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Luxury

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Kandolhu Maldives: A Boutique Escape

Posted on March 3, 2017

Hopping around the Maldives has to be on pretty much every traveller’s bucket list, so spending only a day at this lovely boutique resort in the North Ari Atoll was bittersweet. Only 70 kilometres south west of Male, it’s the smallest of all the islands i’ve visited, Kandolhu and has around 30 luxury retreats, including 11 on the water. This lovely little hotspot can be reached by boat or seaplane and is the quintessential, Maldivian slice of island paradise. They say that even in the Maldives, an island as perfectly formed as this one is rare.

The only thing on my mind as we pulled up to their wonderfully turquoise waters was to jump straight it, so wasting no time with luggage, we embarked on a guided snorkel safari in search of house reef turtles, and we weren’t disappointed either…

The house reef here is teaming with tropical fish, but they noted that there’s a bit of a problem keeping it that way. The thorny-crown starfish is apparently become a plague and as it eats the coral that most fish live in and thrive on, it’s starting to wreak havoc on the reef. Its only known predator is few and far between so the resident marine biologist injects vinegar into them one by one to try to kill them off as eco-friendly as possible. Here’s hoping it works long term too!

Kandolhu is a small, quaint resort that is perfect for those who want an active daytime and yet want to feel like they are the only ones on the island too. We barely noticed the other guests and as the seaplanes and boats were kept off shore to reduce noise, we were free to listen to nothing but the waves rolling up on the beach, and the occasional fruit bat in the coconut trees barking at each other.

You won’t be stuck for cuisine either as food wise, with 4 restaurants servicing only 30 villas, there’s plenty of choice, including the Maldivian standard Tepanyaki setup (seriously each resort has a Tepanyaki restaurant… onion volcano and all).

The water villas and beach villas too are exquisite! With a whole host of amenities and modern furnishings having been only recently remodeled, they are incredibly comfortable with all the latest gadgets, perfect for a little working retreat. Go-Pro’s are soon to be available in each room too which is a great idea as more than half of the best scenery is below the surface in the Maldives!

Top Tips:

– Take a guided snorkel safari around the house reef in search of the camouflaged creatures
– Take a tour behind the scenes to see where everyone lives
– Relax on the white sandy beaches with a cocktail and watch the sun set

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Bohemian Chic in Maje SS17

Posted on February 3, 2017

Spring is in the air, not that we really had much of a winter mind you… but the light spots of rain have helped clean up the sandy sunrises and everything is shiny again. I’m now planning my summer’s in Santorini as apposed to skiing in St. Moritz, so when I got a sneak preview at Maje’s chic SS17 collection, I was sold, their explosion of colour and floaty oversized shapes are what drew me in.

From Marakesh with love… the collection really vibes from their Moroccan-French designer, Judith Milgrom.

Here’s my suitcase full of French:

The beautiful chocolate hue and feminine floatiness of this dress has me drooling. Styled with this off-white hassled ‘M’ bag (a signature of the brand) and i’m breathing in the St. Tropez air already.

A classic with a twist… literally! Loving the wrap skirt and lightweight fabric of this dress.

Rich in colour with a playful feel, a kaftan style that’ll help you go from beach to bar in no time.

Bold, bright and brilliantly yellow. This is the dress of the summer for me.

Perfectly hued to go with every one of the above… This handbag is feels as soft as it looks.

Pineapple earrings are a holiday must-have! The tassle helps make them a little more chic, so i’m sold!

Out in Feb 2017… Check out Maje at Citywalk 2!

fashion

The Outnet: Luxe Activewear

Posted on January 17, 2017

For someone who has just cleaned out their activewear drawer, the January sales come as a bittersweet reward. I’ve now currently divided my leggings into sweat-worthy, workout suitable and travel appropriate. So when The Outnet.com (an online designer discount haven) emails me to say HEY, come check out our new luxury activewear, what am I supposed to do… not look?

Styling it as an ‘essential,’ this shiny new workout wear with golden logos has me reaching for my wallet before i’ve even clicked through the emailer. But in all honesty, the clothing that see’s the most usage in my wardrobe is the ones I care the least about sweating in… i.e. older collection/print, slightly too loose (or tight) and would maybe consider painting a house in (the formula for all my clothing that is to either remain hanging or be forever drawer-ed.)

So just where will these new pieces go? My theory is that if I can picture it with a large jumper, boots and a nice wooly scarf, they are ski-suitable and will end up on the travel appropriate pile, just like a plethora of other leggings that I have saved away for those ‘special occasions’ (once every 2 years!). But if you expect me to actually workout in them, then they need to be softer than soft, skin-like and not remotely see-through in a downward dog, so realistically – after the high-calorie holiday – not required right now.

Channel your inner Cara Delevigne and travel luxe in these shiny new pieces:

fashion

Dedicating Time With D1 Milano

Posted on December 7, 2016

There’s elegance in perfect simplicity.

What started as a marketing thesis by Dario, who currently heads the company with sister Alessia and long-time friends Alessandro and Mattia, quickly gained ground as one of the Italy’s fastest growing fashion accessories brands. Born in Milan during the MFW 2013, it’s now present in the world’s leading fashion stores, and here in the U.A.E it’s exclusive to Harvey Nichols!

D1 Milano is actually pronounced ‘The One’ and is known for its rubberised style, which has a huge following in Asia. Launching their first local pop-up at SOLE DXB this year gave them an urban edge, as their affordable luxury collections were in high-demand, having just launched their exclusive and lim.ed. ‘Dubai’ watch too.

Here’s what I was wearing…

Recommended travel

🐢 Where to Spend World Turtle Day 🐢

Posted on May 23, 2016

Did you know it’s World Turtle Day today… I’ve been lucky enough to visit the nesting sites of these magnificent creatures across the world from Oman, to Sri Lanka and the US. Watching (from afar) their incredible journey through the oceans to the beaches where they lay hundreds of eggs at a time. The sad thing is, that a VERY small percentage of them ever make it to adulthood – like under 5%! We’re not allowed to interfere with nature of course (as much as I’d love to!) but there’s some eco-friendly destinations that are helping to give them a fighting chance.

Located in the most luxurious of destinations, and a philosophy rooted in supporting the surrounding natural ecology, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts is where we’d want to be spending time this year… and with this many hotspots all supporting World Turtle Day, I’d say we’re a tad spoilt for choice too.

Surrounded by lush, tropical flora overlooking the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, Banyan Tree Seychelles is a true Sanctuary for the Senses. Here, you can marvel at the turtles nesting on the resort’s beach. Every year from October to December, they return to lay their eggs. The resort works closely with the Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles (MCSS) to monitor turtle activity on Intendance Bay as part of the MCSS’ conservation efforts; last season they calculated at least 10,000 new hatchlings made their way into the water. The resort has recently launched a special programme, “Management of Turtle-Human Interactions and Turtle Rehabilitation”, to rehabilitate injured marine turtles before they are released back into the wild!

Nestled in the exclusive enclave of Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket is an oasis of tranquility. The resort has supported Laguna Phuket’s sea turtle conservation programme for over 20 years, raising funds and awareness for the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, whose ongoing efforts include studies of nesting behaviour and the tracking & analysis of turtle migration via microchips and satellite tracking devices attached to the turtles. On 3rd April this year, Laguna Phuket held its 22nd annual Sea Turtle Release, with 50 turtles released into the waters of the Andaman Sea to begin their lifetime journey across the open waters. Laguna Phuket has raised funds to construct two new nursery ponds dedicated to the rehabilitation of juvenile, injured and disabled sea turtles.

Encircled by beautiful coral reef and turquoise waters, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru in the Maldives is famous for its vibrant marine life. The resort is proud to be at the forefront of protecting the Indian Ocean’s sensitive eco-system; and, under the guidance of renowned Marine Biologist, Dr. Steven Newman, is committed to the conservation of sea turtles, which nest at the resort. The Turtle Head-Start programme has been introduced to ensure turtles continue to nest and breed in the area, with a percentage of the hatchlings reared at the resort for the first year of their life before being released into the wild. To date, more than 400 turtles have graduated from the programme, giving the island’s most famous residents a higher chance of long-term survival.

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