Sydney

LHR>PEK> SYD

(28 hours, with 8 hours in Beijing) 

This year I finally visited Australia - For years I have toyed with the idea of living there for a year or so, despite having never been and it did not disappoint. A friend and I visited New South Wales in January, spending the majority of our time in Sydney.

For our first weekend we hired a car and drove around three hours out of Sydney to Jervis Bay, staying in an airbnb by Hyams Beach. Hyams Beach is up there with one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited! We had one local store/cafe near by in the village, which served the most delicious food and was constantly busy and the house was perfect for the eight of us staying.

Ours days were spent at the beach or having BBQs at the house - Perfect. On the way back to Sydney we stopped at a National Park for a hike.

Back in Sydney we made the most of having Bondi Beach just twenty minutes from where we were staying in Surrey Hills. We spent days at the beach, exploring the city and ticking off the must see spots such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Trio was great for food, down by Bondi Beach - The Iced Coffee was a dream. Although I wouldn't recommend eating all the food possible before embarking on the Bondi to Coogee walk like we did. The shopping in Sydney was also amazing, but we had to limit how much we could buy as we had our luggage allowance to consider.

A highlight for me was visiting Manly and discovering Shelley Beach. We wouldn't have found this if our friends didn't live there, as you leave the ferry, walk straight and you'll see a beach directly in front of you. Then you take a right, follow a small costal path round to Shelley Beach. You'll also find the Boat House, serves amazing food!

We did venture to the Blue Mountains, which took around 2.5 hours on the train. Sadly, it was a wasted journey. We were up in the clouds which meant there was nothing to see - But I guess it's just another reason to go back.

I'm definitely not done with Sydney and can't wait to return. Along with exploring more of Australia - Let me know if there are any place to add to my list.

Thanks for reading,

AST

#TBT: Gili T

Lovina > Amed (2.5 hours by car)

Amed > Gili T (1 hour 15 mins by boat on the way there, 2.5 hours on the way back)

The Gili Islands came highly recommended, however I was still completely blown away when we finally arrived at the magicial Gili Trawangan. Gili T is one of the three Gili Islands, best known for its nightlife. Gili Air tends to attract backpackers, travellers wishing to meet other fellow travellers and those keen to dive. Gili Meno is known as the couples island (and would make a beautiful honeymoon destination, but that's a topic for another day)

We initial planned to stay on Gili T for one night, however the boat ride over was slightly traumatic and the island was utter paradise so we extended our stay. Our friends had a great journey over, sitting on the top deck sunbathing and drinking Bintang. Sadly we did not, our boat was tiny and you could only sit beneath top deck (with no bintang!) It was a rough, choppy journey and left plenty of people unwell. Next time I visit, I'll go with Blue Water Express (they have boats coming in every 20-30 minutes or so, with plenty more space and representatives on the beach at all times)

For accommodation we booked the Gili Paradise Bungalows via airbnb. This cost 600,000 IDR / £34 per night with breakfast included (for two) We were so happy with our choice, these bungalows have air con, wifi, they are clean and 200 metres from the beach (where the boat drops you off) I would definitely recommend. Here's a link: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/20003054

We spent our first afternoon relaxing on the beach before hiring a bike (no motor vehicles on the island, so its either bicycle or horse & carriage) and cycled down to the south of the Island to catch the sunset at around 18:15. Four of us ate at Casa Vintage Beach, it was great food and the sea breeze was much appreciated as we didn't get any breeze in Bali. We ventured back to the busy area of the island for drinks, live music at Sama Sama and beer pong, which was great fun and also booked a boat trip for the next day.

The boat trip began at 9:30, we had the boat to ourselves (four of us) and the total cost was 940,000 IDR - So £13 per person. We visited three spots for snorkelling, saw incredible coral, fish and turtles! Definitely worth doing. We came back around 14:00, freshened up and decided to cycle round the island, which took around 40 mins in total - stopping off at the swings for a bintang and photo of course.

Dinner that night was at Pituq Cafe, a vegan only cafe. The food was incredible, so rich in flavour and a huge variety - I would definitely recommend eating here!

The next day we travelled back to Bali, the boat back to Amed was two hours late and then took 2.5 hours due to stopping off at each island, but we will definitely head back to GIli T - Next time for longer!

Let me know if you have any recommendations, or any questions by commenting below.

Speak soon,

AST

Paradise: Bali

Bali - Sept 2017

London Heathrow > Kuala Lumpar > Denpasar (Flights: 18 hours, 20mins)

Denpasar > Lovina (Car: 3 hours)

Average weather: 33 degrees

Hotel: The Damai (www.thedamai.com)

Bali has always been on my bucket list and I finally got to venture out there in September. We decided to stay in the North of the island, rather than the South as we were looking to rest, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenes for our first few days. We stayed three hours from Denpasar airport, at the Damai in a pool villa.This stunning hotel is hidden in the jungle, with everything you could want and need.

Our first few days were spent enjoying the hotel and exploring Lovina, which is known for its black sand beaches, dolphins and coral reefs. Our evenings were spent watching the stunning sunsets on the beach and enjoying the local cuisine. I would recommend a visit to Spice Beach Club, for sun loungers, food and/or drinks. (I would give Sea breeze Cafe a miss)

We took the opportunity to go on a 6am 'Dolphin Safari' and watch the sunrise out at sea, which was one of the most magical experiences and a must if you are staying in the North. Although this was included within our stay, you can opt to do this for around 300 IDR (£17) These photos were captured on my iPhone! 

Snorkelling, massages, waterfalls and a temple were also on our to do list, along with a visit to the Gili Islands - Post to follow.

Let me know if you've visited Bali and any recommendations you have - I'm already looking for my next opportunity to get back there!

AST

What's in the bag: Long haul travel.

This year I have travelled to both Australia and Bali from London Heathrow, spending approximately 80 hours in the air (and plenty of time in the airport.) People usually work 40 hours a week, so two weeks worth of work spent up in the air - It's essential to pack the right items to get you through your flight.

My first essential item is a large bottle of water. Although you can request small cups of water at any time, I find it's so easy to become dehydrated, so don't risk a long flight without a supply of water.

Keeping your skin hydrated is also key - I use a selection of products from the Elemis range including the Hydra-Nourish Night Cream, Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and the Lip Revive Conditioning Balm.

Along with the above beauty essentials, a tooth brush, tooth paste and a hair brush (for me a tangle teezer is perfectly compact for travelling) are much needed to keep you feeling fresh throughout the journey.

Comfort is crucial, so ear plugs and an eye mask are always in my travel bag. Along with a change of clothes and of course, socks! I find aeroplanes are always cold, so I ensure plenty of layers are available. A neck pillow is another must, making it much easier to sleep throughout the flight.

Finally, entertainment - I love reading, so my Kindle is key. Along with headphones, if I decide to listen to music on my iPhone. I know some people travel with iPads and laptops, allowing them to work, or download TV programmes and movies etc, but I always find something to watch on the in-flight entertainment system. 

What are your flight essentials? 

AST