The green, green Grampians

After our obligatory Melbourne food-coffee-shop-art fest, the three of us bundled into the car and meandered our way to the Grampians via the picturesque Great Ocean Road, Australia’s answer to Big Sur. I recently came across the Japanese term shinrin-yoku, literally “forest bathing”. It refers to the recommended practice of visiting the forest for health benefits, both physical and mental. Nothing could be truer…

Great Ocean Road with 2.1 humans

I gotta admit, I got onto that plane kicking and screaming on the inside, thinking that this was a very very bad idea. Why would I want to be a sleepless, frazzled new parent somewhere other than in the comfort of my own home. Insane levels of sleep deprivation and the sudden transition from full-time professional to mother of a tiny being was wreaking…

Joshua Tree – Ryan Mountain

  Whilst I’m sitting here listening to the rain fall against my window, heater on, cup of tea in hand, dreams of the desert call to me. One of the most highly anticipated stops along our road trip was none other than the iconic Joshua Tree National Park. We said a reluctant goodbye to our beautiful room at Ace Hotel Palm Springs, vowing to return…

The South-West

Last long weekend we contemplated two choices. Spend the time doing some much needed home DIY and tidying? Or go coastal exploring? You can see which option won out – the irresponsible but equally necessary choice! We took the opportunity to have a much needed break from the daily grind and wound our way around Dunsborough and the rocky coastline that surrounds the South-West. The sunny weather and crisp ocean…

Grand Canyon and Monument Valley

About a month ago now, I went adventuring – with my parents! And I left poor Jinn at home. Yes, I know I know, most of you are wondering what on earth possessed me and there were indeed some moments I asked myself the same. Being of the incredibly strong, stoic and self-sacrificing species that is commonly known as “the migrant parent” (holler if you…

Ojai Rancho Inn

Holiday digs don’t get much cooler than this. En route from a few awesome but parching days of hiking and meteor-gazing in the desert, we continued our roadtrip onwards to Ojai Rancho Inn and boy was it a sight for sore feet and days-old hairdos. In an act of amazing foresight, Jinn had booked us a room with a spa just big enough for…

The Stirling Ranges

Good golly, where has all that time gone…? In all honesty it’s been consumed by all-work but that doesn’t necessarily have to mean no-play, and the time certainly hasn’t been dull. Jinn has been knuckling down to smash the crap out of a few exams, and I’ve been settling into a new job after a very hectic and often stressful year. All the more…

Go somewhere

Wearing – Jungmaven dress, Birkenstock sandals, A.J. Morgan sunglasses, Gorman bag Jumping a little ahead in time, New York was the last stop in our holiday. By this time, we’d roasted ourselves in the Californian desert and breathed in the pine-scented air of the Oregon forests, and now found ourselves on the other side of this vast country pounding concrete, dodging yellow taxis, and weaving…

Summer Camp

A few months ago we stumbled across Summer Camp’s ogle-worthy Instagram feed and developed an intense crush on the impeccable styling and unmistakable character (and ALL THE CACTI ZOMG). We hadn’t even heard about the tiny town of Ojai but after a little more searching and hashtag chasing we discovered that it was home and haven to many other creatives and great destinations. And so…

Finding Salvation

Emerging out from the stark and sandy Colorado desert, Salvation Mountain stands as one man’s bold and beautiful message of love. Profoundly unusual yet moving at the same time, the monument is frequented by religious and unreligious folk alike. Leonard Knight began this work in 1984, continuously expanded and elaborated upon it until his health failed him and he passed away last year aged 83….