It was dark. I mean really dark. The kind of dark you only get hundreds of kilometres from civilisation. Sitting on a stump outside my tent at 4am, I squinted to focus. I hooked my shoelaces into the non-slip hooks of my hiking boots and pulled them tight around my ankles. Today, I would need…
The Samata Sanur, Bali
The Samata Sanur is an ideal destination to retreat for a complete wellness experience. Nestled within long stretches of rice fields, the resort has managed to escape the background noise of motorbike traffic and busy streets, which tend to fill the more touristy areas of Bali. Although the Samata Bali is located slightly inland from…
Weekend Wellness at Desa Seni Village Resort, Bali
The moment you step onto the property at Desa Seni village resort, preferably barefoot, a feeling of relaxation begins to set in. This conscious community brought back fond memories of my time teaching at Hariharalaya Retreat Center in Cambodia where Integral Yoga is taught as a science of living, encompassing everything from your own self-care to the way you interact with the world. Mary Tilson Desa…
Sailing Komodo: Exploring Indonesia’s Incredible Komodo National Park
Sailing Komodo by traditional phinisi sailing ship was something I had never planned on doing in my life as a traveller. But, as often happens with these unplanned travel adventures, our time on a cruise around Komodo National Park turned out to be the most memorable times I have spent travelling around Indonesia. Skye Gilkeson…
Why Flores and Komodo Should be on Your Indonesia Bucket List
I had pored over photos of Komodo National Park long before I was invited to see it in person. So when I received an invitation from the Indonesian Ministry for Tourism to explore Flores along with Jakarta, Bali and Bintan Island, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Since returning from the whirlwind trip around Wonderful Indonesia,…
Is Barwon Heads Victoria’s Best Kept Secret?
Barwon Heads is a small, sleepy, coastal town about 90 minutes drive southwest of Melbourne. It’s close to the better-known towns of Geelong and Ocean Grove. Barwon Heads was largely a fisherman’s village back in the day, becoming a popular holiday spot in the 1930s, when the wealthy Melbourne crowd flocked there to build houses by…
A Photo Journal from Bintan Island, Indonesia
A fast ferry ride from Singapore, Bintan Island in Indonesia is a popular getaway destination for resort-style holidays where visitors can sit poolside at a Bintan Island resort, sipping on cocktails, cool off with water sports and sleep the afternoon away under the shade of a palm tree. While we got a taste of that typical itinerary, we…
12 of The Best Things to do in Jakarta Indonesia
Jakarta is a true megalopolis. Indonesia’s capital heaves with a population of more than 9 million people, swelling by a further 2 million commuters each day. From the outside looking in, it seems to be one of those cities that could swallow you whole. That is until you get to know it a little better….
Guatemala Yoga Retreats: Where to Practice Yoga at Lake Atitlan
Guatemala isn’t anywhere near the birthplace of yoga, but the teachings of this wonderful practice have travelled thousands of miles to meet their match at Lake Atitlan; a picturesque home to Guatemala yoga retreats and schools. The tranquillity of the lake is the perfect place to regain some inner zen after the madness of urban Guatemala, so…
Meet Yoga and Wellness Expert, Mary Tilson
We first met Mary Tilson during a stay at the Hariharalaya Yoga and Meditation Retreat Center in Cambodia. She was our yoga instructor. Over the course of the week I observed her and I came to admire the way she was able to connect with each member of the group. It’s a skill that separates an average instructor from an…
Meet Jaharn Quinn from Mister Weekender
There was a mystery to the Mister Weekender Instagram feed that first sparked my fascination. Scrolling through artfully curated tiles of landscape images I would rarely see founder, Jaharn Quinn’s face. Here was someone among a sea of selfies who seemingly preferred to showcase what she saw through the lens, instead. It was refreshing. I soon found out Jaharn’s passion for…
An Insider’s Guide to the Roskilde Festival, Denmark
So you’ve worn out your gumboots at Glastonbury, partied with the crowds selling out Splendour and danced ’til dawn in the desert at Burning Man? Well, it might be time to grab your tent, pack you party sneakers and take your crew a little further north to a new festival frontier; the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Line Oldager …