This is one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in – ever!
Sayan is very close to the cultural Balinese town of Ubud and the hotel is set in an exquisite location, in a valley with a river at the bottom and terraced rice paddies across the valley. My lasting impression of the hotel is that is it very sympathetically designed to fit in with the surroundings and everywhere you go in the hotel you seem to hear trickling water, whether from the river at the bottom of the valley, or the man-made ‘river’ at the back of the main part of the hotel.
Along with our driver we were a bit bemused on arrival because we couldn’t see the hotel, and weren’t sure we were in the right place! We quickly discovered the hotel is below you – accessed by a wooden walkway that leads to a large circular lotus flower pond which is actually on the roof of the hotel. You walk down some steps through the middle of the pond, past reception and down to a lounge and bar area that manages to be both colonial and modern at the same time.
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Heard about the burning man? Nope? Well this might just be the alternative trip for you…..
It’s a week long annual art festival held last August / early September (over America’s Labour Day) in the Black Rock Dessert that some 30,000 people attend. It started life on a San Francisco beach in the mid 80’s when Larry Harvey decided to burn a wooden ‘home-made’ statue of a man in allegiance to his father. The festival moved to its current location in 1990 when it had become so popular as to constitute a safety risk, and it became a more ‘formal’ gathering.
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Posted by Jill Bowen on Tue 3rd April 2007 at 09:12 PM, Filed in Far East
If I lay down in a darkened room, relax totally, close my eyes, let my mind wander back a few years and dream, a warm, wonderful glow suffuses my whole being.
So, what or where can possibly invoke such strong, evocative emotions?
It’s a hotel, for people who prefer not to stay in hotels!
Where is it? Phuket, Thailand. What is it that makes it so special?
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Mon 2nd April 2007 at 02:54 AM, Filed in Eco Friendly
Fancy yourself as a bit of a Boy Scout or Girl Guide or even the next Ray Mears? Well, here’s the chance to prove yourself, or hone your skills.
A British organisation called Bushcraft Expeditions run a range of courses and expeditions worldwide run by highly experienced guides and instructors.
Most of the courses are based in Dorset, but they do offer off-the-shelf and tailor-made trips abroad. The 2 day ‘Introduction to Bushcraft’ course will introduce some basic survival skills including tracking and nature awareness; primitive technology; and camp-craft and cookers. On other, longer courses you can learn about astro and solar navigation, finding, preparing and storing water, fishing methods, improvised boats, first aid and even wood carving. Bushcraft Expeditions run courses specifically for kids as young as 11, and family courses that will accommodate children as young as 5.
Expeditions have been run in Norway, Namibia, Thailand and Borneo, or you can come up with your own itinerary and seek and much or as little help as you desire for a bespoke expedition. Go on – you don’t need any prior experience and you never know when the skills will come in handy!!
Here’s the link to their site: http://www.bushcraftexpeditions.com
Need some sporty holiday footwear? Or even just something to protect your feet in rock-pools that will provide good grip and dry out quickly? Or, if you enjoy any of the following activites - Trekking, Chi Running, Fitness Training, Yoga, Pilates, Kiteboarding, Fishing, Canoeing, Surfing or Sailing you may want to checkout Vibram’s unusual footwear.
Their original ‘FiveFingers’ model (or should that be five toes?) has a patented sole that follows the contours of your feet whilst protecting them from sharp rocks and hot sands. The individual toe slots give a more natural (almost barefoot) walking motion.
The manufacturer’s claim their design “spreads your toes to strengthen foot muscles, increase range of motion, and improve general foot health.” They also enhance balance, agility and strength, help to straighten your spine and improve posture.
They come in three different styles and a variety of colours, and the fabric is quick drying too (they were initially designed for boating) and retail at around $70.
Checkout their site at: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products.html
