travel journal

Hepburn Springs Chalet - Retro Hotel Review - mypoppet.com.au

Hepburn Springs Chalet – Family Friendly Budget Spa Weekend

It’s not often that the words ‘budget’ and ‘spa weekend’ sit comfortably in the same sentence, add ‘family friendly’ and you’d think I was pulling your leg. But I’m here to tell you that I’ve found a hidden gem, Hepburn Springs Chalet, in the heart of Victoria’s spa country, perfect for a family weekend escape which won’t break the bank….

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Summer Holiday - Lorne - Great Ocean Road mypoppet.com.au

First Taste of Summer – Surfing Lessons in Lorne

It’s been a long and wet winter down here in Melbourne. Underneath all the layers of coats and scarves and hats, one almost forgets that yes, the sun will eventually come out for longer than a day at a time. (Then we will all complain about how hot it is and start longing for the cooler weather again.) But not…

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Tropical island day trip - Sabah Malaysia

A Day of Island Hopping, Snorkeling and Adventure in Sabah, Malaysia

When I imagine an island paradise I picture clear turquoise water teeming with sea-life and lush tropical vegetation, lazy days spent snorkeling and enjoying fresh seafood feasts with ocean views. The islands that make up the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park do a good job of ticking all those boxes, with the convenience of being only a a short 15…

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Steam train - North borneo railway Sabah Malaysia

Trains, Tiffins & Temples – All Aboard the North Borneo Railway

I’ve always enjoyed train journeys, maybe it’s the gentle rocking motion and the rhythmic clack-ity-clack of the rails that I find comforting, like a type of meditation, or a primal reminder of the comfort and safety of my mother’s womb. Or maybe it’s that I’m a hopeless nostalgic that romanticises the idea of ‘The Grand Tour’, back in the day…

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Singapore - Chinatown tour

Taste the flavors of Singapore with a Food Tour of Chinatown

Singapore’s historic Chinatown is a vibrant mix of old and new. Colonial shop houses, restored and painted in candy hues, are home to traditional stores and cool cafes. The streets bustle with tourists looking for cheap colourful souvenirs as well as locals going about their daily business. You’ll find temples, markets and lots of opportunities to eat. A food tour…

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A tour of Little india Singapore

SINGAPORE: The colours of Little India

As soon as I booked our trip to Singapore, the one place that I really wanted to visit was Little India. Singapore is a melting pot of cultures having no less than four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay & Tamil, and through it’s history has attracted people from all over the world that now call Singapore home. Due to it’s…

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Sinagpore Little India MyPoppet.com.au

Singapore – Four days of Fun, Food & Thrills

Wow, what an adventure Emma and I had in Singapore! We’ve just returned and I have so much to share that I don’t know where to start, so today’s post will be a little overview of our itinerary so you can get a feel for what we packed into around four days. We were lucky to have really great weather…

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Dubai from above - arial photos mypoppet.com.au

Dubai – A Patchwork of Colour in the Desert

There is no doubt that Dubai sits in the middle of a desert, the vast ‘beigeness’ of it was the first thing to strike me as our plane circled the airport. From initial impressions it’s easy to assume that lovers of colour, like me, will struggle in such a neutral landscape, but in fact the opposite is true – Not…

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Friday Brunch St Regis Dubai

Friday Brunch in Style at the St Regis Dubai

Friday Brunch is a Dubai institution, it’s the start of the weekend and anybody who’s anybody heads out eat and socialise late into the afternoon. For most of us brunch is a late breakfast, but in Dubai, brunch starts at 1pm and can go on for several hours (it should really be called Linner!) Most Friday Brunch offerings in Dubai…

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