Tag: instagram

NYC Diaries; One Afternoon Over Brooklyn Bridge

October 26, 2025

As one of the most photographed spots on Instagram in New York, walking over Brooklyn Bridge to get one of those iconic shots with Manhattan in the background is a must when visiting the city for the first time.

On the Monday afternoon we headed downtown and grabbed a slice at Joe’s Pizza for lunch.

Grabbing a slice of authentic American pizza was on my list of foodie experiences to do whilst in New York and it didn’t disappoint.

I opted for a spinach and ricotta topping whilst my boyfriend went for a classic slice of greasy pepperoni.

Fuelled up on pizza and we were ready for the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

It would seem the bridge is busy at most times of the day unless you were to come super early in the morning, but that didn’t effect our experience.

Whilst it was an overcast day it was still quite warm at about 23 degrees, so the perfect weather for a pleasant stroll over the bridge in shorts and a light jacket.

A few stops for photos along the way and we finally made our way over to DUMBO.

DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is another very famous neighbourhood known for its picturesque streets and trendy art scene.

We found ourselves on Washington Street, the most popular street in DUMBO for that iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge framed by the cobblestone street and red-brick buildings.  

As expected it was very busy during the afternoon, so we got the shot and continued exploring the area.

From the bridge we had spotted an awesome looking rooftop bar overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, so we headed there for an early evening cocktail.

Located on top of the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Harriet’s Rooftop is a stylish bar serving lovely cocktails to enjoy whilst taking in those unbeatable views of the city.

I had a classic Paloma cocktail whilst my boyfriend had a local Brooklyn pilsner beer.

As you can imagine it was very pricey, but we couldn’t complain given the brilliant views we got to soak up whilst enjoying our drinks.

It was soon time to make our way back over the bridge and with the early evening drawing in and the city lighting up, the skyline became even more photogenic.

I can see why so many people love this part of New York; there’s a certain romantic quality about it that makes you feel like the main character in a movie.

Once we reached the other side of the bridge we caught a cab back to the hotel and on our drive through Manhattan, there was the most beautiful sunset of purple and pink hues.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge over to DUMBO was one of my favourite experiences during our visit to New York, and I’m super keen to see more of this trendy neighbourhood on our next trip to NYC ❤

Bali Guide; A Day in Ubud

March 31, 2024

It wouldn’t be a trip to Bali without visiting the luscious green rice terraces and a breathtaking waterfalls in the rainforest. Being based in Canggu for the duration of our stay in Bali, we decided to do a day trip to Ubud and hired a private driver for the day which worked out at about £5 an hour – what a bargain!

Ubud is about 1 hour from Canggu by car and being more central Bali, it is where you find the awesome rainforest and those Instagramable rice terraces upon the expanse of rolling hills.

Arriving late morning mid-week, it wasn’t too crowded for our stop at Tegenungan Waterfall. Another humid and extremely hot day in Bali, the walk down and back up was a challenge in the heat.

Well worth the trek though as we could take a scenic dip by the magnificent waterfall when we finally made it down.

Our next stop was Cretya, a day club with split level infinity pools overlooking perfectly groomed rice terraces. This place was only £2.50 to get into and this gave us access to the pool club and surrounding grounds for the day.

Unfortunately a storm rolled in just after we arrived, so we sheltered from the rain on a table overlooking the rainforest and enjoyed a lovely lunch of margarita pizza and garden salad.

Not forgetting a classic Bintang to ease the sting of that torrential rain meaning we couldn’t fully enjoy the beautiful pools.

Regardless, it was still an amazing place to explore and walk around following our time at the pool club. They even had the famous Bali swing here!

On reflection, we really liked Ubud and would definitely stay there next time we visit Bali to get the full jungle life experience.

Bali Trip Planning; One Month To Go

February 4, 2024

Happy Sunday! We’ve made it into February and I’m so excited to be jetting off to Bali with my boyfriend at the end of this month. Having been before and fallen in love with this palm-fringed island, there are many places I want to go back to as well as lots of new areas I’d like to explore. We’ll be staying in the bustling beachside town of Canguu, Bali’s rapidly developing hedonistic paradise with it’s world-class waves, eclectic boutiques and markets, beautifully aesthetic beach bars and flourishing foodie scene.

Our hotel Zin in Canguu, is a stunning boutique hotel resort situated right by the beach and in the heart of Berawa with the best shops, restaurants and bars right on our doorstep.

We’ll have to visit my favourite beach club La Brisa on Echo Beach for sundowners, and not forgetting The Lawn and Finns which are both nearby too.

My inner foodie can’t wait to go back to Shady Shack for the incredible salad nourish bowls and also Crate Cafe for their stunning smoothie bowls.

Penny Lane is also a must for the wonderfully aesthetic interiors and extensive menu of vegan delights to enjoy whilst taking in those gorgeous surroundings.

Having read more recent blogs and watching YouTube vlogs from influencers in Canguu, I’ve got a whole bunch of new spots to try out in the area too. I particularly like the look of Mason restaurant for a date night and SKOOL Kitchen for some fine dining with a view.

Beyond Canguu, there are two other areas of the island I would like to visit during our time in Bali. A day trip to the central jungle terrine of Ubud is an absolute must. Here you will find the lush green rice paddies and ethereal waterfalls which will undoubtedly be picture perfect moments for the ‘gram.

Another day trip I have mapped out is to Uluwatu on the south coast, where the white sand beaches and cliff faced coastlines are breathtaking.

This is where the infamous beach club Savaya is located with its seemingly floating balcony dance floor and DJ deck. Sundowners with that magnificent view and live music will be the dream pinch me moment.

As always, I’m doing my research using Instagram, YouTube and blogs to save the very best places for us to visit and make the most of our time in Bali. A Pinterest board is another great way to get inspired and discover hidden gems – https://www.pinterest.co.uk/danielleaneka/bali/

Using Google maps I have also put together my own map for Bali, pinning the places to go in each region of the island we plan on visiting. I do this anytime I am travelling abroad as its a quick and easy way to save everything in one place and visually see where they are on the map. Checkout my Bali map here – https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1IAltwIQuNtqsH3oXXDRz0DVF2pi3w1s&usp=sharing

So the countdown to Bali ’24 is on and I’m absolutely thrilled to be going back to magical beach bum days in island paradise ❤