Emma Calley

It’s no secret that the Greeks can cook. At the first hint of European summer, holiday-makers flock to the country’s most popular islands for sun and saganaki (Greek fried cheese). But head north to the island of Limnos and you can sample some of Greece’s finest produce, minus the crowds.

Australia isn’t short of beaches, wildlife or fine wine, but it’s rare to find all three in the same region. Enter: the Mornignton Peninsula, just 50km from Melbourne, where you can indulge in a winery lunch and watch wild kangaroos, before relaxing by the sparkling seaside to watch the sunset.

As we stepped off the bus, the smell of salty ocean hit my nose. In all my research about Gallipoli and the conflicts of World War I, I had forgotten that such a significant battle unfolded on a stretch of stunning Turkish coastline.

“So, first you pick out three leaves…” John says, pulling out three perfect coca leaves from the packet in Simon’s outstretched hand, “…then you arrange them like the Adidas symbol.”

Before heading to Turkey, I had no idea of the food that awaited me. In fact, my knowledge of the local gastronomy was limited to Turkish Delight and assumptions about its similarity to Greek cuisine. Boy, was I mistaken.

My friends did the same before laying down against the concrete, warm from the gentle rays of Cuban sun. I watched the Caribbean Sea lap against the rocks, the classic cars stream past in every conceivable colour. Tourists and locals laughed together, called each other amigo and danced to the distant sounds of salsa that were ubiquitous in Havana.

My skin, warm from the early morning rays, welcomed the breeze that circled around the top deck. Thankfully it wasn’t a bitter cold, like the previous night under the Turkish stars that had us reaching for blankets. No, it was just enough to get the air flowing; just enough so that I could stay in my makeshift bed and watch the sunrise light up the bay.

We’d been complimented or waved down more times than hours we’d been in the country and it was getting a little predictable. I’d met friendly locals in many countries, but Cubans were something else.

He strolled across the room and picked up a vibrant silk carpet, as gently as he would a baby. “Something like this, maybe one million or two million knots.”

My throat was raw from all the screaming, face flushed from all the beer. I was on my feet, waving my arms like a banshee and shouting in Spanish with the rest of the crowd.

As far as rich and diverse histories go, it’s no surprise that Turkey is one of the world’s most vibrant and exciting melting pots of culture.

From the grand architecture of Istanbul to the milky terraces of Pamukkale, Turkey is a country of delights.

For Sri Lanka, 2019 was to be the year it cemented itself as a bucket list destination. Since emerging from decades of instability, tourist numbers to the island nation had been steadily increasing year upon year.

One of the world’s most magnificent natural spectacles sees millions of animals cross East Africa in search of greener pastures

Santorini is world-famous for its vistas, but look hard enough and you’ll discover its Greek food is second-to-none

From March to April every year, millions head to Japan to see their famed cherry trees shower the landscape in pink and white petals

Peru’s slice of the Amazon Rainforest is a window into an otherwise mysterious world

One of Latin America’s most influential nations is a delight for adventurous travellers

Japan’s third largest city packs a cultural punch, with vibrants streets and world-class cuisine

Mexico’s most colourful celebration has a hallowed past

Vibrant Spain offers so much more than tapas and inclusive resorts

From Darwin, across to Kakadu National Park, and donw to Katherine, the Top End is a land of unspoiled natural beauty waiting to be explore.

From page 8 to 11

Chance encounters at a bus stop in Oahu, Hawaii show an Australian traveler the true meaning of “the aloha spirit.“

When a 21 year old female solo traveler finds herself in Ecuador’s most infamous city, even a short walk to the bank feels like Mission Impossible.

I’d soon learn that beeping was an essential part of the New York City auditory landscape, but at that moment it was all too much. New York was sensory overload and for a jet-lagged traveller, it felt unbearable.

I see my travel bug as part of my DNA, it descends from my Gran Judy, a woman who travelled solo for many years, visiting over 40 countries and endeavouring to travel to an island beginning with every letter of the alphabet. Out of all the incredible places she saw and experiences she lived, her favourite islands were the Galápagos and her favourite country, Peru.

Anyone with anxiety will tell you that change lies at the root of most fears. That staying within the confines of a comfort zone is the best way to settle a racing heart. I was a strong believer in these principles for many years.

I trawl through the “wanderlust” hashtag on Instagram as if my life depends on it. I love the tales of people who leave stability behind to chase their travel pursuits, and I can’t help but relate this back to my own life…

Meet Emma, a community contributor writer for six-to. Emma’s creative writing skills led her to submitting her stories to six-two, including this one, ‘5 of the Biggest Reasons to Prioritise Travel While Your Young’.

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu sits at the top of most people’s bucket lists. After all, it’s a wonder of the world and a breathtaking one at that! But there are a lot of things to consider before clicking that ‘book’ button and heading on your dream Peruvian adventure.

When I was seven years old, I knew two things about this world with absolute certainty.

Despite the aid of a decrepit map I dug out from the bottom of my bag, my best friend and I found ourselves utterly lost in the middle of San Sebastian.

From sights to scenery and five-star fare, Japan is the ultimate Asian all-rounder.

Pages 18-23

Inspiring Vacations

The seaside town of Sorrento, on the western tip of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, provides a picturesque base from which to explore the region’s best sights. Iconic attractions such as the Arthurs Seat Eagle and Peninsula Hot Springs are just a short drive from this historic spot.

Culture Trip

Sorrento, Australia, sits on a peninsula flanked by beaches, making it the ideal seaside destination. And this Melbourne suburb offers the perfect trifecta: great coffee, pristine coastline and five-star fare.

Culture Trip

Beachside Wollongong is the third largest city in New South Wales and a strong contender for the title of the most photogenic. It sits south of Sydney, along the Grand Pacific Drive – a 140km (87mi) coastal stretch as scenic as the name suggests.

Culture Trip

The port city of Bordeaux has premium seafood and shellfish on its doorstep, and local restaurants make the most of it. But it doesn’t just stop at fish – Bordeaux was once in the path of several major trading routes in France, introducing a variety of ingredients into the mix.

Culture Trip

In a country as wine-obsessed as France, it’s difficult to pinpoint a singular viticultural capital. However, the southwestern city of Bordeaux presents a strong case for the national title – and perhaps even the world.

Culture Trip

Avignon, on the Rhône River in south-eastern France, epitomises a picturesque French city. After a long day of exploring, you can kick back with local vin or craft beer. Check out our picks for the best bars in Avignon.

Culture Trip

There are a number of things you can do you attract greater traffic to your website, from setting up paid ad campaigns to optimizing it to ensure it ranks well on search engine results pages. But what should you do to appeal to customers? 

Newsjacking has become a popular trend in the online world. While ‘jacking’ has negative connotations, the term isn’t a black-hat practice. If you’re new to this concept and want to learn more about it, this article will give you a run down of the pros and cons of newsjacking and what you need to know before you decide to pursue this sort of content.

Effective project management ensures continued productivity, efficient collaboration and a results-based approach. If you’re a part of a marketing agency, here is everything that you need to know when it comes to project management.

As technology advances, so too does online innovation. For many digital businesses, staying ahead of competitors is all about keeping up with the trends and utilising the never-ending stream of marketing tools designed to improve workflow. So, which SEO tools are best for digital marketing? And what features should you prioritise when searching for the best programs to implement in your business?

This delicious Melbourne cookie company needed quirky branded copy for use across their branded marketing, from Instagram captions to press releases.

NO-BS Marketplace is an industry-leading off-page SEO company. I regularly work with their marketing team on content strategy and ideation, along with writing and editing lead magnets like PDF guides.

Plant-based taqueria, Don Taco, sought web copy and menu descriptions that matched the vibrancy of dishes served up in-house. I collaborated with the management team to ensure the menu copy captured their vision and regularly created marketing collateral for use on their website and social platforms.

Inspiring Vacations, a Melbourne-based travel company, sells tours to all seven continents and dozens of countries across the globe. I was tasked with creating SEO-optimised copy for more than 80 product landing pages that captured the essence of each brand or destination.

With years of digital experience under their belt, NO-BS Marketplace understands the importance of quality content and search-friendly copy. I have worked closely with the founders to optimise their existing web pages – through extensive editing and re-writes – to ensure it’s both keyword-rich and engaging.

Boutique cookie company, Butterbing Cookie Sandwiches, wanted their product pages to reflect their playful tone and get customers drooling. After extensive product testing (read: eating a lot of cookies), I rewrote the copy for each flavour.

Ear and Hearing Australia operate specialist audiology clinics across Melbourne, offering the latest in hearing technology and advice. I produce regular SEO content for their blog, on complex topics such as ear health – one of which is a Google featured snippet.

Ear and Hearing Australia

Digital Marketing Directory, a platform that connects businesses with Australian-based marketing professionals, was on the lookout for writers to create quality content for their site. I was commissioned to write six in-depth articles based on their in-house keyword research, and one press release.

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