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Portofino // Escaping life for an Italian dream
Have you ever wondered if you could escape life, where would you go? Well, I had this very conversation last week. And I have it all figured out. Portofino. You may not know where Portofino is, but I can bet you have seen the postcard. Portofino is a little fishing village on the Italian Riviera coastline. It is known for its charm and has become synonymous with elegance and understated luxury. It’s where Louis Vuitton sits next to a local Italian ristorante. Where the rich and famous park their superyachts in summer. And where I dream to own a little café that serves local tapas and has a communal…
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Luxe Stay // Bayan Tree, Seychelles
I’ve never been one for a tropical island, sit on the beach or by the pool, do nothing type of person. When I plan my holidays, I do stuff. Lots of stuff. I see sights, I learn history, I meet the locals and I try to immerse myself into something new and unexplored. Well in 2018, I decided I needed a break for my birthday. So I picked a tropical-like island. I booked a private pool villa. And soon after I arrived at the Mahe Airport, Seychelles, I was heading to the Bayan Tree Resort. The Arrival I arrived in Mahe on an Emirates flight from Dubai. It’s less than…
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Special Feature // Kangaroo Island
We are only a third of the way through 2020, but wow what a year! Firstly, an Australian summer from hell, with the country burning from bushfires. Then the floods came. And then the world stopped due to COVID-19. It may be a while before we can travel internationally again. So, it is the perfect opportunity to support our local tourism. Tourism Australia has kicked off a With Love From Aus campaign. Telling the world to take time to daydream and we will see you again soon. But as an Australian as soon as it is safe and our state borders open or lockdown is over let’s get out and…
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Montenegro // small but mighty
I was taking a road trip through the Balkans. By the time I reached Montenegro, I had visited Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. I had heard the stories of war, the stories of resilience and the stories of hope. I was excited to be visiting Montenegro, small but mighty. A little history // Montenegro is the smallest Slavic country and is one of the newest countries in the world. It declared its independence from Serbia in 2006. Nothing about the Balkan history is straight forward. State boundaries have changed continuously over the years. Since WW1 alone Montenegro has gone through seven incarnations. It is believed that Montenegro got its…
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Sarajevo // inextricably linked to tragedy and hope
Driving through the Balkans region, Bosnia and Herzegovina was the second country on my itinerary. And I don’t think there has been a country or a nationality that has surprised me more. It is remarkable. Its capital, Sarajevo, is linked to tragedy and hope. Scarred by conflict and a history that’s impossibly sad. Yet there is so much strength and pride in the locals. A little history // Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is inextricably linked to tragedy and hope. Yet there is unity and respect where church bells ring next door to the Islam call for prayer. Over the past 20 years, this city has…
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Serbia // exploring the grit, the wild and breathtaking
I was planning a road trip through the Balkans, and Belgrade just happened to be the easiest city to fly in to. So exploring Serbia was added to my itinerary. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought war-torn, dirty, unsafe. I thought I’d do a tour and then be on my way. Well, I was wrong. A little history // Belgrade is situated at the junction of two rivers, the Sava and the Danube – Europe’s second-largest river. Due to its strategic positioning Belgrade has fought in over 115 wars and has been destroyed and rebuilt more than 44 times during its history! It was conquered…
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Samarkand // the ancient city of the Silk Road
Countries within Central Asia fascinate me – the history, the people and the cultural mix where west meets east. Combined with my strong interest in exploring the intricate and complex designs of Islamic art, it’s no surprise that Samarkand, host to some of the most beautiful blue mosaics in the world, quickly became one of my favourite cities. A little history // Located at the crossroads of world cultures, Samarkand dates back 2,750 years and has been one of the greatest cities of Central Asia. As I walked through the streets it felt like taking a step back in time to a rich history of trade, religion and conquerors. Today,…
