinner on my first night in New York with the right currency, and your shining support that makes me feel safe and loved.
And thank you, Mum and Dad, for taking me to buy luggage afterwards for my belated birthday gift. After all, if we hadn’t gone to Bags To Go, I wouldn’t have realised that it’s been far too long since I last played hide-and-seek in a public place*.
Where’s, where’s, where’s, where’s Wally Hannah?
Later that afternoon, I caught up with my favourite second cousin, and then Mum, Dad, and I stayed up until a ridiculous hour of the morning watching the Olympics.
It was a day for the memory books.
* You know what I’m talking about, Spay Lady.
Hold on … you were shopping with just your Mum & Dad? So, not only are you playing hide and seek in the luggage store but one of them took that photo for you? Officially the coolest parents I’ve read about today!
When with Hannah you do as Hannah does (more or less), CheezyK!
Yes, I get the impression she would be enthusiastically persuasive …
She is that! And fun too.
*laughs and laughs* I feel like I’m eavesdropping, teehee!
Yes indeed, my dear parents are rather spectacularly wonderful at playing along. Literally.
Oh, and your grandparents sound pretty awesome too (given that that’s what this post was mostly about and all!) …
This is completely hilarious! Your parents sound great! And your grandparents too for that matter.
SO MUCH HAPPY.
I CAN SEE YOU!!!!! HAHAHAH
I’ll have to try harder next time
SHE’S BEHIIIIIIIND YOUUUU!!!!!!!
also, even though i only see you approximately 0.3 times a year, i already miss you terribly. what will i do knowing that the OPTION of hannah is no longer available?!
LOOK OUT!
Those have always been some of the best 0.3 moments of my year/s. I miss you tooooo! Hurrah for emails! xo
For buffets it’s always – entrees – a tiny bit of main – LOTS OF dessert for me.
And I seee yoouuu o:
Mmmm, Hyatt buffet. When I’m feeling less impoverished I must do that.
Have such an awesome time Hannah! I can’t wait to hear of all your north american adventures.
Mmmm now THAT looks like a good meal! Seafood salads are surely the best!
I spotted you! When do you leave? I’m off home to the States for a visit on 7 August. What if you’re on my flight???
I’ll be on the plane this time tomorrow! So alas, we won’t be able to pass notes down the line to pass the billions of hours. How long are you over there for?
that place looks like fun! you’re very lucky to have your grandparents around.
oooh NYC soon! very exciting
I can you are very much loved by your family. That farewell at the airport will be very teary. I was a mess when I had to farewell my Archie who was heading to NY for six months. Cried at the airport and all the way home, and all of that day and the next day too. Meanwhile, without a care in the world, Archie was flying to NYC and ordering so many drinks that due to the ‘responsibility of alcohol’ laws, they refused to further serve him. Honestly! How lovely that you have new luggage and I can’t see you in the photo. Are you in one of the bags?
I’m definitely there! Clue: I’m not hiding anywhere near the back.
Oh heavens, when I went to America on exchange in 2007, and again to travel around America and Europe in 2009, I sobbed all the way through the walkway and onto the plane. I hope my parents miss me as much as you missed Archie!
Oh, so thrilling and exciting
The lunch looks wonderful and there certainly seem to be more vegetables than on your last visit. Also more desserts. Did you make it beyond jelly? I am curious about the berry-like cake and green mousse-like domes in the top photo, and the very pink slices above the fruit salad!
It really sounds like a wonderful day and if I don’t say it in another form before tomorrow – I hope you have a safe flight, a happy start to your travels, and a magnificent, magic filled arrival in America. Opportunities for hide and seek never go astray either, and I’m sure America can provide some more
The green mousse-like domes are the pistachio pannacotta that I showed in the last posts. The pink slices were some sort of berry mousse slice thing, which didn’t interest me.
Teehee, thank you, Kari! I’m going to think of these well wishes for strength during the looooooooong flight hours.
Why, so they are (the pistachio pannacotta). Oops! I think the chocolate spears on top tricked my imagination into viewing them as chocolate mint mousse mounds. My imagination is disappointed
Pistachio > mint chocolate. Fact.
I’ve never tried Moreton Bay bugs before but seen it loads of time in Masterchef!
What a wonderful farewell meal! My least favourite part of going to another country is the packing bit!!! I always leave it to the last minute!!!!
Again, HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT HANNAH! do update when you’re there safely! hehe and most importantly HAVE FUN GIRL!
Thank heavens someone else is a late packer too! I’m so surprised by how many people seem to do it days ahead. But… why? Don’t they need their stuff before then?! It’s not like I’ll be sleeping tonight anyway, might as well pack.
Thank you Vien!
Have a wonderfully fabulous time my friend – your grandparents are soon cute!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
PICKLES!
Hahaha love it when you can still play hide and seek with your parents! If I tried to do that, they’d think I was crazy and slap me across the back or something.
My parents are pretty awesome that way.
glad you are going out with a bang not a whimper – that pink slice looks intriguing – what is it? And what is in the jelly?
There was an equal, or even bigger bang, on Wednesday night. The pink slice was some sort of berry mousse (not my thing, so I didn’t try it). That’s blueberries and a chocolate garnish in the jelly
LOL I spy you Wally!
You must be on your way or close to by now! Can’t wait to hear your overseas eats!!
First dinner in New York: pistachio gelato.
Grandparents are the best. This buffet looks incredible! I enjoy buffets because of the wide selection of food.
So are granddaughters!
Ha! That picture of you peeking from behind the luggage is hilarious! It really did take me a moment to find you.
Very nice looking seafood spread. Looks like a great goodbye lunch.
I’M LIKE A NINJA.
Such a wonderful farewell lunch! All that seafood deliciousness. And desserts of course. Glad you got some new luggage sorted too. Always important escpecially when on the road. Safe travelling tomorrow, and we’ll see you on the other side….
I’m here on the other side, hurrah! A bit exhausted and therefore unable to plan for what I’ll do tomorrow, but I’m here! Methinks I’ll simply leave the hotel and walk wherever the wind takes me
Why why why would anyone want to eat anything named Bugs? I must learn of this… delicacy…
Okay, now I’ve looked it up and learned what they are. Ugly small lobsters! Sounds like a delicacy indeed;)
That pink berry mousse slice thing looks like it could either be yummy, or poisonous. I think it’s the black topper, reminding me of the dreaded licorice. That aside, this buffet just keeps getting more appetizing the more you talk about it. Especially since I see those tall thin jars of edible things again! Damn, you’re living the life, girl. From buffet shenanigans to teary farewells to the airport to the America!! Safe travels, xo
Just wait until you visit and I feed you Bogong Moths, Witchetty Grubs and Honey Ants.
(Except I haven’t eaten any of those “delicacies” myself either.)
There was another fancy dinner between the buffet shenanigans and teary airport farewells, too! Now, if I could just find the energy to do something more effort-requiring than replying to comments (even trying to decide what to do tomorrow in New York is too confusing for my jet lagged brain).
Haha I loved my little shout out. I won’t point out that we could have had our own hide and seek session if you weren’t gallivanting around Victoria
I’m so excited for you!
But I did hide in Victoria! I hid near the Holbrook submarine; you never came to find me!
What a fabulous bon voyage party, Hannah! I hope you have (are having??) a great trip and that the airtime goes quickly and you’re in NYC before you know it!! And I JUST got your package yesterday–THANK YOU so much!! (email to follow).
xo
Hurrah!!! I’m so glad it arrived safely! I know the magazines aren’t quite vegan (or vegan at all), but I think you mentioned that you like looking through stylish food magazines for inspiration? xo
I’m in New York now, a bit too discombobulated to write a new post or even plan for tomorrow, but that’s what the freedom of travel is all about, right? Just stepping outside in the morning and walking, walking, walking.
Behind the luggage – suggest it to the company as an advertising idea!
Want all the food you had. Every single morsel. K xo
The royalties for that would surely keep me travelling for ten years at least!
this post is so lovely, bringing a big smile to my face
Thank you!!
What a fabulous farewell spread! Mmm those desserts look particularly delish. Safe and happy travels! So glad you will be visiting Canada and if you do find yourself in my neck of the woods, please stop by for a visit! I live in the land of lakes and trees. Really beautiful up here (northwestern Ontario).
Your stunning nature photos have indeed helped me feel increasingly positive about my hopes to build a sparkly next for myself in Ontario, Heather! Here’s to wild gallivanting and delicious desserts together in future
Yippee! Cheers to that indeed!
apropos of nothing at all except I like your blog and have wanted to say this since I first read your reference to sparkledust….draws deep breath….perhaps you already know that it is literally true to say that we are made of starstuff? Every atom in your body that is heavier than hydrogen (which is most of them) was forged in the heart of a star.
Bon Voyage, sparkle.
IAN! This piece of information has dazzled my heart and made my soul sing with wonderment! Thank you! I can’t think of a better time for you to have told me this than the night I arrived in New York
And thank you for your lovely comments!
The day has come!!! What a wonderful farewell from the G’parents and oh my lord, look at that food! I’ve never had Moreton BayBugs either…maybe because it has the word ‘bug’ in it and I think of cicadas rather than seafood. Weird I know.
You had a me at jelly – true story – at uni, I’d buy a jelly cup every day. It was my thing.
You know it took me a good minute or so to find you!! Clever girl.
All the best for flying….Wheeee!!!
The day has really really truly come! Wheeeeee!
I’ve never really been into jelly, I think because it and sorbet are so often the boring default dairy-free dessert options. Teehee, I need to find people over here to play hide-and-seek with me.
Oh wow! This is the first time I’ve seen Moreton Bay bugs at a buffet restaurant – so cool!
I am looking forward to reading the first post you write in your new home. WOOOOO!
SO MUCH PRESSURE!
You must be so excited, I bet you can’t wait – being British though, one of my first thoughts is that you’re leaving when it’s nearly your spring and going into the american autumn…
I’ve never quite been able to bring myself to eat oysters but could possibly be tempted by how nice they look here – I think I’d pick the jelly first though…!
Actually, I’ve left early enough that I’ve gone from wearing Ugg boots every day in Canberra to delicious delicious delicious above-30s shorts-wearing summer heat in New York. I’m going to soak it up as much as I can! …and then become a hermit in Canada’s winter.
Sorry, didn’t realise you’d already left! But 30C + shorts sounds like a pretty good exchange for winter to me, much better than it is here
In my world, ‘most anything is a good change for winter