TRAVEL

Why Crete is the digital detox destination you need

13/10/2024

As summer’s vibrant energy gracefully transitions into the calm embrace of Autumn, Seaside A Lifestyle Resort in Crete extends an invitation to travellers seeking the serenity of quiet travel and a much-needed digital detox. Nestled amidst the tranquil and unspoiled beauty of Crete, this resort promises an all-inclusive oasis of calm, ideal for those looking to reconnect with themselves amidst eye-catching landscapes. Autumn heralds a season of new beginnings and resets. The fast pace of daily life often leaves little room for the self-care we truly require. At Seaside A Lifestyle Resort, guests are welcomed to cocoon in comfort, surrounded by natural beauty and tranquillity. This sanctuary is perfect for experiencing the growing trend of wellness travel, particularly among those enamoured with the ‘wellness retreat aesthetic’, which has seen a significant rise in popularity. Here are a few compelling reasons to visit this luxurious resort in Crete, where you can create lifelong memories, experience heartfelt hospitality, and immerse yourself in relaxation and wellbeing, all while enjoying the resort’s dramatic views: Quiet Experiences From sunrise to sunset, Seaside A Lifestyle Resort offers visitors a serene escape where life slows down to a peaceful rhythm. Whether you’re seeking a spiritual connection, a path to self-love, or simply a break from the stresses of daily life, the resort provides a space that fosters peace and tranquillity. Begin your day with a journey to oneness at the resort’s Yoga Shala, a place designed to deepen the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Here, silence is cherished, allowing you to… Read More

New study unveils Britain’s 30 most beautiful buildings

05/10/2024

By James Banham

In a nation steeped in history and architectural grandeur, a recent survey has unveiled a definitive list of Britain’s 30 most beautiful buildings, capturing the hearts and imaginations of residents and tourists alike.

10 best pumpkin patches to visit in the UK this October

05/10/2024

By James Banham

As autumn paints the UK countryside in hues of gold and orange, the allure of pumpkin patches becomes irresistible for both families and avid Instagrammers. This October, capture the essence of the season by visiting some of the most photogenic pumpkin patches across the UK. From scenic landscapes to vibrant festivals, these locations not only offer the perfect backdrop for your autumn snaps but also provide a range of activities that ensure a day filled with fun and memorable experiences. 1. Cotswold Farm Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Leading the list with stunning countryside views, Cotswold Farm Park is a haven for those looking to capture the beauty of autumn. With 51,000 Instagram followers and 11,300 hashtags, its popularity is well-deserved. Beyond pumpkin picking, you can meet rare breed animals and explore interactive exhibits. The tractor rides and locally sourced dishes at the café add layers of charm to your visit, making it a quintessential day out. 2. Tulleys Farm, Crawley, West Sussex Tulleys Farm, a favorite with 42,300 Instagram mentions, offers a unique night-time experience with its ‘Pumpkin Nights’. The twinkling lights and live music provide an enchanting setting, perfect for photos. This venue is also famous for its Shocktober Fest, blending pumpkin picking with a thrilling twist, ensuring your Instagram feed will be as exciting as it is beautiful. 3. Garsons Farm, Esher, Surrey With its lush green backdrops and a score of 27,400 Instagram points, Garsons Farm is a dream for nature-filled photography. As a pick-your-own paradise, it allows you to harvest everything from… Read More

Sydney Harbour Bridge sunshine afternoon

New experience at Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb: Climb & unwind

29/07/2024

By James Banham

BridgeClimb Sydney stands out as a must-do adventure for both locals and tourists, offering a chance to ascend the Sydney Harbour Bridge, one of Australia’s most iconic structures. Launched in October 1998, this experience promises an adrenaline rush and breathtaking panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. With various climb options ranging from approximately $160 to $390, including special sunset climbs, participants are guided by experienced leaders who ensure safety and share fascinating stories about the bridge’s history and engineering. Designed to be manageable for participants aged eight to 100, BridgeClimb Sydney is a family-friendly activity catering to a wide range of fitness levels. Climbers are equipped with all necessary gear, including a climbing suit and harness, ensuring safety throughout the ascent. As they make their way up the bridge, climbers can expect awe-inspiring moments and opportunities to capture incredible photos of Sydney Harbour. For those looking to tick this world-class experience off their bucket list, booking directly through the official BridgeClimb website is recommended. BridgeClimb Sydney is more than just a climb; it’s an unforgettable journey providing a unique perspective on one of Australia’s greatest architectural marvels, leaving lasting memories for both local residents and visiting tourists. Now this year, they’re adding something new to their experience! BridgeClimb Sydney is taking things to new heights—literally and figuratively—with its latest offering, the “Climb & Unwind” package. In an exciting partnership with Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La Sydney, this exclusive experience marries the thrill of scaling the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge with the luxurious pampering of a high-end… Read More

Welcome to Myconian Sunrise Agrari Beach

24/07/2024

By THE F

Discover the harmonious blend of comfort and adventure at Myconian Sunrise Agrari Beach. Nestled along the stunning south coast of Mykonos, guests can embark on various explorations, from traditional kaiique rides to the archaeological wonders of Delos, or even charter a boat to the unspoiled waters of Rhenia. The around-the-clock concierge service is on hand to facilitate travel and dining reservations, suggest activities, and cater to special needs, aiming to ensure a hassle-free and memorable stay. Myconian Sunrise Agrari Beach, as part of the exclusive Myconian Collection, offers guests priority bookings at top-tier spas and restaurants, enriching their experience even further. The venue is ideal for special events, with its unique and picturesque setting promising unforgettable memories. The dedicated team is focused on tailoring experiences to align with guests’ wishes, reinforcing the hotel’s commitment to exceptional service. At Myconian Sunrise Agrari Beach, you are encouraged to slow down, relish every moment, and craft lasting memories in an environment that feels like a true home away from home. This sense of genuine hospitality and deep connection to the island’s heart defines Myconian Sunrise Agrari Beach, making it a tranquil haven and a unique gem in Mykonos.

Tag: Hunter Valley

Hunter Valley winery you need to visit

Harkham Launch Sardine Jatz Snack NikkiTo fish cracker

by THE F

Posted: 17/07/2024

Nestled in the heart of New South Wales, the Hunter Valley is a premier destination for wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Known for its sprawling vineyards, the region boasts some of Australia’s finest wines and offers visitors a chance to tour world-renowned wineries. Beyond its wine heritage, the Hunter Valley is also home to stunning landscapes, including rolling hills and lush countryside that provide a perfect backdrop for outdoor activities such as hot air ballooning, horseback riding, and hiking. With charming villages, gourmet restaurants, and vibrant local culture, the Hunter Valley promises an unforgettable escape for travellers seeking both relaxation and adventure. Nestled in the heart of New South Wales, the Hunter Valley is a premier destination for wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Known for its sprawling vineyards, the region boasts some of Australia’s finest wines and offers visitors a chance to tour world-renowned wineries. Among these, the much-loved Hunter Valley winery, Harkham, is set to open a restaurant on their grounds on Thursday 18 July. The restaurant will have a relaxed atmosphere, with a simple menu designed for sharing and live music from local talent on Saturdays from 3-6pm. Harkham is a small, family-owned and operated winery set in the heart of the Hunter Valley, overlooking the picturesque Brokenback Range. Here, the focus is on small batch single-vineyard varietal wines which are hand-harvested and left to ferment with minimal intervention. The Harkham family released their first vintage in 2005, and were the first Hunter Valley winery to produce natural and orange wines,… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, SYDNEY

Tags: Australian vineyard, Australian wineries, Hunter Valley

Visit the Hunter Valley: top things to do

by THE F

Updated: 03/01/2023

The Hunter Valley, also known as the Hunter Region, is a big tourist attraction in New South Wales. Being located near the State capital, it’s perfect for Sydney-born individuals and all sorts of visitors, as it provides both one-day trips and multi-day experiences. If you too will find yourself in this area rather soon, here are a few things you should not overlook. Try some delicious food First and foremost, you want to check out the local food as it’s literal heaven for foodies. You will get to try all sorts of foods like grapes, olives, cheeses, chocolates, chutneys, honey, and aromatic oils. As there are many acclaimed restaurants in the area, you will not lack options. For breakfast, visit Café Enzo or Myrtle & Stone. You can have lunch at Muse Kitchen or éRemo Restaurant. For dinner, consider Hunters Quarter or EXP. If you’ll be there for a few days, why try them all? While there, you might also be interested in taking cooking classes. There are a few places to choose from, such as Majors Lane Cooking School and Hunter Valley Cooking School. Taste amazing wines In addition to delicious dishes, you will also be able to try some amazing wines. You’re probably aware that Hunter Valley is famous for being home to many wineries. Luckily, most of them allow visitors and are delighted to show them how the wine is made. In some, you can even try grape stomping to see how wine used to be made before heavy machinery was introduced…. Read More

Category: COLLABORATION

Tags: Hunter Valley

Weddings in Bimbadgen: Only done well at Palmer’s Lane in the Hunter Valley

by Emi Berry

Updated: 22/02/2019

If you’re looking for a unique venue in regional NSW for your next special event (but not too far out of Sydney), then look no further than the Hunter Valley. Just two hours north of Sydney, the Hunter is one of the largest river valleys on the NSW coast and boasts some of the best vineyards in the country. In the heart of the Hunter, you’ll find Pokolbin, which is home to Bimbadgen. Although this vineyard is nearly approaching its 50th birthday, Bimbadgen has added a new luxe venue to its impressive collection – Bimbadgen Palmers Lane – which is now available for all kinds of occasions, including weddings. Nestled between the property’s lake and picturesque vineyard, Palmers Lane can be transformed to suit all tastes, from a stunning outdoor dining configuration with moody, yet atmospheric festoon lighting overhead to a more intimate soiree inside the venue, which features beautiful high ceilings and exposed beams. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re indoors or outdoors, you’ll take pleasure in enjoying the spectacular Broken Back mountain range in the background as you take another sip of Bimbadgen’s award winning Sparkling Semillon. Sound okay, so far? All your catering needs will be attended to by the very professional in-house, award-winning Esca Bimbadgen restaurant team. Not only will you have the pleasure of enjoying beautiful, locally-sourced produce, but also world-class Bimbadgen wines. Cheers to that! For couples wanting to add an unforgettable experience to top off their wedding day, why not take a helicopter transfer to the venue, operated… Read More

Category: CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: australian wines, Bimbadgen NSW, Bimbadgen Palmers Lane, Bimbadgen wines, Hunter Valley, Palmers Lane, Palmers Lane Bimbadgen NSW, Sydney hunter Valley, THE F Bimbadgen, THE F Wedding

ARTS & CULTURE

New exhibition at Ames Yavuz: Andre Hemer’s Techno Dreaming

23/10/2024

By James Banham

Ames Yavuz, a leading contemporary art gallery in the Asia Pacific, is currently showcasing an intriguing solo exhibition titled Techno Dreaming by the renowned New Zealand-born, Vienna-based artist André Hemer. Open to the public at the gallery’s Reservoir Street location until 9 November, this exhibition promises to captivate art enthusiasts and the curious alike with its innovative approach to exploring the intersection of digital technology and artistic creation. In Techno Dreaming, André Hemer invites viewers to navigate through a series of new paintings and video works that delve into the artistic possibilities birthed by digital technology. Hemer’s creative process is an intricate dance between nature, generative algorithms, and artistic labour, prompting reflection on what it means to create art in an era where the lines between physical and digital experiences are increasingly blurred. This marks Hemer’s fifth solo exhibition with Ames Yavuz, where he unveils vibrant floral landscapes in radiant hues of blue, gold, and orange. The series is born from a unique AI ‘dreaming’ process, where software trained on Hemer’s personal archive of paintings, photographs, and recordings reimagines each work anew. This fusion of soundscape, video work, light projection, and acrylic on canvas pushes the boundaries of traditional painting and imagery, inhabiting the space between reality and imagination. Hemer elaborates on his thematic exploration, stating, “I chose to title the exhibition Techno Dreaming as it’s an evocative way to describe the unknowingness of AI generation. Like our own dream state, it’s elusive and you can never have the same one again. That’s what art… Read More

Sugababes SUGA COLLAGE RED RGB 5000px @ 72dpi 1

Sugababes are touring Australia

23/10/2024

By James Banham

Get ready Australia, because UK pop sensations Sugababes are set to hit the stage Down Under this January! Presented by Untitled Group, this tour is a must-see for anyone who has ever found themselves belting out the lyrics to “Push The Button” or “Round Round.” With shows scheduled in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, the iconic trio is ready to bring their chart-topping hits and incredible harmonies to eager fans. Formed in 1998, Sugababes quickly ascended to pop stardom with their debut single “Overload,” capturing the hearts of fans worldwide. Their journey through the modern pop era has been nothing short of spectacular, with a slew of hits like “About You Now” and “Too Lost In You” cementing their place in music history. After two decades, the original lineup—Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, and Siobhan Donaghy—has returned, captivating a new generation and proving that their music is as timeless as ever. 2023 has seen Sugababes at the forefront of the music scene, making history with a standout performance at Boiler Room’s Colour Factory in East London, which racked up over a million YouTube views. Their recent collaboration with DJ Heartstring and the homage paid by UK producers Two Shell to their classic “Round Round” further highlight their lasting impact on the music landscape. Their electrifying presence at Glastonbury, where fan demand was so high it led to a stage closure, underscores their enduring appeal. With six UK Number One singles, millions of global sales, and multiple multi-platinum albums, Sugababes’ legacy in pop music is undeniable. As one… Read More

National Gallery London offers chance to see magnificent Carracci cartoons

23/10/2024

By James Banham

Next spring, art enthusiasts will have the rare opportunity to witness the magnificent Carracci cartoons up close at the National Gallery. Displayed in Room 1, these extraordinary works, created around 1599, are not just impressive in size—nearly four metres wide and two metres tall—but also in their delicate execution using charcoal and white chalk. Given their fragility and grandeur, these masterpieces are seldom exhibited, making this a truly special occasion. The Carracci cartoons entered the National Gallery’s collection in 1837, thanks to a generous gift from Lord Francis Egerton. Before that, they belonged to the esteemed artist Sir Thomas Lawrence. Originally, these grand drawings were crafted as preparatory works for the painted ceiling in the gallery of Palazzo Farnese, one of Rome’s Renaissance treasures, now housing the French Embassy. The commission was initiated by Odoardo Farnese, a cardinal and the younger son of the Duke of Parma. In 1594, he enlisted the talented Carracci brothers from Bologna to adorn his family palace with artistic splendour. Upon their arrival in Rome, Annibale and Agostino Carracci drew from the grandeur of antique sculptures and the masterpieces of Michelangelo and Raphael to conjure an idealised vision of the classical world, celebrating the loves of the gods. The resulting ‘Galleria Farnese’ became a beacon of inspiration for generations of artists. The two cartoons on display are largely the work of Agostino, though Annibale is believed to have contributed to their creation. They depict scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses—stories of transformation that were integral to the frescoed ceiling in the Farnese… Read More

NG Stories launches: hear the tales you’d never know existed

23/10/2024

By James Banham

This week marks the launch of NG Stories: Making a National Gallery, an exciting new immersive digital experience that delves deep into the human histories surrounding the National Gallery. Running from 4 October 2024 to 12 January 2025, this exhibition is set to captivate audiences by highlighting the lives and contributions of those often forgotten in the annals of art history, including 14 Victorian children who grew up within the Gallery’s walls. NG Stories is part of the NG200 digital engagement programme, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and promises to blend the digital with the physical, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the Gallery’s 200-year history. This initiative brings to life the stories of the Gallery’s first housemaid, the Keepers, and porters who resided in the building, as well as the key figures involved in the acquisition of artworks for the nation. Visitors will explore two rooms on the Gallery’s ground floor. The first features interactive and immersive elements that place the visitor at the heart of the experience. The second room takes them on an audio-visual journey through the Gallery’s rich past, enhanced by a soundscape that blends ambient sounds from bustling public areas with behind-the-scenes recordings of staff at work. The exhibition also reimagines the famous wartime concerts of pianist Myra Hess, combining archival footage with a new soundscape. This segment shines a light on the people behind these concerts, including composer Howard Ferguson and Joyce Grenfell, who famously quipped about the concert sandwiches, ‘We made sandwiches that became justly famous for being complementary… Read More

Yentl at the Sydney Opera House: Queer, Quirky, and Utterly Captivating

21/10/2024

By Danielle Kirk

Who knew Yiddish could be this much fun? The latest Yentl production at the Sydney Opera House, directed by Gary Abrahams and produced by Moira Finucane, breathes new life into the 1962 Isaac Bashevis Singer tale, and it’s an absolute riot. It’s not every day you get full frontal nudity and emotional turmoil sprinkled with comedy—but hey, here we are. In this story reimagined with modern flair, Amy Hack dazzles as Yentl, the woman who defies Orthodox Jewish tradition by disguising herself as a man to study religious scripture. Her performance is heart-wrenching, but also hilarious, thanks in large part to Evelyn Krape, who narrates and plays multiple roles, including Yentl’s father. Krape’s witty quips and goofy antics lighten the mood just when things get heavy, ensuring you don’t get lost in the drama. Whether she’s poking fun at the solemnity of faith or teasing Yentl’s romantic entanglements, she keeps the audience giggling. Hack’s emotional portrayal is backed up by the impeccable cast—Nicholas Jaquinot as Avigdor and Genevive Kingsford as Hodes are particularly strong, creating the perfect love triangle. And let’s not forget, these actors learned Yiddish for their roles, adding authenticity and nuance to the performance. Whether in moments of passion or quiet reflection, the cast pulls you into their world, making it feel as though you’re right there in the shtetl with them. While the storyline remains true to the original Yentl—love, faith, and the search for identity—the modern twist of queerness adds depth to the narrative. The exploration of gender, tradition, and… Read More