Jetstar Magazine: The King of the Sandcastles

Have you ever been to Fraser Island just off the coast of Queensland? I went and it was beautiful. Taking a four wheel drive all the way up there is a little bit of a mission from down south, but well worth it. Stop in at Byron and Noosa along the way then make you way out on the car ferry for some four wheel driving fun.We camped far up the top of the island. The quietness was luxurious, the sunsets incredible and my camp cooking, well, just ask J, chilli con carne camp style…moorish!!

I wrote a piece for Jetstar Mag and you can read all about it here.

Tags: 4wd, byron bay, four wheel drive, Fraser Island, noosa

Canyoning in the Blue Mountains

That’s me. Tied onto a rope, wrapped around a tree, lowering myself down a rocky overhand into some cold, cold water. It’s called canyoning and it’s SO MUCH FUN! It never used to be my natural compulsion to involve myself in adventure activities, but the more I am exposed to, the more I love. It’s amazing how many people have asked me if I was scared and, truth be told, I wasn’t one bit. Weird.

The canyon we did was Jugglers Canyon in the Blue Mountains. Tim and Chey from Blue Mountains Adventure Company took us out and they were awesome. Five abseils, muddy wet shoes, and a big walk later, we got back to Katoomba with  not much left in our tanks.

Next stop is this…

Image: James Marten-Coney

Tags: blue mountains, blue mountains adventure company, canyoning, jugglers canyon, katoomba

Escape Travel: Alone with King Tut in Egypt

Did you see this picture in the Sunday Telegraph Escape Travel section, or perhaps any other News Limited Sunday paper? I sure did, but I was probably looking for it. It was my piece about Egypt – travelling from Cairo to Luxor and enjoying a country devoid of tourists. It was part of my journey from Morocco, to Egypt, through Jordan and home via London. There are so many more stories to come from this trip, so stay tuned.

Read the full article online here.

Tags: Cairo, Egypt, Luxor, News Limited, Stephanie Williams, Sunday Telegraph, The Airloom, travel

Becasse Banana Salted Brittle Deliciousness

I have discovered a little piece of heaven in the heart of Sydney. I am so glad I do not work anywhere near Level 5 Westfield as I would be a very rotund person, possibly by the end of this week. My friend S and I were exploring the city and had a dumpling lunch (at 11:15am!) at Din Tai Fung and on our way out saw the beautifully presented cabinet at Becasse Bakery. Even though I was ridiculously full, I remembered as a kid my uncle told me that dessert goes into a separate stomach. Now was the time to use that second dessert stomach. The little tart didn’t disappoint…light crunchy pastry, cold custard with banana slices, topped with an out-of-this-world crunchy salted peanut brittle, akin to a honeycomb. Salivating while I type.

Tags: Becasse Bakery, Din Tai fung, The Airloom, Westfield, Westfield Level 5

Cutest little cowboy this side of Wagga Wagga

I recently went to Wagga Wagga to take some behind-the-scenes shots at their annual rodeo and it was such a great day.

The bull-riding subculture has always fascinated me since I met a professional cowboy many years ago in a country pub. The idea that a person is willing to jump on the back of a crazy, jumping bull is well beyond the realm of what I think is normal. To me, bull-riding is the ultimate adventure sport, and one that I will never be partaking in, but looking forward to the next time I see it in the flesh.

The mini cowboy in the picture spent the best part of four hours walking around with his Dad, who was dressed almost identically, swinging the lasoo. So very cute!

Tags: Bullriding, cowboys, Stephanie Williams, The Airloom, Wagga Wagga

The Very Talented Pascale Gomes-McNabb

I have had the pleasure of getting to know restaurateur and architect, Pascale Gomes-McNabb over the last year or so after interviewing her for Artichoke and The Weekly Review. I love her work!

So when I got these pics during the week of the exhibition Pascale has curated, I had to share them. Pascale has teamed up with the Johnston Collection to invite eight of Australia’s top chefs (Shannon Bennett, Chui Lee Luk, Karen Martini, Neil Perry, Nicolas Poelaert, Pierre Roeloff, Brent Savage and Jock Zonfrillo) to respond to the theme of excessive, hedonistic consumption. I’m hungry already.

The result is a fabulous collection of photographic installations throughout the William Johnston’s Fairhall house in East Melbourne. Each photographic installation was a collaboration between artist Amanda Morgan, photographer James Morgan and curator Pascale.You have to see this one for yourself so make sure you take a look before June 22.

After the Meal: A Taste for Excess at The Johnston Collection
192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne
Three guided tours Mon to Fri at 10am, 12pm and 2.15pm

Images: James Morgan

Tags: After the Excess, cumulus inc, Cutler & Co, Johnston Collection, Pa, Pascale Gomes-McNabb

Northcity4

My lovely friend Katherine Bowman contacted me today about her new venture called Northcity4. I am always interested in what Katherine has to say and thought you might be too. Katherine is part of a group of five talented artists who have come together to create a new contemporary jewellery and object studio and school in Brunswick.

The NC4 studio and school is the initiative of artists Romani Benjamin, Katherine Bowman, Anna Davern, Caz Guiney and Ali Limb. This group of artists has come together with the aim of sharing their knowledge, skills and techniques through mentorships, seminars, access studios and workshops. Sounds wonderful.

They are having a launch on March 2nd from 6pm – 8pm at 61 Weston Street in Brunswick. The ‘entertainment’ is varied – you can listen to Marcus Westbury, columnist for the The Age and with Not Quite Art on ABC1 and Natalia Milosz-Piekarska, award-winning contemporary jeweller. Katherine’s beautiful prints and Ali Limb’s jewellery will be for sale on the night to help fund the next stage of NC4’s development. And it’s not a party without music, as provided by a local DJ, no doubt uber cool.

Tags: Katherine Bowman, Northcity4, The Airloom