Making Old Methods New Again

Originally published in the New York Times' T Magazine.

A crop of new jewelry and fashion designers are incorporating practices they discovered while traveling to their ancestral homes. Here, three brands taking cues from ancient methods — and employing artisans trained in them.

Etkie bracelets in production

Etkie, Southwestern United States

When Sydney Alfonso decided to start her jewelry line, Etkie, in 2014, she was living in Istanbul. But instead of using the Turkish kazalik technique of silk wire weaving, she chose to create bracelets and necklaces inspired by traditional Navajo beadwork and created on the same looms that have existed for centuries.

Alfonso is well on her way to achieving her ultimate goal: creating dignified jobs in local communities by honoring their inhabitants’ customs and traditions. The jewelry is made primarily on a Navajo reservation, just 30 minutes from the ranch in New Mexico where Alfonso grew up. “The artisans work from home and create their own schedules according to their family and community needs,” she says. What results are beautiful beaded bracelets that are equally traditional and modern. “Our artisans believe that when something is handcrafted, a piece of their spirit is infused in each piece,” Alfonso says. “With each stitch, you can tell it has been made with love.” etkie.com.

Kinsfolk batik scarves in production

Kinsfolk,  Sri Lanka

The jewelry designers Jessica and Josie Fernando have early memories of visiting batik and woodcarving workshops during childhood trips back to their father’s native Sri Lanka. So when they founded Kinsfolk in 2013, they launched a line of batik scarves. “Sri Lankan batik has a very old history,” Jessica says. “We are completely devoted to preserving the craft of handmade textiles by combining traditional batik methods with a more modern aesthetic.”

The sophisticated designs, drawn on pure, untreated silk with hot wax before dyeing, are inspired by nearly every corner of Sri Lanka — the most recent collection of scarves, Palmyrah, is named after “the long, elegant leaves” of northern Sri Lanka’s Palmyrah palms, and the sisters have also designed scarves named after small south Sri Lankan towns. “There are many more traditional handicrafts in Sri Lanka that we wish to use for future designs and products,” Jessica says. kinsfo.lk.

Mataano Spring Summer 2016 Collection

Mataano,  Ethiopia and Somalia

Twins Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim moved from their native Somalia at age 9 to escape civil war. In 2012, decades later and three years after founding Mataano, they returned to East Africa for Hub of Africa Fashion Week and traveled to the Harari region. “We found ourselves taking photos of indigenous tribes and old architecture, scouring the markets for fabric and print inspiration,” Ayaan says of the trip.

For their fashion shows in Addis Ababa, they used shoes and accessories created by local craftsmen. “We are firm believers that the story of a destination is best told through the eyes of local artisans,” Ayaan says. Soon after, scenes from the Omo Valley — sheer blouses inspired by the Hamer Tribe, weaving inspired by Ethiopian architectural patterns — made their way into the designs of their spring and resort collections. mataano.com.

Joining The Family in Jamaica

On the three and a half hour drive from Montego Bay to Portland parish in Jamaica, I had no idea what to expect. It was supposed to be lush - it is, after all, the countryside. It was supposed to be the most beautiful parish in all of Jamaica. I know what the Caribbean countryside looks like, and I know what people meant when they used the word "beautiful" to describe anywhere in the Caribbean - clear water in some shade of blue, soft sand in some shade of beige or black or pink or white, between one and a billion palm trees. Basically, anywhere in the Caribbean is considered beautiful with this standard of beauty - people simply describe the beach. 

Frenchman's Cove, Portland parish, Jamaica

It was a last minute trip - a family issue brought me back to North America when I was supposed to be in Asia and afterwards, on a whim, I went to Jamaica for the long weekend. I hadn't done much research. I emailed three hotels to see if they had any availability, booked one, and sent a text message to a friend who has family in Port Antonio, Jamaica. That was it.

Cliffhanger, Portland parish, Jamaica

I especially did not expect that the community in Portland would be a big, extended family, and that the moment our driver picked us up at the airport, we would join that family. He became something of a big brother or older cousin to us - especially as he, half annoyed, waited an hour for us to get jerk chicken and steamed vegetables at Scotchies in Montego Bay before beginning the long journey to Portland. Upon arrival at Wilks Bay Resort, I still hadn't realized that I was part of a family. The owners, James and Mary, are gracious hosts. They welcomed us warmly and introduced us to our cook and housekeeper, and let us enjoy one last dinner in 2015 alone. They invited us to join a bonfire on the beach to bring in the New Year. We did not attend - instead electing to spend a quiet evening in the villa, drinking champagne and watching fireworks from the window. 

Canoeing near the Blue Lagoon, Portland parish, Jamaica

But the next day, James and Mary became an aunt and uncle and the Portland ambassadors we didn't realize we would need throughout the duration of our trip. The hotels in Portland are private with large, unwelcoming gates and security that makes them difficult to see from the road and impossible to enter without a reservation. With the number of celebrities that travel to Portland, this obsession with privacy makes sense. Twice, we went to the Trident Hotel for drinks, which would have been impossible had James not escorted us. During the day, we were given the name of a knowledgeable guide to request for our hike through Reach Falls. Another night, we received a personal tour of the music studio at GeeJam and spent the evening with creatives of varying degree of celebrity. This too would have been impossible without an introduction from James.

Coconut plantation near See Me No More, Portland paris, Jamaica

The one thing we did outside of James' close watch was go to Boston, a neighboring town, for jerk fish and lobster. Afterwards, when we were told that our mediocre meal would cost more than every other meal we had in Jamaica combined, we knew we had been ripped off. We told James. We should have told him, he said. There was a jerk hut just two doors down from the one we went to with better jerk at better prices. We won't make that mistake again. As we packed our things to go after four days in Jamaica, James, Mary and a host of resort staff stood outside the villa waiting to send us off. We collapsed into five minutes of hugs and well wishes as they put pillows in the van for us to nap on the return trip to Montego Bay. 

East of Boston Bay, Portland parish, Jamaica

More tips and tricks are available on Portland Itinerary. 

Accepting Singapore

I've been to Singapore thrice in my life. I can't say that I've always been a huge fan. In fact, when I looked back on my early writings about Singapore, it seems the thing I liked best during my first trip in 2010 was leaving Singapore to go to Kuala Lumpur.

Nonetheless, in life, I prioritize people over places. So, for the birthday of a dear friend, I headed to Singapore for the last two weeks of December. 

Sofitel Lounge on Sentosa

Having never spent Christmas away from my family or outside of the northeast United States, being in Singapore would mean, for one year, abandoning all my traditions - no baking and watching movies on Christmas Eve, no wake up call from my brothers at the crack of dawn to open presents, no helping my mother and aunts prepare a feast for Christmas dinner.

Tanjong Beach Club

But I wanted - needed - so badly to be in Singapore. So, I embraced the idea of an untraditional Christmas season and booked a ticket. And other than spending time with my friend, I made no plans. I thought Singapore could never give me the Christmas I wanted, so I just went with the flow. The beauty in this was that I didn't force Singapore to be anything at all other than itself by demanding to go places and see things that I thought, based on internet photos, I might enjoy. This time, when friends in Singapore asked me what I wanted to do while I was there, I said "It's Singapore. So everything, anything, or nothing at all?"

Chinese Gardens, Singapore

That ended up meaning spending hours at dinner parties, reading in Singapore's gardens, walking on Tanjong beach in Sentosa until I found a quiet spot, visiting friends throughout the city, walking around and shopping in all the boutiques Tiong Bahru has to offer, discovering Singaporean magazines at a bookshop, drinking wine on terraces, meeting new friends. And because I wasn't searching for the nearest place with air conditioning or the coolest new restaurant, I slowed down, stopped judging, and appreciated Singapore for what it was.

Strangelets Boutique in Tiong Bahru, Singapore

And, in the end, "everything, anything or nothing at all" is the best advice I can give on what to do to while traveling to Singapore. More tips and recommendations are available in our Singapore Itinerary. 

Finding Something New in London's Art Scene

How'd we spend our Thanksgiving? We ran around London looking at art. Confession: we've done this a million times. 

In London, I've nearly worn out my welcome at the big museums and popular galleries. I'd been to the British Museum, the Tate Modern and White Cube gallery more times than I can count. This time in London, I wanted to see something different to understand the evolution of its art culture. When you travel to a city where artists from all over the region and all over the world come and you've been to all the big museums and galleries, where do you go?

Gretchen Andrew painting

Instead of the usual, we visited the Leighton House Museum and marveled over Adel Quraishi's photography exhibition "The Guardians." The only photos of the last remaining Abyssinian eunuchs who guard the tomb of the prophet Mohammed in Saudi Arabia.

Afterwards, we ran over to the Marine Tanguy Art conference (#MTArt) at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, where we listened to artists, including a personal favorite Lina Viktor and new favorite Gretchen Andrew, discuss the challenges they face in urban markets, emerging artists and the global art fair scene. 

The best thing about big metropolitan centers is how much they have to offer, and how different it can feel every time you go. The Leighton House Museum provided something new and Marine Tanguy offered us deeper, more personal interactions with artists. So, yes, we've run around London looking at art a million times, but we would do it a million more. 

#MTArt

Balancing Work and Wanderlust

Our friends over at Travel Noire asked us what we thought of the trend of travel articles that encourage people to quit their job to frolic around the world on vacation for years. You may be surprised because of how much we love to travel, but we hate those articles. Do not quit your job; you don't have to be unemployed or underemployed to travel. Our full response and our tips on cultivating a well-traveled life are available here. 

Announcing Our Soft Launch

It's a very exciting day over here at Wanderlust, Simply headquarters as we announce the soft launch of our e-shop. 

You may remember our trip to Sri Lanka, where we first met the brilliant Fernando sisters, designers of a line of beautiful jewelry and scarves called KINSFOLK. 

The KINSFOLK silk scarves have been designed and created in a beautiful workshop located in a quiet backyard of a busy town in the south of Sri Lanka. Between pots and pans filled with hot wax, bathtubs, and containers serving as dye baths, works a strong team of women who have dedicated their lives to the art of batik for over 25 years.

Sri Lankan batik has a very old history on the island. KINSFOLK is devoted to preserving the craft of handmade textiles in Sri Lanka by combining traditional batik methods with a modern aesthetic, all while manufacturing ethically, and ensuring that artisans earn a sustainable living.

All the artwork is drawn with hot wax on pure, untreated silk. The applied wax resists dyes and therefore allows the artisan to colour selectively by soaking the cloth in one colour, removing the wax with boiling water, and repeating if multiple colours are used.

We promised to stock up on KINSFOLK scarves - both silk and cashmere - during our next trip to Switzerland and we did just that this summer. Head over to the shop now to get your Kinsfolk scarf! 

Staying in Touch

Playing Favorites in Dakar, Senegal

We've been known to play favorites. In fact, when Travel Noire asked me to name my favorite West African city of the three I've visited, I wasted no time naming Dakar. I emphasized how the deep appreciation for the arts and culture made me fall in love with the city. But, there is so much about Dakar that I love. Below, a few of my favorite memories:

1. Ngor Island: Ngor is an island off the coast of Senegal, popular with surfers. Many of the residential properties on Ngor have gardens within their walls. The gardens are filled with bougainvillea that grow beyond the walls and drop their flowers into the sand. Ngor transported me with its smells (of roasted meat and salt water) and ocean sounds, as I walked through the island on flowers and sand. 

Miss Me's Art in the Medina 

2. The Medina's Street Art: As mentioned in the Travel Noire article, I tagged along on a visit to the medina with Yataal Art, a collective that connects street artists and medina residents, and artist Miss Me. Eavesdropping on residents talk art and politics with street artists before their home is used as a canvas is not something I'm lucky enough to do often. The result is fantastic - a mosaic of modern art that makes both the artists and residents proud. 

3. Sophie Zinga: Sophie Zinga creates beautiful dresses, but it is her customer service that keeps me coming back and has me hold her so high in my esteem. My experience at her flagship store was nothing short of wonderful. Recently, I bought another Sophie Zinga gown where Sophie herself, though she was busy and fasting, came to my New York apartment for a fitting. I realized later that she was in the process of creating a diffusion line, Zinga by Sophie Zinga, and was also preparing to dress Lupita Nyong'o as she took time to make sure my dress fit perfectly. 

A Goree Island wedding

4. Goree Island: Goree is a UNESCO World Heritage site best known for its Maison des Esclaves - a museum and memorial to the Atlantic Slave Trade. Last time I traveled to Goree, I happened upon a wedding while walking through a maze of multicolored homes and was welcomed and encouraged to join the dancing, which I did...for a bit. 

Dakar is a charming city. Though it is small compared to Accra, Abidjan or Lagos, it is packed to the brim with beauty and art that residents are eager to share with you. 

Throwing It Back to Cannes

Refinery29 asked us about our ever-growing travel bucket list and how we managed to afford a trip of a lifetime. Naturally, we told them all about that time we went to Cannes, explored the Côte d'Azur and fell in love with the glamour of the Riveria. Here's our interview from Refinery29's "How 14 New Yorkers Took That Vacation of a Lifetime - & Why It Was Worth Every Penny": 

“Years ago, we wanted to visit the French Riviera during what we thought would be the most glamorous time: The Cannes Film Festival. Well, deciding to go to a popular resort destination during a popular time can definitely be difficult on the wallet. Plus, the Côte d'Azur is not known for being inexpensive anyway, so we had to be flexible on our accommodations, flights, etc. 

"We booked our flights from the United States to London, which was the cheapest destination for us to fly to in Europe at that time. From there, we purchased tickets on a discount airline to Nice. While it was slightly inconvenient to have to switch airlines, terminals, and even airports on a layover, the ticket savings made up for it. To get between the towns, we opted for the train, which was way more affordable than driving (or, as some do, taking a helicopter). For accommodations, we stayed at a cute bed-and-breakfast in neighboring Nice, because hotel prices soar during the festival, especially in Cannes. 

Tanning before Cinema de la Plage

"We didn't know this before booking the trip or arriving in Cannes, but the Cannes Film Festival is largely invitation-only, and tickets cannot be purchased. Luckily, there were two completely free portions of the festival that we were able to enjoy: Cinema de la Plage, where films are screened on the beach, and the Semaine de la Critique (Critic's Week Section), which shows films by popular young directors. From this, we learned to do our research in advance. 

Enjoying Nice's gelato 

"Traveling from town to town by train forced us to see a lot more than we would have, and we left with an appreciation for, and memory of, each town: We enjoyed Cannes' sandy beaches (rare for the area), had dinner at Monaco's famed Café de Paris, and wandered through the streets of Antibes. And it was every bit as glamorous as we expected.”

Surviving City Jaunts During High (and Hot) Season

We try to always take the roads less travelled but, for our friends, we often find ourselves in popular destinations. In the heat of summer. At the height of tourist season. 

Weddings brought me to Paris and Rome in the last month. Both short, weekend trips where I arrived eager to take in the city but, as always, unwilling to wait in line. I resolved to relax, marvel, and avoid the masses as much as possible. This meant fly-by tourism, cafe culture, and terrace hopping. Low expectations, great weather, and finding some hidden gems was key, the stunning cities themselves did the rest. 

The weather was perfect in Paris, so we chose a well located hotel (Hotel Brighton) and walked all afternoon, stopping only to rest our legs and people-watch over glasses of rosé. We politely declined hundreds of selfie sticks as we passed through the Tuileries Garden, the Louvre, and as we wandered down the Champs-Élysées. Dinner was a fantastic recommendation at a classic bistro on a quiet square, Le Square Trousseau. Returning to the hotel on foot, we were able to watch the Parisian nightlife as we went. I had resigned myself to do very little and enjoyed every second. 

Le Square Trousseau

Much like the cities, my time in Rome was a total contrast to Paris but with crowds just as intimidating. It was also stifling hot.

Ponte Cavour, Rome

I tried the walking game but ended up stopping literally every 10 minutes to rehydrate. Some highlights from this delightful, albeit costly, endeavor were the garden at Hotel de Russie, where I could have stayed forever, and La. Vi, a well-located wine bar with a terrace near the Spanish Steps. That evening, drinks at the roof garden at The First Luxury Art Hotel afforded us views of the entire city followed by an unforgettable moonrise. 

The garden at Hotel de Russie

The next day, I needed to see some sights. We rented a Vespa from BICI & BACI (but there are tons of options) and spent the next four hours whizzing through Rome stopping to admire sights like the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and St. Peter's Basilica. The bike was perfect because we could leave as soon as we were ready (like when the Trevi Fountain was completely scaffolded). We stopped for lunch at Piazza Navona, lingering just long enough that getting lost on the way back had repercussions for my hair/makeup that night. We used every free moment to enjoy the craziness of Rome before witnessing a beautiful wedding at Castello Odescalchi.

Chess at Piazza Navona

Some trips are meant for waiting in line and actually entering sites. Weekend trips are not. Make the most of them by covering a lot of ground with plans to return. We take this so seriously that we've even done the hop-on hop-off bus. Twice. 

Also, if you have to travel somewhere for a wedding and the couple is from there, use the recommendations they provide. It is the easiest way to see a city through a local's eyes and is always a good idea, especially for a short stay. 

Vespa tour through Rome

Reminiscing about Lugano, Switzerland

Our recent contribution on Refinery29 has us reminiscing about a trip we took to Lugano, Switzerland in 2010. 

Here's how it went down: After traveling for a day via train from Geneva to the Italian-speaking Swiss town of Lugano, we were exhausted, eager to explore  but also curious about the neighboring lake region of Italy. You've heard of the lake region - likely because George Clooney summers in its most popular town, Lake Como. Early the next morning, we hopped on bikes (which were free to rent in Lugano at the time), rode around town singing Cee-Lo Green's F*** You (it was 2010) and headed straight to the lido for a morning swim and brunch. 

As it often does, our curiosity got the best of us - and we felt we needed to go to Lake Como. It was a quick, cheap train ride away. Half of old Hollywood and George Clooney vacations there. We had to at least see it - because maybe we would fall so deeply in love with Lake Como that we would cancel our hotel in Lugano and stay there for the remainder of our trip. 

So we left Lugano and headed to Lake Como. Some of what we met there was not so different from what we left in Lugano - a beautiful lake and warm weather, lidos, delicious Northern Italian food. But other parts of it - the price of everything, the expensive hotels, the crowds, the lack of free bicycles - were enough to send us right back to Lugano. So, within a few hours we went back, less than half an hour north, to an area with the same climate and similar food and free bikes and a less-crowded lido. And it was exactly where we were meant to be.

On that trip, we learned to disregard the hype, and importantly, if we were going to popular locations - written about in tabloids and frequented by celebrities - in the middle of August, we weren't going to be alone and it wasn't going to be cheap (in fact, the hotels in Lake Como were twice the price of Lugano - which is especially shocking because Switzerland can be a very expensive country). 

The moral of this story is: If you want to save money, try traveling not to a popular destination but its neighbor (Shelter Island instead of the Hamptons...Lugano instead of Lake Como...Lamu, Kenya instead of Zanzibar, Tanzania). But also, go to Lugano. Because Switzerland is always a good idea. 

Lugano, Switzerland

Staying as Houseguests in Cyprus

A genuine invitation to stay in someone's home must be the fondest form of flattery. While hotels offer many amenities, they can be limiting. Indeed, some of our favorite trips were to locations that had no hotels. Hotels can also be less comfortable - sometimes the only way to truly feel at home is to stay in someone's actual home.

View of Latchi marina from the balcony 

We were already excited to be invited to Cyprus as guests at a dear friend's wedding, and beyond grateful when she offered her family's Latchi villa for our weekend accommodations. Expertly designed, the villa was spacious and welcoming. We spent most of our time on its balconies, enjoying local fruit and drinking Cypriot wine. 

Our Villa in Latchi 

The anxiety-inducing part of being a houseguest is ensuring you're a good houseguest. Homes are so personal and house rules vary. Universally, the modern houseguest rules I've adopted are: 

1. Always make the bed, and generally leave a room as it was before stepping foot into it. 

2. Follow the host's lead as much as possible. If they take their shoes off at the door, I do the same. If they wake up early, I do the same. I model my schedule off of their schedule and try not to be too much of a disruption to their daily life. 

3. Be gracious, grateful and appreciative. Complain about nothing. Send a thank you note. 

Our Villa in Latchi

We had the time of our lives in Cyprus. The invitation to stay at a family home made our trip more comfortable and easier to plan, so we are eternally grateful. I look forward to returning the favor and inviting her to New York as my guest.  

Us, having the time of our lives. 

Learning to "Relax" in Turks and Caicos

Everyone is busy. Everyone has a never-ending to-do list that they carry around heads. I'm no different - just another anxious young professional living in New York City - and with a default of "go, go, go!" and "do, do do!" it can be difficult for me to stop and just relax. It's frustrating to still be in "anxious, work mode" when you're on vacation and supposed to be enjoying yourself.

Earlier this year, at a bonenkai party in Turks and Caicos, I was asked to write down things I didn't want to take into the future. Amongst other things, I wrote: constant anxiety. When I threw the paper into the fire, I nearly expected myself to be automatically stress-free. It didn't happen. Apparently, you have to work at this relaxation thing. 

Early Relaxation Attempts: somehow looking more tense than ever 

For the next few days, I practiced sitting and being still. Enjoying moments without an itinerary or a plan. Sitting on a beach with nothing to do. 

It wasn't easy. There were times where, I thought to myself "What now? What are you doing? You have SO MUCH to do. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME!" And then I would grab my laptop and check my work email - or nervously plan a boat trip to nearby cayes - or demand we go canoeing around the bay - or frantically drive around the island in search for junkanoo. Learning to quiet that voice was the beginning.

Still not still 

Allowing myself to sit, breath and be ok with silence and stillness is something I continue to work at. When I need to decompress while away but my anxiety and thoughts about the work I left behind refuse to subside, I remember to: 

1. Concentrate on my breathing: Listening to myself breathe is somehow the most calming and soothing pastime. This also works in moments of in-flight anxiety. 

2. Allow the anxious thoughts and then dismiss them: Distractions are not relaxation. I've learned to cope by allowing myself to have the thought and then dismissing it completely.

Much improved

Asked and Received in Los Angeles

Want a first class upgrade on your next flight? Ask for one. A few weekends ago, I flew to Los Angeles. It was 35 degrees Fahrenheit in New York and 90 degrees Fahrenheit in Los Angeles. So you can see why I was eager to get to the airport and get to LA on Friday, but sometime in the afternoon, I received a text message, an email and a Delta app alert that said my flight had been delayed. 

Santa Monica, California

On Sunday evening, I was less eager to get back to the cold, and again, I received a text mesage, an email and a Delta app alert that said my flight had been delayed. My flight was delayed both ways. The first thing I did was email my boss and secretary - to let them know I might be in late or not in at all but I would update them in the morning. The second thing I did was call Delta and request an upgrade. 

Not too long ago, Delta stopped automatic upgrades for its frequent fliers and elite skymiles members on transcontinental flights. But I needed a lay flat bed and as much sleep as possible if I was going to go directly into the office from a red-eye. So, I called and asked and I said please. With no pushback, the reservations agent said "Sure." and I was immediately upgraded to business class and enjoyed the entire flight on a lay flat bed.

Obviously, loyalty helps. But if you want an upgrade on your next flight, try just asking for one. 

Exploring "AND" in Mexico City

Just moments before flying to Mexico City, I was told "life rewards you when you think in terms of 'and' and punishes you when you think in terms of 'either, or.'" I don't know if that's true, but I liked the sound of it. 

Casa Azul

Throughout my adult life, I've wrestled with the idea of "and" - trying to find some balance between work AND play, having a demanding career AND exploring the world. Truth be told, "either, or" doesn't work for me, and I'm too impatient to wait for retirement. 

Zocalo

Having a demanding career means I sacrifice vacation days. I have almost no true, blackberry-free vacation days, and compared to more flexible work environments, very few days that I can be away from the office at all. The solution: exploit existing holidays. When everyone else is working, they generally expect that you are as well, but when they are away from the office for the holidays, there's a bit more flexibility to travel. Thanksgiving weekend, for example, is one of my favorite times to travel. 

Homes of Condesa

After spending the day with my family and still full from a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, I rushed to JFK to catch a midnight flight to Mexico City. I arrived before dawn at Condesa DF, my home for the long weekend.

Soaking up Frida Kahlo's genius at Casa Azul

I spent the next three days exploring enormous Mexico City and its art - Museo Soumaya, Museo Jumex and Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo's home where I hoped to absorb genius by osmosis. I strolled its parks, toured its castles, ate its cotton candy. I had wonderful meals, particularly at Contramar, where I stuffed myself full of fish tacos and sangria.

Museo Jumex

And after three wonderful days in Mexico City, I was back in New York and at my desk on Monday morning, well rested and ready to work. 

Revamping an Itinerary in Sri Lanka

I regard the advice of locals above that of everyone else. So, when Jessica and Josie Fernando, the founders and designers of Kinsfolk, recommended Talpe Beach and Ella, I ripped up my original itinerary for Sri Lanka and took their advice. The Sri Lankan-Swiss Fernando sisters grew up traveling between Sri Lanka and Switzerland and created Kinsfolk to honor their heritage and both countries through design.

Jessica Fernando at Talpe Beach

From the airport, I went directly to Talpe Beach Restaurant and Bar, a charming beachside restaurant near Galle that rents a handful of rooms. Talpe Beach is owned by a woman named Ulricke and her husband, who have lived all over the world and moved two years ago to Sri Lanka, where Ulricke was born. As Jessica promised, the food was delicious, the location was great and the price was very reasonable (about 80USD per night). Except for dinners at Wijaya Beach and Kingfisher, I spent most of my time in Talpe Beach. 

Talpe Beach Restaurant and Bar

I spent two days beachside with the Fernando sisters and their photographer, Mirjam Kluka, who was in town to shoot Kinsfolk's new line. We discussed politics, business and fashion over dinners, wine, and tanning. For Kinsfolk, the Fernando sisters design jewelry and scarves, which are handmade by artisans in Sri Lanka. I fell in love originally with the Kinsfolk scarves, which sold out last season and are only available to purchase in Switzerland and Sri Lanka. I plan to stock up during my next visit to Switzerland. 

Kinsfolk scarf and necklace

After Talpe Beach, I traveled to Ella to see the tea plantations, stopping at temples along the way. Ulricke and the Fernando sisters recommended 98 Acres Resort, which unfortunately sells out months in advance. So, I stayed at Ella's Edge Resort, a hotel built on the side of a mountain overlooking Ella Gap, also recommended by Ulricke.

98 Acres Resort

Ella, though cooler (temperature-wise) than Talpe, was no less relaxing. But of course drinking tea in the mountains while learning about its harvesting is relaxing. All and all a great trip - thank God I destroyed my original temple-hopping itinerary and followed Jessica and Josie's advice.

Tea in Ella

Seeking Beauty in Portugal

One year ago, I promised myself that I would live a life adorned. I didn't mean I wanted to surround myself with beautiful things. Instead, I meant I wanted to make an effort to find beauty in everything. It's been quite a task, this version of optimism and interest. But when I travel to Portugal for a week in August with about a year of practice, I had no trouble finding beauty everywhere. 

The Wall of Óbidos

Below, my list of the most beautiful Portugal moments, memories and places: 

1872 River House (photo courtesy of 1872 River House)

Hotel: 1872 River House - An eight-room boutique hotel located at the Ribera, directly in front of the Douro River in Porto, Portugal. The friendly staff, simple decor, delicious breakfast and convenient location made staying at 1872 River House an enjoyable hotel experience and the best I had in Portugal.

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Monserrate Palace

Sight: Sintra, Portugal - Though you will find mosaic tiles and interesting Romantic-era architecture throughout Portugal, the sheer concentration in Sintra was enough to make it a UNESCO world heritage site. Sintra attracts a lot of visitors, so you won't be the only one admiring the palaces. But, if you have an interest in history, interiors or architectures, it is well worth it. Take care to arrive early or take the train as parking can be difficult when the small town gets crowded. 

Praia da Comporta

Beach: Praia da Comporta - One hour outside of Lisbon, there is an enormous sandy beach with clear blue water called Praia da Comporta. We inquired about availability at Cabanas No Rio and Casas Na Areia too late (one month in advance) to stay overnight in Comporta, so we made it a day trip. It was well worth it, definitely the best beach we visited in Portugal. 

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Sintra on a cloudy day

Restaurant: Tasca do Xico - Full disclosure: in terms of decor, Tasca do Xico was not the most beautiful restaurant I went to in Portugal. That award would probably go to Comporta Cafe on Praia da Comporta or Forno Velho in Porto, Portugal. However, there was beauty in the grace with which they treated customers and care with which they prepared their food. At Tasca do Xico, I had the best meal and fondest dining experience that I've had in a while. Thoughtfulness and ease are a thing of beauty, and for being truly thoughtful in their craft and making me feel like I was at a family meal, Tasca do Xico was excellent.

Back to Reality: Mindfulness vs. Multitasking

It's September again. I'm back in the office, home from my summer vacation in Portugal and Switzerland, and back to the realities of my life: deadlines and emails and meetings.

My natural reaction to the obligations September brings is to multitask. But, earlier this year, I promised myself to multitask less - it interrupts my focus and takes me out of the moment. I was reminded of how ineffective multitasking can be this morning at the gym when I tried to take an app-based French lesson, respond to emails and create a playlist while running. Nothing was done effectively and I almost tripped myself in the process. 

Incorporating travel into life can be difficult. Everyone has a busy schedule, a demanding job, a life that needs tending to. I used to think that the only way to take vacation was to be constantly available and to work while away. Then I realized that I wasn't productive, producing quality work or enjoying my vacation. So, really, what was the point? 

Of course on this vacation, the office contacted me. But this time, I was honest with myself and everyone else, both before and during my vacation, about how much availability I had and when assignments could be expected. I left few projects open and gave instructions to my assistant on where to find everything. So instead of working throughout my vacation, I worked for a few hours after dinner on one day, which coincided with the downtime of my travel companions and local friends. I wanted to respect their time as well as my own. 

Otherwise, I got back to the business of being away. Being present on my vacation meant, for me, taking time away from the details and distractions of my daily life; taking long walks, long drives and deep breaths; taking moments to reflect and admire; and taking a true break from work. This vacation was successful - rejuvenating and inspiring - and now...back to work. 

Welcome to Wanderlust, Simply

In our opinion, there is nothing more exciting than flying off elsewhere, marveling at something brand new or thousands of years old, meeting new people, hearing new languages, trying new foods, seeking new inspiration...and because of that, and more, we travel.

At first, traveling was pretty easy, we had summers off and what felt like unlimited time, we could sit around in airports for hours, we could bring as many ounces of liquids as we wanted in our carry-on. But, as time went on, our lives evolved and traveling changed. Traveling became more difficult, more frustrating, more anxiety-inducing. We had less time and more obligations. But our "to travel to" list was just as long. So, we set out to fit travel seamlessly into our changing lives. 

There were some mishaps along the way: we packed for trips while also moving, only to find a desk lamp in our suitcase upon arrival in Tokyo; we followed a toothless man to "see waterfalls" and nearly ended up hiking the Atlas mountains in heels; we departed at 4am for a Canadian winter roadtrip and were promptly pulled over for speeding on ice; and then there was that one time in Italy when our train broke down and we had to figure out how to get to Cinque Terre on a coach bus using our barely beginner Italian in the middle of the night.

After a few years, a bunch of countries, and a lot of trial and error, we started to figure out the tricks, started to get it right.

For all things travel related - from photos and inspiration to recommendations and tips - watch this space...

Welcome to Wanderlust, Simply.