While the mud mask dries, cheers!

I was staying at Eco Beach Resort just south of Broome in Western Australia and noticed that a strange item was listed at 5pm.  ‘Mud and bubbles’ and I was to assemble with what turned out to be (thankfully, as I was to discover) an all-female cast of other resort guests plus Jodie, one of the staffers and the originator of this bizarre ‘spa treatment’.

I hoisted myself out of my luxury tent (I’m glamping afterall) jumped into the 4WD and Jodie drove us to a spot way down the deserted beach where whales frolic and sat us in a row on the water’s edge with our right leg disconcertingly extended over our neighbour’s thigh (a great way to meet strangers) to give each other a sand exfoliation as the waves came lapping up. Very s-t-r-a-n-g-e indeed!

But the sand here is actually incredibly fine and I was surprised to find it did the exfoliating trick very well. We swapped legs and repeated the exercise then turned in a conga line to exfoliate each others backs. Once covered in  grit we raced into the sea, had a little swim and washed it off. Part 1 done.

My luxury tent complete with king size bed and en suite!

Back on the beach Jodie poured the bubbles into champagne glasses she’d brought from the resort and we delved into the bucket of mud she had collected from the nearby mangroves at low tide and covered ourselves in a full body mask which turned dry as we drank. Then we hit the ocean again to wash it all off. Part 2 and finish.

I have to say I did think my skin felt great afterwards. Or maybe that was just the bubbles fuddling my sensations.

Glishing: we coined this term when we took bubbles with our handlines down to the river inlet for a spot of fishing. One of our group accidentally hooked a shovelhead shark and what with one hand holding her drink and the other her line, not even a rod, she was being towed into the water amid much shrieking and hilarity. I mean, no one wanted to spill their drink to help rescue her – and the poor shovelhead.

Eco Beach Resort has won several awards for its innovative ecological practices like the 25 solar powered luxury villas dotted along a kilometre of winding recycled boardwalk, and 30 patented safari tents complete with en suites, mesh windows, flushing loos, solar showers and private verandas. You really should check it out!

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Its five-mile white sand beach bobs with fishing boats at night and championship golf courses nestle in lush tropical surrounds. This place still reeks of old world charm and luxurious spa resorts are sprinkled down the coastline, each one more stunning than the last. If ever I’m asked to suggest honeymoon ideas in Thailand, this is my first pick.

The Marriott Resort and Spa is home to the stunning Mandara Spa. I loved the breath-taking yet understated architecture that seamlessly blends Thai and Western flavours and having this sort of climate means lush tropical planting creates private indoor/outdoor spaces for spa treatments. Imagine standing on slate under a cascading shower with lotus ponds around you before your massage. Landscaped gardens roll onto the gentle beach and you’re only a ten minute walk into Hua Hin town.

Splash about here at the Marriott

A little further down the coast, Chiva Som is a health and wellness spa marketed to the “discretion-seeking” clientele. It looks like the Garden of Eden but you don’t come here to relax and find God! This place is for entire body overhauls: to get fit, lose weight and detoxify your system. This place attracts many of the rich and famous who wander around unrecognised in a fluffy white robe. The price includes three healthy meals a day (including a calorie count for each dish), a daily massage treatment and myriad exercise and toning classes. They take healthy living seriously and there is no smoking allowed on site. Addicts are offered a free acupuncture session and failing that, hard-core smokers have to wend their way down to the beach for a sneaky ciggie.

Chiva Som is detox boot camp bliss!

But I’ve saved the best for last! Travel a little further along again and you’ll find Six Senses Hua Hin and if I were you I’d book a private pool villa here and never come out.  There are 3 dining options to choose from: Italian food in the Beach restaurant, fine dining in The Living Room resting on a lily pond or dining in your own villa with a chef or do your own barbecue. But it’s the pool villas that you’ll come here for. Picture this: your four-poster bed with curtains tied back to reveal your own private garden with a stone bathtub set among the lily ponds, a swimming pool and a day bed for sunbathing or reading a book. You can also book these for around NZ$370 a night.

Six Senses: The ultimate romantic hideaway

How to get there: 

From Bangkok you can take a train to the picturesque railway station in Hua Hin built to welcome King Rama VI’s entourage in the 1920’s. Or take a bus every 30 minutes. Some hotels will provide transfers. Click here for more info. Tripadvisor tips Bangkok to Hua Hin >>>

For more information on Hua Hin, here’s a link to the upscale market complex if you need a shopping fix. Hua Hin Market Village >>>

This post is sponsored by Singapore Airlines* who fly to Bangkok via Singapore, but as always, the opinions are mine (all mine).

* Singapore Airlines operates 12 times per week from Auckland and 5 times a week from Christchurch to Singapore – one of the world’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities.  Known for its vibrant culture, shopping and culinary delights; Singapore is the gateway to Bangkok with 5 flights a day.

If you’re stopping over in Singapore, check out my post on the Best Bars in Singapore and my review of Singapore Airlines A380.

www.singaporeair.com

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House of Travel

Mondo Travel has rail across Australia on the Indian Pacific or Ghan for 60% off your companion ticket. Click here to download a pdf for this rail deal >>>

Air Tahiti Nui has return flights to Tahiti from Auckland, 7 nights including 5 on Moorea in a beach bungalow and 2 in Papeete from $2899. Click here for this Tahiti deal >>>

World Expeditions has a fully-escorted 17-day tour to Cuba with music icon Peter Urlich tagging along for fun. Click here for the details on this November tour >>>

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8Cz1OmvjcQ

Here’s what our 7 day itinerary included:

The Westerdam waiting for its passengers

Day 1: Depart Seattle

We arrived a couple of days earlier to take advantage of the home of Starbucks and the famous Pike Place market. Not to mention the Seattle grunge music scene with live gigs in various bars across the city.

Boarding the Westerdam cruise ship with the thousands of passengers proved to be a seamless exercise through customs, where our bags were tagged and miraculously arrived in our cabin within moments of us completing our life-jacket safety drill.

I was thrilled to discover we also had our own balcony (as does 67% of cabins) a 2-seater sofa, TV/bar and a couple of chairs. Our attentive cabin-boy separated the beds from a queen size into two singles while we were enjoying the first of many five-course dinners.

Rooms can be Queen size or twin

Day 2: Day at Sea

Today is reading in our cabin, playing Trivial Pursuit with our fellow passengers in library, walking the decks and playing shuffle board with new-found friends. I checked out the kids clubs and was told by one family that their pre-schoolers were having more fun here than on their recent Disney cruise. I also checked out the gym at the stern of the ship with its amazing views. Note, I only checked it out I didn’t actually tread on the mill…

There's no excuse with this gym with a view!

There is a demonstration kitchen for those wanting gourmet cooking lessons, and nightly shows in the theatre or movies by day in the cinema if your book is boring. And don’t forget the spa and hair salon! Book your treatments early though because they fill up quickly. There is an extra charge for this.

Sit with friends or strangers, it's up to you

There are 4 restaurants onboard. The main Vista Lounge is part of your all-inclusive package, as is the breakfast and lunch restaurant and snack joints but you can also choose to pay a nominal $20 and dine at the fancy Pinnacle Grill for lobster and such. My fillet mignon was melt-in-the-mouth gorgeous, as were the fresh crab cakes that preceded it!

Day 3: Glacier Bay National Park

At 8am the enormous Margerie Glacier appeared through the mist. A mighty bang ricocheted across the water, causing much shrieking, and I unglued my eye from my camera just in time to see a huge piece of green-blue ice sheer off into the ocean from the 34km long glacier.

This glacier stretches 34 km and is a deceptive 30 stories high!

This area is the spectacular playground of humpback, minke and orca as well as dolphins, otters and other critters roaming the depths below. Standing on the stern a humpback leapt out of the water and crashed down on its side. According to those shrieking around me, they rarely do this in these waters, preferring Hawaii for such shenanigans.

Tip: bring spare batteries and an extra memory card for your camera. You’re going to need them in this wildlife wonderland.

Day 4: Juneau

I pulled back the curtains to be met by the cutest view of colourful quaint shops selling Russian knick knacks along the water front of this the capital city of Alaska. The Ruskies sold Alaska to America in 1867 but it didn’t become a United State until 1959.

Juneau is a cute little town to potter around in, drink a beer at the local pub, buy handpainted Russian dolls, pat a husky and take a gazillion photos of things like signs warning there will be a $100 fine for “contributing to the delinquency of a bear” should you not secure your rubbish bin.

Juneau looks like a miniature town from my balcony

Day 5: Sitka

This Russian town has a wonderful orthodox church, St Michael’s Cathedral, which is a treasure trove and for $2 you can go in and look around at the antiques, gold, jewels and religious paraphernalia. We walked the neighbourhood, past its famous totem poles and fir trees, found a hot dog stand selling reindeer dogs and came across 2 girls having a bake sale on their lawn. Cute!

Out and about in Sitka

Greenpeace would kick up a ruckus here because real fur is sold in the form of mink coats for $4000, rabbit stoles and Daniel Boone-style hats. I’ll leave it you to decide that one!

Day 6: Ketchikan

This is where you can choose to go on an excursion by helicopter to the glacier for dog sledding or by seaplane to the river to watch bears. The fog had rolled in cancelling the sledding so we chose bears and I am sooo glad we did! It is still one of the highlights of my life seeing black bears wander out of the woods and catch salmon in the river about 30 metres away from me while Bald Eagles hovered overhead waiting for a morsel.

Sashimi anyone?

Day 7: Vancouver Island

A quick day stop here ensures our cruise is “international” and it’s another chance to explore a town I’ll likely never see again. The next morning we arrive back in Seattle full of memory cards and stories to entertain our friends ad nauseum.

This post is sponsored by Francis Travel Marketing. For info on cruising Alaska on a Holland America Line ship, click here >>>

Read about my cruise with my sister in the Caribbean here >>>

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Happily breathing underwater

I look like a bobble-head doll, walking in slow motion like an astronaut in togs on the ocean floor with a Russian helmet puffing oxygen around my head.

We’d set off from the Intercontinental dock on Moorea with AquaBlue Helmet Dives or Plongee Casque.

All set to plongee!

Vincent is the French owner of AquaBlue having started the business planning old fashioned dives to take us back in time with a dive suit and brass helmet. But being restricted with only the one suit, business was hardly going to boom. That’s when the blonde surfy-looking entrepreneur found these yellow Russian dive helmet, bought 5 (at a cost of about US$2500 each) and thus began his unique business.

He has 4 adult helmets and 1 for children aged between 6 and 9 years and oxygen tanks that line the boat with hoses connected directly to our helmets.

“Listen for the music,” he says as I stand on the ladder from the boat climbing into the warm(ish) waters off a tiny motu (island) about 10 minutes ride from the Intercont. The music he’s talking about is the hiss of oxygen. This music stays on throughout the dive and is essentially comforting.

Once the helmet is lowered with a pulley (they’re flippin heavy!) onto my shoulders I climb the rest of the way down the ladder with Vincent holding my hand. He has a modern-day dive tank and regulator to easily flap around us. He checks my ears are ok with the diver’s signal – the A-OK hand signal rather than the thumbs up which would mean I want to surface. I swallow and they unpop easily. OK.

He leads me around the coral rocks and gets me to kneel down and twiddle my thumbs until the rest of the our party of four assemble on the ocean floor. We’re only about 12 feet down and snorkellers are bobbing above us, but of our party freaked out and couldn’t handle the claustrophobia. If you’ve scuba dived, or even if you’re used to the sensation snorkelling creates of breathing under water, you’ll love this.

Tip toeing across the ocean floor

“Follow me,” motions Vincent and we set off like one of those dreams where you can’t actually get your walking rhythm. A couple of stingrays glide around us and there’s plenty of colourful fish that are enticed by a canister of dead fish. We have turns shaking it and they come to the banquet in our hands.

My piscean friends love me so much

There’s a moray eel down here too, but alas she’s keeping her nasty face in the rock during our dive, although the group who just dived while we snorkeled and waited our turn saw her.

It’s an amazing experience and the whole thing is captured on DVD and photos. The cost of the dive is also very reasonable I thought. CFP6500 or about US$70 for the 2 hour round trip which includes snorkeling around the coral.

As a comparison to adventure prices in NZ, a very pretty Bollywood-looking Indian couple on honeymoon had just spent 2 weeks in New Zealand and were surprised how expensive it was. Compare this to the Nevis Bungy Jump at NZ$260 or Kawarau Bridge for $180.

I flew Air Tahiti Nui to LA via Tahiti and stayed at the Intercontinental courtesy of Tahiti Tourism. Check them out for more info on staying in little piece of French Polynesian paradise.

If you are looking for more info on Tahiti, jump here to about a dozen different blogs on things to do, places to eat and stay.

Weaving through Nine Mile. Pic from Dubdem

Robert Nesta Marley sure came from humble surrounds. There’s still no running water in the buildings around here, the locals all pile over to the reservoir with buckets and the dreadlocked one lies entombed in a mausoleum on his former back yard. There is pretty much nothing else here, but still pilgrims come to contemplate life – his and theirs – and smoke dope.

I was staying at Couples Sans Souci  in Ocho Rios for my brother’s wedding and no one could be bothered joining me the next day for the 3 hour round trip to Nine Mile, so I negotiated a rate of US$100 with a taxi driver and as Bob serenaded us I watched the manicured lawns of nearby resorts become overgrown shantys.

We drove through Fern Gully, a 5 km incline which once was a rushing river. Rickety huts nestled into the side of the road stocked with handcrafts including large and proud phallic sculptures that tourists stop at to photograph – for a tip of course. Whenever a cruise ship is in town, stalls and shops spring open and there are baskets, Rastafarian tea cosies, gigantic conch sells and freshly cooked jerk chicken and pork as far as the eye can see. But today it is just me and my singing driver, Mr Collins, weaving past the locals walking along the road in their Sunday best.

The drive is normally an hour and a half, but with next to no traffic over the rugged countryside, we pulled up at Bob’s guarded gates in an hour and beeped the horn – which apparently is the password for dreadlocked men to put down their joints and spring into action. The Rastafarian “holy herb” is sold by the plastic, shopping-sized bag.

Bob Marley's mausoleum, Nine Mile, Jamaica

A wooden building stuffed with souvenirs in red, green, yellow and black is the main entrance and where you buy your admission ticket to see the buildings beyond the gate. Posters, beach towels and t-shirts hang on racks and plastic Bob Marley ashtrays and knick knacks crowd a tressle table while Bob croons through the speakers.

I paid $10 for Benjy to show me round. “This is where Bob was born,” he said with a glazed look in his eyes pointing to a building behind a wall. “No we can’t go in there, it’s still the family home.” It turns out Bob’s mother, Ciddy was living there but she has since passed away.

We came across a bar where Mr Collins parked himself in front of a TV playing Bob’s life story. A man hanging over the wall offered us joints for $5. But I could just picture the outcome of sniffer dogs in Miami detecting traces of ganja in my carry-on luggage!

There are two tiny buildings where Bob actually lived. Three others have been built to feed tourists or sell knick-knacks. About 100 metres up a grass track is a tiny two-roomed cottage and the mausoleum.

We took our shoes off as Benjy repeatedly punctuated his spaced-out narration with “respect” and sang songs that Bob wrote about this place. The “Mt. Zion Rock” behind the cottage was his meditation spot and Benjy stretched himself out on the “Rock Pillow” from “Talking Blues” and gave us a rendition.

Bob Marley's ricketty bed. Pic Dubdem

We stepped inside the silent mausoleum filled with incense where devotees bring photographs and leave notes. A soccer ball on a table is surrounded by pictures and a guitar stands in the corner. Paintings and photos with famous people hang on the walls and his marble tomb is draped in fabric as the sun danced through lead-light windows depicting elements of several faiths.

In 1977 Bob found he had cancer in his big toe after an injury. Doctors recommended it be removed but he refused citing it was against his Rastafarian beliefs. It spread to his liver, stomach and eventually his brain. He died on 11 May 1981 at the age of 36 leaving a legacy of music that has more than put Jamaica on the map.

Who is this woman who’s about to pee her pants at President Obama’s speech on energy and the economy to the students of Miami University.

Bahahahahaha!

Go ahead Tweet away and Share on Facebook and see if she owns up!

The answer is YES. Here’s the back lot train tour and woooops – why can’t they turn the rain off???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z-pDfoXy5A

Jump here to my 30-second promo of Transformers 3D. It’s a fully immersive in-your-face experience!

Snack Mahana - about 2km from the Intercontinental, Moorea

Snack Mahana is the understated name of this garden paradise that looks, at first glance, a little dodgy. But it came highly recommended and the cars out the front were wedged in – a good sign. We walked past the serving counter and into the garden where plastic tables and the odd trestle table for larger groups were set up under the trees. The ocean lapped on the rocky retaining wall just below our table and schools of tropical fish seemed to hang in the clear water – they must know about this place too.

The Tahitian ladies are busy as bees in the kitchen and Fara reluctantly let me take her photo as we left, exclaiming her abilities.

Fara - one of the chefs who knows how to make great food!

I ordered the mahi mahi pane au lait de coco avec frites. In other words, breaded mahi mahi with coconut milk and fries. I could have (and probably should have for health reasons) had the rice. Cost CFP 1600 (NZ$21) It was sensational with a tomato salsa on top and a half lime for squeezing. Even though it was lunch, this has seen me right and I don’t need anything more than a couple of red wines for dinner!

Mahi mahi with coconut sauce and salsa

The Bloke had the steak. The beef in Tahiti is also highly recommended. Most of it is export quality New Zealand beef – and cheaper than we can buy it for at home! It came with a knob of garlic butter and was perfectly cooked medium rare and tender. Same price as the mahi CFP 1600 or US$17.

Steak in the garden

We grabbed a couple of locally brewed Hinano beers and the resident dog was making friends with as many diners as he could to hedge his bets on a morsel.

Any for me?

Total bill CFP 4780 (NZ$65) for 2 large Hinano’s, 1 coke and the 2 meals. Snack Mahana is located about 2km east of the Intercontinental Resort, next to Woody’s Pearls. You can use the resort bikes if you don’t have a car.

For more of my blogs on Tahiti, click here and squirrel away some tips on where to stay – and how to save!