For many people, being buried up to the neck in hot, black volcanic sand doesn’t seem like a pleasant way to relax. But in parts of southern Japan, sunamushi (sand bathing) on a volcanic beach is a popular form of bathing that helps rest the mind and refresh the body. For those who have not … More Sunamushi Onsen – Volcanic Sand Bathing in Southern Japan
Beppu is the perfect destination in Japan for bathing. This city on Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, is famous for its geothermal activity and range of hot spring bathing options. Clouds of steam rise from dozens of vents in the earth, creating a very unusual cityscape. There are large public bathing houses built of wood, private … More Beppu – an Illustrated Visit to Japan’s Onsen Spa City
Blue skies, wide sandy beaches, soaring palms and fishing boats bobbing in sparkling waters. This is Vilankulos, Mozambique’s paradise beach getaway. So far, Mozambique had not been comfortable on our self-drive. Sand and offroad, potholes and camping. It was time to relax with gin and tonics.
In southern Mozambique, there is a quiet fishing port called Inhassoro, with a long sandy beach, seaside cabanas, and fresh seafood. Not far from Vilankulos and the Bazaruto Archipelago, Inhassoro is a quiet getaway for travellers in this part of the country.
I wore my sunglasses as I drove. Zalala Beach wasn’t far. The last light of the day was filtering through the coconut plantation in flickers of soft orange. With the sun setting, we were driving hard to find a place to sleep. The road through the palms was long, narrow, and straight as an arrow, … More Zalala Beach – the most disappointing beach in Mozambique?
Ever wondered that Paris doesn’t have enough beaches? Worry no more! For Parisians who can’t make it to a beach in August, the beach comes to them. A lot of locals leave the city on holidays around that time, and the tourists flood in. But there’s a treat for those left behind – the city … More Paris Plages, the artificial beaches on the Seine
As we approached the Dune du Pilat on France’s Atlantic coast, we were amazed by its size. These sand dunes, sitting just beside the ocean, are the largest in Europe. I didn’t even know Europe had sand dunes. But it came closer, so tall we could see it above the treeline, even though we were … More Climbing Europe’s highest sand dunes at Dune du Pilat
France is a lot more than just long leafy boulevards and cafés on the terrace. For a long time, i’d only know Paris – but there were beaches out there, as well as villages, farms, canyons, and mountains, and many kinds of cheese. So, with a few friends, we road tripped for the weekend to … More A long weekend in Biarritz
When glaciers end their slow motion tumble down the mountains, they calve off into serene glacier lakes. At the south end of Iceland’s epic glacier Vatnajökull, the glacier pools into the Fjallsárlón glacier lake, and nearby Jökulsárlón. Iceland is a rough circle shape – and if you imagine it is a giant clock – we … More Vatnajökull glacier lakes – Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón
Vík í Mýrdal, in the south of Iceland, is a small, pretty village that belongs in a picture frame on a fireplace. But looking beyond the spired church and small houses, nature is on display in all its elemental, brutal, striking glory. Cliffs eroded by the ocean form natural arches, basalt column formations cluster and … More Camping in Vik – Iceland’s landscapes at their most striking
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