I have always had a love affair with islands. Perhaps it is because I am a “water baby” and have loved swimming and splashing around in the waves since I was a little girl. Sun-kissed skin, the scent of the ocean mingled with sunscreen, sand between my toes, ice-cream cones melting in the hot sun (cocktails feature more as an adult) were all part of my life growing up in the seaside city of Port Elizabeth in South Africa.

While I will always be fascinated with visiting and exploring contrasting destinations around the globe, islands hold a special place in my heart. I’ve been fortunate to travel to many islands, and even lived on one for four years in my twenties. Now that was living it up island style!