Contributors

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Rooms with a view... I am grateful


I’m not going to bore you with how difficult the writing life can be, you know, not having paid work for months on end, having to be away from family and loved ones when doing book tours and festivals, how life on the road takes it’s toll on your body (you don’t eat, sleep or do other bodily functions like normal… I’m just saying). These more unpleasant aspects of the career are all trade-offs to the choice I make to be a full-time writer and continue to create work that will hopefully impact positively on someone else's life, somewhere in the universe.

Instead, because I am Miss Positivity most of the time, I want to share just one of the wonderful sides of the writerly life; the views that can come with the rooms in just some of the hotels I get to stay in. In recent weeks, thanks to being an author, I have had the good fortune of waking up to these views above and below. Yes, I know it’s awfully depressing, but I do somehow continue to get through my day once pulling the curtains back.

I post these pics and links because I also recommend them as places for you too to stay, if and when you visit these cities / towns.

The Summerhouse is simply stunning!


BYRON BAY: Last week, as an author on the program of the Byron Bay Writers Festival,  I was hosted by owners Sandy and Dion at The Summerhouse - an extraordinary piece of paradise in the hills above Byron Bay. Walking in late afternoon, I was like a child having never seen anything so beautiful before. The whole place has that ‘WOW’ factor. My pics don’t do it justice though, so check out their website. Better still, go stay there and feel like you are at one with a nature while also experiencing an enormous sense of luxury!



MACKAY: As an invited guest of the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival I was pleastantly shocked into my day with this view below staring me in the face in the morning, and in the evening. It was hard to take I can tell you. I stayed at the Clarion Mackay Marina Hotel  and felt incredibly blessed.

Morning and night, Mackay was the perfect place for writing and reading!


AIRLIE BEACH: Presenting at the Whitsunday Writers Festival in Airlie Beach in July, I also had the terrible situation of having a room at the Coral Sea Resort that pretty much sat in the water, as you can see at the top of the page and below. I could actually see the ocean from my bath but I didn’t think you needed a photo of that!


CAIRNS: In July I was a featured speaker at the 11th World Convention of the International Confederation of Principals  held in Cairns. Only problem with that gig is that I had to wake up to this stunning view from my room at the Pullmans International Hotel

The blue sky view in Cairns was just awful, don't you think? :)

I'd love to hear about some of the rooms with views you've had! 

6 comments:

Annabel said...

Wow, Anita, those places all look amazing - lucky you! I had a very different, but still very lovely view from the window of my latest writing residency, which you can see here: http://annabelsmith.tumblr.com/post/52790145263/fellowship-of-australian-writers-residency-update

Dr Anita Heiss said...

Oh yes Annabel, that lush canopy of green looks like a nice serene place to write. Or to just sit and stare and think :)
I want one of those residencies too :)

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Good on you, Anita, They are indeed lovely places, and you've worked for it all.

Dr Anita Heiss said...

Oh hello Rosemary. Hope you're well, and thanks for dropping by. Yes, I see the lovely views as compensation for hard work. But I still feel very blessed.
Much peace, Anita

Cathy said...

What a collection of absolutely beautiful places Anita where water views were rather prolific. Thank you for writing a bit more about the places you have stayed. Australia has so many amazingly stunning locations.

Dr Anita Heiss said...

Cathy - like you I've been fortunate enough to see some gorgeous landscapes the past few years.
And yes, Australia has gorgeous coastline, doesn't it?