When Chelsea Ross launched the world’s first women-only surf retreat in Bali, it was purely because it was something she would have loved to do herself.
Twenty-two years later, she’s hosted more than 18,000 women seeking a transformational experience in Bali through Goddess Retreats.
She shares her experience, tips for the best ways to have a wellness experience in the popular Indonesian hotspot, and explains why you should give surfing a go – and how to get started!
Also, win a copy of Ultimate Dive Sites by last week's guest, Todd Thimios - see our instagram to enter, and the latest research on the 'grey gap year' showis as we age we’re increasingly likely to want to spend the kids’ inheritance on a big holiday. Read the full Grey Gap Year report here.
The Japan National Tourism Organisation gives the low-down on food etiquette in Japan – think you shouldn’t slurp your noodles? Think again!
And here's Kirstie's story about the luxury advisors turned digital nomads.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:02):
Welcome to The World Away.
Travel tales to inspire yourwanderlust.
Welcome back to The World Away.
Hi, everyone.
How are you?
How's your week been, Kirsty?
SPEAKER_00 (00:14):
Yeah, pretty good.
I've been head down writingabout my recent trip to
Cambodia.
Amazing experience that it was.
Writing about some luxuryadvisors who turned digital
nomads and I'll put a link inthe show notes to that one
because there's some really goodtips in there actually for
people who want to become nomadsand work remotely.
We've done a bit of that lately.
We did an interview on that toofor this podcast.
(00:36):
Also talking about riverbikesand with so many new river ships
coming to the Nile between nowand early next year Viking and
Abercrombie and Kent have someyou know new ships and they're
not just your standard when yousay river ship I mean we're
talking like jacuzzis and poolsand amazing restaurants and that
(00:57):
rival any on land and yeah soI'm desperate to do one though
we talk about it a lot becauseyou're really keen on river
cruising too.
Also I went along to Carry On'sannual event which is now in its
second year which is calledNisha's Nice so that was a held
actually in three states but Iwent to the Melbourne event and
(01:19):
it's a chance for traveladvisors to network with some of
the smaller suppliers so peoplelike regional tourism boards
like Interlaken and also smallship cruising and yeah it's
another reason why going to atravel advisor when you're
planning your holiday is such agood idea because they're going
to events like this all the timeobviously and they are getting
all the new intel about what'shappening in the industry
SPEAKER_01 (01:42):
How about you Belle?
Well, the week that Scones hadits highs and lows, sick kid,
power blackouts, that was fun.
Delayed trains, they were thelows.
The highs were hearing fromSwitzerland Tourism, who
convinced me that I have to goto Dungfrau on the top of Europe
for their magnificent scenery.
Look, I have to say, it didn'ttake much convincing.
(02:02):
The funny thing was that thisSwiss tourism event, which was
an Australian Society of TravelWriters lunch, I mentioned it to
one of the guys, one of theSwiss representatives.
I just don't think that theyunderstand the impact that that
book, Heidi, had on little girlswho just wanted to travel away
from the baking sun of ruralAustralia.
(02:23):
Anyway, so yeah, that was prettyfantastic because I finally
really passed throughSwitzerland.
I haven't spent a lot of timethere.
I mean, have you?
Have you been fantastic?
SPEAKER_00 (02:33):
Yeah, no, we've sort of scooted around the edges too.
And it is so high on my list,especially after, because the
same people who were at thatevent were obviously also at
this Nisha's Night and they hadsome videos they were playing
some videos and oh my godwatching those videos of those
quintessential Swiss mountainswith those little red farmhouses
(02:54):
dwarfed by beautiful mountainsoh my gosh and then they had
people walking in the snow youknow on these extremes and oh my
god so I am manifesting to gonext year hiking in Switzerland
so watch this space
SPEAKER_01 (03:09):
I thought it would be one of those little red
roofed houses would be so cuteto do a podcast from wouldn't
you reckon.
SPEAKER_00 (03:15):
Oh yeah, but we have to
SPEAKER_01 (03:16):
do that.
Let's do that.
Totally.
Look, my other high this weekwas a stay at Marnong Estate,
which is on the very northernfringe of Melbourne.
It's one of those old grazinglands that's now been converted
into a vineyard.
And when it opened in 2018, Iwent up and reviewed it because
it had only the BluestoneCottage that belonged to William
Anglitz, who's the pastoralistwho then came to create the
(03:38):
William Anglitz Institute ofTape, which is where all of the
hospo workers get trained.
So the property is part of thevery much overlooked sunbury
wine region and is doing somefantastic Prosecco Rosé.
Yay! But also, its Sangioveseabsolutely shines.
So if you're in the area, youcan stay in the cabins, you can
stay in the homestead.
Gorgeous.
Have a look at my Instagram forsome of those interior shots.
(04:00):
They're just beautiful.
Or even just booking for dinnerat its Italian restaurants.
There's a family one and a finedining one.
And I'm covering Manon for theCity Morning Herald and The Age.
So I'll put a link to Manon inthe show notes if you are up in
that neck of the woods.
And while you're in the shownotes, don't forget, we still
have two books from last week'sguest, Todd Thinios, to give
(04:22):
away.
So if you would like to win acopy of Ultimate Dive Sites,
jump onto our Instagram attheworldawaitspodcast to follow
and like our competition post.
SPEAKER_00 (04:31):
Yeah, and he talks about snorkeling and dive sites,
right?
And he has about 50, I think hesaid, didn't he, of dive sites
in that book.
So amazing.
I love listening to him lastweek.
He's fascinating.
So we're chatting today aboutwhat I'm claiming as one of the
best travel terms of the year,which is the grey gap year.
(04:53):
Although I have to say, I washorrified to see that this
refers to 50 plus year olds,which might be asked about.
So new research by Australianseniors has found that nearly
two in five Australian, I'm notseniors, I can't believe they're
saying it's seniors when you're50, embarked on a, this is the
(05:13):
games group that they said, 50plus, embarked on a big holiday
in the past year, which is asignificant jump from less than
one in five in 2022.
And importantly, these tripswere funded by a willingness to
spend the kids' inheritance.
SPEAKER_01 (05:30):
Yeah, the old ski acronym.
But so they're calling it theGreat Gap Year.
Like, what are they taking a gapyear from?
Like a gap year before you gointo a retirement village?
Seriously.
But You know, I mean, look, withthe ski thing, it's important to
help your kids, right?
But the question is, should youwork your entire life to simply
(05:52):
sit back in your retirement anddo nothing?
Just knit, you know?
I'm sure there's some peoplethat want to do that.
But the fact that more peoplewant to travel at an older age,
and for the record, 50 is not.
Like 50 is the new 30, right?
I think that's just inspiring.
SPEAKER_00 (06:09):
Don't you?
Yeah, I do too.
And a lot of that reference togap year, a lot of that was was
because people didn't take a gapyear.
So they're saying now, you know,you're taking it as a grey gap
year because you're taking itwhen you're older.
But yeah, me too, I find thatreally inspiring.
And I don't know if this is whyI love travel so much, but my
mum actually, who's more in thissenior age gap year grey thing
(06:33):
than I am, I would...
Yeah, I mean, so?
She doesn't like travel.
So it's a concept that's soforeign to me because I can't
even get my head around howsomeone can't like travel.
She genuinely isn't interestedin traveling.
Like she will say, she'll say,oh yeah, I'd love to come and
see.
I love coming to see you guys inMelbourne because she's in New
(06:54):
Zealand, in Auckland.
But she just doesn't, it justdoesn't, it's not on, it's not
something she wants to spend hermoney on.
She would much rather spend hermoney on gardening or something.
And I'm like, this is just sobaffling.
So maybe that's why I lovetravel so much.
I mean, you know, I just liveand breathe for it.
So I get anxiety if I don't havea trip planned.
SPEAKER_01 (07:13):
Ah, totally.
I mean, I totally agree withyou.
And it's not just because myentire livelihood depends on it,
but yeah, it is a passion.
I have to say, I did not have agap year.
I think I had a gap decade.
I just didn't come home for, youknow, most of my, yeah, for
nearly 10 years.
(07:34):
But my mum was an absolute avidtraveller and lived on the smell
of an oily rag to fund her many,many trips.
And they were just the mostbizarre places she found
herself.
So while it The research foundthat 90% of Australians over 50
acknowledge the rising cost ofholidays.
Three in four seniors still havefirm travel claims.
Oh, that gives me hope.
SPEAKER_00 (07:54):
Yeah, and to make them a reality, more than eight
in 10 were prepared to cut backon other spending.
So things like impulse shoppingand dining out.
Yeah, that's definitely me too.
I'd much rather spend money.
I think also cars are a waste ofmoney.
I would much rather spend, ifyou haven't spent 30 grand on a
car, no way, I'm going to go toEurope.
And so, yeah.
(08:18):
Totally, but totally.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, I mean, look, I want to helpthe kids, but I'm going to be
hiking and biking around theworld until literally I
literally cannot put one foot infront of the other.
Like, I'll be one of thosepeople holding those sticks,
those walking, hiking, skipoles, and just, yeah, carrying
on.
Like, you know, probably scarsall down my legs from operations
(08:42):
and I'll still be going fromwhere I've had them.
replacements and there'll be mestill trying to get up that
bloody mountain.
SPEAKER_01 (08:49):
Yeah, it'll be staggering along the Camino the
entire three-month journey.
Fantastic.
Yeah, we'll do that onetogether.
So Gabby Walters, an associateprofessor with a background in
tourism marketing, says it'sactually good news for the
travel industry, clearly, and itmay not be such bad news for
children because recent researchreveals that less than two in
(09:11):
three seniors believe that theirchildren and grandchildren
expect to receive aninheritance.
So I don't know, maybe that'sjust what they're saying, right?
Maybe this is either story.
Whether you are unconsciouslying in a hospital bed and they
think that there might be achance of getting the money
early, who knows?
SPEAKER_00 (09:28):
Yeah, don't ask my kids.
Oh my God, they fully wouldexpect their inheritance.
So where are people going, youmight ask?
Us 50-plus who are grey gap yearpeople.
And apparently this researchshows that it was actually
interstate in Australia,followed by the Pacific Islands,
which included New Zealand, andthen Southeast Asia.
SPEAKER_01 (09:50):
So it seems that for over 50s, the key drivers are
the cost of travel, so thatexplains interstate travel,
followed by safety and security,climate and natural scenery, and
of course visiting family andfood are up there too, because
you know, you can freeload onyour family, can't you?
That makes
SPEAKER_00 (10:07):
it cheap.
And when it comes to where we'reall planning to go, Europe was
stand out, followed byinterstate again, New Zealand
and Southeast Asia, so not muchof a shift from where we've
actually been.
SPEAKER_01 (10:20):
And the motivators for these choices were a chance
to relax, with about 60% sayingthat that's why they wanted to
travel.
Other key motivators werespending quality time with
family, learning about theworld, searching for new
experiences as well, because,you know, new experiences and
travel keeps your mind young.
(10:41):
So we will put a link to thefull report in the show notes.
SPEAKER_00 (10:57):
week, I'm chatting to Goddess Retreats founder
Chelsea Ross, who launched thefirst women-only surf and yoga
retreats.
SPEAKER_01 (11:06):
Oh, that sounds interesting because they are
naturally symbiotic girls too.
What piqued your interest inchatting with Chelsea, Kirsty?
SPEAKER_00 (11:15):
Well, besides she was actually the pioneer of
luxury women's only retreats,she's also got a really
fascinating story.
So she's half Australian, halfCanadian, and she's lived all
around the world and settled inBali in her 20s, where she
taught herself to surf.
And she was saying that, youknow, this, you'll hear in the
interview that basically whenshe learned to surf, she
realized the importance of howyou have to be in the moment and
(11:38):
how transformational it was toher.
So she decided to dedicate herlife to women's only retreats.
And we also get some insidertips into how to have the best
wellness experience in Bali.
So take a listen.
Welcome to the show, Chelsea.
Well, thank you so much forhaving me.
It's so nice to have you on TheWorld Awaits.
Let's start by telling us a bitabout your background and how
(12:01):
you came to be in the travelindustry.
SPEAKER_02 (12:04):
Well, my background was that I actually was studying
communications and I sort ofhave more of a marketing
background, but I worked in theservice industry from the time I
was in high school all the waythrough college.
And I always loved hotels.
I grew up actually as an expattraveling around the world and
got to stay in many beautifulhotels.
(12:28):
And I ended up getting my firstjob out of university was
working for Amman Resorts.
So I was really always wasenamored by classical hotels
like the Raffles and I spent alot of time in Asia and so
working at Arman was a greatstart for me and I think that
left a lot of impression on meand then I was actually working
(12:49):
more in doing sales training andlife coaching.
I've sort of always also beenreally interested in personal
development and somehow in 2003I got the opportunity to marry
both of my passions which iswhich is hospitality and service
and creating beautifulenvironments, and then also
(13:10):
marrying that with personaldevelopment.
SPEAKER_00 (13:14):
So how long have you been in Bali?
When did you come to be in Bali?
I
SPEAKER_02 (13:18):
first arrived, well, I first arrived technically in
Bali when I was about five yearsold.
We lived in Jakarta and we wouldcome down to Bali to holiday.
That was my first introductionto Bali.
But it was in 1997 when I firstmoved back here as an adult.
I'd actually been living in HongKong in 1994.
So I moved to Hong Kong when Ifirst graduated from university.
(13:40):
And I started revisiting all theplaces that we used to live when
I was younger which wasIndonesia, Singapore and the
Philippines.
And I just fell in love withBali.
So in 1997, I had had enough ofthe big city life in Hong Kong
and I was like, I want to golive on a tropical island.
So I moved back to Bali then andI've been living here pretty
much full time since then.
SPEAKER_00 (14:01):
Amazing.
And so when you first wentthere, what were you doing and
how did you come to start up theworld's first women-only surf
and yoga retreat?
SPEAKER_02 (14:12):
Well, when I first moved here, I really didn't have
a plan.
I was just like, I just want tolive in this place.
I just loved it so much.
And I happened to get a jobactually working for an American
clothes designer.
There's a lot of clothesmanufacturing that's done here.
So, you know, the biggestindustries in Bali are tourism,
furniture manufacturing andclothing and accessories and
(14:35):
stuff.
So I worked with her for a fewyears.
And at that time, too, that waswhen I first learned to surf.
So I was 26.
seven years old and I'm halfAustralian, half Canadian, and
I'd always wanted to learn tosurf.
But back in the day inAustralia, it wasn't so much in
Canada, but back in the day inAustralia, it wasn't really
(14:57):
encouraged for women to surf.
And if you didn't have a familymember like a father or a
brother or other friends andfamily who surfed, it was really
an oral tradition.
So you got passed on that way.
So I made it here and I'vealways loved the ocean, spent a
lot of time scuba diving andbody surfing and boogie boarding
(15:18):
and all the things, but I hadn'tpicked up a surfboard.
So I picked it up when I firstarrived and I fell in love with
it.
So I wasn't really planning onstarting a surf and yoga
retreat.
When I first came here, I justwas really about just enjoying
the ocean.
But about five years later in2003, after learning to surf and
(15:41):
also learning to do yoga, I Iwas hanging out with a couple of
other women that I had learnedto surf with.
And one of them was a yogainstructor.
And she's like, you know, weshould do a yoga retreat and you
can teach them to surf.
And I was thinking, yeah, thatwould be great.
And you know what?
We should just do it for womenbecause there really wasn't
anything for women at the time.
And so it really came out of...
(16:05):
I think wanting to create aspace for women to share
something that I really loved.
And I also really loved Bali.
There was, you know, it's such amagical place and such a rich
culture.
SPEAKER_00 (16:15):
And so what was it about teaching women to surf
that was important to you?
And were you, I mean, you mustbe pretty good at surfing by
that point.
SPEAKER_02 (16:28):
Yeah, I was a pretty good surfer at that point.
I mean, I'd been surfing forfive years, pretty much full
time.
So I think what, yeah, so thinkone of the main reasons why I
really wanted to share surfingand yoga with women is for me,
I've always been reallyinterested in personal
development.
You know, initially when Ientered university, I wanted to
(16:48):
study psychology and that kindof transitioned into more like
communications and marketing.
In 1999, I started to study tobecome a life coach.
Again, just really wanting tofigure out how to live
optimally.
And I'd also started to studyyoga and I could really see how
(17:09):
for somebody like me how surfingwas such a great meditative
experience you know I've alwaysbeen one of those people who
kind of lives a lot in thefuture my mind's always going
and I really one of the thingsthat I really found in the surf
is that it has so many greatspiritual lessons to teach as
far as you know when you're outthere in the surf you have to
(17:30):
really be in the present momentyou have to be concentrating on
the wave you know paddlingjumping jumping up.
And I would just notice thatwhen I was in the surf, when I
would come out, I would feelfantastic.
So all the anxieties that Imight be having about life, I
wasn't thinking about thefuture.
I wasn't worrying about thepast.
And I think being physically inthe ocean and the sun and the
(17:52):
sea, it just, I left feelingjust, you know, my mind had had
a break.
My body was feeling great.
And I could just see that it wassuch a, there's all almost like
this, you know, surfers oftentalk about it, this sort of
pathway to like sort of moreenlightened consciousness, just
similar to yoga.
(18:13):
And so, and then obviously on aphysical level, they're both
fantastic for, you know, forpeople as well.
So I could just see that it wassuch a, I don't know, just such
a positive activity to add intolife, both mentally and
physically.
And there were, you know, therewere yoga retreats at the time,
(18:35):
but there really wasn't anythingthat combined surf and yoga plus
in a in a kind of more luxuriousexperience so I was also just
coming out of my 20s and again Ithink all of this sort of was a
combination of just being ableto offer something that wasn't
(18:55):
already available in that I hadbeen on yoga retreats and silent
fasting retreats and things likethat and And I just wanted to
bring it into a place wherewomen could enjoy it in comfort
rather than having to rough itout.
SPEAKER_00 (19:13):
And so how was that received by women, given that no
one was offering it and it wassomething very new?
How are you finding, and how hasit changed over the years?
And
SPEAKER_02 (19:27):
it really attracts women who are interested in
always progressing themselves,you know, emotionally,
physically, just wanting tolive, you know, their best
lives.
So it's been well received.
And I mean, so I had beenrunning for a number of years
and I And then, of course, youknow, I think it was around 2006
or 2007 that Eat, Pray, Lovecame out.
(19:51):
And then at that time, I had alot of women because there still
wasn't anything much for womenat the time, you know, running
to me going, listen, you know,we want to come on this retreat
because there was, you know, anelement of life coaching and
there still is.
We want to experience it, but wedon't want to learn to surf.
So I then started the next kindof phase, which was Bali got us
(20:14):
and we'd run both of them.
And that's when the doors reallyopened up because there was such
a calling for this space.
SPEAKER_00 (20:22):
So what is it about Bali do you think that attracts
so many people, particularlywomen, to wanting to have a
wellness experience there?
SPEAKER_02 (20:31):
Well, I think...
There's a few different ideasabout that.
I mean, Bali is really a magicalplace.
It's a unique culture that's notreally found anywhere else in
the world, you know, not even inIndonesia.
So I think culturally it's just,and it's a beautifully artistic
(20:54):
culture.
And also spirituality is woveninto their daily life in such a
beautiful way through, you know,the flower offerings that they
offer every day, beautifullycarved temples, music, dance.
It's so rich.
And I think, I mean, I feel likethat, that is super appealing,
especially, you know, comingfrom the West where sometimes a
(21:15):
lot of our culture has sort ofbeen just homogenized, whereas,
you know, in Bali, it is, it isthere.
It's really decorative.
It's, it's woven into life.
And I think also too, because oftheir, their type of
spirituality, those sorts oflessons and it, Being alive in
(21:35):
life is wonderful to see on aretreat.
And some of the cool thingsabout Bali is that it's very
communal.
It's very loving.
It talks about patience andslowing down and gratitude.
And those are all the things,those sorts of qualities that we
are nurturing on the retreat.
(21:57):
And the Balinese peoplethemselves are so warm-hearted.
you know, open hearted.
And it's one of those placestoo, where they invite you into
their culture.
So a lot of the really popularthings that women love to do on
the retreats is, you know, goingalong to like the holy, holy
(22:18):
spring temples and having acleansing ceremony and then
having, you know, a blessingceremony with the priests with,
you know, flowers and incense.
And it's a wonderful, you know,these are rituals that we don't
get to experience in our day today life, but they really help
us to reflect and kind of setintentions.
(22:40):
And a lot of women come onretreats.
In retreats, generally, peopleare usually coming when they're
in a life transition period.
So they might be, you know,celebrating a milestone
birthday.
They might be changing careers.
They might be changingrelationships.
There's a, you know, a lot of,usually that sort of, there are
(23:03):
that stage.
So, In life, and again, in usualday-to-day life, we don't have
too many rituals these days.
So it's really nice to have thattime where you can come away,
and most of our guests, like 80%of them are solo travelers.
So it's a really unique timewhere you can come away by
yourself, still be with a group,and it's a beautiful community,
(23:27):
and we really facilitate a spacewhere there's a lot of very open
sharing.
But you can also use that timeto be quite interested And then,
you know, layer in the differentactivities that you want to do.
You know, like for surfing, oneof the things that I really
loved about it and why I wantedto share it with women because I
found it very empowering.
(23:48):
In fact, I think the wholeretreat experience is very
empowering, traveling on yourown.
So, and it's something that youdo that's experiential.
So it's not just theory.
You know, when you, you know,travel halfway across the world
on your own and you, you know,go out on the surf and you learn
a new activity surfing, Youempower yourself because you
(24:09):
think, oh, if I can do this,then what else can I do?
SPEAKER_00 (24:12):
And is that solo women, that increase in solo
women that you're seeingtraveling, is that something
sort of, you know, that's justcome in recent years?
And what's the reasons that allof a sudden it's growing?
SPEAKER_02 (24:26):
No, it was from day one, it was always solo women
travel.
I just think that for me, I...
I think I was just in a uniqueplace and time of really
creating what I was looking forfor myself.
And I, like I said, I was 29, soI had gotten too old to sort of
(24:48):
backpack.
But there really wasn't anythingother than, you know, standard
hotels or group travel.
And at that age, you know, a lotof friends and, you know, family
are all, you know, eitherworking or raising families and
that.
And it was really hard to findother people to travel with.
So I originally I started it forsolo women travelers.
(25:11):
Um, and it's always, it's alwaysbeen the case 80%.
I think just the travel industryjust took a little bit of time
to figure out that there wasthis huge solo travel market,
which it is now today, you know,it's well recognized, but, but
back then it wasn't, but I, Ialways, I don't know.
I always just kind of knew that,that people would want to get
(25:32):
away and, you know, you can't,and you can't always find travel
partners.
And at the same time you want tobe you know in a place where you
you can travel alone withoutfeeling alone yeah i think that
was yeah
SPEAKER_00 (25:45):
and bali's often seen i mean obviously a lot of
australians go to bali they havethey get a bit of a bad rap um
for their behavior there and umyeah and and uh and and you know
and then obviously there's thatluxury end of the market so what
what about um you know what aresort of some of the places that
maybe some some solo femaletravelers what are some of the
(26:06):
specific places that are thebest places you think to go to
have a solo travel wellnessexperience in Bali?
SPEAKER_02 (26:13):
Obviously, there's the coast if you're a beach
person.
But I think one of the placesthat really people love to go
and it's the center of cultureis around Ubud and north of
Ubud.
There's so many differenttemples there.
There's waterfalls.
And of course, anywhere in Bali,there's lots of spa.
(26:36):
I mean, wellness is I thinkbaked into the culture here.
But around, but I have to sayaround Ubud, you know, there are
some of the most beautifultemples and, you know, you can
always research out and see ifyou can find different healers.
That's one of the things that wedo is obviously create
relationships with, with these,local healers, local guides who
(27:00):
can take people off the beatentrack a little bit these days in
Bali because over the years,Bali has become a very, very
popular tourist place.
So it is about really findingthose untouched spaces to go to.
SPEAKER_00 (27:15):
Yeah, and what are some of those?
I mean, just because of the factthat obviously we are facing a
bit of over-tourism now.
So what are some of thoselesser-known places that people
could maybe go to if they werecoming– You know, specifically,
because obviously, you know,entwined in that sort of
wellness experience is not beingin an environment where it's
(27:38):
over-touristed.
If
SPEAKER_02 (27:40):
people are looking for maybe areas that aren't as
well-known in Bali and they liketo get off the beaten track, I
think that North Bali is quiteunexplored.
And it's because it's a littlebit further away.
It's about a four-hour drivefrom South Bali.
But up there, you've got placeslike Phumudaran, which is a
(28:01):
national marine park.
And it's really popular forscuba diving and snorkeling.
And there's also some greatwrecks up the north there.
And other places that I knowthat are getting quite popular
is Ahmed.
So all around that northernarea, as I say, it's not as busy
as South Bali.
(28:21):
And there's lots of, again, lotsof temples.
There's waterfall up there andlots of opportunity to enjoy the
ocean, although there isn't anysurf up there.
So I think that that's an areaof Bali worth exploring.
SPEAKER_00 (28:40):
Yeah, absolutely.
And can you just jump in, what'sthe best way to get up there?
SPEAKER_02 (28:44):
Well, in Bali, one of the great things is it's
really set up for catering totourism.
So you can organize privatedrivers.
That would probably be theeasiest one.
and you know and usually thereare you know there's a few uh
hotels up there and they'll youknow they can even help organize
(29:05):
people with transport so i'd saythat's the easiest one and
there's also a great system heresimilar to uber in australia but
it's called gojek or um and youcan you know get on the app and
organize a car and they'llthey'll they'll take you up up
there
SPEAKER_00 (29:20):
and as far as like why how do you think the
industry is going to evolve likehow's wellness do you think
going to change or people's,what they're looking for in
regards to particularly in Bali.
SPEAKER_02 (29:35):
Well, I mean, wellness is so popular in Bali.
And I think one of the thingsthat I've seen it really evolve
over the years, and one thing Ididn't predict, which I find is
fascinating, is that, you know,gyms and Pilates studios and all
this type of like activewellness has really, really, you
(29:59):
know, blossomed here.
So it's places, you know, peoplecome here to like, you know,
some of the best gyms in theworld.
And one of the biggest crazesthat started here is paddle,
which is a bit like pickleball,but it's a racket sport.
And if it hasn't alreadyexploded in Australia, I can
tell you it's going to be one ofthe biggest sports trends
(30:20):
coming.
So, you know, I think that'sdefinitely a direction where
Bali is taking off.
And I know that some of thebigger gyms here, like Body
Factory, that also offeraccommodation, you know, they're
building in Canggu.
They're going to be opening upin Uluwatu.
They're going all the way acrossthe island.
There's paddle all the wayacross the island.
So I think one of the mainthings that I see that's the
(30:45):
future of wellness is there'sgoing to be a continuation
definitely of all differenttypes of wellness treatments.
But I can really see that peoplenow really equate holidays and
vacations with not just going tovisit a place, but also to go
and take time for their healthand wellness.
(31:07):
And that might mean, you know,going to the gym and playing a
game of paddle or going for asurf.
It's really a time ofrejuvenation as far as like
having that free time to, youknow, do all these different
activities.
So I think that's a reallypositive thing.
And I think that's been kind ofthe basis of what I kind of
(31:31):
want, started with the retreatsin the way of like reframing the
idea of a holiday as you knowwhen I was younger it was all
about you know lying by the poolhaving a few cocktails etc and
going out and and there'sdefinitely still a huge place
for that but also too like youknow you know once a year maybe
taking yourself off and going ona you know a wellness holiday
SPEAKER_00 (31:54):
yeah you're
SPEAKER_02 (31:55):
doing different
SPEAKER_00 (31:56):
activities absolutely so and what would be
some tips you would say tosomeone who wants to start like
a um A woman in particular whowants to start surfing, give me
three tips of how to get startedinto surfing.
SPEAKER_02 (32:12):
Well, definitely the best way to start surfing is to
take lessons.
So whether you're doing that athome or you want to do it at a
destination like Bali is to finda great surf school or a surf
camp or a surf retreat.
And there are so many of themout there that teaches lessons
because it's a super fun sport.
And if you you're just taughtthe right way, you can progress
(32:34):
really quickly.
But if you don't have lessons,it can take a while.
And I think the other main tipthat I would say would be to,
you know, just remember to havefun.
Because you know, especially ifyou're learning it a little bit
later in life, you know, there'sno pathway to becoming a
(32:55):
professional.
So it's just all about enjoyingit.
And sometimes, you know, whenwe're learning new things, it
can be frustrating.
But just to remember that it's,you know, it's about getting out
there and having fun and justeven attempting it is half the
journey done, really.
SPEAKER_00 (33:13):
Yeah, absolutely.
It's definitely, I think,there's a lot to be said for
People who don't know how tosurf to maybe just give it a go
and have a bit of fun with itand not put too much pressure on
yourself.
SPEAKER_02 (33:27):
Absolutely.
Because a lot of times, youknow, when I teach a group to
surf, they're like, oh, I'm justso bad at this.
And I'm like, it's your secondlesson.
You are a beginner.
You know, nobody got on asurfboard and was great at it.
Maybe, you know, maybe fifth,five result.
But, you know, so just relax.
And half the fun is falling off,you know.
(33:47):
And that's one of the things.
too about surfing, I must say,is that what I loved about it
and learning is that sense ofplay.
As adults, there's not too manyopportunities where we can just
be goofy and play and have fun,especially in nature.
And because it's not a teamsport or a pair sport, you
(34:12):
really are just playing withyourself.
You're just experiencing ityourself.
You're not trying to hit theball back to So it's like really
just embrace that and have fun,you know.
SPEAKER_00 (34:24):
So unfortunately, we are running out of time.
So I'm going to ask you thequestion we ask all our
interviewees, which is what'sthe most bizarre thing that's
ever happened to you on yourtravels?
SPEAKER_02 (34:35):
Well, yeah, I don't think I have a story that's, you
know, like I lost my passport oranything like that, but
definitely one trip was reallysignificant for me.
And that was after a couple ofyears after I'd been living in
Bali, a friend of mine invitedme to go to Biarritz to surf
with her in France.
And she was one of the girls Ilearned to surf with and she was
(34:55):
selling this beautiful mermaidinspired jewelry.
And I ended up meeting her thereand we got invited to the
Quicksilver head office and, um,I got to meet you know my my uh
surfing idol Mickey Dora youknow I was just introduced to
him and he's you know I was inawe because I loved him because
(35:18):
he was such a great stylishsurfer and he was also a bit of
a surf rebel and at the time Iwas you know doing the French
thing I was wearing sort of youknow my black capri pants and a
black jacket and actually alittle I didn't really realize
it at the time but a black topwith the word goddess on it and
I remember him saying you know,I like your style.
And I was like, oh, my gosh, youknow, you know, and looking
(35:39):
back, the seeds of surf goddesswere, you know, being planted
there.
I really feel like it was a bitof a universe winking at me.
And then later on in that trip,I hadn't learned yoga yet, but I
ended up in Barcelona travelingsolo.
And I really was feeling reallylost and uncomfortable.
And I was at a backpackers and Iwas like, I'm too old for this.
(36:01):
And I had been reading this bookcalled The Alchemist, which was
all about sort of, you know,following the signs of the
universe to discover yourdestiny.
And I had just finished thatbook and I had put it on the
shelf at the hostel and I had,you know, was looking for
another book and there wasn'ttoo many in English.
So I picked up another bookcalled The Autobiography of a
Yogi by Paramahansa Yoganandabecause I was feeling lost and I
(36:23):
just really wanted to figureout, you know, what to do with
my life and where I was goingand, you know, next.
And I called my mom on the phonebecause it was, you know, before
mobiles then.
And I was like, mom, I reallydon't know what to do.
You know, I don't really...
not really enjoying thisbackpacking thing anymore i'm
thinking i'm aging out of it anduh i don't know where to go next
what to do and she's like ohwell you know i'm here in
california actually right nowand um i just got back and uh i
(36:46):
was learning yoga at this thisplace you know that's associated
with paramahansa yogananda and iwas like what because i
literally had the book in myhand i was like did he write
this book and she's like yeahand i was like oh my god i had
this book in my hand you knowrealizing this is a site and
she's like oh you know that theyhave an ashram in assisi in
italy And I was like, no.
(37:06):
And she's like, yeah, you shouldgo there.
So, you know, I got off thatphone call and thought, oh, this
is a sign.
So I jumped on a train and madeit to Italy.
And I spent a month, you know,learning meditation, getting up
at 4.30 in the morning and doingmy first yoga asana practices,
you know.
And that trip alone, now I lookat it and it was like really the
(37:29):
universe was like, look, youknow, these are the things that
you want to your life and kindof were the seeds of, you know,
creating my whole life story, Iguess, in a way.
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (37:44):
All through meeting your hero and listening to your
mom.
SPEAKER_02 (37:48):
Yeah, you know, and just following the signs.
So, you know, I think journeys,traveling is wonderful.
Not only do you get to seebeautiful places and learn new
cultures, but you also get tohave an internal journey and
just, and it's such a profoundway of, you know, shaping a life
with all the differentinfluences as we learn when we
travel.
SPEAKER_00 (38:07):
Oh, amazing.
It's been so great to talk toyou and we will put a link to
all of your retreats and to yourbusiness in the show notes so
people can look into it if theywant an exceptional wellness
experience in Bali.
SPEAKER_02 (38:25):
Well, thank you so much, Kirsty.
It's been lovely talking withyou.
SPEAKER_01 (38:29):
I love hearing how she broke into what was such a
male-dominated area and reallyopened the door for women to
learn how to surf.
And, I mean, doing it in such aspiritual place, as she says.
So if you want to learn moreabout Chelsea's retreats, go to
goddessretreats.com and we willput that link in the show notes.
UNKNOWN (38:50):
Music
SPEAKER_00 (38:59):
This week, our tip is about food etiquette in
Japan.
And I have to say, I mean, notthat everyone knows this, but
regardless if you've been toJapan or not, but the food is
pretty incredible.
Definitely a highlight when Iwas there on Shikoku Island in
Naoshima.
And that region where I was isfamous for its udon noodles,
which are just, oh my God,mouth-watering delicious.
(39:20):
But all over Japan, there aredishes specific to each region
and food's so intrinsic to thecultural and importance across
the country that it's also beenadded to the UNESCO Intangible
Cultural Heritage List.
SPEAKER_01 (39:33):
And along with the importance of food, there's also
certain things you should andshouldn't do when you are eating
in Japan.
So the Japanese National TourismOrganization has given us some
top tips so you don't comeacross as a total slob or
embarrass everybody else at thetable.
So with so many of us travelingto Japan right now or planning
to travel to Japan, it is areminder of how to eat in Japan
(39:56):
so you're respectful of theculture.
SPEAKER_00 (39:58):
Yeah, so for First up, and this might surprise some
people, you do slurp yournoodles.
And I experienced that in anoodle bar in Shikoku.
I was shocked, actually, at howmany people, when we walked in,
were honestly doing this.
They were literally slurpingtheir noodles.
But, yeah, it's absolutely seenas the norm, which is the
opposite of what we're taughtwhen we're kids.
SPEAKER_01 (40:20):
Do you know that thing about kids always learn
about travel, you know,apparently belching after a meal
in some Germanic countries?
I think it's a kind of– It's anappreciation thing.
It's like yum, yum, slurp,slurp.
So that's, I mean, yeah, I thinkkids all love that.
That makes it just such a greatplace to travel with.
Yeah,
SPEAKER_00 (40:36):
but sorry, but I don't know if I'm like a
perimenopausal meme, but when myhusband slurps next to me, I'm
about to punch him in the face.
SPEAKER_01 (40:43):
Ah.
All right.
So go to Japan where you getarrested for punching your
husband with slurping hisnoodles, right?
So also the Japanese table,unlike other cuisines, isn't
laden with ginormous plates offood that go to waste.
I am looking at you.
Arabian table.
In Japan, everything isconsidered, including the
portion size.
(41:04):
And you should only ever bring amanageable piece to your mouth
so you're not tearing hunks offood from your mouth.
I mean, I find that sodisgusting anyway.
And that's my slap in the faceto the eating husband.
They also say to bring theserving dish to your mouth, not
(41:25):
vice versa.
So you're not hunched over thetable with your face in your
bowl just you know, chowing ondown.
SPEAKER_00 (41:31):
Yeah, although I have to say those sleepers were
doing that when I was inShikoku.
But yeah, another table manneris actually the same as what
we're taught, which is don't putyour elbows on the table and
don't eat directly from thecommunal platter.
So you should always put, youknow, some onto a smaller plate.
So don't be a guts, basically.
SPEAKER_01 (41:53):
I kind of don't understand the elbows on the
table thing, except that itdoesn't look very nice.
But also it does ruin thebeauty.
of the table.
And that is a big component.
You eat with your eyes first.
And I think the Japanese tablereally expresses that.
This is all making me very, veryhungry.
So I think I'm going to have tohead off.
I'm craving Japanese.
I'm certainly craving Japaneseat the moment.
So I'm going to go and practicewhat we preach, Kirsty.
(42:17):
Next week, we are talking to theglow bright human that is
comedian, radio and TVpresenter, Sarah Marie Cameron.
You might know her as theco-host of House of Wellness on
the Nine Network, which includesthree AWS you in 2GB.
She is an absolute powerhouseand we are talking about being a
neurodivergent travel writer.
So tune in for that one nextweek.
SPEAKER_00 (42:40):
Cannot wait.
Sarah Marie is incredible.
I love listening to her.
I cannot wait for that one.
And we'd love it if you followedus on socials.
You can find us at the WorldAwaits podcast on Instagram,
Facebook and LinkedIn.
And feel free to drop us a lineat hello at theworldawaits.au or
if you're enjoying this episode,please give us a rating and
review.
SPEAKER_01 (42:58):
That's a Thanks for listening.
See you next week.
Welcome to The World Away.
Travel tales to inspire yourwanderlust.
Welcome back to The World Away.
Hi, everyone.
How are you?
How's your week been, Kirsty?
SPEAKER_00 (00:14):
Yeah, pretty good.
I've been head down writingabout my recent trip to
Cambodia.
Amazing experience that it was.
Writing about some luxuryadvisors who turned digital
nomads and I'll put a link inthe show notes to that one
because there's some really goodtips in there actually for
people who want to become nomadsand work remotely.
We've done a bit of that lately.
We did an interview on that toofor this podcast.
(00:36):
Also talking about riverbikesand with so many new river ships
coming to the Nile between nowand early next year Viking and
Abercrombie and Kent have someyou know new ships and they're
not just your standard when yousay river ship I mean we're
talking like jacuzzis and poolsand amazing restaurants and that
(00:57):
rival any on land and yeah soI'm desperate to do one though
we talk about it a lot becauseyou're really keen on river
cruising too.
Also I went along to Carry On'sannual event which is now in its
second year which is calledNisha's Nice so that was a held
actually in three states but Iwent to the Melbourne event and
(01:19):
it's a chance for traveladvisors to network with some of
the smaller suppliers so peoplelike regional tourism boards
like Interlaken and also smallship cruising and yeah it's
another reason why going to atravel advisor when you're
planning your holiday is such agood idea because they're going
to events like this all the timeobviously and they are getting
all the new intel about what'shappening in the industry
SPEAKER_01 (01:42):
How about you Belle?
Well, the week that Scones hadits highs and lows, sick kid,
power blackouts, that was fun.
Delayed trains, they were thelows.
The highs were hearing fromSwitzerland Tourism, who
convinced me that I have to goto Dungfrau on the top of Europe
for their magnificent scenery.
Look, I have to say, it didn'ttake much convincing.
(02:02):
The funny thing was that thisSwiss tourism event, which was
an Australian Society of TravelWriters lunch, I mentioned it to
one of the guys, one of theSwiss representatives.
I just don't think that theyunderstand the impact that that
book, Heidi, had on little girlswho just wanted to travel away
from the baking sun of ruralAustralia.
(02:23):
Anyway, so yeah, that was prettyfantastic because I finally
really passed throughSwitzerland.
I haven't spent a lot of timethere.
I mean, have you?
Have you been fantastic?
SPEAKER_00 (02:33):
Yeah, no, we've sort of scooted around the edges too.
And it is so high on my list,especially after, because the
same people who were at thatevent were obviously also at
this Nisha's Night and they hadsome videos they were playing
some videos and oh my godwatching those videos of those
quintessential Swiss mountainswith those little red farmhouses
(02:54):
dwarfed by beautiful mountainsoh my gosh and then they had
people walking in the snow youknow on these extremes and oh my
god so I am manifesting to gonext year hiking in Switzerland
so watch this space
SPEAKER_01 (03:09):
I thought it would be one of those little red
roofed houses would be so cuteto do a podcast from wouldn't
you reckon.
SPEAKER_00 (03:15):
Oh yeah, but we have to
SPEAKER_01 (03:16):
do that.
Let's do that.
Totally.
Look, my other high this weekwas a stay at Marnong Estate,
which is on the very northernfringe of Melbourne.
It's one of those old grazinglands that's now been converted
into a vineyard.
And when it opened in 2018, Iwent up and reviewed it because
it had only the BluestoneCottage that belonged to William
Anglitz, who's the pastoralistwho then came to create the
(03:38):
William Anglitz Institute ofTape, which is where all of the
hospo workers get trained.
So the property is part of thevery much overlooked sunbury
wine region and is doing somefantastic Prosecco Rosé.
Yay! But also, its Sangioveseabsolutely shines.
So if you're in the area, youcan stay in the cabins, you can
stay in the homestead.
Gorgeous.
Have a look at my Instagram forsome of those interior shots.
(04:00):
They're just beautiful.
Or even just booking for dinnerat its Italian restaurants.
There's a family one and a finedining one.
And I'm covering Manon for theCity Morning Herald and The Age.
So I'll put a link to Manon inthe show notes if you are up in
that neck of the woods.
And while you're in the shownotes, don't forget, we still
have two books from last week'sguest, Todd Thinios, to give
(04:22):
away.
So if you would like to win acopy of Ultimate Dive Sites,
jump onto our Instagram attheworldawaitspodcast to follow
and like our competition post.
SPEAKER_00 (04:31):
Yeah, and he talks about snorkeling and dive sites,
right?
And he has about 50, I think hesaid, didn't he, of dive sites
in that book.
So amazing.
I love listening to him lastweek.
He's fascinating.
So we're chatting today aboutwhat I'm claiming as one of the
best travel terms of the year,which is the grey gap year.
(04:53):
Although I have to say, I washorrified to see that this
refers to 50 plus year olds,which might be asked about.
So new research by Australianseniors has found that nearly
two in five Australian, I'm notseniors, I can't believe they're
saying it's seniors when you're50, embarked on a, this is the
(05:13):
games group that they said, 50plus, embarked on a big holiday
in the past year, which is asignificant jump from less than
one in five in 2022.
And importantly, these tripswere funded by a willingness to
spend the kids' inheritance.
SPEAKER_01 (05:30):
Yeah, the old ski acronym.
But so they're calling it theGreat Gap Year.
Like, what are they taking a gapyear from?
Like a gap year before you gointo a retirement village?
Seriously.
But You know, I mean, look, withthe ski thing, it's important to
help your kids, right?
But the question is, should youwork your entire life to simply
(05:52):
sit back in your retirement anddo nothing?
Just knit, you know?
I'm sure there's some peoplethat want to do that.
But the fact that more peoplewant to travel at an older age,
and for the record, 50 is not.
Like 50 is the new 30, right?
I think that's just inspiring.
SPEAKER_00 (06:09):
Don't you?
Yeah, I do too.
And a lot of that reference togap year, a lot of that was was
because people didn't take a gapyear.
So they're saying now, you know,you're taking it as a grey gap
year because you're taking itwhen you're older.
But yeah, me too, I find thatreally inspiring.
And I don't know if this is whyI love travel so much, but my
mum actually, who's more in thissenior age gap year grey thing
(06:33):
than I am, I would...
Yeah, I mean, so?
She doesn't like travel.
So it's a concept that's soforeign to me because I can't
even get my head around howsomeone can't like travel.
She genuinely isn't interestedin traveling.
Like she will say, she'll say,oh yeah, I'd love to come and
see.
I love coming to see you guys inMelbourne because she's in New
(06:54):
Zealand, in Auckland.
But she just doesn't, it justdoesn't, it's not on, it's not
something she wants to spend hermoney on.
She would much rather spend hermoney on gardening or something.
And I'm like, this is just sobaffling.
So maybe that's why I lovetravel so much.
I mean, you know, I just liveand breathe for it.
So I get anxiety if I don't havea trip planned.
SPEAKER_01 (07:13):
Ah, totally.
I mean, I totally agree withyou.
And it's not just because myentire livelihood depends on it,
but yeah, it is a passion.
I have to say, I did not have agap year.
I think I had a gap decade.
I just didn't come home for, youknow, most of my, yeah, for
nearly 10 years.
(07:34):
But my mum was an absolute avidtraveller and lived on the smell
of an oily rag to fund her many,many trips.
And they were just the mostbizarre places she found
herself.
So while it The research foundthat 90% of Australians over 50
acknowledge the rising cost ofholidays.
Three in four seniors still havefirm travel claims.
Oh, that gives me hope.
SPEAKER_00 (07:54):
Yeah, and to make them a reality, more than eight
in 10 were prepared to cut backon other spending.
So things like impulse shoppingand dining out.
Yeah, that's definitely me too.
I'd much rather spend money.
I think also cars are a waste ofmoney.
I would much rather spend, ifyou haven't spent 30 grand on a
car, no way, I'm going to go toEurope.
And so, yeah.
(08:18):
Totally, but totally.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, I mean, look, I want to helpthe kids, but I'm going to be
hiking and biking around theworld until literally I
literally cannot put one foot infront of the other.
Like, I'll be one of thosepeople holding those sticks,
those walking, hiking, skipoles, and just, yeah, carrying
on.
Like, you know, probably scarsall down my legs from operations
(08:42):
and I'll still be going fromwhere I've had them.
replacements and there'll be mestill trying to get up that
bloody mountain.
SPEAKER_01 (08:49):
Yeah, it'll be staggering along the Camino the
entire three-month journey.
Fantastic.
Yeah, we'll do that onetogether.
So Gabby Walters, an associateprofessor with a background in
tourism marketing, says it'sactually good news for the
travel industry, clearly, and itmay not be such bad news for
children because recent researchreveals that less than two in
(09:11):
three seniors believe that theirchildren and grandchildren
expect to receive aninheritance.
So I don't know, maybe that'sjust what they're saying, right?
Maybe this is either story.
Whether you are unconsciouslying in a hospital bed and they
think that there might be achance of getting the money
early, who knows?
SPEAKER_00 (09:28):
Yeah, don't ask my kids.
Oh my God, they fully wouldexpect their inheritance.
So where are people going, youmight ask?
Us 50-plus who are grey gap yearpeople.
And apparently this researchshows that it was actually
interstate in Australia,followed by the Pacific Islands,
which included New Zealand, andthen Southeast Asia.
SPEAKER_01 (09:50):
So it seems that for over 50s, the key drivers are
the cost of travel, so thatexplains interstate travel,
followed by safety and security,climate and natural scenery, and
of course visiting family andfood are up there too, because
you know, you can freeload onyour family, can't you?
That makes
SPEAKER_00 (10:07):
it cheap.
And when it comes to where we'reall planning to go, Europe was
stand out, followed byinterstate again, New Zealand
and Southeast Asia, so not muchof a shift from where we've
actually been.
SPEAKER_01 (10:20):
And the motivators for these choices were a chance
to relax, with about 60% sayingthat that's why they wanted to
travel.
Other key motivators werespending quality time with
family, learning about theworld, searching for new
experiences as well, because,you know, new experiences and
travel keeps your mind young.
(10:41):
So we will put a link to thefull report in the show notes.
SPEAKER_00 (10:57):
week, I'm chatting to Goddess Retreats founder
Chelsea Ross, who launched thefirst women-only surf and yoga
retreats.
SPEAKER_01 (11:06):
Oh, that sounds interesting because they are
naturally symbiotic girls too.
What piqued your interest inchatting with Chelsea, Kirsty?
SPEAKER_00 (11:15):
Well, besides she was actually the pioneer of
luxury women's only retreats,she's also got a really
fascinating story.
So she's half Australian, halfCanadian, and she's lived all
around the world and settled inBali in her 20s, where she
taught herself to surf.
And she was saying that, youknow, this, you'll hear in the
interview that basically whenshe learned to surf, she
realized the importance of howyou have to be in the moment and
(11:38):
how transformational it was toher.
So she decided to dedicate herlife to women's only retreats.
And we also get some insidertips into how to have the best
wellness experience in Bali.
So take a listen.
Welcome to the show, Chelsea.
Well, thank you so much forhaving me.
It's so nice to have you on TheWorld Awaits.
Let's start by telling us a bitabout your background and how
(12:01):
you came to be in the travelindustry.
SPEAKER_02 (12:04):
Well, my background was that I actually was studying
communications and I sort ofhave more of a marketing
background, but I worked in theservice industry from the time I
was in high school all the waythrough college.
And I always loved hotels.
I grew up actually as an expattraveling around the world and
got to stay in many beautifulhotels.
(12:28):
And I ended up getting my firstjob out of university was
working for Amman Resorts.
So I was really always wasenamored by classical hotels
like the Raffles and I spent alot of time in Asia and so
working at Arman was a greatstart for me and I think that
left a lot of impression on meand then I was actually working
(12:49):
more in doing sales training andlife coaching.
I've sort of always also beenreally interested in personal
development and somehow in 2003I got the opportunity to marry
both of my passions which iswhich is hospitality and service
and creating beautifulenvironments, and then also
(13:10):
marrying that with personaldevelopment.
SPEAKER_00 (13:14):
So how long have you been in Bali?
When did you come to be in Bali?
I
SPEAKER_02 (13:18):
first arrived, well, I first arrived technically in
Bali when I was about five yearsold.
We lived in Jakarta and we wouldcome down to Bali to holiday.
That was my first introductionto Bali.
But it was in 1997 when I firstmoved back here as an adult.
I'd actually been living in HongKong in 1994.
So I moved to Hong Kong when Ifirst graduated from university.
(13:40):
And I started revisiting all theplaces that we used to live when
I was younger which wasIndonesia, Singapore and the
Philippines.
And I just fell in love withBali.
So in 1997, I had had enough ofthe big city life in Hong Kong
and I was like, I want to golive on a tropical island.
So I moved back to Bali then andI've been living here pretty
much full time since then.
SPEAKER_00 (14:01):
Amazing.
And so when you first wentthere, what were you doing and
how did you come to start up theworld's first women-only surf
and yoga retreat?
SPEAKER_02 (14:12):
Well, when I first moved here, I really didn't have
a plan.
I was just like, I just want tolive in this place.
I just loved it so much.
And I happened to get a jobactually working for an American
clothes designer.
There's a lot of clothesmanufacturing that's done here.
So, you know, the biggestindustries in Bali are tourism,
furniture manufacturing andclothing and accessories and
(14:35):
stuff.
So I worked with her for a fewyears.
And at that time, too, that waswhen I first learned to surf.
So I was 26.
seven years old and I'm halfAustralian, half Canadian, and
I'd always wanted to learn tosurf.
But back in the day inAustralia, it wasn't so much in
Canada, but back in the day inAustralia, it wasn't really
(14:57):
encouraged for women to surf.
And if you didn't have a familymember like a father or a
brother or other friends andfamily who surfed, it was really
an oral tradition.
So you got passed on that way.
So I made it here and I'vealways loved the ocean, spent a
lot of time scuba diving andbody surfing and boogie boarding
(15:18):
and all the things, but I hadn'tpicked up a surfboard.
So I picked it up when I firstarrived and I fell in love with
it.
So I wasn't really planning onstarting a surf and yoga
retreat.
When I first came here, I justwas really about just enjoying
the ocean.
But about five years later in2003, after learning to surf and
(15:41):
also learning to do yoga, I Iwas hanging out with a couple of
other women that I had learnedto surf with.
And one of them was a yogainstructor.
And she's like, you know, weshould do a yoga retreat and you
can teach them to surf.
And I was thinking, yeah, thatwould be great.
And you know what?
We should just do it for womenbecause there really wasn't
anything for women at the time.
And so it really came out of...
(16:05):
I think wanting to create aspace for women to share
something that I really loved.
And I also really loved Bali.
There was, you know, it's such amagical place and such a rich
culture.
SPEAKER_00 (16:15):
And so what was it about teaching women to surf
that was important to you?
And were you, I mean, you mustbe pretty good at surfing by
that point.
SPEAKER_02 (16:28):
Yeah, I was a pretty good surfer at that point.
I mean, I'd been surfing forfive years, pretty much full
time.
So I think what, yeah, so thinkone of the main reasons why I
really wanted to share surfingand yoga with women is for me,
I've always been reallyinterested in personal
development.
You know, initially when Ientered university, I wanted to
(16:48):
study psychology and that kindof transitioned into more like
communications and marketing.
In 1999, I started to study tobecome a life coach.
Again, just really wanting tofigure out how to live
optimally.
And I'd also started to studyyoga and I could really see how
(17:09):
for somebody like me how surfingwas such a great meditative
experience you know I've alwaysbeen one of those people who
kind of lives a lot in thefuture my mind's always going
and I really one of the thingsthat I really found in the surf
is that it has so many greatspiritual lessons to teach as
far as you know when you're outthere in the surf you have to
(17:30):
really be in the present momentyou have to be concentrating on
the wave you know paddlingjumping jumping up.
And I would just notice thatwhen I was in the surf, when I
would come out, I would feelfantastic.
So all the anxieties that Imight be having about life, I
wasn't thinking about thefuture.
I wasn't worrying about thepast.
And I think being physically inthe ocean and the sun and the
(17:52):
sea, it just, I left feelingjust, you know, my mind had had
a break.
My body was feeling great.
And I could just see that it wassuch a, there's all almost like
this, you know, surfers oftentalk about it, this sort of
pathway to like sort of moreenlightened consciousness, just
similar to yoga.
(18:13):
And so, and then obviously on aphysical level, they're both
fantastic for, you know, forpeople as well.
So I could just see that it wassuch a, I don't know, just such
a positive activity to add intolife, both mentally and
physically.
And there were, you know, therewere yoga retreats at the time,
(18:35):
but there really wasn't anythingthat combined surf and yoga plus
in a in a kind of more luxuriousexperience so I was also just
coming out of my 20s and again Ithink all of this sort of was a
combination of just being ableto offer something that wasn't
(18:55):
already available in that I hadbeen on yoga retreats and silent
fasting retreats and things likethat and And I just wanted to
bring it into a place wherewomen could enjoy it in comfort
rather than having to rough itout.
SPEAKER_00 (19:13):
And so how was that received by women, given that no
one was offering it and it wassomething very new?
How are you finding, and how hasit changed over the years?
And
SPEAKER_02 (19:27):
it really attracts women who are interested in
always progressing themselves,you know, emotionally,
physically, just wanting tolive, you know, their best
lives.
So it's been well received.
And I mean, so I had beenrunning for a number of years
and I And then, of course, youknow, I think it was around 2006
or 2007 that Eat, Pray, Lovecame out.
(19:51):
And then at that time, I had alot of women because there still
wasn't anything much for womenat the time, you know, running
to me going, listen, you know,we want to come on this retreat
because there was, you know, anelement of life coaching and
there still is.
We want to experience it, but wedon't want to learn to surf.
So I then started the next kindof phase, which was Bali got us
(20:14):
and we'd run both of them.
And that's when the doors reallyopened up because there was such
a calling for this space.
SPEAKER_00 (20:22):
So what is it about Bali do you think that attracts
so many people, particularlywomen, to wanting to have a
wellness experience there?
SPEAKER_02 (20:31):
Well, I think...
There's a few different ideasabout that.
I mean, Bali is really a magicalplace.
It's a unique culture that's notreally found anywhere else in
the world, you know, not even inIndonesia.
So I think culturally it's just,and it's a beautifully artistic
(20:54):
culture.
And also spirituality is woveninto their daily life in such a
beautiful way through, you know,the flower offerings that they
offer every day, beautifullycarved temples, music, dance.
It's so rich.
And I think, I mean, I feel likethat, that is super appealing,
especially, you know, comingfrom the West where sometimes a
(21:15):
lot of our culture has sort ofbeen just homogenized, whereas,
you know, in Bali, it is, it isthere.
It's really decorative.
It's, it's woven into life.
And I think also too, because oftheir, their type of
spirituality, those sorts oflessons and it, Being alive in
(21:35):
life is wonderful to see on aretreat.
And some of the cool thingsabout Bali is that it's very
communal.
It's very loving.
It talks about patience andslowing down and gratitude.
And those are all the things,those sorts of qualities that we
are nurturing on the retreat.
(21:57):
And the Balinese peoplethemselves are so warm-hearted.
you know, open hearted.
And it's one of those placestoo, where they invite you into
their culture.
So a lot of the really popularthings that women love to do on
the retreats is, you know, goingalong to like the holy, holy
(22:18):
spring temples and having acleansing ceremony and then
having, you know, a blessingceremony with the priests with,
you know, flowers and incense.
And it's a wonderful, you know,these are rituals that we don't
get to experience in our day today life, but they really help
us to reflect and kind of setintentions.
(22:40):
And a lot of women come onretreats.
In retreats, generally, peopleare usually coming when they're
in a life transition period.
So they might be, you know,celebrating a milestone
birthday.
They might be changing careers.
They might be changingrelationships.
There's a, you know, a lot of,usually that sort of, there are
(23:03):
that stage.
So, In life, and again, in usualday-to-day life, we don't have
too many rituals these days.
So it's really nice to have thattime where you can come away,
and most of our guests, like 80%of them are solo travelers.
So it's a really unique timewhere you can come away by
yourself, still be with a group,and it's a beautiful community,
(23:27):
and we really facilitate a spacewhere there's a lot of very open
sharing.
But you can also use that timeto be quite interested And then,
you know, layer in the differentactivities that you want to do.
You know, like for surfing, oneof the things that I really
loved about it and why I wantedto share it with women because I
found it very empowering.
(23:48):
In fact, I think the wholeretreat experience is very
empowering, traveling on yourown.
So, and it's something that youdo that's experiential.
So it's not just theory.
You know, when you, you know,travel halfway across the world
on your own and you, you know,go out on the surf and you learn
a new activity surfing, Youempower yourself because you
(24:09):
think, oh, if I can do this,then what else can I do?
SPEAKER_00 (24:12):
And is that solo women, that increase in solo
women that you're seeingtraveling, is that something
sort of, you know, that's justcome in recent years?
And what's the reasons that allof a sudden it's growing?
SPEAKER_02 (24:26):
No, it was from day one, it was always solo women
travel.
I just think that for me, I...
I think I was just in a uniqueplace and time of really
creating what I was looking forfor myself.
And I, like I said, I was 29, soI had gotten too old to sort of
(24:48):
backpack.
But there really wasn't anythingother than, you know, standard
hotels or group travel.
And at that age, you know, a lotof friends and, you know, family
are all, you know, eitherworking or raising families and
that.
And it was really hard to findother people to travel with.
So I originally I started it forsolo women travelers.
(25:11):
Um, and it's always, it's alwaysbeen the case 80%.
I think just the travel industryjust took a little bit of time
to figure out that there wasthis huge solo travel market,
which it is now today, you know,it's well recognized, but, but
back then it wasn't, but I, Ialways, I don't know.
I always just kind of knew that,that people would want to get
(25:32):
away and, you know, you can't,and you can't always find travel
partners.
And at the same time you want tobe you know in a place where you
you can travel alone withoutfeeling alone yeah i think that
was yeah
SPEAKER_00 (25:45):
and bali's often seen i mean obviously a lot of
australians go to bali they havethey get a bit of a bad rap um
for their behavior there and umyeah and and uh and and you know
and then obviously there's thatluxury end of the market so what
what about um you know what aresort of some of the places that
maybe some some solo femaletravelers what are some of the
(26:06):
specific places that are thebest places you think to go to
have a solo travel wellnessexperience in Bali?
SPEAKER_02 (26:13):
Obviously, there's the coast if you're a beach
person.
But I think one of the placesthat really people love to go
and it's the center of cultureis around Ubud and north of
Ubud.
There's so many differenttemples there.
There's waterfalls.
And of course, anywhere in Bali,there's lots of spa.
(26:36):
I mean, wellness is I thinkbaked into the culture here.
But around, but I have to sayaround Ubud, you know, there are
some of the most beautifultemples and, you know, you can
always research out and see ifyou can find different healers.
That's one of the things that wedo is obviously create
relationships with, with these,local healers, local guides who
(27:00):
can take people off the beatentrack a little bit these days in
Bali because over the years,Bali has become a very, very
popular tourist place.
So it is about really findingthose untouched spaces to go to.
SPEAKER_00 (27:15):
Yeah, and what are some of those?
I mean, just because of the factthat obviously we are facing a
bit of over-tourism now.
So what are some of thoselesser-known places that people
could maybe go to if they werecoming– You know, specifically,
because obviously, you know,entwined in that sort of
wellness experience is not beingin an environment where it's
(27:38):
over-touristed.
If
SPEAKER_02 (27:40):
people are looking for maybe areas that aren't as
well-known in Bali and they liketo get off the beaten track, I
think that North Bali is quiteunexplored.
And it's because it's a littlebit further away.
It's about a four-hour drivefrom South Bali.
But up there, you've got placeslike Phumudaran, which is a
(28:01):
national marine park.
And it's really popular forscuba diving and snorkeling.
And there's also some greatwrecks up the north there.
And other places that I knowthat are getting quite popular
is Ahmed.
So all around that northernarea, as I say, it's not as busy
as South Bali.
(28:21):
And there's lots of, again, lotsof temples.
There's waterfall up there andlots of opportunity to enjoy the
ocean, although there isn't anysurf up there.
So I think that that's an areaof Bali worth exploring.
SPEAKER_00 (28:40):
Yeah, absolutely.
And can you just jump in, what'sthe best way to get up there?
SPEAKER_02 (28:44):
Well, in Bali, one of the great things is it's
really set up for catering totourism.
So you can organize privatedrivers.
That would probably be theeasiest one.
and you know and usually thereare you know there's a few uh
hotels up there and they'll youknow they can even help organize
(29:05):
people with transport so i'd saythat's the easiest one and
there's also a great system heresimilar to uber in australia but
it's called gojek or um and youcan you know get on the app and
organize a car and they'llthey'll they'll take you up up
there
SPEAKER_00 (29:20):
and as far as like why how do you think the
industry is going to evolve likehow's wellness do you think
going to change or people's,what they're looking for in
regards to particularly in Bali.
SPEAKER_02 (29:35):
Well, I mean, wellness is so popular in Bali.
And I think one of the thingsthat I've seen it really evolve
over the years, and one thing Ididn't predict, which I find is
fascinating, is that, you know,gyms and Pilates studios and all
this type of like activewellness has really, really, you
(29:59):
know, blossomed here.
So it's places, you know, peoplecome here to like, you know,
some of the best gyms in theworld.
And one of the biggest crazesthat started here is paddle,
which is a bit like pickleball,but it's a racket sport.
And if it hasn't alreadyexploded in Australia, I can
tell you it's going to be one ofthe biggest sports trends
(30:20):
coming.
So, you know, I think that'sdefinitely a direction where
Bali is taking off.
And I know that some of thebigger gyms here, like Body
Factory, that also offeraccommodation, you know, they're
building in Canggu.
They're going to be opening upin Uluwatu.
They're going all the way acrossthe island.
There's paddle all the wayacross the island.
So I think one of the mainthings that I see that's the
(30:45):
future of wellness is there'sgoing to be a continuation
definitely of all differenttypes of wellness treatments.
But I can really see that peoplenow really equate holidays and
vacations with not just going tovisit a place, but also to go
and take time for their healthand wellness.
(31:07):
And that might mean, you know,going to the gym and playing a
game of paddle or going for asurf.
It's really a time ofrejuvenation as far as like
having that free time to, youknow, do all these different
activities.
So I think that's a reallypositive thing.
And I think that's been kind ofthe basis of what I kind of
(31:31):
want, started with the retreatsin the way of like reframing the
idea of a holiday as you knowwhen I was younger it was all
about you know lying by the poolhaving a few cocktails etc and
going out and and there'sdefinitely still a huge place
for that but also too like youknow you know once a year maybe
taking yourself off and going ona you know a wellness holiday
SPEAKER_00 (31:54):
yeah you're
SPEAKER_02 (31:55):
doing different
SPEAKER_00 (31:56):
activities absolutely so and what would be
some tips you would say tosomeone who wants to start like
a um A woman in particular whowants to start surfing, give me
three tips of how to get startedinto surfing.
SPEAKER_02 (32:12):
Well, definitely the best way to start surfing is to
take lessons.
So whether you're doing that athome or you want to do it at a
destination like Bali is to finda great surf school or a surf
camp or a surf retreat.
And there are so many of themout there that teaches lessons
because it's a super fun sport.
And if you you're just taughtthe right way, you can progress
(32:34):
really quickly.
But if you don't have lessons,it can take a while.
And I think the other main tipthat I would say would be to,
you know, just remember to havefun.
Because you know, especially ifyou're learning it a little bit
later in life, you know, there'sno pathway to becoming a
(32:55):
professional.
So it's just all about enjoyingit.
And sometimes, you know, whenwe're learning new things, it
can be frustrating.
But just to remember that it's,you know, it's about getting out
there and having fun and justeven attempting it is half the
journey done, really.
SPEAKER_00 (33:13):
Yeah, absolutely.
It's definitely, I think,there's a lot to be said for
People who don't know how tosurf to maybe just give it a go
and have a bit of fun with itand not put too much pressure on
yourself.
SPEAKER_02 (33:27):
Absolutely.
Because a lot of times, youknow, when I teach a group to
surf, they're like, oh, I'm justso bad at this.
And I'm like, it's your secondlesson.
You are a beginner.
You know, nobody got on asurfboard and was great at it.
Maybe, you know, maybe fifth,five result.
But, you know, so just relax.
And half the fun is falling off,you know.
(33:47):
And that's one of the things.
too about surfing, I must say,is that what I loved about it
and learning is that sense ofplay.
As adults, there's not too manyopportunities where we can just
be goofy and play and have fun,especially in nature.
And because it's not a teamsport or a pair sport, you
(34:12):
really are just playing withyourself.
You're just experiencing ityourself.
You're not trying to hit theball back to So it's like really
just embrace that and have fun,you know.
SPEAKER_00 (34:24):
So unfortunately, we are running out of time.
So I'm going to ask you thequestion we ask all our
interviewees, which is what'sthe most bizarre thing that's
ever happened to you on yourtravels?
SPEAKER_02 (34:35):
Well, yeah, I don't think I have a story that's, you
know, like I lost my passport oranything like that, but
definitely one trip was reallysignificant for me.
And that was after a couple ofyears after I'd been living in
Bali, a friend of mine invitedme to go to Biarritz to surf
with her in France.
And she was one of the girls Ilearned to surf with and she was
(34:55):
selling this beautiful mermaidinspired jewelry.
And I ended up meeting her thereand we got invited to the
Quicksilver head office and, um,I got to meet you know my my uh
surfing idol Mickey Dora youknow I was just introduced to
him and he's you know I was inawe because I loved him because
(35:18):
he was such a great stylishsurfer and he was also a bit of
a surf rebel and at the time Iwas you know doing the French
thing I was wearing sort of youknow my black capri pants and a
black jacket and actually alittle I didn't really realize
it at the time but a black topwith the word goddess on it and
I remember him saying you know,I like your style.
And I was like, oh, my gosh, youknow, you know, and looking
(35:39):
back, the seeds of surf goddesswere, you know, being planted
there.
I really feel like it was a bitof a universe winking at me.
And then later on in that trip,I hadn't learned yoga yet, but I
ended up in Barcelona travelingsolo.
And I really was feeling reallylost and uncomfortable.
And I was at a backpackers and Iwas like, I'm too old for this.
(36:01):
And I had been reading this bookcalled The Alchemist, which was
all about sort of, you know,following the signs of the
universe to discover yourdestiny.
And I had just finished thatbook and I had put it on the
shelf at the hostel and I had,you know, was looking for
another book and there wasn'ttoo many in English.
So I picked up another bookcalled The Autobiography of a
Yogi by Paramahansa Yoganandabecause I was feeling lost and I
(36:23):
just really wanted to figureout, you know, what to do with
my life and where I was goingand, you know, next.
And I called my mom on the phonebecause it was, you know, before
mobiles then.
And I was like, mom, I reallydon't know what to do.
You know, I don't really...
not really enjoying thisbackpacking thing anymore i'm
thinking i'm aging out of it anduh i don't know where to go next
what to do and she's like ohwell you know i'm here in
california actually right nowand um i just got back and uh i
(36:46):
was learning yoga at this thisplace you know that's associated
with paramahansa yogananda and iwas like what because i
literally had the book in myhand i was like did he write
this book and she's like yeahand i was like oh my god i had
this book in my hand you knowrealizing this is a site and
she's like oh you know that theyhave an ashram in assisi in
italy And I was like, no.
(37:06):
And she's like, yeah, you shouldgo there.
So, you know, I got off thatphone call and thought, oh, this
is a sign.
So I jumped on a train and madeit to Italy.
And I spent a month, you know,learning meditation, getting up
at 4.30 in the morning and doingmy first yoga asana practices,
you know.
And that trip alone, now I lookat it and it was like really the
(37:29):
universe was like, look, youknow, these are the things that
you want to your life and kindof were the seeds of, you know,
creating my whole life story, Iguess, in a way.
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (37:44):
All through meeting your hero and listening to your
mom.
SPEAKER_02 (37:48):
Yeah, you know, and just following the signs.
So, you know, I think journeys,traveling is wonderful.
Not only do you get to seebeautiful places and learn new
cultures, but you also get tohave an internal journey and
just, and it's such a profoundway of, you know, shaping a life
with all the differentinfluences as we learn when we
travel.
SPEAKER_00 (38:07):
Oh, amazing.
It's been so great to talk toyou and we will put a link to
all of your retreats and to yourbusiness in the show notes so
people can look into it if theywant an exceptional wellness
experience in Bali.
SPEAKER_02 (38:25):
Well, thank you so much, Kirsty.
It's been lovely talking withyou.
SPEAKER_01 (38:29):
I love hearing how she broke into what was such a
male-dominated area and reallyopened the door for women to
learn how to surf.
And, I mean, doing it in such aspiritual place, as she says.
So if you want to learn moreabout Chelsea's retreats, go to
goddessretreats.com and we willput that link in the show notes.
UNKNOWN (38:50):
Music
SPEAKER_00 (38:59):
This week, our tip is about food etiquette in
Japan.
And I have to say, I mean, notthat everyone knows this, but
regardless if you've been toJapan or not, but the food is
pretty incredible.
Definitely a highlight when Iwas there on Shikoku Island in
Naoshima.
And that region where I was isfamous for its udon noodles,
which are just, oh my God,mouth-watering delicious.
(39:20):
But all over Japan, there aredishes specific to each region
and food's so intrinsic to thecultural and importance across
the country that it's also beenadded to the UNESCO Intangible
Cultural Heritage List.
SPEAKER_01 (39:33):
And along with the importance of food, there's also
certain things you should andshouldn't do when you are eating
in Japan.
So the Japanese National TourismOrganization has given us some
top tips so you don't comeacross as a total slob or
embarrass everybody else at thetable.
So with so many of us travelingto Japan right now or planning
to travel to Japan, it is areminder of how to eat in Japan
(39:56):
so you're respectful of theculture.
SPEAKER_00 (39:58):
Yeah, so for First up, and this might surprise some
people, you do slurp yournoodles.
And I experienced that in anoodle bar in Shikoku.
I was shocked, actually, at howmany people, when we walked in,
were honestly doing this.
They were literally slurpingtheir noodles.
But, yeah, it's absolutely seenas the norm, which is the
opposite of what we're taughtwhen we're kids.
SPEAKER_01 (40:20):
Do you know that thing about kids always learn
about travel, you know,apparently belching after a meal
in some Germanic countries?
I think it's a kind of– It's anappreciation thing.
It's like yum, yum, slurp,slurp.
So that's, I mean, yeah, I thinkkids all love that.
That makes it just such a greatplace to travel with.
Yeah,
SPEAKER_00 (40:36):
but sorry, but I don't know if I'm like a
perimenopausal meme, but when myhusband slurps next to me, I'm
about to punch him in the face.
SPEAKER_01 (40:43):
Ah.
All right.
So go to Japan where you getarrested for punching your
husband with slurping hisnoodles, right?
So also the Japanese table,unlike other cuisines, isn't
laden with ginormous plates offood that go to waste.
I am looking at you.
Arabian table.
In Japan, everything isconsidered, including the
portion size.
(41:04):
And you should only ever bring amanageable piece to your mouth
so you're not tearing hunks offood from your mouth.
I mean, I find that sodisgusting anyway.
And that's my slap in the faceto the eating husband.
They also say to bring theserving dish to your mouth, not
(41:25):
vice versa.
So you're not hunched over thetable with your face in your
bowl just you know, chowing ondown.
SPEAKER_00 (41:31):
Yeah, although I have to say those sleepers were
doing that when I was inShikoku.
But yeah, another table manneris actually the same as what
we're taught, which is don't putyour elbows on the table and
don't eat directly from thecommunal platter.
So you should always put, youknow, some onto a smaller plate.
So don't be a guts, basically.
SPEAKER_01 (41:53):
I kind of don't understand the elbows on the
table thing, except that itdoesn't look very nice.
But also it does ruin thebeauty.
of the table.
And that is a big component.
You eat with your eyes first.
And I think the Japanese tablereally expresses that.
This is all making me very, veryhungry.
So I think I'm going to have tohead off.
I'm craving Japanese.
I'm certainly craving Japaneseat the moment.
So I'm going to go and practicewhat we preach, Kirsty.
(42:17):
Next week, we are talking to theglow bright human that is
comedian, radio and TVpresenter, Sarah Marie Cameron.
You might know her as theco-host of House of Wellness on
the Nine Network, which includesthree AWS you in 2GB.
She is an absolute powerhouseand we are talking about being a
neurodivergent travel writer.
So tune in for that one nextweek.
SPEAKER_00 (42:40):
Cannot wait.
Sarah Marie is incredible.
I love listening to her.
I cannot wait for that one.
And we'd love it if you followedus on socials.
You can find us at the WorldAwaits podcast on Instagram,
Facebook and LinkedIn.
And feel free to drop us a lineat hello at theworldawaits.au or
if you're enjoying this episode,please give us a rating and
review.
SPEAKER_01 (42:58):
That's a Thanks for listening.
See you next week.
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