by Candice DeVille | Jun 17, 2014 | Travel, Uncategorized
As you sit there, staring at those clear waters and swaying palm tress on your screen saver; ask yourself, “What am I waiting for?“
While I pulled out my woollens and dusted off the umbrella last week, an email came asking if I fancied visiting Noumea. To my shame I had to head to Google for answers, thinking that perhaps Noumea was somewhere on the eastern seaboard here; charming, but still requiring a few extra layers. Nothing could be further from the reality and, as a short check on Wikipedia showed me, I should have immediately realised that as a French colony, it was not a part of Australia. Perhaps I can put it down to the lack of caffeine that morning, but my eyes had skipped over one of the very important lines of the email which read, “Aircalin inaugural flight, Melbourne to New Caledonia”. Once my morning fog had cleared and the images of Aircalin’s bright red Hibiscus flower logo had entranced me, I knew I was in for a big adventure.
Three and a half hours; that is all it took to fly directly from Melbourne to New Caledonia. Three and a half hours for Australians is a simple jot up to the country to see friends, a commute to work or even just popping out for milk (ok not quite). The concept of a World Heritage listed, tropical paradise holiday only three and a half hours from my door was almost unbelievable; until I experienced Aircalin.
Greeted in the Business Class lounge by the CEO of the airline, his passion and enthusiasm for New Caledonia was matched only by his elegant grey suit and vermillion orange tie. I complimented him on his look and asked for local fashion tips when he replied with a smile, “I have my suits made in Paris when I go home.” But of course! New Caledonia is a French Territory, and as such all the delights of french culture, food and wine awaited us. As if on cue, I was handed an effervescent glass of GH Mumm Champagne. My glamorous tropical adventure had begun.
Whenever I fly, the first thing I look forward to is receiving the menu and mentally preparing myself for the treats in store. Being presented with a French Champagne and wine list prepared me exceptionally well, as high school French phrases came tumbling back into my consciousness.
In a very amusing and apt moment, I was also presented with this little gift from Aircalin as a memento of our Inaugural Flight. Without their knowledge, they had stumbled across one of my “in jokes” of travel.
A short water taxi ride from the Noumea marina, is La Escapde; an earthly paradise by anyone’s standards. As a traveller who requires both adventure, glamour and luxury, Escapade Island Resort is my ideal island holiday destination.
Learn more about our Towel Rating System here.
I may not be much of a sun person but I can certainly recommend this method of increasing your vitamin D. With water so clear I could see the fish dart in an out around the turtles mottled shells, and skies of the most beautiful blue, I was in absolute heaven.
From the balcony of the over water homes, you could see clearly into the coral below and with a few steps, enter from your private stairway.
The idyllic pace of the island could be offset for those who chose the more adventurous jet skiing, but for Lady Melbourne and myself, a lazy afternoon of white sands and the sounds of water lapping was all that we needed.
As I indulged in the magnificent buffet of local seafood, decadent patisserie and full bodied French Bordeaux, I wondered how long it would be before I could arrange to bring Mr.SKM and the girls back here. Escapade Island is without a doubt the perfect holiday destination for each of us.
by Candice DeVille | Oct 10, 2012 | Asia love, Beauty Reviews, Travel
What is the most unique spa treatment you’ve ever had? Being slathered in mud? Covered in bees wax? I think I may be able to beat that.
On my recent trip to Malaysia I had the chance to choose an indulgence from a particularly unusual menu, one I’d never seen here in Australia. At the original colonial boutique hotel, The Majestic in Malacca, they have a fabulous spa village. All the treatments are based on the Baba-Nyonya or Peranakan culture; combining both Malay and Chinese influences. The idea is that the Peranakan healing method tends to what sort of energy a person has; warm or cool, then puts them back into balance. If you’re generally a ‘cool’ energy you need warming treatments and visa versa.
I was invited into this beautiful reception area and then gently quizzed to find out if I was a ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ type. Before I could make a decision, we were given the grand tour of this gorgeous, heritage spa facility. It is stunning!
So what treatment did I end up choosing? Well not the Nutmeg (as seen above) as it turns out I’m a ‘Warm’ type and needed cooling, so I chose the intriguingly named “Egg Rolling Massage”! I had no idea what this involved but I was told it was good for circulation, bruising ( I always get them) and stomach cramps (all that food!). Before I went off to be turned into an egg roll, I was to undergo a special hair washing and combing ceremony that was traditional performed on brides prior to their wedding. This is pure bliss!
I lay there relaxed, but also highly amused, as in the ceiling was a t.v set into the plaster; so if I wanted to keep my eyes open I’d be entertained. But what I found most incredible was that they were playing film clips of Malaysian musical stars of the 1950’s and 60’s!! It was sheer heaven, like watching the Malaysian Elvis while having your head massaged. Needless to say, I was very relaxed before I went in for my massage.
After talking a short refreshment break and being adorned with fresh Jasmine ( it smelt SO good!), I was met with my unusual massage partner.
Yes, they are hard boiled eggs! The idea is that these eggs, very well boiled then shelled, are kept in a steamer to keep them warm. The massage is a progressive technique that is a combination of Balinese massage (lots of stretching), then each section of your body is rolled with these eggs.
When they first touched my skin I’d forgotten what was happening and didn’t realise they were eggs. It felt as though the therapist had a warm ball of massage oil that was slowly melting over the skin as she rolled it around. After about five minutes it dawned on me that these were the eggs. They don’t split open, it was just a sensation of the delicate spreading warmth as they moved over my skin. It is AMAZING!
I didn’t want to leave and could have easily stayed their being rolled with eggs until then sun went down. But alas, I’ll have to just come back another time and do it again. As I walked back to my room I felt so light and relaxed; and smiled as I realised that (thankfully) I smelled of fresh jasmine and not eggs!
Vintage Current travelled as a guest of Tourism Malaysia and Malaysian Airlines.
To learn more about this journey and how you could create your own, check out Travel.com.au
by Candice DeVille | Sep 21, 2012 | Beauty Advice & Tips, Skin Care, Travel
With a little bit of preparation this holiday season, you can learn how to have beautiful skin in tropical climates quite simply.
I live in Melbourne. Melbourne is anything but tropical. It can be super cold, super hot or super wet, only on the very rare occasion do we get a peek at humidity. So you’d think I’d never have to worry about this, but my love of travel and adventure takes me all kinds of places, most frequently the humid ones.
Taking excellent care of my skin is key to looking good in these environments, and while makeup can also be more challenging when it is humid, having the right foundation makes all the difference.
“Taking excellent care of my skin is key to looking good in these environments”
Today I’m sharing with you how I prepare my own ‘foundation for perfect skin’, especially when travelling. Next time I’ll show you my secrets to makeup in humid climates and how to keep it looking fresh and fantastic!
How to have amazing skin in hot and humid places.
The Keys
CLEAN skin.
Keeping your skin clean isn’t just a simple matter of a quick wash with water each morning. A thorough cleansing is required on a regular basis to prevent clogged pores and dull, uneven skin tone.
Here is my routine.
Weekly –
- Cleans face from all traces of makeup using makeup remover, skin cleanser and a face washer.
- Exfoliate using a gentle, beaded gommage product.
- Pore extraction – I use pore strips on the forehead, nose and chin to help remove and build up of sebum inside the pores. Leaving his there will cause the pores to stretch out and enlarge. The cleaner they are, the more minimal their appearance will become over time.
- Mask- Depending on the condition of your skin, now is the time to relax for about 20 minutes with a hydrating, toning, firming or clarifying mask.
- Feed – Apply a nutrient rich serum to your face and neck, using a specially designed eye gel for the delicate skin around your eye area.
- Moisturise- Finish off with a light application of moisturiser to the face, neck and décolletage area.
Daily-
Morning. If you’d like to see just how I do my daily skin routine, check out this short tutorial.
- Cleanse the skin using a creamy cleanser (if you have dryer or more mature skin) or a foaming cleanser (if you have younger, oily or prone to break out skin). Apply this with the tips of your fingers and massage it well to remove traces of oils that have settled on your face over night. Remove the cleanser with a warm, damp face cloth.
- Toner – For some people, using a toner is optional, but given that most of us have trouble with our skin becoming oily in humid weather, a clarification from the toner will assist with keeping the shine down during the day.
- Serum – Even if you have oil skin, you still need to feed it. A light application of a serum suited to your skin type will help restore its elasticity.
- Eye Cream – if you’re over 20 you should be using this every day. Your general face moisturiser isn’t suitable for the delicate eye area and can lead to more pronounced lines.
- Moisturiser – A lightweight, day time moisturiser should be applied over the whole face, neck and décolletage.
- Sunscreen – Always, always wear high protection factor sunscreen regardless of your skin tone. Use oil free products specifically formulated for the face. If you have pale skin or like to appear paler in images, use a sunscreen that has light reflecting Titanium Dioxide. If not, seek out products without this active ingredient.
HYDRATED skin.
Hot and humid weather will quickly remove moisture from your skin as it evaporates. In these climates the amount lost can be up to triple the average of 2 litres per day. So drink up!
Make sure that you are replenishing both the water and the essential salts in your system but including isotonic drinks occasionally.
Coconut water is the most perfect natural source of vitamins and minerals that will really help you glow!
Try eating foods that have a high water content to help you keep up your hydration without getting bored. Watermelon, rockmelon, strawberries, honey dew melon; all these fruits are fantastic for a light, healthy and hydrating snack.
I use Dermaclear organic sunscreen
SUN PROTECTED skin.
There is a very unattractive sight often seen on holiday makers in these climates. The red skinned sunburn, or even the dark red brown tinge that shows the sever level of sun damage these vacationers have done.
Protection your skin from sun damage is essential, not just to protect from skin cancer, but also from premature ageing.
Hats, sunglasses, long sleeved and loose fitting clothing all make a big difference when combined with adequate sunscreen protection.
Having beautiful skin in tropical climates isn’t that hard really, but it is about being consistent. Once you’ve got these basics down, you can move on to the slightly more challenging; How to wear and keep your makeup on in hot and humid climates! Coming up next!
