Food & Drinks

If I were to compile a list of scariest, hair-raising moments in my travel history, this jeep journey to Fairy Meadows in Northern Pakistan would have to be in the top three (probably alongside mountain bike riding down death road in Bolivia and jumping from the highest bunny jump in the world in Macao). I began to relax in to my seat and enjoy the views, right when we turned a bend and entered a much more narrow, steep, and gut-wrenching section of the road that we later learned would take us almost the entire (one hour) journey up to the base for the hike to Fairy Meadows. The driver asks us not to film the village out of respect for the local people who very likely welcome many guests to their corner of the world daily, as the road to Fairy Meadows has become a bucket list destination for travellers to Northern Pakistan (though in the scheme of things tourism in the country is still very low). Arriving at Fairy Meadows feels like somewhat of a mirage after running our of drinking water before the hike had even commenced – but within minutes of arriving the local hosts are rushing to provide chai tea and water provisions.

My visit to the Flinders Ranges was in the month of April, the perfect time to experience the region as the weather begins to cool off (summer is too hot) and before the winter settles in with chilly nights. By far the most surreal experience of my time in the Flinders Ranges was to board a helicopter flight and land on a secluded ridge where a swag and camp set-up awaited me for a night of complete seclusion. This eco friendly tent is located inside a private reserve, whereby your host will send you on your way with a loaded eski full of treats and dinner for the evening, which you can enjoy in the privacy of your luxe tent (complete with a bathroom, bbq and private fire spot for the evening! ) On this walk I learned about the history of the Flinders Ranges, all about the wildlife we encountered and many out of the ordinary facts I’m sure I’ll never remember!

Spending a night out in the bush surrounded by Australian wildlife, nothing but the sounds of nature and the crispy night air sounded like the perfect introduction to the Flinders Ranges, and so it was settled: I would spend my first night here in the bush on the heli-swag experience. Driving North from Adelaide, it was under an hour out of the city that I began to experience and embrace the country lifestyle South Australia is renowned for and before I knew it, in just two hours I was in the Clare Valley. When I reached Rawnsley Park Station I quickly re-packed my bags and took just an overnight bag on board the helicopter which was filled with all my supplies for the night: a swag, cooking equipment, an eski full of food to cook on the stove and a head torch I had brought with me out of practicality (which, as it turns out, was the most useful item I could have brought on the journey! ) The short 10 minute helicopter ride over the Flinders Ranges in the late afternoon was as magical as it sounds: soft daylight, a light breeze and the surprisingly warm autumn air were all characteristic of my journey to the top of a small peak on the Chase Ranges.

Having myself fallen victim to the popular stops such as endless wineries in the Barossa Valley and the endless wildlife viewing on offer on Kangaroo Island, it was not until my second visit to South Australia that I began to think outside the box and look elsewhere for my adventures. After a few days exploring the region by car, I made my way to Arkaba Conservancy to experience the four-day adventure known as the Arkaba Walk, whereby walkers can enjoy a guided hike in Wilpena Pound and the Elders Ranges. Walking through 600-million years of geological history, the walk is coupled with an endless educational experience, stopping to learn about the earth and its geological history, Australian wildlife and a general overview of the flora and fauna in the area. The walk takes place over four days and three nights with the first two nights camping in the bush and the final night being more luxurious inside the homestead, complete with a three-course meal and matching wines.

Over the years I’ve stayed at countless hotels, friends’ houses and even at one point had my own apartment in the city, but in recent years I have returned time and time again to my favourite hotel in the centre of town: Adelphi Hotel. The last few stays in Melbourne I have checked in to The Adelphi Hotel, commonly known as the world’s only dessert hotel (and for good reason). The Adelphi Hotel gained a reputation for being the world’s first dessert hotel with thanks to the hotel restaurant Om Nom Kitchen, located on the ground floor of the hotel. Each time I stay at the Adelphi Hotel I can’t help but to visit Om Nom Kitchen and try a new dessert each time.

The city of Singapore has become one of the most popular stopover cities on the continent over recent years, thanks to a huge influx of wealth in the country that has led to significant development in infrastructure and a buzzing foodie culture. Read more: The 26 Safest Cities for Female Travellers It should come as no surprise that the world’s most romantic city is still as popular as ever – especially for couples, honeymooners and those on the lookout for love (don’t worry all my fellow single ladies, it is still a great solo destination! ) As one of the world’s most popular destinations to visit and an equally popular choice for expats, it is no surprise New York City remains one of the world’s most expensive cities to visit and live. The East Coast has long had a reputation for being expensive but it is the West Coast that has had a much quicker rise in rent prices and living prices that has also spilled over in to the tourism industry.

After just four weeks in the new place (two weeks of which I was travelling), I’ve finished my first room and wanted to share some snaps for anyone else interested in renovating or home design. Just as I travel the world solo, I’ve entered in to the renovation process solo and rather than looking at the obvious cons to having a huge house to myself, I’ve embraced the fact that I get to design my home exactly as I wish! The most important piece in my home so far has been my piano, which I purchased a couple of years ago and had left sitting in storage until I had a home for it. I fell in love with Le Labo’s “Cedre” scented candle on my last visit to New York and with my never-ending love affair with the city, chose to splurge on the scent and have my living room take me back to the city any time I choose.

This was my first home and while I loved how compact and quaint it was, it wasn’t long before I outgrew the novelty of living in a tiny one bedroom and decided I wanted to spend some time living in Los Angeles, so put my place up for rent (fully furnished) and put my things in to storage again. The house is split across three levels: living, dining and kitchen on the ground level, a guest bedroom, bathroom and balcony on the second level and two oversized bedrooms with a huge balcony on the third level. The house was built in 1890, meaning it not only has a lot of history but also a lot of charm (as so many people have commented to me these past few weeks – After these major projects I want to do a lot of DIY projects around the house – especially the under-staircase wine cellar I talked about in my house tour video.

The landscapes of the Okavango Delta are some of the most mesmerising I’ve seen the world over – endless shades of green, epic sunsets, and most importantly, ample wildlife (thanks in part to the nation’s strong reputation for wildlife conservation). Located adjacent to the wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve, Sandibe Okavango Delta is one of Botswana’s most sought after safari lodges. The lodge attributes its interior style to the natural surrounds with endless shades of beige and various textures that compliment the natural surrounds. The rooms include a private plunge pool (a welcomed treat after a hot morning on game drive) and each room has the privacy of its’ own view of the surrounding floodplains.

In cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto there are a few hidden gems to discover, so I’d love to share with my fellow veggies the best vegetarian restaurants in Japan! Idyllically located near the bamboo grove, this neighbourhood has become one of the must visit locations in Kyoto and if you chance your visit during lunch or dinner, I’d strongly recommend visiting this restaurant for hands down the best vegetarian Japanese food I have devoured in Japan. My friend Hiro San who joined me on my recent trip to Japan soon became intent on showing me the best of Japan’s veggie restaurants and made it his mission to research them in advance. Finally I can highly recommend making a trip to the mountains for veggie and vegan feasts, as one of my favourite experiences in Japan was to visit Buddhist monks in the Wakayama district and enjoy a huge spread of vegetarian food.