Mallorca in Organic Basics

A week in Mallorca in July. It’s hot. It’s sweaty. It’s incomprehensible to wear more than one thing layer of clothing. That’s why I spent the week in my Organic Basics cotton underwear. I’m always looking for an excuse to only wear my knickers, and I think 40 degree heat is a pretty good excuse.

Organic Basics are a sustainable bascis and activewear brand from Copenhagen. All good words in my mind. They kindly gifted me a bra and knickers set and a super comfy white t-shirt that goes with literally everything. They’ve also got an offer for you - 10% off any online purchase, simply use the code MADOLYNIRISOB.

We stayed at the stunning Ca Sa Tieta in Alaro, on the mid-west side of the glorious island. The traditional Mallorcan house had only 10 rooms and was stunning. Our very own Love Island Villa. The house felt like a home with a communal terrace, outdoor breakfast area and indoor lounge. Interiors were simple (but not basic), with lots of natural materials and neutral colours. Basically everything we look for in a hotel. Cannot recommend it enough if you are planning a visit to Mallorca.

Postcards of Dunsborough Beaches, Western Australia

The reason I still call Australia home…

Margaret River Wines

As you’ll probably know I’m an Aussie girl in London, but as I reach the decade milestone as an ex-pat the days of calling Australia home feels further and further away.

One part of Western Australia that will forever feel like home is the Margaret River Wine Region. Margaret River is famed for its acres of vineyards, crystal clear beaches and rocky cliff faces, but most importantly a vast appellation of wineries and some of Australia’s most contemporary cuisine.

A trip to Margaret River is only complete with a self-conducted wine and food tour to take in the local tastings. And taste we did.

So, where were a few of my favorite tipples;

Willespie Wines

This was my first time visiting Willespie. How?! I have no idea how it took me 31 years to get here. The cellar door is beautiful, with a huge veranda overlooking the vines. The sommelier here was outstanding. He’d emigrated from France to Australia and had that excellent knowledge of the comparisons between new world and old world wines.

Leave with a bottle of Old School Chardonnay 2012

Arimia

Arimia is a boutique winery that does things a little differently. The vineyard and restaurant which are both totally sustainable, are nestled in what can only be depicted as the great Australian landscape; straddling both ocean and treetops. The restaurant serves local modern Australian fare, made with the best ingredients grown predominantly onsite and never any further than the local region.

Leave with a bottle of 2018 Rosé.

Hay Shed Hill

Hay Shed Hill is one of the first wineries in the region. Once a group settlement farm for returned soldiers from the First World War, the property was originally a dairy farm before the late 70s when a family of wine makers moved in. Hay Shed wines never, ever disappoint. We bought a 2013 chardonnay on our last trip home in 2014 which sat in our cupboard for a year and genuinely did improve with age. We had the pleasure of trying that same vintage on this trip, which may well be remembered as the best chardonnay to pass my lips, ever. If that hasn’t convinced you, the in-house restaurant Rusitco offers an elaborate 12 course tasting menu with paired wines. The menu fuses local cuisine with Spanish influence for an explosion of delicious Aussie tapas.

Leave with a bottle of 2017 Block 6 Chardonnay

Swings and Roundabouts

Ok, so we didn’t love Swings on our first visit, but this time were pleasantly surprised. Swings and Roundabouts has a more casual feel than many wineries in the area. They offer pre-packed picnic baskets and a fab outdoor area to enjoy it. The price points at Swings are great for taking home a selection of your favourite grapes.

Leave with a bottle of 2017 Cane Cut.

Barnyard 1978

Ok, so not a classic winery but after all that wine tasting you’ve gotta eat right, and Barnyard 1978 is the number one place for doing that. Barnyard1978 is conservation concept creating a link between nature, landscape and ecological sustainability. The restaurant is casually classy style and the cellar door offers wine and honey tastings. The main attraction, the signature pasta dishes and delicious meat and vegetables, all farmed on the property.

Leave with a jar of Jarrah honey and homemade dried mushroom pappardelle.

Cala Benirras, Ibiza

I love Ibiza, have I mentioned that already? Well Cala Benirras may well be the beach I love most about Ibiza. A hidden cove at the end of a windy road opens up to a turquoise bay with white sand, sun loungers, a rocky cliff-face topped with green trees and run down wooden beach huts overlooking the water.

Just steps from the sand there's also a small hippie market selling everything from beach towels to luxury jewelry and of course a beach club, because well, in Ibiza you're never too far from a beach club. 

The best bit, head as far from Cafe Mambo and Cafe Del Mar as possible to catch one of the best sunsets on the island, accompanied by a local drumming band each night who pay in time to the sunburn orange sun as it sinks into the water. 

Cala D'Hort, Ibiza

Ibiza is one of my favourite holiday destinations in the world, it's got everything from rural secret beach coves, hippie markets and up-scale luxury beach clubs. I'm happiest spending the days recovering from the nights before in tiny coves of crystal clear water. One of my favouite secret spots being Cala D'Hort in San Josep, on the furthest southern tip of the island - you can see why. 

Whitstable Seaside Guide

I don’t give UK holidays enough credit. There’s something about being an ex-pat that means I avoid all of the terribly British summer holiday traditions that mean piling on to a train, to stay in a cottage by the seaside just to stare out and watch the rain fall.

Do you know what though, I’m giving weekends from London more credit than that now that I’ve actually enjoyed some incredible UK based mini-breaks this year. 

On the hottest weekend of the year we jumped on a train from Kings Cross and in less than an hour and an half from our door we had our toes in the sea. 

I knew Whitstable was famous for its oysters so our first stop was the seaside snacks lining the harbour. For virtually a pound a pop we scooped up half a dozen oysters and some delicious fried whitebait. William washed his down with a lobster roll for good measure.

While dinky oyster shacks are a-plenty, you can grab a table, a pint and a doughnut ice-cream sandwich from The Forge on the seafront. The oysters are varied and there are some huge ones available. 

Whitstable high street is also lined with adorable coffee shops, pubs, bakeries and restaurants. A few faves on the trail included ice cream from Sundae Sundae which incidentally is right next door to an amazing cheese shop, The Cheese Box, and coffee from Blueprint Cafe who use Ozone Coffee Roasters beans. For a pint of Pimms be sure to walk down the beach to The Neptune pub where you can grab a table outside on the beach and sun your shoulders while you sip. 

Now that I’m a Great British Seaside convert, are there any other adorable towns you love to visit that you’d recommend? 

Chiringuito Tulum, Mexico

We spent 3 days at Chiringuito Tulum at the end of a whirlwind trip to Mexico to escape London for some winter sun. I knew I was desperate to stay beach front and to enjoy great food, but I also wanted to take advantage of a private pool - something we rarely ever do on holidays but that I lust over when trawling booking.com. We had spent the first half of our trip over indulging in a resort further up the coast, but ending our trip at Chiringuito was perfect.

In an amalgamation of the stylistic whitewash stone villas of Greece and the wooden shades and monochromatic natives of Tulum, Chiringuito is a boutique hotel with only 13 rooms, half of which are two story offering rooftop terraces with blue and white woven lounges and private pools. We opted for the pool villa (obvs). It was really nice to spend the days moving casually from the white soft sandy beach to our terrace, and watching the sun set over the Mayan jungle in the evening. 

The restaurant encompasses the same med-inspired menu with fresh and healthy Tulum style breakfasts alongside grilled seafood, ceviches and paellas in the evening. 

Located on the south end of Tulum beach, Chiringuito is right beside hotels Sanara, Be Tulum, Nomade and Casa Malca which made for an easy sneak peak at the luxury neighbours. On the jungle side, the hotel is an easy walk to all of Tulum's favourite restaurant and bars; Raw Love, Hartwood, the Real Coconut, Matcha Mama, Casa Jaguar and Gitano.

Impulse Buy

My hotel wish list is a growing beast and I cannot tell you the number of times I have impulsively booked a stay at one of these lusty locations with no flight, no holiday plans and no clue only to sadly and begrudgingly cancel the booking before the end of the free cancellation period. So when tasked with writing about places I just can't get out of my head for this month's travel link up, I thought I may well share my top four wanderlust locations with you.

Casa Cook, Greece

The first dreamy resort on my bucket list came to me after a quick skim on Instagram, a speedy trawl on Pinterest, a flip through ES Mag and then I spotted it; Casa Cook Hotels. I'm not one for big hotel chains which is why the boutique hotel range instantly floored me. There are only two hotels in the group, and they are both utterly stunning. 

In both Kos and Rhodes the hotels encapsulate everything I love, minimalist modern design, natural materials and muted earthy tones - a pure vision of a nomadic way of life. 

Son Brull, Mallorca

I discovered Son Brull whilst working in Mallorca last summer. Our incredibly lucky event guests were staying there, sadly I did not. The swoon-worthy historic architectural details of this former 12th-century monastery in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca are a total dream!

This stunning restored historic site sits at the bottom of a hill called Puig de Maria. From the top there's incredible views of the countryside from the ruins of an old monastery. 

Masseria Potenti, Puglia

Lost among the olive groves and vineyards of the Puglian countryside, Masseria Potenti is a boutique hotel in a traditional fortified farmhouse. The original outhouses have been converted into chic rooms with their own fireplace, living room and private patio which overlook the lush gardens and swimming pool.

The restaurant at Masseria Potenti has a “field to fork” ethos, showcasing the best of Pugliese traditional cuisine. Guests gather around the shared dining table under the stars to enjoy a homemade meal of freshly harvested fruit and vegetables. There is no menu and the dishes cooked are based on what is in season on the farm. Literally, the dream! 

Les Roches Rouges, French Riviera 

Boutique hotel Les Roches Rouges is stooped on the edge of the blue Med, with sweeping views of the Sea, a natual, chic design aesthetic, a carefully-curated cocktail list and a photogenic stoned-lined pool by the ocean. The hotel has the sense of an effortless cool hideaway along the coast from Nice, on the edge of L’Esterel National Park. I found this glorious little hotel last summer, and it's been on my bucket list ever since. 

he topic for April is one we enjoyed in 2015 - and we fancied it again - 'Places we can’t get out of our heads'.(And, for those of you who've been around that long - has it changed for you? Link back to your old post in your new post, it's good for SEO!)

How to link up your post

Just pop your post up, add it to the below or on the blogs of Adventures of a London Kiwi, SilverSpoon London, Follow Your Sunshine and The Travels of Mrs B.

There are no rules – basically all we ask is that you check out some of the other cool bloggers that are involved in that months travel link up; make a few comments here and there and tweet a few of the posts out to your followers that you think they will love. It’s a great way to meet some new travel bloggers and share some blogging love!

The Travel Link Up is open to all bloggers – as long as the post is relevant!

Kinosaki Onsen; the best way to relax in Japan

I’ll admit, getting naked in public just to sit in a stinking hot bath with strangers doesn't immediately seem like the best way to partake in relaxation, but rest assured the 'ancient powers' of onsen do indeed harvest one of the best ways to relax in Japan. 

Onsen, or hot springs, is a Japanese tradition. The bathing ritual involves removing all your clothing in a public change room, covering your dignity with only a small face cloth, soaping yourself from head to toe on a small plastic stool before being hosed off like a horse, then at last retreating into a hot tub clouded so thick with steam that your vision stretches only to the few feet in front of you. 

It is said that each natural hot spring offers different benefits depending on the minerals in its water; sodium, chloride and calcium are thought to help reduce fatigue, reverse digestive issues and help nerve and muscular pain and bruising. This is where the phrase ‘ancient powers’ comes from. 

I had read about onsen when planning our two week trip to Japan and knew, that while daunting, it was something I wanted to do. For our onsen experience we travelled by shinkansen (high-speed bullet train) for just over two hours from Kyoto to Kinosaki Onsen, a little town famed for its hot springs on the thick-forested coast of the Hyōgo prefecture. The small town is the length of only one street on a canal, yet is home to seven completely different onsen. 

Upon arrival to our Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn) we were provided with a yukata (or Japanese robe) and wooden clogs (I’m sure these do have a proper name). This would be the dress code for the entire duration of our three day stay. The polite Ryokan manager who spoke no English whatsoever provided us with a pass to gain free access to each onsen and we were on our way. 

The quite streets saw more locals than tourists which made for a truly authentic experience. Approaching our first onsen the atmosphere was calm, silent, respected, relaxing and wonderfully revitalising. We disrobed and submerged. I don't know if it was being the only western tourists present, not speaking the language or quite simply not having the fear of being judged in a room of every body type imaginable, but I very quickly felt comfortable in my own skin, I found myself liberated moving from bath to plunge pool confidently and inhibition free. 

Outside the onsen, the town of Kinosaki is renowned for its local snow crab. Huge, fleshy pink and white crustaceans available in each of the small restaurants come served cold, grilled or in traditional hot pot. With the entire town’s water heated naturally from the springs, we savoured the opportunity to boil out own eggs right in the canal-side. Three minutes, and they were perfectly soft-boiled.

After a day spent soaking we retrieved back to our ryokan to participate in a traditional 13 course Kaiseki dinner, before a night’s rest on our futon beds with a new found sense of balance and wellbeing. 

This post was part of the monthly Travel Linkup. Our March topic is travel and well-being. Have they interlinked for you in the past? Have you ever planned trips around your health, relaxation or perhaps a 'medicinal' spa weekend?

How to link up your post

Just pop your post up over the first week of the month (the 1st - 7th March 2018), add it to the link up widget found on Silverspoon London, Follow Your Sunshine, Adventures of a London Kiwi or on the blog of the lovely guest host Sophie at Sophie's Suitcase.

The Travel Link Up is open to all bloggers – as long as the post is relevant!

Pablo Escobar's Tulum mansion, now a luxury hotel

Pablo Escobar, you know the one, took over this mid-century beachfront mansion in the 1980s at the height of his reign as an infamous Colombian drug lord, making the luxurious location his playground. Abandoned after his death, the villa was rediscovered in 2003 and was returned to its original owner before being put up for sale only to be snatched up by New York art collector and gallery owner, Lio Malca in 2014.

Casa Malca, the now five-star boutique design hotel sits along one of the most desired oceanfront stretches in Tulum and is filled with pieces from Malca's own art collection, including works by Keith Haring, KAWS, and Marion Peck.

Casa Malca is a work of art in itself, set in a natural wonderland surrounded by the lush Mayan jungle. The entrance is over the top with suspended arm chairs and a sofa swinging from heavy draped curtains, restaurant stylized with the ornate antique furniture and creepy old toys, and to best showcase it all, a rooftop bar with 360-degree views to take in Tulum's sunsets.