Purple trees dot the green

Saudade for the forest

The last post I wrote was a little melancholic (as an aside, I’m feeling much more up-beat now and very much looking forward to spending six weeks in Buenos Aires). One of the factors I didn’t mention that contributed to that mindset was the journey to Sao Paulo. It was an 8-hour trip from Paraty … Read more

Best Instagram places in London - Shoreditch street art

Difficult days when travelling

This moment is a difficult one. I’ve been bitten by bed bugs which has made my entire body itch. It’s maddening, and as always the ailments of the body are affecting the mind. Steve has also realised he has to go to America for five weeks to shoot Continuum. I was hoping it’d be three. … Read more

Sea and Forest yoga mat, Trindade

Sea and Forest Hostel, Trindade review

Before we left the UK, I kept lusting after beautiful yoga retreats in the wilderness. Unfortunately, many of them came with a huge price tag and were confined to the stuff of dreams. Then one day I stumbled across the incredible Sea and Forest Hostel in Trindade. It ticked every box of my yoga dreams: … Read more

Ilha Grande: paradise island

Stunning, amazing, beautiful and breathtaking are all words you’ll hear people use to describe Ilha Grande. It’s a paradise island, dense with Mata Atlantica rainforest and surrounded by incredible beaches and clear lagoons. There are places to surf or snorkel, and with so many beaches, it’s not hard to find a spot for yourself. Most … Read more

The best vegetarian food in Rio de Janeiro

Everyone told us Brazil was terrible for vegetarians and, on the whole, they’re not wrong. Expect to see a lot of cheese, bread and deep fried everything. However, there are a number of saving graces, such as per-kilo restaurants, excellent fruit and palmito. We were also delighted to find some excellent vegetarian options in Rio. … Read more

Five of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro

There’s only one word to describe Rio and that is mega. A mega Jesus, mega landscape, mega juices, mega nightlife. In Portuguese, there’s a word, saudade, which describes a sense of longing for something in the past, and that’s how Steve and I feel about Rio now. We were only there for two weeks but … Read more

Eguisheim, France – Real-life fairytale village

How to choose a backpack

How to choose a backpack? Finding the right backpack is a challenge. If, like us, you’re going to be travelling with it for years, it needs to be comfortable. You’ll be thankful for it as you traipse around looking for accommodation in the pouring rain, or you trek up mountains. Other things you need to … Read more

How to pack a backpack for all seasons: our packing list

From all this to a backpack?
From all this to a backpack?

What to pack for our trip was a questions that puzzled me for weeks. It’s tricky enough when you’re going away for a couple of weeks, let alone when you have no fixed time and your journey is likely to traverse all seasons from -30 to 40 degrees. On top of that, I was really keen to keep my backpack light and ideally be able to take it on buses with me or even as hand luggage on flights. I searched everywhere for tips on how to pack a backpack.

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