A lot of people complain about the tourism in Bali, and it’s fair enough. The proliferation of guesthouses and villas that are quickly filling the rice fields and shorelines of the island is alarming and painful to watch – and the traffic is abominable. Ubud is one of the places that has been hit particularly … Read more
“You don’t like it there, do you?” said my aunt on the phone one day. I can see why she thought it. My posts on Ubud have been a little heavy on the navel-gazing, which doesn’t always make for lighthearted stories. But our life here has been much more than all the “Don’t knock it … Read more
When I first heard about Per, he sounded like an archetypal compulsive liar, full of the tallest of tales that would put to shame Frank Abagnale Jr. In a town like Ubud, you have to have your bullshit detector on. Then I met him, and the doubts were gone. This man, the youngest of ten … Read more
I woke up that morning, fed up and tired with this journey. The rats had returned to the ceiling, causing another disrupted night’s sleep while they played gymnastics above our heads, the thin plaster amplifying their patter to the sound of elephants’ hooves. Tonight we’d have to re-plug in the sonic repeller, pushing aside any … Read more
Barcelona can’t help but be a city we love. It’s where we first got together on on fateful trip that started as a couple of friends back in 2008. Since then, we’ve both lived in the city for stretches of time and it’s home to some of our favourite people. We’ll be returning next year … Read more
You may be starting to wonder if I’m going to come across something I don’t enjoy in this series – well here’s the first one. It started badly with a gaze that lasted too long. You know the type. You say your hellos and then they proceed to look deep into your eyes, nodding their head … Read more
In May, Steve and I joined his Mum, Dad, two brothers and their wives, and one baby for a family holiday to Tuscany. It’s about time we shared the photos. We stayed in this villa in a charming Tuscan hill town named Impruneta. It’s one of those places where time is not a priority, …character is … Read more
Update: In 2018 (after this post was originally written), John of God turned himself in to the police after over 600 accusations of sexual abuse. In December 2019, he was sentenced to 19 years and four months for the rapes of four different women. This kind of story is all too familiar in the world … Read more
Ever since reading The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, I’ve been fascinated by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Their love story captivated me and I was enthralled by their passion, art and political involvement. It’s the first piece of historical fiction I’ve ever read that made me desperate to know more of the lives depicted. When earlier … Read more
“Oh god, what have I got myself into?” “I thought it was a meditation.” “So did I, but I just watched a video about it on YouTube and they said something about a sexy dance and shouting.” “You said you wanted to come out of your shell.” Steve was right, I did say that, and … Read more