Wellness Travel – Make and Bake From Scratch

Ceylon Adventure: Soul & Surf, Sri Lanka

March 12, 2017March 12, 2017Wellness TravelLeave a Comment

On a recent adventure to Sri Lanka I had an extremely fun week staying in Soul and Surf. In the beginning there was 24 strangers from all corners of the earth, all under the one roof participating in daily yoga, eating all meals and surfing together. By the end of the week we were no longer strangers and I was lucky enough to have this lovely bunch along with all the crew at Soul and Surf sing “Happy Birthday”, to me with a freshly made Banana cake.

Kabalana Beach at Sunset, Sri Lanka.

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”, (Jack Keroauc, On the Road).

The Activities

Soul & Surf Daily Activity Board

Each day commences with a 6:45am Vinyasa Flow Yoga session, followed by a light snack. Surfers head off to catch some waves whilst Non Surfers (Me) visited tea plantations, had one to one private yoga session tailored for pregnancy, learned how to cook delicious Sri Lankan food and relaxed with pregnancy tailored massages. These Non Surfer activities were spread throughout the 7 day trip over the course of the day.

View from the Yoga Studio.

Handunugoda Tea Plantation

Once all the Surfers returned there was a communal area for breakfast and it was served at 11:30am. This was a nice time to catch up with the group. Lunch was served around 2:00pm. There was time to chill out, soak up the vitamin D or read a book when the rain showers appeared.

Lounging Area to chill out and catch up.

In the evening around 4:30pm Surfers would head off for an evening surf and upon return snacks were provided followed by dinner at 7:30-8:00pm. As a Non Surfer I was able to chill out on the beach, dip my toes in the sea and take some snaps.

Fisherman at Kabalana Beach, Sri Lanka.

Stilt Fishermen, Sri Lanka.

Evening Sunset and Surf, Kabalana Beach.

Another magnificent Sunset, Kabalana Beach, Sri Lanka.

Local Woman in Sri Lanka.

The Fuel

Below are a colourful display of the delicious food served at Soul and Surf, Sri Lanka. If you have special dietary requirements, email beforehand and they will accommodate meal requirements. There was a mix a vegetarian and meat based options mainly chicken and fish.

Art work in the Dinner Lounge.

Coconut Porridge.Breakfast Fruit Platter.

Lunch Salad usually served with Chickpea Burgers or Wraps.

Dinner and the Sri Lankan Cookery Class included Sri Lankan Dahl Curry, Coconut Sambol and Tempered Potatoes. There was fresh prawns served too.

Coconut Sambol is a traditional Sri Lankan dish made with coconut and spices.

How to get to Soul and Surf?

Airport pick up is organised with Soul & Surf Head of Vibes prior to departure. The drive is between 2.5hr -3hrs depending on weather conditions.

The Packages

Being six months pregnant I opted for the Non Surfer Package. There was ample activity planned throughout the day and massages and yoga session were tailored for pregnancy, I found this extremely helpful.

There’s plenty of surf, yoga, and activities for everyone.

STANDARD PACKAGE

7 Nights Accommodation

Breakfast, Light Lunch and 2 Course Dinner

Unlimited Drinking Water

Snacks & Water During Surf Sessions

5 Morning’s 2hr Surf Coaching or Guide (Sun to Fri but not Weds)

5 Evening’s Sunset-Surf Sessions (Sun to Fri but not Weds)

1 Video Feedback Session

1 Surf Theory Lesson

7 Day Surfboard Hire

Complimentary Soul & Surf Rash Vest

5 Vinyasa Flow Yoga Classes

2 Yin Yoga Classes

1 Pranayama Session

1 Guided Meditation

A Group Photo

1 Guided SUP Session or Canoe Ride down the River on Weds morning

Our Non Surfer Package is specifically designed for and only available to someone who is sharing a room with a standard package guest.

NON SURFER PACKAGE

7 Nights Accommodation

Breakfast, Light Lunch and 2 Course Dinner

Unlimited Drinking Water

5 Vinyasa Flow Yoga Classes

2 Yin Yoga Classes

1 Pranayama Session

1 Guided Meditation

A One to One Yoga Class

An Extra Non-Surfer specific Yoga class (max. 3 people)

A Tuk Tuk trip to a nearby white tea plantation

Two 1hr 15min treatment with our in-house therapists

A Group Photo

A Guided SUP Session or Canoe Ride down the River on Wednesday

A Sri Lankan Cooking Demonstration

The Day Off

On Wednesday you are free agent and you can plan your own activities. We headed to Galle Fort in a tuk tuk, the drive took about 40 minutes. Galle Fort has hotels, restaurants, boutiques and jewellery shops. Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. You can arrange your travels plans with the Head of Vibes.

Mode of Transport in Sri Lanka a Tuk Tuk.

Galle Fort Lighthouse.

School Children in the rain, Galle Fort.

Art work in Galle, Fort.

To eat in Galle Fort, visit Poonies Kitchen and try the infamous Salad Thali:

On the final day the group heads to the beach to surf, watch the sunset and enjoy a beer. Followed by this there is a BBQ back at the Villa. Throughout the day you will need to settle any outstanding bills. This can be done with the Head of Vibes.

One leaves Soul and Surf refreshed and revitalised to take on the next challenge life presents. For further information regarding prices, please visit the Soul and Surf website

Wellness Travel: Ubud

September 17, 2016September 22, 2016Fitness Experiences, Lifestyle, Wellness TravelLeave a Comment

Tegallalang Rice Terrace

After travelling for over thirteen hours from Abu Dhabi to Denpasar Airport, Bali one cannot contain the excitement of reaching the final destination, Ubud (pronounced “oobod”). Stepping outside the airport there is a sea of people waiting in arrivals to collect tourists, its mayhem. Organised mayhem.

I had organised a driver prior to leaving, Mr Bedu’s Private Tours. On the road to Ubud, Bali’s craft capital, the colours of Bali come alive. The sky is blue complimented by green terraced rice paddy fields, tropical flowers and mopeds are zipping everywhere. The travel time to Ubud is about two hours, depending on traffic. The streets of Ubud are bustling with locals and travelers filled with an abundance of craft shops, tattoo parlours, temples, museums, restaurants and located in the centre is the market. Ubud is peaceful and serene, life floats by freely and time was of the essence. There are so many things to do and places to eat but with only four days, I had to pick and choose wisely. Below is a list of activities and places to eat.

Accommodation

Booking.com offers accommodation options for all budgets.

Sunset from Bliss Spa, Ubud

Get Around

Hire a moped – most accommodation provides this service.

Morning Traffic in Ubud

Activities

Yoga Barn An oasis of calm in the centre of Ubud , there is a cafe and juice bar on the premises.

Tropical Fruit Bowl Post Yoga

Green Bike Tours – Excellent tour and the ride is down hill with the offer of an off road track and cycling through rice paddy fields.

Below is a series of images I took over the duration of the cycle in the countryside of Ubud.

Campuhan Ridge Walk, Ubud – free and easy trek with beautiful views.

Below is a collection of images taken along the ridge trail.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Places to Eat

Clear Café Vegetarian Cafe with a delicious breakfast menu.

Buckwheat Pancakes with Strawberries

Alchemy Raw. Vegan. Organic.

Salad BowlSmoothie Bowl

La Pacha Mama Plant-based Cantina Mexicana & Cocktails

Live Music in La Pacha Mama, Ubud

The Elephant Cafe 100% VEGETARIAN 110% AWESOME

Japanesey Salad

Kafe Great Music, Healthy Foods, Yummy Desserts & True Espresso. I came across Kafe walking home from yoga. It has lovely salad options and sells local beer and wine.

Room 4dessert offers handmade desserts, cocktails and wine.

Have you travelled to Ubud? What is your favourite memory?

Grecian Adventure Part II: Santorini

July 22, 2016July 22, 2016Wellness TravelLeave a Comment

“Suppose we suddenly wake up and see that what we thought to be this and that, ain’t this and that at all?” , Dharma Bums – Jack Kerouac.

Better late than never Santorini part two. Santorini, one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It boasts spectacular views, sunsets, colourful doors, white washed walls, beaches, cliff hikes, boat rides and vibrant flowers. You can walk for hours through the little streets browsing through the boutiques and sipping an espresso freddo whilst watching the day pass soaking up the ambience.

Accommodation

For accommodation booking.com offers a wide range based on budgets.

Below is a series of images taken in Santorini between Fira and Oia.

Have you been to Santorini? What is your favourite memory?

Grecian Adventure Part I: Athens

June 15, 2016June 16, 2016Lifestyle, Wellness Travel, WorkoutsLeave a Comment

Arcopolis, Athens

“Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.”
― Jack Kerouac

Last week I travelled to Athens and Santorini. I had heard mixed reviews about Athens but Santorini boasts a glowing report. Why wouldn’t it, have you seen the pictures? I put the opinions of others to the back of my mind regarding Athens and decided I would make up my mind after my adventure. Needless to say, I appreciated Athens for all that it offers. It is a diamond in the rough. Santorini will be discussed in Part 2.

However, the only downfall is the challenge of procuring a nice healthy breakfast in the Plaka district at 9am on the weekend because nowhere opens till 11am. What the Greeks do well is an espresso freddo , of course they do other things well but I loved an espresso freddo or three on the regular. So much so, I am trying to re-create it now I am back in Abu Dhabi. A friend recommended places in Athens too, that appeal to the health and fitness fanatic in me.

Accommodation

For accommodation in Athens I used booking.com and stayed in the Plaka District. This was central and it was convenient for walking all around the city.

What to do

The city is huge and you can wander around all day admiring the architecture of Athens, there are many cafes and bars throughout the city and the more you explore the more intriguing Athens becomes.

Derelict buildings, there is many thoughout the city

Strolling through the National Park, Athens

Watch the Sunset at Parko Thiseio. As you can see numerous gather with wine, guitars and food to watch the sunset over Athens on a giant marble rock, do not wear heels, I wore trainers.

View from Parko Thiseio, Athens

Walking Tour

Athens Free Walking Tour : This tour was brilliant it lasted about 2.5 hours which takes you to all the main areas around the city – see images below. The tour is free but you can tip. Entrance to Acropolis is not provided with the walking tour because it is free. I emailed a few days before arriving to secure places on the tour as spaces are limited. You will learn about the history of Greece.

The Temple of ZeusStreet View, AthensStreet Graffiti , this is prevalent throughout AthensPalm Trees in National Garden, AthensFlags at the Panathenaic Stadium, Athens

Panathenaic Stadium, seats 75,000 peopleStreet Art in the Plaka District, Athens

The last three images are of front doors or gates to houses in the Plaka DistrictWhere is my mind? Plaka District

Food, Fun & Frolics

Athens is jam packed with restaurants. It is a late city and there is a great buzz about the place from 8pm onwards. Strolling the streets and from recommendations I discovered these little gems which will appease the taste buds of meat eaters and vegans.

Avocado, Plaka District- delicious salads

Evgenia, Athens, Plaka – Dakos Greek Salad

Nolan, Plaka District. Greek food with pan asian twist

Ipitou the Bar – this bar is cool and plays good tunes, it is close to Nolan restaurant and surrounded by other chilled out bars.

Other restaurants not pictured, I recommend include Koi which serves sushi at a great price and Pure Bliss which serves local produce and delicious salads, it is very laid vibe where you could sit for hours drinking espresso freddo, sampling local wine and eating scrumptious food. Located in the same area as Pure Bliss, there are countless bars and cafes.

Fitness

No trip is complete without a gym session. Whilst in Athens I got a chance to to break a sweat in Planet Fitness, they offer a pay as you service which is handy and the gym is central. See Planet Fitness for more information.

Concluding, Athens was fantastic trip filled with history , long walks, traditional greek food and wine, chilled out bars, street graffiti, espresso freddos,a few gym sessions and a new passion for front doors.

Wellness Travel: Vietnam

January 22, 2016January 22, 2016Fitness Experiences, Wellness TravelLeave a Comment

The novel “On the Road”, by Jack Kerouac instills a personal belief that life is an adventure on the road, throwing caution to the wind, visiting and embracing new cultures across the world. Each adventure is wild, it casts light on different perspectives of how people live and that is an invaluable life experience.

On a recent trip to Vietnam I visited Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat City. As a Wellness Enthusiast, I research health & wellness places prior to travelling. Back in 2009, I would have been hanging from the rafters in Gullivers Tavern in a sea of sam song on Khao San Road, Bangkok. Things change, people change-that is life.

The best way for me to describe Vietnam is colourful. I rooted out healthy food places in Ho Chi Minh and completed a 70km cycle in Dalat to Nha Thrang. Below I discuss healthy hotspots in HCMC and Phat Tires Bike Trip.

Healthy Hot Spots in Ho Chi Minh City

The Kafe

The Kafe is a socially conscious, community-oriented company with a “people first” mentality. The Kafe envisions a world where every person has a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle, with food being a primary foundation to help them achieve that lifestyle goal.

Tropic land Coffee & Juice Bar

Tropicland serves a chilled Coconut & Aloe Vera juice. Nice pit stop whilst exploring the city.

L’Usine

The food philosophy is simple, good food, done well. L’Usine offers healthy salad options, Vietnamese coffee and all food is locally sourced.

HUM Vegetarian Cafe

HUM offers a wide range of vegetarian options to satisfy your hunger. I recommend the banana lotus salad and rice paper rolls with chilli sauce.

Baba’s Kitchen

Baba brings India to HCMC. Located on the bustling Bui Vien Street and worth the visit if you are fond of Indian cuisine.

Dolphy Cafe

Dolphy Cafe is a quirky coffee shop offering free wifi, coffee and fresh juices.

Kokois.Cafe.Bistro.Lounge.Store

The venue is a renovated warehouse, bright and spacious with a nice and busy cafe at the front and a cosy and quiet lounge in the backyard garden.

The food is simple, modern and inspired. The store features a selection of tasteful and quality fashion, accessories, gifts and home deco.

Street Food Tours

Most hotels/hostels have street food tours held in the evening time. Street food tours are a great way to explore the city , walk through various districts and taste vietnamese cuisine.

Dalat City

Quote from Lonely Planet “You would almost be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into the French Alps in springtime”, Read more here: Dalat City by Lonely Planet .

This was the mind blowing view from the bike trip with Phat Tire, Vietnam. The cycling trip was from Dalat to Nha Trang which averaged at 70km. It was a fun way to experience rural villages,cycle through a rain forest and inhale the fresh air. There is a break mid way which includes lunch in a local restaurant.

Mountain Top View – Xa Son Thai, Khanh Vinh, Vietnam.

A village along the route from Dalat to Nha Thrang.

How do you like to keep stay healthy on holidays?