Month: March 2019

A Month in Lisbon, Portugal

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“I feel like everyone is moving to Lisbon” is the reaction we get when we tell people we are basing ourselves here for the month and I can see why it’s become such a popular destination to relocate to. The city has charm and character, the people are welcoming, there are beaches 20 mins from the city, it’s still very affordable, and you can’t beat the weather.

We’ve spent the last month living in São Bento and during that time exploring places in the guides, off the beaten path, and looking for that local experience. Here were some of our favorite spots whilst here in January –

Cafe:
Café com Calma

Outside the center this cafe is serving up delicious, healthy food at affordable prices.

Market:
Campo de Ourique

Most tourists will head to the Time Out market, but Campo de Ourique has much more of a local feel.

Eating on the Go: La Pizza di Nanna

As a New Yorker I can’t help but be skeptical of pizza elsewhere, however I was blown away by this place. Takeaway only, with a great selection, the pizza is ridiculously good.

Rooftop:
Rio Maravilha

Based in the LX Factory, you can’t beat the views from this unique rooftop bar.

Bar:
Palheta

Very cool spot, filled with conversation, good music, and cheap drink. Winning combo!

Brewery:
Fábrica Musa

Craft beer seems to be taking off in Lisbon as of late and Musa is definitely one to check out.

Cafe / Place to Work: Largo Cafe

Frequently visited here to work, eat some great food, and check out the weekly events they put on. The value is unreal!

Cafe / Place to Work / Shop: Boutik

A unique and welcoming café and surf shack serving up beautiful food including smoothie bowls and poke bowls. Great place to relax or work.

Bookstore:
Ler Devagar

It was love at first sight with this bookshop. Based in the LX Factory, ‘Read Slowly’ as the name suggests and spend some time in this wonderful place.

Restaurant:
Vicente by Carnalentejana

Gorgeous setting for dinner, it’s a top pick for the ambiance and excellent food (I’d recommend both the burger and steak).

< Traveled January 2019 >

Finding inspiration now that I’m finding time

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They say a change is as good as a rest, I am lucky enough to have both at the moment. Since leaving my job I have time back on my side, giving me the opportunity to evaluate different aspects of life with a fresh perspective. More than anything it has reminded me that time really is our most precious resource.

I’ve been spending my time doing more of the things that I used to say “I wish I had time to _____”. I’m sure you can fill in the blank quite easily, for me it was things like to travel more, meditate, take up a new hobby, but overall it’s being able to put my time and energy into things that matter to me.

Back in 2016 I launched AND TRAVEL WELL as an Instagram account followed by a website. Even though it was something I was so passionate about, I found it difficult to give it the time it deserved. Now, while time is somewhat more on my side I’ve been delighted to have the chance to re-focus and re-evaluate.

My first step was reviewing the visual side of the site, the layout, logo, and photography. I love taking photos, I always have, so it was important to me that this was at the forefront of the site. The logo came next, I was in a fortunate position to work with my favorite designer, and I couldn’t be happier with it.

The content has been the most challenging and rewarding part. There were posts and experiences I still wanted to share on the updated version of the site, however acknowledging that time has past I decided to rewrite the content and put the fresh perspective I have now into it (not being funny but going from your 20’s to your 30’s definitely changes the way you think about things).

It feels great to have the site live, and I am really enjoying having the time to focus on it again. I hope you enjoy!


“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” – Eddie Cantor

Solo Travel to Canggu, Bali

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My love for travel started in college when I first studied abroad and that itch has only grown stronger and taken me further ever since. Bali had been at the top of my list for awhile and as a birthday gift to myself I decided to go on a yoga retreat to Ubud. However, before the retreat would start I wanted to travel on my own, something I had only ever done for work and thought it would be a good opportunity before turning 30 to experience. My destination was Canggu.

I didn’t really know what to expect or how I would feel, but can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I have made. It’s something I would encourage everyone to do (if you haven’t already) and Bali is the perfect place for it. I found myself comfortable on my own, but rarely was that actually the case. I surprised myself in many ways and learned in the process. I feel very fortunate for the opportunity and grateful for those I have met along the way, as well as those that gave me there tips in planning where to go.

Bali is magical, it’s the best word I can use to describe it and I thought Canggu was ideal for the type of travel I enjoy. It’s laid back, beautiful, and really chilled. Here are some of my highlights –

Stay:
Echo Beach Villa & Apartment 

The place was beautiful. I found the apartment and shared pool perfect for a solo traveler, with the stay being safe and very comfortable. The staff went above and beyond during my stay in helping me get a scooter, lifts to and from town in the evening, and even a local guide for the day to experience the area. Highly recommend!

Yoga:
The Practice

Canggu is probably better known for the surf, but I was all about the yoga and very happy to have found The Practice. The place and people are wonderful, the Hatha classes take place in the beautiful Shala and the communal area invites you to stay longer drinking tea and meeting others. Especially when traveling alone it made a real difference to have that sense of community from the start. The Practice put on events as well, whilst I was there I attended a movie night featuring Awake: The Life of Yogananda.

Eats:

I would go back for the food alone! I did quite a bit of research on places to eat in the area before arriving, my plan was to eat about four meals a day to make it to all of them, which was wishful thinking as in that heat my appetite had other plans. So I didn’t make it to all of them, but have a Google Map created for when I return. Here were my top picks –

Crate Cafe

One not to miss, it’s busy for a reason, can’t go wrong with the smoothie bowls, eggs, coffee, it’s all good!

Nalu Bowls

Great little smoothie shack off the main road, once I had the Peanut Butter smoothie bowl that was me done, came back each morning after yoga.

Betelenut

Head here for delicious wraps and a coconut, had to take a break from smoothie bowls at some point. I loved the communal tables, easy way to meet people over dinner.

Getting around:

The best way to explore the area is by renting a scooter. I was a bit nervous at first, but that lasted about an hour and I was loving every minute of it. The place I stayed arranged the scooter rental for me and it was dropped off the day after I arrived.

Taxis can also be easily arranged if you want to explore further or go at night, which is another great option. Lastly, I would recommend spending the day with a local guide to take you around the area and experience a different side to Bali.

Hope you enjoy, you can’t go wrong in Bali! x


“Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become” – Paramahansa Yogananda

Thailand: Two Week Itinerary

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I am a planner and traveler, so when it’s time to organise a trip I’m like a kid in a candy shop. I was on a mission to pull together an itinerary for a holiday in Thailand for myself, my aunt, cousin, and friend for two weeks.

We were looking for more of the chilled side of the islands rather than the party side. After a lot of research and help from Meghan’s blog I had settled on Koh Lanta for beach and Chiang Mai for culture with a few excursions in between.

Since I was planning for others, I put together I detailed itinerary (both word and excel documents were sent to each person traveling, with probably more detail than any of them wanted, but then again they did put me in charge of planning). Here is a more visual version of that itinerary with a detailed day to day itinerary included below –

Day 1-3 were travel intensive, overnight flight from London to Bangkok with a transfer then to Krabi airport. Since we got in late we stayed for one night in Krabi town before carrying on the next day to Koh Lanta.

Day 4-6 were spent on the beach, in the water, and cruising around the island on our scooters. Dreamy! Sunset Bungalows was a great choice, standard beach accommodation, but the family running it was lovely and we felt right at home there. Staying right on the beach has it’s perks, especially the sunset massages right next door. The beach was lovely, Koh Lanta doesn’t have the picturesque beaches that you find when you search Thailand on Instagram, however there are boat tours to remote islands nearby and was a great day out. The cherry on top of the cake was finding Pure, just down the street from us. The first of its kind on the island, the food was fresh, healthy, delicious and in that heat the smoothie bowls were heaven. Koh Lanta is a great choice if you’re looking to relax and enjoy yourself.

Day 7-12 started with a bit more traveling, back to Krabi and a short flight to Chiang Mai. Before diving into part two of the trip, we decided to have an adventure and spend one night in a treehouse. This place was unlike anywhere I’ve ever stayed, the architecture of each of the treehouses was so unique. I can’t say I had the best night of sleep, but it was certainly an experience I won’t forget from taking a dip in one of the swamps, to bike riding into the sunset, and drinking in the treehouse, such a laugh.

After that we checked into the beautiful Amata Lanna back in Chiang Mai, which felt like paradise walking in. The rooms were ornate, comfortable, and just a bit of luxury. Chiang Mai is an incredible city to explore, the temples, the people, the music, the food, and the elephants, what’s not to love? One of the most memorable parts of the trip and something I will never forget was our visit to the Patara Elephant Farm. Elephants are magical creatures, I have always felt a connection to them, so I struggled in deciding whether or not to go on one of these excursions and tried very hard to pick one where the animals are being looked after. The program offered here was called “Elephant Owner for a Day”, created for everyone to learn and interact with elephants as what an owner would do daily. You’ll have to make your own decision on this, but I found it to be a wonderful experience where the team and the elephants are family. I will never forget my day with ‘Calm’.

A few things not to miss in Chiang Mai…1) a night out at the North Gate to listen to music 2) eat loads of great food, my favorite (and the cheapest) pad thai was from J-UAN Restaurant & 3) take a cooking class, we went with A lot of Thai home cooking on our last day!

FULL DETAILED ITINERARY
  • Day 1 (Friday, 1st April): Travel day, depart from London, Thai Airways
  • Day 2: Flight transfer in Bangkok (BKK) to Krabi (KBV)
    • Taxi available at airport, 24 hours service (400 baht to hotel)
    • Hotel: U Residence Hotel (1 night)
  • Day 3: Travel from Krabi town to Koh Lanta
    • Private transfer (with aircon) arranged by Sunset Bungalows (2,500 baht for 4 of us), journey time 2.5 hours with multiple ferries
    • Hotel: Sunset Bungalows (3 nights)
  • Day 4 & 5: Enjoy Koh Lanta
  • Day 6: Travel from Koh Lanta to Krabi Town
    • Taxi arranged by Sunset Bungalows on arrival to hotel in Krabi
    • Hotel: Sleep Whale Express (1 night)
  • Day 7: AirAsia flight from Krabi (KBV) to Chian Mai (CNX)
    • Taxi: Treehouse Hotel arranged pick up (1500 baht total). Journey time 1.5 hrs with complimentary stop at Sticky Waterfall and the fresh market to eat lunch
    • Hotel: Rabeang Pasak Tree House Resort (1 night, 1 treehouse (Coconut House))
    • Dinner ordered (served 6:30PM), eat at treehouse (300baht/person)
  • Day 8: Treehouse to Chiang Mai, leave after breakfast
    • Breakfast ordered (served 8AM-10AM), eat at treehouse (150baht/person)
    • Hotel: The Amata Lanna (3 nights)
  • Day 9-11: Enjoy Chang Mai, top things to do –
    • Explore old city and temples
    • Patara Elephant Farm (5,800 baht/person)
    • A lot of Thai Home cooking class (short course 4.5 hrs, 1,200 baht per person)
    • Get massages!
  • Day 12: Travel home, Thai Airways

If you need help in planning or have questions do let me know! x

< Traveled April 2016 >

Mind, Body, & Spirituality (On the Bookshelf)

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This section is probably the heaviest on my bookshelf, with focus on mindfulness and spirituality. So here are my top picks, I’ll continue to add to this so check back for updates.

Waking Up: Searching for Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris

Note: Sam Harris’ Waking Up App is also brilliant if you’re looking for guided meditations and lessons.

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

Half way through this inspirational twelve-week journey on creative recovery.

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer

A great read, all about freeing yourself from your thoughts.

Goa, India Travels

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One of the benefits of accepting a new job was the transition period where I had two weeks free to plan a trip. Never traveling to Asia before I was quite excited to really utilise the time and go somewhere new. Goa was the destination and this was my itinerary –

Airline: Jet Airways from London with a layover in Mumbai

1st Stop: On arrival, the first stop was to Candolim in North Goa, staying at the Lemon Tree Amarante Beach Resort.

goa_lemon tree

The hotel helped to arrange pick up at the airport, unfortunately upon arrival the room wasn’t ready and after traveling for so long all I wanted was a nap! The hours passed (slowly), but once finally in everything was lovely.

The beaches in North Goa are different from those in the South. I’d describe them as less picturesque and calm, with definitely more of a local vibe. I did a fair amount of research on TripAdvisor on the best beach shacks to try and when walking down the beach at sunset I stumbled on one I recognized, Claudina’s.

Finding this spot was probably the highlight in Candolim. Not only was the food absolutely amazing, but the service was above and beyond. Raj took very good care, feeling right at home. From there I think it’s fair to say that  the majority of time was spent at Claudina’s from breakfast, to using their beach chairs and back in for lunch.

2nd Stop: After a few short days it was time to move down the coast for a quick stay in Vagator at the beautiful Thalassa. Perched on a hilltop, the Greek restaurant offered spectacular views and a quick walk down to Small Vagator beach. Dinner in the restaurant is a must enjoying delicious seafood whilst watching the sunset.

3rd Stop: The next day it was time to head South to Palolem, the final destination of the trip. Palolem itself was paradise, however it was made that much better with accommodation at Green Park. Staying in one of their luxury beach villas, it was perfect, located at the most southern part of Palolem so you feel like you have your own private beach. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful during the stay.

goa_green

Walking the beach from end to end taking in all the different bungalows and restaurants, realising that you really can’t go wrong. The strip of shops behind the beach is lovely to stroll down, a lot less hassle than other places. Here you’ll find my favorite breakfast spot! Little World. This is a must visit when in Palolem, went back two days in a row as I couldn’t resist the cold coffee and homemade almond butter.

Overall the trip and experience was amazing, Goa is a beautiful place and a destination I would very much like to revisit.

Two things to keep in mind based on my experience –

  • April is the end of the tourist season, which has its perks, however those selling on the beach are a bit more aggressive then normal as there aren’t many tourists left.
  • In the accommodation in Palolem I did experience cockroaches, which no one can help, but it did cause some sleepless nights for me. Wouldn’t keep me from going back!

< Traveled April 2015 >

Recipe: Green Smoothie Bowl

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A few years ago smoothie bowls took over Instagram feeds (or at least mine) and I have to admit I’m pretty obsessed. In case this is a foreign concept, smoothie bowls are a thick blend of foods mainly made up of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. In my opinion, it’s like having ice cream for breakfast, but with a lot more nourishment. You can experiment with all different types of ingredients including your breakfast favorites and add your toppings of choice. All you really need is a blender and a few ingredients.

This is my go to recipe for a delicious Green Smoothie Bowl!

Ingredients (for two big bowls):

  • 1 mango
  • 1 avocado
  • 2 bananas (1 frozen)
  • 60g kale
  • 400 ml coconut water
  • Handful of granola (I use Rude Health honey & nuts)

Directions:

  1. I used a NutriBullet to first blend the kale, mango and coconut water (easily substitute spinach for kale if you prefer)
  2. Once mixed add in the frozen banana and avocado until smooth (you can use frozen avocados, but I find the consistency smoother with fresh ones)
  3. Pour into your bowl of choice and add sliced banana and granola (or anything else you’d like as a topping, I would recommend almond butter)

I provided exact measurements for this recipe, however you don’t need to be that precise, grab your ingredients, get blending and you can always adjust as you go.

This recipe is inspired by an amazingly refreshing one I had at Pure Koh Lanta in Thailand!

How I got myself into the kitchen and cooking more

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Some people are naturals in the kitchen, it’s a relaxing place for them, even therapeutic. I’m not one of those people. However, over the years and with practice I have actually started to enjoy cooking. I found the best way to learn was to experiment. The barrier I had, especially in college, was a lack of understanding of flavor combinations and use of seasoning, leading me to cooking very bland food.

I wouldn’t say I’m the most confident person in the kitchen, as in I wouldn’t jump at the chance to cook for a dinner party, however I love eating my own food now and do so regularly.

If you’ve had trouble getting started or looking for a bit of guidance, here are some tips that helped me when I decided to commit to cooking more.

  • Find inspiration – I love cookbooks, I have more than I know what to do with, but I found it essential to have a few of them on hand to inspire me and provide much needed guidance at the beginning. Some of the ones on my bookshelf are Jamie Oliver: 5 Ingredients, Green Kitchen Travels, & The Yoga Kitchen. Blogs and websites are also a great resource for this, as well as YouTube, but I’m more of a book girl. Some recipes I followed exactly, others I used as a base for flavor and adapted with ingredients that I had in the fridge or preferred over what was suggested. Most people would say follow the recipe exactly until you become more confident, but I learned in the process.
  • Basic equipment – You don’t need much to get started, a good knife, a non-stick pan, a chopping board and you’re in business. However, I highly recommend focusing on quality (doesn’t mean expensive), as it’s actually quite frustrating and dangerous to chop with a bad knife. Over time and as you progress, you may want to add to your kitchen tools, some of the ones I use most are my NutriBullet, spiralizer, and hand blender.
  • Plan ahead – With the busy lives we lead it’s so easy to put in an order with UberEats and not have to worry about cooking, so I found a bit of planning to go a long way. At the weekend I would look at recipes that would suit my schedule during the week, quick and easy with little prep and cook time after a long day. Making the process as easy as possible for yourself (the less thinking the better after work), means you won’t have to sacrifice on nutrition and cooking your own meals. For recipes that require more time, ingredients, and attention I usually skip during the week and maybe tackle when I have time at the weekend (that’s a big maybe, the meals I make still tend to be delicious yet quick and easy to cook).
  • Adapt to your taste – Although I absolutely recommend trying new ingredients, keep in mind you can adapt recipes to your taste. If you only cook with ingredients that are ‘healthy’, but you hate the taste then your time in the kitchen will be short lived. My approach was to introduce new vegetables or spices into my cooking slowly, and overtime my preferences have actually changed. Now I love cooking with chilies for example, a few years ago I would never have expected that.
  • Set the fear aside – Like many things in life it’s usually our own fear that keeps us from doing. Remember that it’s fine if the meal doesn’t turn out exactly as you expected. I can’t tell you how many dishes I cooked that didn’t look like the picture in the cookbook, but in most cases it still tasted great it just wasn’t going to win any awards for artistic merit. Have fun with it and if you’re really worried that the dish can’t be saved, then that’s what the backup pizza in the freezer is for.


“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.” – Julia Child

Happy cooking! x