Shopping around the world  can be a lot of fun, until you are faced with unfamiliar dress sizing that can make you delighted or horrified. Amy Huang shares her travel and shopping anxieties and explain why sometimes it might be wise to leave your self-esteem at home and just enjoy the...

 On the outskirts of Sydney there is a retreat where you can participate in detox programs and yoga practice, or to relax and unwind in the beautiful natural surroundings. Welcome to Ghost Hill Road.  Why we love it: The tranquil surroundings of countryside Sydney is the perfect backdrop...

As part of our  Worldette Heroine series we feature another inspirational woman who has impacted our world. Amy Huang writes a tribute to Frida Leonor Delgado Chirinos who devoted her life to helping women and communities in Peru.  It was five days until Christmas in 2010 and I had just...

Natural mineral spring waters are said to cure diseases and enrich our complexion. Amy Huang takes us on a tour of the hot springs in Taiwan.  The Japanese first explored the potential of Taiwan’s old volcanic underground for its mineral resources, and they were delighted to find an...

Despite the idyllic environment and picturesque island landscapes, recent figures on the incidents of domestic abuse against women in the Pacific Islands paint a more shocking picture. The United Nation Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) reports that women in...

Curry sticks and exotic fruits: An exploration of food and culture at Darwin’s colorful and vibrant foods markets I am at the Parap Village Markets and I am absolutely delighted, and it’s not just because they serve the best laksa I know outside Asia. Around me there is so much color and...

Think ‘travel’ and ‘valentines’ and chances are you have an image of an attractive couple walking hand-in-hand down a stunning white beach and a vibrant blues sea lapping on the shore. Photoshop? Maybe not. Head to the Pacific Islands where you’ll find your...

In a world where multiculturalism is increasingly common how does your heritage reflect on how you portray yourself? Amy Huang goes in search of answers on a trip back to Taiwan. Mom and dad shipped me from Taiwan to Australia to live with my aunt when I was 11 years old and since then I have...

Take a trip to the small pacific island of Tanna in Vanuatu to get up close, really close, to an active volcano. The landscape was alien. Grey-brown dust whirled in the wind, rolling up big sand dunes across our path as our 4WD powered through the desert. With no palm trees, no sandy beaches...

Just a short flight away from Australia and yet the fascinating island of Tasmania is worth the trip. For a small speck of land in comparison to the rest of Australia, overshadowed by the more popular attractions in other states, Tasmania is often forgotten by mainstream travelers as a...

Amy Huang has a condition far worse than your usual post holiday blues. Nearby, planes are landing and taking off in the distance, distracting me from my tasks at hand. Unable to concentrate, I feel drained, like nothing matters anymore; I’m completely filled with a longing so strong...

Amy Huang goes underwater to discover the Great Barrier Reef. Wetsuits are not sexy. I don’t know why I even bothered to bring my nice bikini. There I am tangled in the mess of arms and legs everywhere, trying to stuff the rest of me into the impossibly tight outfit. I persist as I knew...

This kind of thing only happens when you travel. A slice of possum pie anyone? It wasn’t easy to stomach. The thought that my pie filling could have been scrapped off the road a few hours ago made me feel uneasy. My travel companion assured me that it’s just a name they’ve given the pie...

 Amy Huang gets  pampered in Vanuatu, South Pacific. Dodging the on-coming traffic on both sides I ascend a hill to reach the oasis I have been looking for. In a beautifully-enclosed garden compound is the Lotus Day Spa, a surprising tranquil place in the middle of the bustling city of...

Sydney’s iconic Park Hyatt reopening in 2012. Sydney’s Circular Quay area is home to many of the best hotels in the city, and one in particular continues to dominate the luxury market with its exclusive address at the foot of the Harbour Bridge on this busy harbour front. For most of 2011...

Queensland’s islands are the little gems dotted around the waters of Australia. Some are secluded, romantic and exclusive, some are home to turtles returning season after season to breed, and some are simply fun. Accommodation options on these islands reflect the island’s personalities and...

2012 in Sydney starts with fireworks and we’ve got the best firework viewing spots mapped out. You’re standing out there in the open, with darkness all around you, there are whispers of anticipation until the neon light start to display the digits. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Whispers turn...

Rafting down New Zealand Kaituna River is not for the faint-hearted.  We changed into our seal suits and strapped on our safety head and body wear. In the midst of excitement there was also an unmistakable layer of fear. In the training room we were briefed in the most military fashion,...

Amy Huang has a case of the green-eyed travel monster. Fingers poised over the keyboard I refrain myself from typing a childish: ‘PS. I hate you,’ as I signed off my email. My best friend Lisa, whom I normally loved dearly, had just written to inform me that she was about to fly...

Amy Huang questions why we really travel with our nearest and dearest. It’s six in the morning. My husband is already dressed and for some reason I never know is already moving furniture around the room. The loud screech of a couch being dragged across the floor wakes me from a blissful...

River cruising with crocodiles, visiting Aboriginal communities and eating bugs at Kakadu National Park, Australia. The surface of the billabong stayed as smooth as a sheet of velvet, creased with small ripples generated from our boat, cruising at a slow speed so not to stir the large...