minute moped ride) from the centre of Ubud, but another world in itself. Penestanan is a local, ricefields based community. There are no streets (park your bike near the main restaurant along with the locals and walk home on the little paths). Occasionally I would decamp to Yellow Flower Cafe, an organic cafe on the edge of a hill 5 minutes walk from the villa (left at the roosters). Happy for you to sit there with a cocoa date smoothie and free-range in Bali style... next to travellers on the search for enlightenment, fresh from Yoga class next door. 3. ITALY: TUSCAN VILLA This was the view while sitting with my laptop -- the view stretches across to San Giminiano (in the distance). This 13th century villa in the Tuscan hilltop town of Certaldo was home for a month. It had great wifi internet, and to clear your head, the opportunity for lots of long walks through the vineyards at the doorstep. I came here to start writing my book, and am very glad I stayed. Tip: Italy is a great place for location independent types -- easy to travel around, lots of beautiful accommodation, but just make sure your place has internet as it is surprisingly hard to find the public places and cafes. 4. AUSTRALIA: SURF CLUB IN NEWCASTLE, NSW This is Merewether Surf Club, in Newcastle, Australia: a three storey space with cafe, cocktail lounge and event space, conveniently located exactly next to my favourite ocean baths.