It was inevitable that I’d feel a bit flat after returning to Melbourne from the beaches and sunshine of Byron Bay.
Spending a week skipping in sunshine along the beach after months of cold in Melbourne was sure to lift one’s spirits, and it’s understandable that returning back to said cold would leave me less than cheerful, right? But, it was more than that, so much more than that.
I was mourning the carefree and happy me who felt so alive in Byron Bay. I held onto that for as long as I could, annoying everyone with my tan (a home jobbie of course, as the only thing my skin develops when in the sun is freckles) and post holiday high demeanour.
However, as much as I tried to cling to my memories (plastering pictures of the beach on my computer, and placing shells I collected from the beach alongside a framed postcard) slowly but surely my sparkle was eroded by work, deadlines and domesticity.
So do forgive me if I come across a tad self indulgent, or if you catch a whiff of desperation as I vicariously try to recapture my holiday magic through this article. (Sheesh, if she can’t inspire herself, what hope does she have of transporting us to Byron Bay with her article?)
But, you’ll enjoy the ride – promise. After all, we’ll get chauffeured by a limousine, stay in luxury accommodation, and also stop by the beautician, so I suggest you pour yourself some bubbles.
Don’t forget your fake tan, bikinis (yes, you’ll be doing a lot of swimming), floaty summer dresses, kaftans, SPF 30+ and whilst shoes are optional in this town, don’t let that stop you from packing a few pairs of stylish summer sandals.
Yes, one can suffice with minimalist product of sorts in the tropics – coconut body wash, tinted moisturiser, waterproof mascara, a sweep of bronzer and lip gloss. However, in case of situation requiring you to transform yourself from sun kissed holiday goer to vampy vixen of the night (upon meeting young spunky boy at the local bar), I suggest you break glass in case of emergency, and crack out the eyeliner. It’s the perfect way to transform your look into something more sultry for the evening.
Leave in conditioner is a must to take care of your wash and wear tresses post daily swims in the ocean. I left my hair straightener at home, and it was a move I was later to regret, along with the lack of Agent Provocateur lingerie in my suitcase. It was definitely a matter of ripping one’s sensible under garments (your every day kind of knickers – functional and practical, but must never be sighted by member of the opposite sex if you wish to engage them in sexual conduct of any sort) off from underneath the blanket in manner of Lara Croft, and then sliding them down the side of the bed, hoping that they would be there when I reached for them again in the morning. But I must stop there, as ahem, this story is PG rated.
So the moral of the story girl scouts is that if one is stranded on a desert island, she will definitely need her mascara and lip gloss along with her GHD post swimming naked in tropical waters and climbing trees for coconuts. So, yes, go on, pack a pair of heels as well – you know you want to.
Well, now that we’ve got all that sorted, let me just call that chauffeur.
Hang on a minute, didn’t you just say we were going to Byron Bay? What are you doing getting a limousine – it hardly seems the kind of place for a limousine?
I’m glad you brought that up. Seeing as I’m going to be writing quite a few more of these travel articles for Onya (it seems I’ve taken quite a shining to gallivanting around the country, testing the thread count of hotel sheets and inspecting whether they use duck down feathers in their pillows), we’re going to need to clear something up – I don’t do off-road, and if there’s a 5 star option, you can bet I’m all over it.
For those of you who are more of the backpacking and camping kind, well, let’s face it, you’re going to be disappointed. But, hey, I’m sure there are plenty of other magazines you can read in between “cooking” over a camp fire whilst being surrounded by red dust, all in the name of “fun”.
I must say, I’m rather perplexed at the notion of fun defined as carting your belongings across the countryside, not showering for days and sleeping on blow up mattresses under the elements. From what I can gather, the point of all this malarkey, is so that you can all sit around a fire and talk?! If I wanted to do that, I’d invite you all around to my house over the weekend and we can sit on my leather sofa – and, guess what, how novel – talk.
No matter how well you pitch it to me, you’re never going to sell me on what I can only foresee as an ordeal that even my pioneering ancestors in the early 1900s would have turned their noses up at …
“What do you mean you want me to pack everything into the horse and cart and sleep in the bush for a week? Have you lost your marbles? I’ve got a week’s worth of cross stitch here and a pile of ironing that’s not going to do itself you know. Speaking of which, I better chop some more wood for the stove, so I can heat these irons back up and bathe the seven kids before dinner. Then I best be milking the cows, shearing the sheep, ploughing the fields and sowing next year’s crop.”
So, yes, so, you get the drift. Not a camper. Okay, right, where were we? Yes, the limousine.
Byron Bay Limousines
I’m sure you’re going to find Bill as helpful, polite and professional as I did. His customer service was impeccable, and he was ever so attentive with an air of nothing being too much trouble, ensuring everything was taken care of to ensure my trip was absolutely delightful.
Sitting in the comfort of the limousine, the hour’s trip seemed to whizz by and before I knew it, I was at my destination. It’s definitely the perfect way to start and end your holiday.
Bill not only provides limousines for airport transfers, but also weddings, corporate events, special events and girl’s nights out. Byron Bay Limousines will quote for bookings from Coffs Harbour to Noosa and all areas in between.
Why not book Byron Bay Limousines for a special girl’s afternoon at the Gaia Retreat & Spa (founded by Olivia Newton John) or drive up to the Gold Coast for the day for a spot of shopping?
Click here to visit Byron Bay Limousines and find out more about the services they can offer you on your next trip to the NSW hinterlands area.
Paradiso Beauty
Speaking of day spas, I was lucky enough to visit Paradiso Beauty for some treatments. My feet were in dire need of attention having spent the previous months in heels and boots traipsing the city streets. I was almost too embarrassed to show to them someone I’d just met (what kind of a girl do you think I am, flashing my feet around like a floozy on my first day in a new town?)
First date nerves aside, I’m pretty fussy when it comes to a pedicure. Okay, let’s be frank – I’m terribly fussy. I certainly take umbrage paying someone who doesn’t put the effort into making my feet super soft and smooth (I could half heartedly run the pumice stone over my own feet at home).
Not only was Simmone’s technique brilliant, but the treatment was incredibly relaxing. I nearly squealed when I saw the end product – super soft feet (thanks to the paraffin foot treatment) and toe nails lacquered in a beautiful warm taupe (the perfect hue for the tropics).
Simmone was warm and friendly, and I felt ever so relaxed in her salon (almost as though we could have cracked a glass of wine, but then that would have just smudged my nails). There was none of that ghastly forced faux conversation reminiscent of many beauty salons, instead we chatted naturally as she lavished my cuticles with some much needed care, filed my nails so that they looked like pretty maids all in a row and then painted them in the same fabulous colour as my toes.
During our conversation, I learnt about her ethos when choosing products for her salon and clients. Simmone is committed to understanding the ingredients in the products and most importantly their effectiveness. Sure, some products may smell nice and have pretty packaging, but unless she believes they will benefit her client’s skin, then you won’t find them on her shelves.
Simmone also has a Botox expert who comes into her salon regularly to perform anti-aging injections. I discussed my hesitations around botox, but Simmone herself has had some injections and I was surprised how natural they looked on her. I believe that it really does come down to finding a professional with the expertise to freshen up your face without rendering you devoid of emotion and facial expression.
Click here to visit Paradiso Beauty, and book yourself some treatments with Simmone whilst in Byron Bay.
Follow this series in Part 3, where we’ll check into my accommodation at the Villas of Byron and rejoice laying by my private pool and lounging in the sunshine on the outdoor oriental day bed. We’ll also visit Seaview House, Janet’s Apartments and The Summerhouse.
