Rakushokusha Maru is one of two Tokyo restaurants run by owner-chef’s Keiji Mori. Descending into the basement of the Aoyama restaurant, the decor is stylish and discrete with nothing out of place. On our visit, we opted for the ‘tasting…
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Of all the wonderful dining experiences we had in Japan, the ultimate for us was the three Michelin-starred sushi at Sukiyabashi Jiro. Made famous in the film Jiro Dreams of Sushi, 89 year-old Jiro is…
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Switch Coffee in Tokyo’s Meguro neighbourhood is a charming, boutique coffee roaster with a small cafe attached. Like many of Tokyo’s cafes and boutiques, Switch Coffee makes the most of its diminutive space with an inviting…
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In Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s nightlife epicentres, bikini-clad women stage nightly mock battles with enormous robots in a peculiarly Japanese form of entertainment. The show is quite kitsch, however, do not let that put you off as it is a…
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Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower that upon reaching its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 2011 became the tallest tower in the world, and the second tallest structure after the…
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Singapore has a reputation for being a land of shopping malls, air-conditioned condos and frankly, being a little too sterile to be enjoyable. However, there is a buzz to Singapore right now and a prosperity…
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The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system composing over 2,900 individual reefs, is every bit as exciting in person as it looks in the pictures. Visible from space, the reef is the world’s…
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“Let’s go to Hawaii for the weekend!” Non-stop flight with the new Dreamliner, Sydney’s getting cold, why not? A fun spontaneous thought that seemed impossible in the beginning, became reality. Time was on our side….
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Berrima is a historic village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The village, once a major town, is located 90 minutes south of Sydney on the Old Hume Highway and is an ideal…
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Lavandula is a sprawling lavender farm located around ten minutes outside Hepburn Springs in regional Victoria. It grows lavender, olives and grapes in a charming rural setting dotted with stone farm buildings, a shop and café. The…
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David Walsh’s MONA, situated on the bank of Hobart’s Derwent River, really does live up to the hype. Impressive on a global level, MONA has brought serious clout to Tasmania’s cultural and crafts scene. With views across the river to…
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Seal Rocks, on the NSW Mid-North Coast, is a lovely part of the world offering stunning beaches, a charming lighthouse and very little else to distract one from surfing, walking, reading and relaxing. I love short…
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The Rally by The Better Living Index combines our passion for good food and coffee with our love for exploring country roads. This weekend we held our one day return rally from Sydney to Bathurst. Fine weather greeted…
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We have sometimes struggled to find great accommodation in Canberra. Up until now the Hyatt Hotel was a good option but often felt slightly isolated. Hotel Hotel Canberra—open since late 2013—is a visually interesting, stylish…
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Its tropical monsoon climate and warm winters make Far North Queensland an ideal, city break destination. Port Douglas provides a good base from which to explore the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. Below…
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The Daintree in Far North Queensland is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest in Australia. Upon some local advice, we found a great way to fully experience it begins with a night amongst the…
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Bali continues to impress as a holiday destination. The tropical climate, expansive beaches and friendly locals make this a go to destination for a relaxing break; just stay out of the hideous tourist area of…
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Chan Chan is an ancient city in northern Peru dating back to around 850 AD. This was the worlds largest mud city comprising over 20 square kilometres of now partially restored ruins. Air gaps integrated…
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Queenstown, on New Zealand’s majestic South Island, is charmingly located on Lake Wakatipu. The towns’ pebbled beach offers stunning views down the turquoise coloured lake with mountains rising straight out of the water. Queenstown feels both peaceful and…
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Berkelouw Book Barn, located just outside Berrima in the NSW Southern Highlands, is the iconic home of the Berkelouw Book Business. Built early last century, the Book Barn has recently been renovated to highlight its exposed timber…
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