Japan is one of my favorite countries to visit. One of the reasons I like it so much is the elegance and the attention to detail across so many parts of Japanese culture, from the neat, caringly presented food, often like mini artworks, to calligraphy, as well as in the architecture and interior design.
What would Elvis Presley be like if he was a drink? It’s not a question I’ve asked myself before, but, according to Ruben, chief bartender at the recently opened Pacific Standard bar on the 41st floor of the new Alila Bangsar hotel.
In Buddhist cultures, ringing a bell, a gong or cymbal is said to be a way to make an offering to the Buddha.
Rome, famously, wasn’t built in a day. The new Apurva Kempinski Bali, the latest addition to Bali’s hotel scene, also took considerably longer than a day.
It was a clever move by Mara Bushtops to build their luxury retreat next to a salt lick. The little area of life-sustaining water and salt at the heart of the 15,000-acre Isaaten conservancy is visited during the day by giraffes, zebras, impala, kudu, warthogs and more, meaning animals are never far away during a stay.
Kuala Lumpur’s a city of towers. It’s iconic 452-metre high Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004, until Taipei 101 in Taiwan and other subsequent constructions eclipsed them.
Cultural diversity is a great thing. The more people and cultures you have living in a place, the more knowledge, ideas, customs, beliefs and viewpoints you have, all of them bouncing off each other and forming new combinations, whether that’s in art, politics, literature, music or food.
According to a signpost outside, AVANI+ Luang Prabang, New York is 13,284 kilometres away. Paris is 9,056 kilometres away.
While some hotels pride themselves on being at the cutting edge of art, design and architecture, a showcase of the future, that isn’t for everyone.
There are so many boating adventures your family can set sail on, and they are all pretty amazing. From water activities to beach picnics, there is definitely something for everyone in the family.
With sun-kissed weather, scores of luxury golf resorts, and more restaurants than there are days in the year, Palm Springs is a vacationer’s dream. The question is, “Where do you start when planning your Palm Springs getaway?”
If you talk to anyone who visited Bali 20 years ago, they’ll tell you how much the paradise island has changed. It’s still a beautiful, relaxing place to spend time, one of my favorites.
Modern cities often move at a rapid pace. That isn’t something many locals in Kuala Lumpur would say about the traffic, which can be sluggish. But the Malaysian capital, known as KL, is one of Asia’s major hub cities and financial powerhouses.
Bali is an easy place to be indulgent. Around the coast and across the island, there are plenty of bars, restaurants and hotels where you can laze around, drink cocktails by the pool, and over-eat each day.
If there is anything on earth more glamorous than chartering a yacht along the French Riviera in the summertime, we don’t know what it is.
