Paris When It Sizzles

To help prepare for a summer in Europe I'm watching Audrey Hepburn movies. If only my overseas wardrobe could be as chic as this, unfortunately it probably won't remain pressed in a backpack.

I've never been to Paris in summer before...lots of planning lies ahead!

Windows down, head out, sun on the face...drive to Torquay

For the time-poor road tripper, Torquay is an easy drive from Melbourne for sun, sand and surf. Just over an hour's drive outside of Melbourne, Torquay is a relaxed surfer town. You know you're in serious surfer territory when the surf stores lining the main street are almost as large as the average department store.

The beach was packed on a 40 degree day, but rather than going for a dip I walked along the beach where couples sheltered beneath the rocky coves and children splashed in the shallows.

High Tea at the Hotel Windsor

Traditional High Tea at the Hotel Windsor is a Melbourne institution. When my bestie informed me we were going to high tea in Melbourne I had a sneaking suspicion that was where we were headed.

On a pleasantly warm Friday afternoon dressed in a ladylike fashion, we were ushered to a table whilst the smiling waiter explained high tea to us first-timers. Firstly, we were treated to a glass of sparkling rose, the 3 tiered stand featuring finger sandwiches, petit fours and scones would be brought out and we would be offered freshly brewed tea or coffee. Simple, right?

High tea was being served in the Grand Ballroom due to renovations, an ostentatious Victorian-era room with high ceilings and decorative walls. Most tables were filled with couples, families including one with a toddler who charmed the socks off the patrons around us, mothers with their young daughters dressed in their prettiest floral dresses with matching handbags and (low) heels and then there were us - Ladies Who High Tea.

We couldn't help but say yes to the rose which was light and had a fruity palate.

The delicate finger sandwiches featured smoked salmon, egg and cucumber. No crusts in sight!

The plain and raisin scones were warm and fluffy with the choice of strawberry, blueberry and clotted cream. There is no slathering during High Tea. Gently slicing the scone in half lengthways, you use separate knives to layer the scone first with jam and then with a generous helping of cream. Be generous, you don't go to High Tea everyday!

Just as we bit into our scones and craving piping hot tea, it was served in its own pot with additional hot water.

Then there were the petit fours - which to start from? The standout was the delicate pear tart which had a custard dream filling wrapped in a glazed, ultra thin slice of pear. It was heavenly.

The service at High Tea was prompt, friendly and anticpated our needs before we could voice them. Upon leaving one of the waitstaff asked if we enjoyed it and we replied strongly in the affirmative.

The Hotel Windsor
111 Spring Street, Melbourne
High Tea is served 3 - 5 pm weekdays

My Balinese Birthday – Part 2 Sofitel Seminyak

On my recent trip to Bali, we stayed at the Sofitel Seminyak. My colleague had recommended this to me and an online special included free breakfast, Internet and airport transfers with the booking.

Located right on Seminyak beach the four-star resort has lush rainforest gardens throughout the secure complex. Bamboo grew right outside our hotel room door and banana trees with early fruit hung over a nearby walkway.



The gardens were home to a croissant-eating lizard. Whilst I enjoyed breakfast, this lizard leaped into the water to devour breakfast rolls from the waitstaff. He seemed friendly enough although I’m not sure that I’d want to meet him if I was walking alone in the evening.



We stayed in a ground floor room with a balcony that overlooked the moat. Ok, so it was more of a man-made waterhole surrounding the ground floor rooms but it did have the appearance of extra security from the balcony.

The hotel boasts two pools, a garden view pool and the more popular and crowded oceanview pool. Guests nabbed prime positions near the latter before breakfast so its recommended to go early although there were still some sun lounges available mid afternoon. The garden pool is a little more peaceful and secluded, plus its jacuzzi was great to relax in.







We were genuinely surprised by the food at the Capris beachside restaurant. There are a lot of negative comments on Tripadvisor about Balinese hotels having inflated prices at their restaurants. Yet I think if you’re hungry and don’t feel like venturing out from your hotel after a shopping expedition – you do get what you pay for. We ordered the mixed satay and gado gado salad with fresh juices. The satay came with an array of sides including white rice, steamed sambal spinach and sauces. The still-sizzling satay had to be turned over a couple of times on the hot rocks – which were not just for decoration!





On my birthday, we went for a hot stone massage at Le Spa. The massage was soothing for me but way too hot for my mum! Hot stone massage involves heating stones which are then used to massage all over your body with pairs of stones placed on your pressure points. It’s my favourite massage but maybe not for everyone.

Back in the room after the massage I was flicking through the TV channels when I noticed out of the corner of my eye a colourful cake on the coffee table. The hotel staff had left it there when we were away – it came with candles so I can only surmise that they wanted to sing to me? Either way it was a genuine surprise adding to a one-of-a-kind birthday. And yes, we did eat most of the cake for morning tea…

What completed our holiday though was the attentiveness of the staff. They were always friendly and assisted us with tour information, organising a taxi to Ubud and of course presenting a birthday cake. It perhaps accounts for the “regulars” that continually choose to stay there.

Melbourne Summer Eats

I've just returned from a relaxing 10 day visit in Melbourne, soaking up the sun, nabbing a few bargains and doing lots of eating. Below are my top three Melbourne Eats, I confess I am missing Chapel Street and my brother's inner city apartment already. Suburbia seems overrated.










1. Suzuki Night Markets @ Queen Victoria Markets

Before you enter the markets you can hear a thumping folk band entertaining the hungry crowd. An intoxicating mix of smells greets you as you gently nudge your way through the people. The problem is how do you choose what to eat? Stalls sizzle with an international array of freshly fried, battered, stewed, grilled and baked foods. Worse still is watching what other people are eating - this induces serious food envy. The lack of empty tables necessitates eating wherever you can, perching on any empty space while you feast on New Orleans Creole Jambalaya with chicken and chorizo or honey dumplings and wash it all down with a sangria.





2. Hutong Dumpling Bar, 162 Commercial Road, Prahran

This upmarket Chinese restaurant has a dumpling viewing window so you can watch the chefs in action. The duck roasting oven is also on customer display and apparently cost $300,000! Either way, I enjoyed the shanghai dumplings as an entree when yours first bite releases the hot soup into your mouth, the specialty claypot melt-in-your-mouth scallops and eggplant and the very sweet pork spare ribs in a honey sauce. The service was a bit hit and miss though.



3. Ganache, 250 Toorak Road, South Yarra

My best friends swears this is the best chocolatier in Melbourne. I opted for the hazelnut fan slice and she had the passionfruit and mango slice accompanied by lemongrass T2 tea. The milk chocolate was velvety and smooth perfected by the wafer base sandwiching the crunched hazelnuts. I tasted her slice too which was light and fluffy, the sweetness of the fruit offset by the white chocolate mousse. This made for a rather decadent afternoon tea.

Whilst this isn't a "top 3" you have to eat Lord of the Fries if you're in Melbourne after a big night or snack attack, just a pity they ran out of the below:



All photos were taken on my iPhone. Big thanks to my bro for letting me crash on his futon! =)

Seminyak - From the Streets to the Beach

Below is a travel writing piece that I entered into a competition. Not one to sleep in on my 24th birthday I woke up and walked on the beach at 6.30am...

Before stepping for the very first time on a plane to Bali, your head is filled with too many preconceived notions. Images of negative newscasts, of sunburnt tourists and harassing hawkers are the cause of apprehension blurring your excitement ever so slightly.

On the streets the stereotypes begin to fade. Motorbikes fill the roads driven by locals and tourists alike expertly darting through traffic. One motorbike has a white surfboard strapped to its side.

My taxi driver practices his English and burgeoning French on visitors. Wayan tells me that the fruit in season are mangoes, durian and the curious looking mangostien or “manggis” with tough purple skin and white flesh inside. Stopping at a junction, I watch as children use a long stick to prod manggis from a tree to be caught in a turquoise painted woven basket.

Waking up early for a stroll, I’ve found that the morning mist has broken on Seminyak Beach. My bare feet leave prints on the diamond dusted grey sand. I dodge the tiny crabs that make sandcastle homes on the beach. The sand is a kaleidoscopic pattern comprised of tiny balls of sand.

“Salamat pagi!”
Two young boys jog barefoot in their ragged t-shirts and shorts. Smiles envelope their faces as they wave at us, pausing to run backwards before breaking into a bolt.

I continue to walk across the cool sand, which is devoid of litter but strayed with seaweed and shells. I’ve approached the Balinese street dogs standing guard. One white skinny dog curls himself like a banana oblivious to the morning activity.

A family of fishermen untangle their long spiderweb nets, cackling with laughter. They drag the nets out meticulously, ensuring the red and orange baubles are upright.

Balinese children sit in the sand, drooping globs of wet sand through their fingers. A little girl with dark tresses of hair falling down her back wears solid gold earrings that catch in the sun. She twirls and runs and falls into the sand, only to pick herself up, dusts off her bright floral dress and dances again.

An offering lies on the beach. Encased in a pale beige square rattan basket, it contains colourful flowers, pandan leaves and a couple of cracker biscuits. The pandan leaves are “haram” meaning “nice-smelling” of a sweet earthy scent. A red incense stick in the middle blows smoke into the air.

Breathing in deeply, I can smell the pungent incense. The salty moisture in the air leaves my arms feeling smooth. It’s 6.30 am on Sunday morning. Good morning Bali.

The Spa at The Samaya Villas, Bali

Upon entering the Samaya Villas you know you're stepping into a special place. After walking through the open air reception area and the lantern lined paths, the lagoon pool and the horizon stretched out before us. The Samaya is a well-maintained resort, although it appeared to be rather quiet at the time of our visit.

To make the day spa experience more "special" I had specifically chosen a spa outside of our hotel - a decision which I was very happy with! I pre-booked my mother and myself in for the Shita Ladies Package a four hour deluxe spa treatment - this included complimentary pick up from our Seminyak hotel. The spa manager promptly greeted us and offered us chilled lime juice. We sampled the massage oils on our skin settling on "relax" and "calm".

Guided into the couples room a "Wow!" escaped my lips.
"Do you like the room?" Ani, my therapist smiled.
Uh, absolutely!



Large windows framed the spectacular view of waves breaking onto the shore. The room contained a sofa with two foot spas, two massage beds with rose petals strewn across them, a jet spa, a bathroom, shower, steam room and wardrobe. Attention to detail was paramount, with the walk in wardrobe having little jewellery boxes for your accessories.

The treatment began with an all natural foot spa with fresh limes and sea salt. We had a chat to our therapists, who both lived in Denpasar city and ride their own motorbikes to work. Both our therapists looked incredibly youthful, but were in their early thirties with young families.

My mother asked about whether Bali was afected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Ani replied, "No, because we are guarded, protected by the Gods."

Our therapists began the aroma massage and asked if the pressure was all right. I prefer a firm massage to ease away my desk job-induced upper back and shoulder tension. The candlenut scrub followed feeling cool on my skin. After a quick shower, a lavendar body lotion was applied all over and my skin felt incredibly buffed and smoothed.

Our milk bath was prepared for us and I've always rather greenly thought that a milk bath involved a lot of full cream milk. It was actually milk powder added to the warm water, with lots of bubbles. We enjoyed a tea ceremony in the bath - a sharp tasting ginger tea and lempur which is a specialty Indonesian dessert - glutinous rice wrapped around mince chicken.

A Decleor facial ended the treatment in the ocean view room and we were ushered into the salon for an OPI spa pedicure.

The service at the Samaya was faultless, both our therapists were warm, patient and welcoming. Even when mine had to gently wake me up after my massage. A little too relaxed perhaps?





After the spa I felt like drifting away but we ended up having sunset cocktails followed by dinner at the Breezes restaurant. It's the only way to end a perfect day in Bali.