Innehållsförteckning för Aug/Nov 2020 från DestinAsian

What does it mean to publish a travel magazine when international travel is, for most of us, an unrealistic dream? That’s a question I’ve dwelled on many times since the end of March, and the answers so often seem trite in the grand scheme of things. Writing this note in mid-July, I wish I could say the coronavirus pandemic was being brought under control. There are, of course, a handful of destinations around the Asia-Pacific region—New Zealand, Taiwan, and Thailand come to mind—that have so far kept the disease at bay. But with case numbers still climbing globally, and some places now facing a sudden resurgence of Covid-19, the hard truth is that overseas travel as we once knew it will not be possible for the foreseeable future. As they…

The longstanding name of this section of the magazine aside, things are decidedly not “good to go” for the travel industry these days, nor have they been—or are likely to be—for many months. Since DestinAsian first launched in October 2001, in the shadow cast by 9/11, we have witnessed downturns—some regional, others global—brought on by natural disasters, terrorism, viral outbreaks, and the financial crisis of 2008. Now, we’re in the midst of a health crisis the scope of which hasn’t been seen since the influenza pandemic of 1918. But like those traumas of the past, this too shall pass. As I write these words from my home office, staring out at a garden that I once yearned to spend more time in but that now I’d exchange for almost any…

Lionfish and leopards and gibbons—oh my! Indonesia’s exotic fauna and flora star in the debut decor collection by Mary Justice Thomasson, a Texas-born style maven who moved to Bali in 2004 following a 17-year career as a broadcast journalist and public relations exec in Hong Kong. But it’s her degree in European and decorative arts—and memories of growing up with an antiques collector for a mother—that inform her current passion: developing an exquisite range of sustainable, hand-painted furniture and home accessories. The initial lineup of tray tables and lazy Susans produced by her company, Mary Justice Designs, comes in five fabulous themes—Panthera, Certainly Simian, Flights of Fancy, Flora, and Deep Ocean—with intricate motifs created by local artists and craftsmen using the gesso technique of painting on wood, which emerged during…

1 / CAMP SARIKA BY AMANGIRI Utah, United States As if the suites at Amangiri weren’t remote enough, the luxe wilderness resort in southern Utah’s Canyon Country has just unveiled a sister property, Camp Sarika, whose 10 tented pavilions offer what could be the most indulgent glamping experience in the U.S. A 30-minute hike from the main resort, the encampment has two spa suites, a restaurant strong on rotisserie and fire-pit dishes, and a swimming pool flanked by shaded daybeds, as well as direct access to a private trail system through the surrounding desert and mountains. aman.com; doubles from US$3,500 2 / MINARET STATION Wanaka, New Zealand With no road access—arrival is via helicopter from Queenstown or the lakeside resort town of Wanaka—this backcountry retreat in the Southern Alps is…

Admiring the orderly rows of grapevines that stretch away to the foothills of the rugged Helan Mountain range, it’s hard to imagine that little more than two decades ago, this arid corner of north-central China was just a forlorn stretch of sand worked by subsistence farmers. As the morning mist lifts, I watch as scores of women dressed in jeans, light sweaters, and colorful headscarves move among the vines, expertly cutting the dark, ripe grapes and collecting them in green plastic crates. It’s harvest time in Ningxia and a chilly breeze is blowing across the vast plain on the outskirts of Yinchuan, the capital of this small autonomous region. At the Helan Mountain vineyard, a 400-hectare estate owned by Pernod Ricard, I speak with chief winemaker Yanling Ren about Ningxia’s…

THE MISTY MOUNTAINS AND PATCHWORK paddy fields around Sa Pa may have drawn Réhahn to Vietnam, but it was the people that captured his interest. When the single-named French photographer saw members of the Black H’mong and Red Dao minorities walking through the streets of Sa Pa, he was entranced by their photogenic headpieces, embroidered garments, and handmade jewelry. Yet little did he know this trip would mark the beginning of a nine-year odyssey—one that would see him photograph each of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. The images from his monumental project have since been published in his book series Vietnam, Mosaic of Contrasts, the third volume of which was released earlier this year. While taking these keepsake shots, the photographer, whose work has been published by National Geographic…

MATTEO FAGOTTO Wrote “Pressing Forward,” p. 27 An Italian journalist based in Barcelona, Fagotto traveled to Ningxia with his partner in crime Matilde Gattoni to chronicle the region’s emergence as China’s new wine-growing frontier. “Nestled in the shadow of the rugged Helan Mountains, it’s an enchanting part of northwestern China, made all the more remarkable by the profusion of wineries and vineyards over the last decade or so,” he says. “Since 2007, wine has become Ningxia’s second biggest industry, after coal.” For the past 15 years, Fagotto has been traveling as a journalist to cover human rights, travel, and social features for more than 100 magazines and newspapers worldwide. Among his most recognized works are reports on war-related issues in Libya and Somalia, climate change in West Africa, labor migration…

Among a host of new initiatives designed to champion a “sustainable future through food,” the Banyan Tree Group has teamed up with chef turned farmer James Noble to develop Ori9in, which bills itself as the first gourmet organic farm in Thailand. Noble, a Briton whose career has included stints as Mick Jagger’s personal chef and as general manager at the Aleenta Hua Hin resort in Pranburi, has more recently been known as the proprietor of The Boutique Farmers, a Pranburi-based sustainable farming operation that supplied organic ingredients to some of the finest kitchens in Bangkok. That project, which wrapped up in January this year, has now been superseded by Ori9in, a 142-hectare spread outside the northern city of Chiang Mai that takes Noble’s formula up a notch. Opening to the…

Over the last half-decade, Kandal Village, a laid-back neighborhood just south of Siem Reap’s old French quarter, has expanded from an intimate clutch of businesses into the city’s unchallenged epicenter of boutique hipness. Hup Guan Street, the still-sleepy main road, is lined with shophouses where newer tenants uphold the innovative chic of more established outlets, providing a cool alternative to temple trekking at Angkor. Here are the highlights. JEWEL IDENTITY A sparkling treasure trove among Kandal’s clothing boutiques and gift stores, Garden of Desire sells a dazzling range of creative jewelry from its workshop, which combines silverware with precious stones such as lapis lazuli, tourmaline, and tanzanite. The delicate and often whimsical designs are the brainchild of designer Ly Pisith—who fled to France as a child on the run from…

The winner of this issue’s contest can choose one of four destinations for their seaside sojourn: Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Quy Nhon, or Da Nang. The prize includes accommodation in a Garden Pool Villa as well as Fusion’s “breakfast anywhere, anytime” service and all-inclusive spa treatments. FUSION RESORT CAM RANH Perched atop a lofty dune on the south-central Vietnamese coast, this “all-spa-inclusive” resort offers a beach holiday with a wellness twist. The Cam Ranh peninsula’s turquoise waters and crescents of sand provide a breathtaking backdrop, with many of the stylish pool villas and suites enjoying views of the sea and mountains. Offered on an all-inclusive basis, the menu at Maia Spa and Wellness covers various treatments, including massages, facials, and beauty treatments alongside yoga, aerial yoga, tai chi, and meditation…

MY EARLIEST MEMORIES of Auckland come from family trips in the 1970s. Back then, I was growing up in Hong Kong with a Cantonese mother and a Kiwi father, who every summer would fly us down to visit relatives in New Zealand. My mum would always crack the same joke when the wheels of the DC-10 touched down in Auckland. She’d remind us to adjust our watches—by rewinding them 30 years. The Auckland of the ’70s and ’80s—hell, even the ’90s—did indeed have a time-warp quality to it. It felt like an overgrown country town, albeit one surrounded by outstanding natural beauty thanks to its position on an isthmus between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Queen Street, the city’s main artery, was lined with tourist shops selling sheepskin…

SOMETIMES, TO BE A CHEF, you need to leave the kitchen. Even before my business partner Aditi Dugar and I launched Masque restaurant in Mumbai four years ago, we knew we wanted to represent lesser-known Indian ingredients in our dishes. The tasting menus at Masque shift with the seasons precisely for this reason—so that we can pivot and celebrate what’s seasonal, and add an element of surprise for our patrons. Ladakh is one place I’ve gravitated to time and again since Masque was born. A land of high plains and deep valleys in the politically charged Kashmir region of northern India, Ladakh’s unique terrain, microclimate, and food culture set it apart from the culinary traditions of the rest of the country. My trip there last August—at a time when Ladakh…

HONG KONG JW Marriott Bring the kids along for the Summer Family Fun Package at the JW Marriott in Admiralty. A 30-hour stay in a pair of connecting rooms will cost HK$2,700 a night inclusive of buffet breakfast for four, a HK$1,500 dining credit for check-ins from Sunday to Thursday (or HK$1,200 for check-ins on Friday and Saturday), an in-room bottle of wine for the grown-ups, and selected drinks and refreshments by the pool. Available until September 30, 2020 (marriott.com). Kerry Hotel Valid for stays between September 1 and December 31, the Staycation Offer at this André Fu–designed urban resort on the Kowloon waterfront in Hung Hom includes a hotel credit of HK$1,000 per night, 4 p.m. checkout, and overnight parking. Golden Circle loyalty program members will receive double the…

February saw the arrival of the Avani brand in South Korea with the opening of the 289-room Avani Central Busan Hotel (avanihotels.com; doubles from US$100). Located in the Munhyeon Finance Complex at the center of Busan’s commercial district, the millennial-minded property makes a great base for exploring the coastal city, which is home to Korea’s largest port as well as attractions ranging from golden-sand beaches and seafood markets to the Busan International Film Festival, one of the region’s most prestigious cinematic events. An added bonus? As part of the brand’s AvaniMe resident program, the hotel has produced an online guide with local videographer and photographer Andrew Kim that showcases some of his hometown’s must-visit venues and attractions. Among the standouts: HUINNYEOUL CULTURE VILLAGE Known as the Santorini of South Korea,…

On my first trip to Indonesia 14 years ago, I was traveling to Danau Maninjau, a crater lake in the province of West Sumatra, when my bus pulled into a truck stop edged by grungy eateries. I chose one at random and walked inside. Between the shop window and a lace curtain were shelves lined with plates of cooked meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and curries, none of which looked particularly appealing. But I was starving and, truth be told, it smelled pretty good. I had no idea what the lady at the counter said to me but I nodded my head. She heaped a bunch of rice on a plate, pulled back the curtain, and turned to face me: my cue to order. I pointed at the safest-looking items—some fried…

THE FOEST RETREAT AMAN KYOTO My forest meditation takes place in a serene clearing fringed with cartoon-green foliage that I discover after climbing 43 (yes, I counted) moss-covered stone steps. It’s hard not to feel like an extra from a Japanese fairytale as I sit on a straw cushion, close my eyes, and listen to the sounds of the woods all around me: flowing water, rustling trees, chattering birds, an inhale, an exhale. There are perhaps few more dreamily sylvan settings in which to sit and close your eyes than the Aman Kyoto, which opened its doors in the ancient capital last November. It’s the third Japanese property launched by Aman, a brand that is as well known for its cult global following (hello, Aman junkies) as for its minimal…

Deals await at Anantara Desaru Coast Originally opened last December but subsequently closed in line with the Malaysian government’s Covid-19 measures, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas has begun welcoming guests back to its sliver of tropical gardens and pristine beachfront on the southeast coast of the Malay Peninsula. The property, with just 108 ocean-view rooms and pool villas plus dedicated kids’ and teens’ clubs, is part of the Desaru resort enclave situated an hour’s flight from Kuala Lumpur or just 60 minutes from Singapore’s Changi Ferry Terminal. While enhanced hygiene measures are designed to ensure guest safety, Anantara Desaru has rolled out some enticing deals as well. Starting from MYR 741++, its Re-Opening Special includes daily breakfast and lunch for two, while the Villas and Residences Retreat offer combines…