Share This: When you sit in an artist’s studio, surrounded by banana palm fronds swinging in the breeze and a hint of frangipani in the air you get inspiration. The workspace at Sanur Jewellery Studio is set in a sprawling tropical garden. The studio is...
Share This: The ultimate palms and paradise destination? There are many, and Bali is definitely on the shortlist. But there’s more to the Indonesian island besides white-sand beaches and clear blue water. We hop on our bikes to experience the authentic life and ways...
Share This: Every May, a vibrant festival is held at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, located in Central Java. Buddhists from the far reaches of Asia gather to celebrate the holy festival known as Waisak, celebrating...
The Spice Islands are wrapped in an aromatic history of cloves, mace and nutmeg, Kings and Sultans, spice wars, and the rise and fall of invading armies. As I travelled through the Spice Island chain, I saw massive groves of cloves and nutmegs clinging to the perfect...
I arrived late in the evening to catch the Prince and Princess Tourism Competition. Suddenly chairs were parted and bodies shifted to make room for me in the front row. I was ordered to sit here, by one of the Dayak ladies, so I quickly took my place between a very...
Share This: As I headed out of the township of Raha on rutted roads and made my way into the interior of Muna Island, I peered out of the car window, passing villages and hoping for a glimpse of a stallion. Latugo Village on Muna Island, Sulawesi is where, word has...
Share This: Viceroy Bali sits perched on a high ridge above Bali’s Valley of the Kings, where shrines and ancient water temples date back to the 8th century. The presence of these ancient artifacts lends an atmosphere of mystery and spiritual grace to this stunning...
Each month, travelling duo Stephanie Brookes and David Metcalf, explore some of the lesser-known enclaves of Indonesia and bring back tales of hidden heritage and cultural journeys of discovery. Here are a few highlights from 2015. Kejawen A holy energy resides in the...
Stairway to Heaven: Nusa Penida Island, Bali I squeezed my way through a tiny gap between two huge boulders and was assured by my guide, “Yes, yes this is the way, just keep squeezing”. This was by far the most unusual way I had ever entered a temple. Within seconds,...
Arriving in Medahan Village, just South of Ubud, I was met by my Balinese friend Ketut. Stepping over gaping holes (and trying not to fall in one), I followed her to the temporary wooden shelves that housed the bones of the deceased. The bones had been exhumed from...
COLOMBO HAS PLENTY TO OFFER THE VISITOR, ABOVE ALL, ITS FRIENDLY, WELCOMING PEOPLE WHO WILL CHARM YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Colombo is the gateway city to Sri Lanka, a small country that boasts pristine beach stays, elegant hotels in the highlands surrounded by tea...
Dieng Plateau “Abode of The Gods” Some wonderful examples of the oldest architecture in Java lie sprinkled across the Dieng Plateau in Central Java. Towering volcanic peaks surround these isolated Hindu temples, which date back to the 7th and 8th centuries when Java...
Abu Bakar, the grave keeper, recited the legend of Princess Lala Jinis to me as we sat in the 1,000-year-old cemetery that Abu conscientiously protects, near the small village of Seran, in a remote part of West Sumbawa. Princess Lala Jinis, the only daughter...
Every year, the Rajasthan desert plays host to the vibrant Pushkar Camel Fair, as well as a spiritual festival at Lake Pushkar, to purify the soul. A line of camels, horses and their traders, as well as musicians, vendors and snake charmers appeared over the sand...
A boat trip into Halong Bay, a world heritage listed site in North Vietnam is a spectacular experience. The beauty of this region leaves you spellbound as you cruise alongside hundreds of sheer limestone peaks rising out of the sea, stone mountains clad in jungle,...
Bodie: A Wild West Ghost Town It’s a long bleak road to Bodie, a ghost town left abandoned in the arid high desert plains of the Eastern Sierras, California. It’s a day trip out of Mammoth Lakes on the Scenic Highway 395 North. The lonely 13-mile stretch of dirt road...
Sri Lanka is a tropical island of legendary beauty. It is often described as the “teardrop island” as it sits off the coast of India like a tear. It is a compact island with beautiful beaches, sheltered bays, ancient relics, wildlife and is largely untainted by...
The Waitakeres Ranges is a 16,000-hectare parkland of outstanding beauty. The one-hour scenic drive through the Ranges is studded with tree ferns, giant Kauri trees and spectacular views. It’s easy to fall in love with the soft romantic waterfalls, misty bays and...
North Lombok Largely unexplored, North Lombok offers a peek into an exotic world of natural wonders and ancient communities. Under the shadow of Mount Rinjani, a stunning coastline and beautiful rice terraces await you, as well as a culture that holds strong to its...
According to Chinese astrology, the Year of the Horse is a time for fast victories, unexpected adventure and surprising romance. It is an excellent year for travel; the farther away and off the beaten track, the better. On Lombok, you have the deserted beaches of...
