bananandlaces — The Collyer Twins

If you can trust anyone to be escaping the winter months and spending another Christmas basking in the sun, you can guarantee it will be us…And us it was! We decided to jet off to Thailand for Christmas and New Years swapping the snow for the sun, the sofa for the beach and the indulgent roast dinner for delicious Thai currys. Nom, nom, nom!

Now, if you’re looking for recommendations of where to stay and where to go in Thailand, I’m not sure this blog post will be highly appropriate for you. We didn’t venture too far out of Phuket (aside Krabi) as we have a house out there, in a southerly point called Rawai, that my dad built 6 years ago. However, I will highlight some of the other places we visited and stayed at. (Worth mentioning if you are heading out there any time soon!)

Instead, this blog post, I hope, is well suited for you sun loving babies( like us) that will jump at any opportunity to escape the winter months and are in need of a bit of wardrobe inspiration when hitting hotter, even humid, climates at this time of year.
Below all of our images we’ve listed where everything is from with links to where you can buy them.

So for those of you that have been to Thailand at Christmas you’ll know, you’re usually guaranteed hot weather, it can also be quite humid and a few downpours here and there, they aren’t known to last long at all though. With this in mind, it can be more than common to OVER PACK, which from experience, is a big mistake. In fact I think the whole fifteen days, I wore my flip flops and sandals thirteen out of those whole days along with bikinis and throw overs. Those being my main staples.

If you’re heading to Thailand for a two week holiday over Christmas I would limit your suitcase to the following items (bare in mind, some of the outfits we are wearing in these photos, were purely to get good content in some of the outfits- They weren’t necessarily essential items if you’re trying to pack light! Ie the two piece outfits) : Flip flops, sandals, 3-5 bikinis/ beach wraps / throw-overs / sunnies/ sun hat / denim shorts / a couple of T’s / a Jacket or blazer / a couple of shirts / skirts and that is probably all you need!

Mangosteen Resort & Spa - After a very fun and hectic new years eve, we checked ourselves in for a few days of pampering and relaxation at the Mangosteen resort and spa. Just ten minutes from our house in Rawai.

We each had a little wooden villa in the middle of the jungle with sea views, each one was so adorable. In those few days, we indulged in a very healthy vegan menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Treated ourselves to full body Thai massages, body wraps, Spa sessions and really took the time to unwind.

It is a definite must if you’re in Phuket and looking for a few days to chill out!

Krabi

After a few days in Phuket we went to visit my brother, sister in law and Neice who had rented a beautiful villa in Krabi. This is it here, for those looking for a nice villa stay whilst there.

Krabi is a lot less busy, polluted and generally a lot more green and almost jungle-like than where we were in Phuket. We stayed for a week spending Christmas there too, which was very un-christmassy, to say the least, but also amazing. Sipping on a beer and floating in the pool on Christmas day and hiring Thai chefs who came over and cooked us a delicious Thai feast for dinner!
If you’re in Krabi, be sure to rent one of the boats at the beach for a day and have a tour of the neighbouring islands. They are beautiful, Coral Island, in particular, as you approach it, looks like a scene from Jurassic park, with its backdrop of sheer cliffs and huge hanging palm trees.

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Collyer TwinsFebruary 18, 2019 Comment

La Folie Douce - Chamonix

I’ve always loved skiing from a young age. There’s just nothing quite like the adrenaline you get from bombing it down the most breathtaking mountain range, blue skies in sight and inhaling the freshest of air on your decline…Bliss.

Now for the avid skiers, I’m sure you will be well aware of La Folie Douce and its infamous apres-ski parties on the slopes, so when we heard they were opening the first ever Folie Douce Hotel, I jumped at the chance to go out and experience it.

Located in a prime spot in the centre of Chamonix Mont Blanc, the hotel has ski-in , ski-out access to the Brevet Ski Resort, so it’s perfect for mixing apres and skiing.

Our trip was organised by Ski Solutions, one of the UK’s leading luxury ski tour operators. From organising our stay, to our restaurants and ski passes, they really did an amazing job. I invited my two friends to join me on my trip, as Jordan was busy doing her 10 day silent retreat in Thailand.

As we approached the hotel, nestled between the snowy mountains, smoke transpiring out the top, it oozed a sense of grandeur reminiscent of that of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Walking in, the interior was equally as stunning, each room with its own distinct personality and the carpets full of character and intricacy. The one closest to the entrance was a beautiful beige, detailed map of the world.

The rooms, of which there are 250 in the whole hotel, each have a stunning view of the mountain ranges outside and are so cosy. We had a deluxe room, perfect for the 3 of us and one of the evenings, instead of getting involved in the Apres ski, our room was just too tempting, so we all just snuggled up and watched a film, watching the snow fall on to the mountains outside. Cosier than that? Impossible.

Now, if you’re not a big skier, nor a big drinker (party-goer) then do not fret! These guys also have wellness, fitness and relaxation down to a T. The feel good club sports and spa hosts an 18-metre heated outdoor swimming pool, saunas and a steam room, relaxation room and a sun terrace overlooking the majestic mountains of Chamonix. They also have eight massage cabins and offer a whole range of different treatments and massages. Unfortunately we didn’t get to experience this, we were too busy skiing….and partying but a massage would have gone down an absolute treat.

One of my favourite parts of the hotel was the food. (No surprise there) The hotel has three different restaurants. Le Petit Cuisine, Le Mayen, La Fruitiere . The first night we had dinner at La Petit Cuisine, which is also where we had breakfast each morning. It’s a gourmet self-service restaurant relying on quality, local produce, plus a great atmosphere. In the mornings there’s just the most amazing spread of freshly made croissants, pastries, pancakes, waffles, fresh fruits, condiments, jams, cheese, hams, eggs, savoury delights… You name it, they have it. The best way to fuel up before a long day on the slopes!

On our second evening, we really went all out with traditional comfort Alpine food. Yes, we’re talking cheese fondue, raclette, potatoes, hams, breads, pickles and all the sides. Le Mayen, is the restaurant to hit the spot, perfect for a post-ski workout. Mouth-wateringly delicious and guaranteed to have you rolling out of there feeling satisfyingly cheesed-out.

So the infamous Apres- ski takes place between 4pm and 10pm. The main area is in the lower part of the hotel, where you will be greeted by singers, big-screen projections, breath taking light shows, dancers, DJs blaring out the tunes and quite possibly an array of keen skiers dancing on the tables, necking the booze and getting down to the dirty Dj beats. It sure is an amazing experience.

Our last night had to be one of the best. We went down to Apres around 8pm after our cheese-induced comas and ended up getting very involved in the dancing, the partying, the booze and ended our night in a traditional bar in town full of avid ski-goers ready to party their socks off. A night to remember no doubt!

The skiing itself was equally as fun. The ski lift is right outside the hotel making it super easy to access the slopes. The mountain range, The Alps, are breathtaking and the first day was probably one of the most beautiful conditions I have ever skiied in. Bright blue skies, above the clouds and the beaming sunshine on our faces.

I am so impressed that the hotel had opened a matter of days before we arrived, as everything went so smoothly. Ski solutions really did pull out all the stops to make sure our stay and ski experience was a fantastic and memorable one. If you’re looking to go Skiing, Chamonix is the perfect place to go and no better place to experience the whole shebang that at the Folie Douce!

Loanne x x

Shop the look:

Ski suit Jacket | Topshop
Ski suit Salopettes | Topshop
All in one ski suit | Topshop
Zebra Print Ski suit | Topshop

TravelCollyer TwinsFebruary 4, 2019Comment

10 DAYS OF SILENCE. My invaluable experience of a Vipassana meditation retreat.

Okay guys this is a long one but PLEASE bear with me….

Over the past couple of years I’ve dabbled in meditation (15 minutes here and there) and have always been pleasantly surprised at how it calmed my busy and racing mind. Towards the end of last year when I stripped away any form of distraction such as social media/ drinking/ relationships I realised that I wasn’t truly fulfilled and I was masking how I felt through all these forms of escapism.

It probably seems hard to believe right? Especially when it looks like I’m leading the best life through Instagram, going on holiday every month, eating at the best places and wearing the nicest clothes? In all honestly I believed I was until I stripped it all back…(it’s important for me to be as transparent as possible that what you see on Instagram doesn’t always correlate to how you feel on the inside…I think we all know that.)

On top of all of this I had suffered from tiny bouts of anxiety here and there that seemed to be getting worse over the past 6 months, I’d also developed a health issue, derived from stress, my body was clearly telling me that something needed to change so that is when I decided to take time for myself and give myself the best medicine possible; a Vipassana silent retreat.

For those that don’t know Vipassana meditation (the oldest buddhist meditation practise) is another method that develops self-understanding through mindful training. Vipassana means “to see things how they truly are” by acknowledging the body and mind in the present moment it develops and strengthens momentary concentration.

So after a family holiday in Phuket, I flew off to Chaing Mai to a monastery called ‘Watrampoeng’ that my brother and friend had tried and tested and highly recommended.

On the plane over I started to feel slightly apprehensive, ‘could I do 10 days without talking? Would I get lonely? What will I do without my phone? What have I signed myself up for? Lots of my friends thought I was a little crazy for doing it but I had an overriding feeling of excitement and determination.

Once I arrived at the temple, we were layed down with THE RULES:

No talking, no phone, no books, no reading, no writing, no electronic devices, no wearing makeup, hair always to be tied up, no walking and drinking and a few others….(Wow!)

I was given 2 sets of linen clothing to wear for the next 10 days, an alarm clock (which the nun took off me after day 2, so I had no concept of time apart from the sound of the gong to signal breakfast and lunch time) a stop watch and a key to my room. My room was basic, bear and uninviting, what had I got myself in for, I thought, but as the days went on, I realised I didn’t need anything else…

The whole 10 days were very much Do-It-Yourself. There were around 15 of us on the course, we were shown how to do the walking and sitting meditation which we would do ourselves over the next 10 days, we were given a certain number of hours of meditation to complete each day before reporting back to the teacher every afternoon to discuss our progress. (I was doing 13 hours a day by the end!)

THE DAILY SCHEDULE

4.30am - The GONG goes off, morning chanting and meditation (voluntary)

(Continue meditating in place of choice)

6.30am - GONG goes off for Breakfast (After 2 days I skipped breakfast, I wasn’t hungry and it only disrupted my practise)

(Continue meditating in place of choice)

10.30am - GONG goes off for Lunch, last meal of the day - The food was bloody delicious and caters so well for vegetarians, lots of vegetables, wild rice, tofu and seitan

Continue your practise for the rest of the day until bedtime (usually around 10pm) with reporting at 4pm.

MY EXPERIENCE

It was mentally exhausting but what I experienced over the next 10 days was profound. I acquired an inner calm I had never felt in my life, a real inner peace devoid of negative thoughts and mind chatter. During those 10 days, I felt so alive and healthy. I remember waking up every morning at 4.30am to the sound of the gong, not even tired, looking in the mirror and for the first time looking vibrant with no bags under my eyes! Winner winner, chicken dinner!

So when I say a “silent retreat” I spoke briefly with the teachers, crumbled at points and exchanged a few words with my fellow yogis BUT it didn’t disrupt my practise as such, as long as I was still being “mindful” and not letting my mind wander, a few words here and there didn’t hurt anyone!

To be honest I did find the “no” talking quite challenging, being a naturally chatty person I found it weird and pretty awkward not being able to talk at meal times…this feeling quickly dissolved.

Bear in mind that every body’s journey is personal and so my experiences could be completely different to other peoples. Weirdly I didn’t miss having my phone at all, in fact I hardly remember even thinking about it, nor did I feel lonely or sad, on the contrary, I felt at home, safe and exactly where I should be. My unassuming/ bear bedroom became my sanctuary…

A FEW STAND OUT MOMENTS

Day 6 - Every day was different but (after doing around 65 hours of meditating) my senses were heightening so much that I felt like what could only be described as being on a trippy MDMA experience. Haha! My mind was playing tricks on me. I could see things moving from the corner of my eyes and I remember doing the practise in the dark and looking at a leaf that I could have sworn turned into a mouse! Ha. After asking my teacher if that was normal, he laughed and looked at me in a slightly funny manner… clearly not then. Just my mind playing tricks on me. None of the other yogis shared that experience either.

Day 7 - I had what I considered a breakthrough. Whilst I was doing the sitting meditation, focusing on my breathing, my heart started to race for 10 minutes and no word of lie, a huge release of tension and anxiety that felt like it had been built up over the years suddenly dissolved, left my body. The feeling that followed….Euphoria. I acquired an inner calm, a state of tranquility I had never felt before. It was like I was breathing for the first time (honestly guys it has to be experienced to be understood.) I’d describe it as a quieting of the mind, detached from the constant mental chatter and inner critic that we live with on daily basis. I feel like I finally had that lightbulb moment that said “Hoorah, This is what life is all about!”

Day 8 - This was my happiest day. I felt so at peace and calm. I sat against one of the temple pillars finishing my practise, the morning sun hitting my face and I remember watching a little black cat enjoying the sun and thinking to myself that I could sit here blissfully all day with not a worry or a care just utter presence and calm.

Day 9- I felt very relaxed but weirdly had a pang of anxiety during lunch which made me feel a little deflated, especially as I was in such a state of calm. After 9 days why was I still feeling anxiety? When I relayed the information back to my teacher he responded ‘impermanence,’ as you are taught in Vipassana nothing stays the same and everything is subject to change. It took me 3 hours of meditating to get back to the level of calm I had prior.

Would I do a Vipassana silent retreat again? HELL YES. I was even tempted to stay and do the full 26 days because once you’ve started to train the mind, you realise that you’re only just scratching the surface at 10 days.

LIFE AFTER THE RETREAT

It was quite a transition coming straight back into busy London life, I was getting headaches after spending just half an hour on my phone and it felt like everyone was operating at 700 miles per hour whilst I was going at a snails pace. I was getting tired, really tired…

So I’m meditating every morning now for an hour, there’s no way I’m letting this practise slip. I’m going to endeavour to do a silent retreat every year now, you can hold me to that!

Oh and my health issue, (which was a thyroid one) improved. Most diseases and illnesses stem from stress so I knew calming my mind would be the best cure for it. And Voila it was!

Practising mindfulness meditation requires work, and as my teacher kept reminding me the mind is like a muscle, the more you train it the stronger it becomes. HOW crazy that we live in a society that is so focused on training the body yet we completely neglect the mind; the one thing that causes all of our suffering but equally the only thing that will set us free and provide us with true inner happiness.

I’m not saying 10 days will change your life. I’m certainly no monk and I still have that inner critic and negative thoughts, I’m a human, ‘a thinking being’ but what it has allowed me to do is quieten those thoughts by accessing the present moment. I can look at my thoughts objectively as not being my own, which for me was liberating! (Sounds easy to be present, right? I thought I was totally present until I did this course. Trust me, not until you train your mind can you fully appreciate what it’s like to be living in the now.)

I know how much this will benefit everyone reading this especially in our society that places so much emphasis on finding happiness on the outside world whether through a job, a relationship, a new outfit, a bit of botox, but that only buys temporary happiness until it’s over, you wrinkle, you loose that job, you dump your partner…

Have you ever been constantly drained, tired or depressed from all the mind chatter constantly dictating the way you feel and in turn changing the way you perceive the world? ‘Ah I need to loose more weight’ ‘Ah I need to get that promotion’, ‘Ah I’m getting too many wrinkles.’ We lose the present moment by constantly having these thoughts, our ego thrives of negative thoughts so we get caught up and forget about the here and now, THE ONLY TIME WE WILL EVER HAVE!

This has honestly been one of the best tools I have received, if it can help me it can help you and if there is one thing I can encourage you guys who are reading this, it’s not just to buy the latest bikini I’m promoting or lust over the last holiday I’ve been on because, non of that matters if you aren’t truly at peace on the inside…(I know) because it’s temporary, it’s fleeting it’s short lived and it isn’t the happiness (I PROMISE) that you are consciously or unconsciously searching for. It’s to get up go book a Vipassana retreat (for those committed ones) or if you’re not ready yet start making meditation a part of your daily routine, sit with yourself and stop running away from your thoughts. It will be the greatest gift you give yourself and a step closer to finding an inner peace, an inner calm you didn’t even know existed.

“Change your thoughts and the world around you changes.”

Jordan xxx

The Temple I went too:

WATRAMPOENG -

For those that don’t want to jump the nest, here are a couple a little closer to home… (I haven’t trialled and tested these so I don’t know how good they are.. )

UK VIPASSANA RETREATS

Dhamma Dipa

GAIA HOUSE

An insightful reading list that has helped me on my journey

The Power of Now- Eckhart Tolle

A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle

The Secret - Rhona Byrne

The Power - Rhona Byrne

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - Robin Sharma

The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz

Becoming Supernatural - Dr Joe Dispenza

You Are The Placebo. - Dr Joe Dispenza

Travel, LifestyleCollyer TwinsJanuary 30, 2019silent retreat meditation Comments

Rock & Relaxation in Ibiza

Touch down in Ibiza and an overwhelming feeling comes flooding back to me. A feeling of excitement, anticipation and some what ‘belonging’ which I can never quite put my finger on.

Ahead of launching their iconic 1,000 room hotel in London next spring, The Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, set on the south side of the island, invited a small group of us out to give us an exclusive taste of what to expect…..Excitement was an understatement!

As we drove to the hotel, our taxi driver tricked us into thinking the hotel was two hours away, so we prepared ourselves for a long and tiresome journey, but within no longer than 10/15 minutes he pulled up next to a huge ‘Hard Rock’ sign, on the doorstep of the infamous ‘Ushuaia’ club and muttered “ Only joking. We’re here!” I mean talk about convenience!

Which leads me to my first and foremost reason for going, staying and experiencing the amazing Hard Rock Hotel in Ibiza, where we stayed for 3 nights…and boy oh boy did we have fun…

Music -

Now one thing this hotel is not lacking is music. Memorabilia, live acts, amazing sound systems, parties, DJs , underwater sound systems, welcome musical gifts! You name it, this hotel has music at its core…

International famous entertainers from all over the world find inspiration right here. We were given a memorabilia tour of the hotel, which was fascinating, so many famous acts have stayed or played here and costumes and outfits from Elton john to Lady Gaga to the beetles are all present in the hotel.

Even the rooms are ridden with musical aspects. You can change the lights over your bed to change the mood, an amazing sound system is available and upon arrival were electrical guitars and vinyl players in our rooms. I mean, I wish we knew how to play both, but pretty cool huh?

We were in our element.

Location -

Now think about all the reasons you would choose to go to Ibiza ( well all the reasons we would anyway…)

Beach bars, clubs, DJs, restaurants, events, sunsets, beaches, …well thankfully at the Hard Rock, this is all at your disposal.

With the infamous Ushuaia next door, pumping beats and music throughout the day to get you in the mood, the hotel is set against the very famous El Chiringuito Beach. A ten minute drive and you’re at the famous Experimental beach bar, famous for its beautiful sunsets over the island. Another 12 minute drive and you can get lunch at El Chiringuito beach bar , which is such a great atmosphere and the food is divine. A few minutes from the hotel’s doorstep and you can dance all night at the famous HII Ibiza where we danced all night long to Eric Prydz for his closing set…. or if you’re feeling lazy, just roll out of bed and you’re pretty much in Ushuaia, where you’ll find most of the best music acts playing from dusk until dawn.

Dining -

So the first night Jordan and I arrived we had dinner at the hotel’s beach club outside.

The beautifully white washed rustic decor oozes all elements of chic amidst a gentle evening sea breeze. The ideal spot for a chilled dinner. We ordered the sea bass and vegetables which to this day, Jordan describes as ‘the best sea bass’ she has ever had. Freshly caught and beautifully seasoned, a definite must-try if you go! One of the afternoons we had lunch here as well which was just as delicious, with a wide variety of mediterranean options. Ps - Go for the Octopus at lunch. It is Fish-licious.

On our last night we dined at the Tatel restaurant. With restaurants in Madrid and Miami , this place is a leader in traditional Spanish cuisine. I ordered an amazing dish of black rice which squid which was incredible, but for me, even more impressive than the food, was the 1920’s style ambience and interior of the restaurant, you feel like you’re stepping into a scene from the Great Gatsby surrounded by the glitz and glamour of the prohibition era. We spent the first half an hour in awe of the decor. A lot of inspiration when doing up my own home for sure…

Rooftop Bar -

Now, if you’re looking for delicious cocktails, a fantastic sunset view, chilled beats and a way to start off the night, then the Hard Rock rooftop bar is the one.

Jordan and I arrived just in time for sunset on our first evening, so decided to go up for a drink or two. You can see the whole south side of the island from the top and also watch all the planes flying in over the sunset, and on the other side is the moon, we were lucky to get a full moon when we were there. Views to die for…

PS - Get the Old Fashioned cocktail. I’m not usually a fan of whisky , but theirs is special!

So there you have it, if you love your music, you love to party and you love the magical island of Ibiza, The Hard Rock is the place to be.
Fantastic food, bars, location, music and ambience. It’s all here baby!

Thank you so much for our stay Hard Rock! We can’t wait for the opening of the London property!

L&J x x

Collyer TwinsNovember 6, 2018Comment

Retreat to Crete

If you’re looking for a lovely, laid-back retreat abroad, look no further than the ‘Retreat to Crete’, a yoga and cookery retreat that nourishes the mind, body and belly!

Set amongst a rustic and beautiful backdrop of the majestic Cretan sea in a gorgeous, Greek-inspired villa, the retreat offers a lovely space to have some much needed down time whilst also mingling with some fabulous like-minded people.

What I loved about this retreat was the informality and relaxed nature of it. With the retreat in its infancy, hosts Betty and Caroline were so welcoming and open to anything we felt like doing (or not doing) it was a real home from home. With another 8 attendees on the retreat it felt like one big happy family where we all cooked together, feasted together, explored the local town, hiked through stunning landscapes, visited a beautiful monastery and all whilst appreciating the breath-taking surroundings.

We spent 4 days at Villa Delfini and every morning we would partake in either sunrise yoga or a lengthy swim in the pool followed by a lovely breakfast spread of Greek yoghurt, local honey, walnuts and fresh figs topped off with some stimulating local Greek coffee. Arguably the perfect way to start the day!

Over the 4 days we learnt to cook some mouth-watering Greek inspired dishes, courtesy of the extremely talented chef, Betty, who taught us how to make Gigantes Plaki (slow cooked butterbeans), BBQ’d Octopus in garlic and lemon, stuffed courgette flowers, Cretan dakkos and of course our fave, Tzatziki. Skills I am still yet to put into practise in the kitchen but definitely top of my recipe list once summer pokes its head around again. The day ended as well as it started with a lovely cooked meal (prepared by us) with some delicious local wine.

Exercise wise the break was quite relaxed. Whilst starting the day with either a swim in the pool or a yoga session with the inspirational Caroline, we also hiked and swam at the local beach which was a beautiful cove, rustic & quaint in nature and devoid of tourists. Added extras on the retreat were wine tasting and massages from the local masseuse, which was a great way to unwind and recuperate.

This really was the ideal retreat. If you are a foodie like us, love to unwind, meet new people in an intimate setting whilst also appreciating beautifully scenic views and sunsets, this is the place for you!

Can we come back already Betty & Caroline?!

Travel, LifestyleCollyer TwinsOctober 30, 2018Comment

Crazy For Prints

Hey chicas,

So we've all seen the craze with animal prints and more recently than ever we've had loads of you asking where we got our items from, whether they are still in stock and if not, where the hell to buy them from!? Well a lot of the nice stuff seems to have all sold out, and pretty rapidly as well! My snake print two piece from Zara is a prime example, it sold out in the UK so quickly and never got re-stocked (boooo). Well, we've had a scour around the internet to see what is still out there and have sifted through the not-so-great stuff to leave you guys with some of our favourite options out there!

The Leopard Print Maxi Skirt You Missed -