Alam Sari Life in an open-air villa, perched 42 steps up on top of a rice paddy immediately transcends you to a very peaceful place. As I roused from my slumber, I could hear a faint, soft, tinkling sound of a village cowbell…. somewhere in the distance. Was this in...
Why not explore some different options next time you make your travel plans? Stephanie Brookes gives some top accommodation picks, which we hope will inspire you to find the true spirit of the island. KUTA: Ramayana Hotel — Shopping and entertainment What I love about...
Stradbroke Island – Island of Charm North Stradbroke Island is affectionately known to everyone as “Straddie”. Not only do you have beaches, wildlife and a chilled atmosphere but also unusual things happen on Straddie. From September to January you will see a...
It’s Friday afternoon and you’ve left work early. This well overdue weekend escape has been on your mind forever, and finally it is your time to relax. Your destination is Mount Tamborine, a mere 70 kms out of Brisbane. If you are searching for beauty and tranquility...
It’s not often a weekend in the countryside offers two free-roaming alpacas munching leaves outside your kitchen window at 6.00am. It is equally pleasing that as you step outside onto the porch at your lakeside cottage, you immediately have more encounters with...
Visiting East Bali Away from the high-end tourist mecca of Kuta and Seminyak there lays a hidden gem, waiting to be discovered. The natural beauty of East Bali – its highland region and stunning coastline is a pleasant surprise, where the culture and traditional way...
Most tourists going to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef approach it by sea. Stephanie Brookes arrived by air. The experience was unforgettable; the beach world class. To fully appreciate the colour, diversity and pristine beauty of the Great Barrier Reef along...
A Romantic Getaway – Queensland, Australia The poet, William Henry Davies, wrote, “What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare” and it is often true that we do not take the time to contemplate our surroundings. However, Crystal Creek...
I sat talking with Grandma Ni Made Sibuh in her village in Petemon where she has lived all her life. She was born around 1935 however, “This is a rough guess only,” Sibuh explained. “We never had birth certificates or registrations back then.” She does, however,...
Hanoi is 1,000 years old and therefore deserves to be called an ancient city. Despite the busy hustle and bustle, Hanoi has a calm peacefulness about it, from it’s wooden staircases crafted centuries ago, to it’s dollhouse-sized terrace houses. A beautiful...
