My Travelling Top Picks

During my travels through Bali and Australia, I was lucky enough to enjoy some unforgettable experiences—from captivating cultural performances to spectacular stage shows. Naturally, I also squeezed in plenty of reading and some quality in-flight movie marathons! Here’s a quick recap of my top picks from the trip...

Theatrical & Cultural Highlights

Whilst in Sydney I made sure to tick off one of the most amazing venues, Handa Opera. The open air venue seasonally appears on Sydney Harbour overlooking the iconic skyline impressing audiences on and off stage as the sun sets each evening to spectacular views.

Each year, Opera Australia presents a production here that blends world-class performance with striking scenery. In its 14th season, the venue swapped the Harbour for the hustle of 1950s New York City with a vibrant staging of Guys & Dolls. Featuring lavish costumes, top-notch vocals, and a standout cast, it promised to be a truly memorable night.

Unfortunately, despite Sydney’s generally sunny skies, the weather didn’t hold. We only made it through the first act before the performance was cancelled due to rain. While I can’t offer a full review, getting to experience even a glimpse of this iconic venue was a bucket-list moment, drenched or not!

Another standout experience - and truly a highlight of my trip - was an evening spent at Ubud Palace, where I attended a traditional Balinese Legong and Barong dance performance by the renowned Panca Artha Group. This professional troupe rotates through six different shows each week, making it incredibly accessible to attend multiple performances and explore the full range of their repertoire - all for around £5 a ticket.

The evening’s program featured Legong Keraton, Barong, and the Sunda Upasunda ballet, which depicts a story from the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The performance was absolutely mesmerising. Characterised by elegant, deliberate movements, intricate hand and finger gestures, and striking eye expressions, this traditional dance style was as technically impressive as it was beautiful.

While I don’t feel qualified to formally critique the performance, I was genuinely blown away by the experience - from the ornate setting of Ubud Palace and the lavish costumes to the storytelling and atmosphere. What stood out most to me was the live Gamelan orchestra, whose layered and rhythmically complex music creates a hypnotic and spiritual ambiance. Watching the dancers move in perfect synchrony with such intricate melodies and percussive patterns was nothing short of extraordinary. It was a rich cultural immersion I’ll never forget.

Books Abroad & the Post-Trip Reading Rut

Sadly, since returning from my travels, I’ve found myself stuck in something of a reading rut. However, while I was away, I managed to get into two great books that kept me company between flights and beach days.

Like many, I’d already ventured into the world of Navarre and devoured Fourth Wing earlier this year, so I’d been saving Iron Flame to read alongside my travel companion. It was such fun diving back into the world of dragon riders and Navarrian lore together. That said, it took a good 30% of the book before I found myself truly gripped. There are some excellent twists and turns, but I haven’t been quite as hooked as I was with the first instalment. I'm currently 95% through, still holding out hope for a strong finish - so a full review is pending!

I also had The Song of Achilles on the go during the trip. Once again, I’ve really enjoyed the depth of character development and immersive world-building. I know the inevitable heartbreak is coming, and I’m bracing myself for it - but I’ve been slow to reach the ending. To be honest, I don’t think it’s a problem with the book - it’s more of a “me” thing at the moment. Still, I’m looking forward to finishing it and hopefully getting back into a strong reading rhythm soon.

• Win or Lose (2025): I’d been following this Disney project for a while - originally pitched as a feature film that eventually quietly landed as a mini-series. Overall, a brilliant surprise: clever, heartfelt, poignant, and refreshingly relevant.

• Barbie (2023): A rewatch that landed even better the second time around- perhaps because I wasn’t recovering from 3 hours of Oppenheimer. Still just as tongue-in-cheek and powerful, a loud, proud love letter to women and the Barbieverse.

• Anyone But You (2023): Finally got around to this rom-com gem! Watched it as we left Sydney, spotting familiar locations made it even more enjoyable. Great fun and one of the best of its kind in recent years.

• Moana 2 (2024): Another re-watch & sadly still a miss for me. I didn’t make it to the end. Originally planned as a Disney+ series, it shows. Some charm remains - but I’ll stick to the original.

• Back to Black (2024): Whilst Marisa Abela gives a strong performance as Amy Winehouse, I still standby the fact that the film still feels like it misses a few emotional beats.

• Better Man (2024): Another pop icon biopic; this one about Robbie Williams. Honest, raw, and unexpectedly moving. Also: a great reminder of just how many hits he’s released.

• Waitress: The Musical – ProShot (2023): I suppose this should technically belong in the theatre section, but huge shoutout to Emirates for offering it as in-flight entertainment! A firm favourite of mine, having seen it both on Broadway and the West End. A joy to rewatch (though I may be a little biased).

• Coco (2017): My friend had never seen this - so that was quickly corrected. Possibly my favourite Pixar film? Gorgeous animation, a brilliant soundtrack, and a story full of heart.

• The Traitors (2025): Can’t believe it took me this long to start this reality TV phenomenon. It absolutely lived up to the hype -and yes, I’ve now binged all three series. No regrets.

Live Music & Margaritas: The Duelling Piano Bar, Byron Bay

Another unforgettable highlight—and certainly a performative experience worth mentioning - was a night out at the Duelling Piano Bar at The Northern Hotel in Byron Bay.

Byron Bay itself pulses with live music, from beachside buskers serenading sunset crowds to vibrant sets in bars around town. But if you haven’t yet heard of the TikTok-famous piano bar, it’s absolutely a must-stop on any East Coast itinerary.

The concept is simple but brilliant: a rotating roster of talented musicians, with two pianists/vocalists performing side-by-side, taking requests from the audience all night long. The result? A constant stream of popular hits and undeniable crowd-pleasers, often played by heart. I wish I could remember the names of the incredible musicians performing the night we went—but the energy they created was unforgettable. The room was electric, full of people dancing, singing, and vibing together in a way that felt totally spontaneous and joyous.

Paired with some top-tier margaritas and reasonable drink prices, it made for one of the best nights out of the trip - even if my request for Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” didn’t quite make it to the setlist!

In-Flight Entertainment & Travel Watches: One-Line Reviews

After 8 flights and countless coach journeys, I definitely had the time to devour some quality travel content. Admittedly, my criteria for in-transit viewing is strictly light and easy (think chick flicks, animated classics, and reality TV) but I got through a solid lineup. Here’s a concise roundup of what I watched, complete with bite-sized reviews:

All in all, this trip gave me so much to take in, on stage, on screen, in books, and in real life. From traditional dances and open-air opera to piano bars, chick flicks, and reality TV marathons, I really did manage to pack in a lot of storytelling in all its forms. Even if I’ve returned home slightly jet-lagged and firmly in a reading slump, I feel like my creative cup has been topped up in other ways. Here’s hoping I can carry a bit of that energy into whatever comes next (& maybe even finish Iron Flame soon). Thanks for sticking with me through this little recap - I’ll be back with more reviews, recs, and ramblings soon!