Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 i Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

What a crazy year 2016 has been. Not ONLY because America voted Donald Trump as President, and not just because we lost so many incredible artists—Prince, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, and Leonard Cohen, or that demonetisation-at-the-stroke-of-midnight sent us to new levels of trading with mentos/hajmola candy. And not just because of the Syrian refugee crisis (and the extreme global reactions to it), or that Britain decided to exit from the EU, or Bob Dylan actually won a Nobel Prize for literature, nor because they put Batman and Superman in the same film and still managed to make it dead boring! It was really an insane combination of all these and other world events that were of epic eye-rolling proportions. But rising above the mire of doom and dread, at Travel+Leisure…

CALIFORNIA You can keep your eyes on the road for an occasional Ford Taurus to pass, wishing for the tinted windows to come down and reveal a Will Smith. But if you feel impatient in your Manolo Blahnik heels or your US$2,000 suit, the are luxury hotels in California that are a good place to park yourself at. Check into Chateau Marmont (chateaumarmont.com) and you might just spot Scarlett Johansson or Robert Pattinson walking in. Hotel Roosevelt (thehollywoodroosevelt.com) enjoys its share of VIP guests at Teddy’s, reserved for A-Listers, only, you might not get access to this bar, but watch them swish through the guarded entrance. Other celebrities spotted here are Jennifer Aniston and Tom Cruise. LONDON The only formula that seems to work with Londoners on celeb spotting is…

KATAMAMA Bali, Indonesia Located in Seminak, one of Bali’s most prestigious oceanfront districts, Katamama is created by local artisans, where every detail is either handmade or handpicked. Till March 2017, book two consecutive nights and enjoy the third night free plus get priority booking of a daybed at the legendary Potato Head Beach Club. Upwards US$243 per night ANDARA RESORT & VILLAS Phuket, Thailand This boutique hotel that overlooks Phuket’s serene Kamala Beach provides lessons in the ancient art of fan painting and explains the history behind it. Along with this, children learn how to create regional crafts such as candles, masks, and hanging mobiles. Upwards US$545 per night THE LEELA KOVALAM BEACH Trivandrum, India Located on a cliff overlooking the majestic Arabian Sea, this hotel features a private sun…

Kiersten Rich is one of those that dare to leave a promising career (in corporate finance) behind, to pursue a life of carefree travel. Since she left her cubicle a few years ago, Rich, a California native, has travelled to over 50 countries. She updates her whereabouts to 290K followers on Instagram @theblondabroad and on webpage theblondabroad.com. She believes one should settle for nothing less than extraordinary and inspires people to live a life without boundaries.…

FRESH FINDS Vibrant, loose-jacket oranges and mandarins hang low as you walk through the serene orchards in Nagpur—an amazing experience in winter. For centuries, excellent quality and durability of the Nagpuri oranges have made the city exporters of the fruit, and has put the Vidharbha region on the global map. Take this excuse to visit the little town on the weekend and savour the winter treats prepared with oranges at Le Meridien Nagpur. The luxury hotel on Wardha Road has found a variety of ways to help you unwind in its comfort. From innovative breakfast menus to their signature eclairs, this is where the good life is. TANGY THERAPIES Nilaya Spa offers a wide selection of holistic healing practices infused with orange. Sweet Orange Retreat This sweet orange oil massage…

Taipei is not likely to win prizes for beauty any time soon. The drive from the airport reveals rusty container yards and weatherworn fencing that compose a steampunk picture of industrial scatter. The city is awash with humdrum apartment blocks, wire-slung alleyways and worn out storefronts in full disclosure of all the things most other cities try to hide. But despite how lacking in architectural grace Taipei is, a magical thing happens when you walk into her streets. A flush, coloured by kindness begins to inebriate even the most cynical tourist. At my local noodle joint, the elderly waitress is all maternal pats when I return the next day for my table for one. At a museum, I become an involuntary umbrella-bearer for two giggling ladies in the rain. At…

the GIFT GUIDE READY FOR TAKEOFF PIECES OF THE ACTION For more T+L gift ideas, go to travelandleisure  india.in. the GIFT GUIDE PRECIOUS CARGO…

ROUND ROBIN, WILLARD HOTEL WASHINGTON DC Presidents and lawmakers have drank here since Lincoln walked in for the occasional stiff drink. Plus, there’s no place better for a mint julep. washington.intercontinental.com OLD ABSINTHE HOUSE LOUISIANA Originally a warehouse, then a corner shop and finally a saloon called Aleix’s Coffee House, this 200-year-old bar got rechristened The Absinthe Room after the birth of the Absinthe Frappe here. Go for the history, if not for the unique absinthe cocktails! ruebourbon.com PDT MANHATTAN, NEW YORK A secret entrance through a faux phone booth adds to the mystery, even though everyone now knows about ‘Please Don’t Tell’. The bacon-infused bourbon is a must try! pdtnyc.com ANVIL BAR, HOUSTON TEXAS Built in a mid-century tyre store, the bar put Texas on the map for craft…

ORPHANAGE COCKTAIL EMPORIUM CAPE TOWN Bartenders bedecked in waistcoats and bowler hats, sepia-tinted menus and flickering oil lamps make up this quite vintage and quirky. Girls, ask the oh-so-dreamy bartender Nick Koumbarakis for a recipe. theorphanage.co.za JULEP COCKTAIL BAR CAPE TOWN They say the staff here is so efficient, they will know what you want almost before you sit down. Tiny and tucked away, it is home to some of the most expertly crafted cocktails in the Cape. julep.co.za CAFÉ CAPRICE COCKTAIL BAR CAPE TOWN This place is stunning! But we also recommend you walk over the road to sit on the sand with a Botanical Gardener. It’s a julep, rosemary, and lemon infused Tanqueray No 10 with hibiscus tea soda. cafecaprice.co.za MOYO DURBAN Perched right at the end of…

 KADRIORG PALACE This 18th -century palace was the summer residence of Peter the Great. As you walk through the manicured gardens that border this baroque palace, you are reminded of the grandeur of the Tsars. Inside the two-storey mansion, the white marble interiors are heavenly. Its gorgeous frescos, decorative stuccos, and a collection of paintings, statues, and household items will keep you engaged for hours, and after a thorough inspection of the rooms, you can visit the gallery shop and buy books and souvenirs. The Kadriorg Art Museum is a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia and exhibits foreign art. I fell in love with Tallinn from the word go. It started with unsuspecting acquaintances struggling to remember the exact location of Estonia on the map and emboldened in…

GERMANY AND BULGARIA This year, we have two winners—both reflecting the growing need to explore the new and unexpected. Winners for this year were Germany and Bulgaria—both winning the top votes. Germany has always been a mecca of artists, bohemians, and Europe’s creative class. It is a grand, historic country made new again with one of the world’s most vibrant economies, and an influx of young, trendsetting individuals from around the world. The other top choice for our readers, Bulgaria, embodies the best of a Balkan holiday: dramatic mountain ranges, superb beaches, numerous historic towns and a web of picturesque villages with traditions straight out of the 19th century. Bavaria is the largest state in Germany and shares international borders with Austria and Czech Republic.…

GONDWANA GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA This year’s winner in this category rests on the flanks of the magnificent Outeniqua mountains, not far from Mossel Bay, and on the famous Garden Route in South Africa. Spot the big five plus Cape Mountain Zebras among Western Cape’s unique floral kingdom. Named after the southerly of the two super continents that existed millions of years ago, Gondwana ranks as one of the world’s most breathtaking scenic wonders, and the only Big Five fynbos reserve in the world. The Resort on the reserve is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and has 14 luxurious Kwena Huts that are a modern take on the traditional African hut and beautifully designed Bush Villas. They huts are part of an open-plan concept with beds centered under…

The Georgian people have a trove of stories that explain their good fortune to be living in this fertile corner of the Caucasus. My favourite is this one: when God made the world, he asked all the people of the earth where they wanted to live, and distributed their homelands accordingly. From the Georgians he heard nothing; they were too busy feasting. He paused to rebuke them on his way home, but the tamada—the toastmaster at a traditional Georgian feast—told God to calm down, that the Georgians had spent the whole time praising his handiwork, and that they really didn’t mind if they wound up homeless anyway. God found this answer so pleasing, not to mention adroit, that he gave the Georgians the little plot of land he had been…

A CORNER OF A VICTORIAN-STYLE BUILDING POKES OUT OF THE GRASS AT AUCKLAND’S WESTERN PARK. On a visible column are printed the words BIRDS USED TO SIT HERE, AND WATCH PEOPLE FAR BELOW. It looks ominous, as if the building had tipped over and the earth had opened to swallow it whole, leaving but one corner visible. This is Kiwi sculptor John Radford’s three-part creation spread across Western Park called the ‘Tip’—an homage to the city’s lost architectural heritage. Back in the 1980s, many characteristic buildings in Auckland were demolished to make way for more modern offices or shopping complexes, and their architectural remnants dumped here. The demolition and dumping formed the basis for Radford’s work, and the name ‘Tip’ a deliberate play on words: what’s visible is the tip…

EL GOUNA IN EGYPT IS A COOL OASIS The holiday town of El Gouna in Egypt (located 25kms from Hurghada) is the rising star of the Red Sea Riviera, where you’ll find beachfront resorts, fine-dining restaurants, swanky yachts, and a gamut of activities. travelandleisureindia.in/seasidetown-el-gouna-egypt 9 REASONS WE WANT ANDAZ DELHI TO LAUNCH NOW! This year, luxury hospitality brand Andaz, a Hyatt offering, launches its first property in India at Delhi Aerocity, and we are super excited! While the property is still under wraps, we got a peak-a-boo into a part of the building and its magnificent concept. travelandleisureindia.in/andaz-delhi RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA: 6 BEST KEPT SECRETS This festive season calls for a quick getaway with the kids to Singapore’s entertainment-packed Resorts World Sentosa. Amuse your kids with the best of what…

I was perched on a plastic stool on Cau Go Street, a short stretch of road in Hanoi’s Old Quarter with an amazing concentration of food stalls, eating a delicious plate of bun cha: grilled pork, rice noodles, sliced papaya, shredded carrots, a heaping pile of herbs. Locals rushed past me on motorbikes that buzzed like leaf blowers. The next day I would set out on a two-wheeler of my own to explore Vietnam’s inland north, a place of breathtaking topography that is home to many of the country’s more than 50 ethnic minorities. Many visitors to the country, seeking a more intimate connection with the landscape, follow the example of the locals and travel on light-weight motorbikes. A Brit I’d met in Central America had told me about the…

The interior decor of any hotel is like a shop window; if it’s not visually enticing, you wouldn’t want to walk in. But a lot of luxury hotels in Europe and some heritage properties in India seem to think that it’s OK to fill rooms with unwanted trash to make them grand, when it’s really not. Furnishing a hotel with clutter that appears to have been collected from a car boot sale simply does not work in its favour. What works is a simple room without frills—an understated elegance as opposed to a room full of alleged ‘antiques.’ One particular hotel I stayed at in Italy, the Terme Manzi Hotel & Spa, was a Liberace wet dream that way. Every imaginable surface was embellished with mirror mosaic and at every…

TAIPEI FINE ARTS MUSEUM The Taipei Fine Arts Museum (tfam.museum) is a brutalistmeets-modernist triumph of stacked cuboidal spaces with concrete staircases and luminescent exhibitions. FIGHT AGAINST THE WORLD A vintage store called Fight Against the World (Second floor, 99, Kunming Street, Wanhua District) sells collectible ephemera, army gear, and knickknacks but also has the lowdown on the artsy side of burlesque, rap, and Taiwanese heavy metal. MOTTO FURNITURE If shopping is a byword for shipping to you, be forewarned of the brilliance of Motto Furniture (motto-furniture.com) which coolly creates design jazz out of vintage, contemporary, and modern lines for custom furniture that might require you to be peeled from their achingly hip show lounges. NEXT ANIMATION A particularly quirky exponent of Taiwan’s design credentials is Next Animation (nextanimation.tw), an animation…

COLD COMFORTS WINTER-INSPIRED PICKS FROM INDRE ROCKEFELLER AND ANDY KRANTZ, CREATORS OF PARAVEL LUGGAGE. “Travel has become a sea of black bags,” Rockefeller says. After working together at a Spanish fashion brand, she and Krantz decided to do something about that, so they launched a line of water-resistant canvas bags with leather trim in four eye-catching colours. Paravel, which is made with fabric from mills in Lake Como and Tuscany, is well priced (from US$55 to US$345) and doesn’t skimp on design—the products were created as a system, with cubes to keep things organised and collapsible cases to bring for souvenirs. As for what the founders would pack themselves? Krantz’s essentials include a warm sweater and multipurpose boots—great for trips to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, one of the duo’s favourite spots.…

BAMBOO BAR BANGKOK Prepare to control your weak knees if you run into Mick Jagger or Pierce Brosnan here. Calm your nerves down later with the Thaijito, a local take on the classic Mojito with Thai rum and herbs.mandarinoriental.com THE LONG BAR SINGAPORE Asia’s most famous cocktail, the Singapore Sling, must be had at the place of its invention. raffles.com AH SAM COLD DRINK STALL SINGAPORE Nestled in a shop house, almost every syrup and ingredient is made from scratch, so expect fine flavours. 60 Boat Quay. ZOETROPE TOKYO Among the quirkiest, coolest bars in Tokyo, it has one of the best collections of Japanese whiskies in the world. The owner is a cinema geek, so expect an old silent comedy while sipping your malt. 3F, 7-10-14 Nishi-Shinjuku; +81-3/3363-0162 OMAKASE…

WHEREVER YOU HEAD, BEG FOR HISTORICAL TALES FROM THE SERVERS. FERAL BREWING COMPANY PERTH You cannot skip tasting Australia’s highest awarded craft beer—the Hop Hog—at the country’s best craft brewery. feralbrewing.com.au SIX STRING BREWING COMPANY NEW SOUTH WALES Check in to enjoy their ridiculously good pub grub while chugging mugs of Choc Cherry Dunkelweizen or Hefeweizen. sixstringbrewing.com.au TWO BIRDS BREWING MELBOURNE Try the Taco at the country’s first female-owned brewery. It blends coriander leaf, lime peel, and corn for a unique concoction. twobirdsbrewing.com.au MOON DOG BREWERY & BAR MELBOURNE Certainly Australia’s most eccentric brewery, Moon Dog is surrounded by panel beating shops and brothels. It experiments with outlandish ingredients like watermelon and pumpkin and has a ‘secret’ bookcase door connecting the bar to a new wing. moondogbrewing.com.au CASCADE BREWERY CO…

SPAIN AND JAPAN It’s always wonderful to see how deep the connect between food and travel is for Indian travellers. This year it was also enlightening to see so clearly the mature tastes of our readers who chose Spain and Japan as the world’s best destinations for food. For many, Europe symbolises the height of culinary prowess. From elegant Michelin star restaurants lead by famous chefs to traditional fare in quaint villages, Europe’s cuisine culture has dominated palates for centuries. Spain, in particular has been the world’s epicentre for cutting-edge changes in food trends. And while Spain presents the future, Japan, with it’s renowned fine-skilled chefs, incredible attention to produce and source of ingredients, celebrates centuries of food knowledge and expertise. It’s no wonder that these two destinations are the…

Indian boutique properties combine the best of two worlds—classy levels of service and luxury, and authentic local context. We bring you the best of the new boutique properties launched this year, designed fashionably to suit their location. A WILD CAT’S TRAIL Jawai and Bera, in western Rajasthan’s Pali district, are known for being two of the best natural habitats for leopards in India. Book their simple, comfortable, and spacious cottage spread over a 10-acre estate at Bera Safari Lodge to spot the wild cat from your windows. 15,000 per night for two; berasafarilodge.com EQUESTRIAN GALLOP Experience true Rajputana hospitality at Khas Bagh, a tiny boutique hotel in Jaipur with 18 rooms and suites. Owner Ransher Singh, an avid polo player, has brought polo ponies at his four-acre estate and offers…

Bunny Chow This one has got serious Indian roots. It is essentially a Durban dish that was introduced by the ‘baniya’ community after they migrated to South Africa way back in 1860. A big loaf of hollowed bread is stuffed with veggies—more popularly, lamb curry—and served hot with pickles and chutney. As one would expect from an Indian dish—the spices hit the roof of the mouth. Eat at: Victory Lounge, Corner of Dr Yusuf Dadoo and Bertha Mkhize Street, Durban; +27-31/306-1906 Durbanite Tramezzini A sandwich made of two slices of soft white bread with crusts removed. The locals take in a filling of bacon strips, avocado, haloumi cheese, and mozzarella. A light snack for midnight hunger pangs, or a quick grab in-between meals. Eat at: Urban Eatery, 240 Madiba St,…

DAY 1 Vietnam Motorbike Tour Expert Intrepid travellers can buy used bikes on Craigslist Vietnam (viet nam. craigslist.org) or rent from Viet Nam Motorcycle Tour (+84-973/812-789). But the safest option is this operator, which organises guided trips throughout northern Vietnam. hanoi motorcycle tour.com La Vie Vu Linh This ecolodge in Yen Binh district is a sustainable-tourism initiative to empower the area’s Dao people. US$30 per person. lavievulinh.com DAY 2 Sa House A clean, understated lodging option near Bac Ha. Doubles from $13. +84-984/827-537 DAY 3 Bac Ha Market Flower Hmong women sell goods here on Sundays. Nha Nghi Hoan Nuong Simple digs in Ha Giang province. Doubles from US$15. +84-273/864-302 DAY 4 Ba Be National Park Established in 1992, this stunning reserve in Bac Kan province contains limestone peaks, evergreen forests,…

WHISTLER CANADA If there’s anything more exciting than learning how to ski, it’s what Canadians do afterwards. Ditch your gear at 4pm to hit the town’s bars and nightclubs. Start with beer, live music, and tall tales at Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill (4165 Springs Lane; +1-604/905-2220). For some sophisticated pre-dinner action, stop by the Belvedere Vodka Ice Room at the Bearfoot Bistro (bearfootbistro.com)—they have over 50 varieties of vodka, and the martinis are known to melt even the fast frozen. Post dinner, hit the clubs: At Garfinkel’s (4308 Main Street; +1-604/932-2323) expect weekly apres parties, at Maxx Fish Lounge & Bar (maxxfish.com) live bands and comedy nights are the biggest draw; at Tommy Africa’s (tommyafricas.com) enjoy 40s hits over scotch. WHY WHISTLER • Apres skis are great for…

Taipei’s famed Darjeeling and oolong bubble tea (milk-tea with liquid-filled tapioca balls) is said to have been invented at Chun Shui Tang (chunshuitang.com. tw), but be warned, the tea reserves a good tannin kick as compared to weaker iced teas drunk elsewhere in the world. Shaved ice is another Taiwanese invention which essentially slathers sickly fruit syrup, condensed milk and fruit chunks over crepe-like layers of machine-shaved ice for dessert best had at Mango Ice (mango-ice.com.tw).…

AMERICA HAS CRAFT BEER ROOTED IN ITS FRAMEWORK! SIERRA NEVADA BREWING COMPANY CALIFORNIA Bow your head to the holy grounds of craft beer in the US. Amongst others, it spawned the craft beer movement of the 1980s-90s and has been brewing award-winning beer ever since. sierranevada.com NEW BELGIUM BREWING COMPANY, COLARADO Besides sampling Fat Tire, Citradelic, and Blue Paddle, attend Tour de Fat, its annual bicycle and beer festival. newbelgium.com MOODY TONGUE BREWING COMPANY CHICAGO Trailblazer of culinary beer, what else? Brewmaster Jared Rouben creates his ‘liquid dishes’ with culinary techniques like brewing coffee, steeping tea, and baking chocolate. moodytongue.com YUENGLING BREWERY PENNSYLVANIA It's Barack Obama's favourite beer! From hand-dug fermentation caves to keep beer cool in days before refrigeration to the old advertising posters, there’s a unique sense of…

CAFFE RIVOIRE FLORENCE Head bartender Luca Picchi, who has documented the life of Count Cammillo Negroni, creator of the one of the world’s favourite drinks, makes the ultimate glass. Piazza della Signoria, 5; +39 055 214412 ARTESIAN BAR LONDON Try Forever Young, scented by opium incense, at this award-winning bar offering cocktails with a difference.artesian-bar.co.uk ROBERTO AMERICAN BAR VIENNA Have one of the best bartenders in Vienna—Roberto Pavlovic—who made his way up from washing glasses, hand you a shot of Fernet-Branca to clear the palate for a rum Old Fashioned. Bauernmarkt 11-13, 1010 Wien; +43-676/942-9001 DOGMA COCKTAILS ANTWERP The menus at Dogma are hand-written and illustrated books. If that’s not interesting enough, watching the sole bartender serve around 60 people all by himself. dogmacocktails.be CHORUS CAFÉ ROME Once a rehearsal…

MOST BREWERIES OFFER A TOUR. DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT TAKING ONE. TRIGGERFISH BREWING SOMERSET WEST One, it is set in a former dynamite plant. Two, you can sample around 15 of its 24-strong range of brews. triggerfishbrewing.co.za THE DOG AND FIG BREWERY FREE STATE The brewery and taproom sit in an echoing barn. Situated right outside Parys in the picturesque Vredefort Dome, the beers use crystal clear water from deep within this ancient meteorite impact zone. Suitable for vegans. parys.co.za DIEKS’ BRU RUST Take a peek into the brewing process, enjoy the ale with some local lamb and listen to an interesting tale or two from brewer Dieks Theron—he got into brewing at the age of 70. 1 Kerk Street, De Rust; 073/232-2527 GILROY BREWERY MULDERSDRIFT Visit on weekends when brewer-cum-poet-cum-showman,…

THE BAXTER INN SYDNEY This basement inn lures both whisky aficionados and novices down an alleyway to its selection of some 630 varieties, accessible via a library-style ladder. thebaxterinn.com EAU DE VIE, MELBOURNE The place loves a theatrical trick. So, for all you know, you might get your cocktail served in boots! For a dessert-cum-cocktail experience, try the Espresso Zabaione—espresso martini topped with mousse that’s freeze-dried with liquid nitrogen. eaudevie.com.au THE ATTIC, BLACK PEARL MELBOURNE A true haven for a cocktail connoisseur, sip on a cocktail that might knock your socks off—like the Chrysanthemum. blackpearlbar.com.au/ the_attic FUMO BLU ADELAIDE A Mix of contemporary and 50s inspired decor and funky vibes, it has been serving imaginatively prepared cocktails for years. Try the Fruchoc. fumoblu.com.au BAR PACINO BRISBANE A fairly new watering hole…

EESTIETNO.EE  STUDIO SHOP A wide array of products inspired by traditional Estonian prints and designs are available here. From striped bean bags (their hotselling product) to pillows, bowties, and slippers, it has combined elements of their heritage with modern designs. eestietno.ee MINU VÄIKE MAAILM Translating into 'My Small World’ in English, this design store is a collaboration between three brands: Eerin, a kids’ wear brand that uses organic cotton; Nurme Seep, a cosmetic brand; Villapai that makes woollen clothes for kids, baby slings, and swings. All products are environment-friendly and ensure that minimal plastic and synthetics are used. Telliskivi 60a; +372/5877-0487 GERRY WEBER A German fashion brand, Gerry Weber designs modern, high-quality garments keeping in mind a working woman. gerryweber.com EESTI ESINDUS A souvenir shop, Eesti Esindus is popular with…

This year, we've completed 10 years in the industry and in all that time, we've seen quite a change. From the Indian traveller who’d always play safe with destination choices, we’ve grown into adventurous globetrotters who’d gladly take the family in tow to a place yet unexplored. Since August, we let you, our readers choose your favourites—from the best international destinations to fabulous airports, luxury hotels and resorts, best airlines and duty-free—your response through our website polls has been overwhelming. Fifty one categories, numerous joint winners, and a grand awards ceremony later, here's the verdict on world travel with some new players tuked in. We congratulate all the winners!…

FRANCE AND SOUTH AFRICA This year, while France won a big number of votes in the Best Honeymoon Destination category, coming in at the same spot was South Africa. Whether it's taking a river cruise through the Champagne region, tasting the sparkling wine in sun dappled quaint villages, or walking through the ‘Love Gardens’ in Loire Valley, honeymoons in France can be intimate, luxurious, and incredibly romantic. The Southern Hemisphere’s new entrant in this space is South Africa with starlit bath tubs, his-and-her body treatments in beautiful spas, sleepouts on gorgeous private decks in the wilderness, dinners for two in remote bush locations or at the edge of a lake or ocean, and thrilling adventures that would make a bond between a new couple stronger. Luxury wilderness resorts are the…

ANDAZ AMSTERDAM India’s first Andaz opens in Delhi this month, but globe-trotting Indians are already familiar with this brand. Located in the historic centre of the city and within walking distance Amsterdam’s most popular districts and attractions, Andaz offers a unique refreshing taste of the Dutch capital. Housed in a heritage building that once used to be a library, the hotel’s been designed by renowned Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. The hotel features 122 stylish rooms including five gorgeous suites. All rooms feature a modern Dutch motif with huge doses of quirky humour from Wanders. Find plates that overhang the shelves, design books for browsing and huge tulip like armchairs with views of the canal, garden or lobby. In the toilets, you’ll find Delft ceramic illustrated wallpaper that depicts historic moments…

THE FULLERTON HOTEL SINGAPORE The vintage-modern combination is one of the best to gush on. And it is more special when it is in a colonial era building in Singapore—a global financial centre that reinvented itself as one of the world’s hot-list destinations. Built in 1928 and once home to Singapore’s General Post Office, the Exchange Room and Exchange Reference Library and the Singapore Club, the landmark building was transformed into a 400-room heritage hotel over a decade and half ago. But the history goes beyond this to the early 19th century when there stood a fort Fullerton, named after the first governor of the Straits Settlements. The neoclassical behemoth, strategically located where the Singapore River meets the sea and at zero mile, has been immensely significant in the history…

SHANGRI-LA’S—EROS HOTEL, NEW DELHI AND THE PARK, NEW DELHI This year, the readers of Travel+Leisure India & South Asia voted for their favourite hotels online and the clear winners in the ‘Best Business Hotel’ category were two icons in the heart of Delhi—Shangri-La’s-Eros Hotel and The Park. A big plus for both proved to be their location, which is close to major attractions and commercial districts in Delhi, as well as the airports. The rooms at Shangri-La’s–Eros Hotel, New Delhi have undergone a refurbishment, while the restaurants, Sorrento, Shang Palace, and Mister Chai have a completely reinvented menus and experiences. The Park New Delhi brings everything to you—from a salon and spa to a souvenir shop. Book its Deluxe Suite, which comes with a work desk, separate living area, complimentary…

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Each December, as winter’s chill envelops Newfoundland and Labrador, in far eastern Canada, its residents prep their candy-coloured houses for a series of masked visitors. The practice may sound slightly sinister, but Mummering, as it’s known to the area’s English and Irish descendants, is a joyous, Halloween- style ritual. Brought over from Britain in the 19th century, Mummering deals in the art of disguise, where groups of friends or family members travel door-to-door in their neighbourhood, cloaked head to toe in costumes. The trick is for the host to identify each Mummer, at which point everyone celebrates with some whiskey or a slice of Christmas cake. If you’re not a Newfoundland and Labrador native, the best way to join in the spirit of this quirky custom is by making a…