Innholdsfortegnelse for September - November 2017 i International Traveller

Putting together our annual 100 issue is a highlight for the International Traveller team. It affords us real insight into what you, our readers, are thinking about, dreaming about, planning for. The final list that starts on page 63 is made up entirely of your suggestions for the 100 things you want to see and experience before you hit your own personal century, garnered from the question asked in our recent Reader’s Choice survey. The thing that always delights me when I go through these answers is just how invested you guys are in journeying around this globe of ours. Whether you are in search of the thrum of a new city, the diversion of family fun or the far-flung and exotic, your suggestions affirm the passion you obviously have…

the best beach READS right now…

FROM 1914 TO 1918 Flanders Fields formed an important part of the Western Front in the First World War. The region is particularly well known for the Battle of Passchendaele, which was fought in a dreadful, muddy quagmire. This year commemorates that battle’s centenary year as one of history’s bloodiest, in which more than 450,000 men were lost. Today, the charming town of Ypres makes an ideal base to tour the Flanders Fields region. Ypres is home to the Menin Gate, the most famous Commonwealth War Memorial. Each and every evening at 8pm, the moving Last Post is sounded under the Menin Gate as a tribute to the fallen, a tradition that has been taking place for 90 years. The Menin Gate bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers…

Holland America Line has introduced the 2018 line of Signature Experiences in five of their European cruise departure cities, crafted exclusively for their guests to complement the classic and elegant onboard cruise experience. Each specially curated pre-cruise experience includes an exciting evening event, two-night luxury hotel stay and transfers. The experience is complimentary for guests who book a suite on eligible cruises and available for purchase by non-suite guests. AMSTERDAM In Amsterdam, An Evening at the Rijksmuseum takes guests on an after-hours private tour of the most-visited national museum in the Netherlands. After a cocktail reception in the foyer, participants tour the Gallery of Honour, followed by a three-course dinner in the Rijksmuseum’s cafe. BARCELONA An Evening at Casa Batlló includes a private tour of this architectural treasure created by…

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST MEMORY OF TRAVELLING? Travel for me has always been about family, I remember being five and travelling to Europe with my mother to visit family. I spent my time playing with cousins, which I loved! Back then it was less about where we were and more about who I was with. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT TRAVEL? The opportunities to experience something new – new cultures, new cities, meeting new people. Every day is so exciting. WHERE ARE YOU GOING NEXT? I’m sailing around the Whitsundays (1) in September and then back to New York (2) in November. DO YOU TRAVEL LIGHT OR PACK FOR EVERY OCCASION? When I was younger I used to think that I needed to take a different outfit for each…

Grand is a fitting moniker for the Centara Grand Resort Hotel and Villas Hua Hin, at home in its commanding position sprawled across 16 hectares of beach front, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Opened in 1923, the former Railway Hotel was developed under the patronage of Prince Purachatra and the Thai royal family, who had built holiday palaces for themselves in the region and wanted to see a decent standard of accommodation available to others. Serene and oozing comfort, as the prince had in mind, the hotel is built in a European style; two- and three-storied wings with white walls and a red terracotta roof. The 248 rooms fan out from a central reception, overlooking the beach in one direction and expanses of garden in the other. At the end…

60 ALASKA A summertime RV adventure is perhaps the ultimate way to see some of the best of this geographically and culturally detached state, originally bought from Russia in 1867 for a bargain $7.2 million. Australian visitors love to check out what the USA got for its money, often starting in the city of Anchorage and hitting the road for too-cute-for-words Talkeetna township and big-ticket, accessible gems like the jaw-dropping Denali National Park and the massive 7800-square-kilometre Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Our tip? Pick up a copy of The Milepost guidebook; you won't have web access everywhere. 61 USA WHILE WE'D PROBABLY RECOMMEND GOING MORE JACK KEROUAC THAN HUNTER S. THOMPSON, THE IDEA IS THE SAME: THE USA IS FAMOUSLY MADE TO ROAD TRIP. HOP ON A BUS FROM LA…

81 NEW ZEALAND The wide open spaces, spectacular scenery and adrenalin highs of New Zealand are renowned, but it is the way it celebrates nature and strives for a more sustainable future that makes it so appealing to spend time in. Its fresh air is an attraction all on its own. 82 ITALY AN EXERCISE IN SLOWING DOWN, DRINKING WELL AND EATING LOTS, THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLERS ARE SO ENTHRALLED BY ITALY, INCLUDING THE ENDLESS CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT TO SEE. THESE ADORABLE TRULLO BUILDINGS ARE IN THE TOWN OF ALBEROBELLO IN PUGLIA, THE HOTTEST OF HOT SPOTS RIGHT NOW. 83 GREATBRITAIN Even after the (baffling)Brexit vote, the gentle charm and rich heritage of Great Britain still entices. While the passport might change colours, the…

Hidden away in Morocco’s Rif Mountains is a sleepy, storybook town. Chefchaouen (pronounced shef-sha-wen) cascades down the rugged mountainside to nestle between the dramatic peaks. But it’s not scenery, the rich cultural tapestry, the romance of a faraway place, or even the beguiling history of this walled city that first captivates those who visit. It’s the colour: an arresting, luminous palette of powdery blues.Travellers are instantly enchanted as they gaze upon the cobbled lanes, terracotta roofs, white facades brightened with splashes of brilliant blue paint, and intricately tiled doorways framed by bougainvillea. If the ‘Blue City’ were a jewel, it would of course be a sapphire, that sparkles various shades depending on the light – from Majorelle to azure, and a harsh Arctic blue in the midday sun. It’s a…

CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF HERE? WE CAN. WIN A LIFE-CALMING BREAK TO NEW CALEDONIA ($2730), STAYING IN THE LUXURY BUNGALOWS OF SHERATON NEW CALEDONIA DEVA RESORT & SPA. AND, NATURALLY, AIRCALIN HAS COME TO THE PARTY TO COVER AIRFARES TOO. SWEET NYC: FROM CRONUTS TO CRACK PIE One city. Three months. 373 desserts. Sound sweet? Yasmin Newman reveals her favourite finds (salty honey pie, anyone?) during her monumental sugary sabbatical. SEARCH: ‘CRONUTS’ SURVIVING LONG HAUL WITH MUNCHKINS Ryan Reynolds summed up many parents’ fears when he said he’d “rather drink a piping hot bowl of liquid rabies than get on a plane” with his children. But you can survive a long-haul flight with a baby. SEARCH: ‘LONG HAUL’ LET’S GET DIGITAL, DIGITAL… Subscribe now. Only $9.90 for a six-month subscription.…

1. ENJOY A COLD BREW AFTER SEEING PRAGUE’S ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS. Having been the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, the Hapsburg Dynasty, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Prague has accumulated an amazing history and endless incredible sights over the centuries. Add to this the fact that the Czech Republic has the world’s highest annual per-capita consumption of beer (142 litres per annum to be precise) and you have a country that is worth drinking in, figuratively and literally! nexusholidays.com.au/product/ enticing-eastern-europe-11-days 2. SEE SNOW MONKEYS IN THE VOLCANIC HOT SPRINGS OF JAPAN’S JIGOKU VALLEY. While you might be tempted to join them if it’s a cold day, instead take the chance to photograph these cheeky primates, and reflect on just how similar we actually are, revelling in the company of friends and family…

DAY ONE 5.40AM – My Etihad long-haul flight from Australia into Abu Dhabi arrives super early in the morning which means my day begins with a drive through the still slumbering city as the blazing desert sun rises; my driver takes me past the mammoth Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, its marble edifice taking on an ethereal golden glow in the morning light. 6.30AM – Abu Dhabi is made up of a collection of islands, linked by a series of bridges; my accommodation is on an island 15 minutes’ speed boat ride from the city. Zaya Nurai Island is a tropical paradise, with lush gardens and a laid-back barefoot luxe aesthetic: my beach-front room is kitted out in white-washed wood and a cool blue palette. There’s a gigantic marble bathroom drenched…

Even the hardiest of thrill seekers – your skydivers, your bungee jumpers – can’t fail to lose control of their larynxes at Disneyland Resort in California’s latest: Guardians of The Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Yet here I am sitting a few spots away from a man who merely has a wicked grin spread from ear to ear, while I periodically giggle and scream for my life as we hurtle up and down a lift shaft. This is all taking place in the lair of a certain Taneleer Tivan, a menacing character known as The Collector played by Benicio del Torro in the Marvel Studios blockbuster. The cool, collected man across from me happens to be senior Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde – and he designed this thing no less. “Did it…

1. LAIGUEGLIA APART FROM ITS CHARMING SEASIDE POSITION ON THE MEDITERRANEAN IN LIGURIA, THE PRETTY HARBOUR AND THE LOVELY PINK HUE OF THE BUILDINGS HERE MAKE LAIGUELIA INSTANTLY INSTAGRAMMABLE. SPEND YOUR MORNING ON THE BEACH BEFORE HEADING TO VIA DANTE FOR A SPOT OF SHOPPING FOLLOWED BY LUNCH AT A NEARBY RESTAURANT. 2. DOZZA LOCATED IN EMILIA ROMAGNA, THIS MEDIEVAL VILLAGE PERCHED ON A HILL IS A LIVING, BREATHING OPEN-AIR GALLERY, COVERED IN VIBRANT MURALS AND ARTWORKS BY LOCAL ARTISTS. THIS GIVES THE ENTIRE VILLAGE A FUN, COLOUR-DRENCHED AURA. 3. MONTEFIORE CONCA An hour from the beaches of Rimini in the Emilia Romagna region, the fortified village of Montefiore Conca has a glorious medieval atmosphere best experienced by wandering its ancient streets and alleys, meeting locals, stopping for coffee and…

16 HAWAI'I Going local in Waikiki or learning about lava on the Big Island; the 50th State is equal parts family fun and island wonderland. Keep them busy paddle boarding at Kailua Beach on Oahu, take a helicopter tour over Kauai or book them into mermaid lessons on Maui ( hawaiimermaidadventures.com)! 17 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK  The utter majesty of California's beloved park makes passionate nature-lovers of even the most citified kids. Draw up a tick list of must-see species, from black bears to deer to mountain lions, give them a pencil and then set them loose. 18 LAPLAND You can visit Santa himself in this corner of Finland (check out the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi; santaclausvillage. info), along with reindeer, dog sleds and a landscape straight out of Frozen.…

30 ICELAND Fire and ice, and a surprisingly fabulous nightlife besides; its popularity refuses to abate. 31 ARGENTINA A macho mix of meat, gauchos and mountains mingles with graceful cities the likes of Buenos Aires, Mendoza (famed for its malbecs – yum) and Córdoba. 32 JAPAN The sheer diversity of Japan is coaxing us beyond the cities to new hot spots: Okinawa, Hokkaido, Naoshima, the Noto Peninsula, just for starters. 33 TURKEY With Europe on one side, the Middle East on the other, Turkey has always fascinated travellers looking for the approachably (but authentically) exotic. Even though the political landscape is constantly changing, it still holds an evocative allure. 34 MEXICO The sights to see go way beyond the beaches. This year's hotspot? Mérida, named 2017 American Capital of Culture.…

50 NEPAL It really is worth the trek (sorry) to tread the roof of the world in the Himalayas, among the flutter of prayer flags on the way to the Annapurna massif ( pictured), or the ancient temples of Kathmandu. 51 ANTARCTICA Earth's coldest, driest continent is an ever changing frontier land of ice and insouciant wildlife that taps into the explorer in all of us. 52 RWANDA Over the border from Kenya, there's breathtaking beauty, fascinating fauna and maybe even some real-life gorillas in the mist. 53 THE AMAZON: CAN ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH RIVAL IT AS THE ARCHETYPAL WILDERNESS? 54 THE KIMBERLEY Our wildest, most remote beauty is a region bigger than three-quarters of the world's countries. Not to be taken for granted, hopefully never to be…

Let’s play a quick word association game. Where do you think of when you hear the words ‘safari’ and ‘South Africa’? Kruger National Park? Naturally; along with Tanzania’s Serengeti, it’s right at the top of Africa’s fabled safari-destination food chain. So if you have plenty of time and pockets full of cash for just one safari in South Africa, then go ahead and book Kruger right now. Do it! And you can stop reading any further. But if you fancy a quirky and quicker way to (visually) bag the Big 5 that’s only a couple of hours’ delightfully scenic drive from Cape Town, then you might want to keep going. Aquila Private Game Reserve is a genuine day trip safari option and, unlike Kruger, it’s also located in a malaria-free…

Singapore has long been celebrated for its frenetic pace and its pursuit of all that is new. It is what has made the small island nation such an economic and social success over the years. But this narrow focus on ‘the next’ above all else has also sometimes resulted in the wanton sacrifice of the touchstones of its fascinating history. But in recent years the focus has shifted and the government and developers are working to preserve what is left of the country’s historic buildings, including its celebrated shophouses. The Warehouse Hotel in the Robertson Quay area of the city is another example of a heritage building being repurposed and reimagined to stunning effect. Sitting on the very edge of the Singapore River, the former lifeblood of the city, the…

WIN A PANASONIC LUMIX DC-TZ90, WORTH $599 When you want a pocketable camera for your travels, the Panasonic LUMIX DC-TZ90 covers all bases by combining 30x optical zoom to get close to the action, a 20-megapixel MOS sensor for excellent image quality, and 4K video and photo capabilities to capture fleeting moments. The model also has a handy 180-degree tiltable rear monitor for video blogs or selfie shots. panasonic.com/au Q. Where would you take this camera and why? WIN A TWO-NIGHT STAY WITH ADINA APARTMENT HOTELS Adina Apartment Hotels is your other address. Get all the comforts of home in fantastic locations worldwide with Adina Apartment Hotels.adinahotels.com Q. Where on Earth is›this (pictured) and why would you like to›go there? WIN A KATHMANDU 50L HYBRID TROLLEY, WORTH $249.98 Kathmandu’s 50L…

NOBU HOTEL IBIZA BAY, IBIZA Ibiza has seen a revival of late, and the latest brand to get in on the action is Nobu (yes, as in the celebrated Japanese restaurants). On the shores of Talamanca Bay, the resort has a barefoot-luxe feel and boasts 152 guest rooms and suites, two private seafront pools, a spa, boutique shopping, and, of course, a new Nobu restaurant. nobuhotelibizabay.com HOTEL G YANGON, MYANMAR Located at the heart of Yangon’s vibrant entertainment neighbourhood, Hotel G Yangon is the city’s first lifestyle hotel. With intuitive technology and super-fast connectivity, the property has an understated style and creatively designed social spaces that tick the box with millennials and modern nomads alike. Added to its 85 rooms is a premium all-day eatery with a funky communal…

GAUCHO GOODNESS Victoria Aguirre, photographer and co-founder of the Byron Bay-based homewares brand Pampa, on the reinvention of the humble poncho into the ultimate travel accessory. WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND LAUNCHING A PONCHO AND SCARF RANGE? We’ve always been big fans of ponchos, which are worn throughout South America. (We even named our Labrador puppy Poncho!) I’m from Argentina where ponchos are part of our heritage. Many families keep old ponchos that once belonged to a grandparent as keepsakes, or admire the traditional ponchos that the ‘gauchos’, Argentinean cowboys, have worn since before memory can recall. Since starting Pampa in 2013, I have travelled all through the Andean mountains. The artisans we meet in the Puna region are always wearing ponchos for warmth and I’ve often thought: “Why not…

NUSA DUA THE HEAVENLY HIDEAWAY OF NUSA DUA IS SPRINKLED WITH SERENE FIVE-STAR RESORTS FOR LUXURY-LOVERS, ROLLING GREEN GOLF COURSES FOR EXECS NEEDING A DESTRESS, AND WHITE-SAND BEACHES THAT ARE PERFECT FOR DE-FRAZZLING FAMILIES OR RE-ROMANCING COUPLES ALIKE. CANDI DASA This unassuming coastal village is near to so many fascinating sights (including Bali’s highest mountain, Mt Agung). The perfect day might involve a journey to the tranquil Tirta Gangga Water Temple, lunch with spectacular views at Bali Asli Restaurant, and a lazy afternoon at secretive White Sand Beach. NORTHWEST BALI THIS ECOTOURISM HOTSPOT BOASTS THE WEST BALI NATIONAL PARK, ENCOMPASSING LUSH RAINFORESTS, MANGROVES AND PRISTINE BEACHES. DIVING ENTHUSIASTS WILL LOVE PEMUTERAN BEACH AND ITS INCREDIBLE UNDERWATER TEMPLE GARDEN, AND NEARBY MENJANGAN ISLAND’S WILD BEAUTY. SANUR The perfect sunrise-watching spot, east-facing…

style crush: OMAN The gorgeous Alila Jabal Akhdar in Oman, with its naïve fort-like design created using traditional building techniques and local stone, sits sympathetically in the jaw-dropping Al Hajar Mountains, some 2000 metres above sea level. Inside the interiors are uncluttered but warm, with cosy seating areas created under clusters of lighting, shelves adorned with repeating patterns of patinaed local metalware and pottery, and shots of colour provided by the distinctive stripes of Bedouin camel blankets. When the mountain air becomes too chill to sit outside surrounded by a cacophony of silence, take up residence next to the mammoth fire pit with a G&T at close reach. alilahotels.com…

If William Wordsworth could have hopped on a flight to the US and admired the views afforded by the likes of Yosemite National Park, would he have waxed so lyrically about England’s good ol’ Lake District? Undoubtedly, the answer is yes. This is England at its most dramatic and gorgeously pastoral, where Wordsworth ‘Wandered lonely as a Cloud’, a place of such significant natural beauty that UNESCO thought it wise to inscribe its rugged collection of mountains and lakes as a World Heritage Site last July. It’s a landscape that has made an impact on the arts, inspiring the Picturesque and Romanticism movements in›paintings and literature, not to mention author Beatrix Potter. For walkers there’s the highest mountain in England to climb and kayakers can explore the country’s largest lake,…

Finding space at a reasonable price is the age-old challenge in Japan; the stereotype of it as a restrictively expensive destination is the first thing most people ask about when I mention I am heading there. So the Imperial Hotel Osaka’s budget-friendly price tag was a real drawcard when visiting the city to sample its famous culinary scene and clock up some time at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Having arrived hours late after a medical emergency on our flight resulted in an unscheduled stop in Guam (and a Shinkansen trip from Tokyo having missed our connecting flight), we are taken through the check-in process with typical Japanese efficiency and quickly shown to our room. Even through a fog of fatigue I register the ample proportions, before crashing on…

ABOUT HYATT REGENCY WAIKIKI BEACH RESORT AND SPA Steps from the azure waters and soft sands of Waikiki, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa offers magnificent personalised services and luxurious amenities including world-class dining, an award-winning spa, interactive cultural activities, 24-hour fitness centre, swimming pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and more than 60 onsite boutiques. Boasting some of the largest and newest guestrooms on Oahu, each has been smartly designed for guests to relax and recharge. Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa provides the perfect place for those who want to make the most of their island experience and connect with the heart of Hawai‘i. Learn more about Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa and its special offers at waikiki.regency.hyatt.com.…

Many people who travel to Santiago de Compostela do so by foot. The capital of Galicia, a wild and green region in Spain’s north-west, is the conclusion of the Camino de Santiago. Pilgrims walk from all across Europe but each places their foot on the same brass scallop shell – the centuries-old symbol of the pilgrimage – at the centre of Praza do Obradoiro to mark their journey’s end. Today, I’m a curious observer in the city's grand main square, and I note how the place crackles with a sense of culmination. It feels electric; although that could be due to the thunderstorm that looms in the hills nearby. I’m one of the few here without a heavy backpack and weary feet, because I arrived, well rested and even more…

They’re here. But then, I knew they would be. There’s your number one problem with a bucket-list destination, right there: bucket-list travellers.They’re like moths to a flame.They’re crowding me now at San Cristobal airport, their cameras knocking me in my solar plexus, hydration hoses dangling from their brand-spanking-new Kathmandu backpacks, flicking my arms like hungry mosquitoes.They’re a water-resistant, lightweight Gore-Tex army. They talk loudly too, but then there’s so much to tell. Anticipation is heavy in the air, like humidity. After all, just on the other side of the immigration man with the Inspector Clouseau moustache, there’s a world of crazy-looking animals created, surely, with Instagram in mind. A flotilla of tourist boats – more than half the visitors to the Galapagos will travel by boat at some stage of…

91 BORNEO The largest island in Asia shares its equatorial splendour between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Ecotourism is focusing on protecting its 140-million-year-old biosphere. 92 CHILE This South American country posseses two lures to those who crave isolation and extremes: the surreal Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth, and Chilean Patagonia, including Torres del Paine National Park. Do your research on the latter by reading Bruce Chatwin's In Patagonia on the plane ride into Santiago de Chile Airport. 93 SRI LANKA Perhaps you're into stilt fishing, or simply strolling its spice-scented beaches? 94 OMAN IT'S HARD TO TRULY DESCRIBE THE RICH TAPESTRY THAT IS OMAN; ITS OTHERWORDLY LANDSCAPE, ITS UNIQUE HISTORY, ITS GRACIOUS PEOPLE. ALL THESE THINGS, AND SO MANY MORE, COMBINE TO MAKE THIS A TRANSFORMATIVE DESTINATION. 95…

WHERE ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM? I was born in Adelaide and then studied and worked in Sydney for 15 . years WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Venice in Los Angeles. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE? Nine years. WHAT IS BEST THING ABOUT LIVING WHERE YOU DO? Having the beach on our doorstep (1), living in a community of like-minded creative friends from all over the globe and the availability of sensational and obscenely healthy food. WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE SHOULD DO WHEN THEY VISIT THAT ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW ABOUT? Definitely visit the Eames House in Santa Monica (2), you have to make a reservation weeks ahead but it is well worth it. WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO GET A COFFEE? WHY’S IT A FAVOURITE? Gjusta Bakery…