What I have been up to...

FLM - A funky house in Port Elliot I have been working with Fleurieu Living Magazine for a while now, but this is the first house I photographed for them. These guys are great. Around every corner there was a surprise. So many 'oh, I love that' comments coming from my mouth. Go out and get yourself a copy!

A girly weekend out... with just the iPhone.

'I love it here. I just love it here.' I hear myself repeating my words, as the warm night breeze blows my hair. I could be on a beach, in a little ranty shack in Brazil. Or anywhere that oozes eclectic, eccentric, ramshackle. But no, I'm in Adelaide. Grenfell Street, Adelaide. Little Miss Mexico.

I'd heard about it for ages, and have never been. Mainly because I haven't been out in town for ages. Having two small children does that. And it wasn't til I asked a mate about where to go, and he says 'come here, no age bias, chilled tunes and great atmosphere' I get there. The description is not wrong. There's turtles in a tank. Fairy light tangled crates as lighting. Rickety makeshift bars. Old lounges. Uneven concrete. Galvanised island. Painted murals.

Having walked the breadth of Adelaide CBD from Benjamin on Franklin, I feel worlds apart. I've come from old world charm - muskiness stained in the sagging leather seating of the Library dining room, slick coffee cocktails and mirrored walls, to having margaritas in recycled jars and sangria by the bottle in an alley.

I feel like I'm on holiday. Gingers Cafe on Goodwood Road for lunch, surrounded by all the cool people. Checking into a two bedroom apartment at Mantra on Frome Road. Swirling wine in Benjamin on Franklin charm, and now chilling out with good vibes and relaxed crowd at Little Miss Mexico.

Do I have to go home tomorrow? Not before breakky at Colins and Co on King William Road.

Responsible tourism

Fiji Kids! Learning for Life has been launched by Fiji's Outrigger on the Lagoon. www.outrigger.com for more details. 

I think it's great that we give back whenever possible. Staying at Octopus Resort, again in Fiji, I found out they not only hire local villagers, but also help put children through schooling. Many hotels, and businesses, are doing it.

heidi who? photo alsos give back, sponsoring a child and donating to research.

It's food for thought when you are next booking your trip. What can you give back?

I've got a few more to do... but I'm on my way.

I've got a few more to do... but I'm on my way.

Santorini sunset - tick.

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - tick.

Hot air ballooning over Cappadocia - tick.

Canals in Venice - tick. But not in a gondola.

What next? Well, if plans play out correct, an overwater bungalow stay for Ben and I in 2015. But they are all on my bucket list. Except for the Taj Mahal - I'm scared of a 'curse' on the family if we go to India.

Casting the net

Sometimes we have to take our chances to expand our catch. Take risks to grow. Sometimes we will miss. But we can always try again.

Holiday at home in Adelaide CBD

I wanted to stay away a night, for our date night. I wanted to stay at Clarion Soho or Crowne Plaza so I could photograph their rooms. But a Hilton deal popped up on my screen which included breakky, valet parking, late checkout, and a bottle of sparkling. Too good to resist. Deep down I knew I'd be disappointed though. No fantastic photos to be taken.

We had a great weekend though. Hiked at Mount Lofty, coffee in Stirling, yum cha on Gouger Street, a spot of shopping, room service and buffet breakfast. And the best bit of all, not woken by kids through the night, or at 6am on Sunday.

The Hilton is no glamour queen, and I'd recommend other hotels before this hotel, but it does do food well. Room service chick pea curry and grilled vegetables with hummus was very yummy. And the buffet breakfast was decent too. Most hotels in Australia can't do buffets like our international counterparts, but Hilton really tried. Hubby was impressed.

What is your favourite hotel in Adelaide? Have you ever stayed overnight in your home city?

Social holiday or seclusion?

'Crowne Plaza Changi Airport'

One of my excuses as to why I like holidays in caravan parks is that they are social. One step out your bedroom door, whether it's the tent, camper trailer or caravan, and you have a crowd to people watch, say hello and get to know. I associate the caravan park with getting to know people, leaving valuable belongings secured by just a tent zipper, and watching kids zoom up and down the roads on their bikes and scooters, screaming and laughing. No privacy. No quiet times. But fun.

I do really like to travel in style too, and love to stay in resorts where I am pampered with fluffy bed and crisp linen, buffet breakfast and my own little haven behind my suite door. One thing I have noticed though, in many hotel and resort lobbies, there is no ambience. And no people. Sure, they are nice and beautiful to look at when you arrive, but how many of you have said 'hey, let's go hang out in the lobby' while on holidays. Particularly if you are staying in a hotel.

Luxury and boutique hotels have mastered it, drawing free-spending crowds to their lobbies. But now, large traditional hotels are spending billions in renovations to lure their guests down into the lobby. Upgraded wine lists, semi private nooks, communal tables, free Wi-Fi and comfy seats are just a few of the changes.

It will be a nice change, walking into a city hotel and finding people lingering. As opposed to the sound of elevator music playing and receptionist with their head down at the desk.

Souvenirs for family and friends - or not?

Aussies apparently complain about the crummy gifts people bring back for them from their holidays. A recent Skyscanner survey reported that 18 per cent re-gift the items and 12 per cent throw the gift away. 50 per cent of Aussies keep the gift to avoid hurting the giver's feelings.

So think about that next time you feel the pressure to give someone a gift. Save yourself the time of shopping for every aunt, uncle, cousin, parent and sibling, go enjoy your holiday. They probably won't want the gift anyway. Just because the Bintang singlets are popular in Phuket, it doesn't mean that they are wanted, or even liked, back home. And those colourful bead necklaces, they will probably be lost at the bottom of the drawer with cracked wood features. And really, does anyone wear destination t-shirts anymore? No matter how cool the place is.

I've given some gifts that were probably not quite right. T-shirts that shrink when they are washed, cheap jewellery, cultural homewares, tacky girls bikinis - the list could go on. I do it to myself. I get engrossed in the culture and fashion of the place I am in, and try to bring it home. Normally, a few months goes by, and the hot bargain is forgotten about. The dress I'd wear forever is crumpled at the bottom of the wardrobe, and soon enough, in the Vinnies bag.

One souvenir we have seemed to get right though, is the more expensive, one of a kind sort. My husband started this. And now we have memories of our travel scattered around our house. Paintings from Cuzco, wooden carvings from Sabah and Bali, textiles from Fiji... we just couldn't find anything in Phuket so have a bright pink tuk-tuk sitting on our fridge. It's been there for a year, I wonder how long it will last?

What is the worst souvenir you have bought home?

Virgin Australia's free wireless in-flight entertainment

Virgin Australia is rolling out free Wireless In-flight Entertainment systems on selected aircraft.

No more crook necks, dodgy earphones, and straining to see the little screen that seems like it's ten seats away. Or missing the show when someone stands up and blocks the screen. And kids can actually watch something now too.

Sounds good to me!

Having fun...

Damn. What do I say behind the camera to make them laugh?

At least we have fun!