My Uluru Bucket List Experience. Something that should be on the top of one’s list. A place of Spiritual Significance!

Flying Jetstar, there was no other alternative than to stay at The Desert Gardens Hotel, in a Deluxe Rock View Room. The only hotel to have view of Ayers Rock. Even though I was still quite a distance from THE ROCK, that first sighting is something quite special.

As darkness fell, we were transferred to the Field of Lights. As Uluru was thrown into a silhouette, The Field of Light illuminates, as far as you can see. With rhythms of 50,000 solar powered stems of coloured lights, lit up the desert.  It was something quite incredible as you walk through the pathways that draw you amidst the spectacular colour.

Sunrise & Segway Tour Sunrise Tour, Uluru put on a great show for us. We were picked up at 5.30am, to an area where we enjoy a light breakfast with tea and coffee and watched the magical sunrise at Uluru.

To explore one of Australia’s most natural formation, on this Segway and Sunrise Tour was so much fun and an experience like no other. In no time we had mastered using the Segway’s and we were on our way. Our guide Meagan, was awesome, she was so knowledgeable and took us to hidden Aboriginal rock art sites and water holes. The stunning view of Uluru as we cruised around the 10km base of Ayres Rock was something quite incredible. This tour was approx. 5 Hours.

We were lucky Uluru was open to climb, but after hearing Megan speak about the spiritual connection Ayres Rock has with the Anangu people and for the culture to be kept strong for future generations ,we decided not to climb the rock.

The Sounds of Silence Dinner offered the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours. With Ayers Rock to one side and the Olga’s to the other, an evening of dining under the sparkling outback sky. Our night began with canapes and champagne served on a viewing platform. As the sunsets and to the sound of a didgeridoo, we were led to a table to join other travellers. Our glasses were kept full, with wine and beers as we helped ourselves to a bush tucker buffet, such as crocodile, kangaroo, barramundi and quandong.  After dinner we enjoyed a glass of port, as we listen to a star talker decode the night sky. We located the Southern Cross, The Sign of the Zodiac, The Milky Way, as well as planets and galaxies that were visible due to the clear night sky. An unforgettable dining experience amazing views, amazing food & awesome company.

Food was outstanding… The Buffet Dinner at Ilkari Restaurant, at the Sails in The Desert, was absolutely amazing. It had the best Oysters I have ever tasted. We found ourselves a few times at the Outback Pioneer Hotel & Lodge. This had a pub feel with nightly entertainment, it was the happening place of an evening. The Resort Town Centre had a Information Centre, Post Office, Newsagent, IGA Supermarket, as well has several cafes and art and craft museums. The convenience of the Free Resort Shuttle Bus, was so easy and circulates all the resorts every 20 minutes.

Words cannot describe this amazing place. You must all go see Uluru for yourselves.

“Best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller. …

I couldn’t think of the most perfect location to celebrate my 25th Wedding Anniversary than at Club Med Finolhu Villas, Maldives, it was just flawless!

All I can say is WOW !!

We flew with Singapore Airlines on a A380 aircraft in Business Class. This great service had us arriving in Male relaxed and refreshed.

We were greeted and transferred via a 35 minute luxury speedboat ride to the stunning private island of Gasfinolhu. Cruising past idyllic islands and pristine blue waters, we were pinching ourselves, we just couldn’t believe where we were.

We stayed in an Sunset Beach Villa with private pool and our own white sandy beach. It was exceptional in every way. It was luxurious and private, with stunning views from sunrise to sunset, so peaceful. The beach was a irresistible and a perfect 25 to 27 degrees, tranquil as far as your eyes can see. Our discrete personal butler ‘Ibbe’, made sure everything was perfect. It was our own piece of paradise.

Every evening we were served Aperitifs with champagne between 5 and 6pm. Watching the sunset, accompanied by the beautiful voices of duo musicians was such an incredible setting.

The Poolside Bar staff were just the best. Very friendly, they had our drinks poured as soon as they saw us. We must of tried every cocktail on the menu. It was fabulous.

The Motu Restaurant, overlooking sparkling, crystal waters, was casual dining by day, fine dining by night, overlooking sparkling, crystal waters.  Oh my food just was divine, the highest Michelin Star quality, served with paired wines, beer or any other beverage you fancied. Candlelit Dinners were held under the stars, either by the poolside or beachside, as we are serenades. 

The colourful marine life we saw snorkelling was amazing. The Sunset Evening Cruise, was beautiful. To see the paradise of lagoons, atolls and island resorts, from high in the sky, whilst parasailing, was breathtaking. We did a half day trip to, the sister resort in the Maldives, Club Med Kani. Easily accessible by a 10 minute speedboat ride, which operates every hour. Guests staying at Club Med Finolhu can freely go to Club Med Kani, at no additional cost, with all the same inclusions.

Club Med Finolhu Villas, Maldives is all inclusive resort. Inclusive of: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner, Aperitifs Daily,  All drinks (including wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks and champagne), all non-motorised activities, snorkelling trips and much much more.

To experience the beauty of the Maldives with our stay at the incredible Club Med Finolhu Villas, was beyond anything we ever expected. Barefoot luxury at its best. Worth every single cent. Heaven on Earth!

“Best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller. …

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Our itravel advisors are here to assist you with any questions regarding your booked travel arrangements or any future bookings you are considering.

First and foremost, our priority is the health and wellbeing of our travellers.   Be assured we will always have your best interests at heart.

Our itravel advisors are well informed and updated daily with the latest travel information.  We will navigate through this together and provide you with the best outcome.

If you have a booking or wish to make a booking, contact your itravel advisor.    They can guide you through the options available should you wish to book, defer or cancel your holiday.

We are working closely with all of our travel partners to ensure any disruption to your holiday plans are kept to a minimum.

For information on the  Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the countries that are impacted, please visit Smartraveller and WHO  (World Health Organisation)

Climbing the Himalayas is very challenging and this is indeed a well-known fact. How about taking the hike with zero modern technology? Elise Wortley decided to do just that, following the footsteps of legendary female explorer Alexandra David- Neél who crossed the Himalayas Lhasa in 1924.

I craved for life beyond the garden gate, to follow the road that passed it by, and to set out for the unknown

– Alexandra David- Neél

Reading the book My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra piqued Elise’s curiosity and amusement when she was just 16 years old. How could a woman in the 1900’s manage to walk away from her life and go on an epic adventure, when we all know that staying at home and bearing children is the norm in that era? The quote “I craved for life beyond the garden gate, to follow the road that passed it by, and to set out for the unknown” from the book stuck with Elise which made her look up to her more. This inspired her to think that if Alexandra can do it, so can she and anyone. This determined her to follow the footsteps of intrepid women in history.

Using the journeys of famous female explorers as her guide, Elise set her adventure in November 2017 with an all-female expedition. With a wicker basket, some rope, a wooden backpack, and a coat made from Yak wool, she reached some of the world’s hardest peaks. For her, it was a way of stepping away from technology to enjoy the natural world. She travelled overland across Europe before finally reaching the town of Lachen in Sikkim, a northern region of India. The region was her home for four years and vowed to enter Tibet at which that time entry was forbidden for foreigners. She was able to eventually cross over the border by disguising herself as a beggar.

She wanted to embark on this journey with the motivation of highlighting the roles of women in adventure travel. Inspiring women to put themselves out of their comfort zones has been one of her primary goals in the epic adventure she just ventured. For her, the journeys of female explorers are more challenging than their male counterparts. They not only had to deal with physical obstacles but also their menstrual cycles.

While searching for a female guide in northern India, Elise was highly discouraged by numerous people saying that is impossible to find one somewhere. With dedication and sheer luck, she was able to find one, a local leader named Jangu. To complete the all-female group, Elise and Jangu welcomed Emily Almond-Barr, an amazing cinematographer who documented the whole journey. Women are known to have an instinct that determines each other’s needs and this made her journey on the mountains of Himalayas a lot easier. The bond of the three made her realize how important it is for women to stick together and support each other.

Women empowerment is a topic closer to Elise’s heart that she went on this adventure without modern-day equipment not only because she wanted to relive the journey of the legendary female explorers but also wanted to raise money for Freedom Kit Bags.

Freedom Kit Bags is a charity that empowers women and girls in rural and low-income areas of Nepal. The organization provides these women and girls with reusable kits containing essentials they need during their menstrual cycles. Because of cultural practices in Nepal, menstruation is still a taboo in their community. They see women and girls as “unclean” during their periods. Their inability to deal with the physical effects of periods has greatly impacted them. The lack of hygienic protection caused many women to suffer from health issues like infertility, kidney complications and pelvic infections. The company Elise has been working at has been supporting Freedom Kit Bags for years and she also wanted to help in her own way through this expedition.

The perspective of a female explorer in adventure travel is changing in a huge way according to Elise. All-female group trip demands are rising. Even though women still face a lot of pressures while travelling, such as where you can and can’t go as a woman, how to deal with periods, and many more, women should never be deterred because of a worry about these issues and break through those boundaries. Female explorers are not as remembered as their male counterparts and that should change. It is important to show that women currently are, and always have been, at the forefront of travel and exploration.

This adventure taught Elise to just go with whatever your heart desires no matter how silly you think the idea is or unreasonable it may seem. She had started with the idea of the trip when she was just a teenager but never had the guts to do it. She’s always been anxious and never really had much confidence. This adventure made a positive impact on her mental health as it meant that she wasn’t reliant on modern technology. This made her calm from the natural surroundings that embraced her. Travelling indeed can magically change you, take if from Elise who changed from barely getting on a bus to navigating around the globe.

If you want to try all-female expedition for the first time, it is better to consider groups that can give you the assurance that you are in good hands. Intrepid believes that travelling is for everyone and made sure that women can have a fair share with the excitement of it. Intrepid’s Women’s Expeditions is all about breaking down barriers, fostering discussion and creating immersive local experiences for women.

Grab your female friends with you and have the best experience together and meet new friends for life while empowering and learning from each other in a way Elise had done.

Don’t delay the adventure that awaits you! Click here or the link below and we’ll take you to a journey of a lifetime!

References:

https://www.womanwithaltitude.com/

https://www.travelbeginsat40.com/2018/03/female-explorer-elise-wortley-woman-with-altitude/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-who-couldnt-bus-says-20531692

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/meet-the-woman-recreating-the-journeys-of-historys-forgotten-female-explorers

Photo credits to Emily Almond‐Barr
Video credits to BroadacstExchange

8 lucky itravel agents won a tourism educational to Northern California and @itravelwithjade was lucky enough to be picked!

When agents sell a lot of a product, it’s really amazing to actually get to go and experience the places, It helps us to sell them better, coming back with even better recommendations and real time knowledge of a particular place or area!

First up was our Air New Zealand flight to San Francisco via Auckland. The planes are pretty spacious, comfy seats with just enough leg room for the average height human. Recommendations for an air New Zealand flight: Exit rows
• Exit row seats are great for long legs and taller people. Get them early.
• Exit row seat in the aisle has a pull out screen or tray (or both) and the side arm rests do not lift up so not ideal if your wanting to put your legs on the seats beside you.
• Exit rows are generally close to the galley, so you tend to get served food or drink first, along with it being easier to order refills. This also means when you need to get up and stretch, you don’t have to ask the other person in the aisle to get up. SO MUCH ROOM #yassssss
• Preferred seats – these are hit and miss. Make sure you check the seat map for exactly the seat you want. Some have seats that have none in front of them, others have a seat slightly to the left (making eating awkward and sometimes eating over your neighbour #gettoknowthembetter) not as roomy as exit rows, however still cost.

3 hours to Auckland with a small layover of 2 hours. Auckland airport isn’t large, but has some great little bars and wholefoods to snack on instead of fast food!

Once in San Francisco, we caught the Air train to pick up our car rental and off we went! Satellite navigation on and a few moments getting our bearings being on the right hand side of the road! Super strange!

Tour itinerary: We collected our two dodge 7 seaters, set the GPS and off to Mariposa Lodge via Modesto for a 15minutes pit stop we went. 6 hours of driving through small little country towns, each with it’s own flair. Navigating roads was ok when your not driving (thanks Boss man Louie yah peanut) working out miles vs kms was pretty funny to be honest! The car rides were pretty entertaining. Each of us calling out everything we saw, yelling at each other to take photos of random rocks and water while reading signs that made us laugh. By the end of the first drive, we ended up on some really windy, unlit, forest country road with no signs of life.
We contemplated what would end our trip early (bears, the guy from Wolf creek, more bears) 😂😂

Finally past a place called HORNITOS showed us some and life for 35 seconds. Back into the depths of the US countryside we went.

Finally made it out to Mariposa Lodge, all busting to go to the toilet as we thought we were going to get lost and die in the first leg of the trip! We had 10 minutes to get to our first hosted dinner with Julie from USA Tourism Bureaus. Dinner at 1850 Restaurant where everyone ordered the specials of short ribs, and I had steak & vege.
All delish!
Rooms at the lodge were very motel like and what you would expect from a road side motel in the US of A. Had all you needed to get you through the first night. Hot shower, Sitcoms and a sink.

Pretty neat thing I found in the US. They generally have the bathroom sink OUTSIDE the toilet/shower area. So if someone is in the bathroom, you can still brush your teeth or do your makeup. SUPER handy!

Working as a  mobile agent and 14 hours behind, it was then time to get some emails done and respond to some enquiries (or to update socials….yah know #priorities)

WED OCT 23RD
In what felt like 25 minutes, we were up again. We stopped at a grab and go for coffee, straight to Yosemite national park for a Valley Floor Tour. 2 hour bus tour through the national park (which one car nearly missed as they WERN’T going to wait!) But we all made it!!!

Yosemite Mariposa County:
Located in the majestic Sierra Nevada of California, Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County. It’s the home to some of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls, massive granite formations and oldest forests. Open all year round, Yosemite is a must-see for any visitor touring California or America’s National parks.

Lots of history within the rocks, and some of the tallest granite rocks in the world here. Climbers brave the rocks to test their skills – power to them!! That stuff looked hard!

Next stop in Yosemite, we caught the shuttle to the Ahwahnee hotel in the park. The cutest thing I heard was a mum talking to her daughter while walking into the hotel, she was telling her that the bears walked amongst the people SO not to walk off!
The staff live in staff quarters just off the hotel, and some have been there for over 20 years!
The hotel is well worth the look. Rug work everywhere, and every grand restaurant you can think of.

The shuttles to get around the area’s are all numbered and you may have to get 2 to get to where you’re going, depending on where the buses go. These run every 10 minutes so don’t worry if you miss one!

1 hour drive to Tenaya lodge that night, through some pretty windy roads. This guy wasn’t car sick yet so that’s a win!! Arriving at Teneya lodge, make sure you know if you are staying in the main lodge or the explorers cabins. Arriving at the Explorer cabins, we were greeted by some lovely reception hosts.
Walk outside and they have a massive gas fire pit, where there is a server giving out free drinks, and making smores! Tiddly before you even get to your cabin and a really nice touch to the welcome at the lodge. These cabins were epic. They looked right over a lake, small cabins from the outside but inside….had everything!!!
Eco friendly plates and bowls, large rooms, spacious lounges and a drink bottle to boot!

Overnight here before an early morning exit for South Lake Tahoe.

THUR OCT 24TH
Car stocked up with snacks and water (Service station’s here serve alcohol!!) we were on the road. 6.5 hour drive,  with a 15  minute servo stop! It was the coldest morning we had had at this stage, but we were in for a surprise once we got to Tahoe!

Arriving at the Tahoe Lake shore lodge and spa was very much welcomed! We arrived, were shown to our Lakeview cabin, and Tony from South Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority showed up within minutes with a goodie bag! Wine, cork screw, magnets and info. Good move on wooooing the travel agents South Tahoe Tourism. Gooooood move @winewinewinewinewine

Lake Tahoe has an abundance of natural beauty, home to the Ski lodge and mountain called Heavenly. Super packed most of the year round so book in early to avoid disappointment.

The entire towns building’s are made of logs. Even the McDonalds and the outlet stores. Kept the theme all the way through the town and I really, REALLY loved it.

The others arrived around 2 hours later, as they had stopped in Placerville. Unfortunately, Placerville had a power outage due to the fires! Here…When Bush fire’s go bad, they shut all the power off and evacuate the towns to keep everyone safe. We then headed off to Lake Tahoe Hotel Echo Fireside room. Beautiful hotel, on the California side of the state line….had a cruise ship type of feel.
Many many MANY rooms, were spacious, however felt like an interior cabin. Beautiful decor all around, and great meals too boot.

Coolest thing about this location – its on the state line. So you can literally step across the road to Nevada, and back to California. In California, its illegal to gamble, so if your that way inclined, just head to Nevada straight from the Fireside room. Easy!

FRI OCT 25TH
Next early morning start to head to Emerald bay for a hike and to see the island called Fanette island – the only island in the whole lake. Easy enough walk down….my god, long walk back up!
Laura J Knight built a small tea house on this island, she would have her servants row her out to have afternoon tea every single day and have debaucherous parties in her castle at night!.

What a stunning place! Check out my facebook page for more pics! I learnt so much about South Lake Tahoe, just ask! Things such as; They don’t have gutters because the snow fall is so large that they would all break and the fact its illegal to collect the snow water – this must go back into the ground…!! The houses here are half our size, and roughly $600,000USD!! Its a 1 mile hike down a steep hill and 5 miles back up!
Worth every step, and I earn’t my lunchtime wine #YEPPP!

By 10:30am we were off to see some migrating salmon swim down a river with the hope of a few hungry bear sightings! There was thousands of salmon – all in the river, staying in one spot. This is where they release their eggs and then proceed to die! The bears go NUTS for this! If your an early bird kind of human, I would recommend going down to the river at 5 or 6am, this would be the best time for bear sightings I reckon! Off to the MS DIXIE III for a lunch and history lesson. I learnt all about Captain Dick (who cut off his own toes with a carving knife) and lady Laura, who was said to have funded the first flight across America!
Dinner at the Hard rock cafe after a site inspection of a few rooms. Elvis stayed here, and they have kept the room exactly as it was, no changes and keep its history. Pretty neat stuff!
Dinner is massive portions so I recommend only an entree or only a main. YOU DO NOT NEED BOTH. I repeat….DO NOT EAT BOTH….unless you have a walking stick or an electric chair. Once we finished here, we ducked in for a quick gamble before the Magic show at the loft.

This Friday night show is the only night in the week (they have shows every single night) but this Friday night show consists of boobies flashes, swearing and loads of drinking (by the host’s!!)
Well worth a look at this show…if you didn’t like magicians, this guy will change your mind.

Back to another casino for a quick punt, and home by 12am! Party animal I know. Ol Hornitos managed to score himself a quick US$1000 so he was SET for shopping the next day! SAT OCT 26TH
Due to the fires in Sonoma, our plans slightly changed for the rest of the itinerary! Premium outlet shopping, some Wal-Mart stalking 😂😂  and a night around the fire with vege snacks, cork chips and chatter! Wal-Mart is like Aldi, Kmart, Bunnings and a chemist all wrapped in one. With Macca’s to boot! Ol Hornitos looked like Mary Poppin’s with all his shopping bags, he had to fill the boot and then go back!

We spent our last night out by the fireplace, overlooking the beautiful South Tahoe Lake.

SUN OCT 27TH
Early morning start and on the road by 6:45am, We were on out way to San Francisco. We decided to go to the look out to get the golden gate shot (its RED by the way!), head to Lombard street (this is pretty amazing – google it if you don’t know what I’m talking about) and then finish in Pier 39.

This place has an abundance of activities and food and shopping. Kind of like darling harbour cross haymarket! Bubbagump, 7D experiences and magnet shops! Shooting Clowns and Zombies, and losing the floor in a 7D movie! Worth it!

Back to the airport to try to get some space for a nap on the way home #hahahafullflight

Thank you to Gate 7, Simran – our gracious host, Louie our #1 driver and @itravel for the awesome experience!

My Bali holiday started over 30 years ago, I fell in love with the culture and have been back over 20 times. Bali is a place special to our family where we have met lifelong friends and had many celebrations in this beautiful place.

I personally prefer to travel Garuda when flying to Bali as they depart in the morning and arrive at a reasonable time, I have travelled business class and economy with Garuda and find their service impeccable.

I have stayed in many hotels in Bali mostly around the Kuta/Legian area, for a family hotel you cannot beat the Padma but at the last few times have enjoyed staying at the Camakila as this is a smaller property centrally located close to restaurants and shops. The staff are amazing and always eager to please. I recently had my 50th Birthday celebration at the Camakila with 50 guests and nothing was a problem.

There are many day tours you can do whilst in Bali such as Mountain biking through the rice fields, trekking to the top of Mt Batur to see a sun rise, white water rafting, snorkelling or visiting the zoo. I have experienced all of these so can give my recommendations.

Dining in Bali can be an experience in itself, anything from local delicacies to 5 star restaurants, there are so many to choose from that I find myself wishing for more days just to fit a few more in.

The reason I love Bali besides the people and the culture, is that it is such a diverse destination that allows for you to have a different holiday each time you visit, whether you want 5 star or you are on a budget Bali will never disappoint.