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West Australian

19 hours ago

West Australian

A wholly trinity of wellness in Bali

Anyone looking at my browsing history 18 months ago would have found multiple searches for Pilates retreats, affordable retreats, and retreats where coffee isn't banned. Every retreat I looked at seemed to be too expensive, too long, or too hard to get to in my timeframe. The more I looked, the less appealing it sounded to be eating set meals and attending twice daily exercise bootcamps. I've discovered it's easier to work wellness into a Bali stay. Most resorts have great accommodation/meal packages, including access to well-equipped fitness centres with a program of free and paid activities to enrich the mind and body. Wellness Unbound is Nusa Dua resort The Mulia's way of letting guests unwind at their own pace, embracing mindfulness, immersive cultural enrichment, nourishment, healing and movement. Try a free 7am yoga class in the Eden Garden. Need more sleep and some extra help mastering those poses? I take a 9am private yoga class (from $66 per person per hour), sweat like there's no tomorrow, then have an omelette, coffee and glass of antioxidant-packed jamu at The Cafe. If you're a guest of the suites or villas and want to avoid the temptations of the buffet, The Lounge offers a la carte options. Start with a fruit plate and fresh juice, then move on to an egg white and asparagus omelette. Add in an afternoon class of dancercise, aerial yoga, or mat Pilates. More of a team player? Sign up for beach soccer, volleyball, tennis or ping pong. After all that exercise, try a session in the Mulia Spa wellness suite with sauna and Asia Pacific's first ice room (from $47 per person for 30 minutes). Book the hot and cold hydrotonic pool and it's all yours for the session (from $29 per person for 30 minutes). There's no sharing with strangers like many Aussie bathhouses. I have a cultural enrichment session with Ni Wayan Weli, starting with Balinese dance moves. She looks graceful. I do not. Then I learn how to make a canang, the Balinese offerings basket, and to weave a red, white and black Tridatum the traditional bracelet that represents the three gods of Hinduism. These free activities are available to all guests. Open since mid 2024, The Meru Sanur all-suite hotel sits in the Sanur Special Economic Zone for health and wellness tourism. The Meru's poolside breakfast buffet at Arunika has a clearly labelled wellness section with dishes including Bircher muesli, chia pots and grilled vegetables. There's a gluten-free station, plenty of fresh fruit and two types of jamu. Activities include yoga, aero boxing and soccer on Sanur's longest and whitest stretch of beach. Guests can go on a transformative journey at the recently opened Taru Pramana Spa and Wellness centre, where a wellness apothecary can create you a personal elixir, infused oil, or botanical balm. I enjoy a relaxing massage with sound healing and the sleepier I get, the more I am convinced several people are in the room playing the singing bowls next to my head. Staff assure me it really was just the work of one therapist. The spa has changed since my visit, but a similar experience starts from $175 for two hours. The Meru's gym is in use by Indonesia's national soccer team each morning of during my stay, so the equipment comes highly rated. I'm one of only two in a free aqua aerobics class in the Bali Beach Pool – Sanur's largest – which the resort shares with the Bali Beach Hotel. A bike ride or healthy 10 to 15-minute stroll along the beachfront to the new Icon Bali Mall is recommended if your idea of wellness also involves retail therapy. At The Laguna Resort and Spa in Nusa Dua, guests can learn how the immune-boosting elixir jamu is made as part of the 5.45pm daily Jamu Ritual at De Bale Bar and Lounge. The activity celebrates Indonesia's wellness and herbal heritage, with the featured jamu changing quarterly. I sip Loloh Cemcem, traditionally made from cemcem leaves (Spondias pinnata) in Penglipuran, a village in the Bagli regency. On Thursday nights as dusk descends, a traditional Balinese story comes to life through dance and music performed by local students. I'm so engrossed, I get a shock to find a performer dressed as a monkey has snuck up on me. It's another way The Laguna helps preserve Balinese culture by weaving it into each stay. After the performance, I am invited to a blessing ceremony outside the resort's Hindu temple, complete with grains of sacred rice on my forehead and the gift of a Tridatu bracelet. The ceremony is watched by the resort's resident duck and chicken. Legend has it they escaped has being sacrificed and now roam the grounds as protectors. Staying in shape at The Laguna is easy at the 24-hour gym with views of a lagoon pool and waterfalls. I finish my stay with a blissful one-hour traditional Balinese massage (from $150) while water flows outside. + Sue Yeap was a guest of The Mulia, The Meru Sanur and The Lagua Resort and Spa. They have not influenced this story, or read it before publication. fact file

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Sydney Morning Herald

a day ago

Sydney Morning Herald

Here's a hot tip on how to enter the US, hassle-free

There are regrettably few hotels or resorts in Australia with justifiable claims to being world-class but Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania is unquestionably one of them. Therefore, it was good to read Ben Groundwater's glowing review (Traveller, July 21). It's not just the stunning location, exemplary decor and Michelin star-quality food, but the superlative service so often lacking locally – the Saffire 'no nos' ethos is definitely not just a marketing slogan. Although expensive on face value, Saffire's all-inclusive package and range of free excursions – the in-water oyster and sparkling wine experience is truly unforgettable – ensures that those who can afford to visit will indeed be staying in 'one of Australia's leading properties'. Chris Roylance, Paddington, NSW Uninvited guest I enjoyed Ben Groundwater's article on Saffire Freycinet. I stayed there in 2012, and it was just as magical then. Each night there would be a hot water bottle at the end of my bed. The manager had to reassure a visitor from overseas who rang him in alarm saying there was a small marsupial in her bed. Elizabeth Howcroft, Hawthorn, Vic Exchange irate We all know, or should know, that when travelling overseas, and if given the choice of paying in local currency (in my case euros) or Aussie dollars, we should always say local. The business offering the choice makes a cut on the exchange rate by using their bank if you select Aussie dollars and you lose. Recently, when picking up a hire car in the mayhem that is Taormina, Sicily, I was not offered such a choice. On checking my contract later, I noted that the car representative had deceitfully scribbled on my contract that I was offered such a choice and had elected to pay in Aussie dollars. Be aware. Vince Vozzo, Elwood, Vic Boiling points Like most visitors to London's British Museum (Traveller, July 22) I have enjoyed its wonders, but while the new Great Court roof is a beautiful design, it creates a hot environment if the sun is shining. My last visit was during late September and I couldn't wait to escape to the cooler galleries. No doubt the design is fine in winter but in a city regularly experiencing hotter summer temperatures, I wonder how they'll keep visitors cool. Jennifer McKay, Ashbury, NSW Hit the road We can one-up the 'packing and unpacking once' benefit of cruising (Traveller, July 12). Ocean cruising still can't compare with land travel. We lease a car in Europe and put our shared case in the boot which becomes our wardrobe. No unpacking needed. Our tent, self-inflating mattresses and sleeping bags go in another case on the back seat. No need to book accommodation. Camping areas cost about €20 a night, often with swimming pools and restaurants. We mostly cook on a small campstove. We have been all over Europe and North America. This form of travel is not just for the young – on our last trip in French Languedic, Corsica and then Sardinia, we were 81. Ainslie Morris, South Durras, NSW Connection disconnect Regarding Michael Gebicki's otherwise good read on travel tips (Traveller, July 14), just because one has booked two connecting flights separately on two separate tickets doesn't mean one has to collect bags and clear immigration and check back in again as suggested. Many legacy airlines have agreements with each other to check baggage all the way to the destination irrespective of ticketing. Of course, this doesn't apply to most low-cost carriers. But it could be a problem if a passenger doesn't check the rules. One of the downfalls of online bookings. Colin Hood, Carlton North, Vic Peace offering Justine Costigan's article on the Peace Hotel in Shanghai (Traveller, July 31) reminded me of the first time I was there in 1967. I was with 53 other students from Australian and New Zealand Universities on what was meant to be a fairly mundane travel tour, but it turned out to be quite the reverse. We arrived by train in Shanghai at about 2am and were met by hundreds of Red Guard students from Fudan University, who escorted us from the station on foot to the Peace Hotel on the Bund. The hotel was officially closed at that time because of the onset of the Cultural Revolution, and we were the only guests. The elaborate art deco decoration and quality accommodation were quite spectacular and unexpected. Members of the Red Guard, who as students had been oppressed for years, were interested in change, and in their traversals of the hotel wanted to ensure we were looked after, and that all the exquisite and protected collections, including the wondrous crockery and porcelain, were uncovered, brought out, and used (which they were). At that time, as a student, I was extremely impressed (like Justine) and still have great memories of that hotel stay. Paul Mulqueen, Melbourne, Vic Tip of the week: End of the line I have just returned from a trip on Far North Queensland's Savannahlander train travelling from Cairns to Forsyth. We journeyed through the beautiful savannah woodlands to Cobbold Gorge and the Undara Lava Tubes, a simply amazing experience. This highly recommended journey was well-organised with the overnight accommodation comfortable. Sadly two sections of the railway – Cairns to Mareebba and the last section to Forsyth – have been damaged by flooding and we had to use buses. For the Savannahlander to continue, the Queensland state government needs to provide funds for repairs, especially to the Cairns-Mareeba section, though the famous Cairns to Kuranda section is still operating. But with funding in some doubt, no bookings for the Savannahlander are being taken for next year. How short-sighted of the Queensland government to not prevent the closure of this wonderful tourist facility. Marian Birchmore, Bendigo, Vic Hold the glitz I would recommend Oman as a stopover en route to Europe. It is a fascinating country and with its low-rise and lack of glitz, so different in character to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The distances between sites are long (but roads are excellent), everywhere was clean and I felt safe. The original capital of Nizwa and the canyons of Jebel Shams were standouts. I used the services of Mytouroman and found it excellent to deal with. Oman Air also deserves plaudits for its service – Muscat Airport was spacious, clean and easy to negotiate. David West, Berwick, Vic Pace setter Hiring a car with GPS allowed us to explore Croatia at our own pace, which is something flights and cruise itineraries can't match. Letting weather, local tips and time shape our plans made each day an adventure. We stayed in old-town pedestrian-zoned areas that offered charm and easy access to sights and dining. Often we parked for free and walked to our accommodation. All bookings were during shoulder season and easy to make. Dianne McGowan, Sapphire Beach, NSW Nordic and nice An inquiry to Michael Gebicki regarding driving around Iceland (Traveller, July 11) brought back wonderful memories of our self-drive, 11-day journey around the bottom half of Iceland. We used Nordic Visitor to book and plan our travels and were impressed with the level of service. They met us at the airport and the following morning took us to the car agents to select our car which was a Hyundai i30. It had a good GPS and a Wi-Fi hotspot which proved valuable when searching for cafe stops. On our return to the capital, Reykjavik, we spent a couple of days visiting the city's museums and its amazing concert hall. Judi Rosevear, Wantirna, Vic Norfolk folk The two-night trip by your readers Harry Tys and Richard Gould to the remote South Pacific home of 32 of the descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers is but a legacy of a fascinating backstory (Traveller Letters, July 19). In 1856, after two penal settlements were abandoned, Queen Victoria granted 193 descendants of the Bounty mutineers, who were living on Pitcairn Island, Norfolk Island. They left Pitcairn on May 3 that year. On June 8, with a baby born on board, the Morayshire landed at Kingston, the main settlement on Norfolk Island. The Pitcairners' story continues with a move to bring the historic Pitcairn Island Register, a record of births, marriages and deaths from 1790 to 1854, from the UK in time for the 170th Anniversary of the ship's arrival. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW Signed, unsealed and delivered I was pleased to see Namibia included in your cover story (Traveller, July 4) as one of the best countries for driving trips. We spent three wonderful weeks on a road trip there in May and felt safe in our reliable Toyota Fortuner from Namibia2Go. Covering 4255 kilometres and with some days seeing few other vehicles, we travelled as far south as the magnificent Fish River Canyon and north to Etosha National Park. Our advice is to not stay in the park, as the accommodation is overpriced. There is lots of fabulous accommodation just outside the park that offers Etosha game drives. While the scenery in Namibia is varied and starkly beautiful, most of the roads we travelled on were unsealed and ranged from dreadful to smooth. Barb Hilling, Watsonia North, Vic

The Age

a day ago

The Age

Here's a hot tip on how to enter the US, hassle-free

There are regrettably few hotels or resorts in Australia with justifiable claims to being world-class but Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania is unquestionably one of them. Therefore, it was good to read Ben Groundwater's glowing review (Traveller, July 21). It's not just the stunning location, exemplary decor and Michelin star-quality food, but the superlative service so often lacking locally – the Saffire 'no nos' ethos is definitely not just a marketing slogan. Although expensive on face value, Saffire's all-inclusive package and range of free excursions – the in-water oyster and sparkling wine experience is truly unforgettable – ensures that those who can afford to visit will indeed be staying in 'one of Australia's leading properties'. Chris Roylance, Paddington, NSW Uninvited guest I enjoyed Ben Groundwater's article on Saffire Freycinet. I stayed there in 2012, and it was just as magical then. Each night there would be a hot water bottle at the end of my bed. The manager had to reassure a visitor from overseas who rang him in alarm saying there was a small marsupial in her bed. Elizabeth Howcroft, Hawthorn, Vic Exchange irate We all know, or should know, that when travelling overseas, and if given the choice of paying in local currency (in my case euros) or Aussie dollars, we should always say local. The business offering the choice makes a cut on the exchange rate by using their bank if you select Aussie dollars and you lose. Recently, when picking up a hire car in the mayhem that is Taormina, Sicily, I was not offered such a choice. On checking my contract later, I noted that the car representative had deceitfully scribbled on my contract that I was offered such a choice and had elected to pay in Aussie dollars. Be aware. Vince Vozzo, Elwood, Vic Boiling points Like most visitors to London's British Museum (Traveller, July 22) I have enjoyed its wonders, but while the new Great Court roof is a beautiful design, it creates a hot environment if the sun is shining. My last visit was during late September and I couldn't wait to escape to the cooler galleries. No doubt the design is fine in winter but in a city regularly experiencing hotter summer temperatures, I wonder how they'll keep visitors cool. Jennifer McKay, Ashbury, NSW Hit the road We can one-up the 'packing and unpacking once' benefit of cruising (Traveller, July 12). Ocean cruising still can't compare with land travel. We lease a car in Europe and put our shared case in the boot which becomes our wardrobe. No unpacking needed. Our tent, self-inflating mattresses and sleeping bags go in another case on the back seat. No need to book accommodation. Camping areas cost about €20 a night, often with swimming pools and restaurants. We mostly cook on a small campstove. We have been all over Europe and North America. This form of travel is not just for the young – on our last trip in French Languedic, Corsica and then Sardinia, we were 81. Ainslie Morris, South Durras, NSW Connection disconnect Regarding Michael Gebicki's otherwise good read on travel tips (Traveller, July 14), just because one has booked two connecting flights separately on two separate tickets doesn't mean one has to collect bags and clear immigration and check back in again as suggested. Many legacy airlines have agreements with each other to check baggage all the way to the destination irrespective of ticketing. Of course, this doesn't apply to most low-cost carriers. But it could be a problem if a passenger doesn't check the rules. One of the downfalls of online bookings. Colin Hood, Carlton North, Vic Peace offering Justine Costigan's article on the Peace Hotel in Shanghai (Traveller, July 31) reminded me of the first time I was there in 1967. I was with 53 other students from Australian and New Zealand Universities on what was meant to be a fairly mundane travel tour, but it turned out to be quite the reverse. We arrived by train in Shanghai at about 2am and were met by hundreds of Red Guard students from Fudan University, who escorted us from the station on foot to the Peace Hotel on the Bund. The hotel was officially closed at that time because of the onset of the Cultural Revolution, and we were the only guests. The elaborate art deco decoration and quality accommodation were quite spectacular and unexpected. Members of the Red Guard, who as students had been oppressed for years, were interested in change, and in their traversals of the hotel wanted to ensure we were looked after, and that all the exquisite and protected collections, including the wondrous crockery and porcelain, were uncovered, brought out, and used (which they were). At that time, as a student, I was extremely impressed (like Justine) and still have great memories of that hotel stay. Paul Mulqueen, Melbourne, Vic Tip of the week: End of the line I have just returned from a trip on Far North Queensland's Savannahlander train travelling from Cairns to Forsyth. We journeyed through the beautiful savannah woodlands to Cobbold Gorge and the Undara Lava Tubes, a simply amazing experience. This highly recommended journey was well-organised with the overnight accommodation comfortable. Sadly two sections of the railway – Cairns to Mareebba and the last section to Forsyth – have been damaged by flooding and we had to use buses. For the Savannahlander to continue, the Queensland state government needs to provide funds for repairs, especially to the Cairns-Mareeba section, though the famous Cairns to Kuranda section is still operating. But with funding in some doubt, no bookings for the Savannahlander are being taken for next year. How short-sighted of the Queensland government to not prevent the closure of this wonderful tourist facility. Marian Birchmore, Bendigo, Vic Hold the glitz I would recommend Oman as a stopover en route to Europe. It is a fascinating country and with its low-rise and lack of glitz, so different in character to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The distances between sites are long (but roads are excellent), everywhere was clean and I felt safe. The original capital of Nizwa and the canyons of Jebel Shams were standouts. I used the services of Mytouroman and found it excellent to deal with. Oman Air also deserves plaudits for its service – Muscat Airport was spacious, clean and easy to negotiate. David West, Berwick, Vic Pace setter Hiring a car with GPS allowed us to explore Croatia at our own pace, which is something flights and cruise itineraries can't match. Letting weather, local tips and time shape our plans made each day an adventure. We stayed in old-town pedestrian-zoned areas that offered charm and easy access to sights and dining. Often we parked for free and walked to our accommodation. All bookings were during shoulder season and easy to make. Dianne McGowan, Sapphire Beach, NSW Nordic and nice An inquiry to Michael Gebicki regarding driving around Iceland (Traveller, July 11) brought back wonderful memories of our self-drive, 11-day journey around the bottom half of Iceland. We used Nordic Visitor to book and plan our travels and were impressed with the level of service. They met us at the airport and the following morning took us to the car agents to select our car which was a Hyundai i30. It had a good GPS and a Wi-Fi hotspot which proved valuable when searching for cafe stops. On our return to the capital, Reykjavik, we spent a couple of days visiting the city's museums and its amazing concert hall. Judi Rosevear, Wantirna, Vic Norfolk folk The two-night trip by your readers Harry Tys and Richard Gould to the remote South Pacific home of 32 of the descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers is but a legacy of a fascinating backstory (Traveller Letters, July 19). In 1856, after two penal settlements were abandoned, Queen Victoria granted 193 descendants of the Bounty mutineers, who were living on Pitcairn Island, Norfolk Island. They left Pitcairn on May 3 that year. On June 8, with a baby born on board, the Morayshire landed at Kingston, the main settlement on Norfolk Island. The Pitcairners' story continues with a move to bring the historic Pitcairn Island Register, a record of births, marriages and deaths from 1790 to 1854, from the UK in time for the 170th Anniversary of the ship's arrival. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW Signed, unsealed and delivered I was pleased to see Namibia included in your cover story (Traveller, July 4) as one of the best countries for driving trips. We spent three wonderful weeks on a road trip there in May and felt safe in our reliable Toyota Fortuner from Namibia2Go. Covering 4255 kilometres and with some days seeing few other vehicles, we travelled as far south as the magnificent Fish River Canyon and north to Etosha National Park. Our advice is to not stay in the park, as the accommodation is overpriced. There is lots of fabulous accommodation just outside the park that offers Etosha game drives. While the scenery in Namibia is varied and starkly beautiful, most of the roads we travelled on were unsealed and ranged from dreadful to smooth. Barb Hilling, Watsonia North, Vic

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A wholly trinity of wellness in Bali

Here's a hot tip on how to enter the US, hassle-free

Here's a hot tip on how to enter the US, hassle-free

Jetstar flights disrupted by GPS glitch, causing long delays

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A wholly trinity of wellness in Bali

Here's a hot tip on how to enter the US, hassle-free

Here's a hot tip on how to enter the US, hassle-free

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