A travel writer’s guide to the world’s most interesting places
Where: Koh Samui, Thailand Why: Thailand is pretty much to Australians what Spain to Brits, meaning, it’s where we all go on holiday. It’s cheap, it’s close, it’s fun, got great food, good weather, lovely beaches and for me, it’s the perfect stop-over destination on the 24-hour hell-flight home to London from Sydney. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been to Thailand in my life, but I’d say more than 25… And in recent years, I’ve always ended up in Koh Samui.
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Where: Beach Studio @ Artist House, Byron Bay, Australia Why: During my second long, hot summer at university, when I was into hippy skirts and peasant blouses (still am, sort of), my best friend and I packed a rucksack each, bought a load of vegan snacks and hit the road, hitchhiking (really!) all the way from Canberra to the mecca of Aussie alternative living, Byron Bay. Known for gorgeous beaches, healthy living and a super-chill vibe, I decided to return to see if I still loved the place as much as I did back then and dragged my friend Tom along with me.
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I was recently in Australia and spent some time in my hometown of Canberra. Although most of the world thinks Sydney is the nation’s capital, it’s actually this pretty city, which is a two and a half hour drive south of Sydney and a nine hour drive north of Melbourne. A little bit like New York, it gets super hot in the summer (temperatures can go above 40°C) and freezing cold in the winter (it’s been known to snow!), but unlike New York, the entire city is covered with fragrant eucalyptus trees and I think Canberra has even been given the official title of ‘urban forest’ because there are more trees than people!
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Where: The Cali Camp, Dana Point, USA Why: Ever since dating a surfer at university, I’ve wanted to learn how to surf. Yet over the years, I never quite found the time or always had partners who weren’t interested in learning with me, so finding myself between boyfriends and with a spare week on my hands, I decided to take the plunge, go it alone and live the California dream at The Cali Camp.
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Where: Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania, Australia* Why: For too long, Tasmania has been that under-touristed, overlooked bit off the bottom of mainland Australia. With a landscape resembling parts of Scotland and a climate more in line with Cornwall, it’s little wonder that the flashy tropical islands in the north, with their soaring temperatures, coral reefs and white-sand beaches, have left the rocky outpost of Tasmania literally in the shade. But in recent years, the island’s wild mountains, vast lakes and hidden beaches have proved an irresistible draw for both Australian and international tourists alike,
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You’ll probably notice that I wear the same sunglasses a lot – either my trusty Ray-Ban Wayfarers when I’m doing something sporty or… my Céline Baby Audreys! I got them last year and it took me A LONG TIME to get my hands on a pair, as these babies were sold out everywhere. But I finally tracked down a pair (they’re easier to find, now, and you can even get them on Amazon!) and wear them all the time.
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It’s that time of year when I’m starting to plan my next surf trip… and thinking about updating my wetsuit! This Chanel shorty, modelled by Gisele, might possibly be the sexiest wetsuit ever made.
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Every Sunday on Brixton Station Road at 10am, a bunch of farmers and local traders put up their canopies, set up their stalls and lay out their fresh, locally grown, mostly organic produce for sale at the Brixton Farmer’s Market.
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Where: Brixton Village & Pop Brixton Why: I live in Brixton. In fact, I’ve lived here since before it was cool, so I’ve seen my neighbourhood go from ‘wouldn’t set foot there if you paid me’ to London’s most hipster foodie mecca. It all started around four years ago when a couple of developers got their hands on the two covered arcades, Brixton Village and Market Row, and transformed them from crumbling spaces that only sold hair weaves, aluminum pots and plantains to crumbling spaces that now house the best and most eclectic foodie joints in the capital (along with a few hair-weave stores, blue-soap stands and fish markets that are, sadly, being pushed out due to landlords jacking up the rents).
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Where: South West Surf Hostel, Seignosse, France Why: If you’ve read my piece on surfing in California at The Cali Camp either here or in the February 2015 edition of ELLE UK, you’ll know I’m hooked on surfing. It’s also where I met Chantal, the Swiss-German girl I shared a room with and who I’m now happy to call a friend. So when Chantal emailed me asking, “Do you want to go surfing in France?” it was a no brainer and within hours, we’d booked our flights and accommodation and were off to the beaches of south-west France.
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