Vibrancy Bites From an Urban Adventure

Happy November, Can you believe I’m saying that? Where the heck did 2025 skedaddle off to? We went to Adelaide

Nov 02, 2025

November’s Vibrancy Bites

Since it’s the beginning of the month it’s time for me to share some Vibrancy Bites, aka little things you can do to up your health quotient. Honestly it will read a bit like a travel journal but let’s begin, shall we?

Reminder time. My Pillars of Health are: Movement, Relationships & Community, Sleep, Nutrition, Mindfulness, Creativity, and One’s Environment (macro & micro)

I’ve just spent a week in Adelaide, South Australia with my hubby and kiddo, it was a combo b’day/anniversary trip and (for the most part) was wonderful family time. We also caught up with our friends who live there and Adelaide is a city that I really like.

Here’s how some of my Pillars of Health showed up during my urban adventure…

Right off the bat, Sleep and Nutrition were shite and hey that’s okay, I was on vacation! There were some late nights, lots of Italian food, some sweet treats, and puhlenty of wine and spirits. All of it was delish, no regrets.

And now, moving on

Mindfulness Bites

A couple of things fell into this category

#1 Accept, Don’t Fret

Our kiddo was supposed to arrive from Perth the same day the hubby and I arrived from Brisbane. Well, their flight was delayed, delayed some more, delayed again, and then 5+ hours later finally cancelled. Grrrrr. This meant they didn’t arrive until the next day. Of course we were greatly disappointed to lose that time together but it was a great reminder of how to Accept and not Fret since there was no way we could fix the mechanical problem with the plane. And as I always say, better safe than dead!

#2 Lose The Device for Stronger Memories

For the first time in a long time I did not document every single skerrick of every single experience I had. Yes I took some photos but really, in the grand scheme of things and compared to my usual snap happy self, I was in analog mode. Because I didn’t have that little voice in my head constantly reminding me to take out my phone for a photo I felt some freed up brain space. It wasn’t really a conscious choice so I only noticed it in hindsight but tbh I didn’t mind the lack of documentation.

I remember a study1 about what happens to our brain if we view our holidays solely with our eyeballs versus through a viewfinder - turns out we take in the sights differently. If all we take are photos and/or videos we don’t retain what we see or create memories that are as strong!

Movement Bites

There are a couple in this category as well

#1 Use the Proffered Resources, in this case the Onsite Gym!

You know how some hotels advertise that they have a gym on the premises and it turns out to be a really sad affair tucked away somewhere in the basement with one really ratty treadmill, maybe a creaky exercise bike, and a few dumbbells?

Our hotel was not like that!

The gym was up on the 20th floor next to an outdoor pool and was well equipped, clean, and never crowded - win, win, win.

It really is true that you’ll be more inclined to move/work out if you have a nicely curated space and here’s a post that mentions that:

Hone Your Home

Bec Forde

March 16, 2022

Read full story

If you’re like me maybe you have a hard time motivating to take advantage of an onsite gym? This time I actually made several trips up to the top floor and even if it was only a twenty minute workout I felt heaps better and proud of myself, I even taught a Pilates Mat class via Zoom from up there!!

#2 Ambulate

I know I harp on this all the time but when you get the chance take a walk! Take a hike! Put one foot in front of the other and ambulate!

When I was a uni student I walked to campus every day - I was even gifted a car by a friend but I turned her down since I didn’t see the need (nor at that time did I want the responsibility). In my 20’s I lived in Chicago but even when I commuted via public transport a lot of walking was required at one or maybe both ends of the trip.

Perhaps then there’s something Pavlovian about being in a city for me - I crave walking, I just want to explore it by foot. Granted Adelaide is not a huge city and we stayed in a really convenient location, but even so, last week we walked and walked and walked and walked. (a special shoutout to our friend Meg who collected us from the airport in the middle of a helluva’ rain storm and the J1 bus which made our return trip to the airport easy peasy - other than those two trips we got to everywhere via good old shoe leather)

Relationships & Community

Yes, I live on the other side of the country from my only child so we don’t get to see each other very frequently. This trip was great because we met in South Australia which is kinda’ sorta’ halfway between us. We’re a family of huggers and being able to give them a squeeze was the best. We also have several fabulous, beautiful, easy to get along with friends who live in Adelaide and had a great time catching up with them too. When you can make those connections In Person? It’s pure gold!

Environment

#1 Green Space

Adelaide has squares of open greenery all throughout the city (it was planned that way by William Light). One of our friend’s apartment is not big but looks out on one of those squares. Even though she lives in a one bedder smack dab in the middle of the city her unit felt spacious since it won’t ever be hemmed in by another building and has loads of natural light. We met another friend for a wander through the magnificent botanic gardens and as part of the OzAsia Festival, the Moon Lantern walk we managed to squeeze in late one night was set in parklands on the banks of the River Torrens.

#2 The Ocean

One of our friends was down on The Fleurieu Peninsula which is an hour south of Adelaide. We rented a car so we could get to the coast where she was dog/house sitting. The drive down through spectacular scenery was followed by lunch right on the beach. What is it about the sea air? You immediately feel relaxed and I totally understand why people desire a “sea change”. When I looked out at the expanse of water I felt not only rejuvenated and liberated but was reminded that I am just a teensy part of the whole giant universe.

some of the limited photos I took: rainy sunset in Grange, Hong Kong dragon, yes pigs fly, dragonflies & waterlilies, urban view, fab tree, Victoria amazonica waterlily, heading to Port Elliot, Aldinga Beach

And last but not least

Creativity

On this trip we had creativity in spades which even began before we left home - what to pack for our city adventure! There’s definitely a different way to dress when you’re wandering around a city versus hanging out on your property.

We were spoiled for choice in so many other areas:

As mentioned the OzAsia Festival was happening so in addition to seeing the Moon Lanterns we had yummy food at the Lucky Dumpling Market. We saw a photography exhibit at the botanic gardens, there are tonnes of murals and street art, there’s iconic architecture, some of the cocktails we sipped were unusual not only in their ingredients but in their presentation, and let’s not forget there’s always great people watching in a city.

A long time habit of mine to buy a piece of jewellery as a trip memento. It’s small and easily packable! I ahem, already have so many pieces of wearable art that what I buy has to be like nothing I already have. Did I have success? Yep! Bought a pair of earrings that I just love.

wip: clever incorporation of a door / this mural was spied as we were walking to catch the airport bus.

Well were those really Vibrancy Bites or were you just party to my travel blog? I’m not quite sure but I do know that Sleep and Nutrition are now back on the front burner so I’ve got to take myself off to bed.

I hope I reminded you of at least one thing you can easily assimilate into your (I’m sure) busy November.

Do you have a favourite city? What do you love to explore when you’re there?