Resting beside a lagoon in an old coconut plantation on the Malaysian island of Langkawi, an ageing banyan tree sits stoically with a temple at its base. In the grounds surrounding this ‘Temple Tree’ are eight renovated colonial villas of Chinese, Eurasian, Malaysian and Indian descent, given new lives as boutique dwellings in a pristine tropical setting. But the beautifully ornate exteriors, awash with once-bright colonial colours subdued with age, are just the beginning of the magic of this unique resort. (more…)
Travel
With verdant coffee plantations, laid-back haciendas and a host of adventurous activities on offer, Colombia’s Zona Cafetera is proving there’s more to this country than the trigger-happy stereotype. While the Caribbean coast is luring tourists looking for the next big thing, it’s the lush coffee region, right in the heart of the country, that remains its workhorse. Here, every available slope is covered in the country’s signature crop – high-quality coffee beans – and old-time coffee growers continue to work the land much as they always have. This is old-style Colombia, a place where the coffee is free flowing and the future is looking bright. (more…)
If you think Rio is all beaches, parties and well-oiled bodies, then think again. Away from the crowds, up in the hills, sits the atmospheric suburb of Santa Teresa. This is bohemian territory, where the artists outweigh the beach bums, and the views across the city take your breath away. With its mix of artistic charm and crumbling mansions, ‘Santa’ is luring travellers away from the shoreline and into the hills. And once there, very few of them ever want to come down. (more…)
On August 15, 2007, Pisco, Peru was at the epicentre of an 8.0-magnitude earthquake that destroyed up to 80% of the city, killing more than 600 people and leaving thousands homeless. A year later, funding intended for the rescue and rebuilding effort had reportedly been squandered by local officials, leaving the citizens of Pisco with virtually nowhere to turn, and many ended up living in tents in shanty towns on the city’s outskirts. After working with one of the American-based relief organisations, Burners Without Borders, local twenty-something Harold Zevallos decided that something needed to be done on a grassroots level. So he started Pisco Sin Fronteras, a volunteer organisation that, for the last three years, has attracted people from across the globe to lend their hand to rebuilding the community and the hope of its people. (more…)
Looks like a painting doesn’t it? Or, an optical illusion of sorts. This is Salar de Uyuni – the world’s largest salt flat. Located between the Potosi and Oruro departments of southwest Bolivia, the area is 10,582 square kilometers in size and elevated nearly 400 meters above sea level. There is no denying that such conditions make for the most beyond belief and picturesque of imagery. Once an area covered in prehistoric lakes, the area is now covered by meters of salt crust; it is estimated that up to 70% of the world’s lithium reserves are contained here. This salt dessert, which is a major breeding ground for pink flamingos, is subject to huge tourist numbers, with travellers and photographers alike hoping to take advantage of the clear skies and vast, uninterrupted landscape.
There is no denying that the French have a great sense of pride and keep their history and the people who inhabit it, close to their hearts – despite the nation often being subjected to much criticism and cruel stereotypes. Although perhaps best known as the home to various iconic monuments such as Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe, the nation is also home to the world’s most visited cemetery. Père Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th Arrondissement in Paris is reputed to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Opened in 1804, the Christian people of Paris refused to lay in their graves in a place that had not been blessed by the Church, and as a result the cemetery experienced a slow and highly criticised start. Through a clever marketing strategy, the administrators of Lachaise organised for the transfer of the remains of Pierre Abelard, a well-known French philosopher, to the cemetery and made his grave’s canopy from fragments of historically significant French abbey, Nogent-sur-Seine. Fulfilling the desired effect, the cemetery’s popularity grew and the French people began stipulating to be buried there. Whether visiting to remember loved ones, or visiting to celebrate the lives of those who have enchanted French life over the past 200 years (Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf are among its most famous inhabitants) life after death at the cemetery comes at a great expense and is subject to strict rules.
According to Vietnamese legend, the gods sent a family of dragons to defend their country. This family of dragons began spitting out jewels of jade that turned into the islands and islets dotting the north-eastern coast of Vietnam, now called Ha Long Bay. Magically, between these islands and islets, numerous rocky mountains suddenly appeared creating a formidable fortress against invading ships. After the Vietnamese won the battle, the dragons decided to live peacefully in the bay and remain its protector to this day.
Excellent wine and award-winning food are descriptors of most good wine regions around the world, and Stellenbosch, in South Africa’s Western Cape just 50 km from Cape Town, is no exception. With a long and rich history that rivals most European wine regions, Stellenbosch has deep roots in Southern Hemisphere wine-making. But there is something else that the region offers that makes it truly memorable, and has you planning your return trip the moment you leave. Set amongst towering mountains and linking multiple fertile valleys, Stellenbosch’s spectacular scenery will take your breath away.
The French can be renowned for their baguettes, cheese and Pepe Le Pew whilst the Americans for their bagels, cosmopolitans and Mickey Mouse. The two are ultimately distinct culturally, but every Ying has its Yang. Blogger and graphic designer, Vahram Muratyan depicts a friendly match between two of the most beautiful cities in the world with a series of beautifully designed art posters, New York et Paris. Playfully putting the two metropolitan cities against one another visually- fashion, film, food, transportation, drink, art, sports and cultural icons are placed side by side in a minimalist style of illustration accented with retro-style typography. The creative artist will release his first book ”Paris vs New York- A tally of two cities” in January 2013. Save the date and pre-order here!
Located on the outskirts of the town of L’Arbresle, just 29 km north-west of Lyon, the convent of Saint-Marie de la Tourette is not only a religious centre for Dominican monks, but today is also a place of pilgrimage for many architects from around the world. Designed by the famous French modernist architect Le Corbusier in the late 1950s, La Tourette is an inspiring example of modern religious architecture, with its concrete structure and contrasting elements. But when I make my way there in the early French summer, what I am most amazed to find is not just an incredible building, but rather an aura of peace and calm that surrounds me from the moment I enter. (more…)
Huddled within the Riau archipelago of Indonesia sits the jungle-laden island of Bintan. Just an hour’s catamaran ride from the frenetic buzz of Singapore, Bintan Island provides a weekend paradise for those looking to escape the city for some sun-kissed respite. The island’s lush rainforests are home to a wealth of colourful birds, cavalier monkeys and various other wildlife, while crystal waters caress the soft white sands of its beaches.
As the ground soars upwards from the city of Lao Cai on the Vietnamese-Chinese border to the peaks of Chay River Massif, rice-terraced fields contour the mountains, stepping level by level to their zeniths. An everyday scene in these mountains shows the contrast of the local lifestyle. There’s the cultivation of all possible arable land by women in colourful costume, hacking away with hoes whilst a baby sleeps firmly strapped to her back. Or an entire family of four, possibly five, some traditionally dressed, some in modern attire, but all mounted on a scooter heading into town.
For those who daydream of traversing the globe – taking a cooking class in Vietnam, learning the art of flamenco in Spain or experiencing the wonders of ancient civilisations on the Inca Trail in Peru – the joy of travel is a love affair carried through an entire lifetime. For such folk, catching a glimpse of a world map can cause cherished memories to resurface and imbue a sense of wanderlust. As the moments tick by and curious minds explore the map deeper still, intricate travel dreams can begin to hatch and plans to skip between island nations in the Pacific Ocean or dart between countries in Europe start to take shape. But saving the pennies necessary for travel and leaving loved ones behind can take a great deal of motivation. To fuel a love of travel, The World Map wall decal serves as a constant reminder of travels that have been had, or those that linger in the near future. Places you have visited can be marked and those left unmarked had better start preparing for your impending arrival.
The remote Shetland Islands of Northern Scotland are entrenched with a rugged history. A lack of timber on the island forced property owners to use their imagination. They salvaged boats no longer seaworthy, flipped the hulls and propped them atop stone cottages. Canadian creative Jed Lind was inspired by the resourcefulness of the island folk. He captured sheds and workspaces in a series of photographs before sculpting a full-sized, upturned sailboat as a salute. Some of the roofs, nee vessels, were lifeboats from the First and Second World Wars. Others were local ferries, their transportation services now a distant memory.
Filmmaker Christian Anderson captures a traveller’s wonderment on a visit to New York.
For those not enamoured by the glittering lights of celebrity, Los Angeles doesn’t often stand out as a desirable travel destination. But on a side street of West Hollywood, just a stroll away from the shopping mecca of Melrose Avenue and a milieu of chic cafes, delis and restaurants, sits Palihouse Holloway. A long-stay boutique urban lodge that also offers shorter sojourns, Palihouse Holloway plays host to local tastemakers and savvy world travellers alike, offering an experience that explores a completely different side of Los Angeles. (more…)
A mention of a sojourn in Tasmania conjures images of lush wilderness, cosy bed & breakfasts and Devonshire teas. But for those looking for a getaway that combines world-class architecture, impeccable design and ground-breaking art, there exists another side to the Tasmanian experience, in the form of The MONA Pavilions. Located at Moorilla Winery just on the outskirts of Hobart, MONA is named so for the Museum of Old and New Art that will soon open on the property – a highly anticipated gallery that will house the art collection of Moorilla’s owner, and Australia’s largest private art collector, David Walsh. Designed in 2008 by architect Nonda Katsalidis, the row of eight sleek pavilions were inspired by the shape of shipping containers and the A-frame houses of the 1960s. And ever since they took up residence on the banks of the Derwent River, these abodes have become one of Australia’s best-kept boutique travel secrets. (more…)
Daisy Bell rode a bicycle made for two. Mark Ronson is going to ride his bike until he gets home. Even Pink Floyd and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have cemented their love for the two-wheeled transporter in song. Eco-conscious and embedded in European culture, the bicycle brings a sense of fun and nostalgia to your daily commute. The new generation of Brooks Colt bicycle seats welcome you to sit in style as the wind ripples through your hair and your feet peddle away. What are you waiting for? Let’s go ride a bike!
For many people, the desire to learn is never satiated. Be it a new language, a musical instrument or a difficult dance move, the world is an endless source of opportunities to learn. Over the course of 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage, three friends made an amazing series of short films based on movement, learning and food. LEARN is the second in the series.
