I’ll admit it had been several years since I last stayed in an ibis Hotel, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Back before their rebrand in 2011, my sole experience with the chain was their rather dated Sydney Airport property. But the new ibis Mackay...
The engine of our 1950s De Havilland seaplane roars like a lion as we cross the last stretch of cerulean water. Just a hundred metres more and we’ll reach Turtle Island. We're so close I can almost taste the cocktails. Emerging from the haze like a...
Hearing it described as the “Hawaii of China”, Hainan Island made me more than a little curious. Would it be a tropical island escape that has remained undiscovered by Australian travellers, or were the Hawaii comparisons simply an exaggeration...
Surfers Paradise is a destination I've always had mixed feelings about. On one hand it's a soulless place where steel and glass dominate the landscape, and on the other a beachside haven that somehow fills my heart with a sense of childlike wonder...
It’s feeding time, and my heart is pounding. The skipper of our boat has spotted a dark shadow gliding beneath the surface. Moving closer to the edge, peering in to see if I can spot the shadow, I pull my dive mask into place. In just a few...
What do you see when you view the world in a mirror? Aside from an obvious reversal, the new perspective reveals everyday objects in a new light. For me, it's the same when I visit a new city. Approach it one way and everything will be as you...
Gazing over the glittering Hong Kong skyline, listening to the roar of the city traffic below, I pinch myself to check if this is real. Just yesterday I was at home drinking a $10 bottle of Sav Blanc in Australia, today I’m standing on the 29th...
I recently read a brilliant article about stealing toiletries from hotels, and it got me thinking about my own five fingered habits. Most of us take the toiletries when we leave a hotel, yet some are more brazen with their theft, taking...
A grand dame in the Hong Kong hotel scene, The Peninsula Hong Kong needs no introduction. It's an icon. Since opening in 1928, the hotel has welcomed everyone from heads of state to couples in search of a romantic rendezvous. Now it's my turn...
Chris Ashton
