This year I left the Australian winter early to camp out in the Mediterranean on the other side of the world in support of my boyfriend Stephen Pavlovic's For Festival, now in it's second year on the delicious island of Hvar. Some of my dearest friends came over to join me, effectively preventing me from lifting a finger. Or perhaps it is unfair to blame my work hinderances on laughter, fun, amazing music that kept me up all night dancing and all day lounging on a beach? But what is a girl to do when confronted with paradise, sunshine, sea, cocktails, seafood dinners and bands such as Haim, Klaxons, Neneh Cherry, Darkside, Mark Ronson, Erol Alkan, Erlend Oye, Tensnake etc? I chose the path of surrender.Or maybe it was more like tightly embracing my new found mantra: laugh, swim, dance, eat a lot and enter into tan wars.Repeat !
The most wonderful part of this festival is that it's ridiculously small at only 2000 people full capacity, making it , in truth, not very festivally at all (hallelujah). But what is really special is that it is spread over 3 incredible islands of Hvar, Jerolim and Stipanska with venues ranging from an old monastery to a cute beach and a posh island disco along with happenings such as chill beach parties, open air nighttime concerts and all night pump fist disco dancing extravaganzas in an intimate environment.
Finally... well it's freaking Hvar, the St Tropez of Croatia. It's luxe, it's beautiful and it's the Med- replete with sparkling blue waters, lobsters, pine trees, cobblestones and lavender everything. Bey and Jay felt the energy when they named their daughter Blue Ivy here .And I am but a mere mortal ! Here is the first part of my travel diary ...
Yacht life with my mate Lindy Klim catching some air in our hair on the first day of the festival
Lindy's hubby Michael Klim dives into the blue
Crazy deep blue waters and the moment I realized I could really get used to this boat lyf
Sun rising over Hvar town on our taxi boat ride from Carpe Diem
Some organic island accruements
Early morning walk home through the flowering medieval town
Movement - trust me , this band will be big
Afternoon cocktails at Hula Hula bar
On the mean streets of Hvar : Jonathan Saunders, Justin Padgett and Movement's Sean and Jesse
Mojito o'clock at Laganini
French connection : Gaspar of Justice, Dimitri and SoMi
Haiming it up with Haim... awesome all sister band who actually rock and roll HARD. Talk about talent.
Lavender fields forever
Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington of Darkside weaving their music magick
Golden sunsets and boat taxis
Getting lost in the old streets of Hvar wearing some holiday leopard (Proenza Schouler top, Helmut Lang skirt, Tory Burch bag, Isabel Marant sneakers and Monica Vinader bracelet)
Look ma'- hardly any splash! Diving competition at Bonj Les Bains 's old swimming pavilion.
"Pirate"Jerolim beach held intimate dj sets by the sea
Erlend Oye playing his epic History of Music session, that culminated with the whole beach following him into the water during the last song .Akin to a religious experience, this man needs to start a love cult asap.
Carob and myrtle liquors at an old vineyard homestead. Zivjeli!
And the award for most laughs solicited goes to the Klaxons band! Come night they played an electric set where people swarmed the pool in front of the stage and girls took their clothes off. James Righton's beautiful wife Kiera Knightley watched the mayhem from the sidelines
