How to wash your clothes in a river

When I was told to use the “Indian washing machine” at Greenpalm Homestay, I envisioned an ancient machine rusting in a corner. Then Thomas’ wife handed me a bucket and announced we were going to the river. When I later recounted the tale to others, some screwed up their nose in distaste at the river … Read more

Wayanad photo essay : 50 shades of green

In our Kerala itinerary post, we mentioned how we’d ummed and ahhed about whether to go to Munnar or Wayanad. People kept telling us how beautiful Munnar was, but we liked the idea of Wayanad being a quiet, less touristy alternative – plus it was much more convenient for our route.  The main thing we … Read more

Colourful streets, Cochin

Kochi, Kerala photo essay

One of my most snap-happy days in India was spent wandering the streets of Kochi (or Cochin) in Kerala. The city is known as a centre for Kerala’s art scene and the Kochi Biennale was taking place while we were there. We spent a gorgeous day simply wandering around the city and stopping every few steps … Read more

Ardlui, Scotland

You only live once

The empty house chided me. “You shouldn’t be here. You’re needed elsewhere.” Steve had left that morning – set off for the States to release his first feature film. The stress leading up to that moment had been an immense pot of late nights, never-ending deadlines, and dreams turned to doing. The premiere at SXSW … Read more

Vegetarian breakfast at No 67 Peckham

Best cafes in Peckham, London

Peckham has all the ingredients for a hipster heaven – men with beards, its own craft brewery, artisanal delis and, of course, a lot of coffee. I mostly work from home and I don’t have an office so I’ve become somewhat of a connoisseur of the local cafes. Luckily for me, there are plenty to choose … Read more

Stemy windows, bagel shop, copenhagen

Hygge things to do in Copenhagen

How to find hygge things to do in Copenhagen… Have you ever read one of those articles about untranslatable words that have no equivalent in English? The words are usually to do with a concept that has particular significance in a given country – for example wabi-sabi in Japan, friluftsliv in Norway, and juggad in … Read more

33 photos to inspire your trip to Copenhagen

Continuing my love affair with Instagram, here’s a little taster from our trip to Denmark, where we went in search of hygge things to do in Copenhagen. The above photo of Nyhavn is the quintessential Copenhagen shot. The days were mostly grey on our trip, but the colourful buildings bought some cheer. We went on … Read more

The best houseboat in Kerala!

The best houseboat in Alleppey, Kerala

Cruising on a houseboat around the backwaters of Alleppey is a quintessential Kerala experience and one we looked forward to from the moment we booked our trip. We spent a lot of time choosing a houseboat in Alleppey and it didn’t disappoint. The trip went down as one of the highlights of our time in … Read more

Kerala backwaters: a photo essay

The backwaters of Kerala are the thing we dreamed of as looked forward to our India trip, and they’re the thing we look back on with smiles and a warm glow of memories that we’ll keep with us forever. We’ve posted about our Kerala itinerary, but here’s a simple feast for the eyes – a little … Read more

Luxury Cottage, Eden Garden, Varkala

Special Stays review: Eden Garden Ayurvedic Resort, Varkala

Varkala was the first stop on our Kerala adventure and we wanted to begin the holiday with a treat, which is what led us Eden Garden. It’s a peaceful Ayurvedic resort at the south end of Varkala, about 15 minutes away from the party and backpacker-heavy north cliffs. It’s a perfect choice if you’re looking for a quiet … Read more