Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2020 i Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau

Past experiences that have shaped us, new adventures born of isolation—and some Buddhist mantras for every day. This issue we reflect on travel from a different perspective. EARLIER THIS YEAR, as the world came to a grinding halt and citizens around the globe were forced into some form of isolation, one man in the tiny nation of Bhutan embraced the change, retreating for three months into a cave in one of the Kingdom’s peaceful mountain forests. Meet His Eminence Khedrupchen Rinpoche, a fifth reincarnate and head of Sangchen Ogyen Tsuklag Monastery (khedrup.org) in Trongsa, who assumed responsibility for the temple at 19, and at 30 travels the world imparting Buddhist principles and how they can be applied to everyday living. Barely a week out of his meditation retreat, he shared…

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO Zoom in on high-definition images of permanent-collection gems—such as Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, one of van Gogh’s self-portraits, and Hopper’s Nighthawks—in photos so detailed you can see cracks in the oil paint. You can also pop through first- and second-floor galleries. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK Swivel Street View–style through exhibits, including the one housing the famous ancient Egyptian Temple of Dendur, or dive in to more than 200,000 individual artifacts, among them paintings, sculptures, suits of armor, decorative vases and engravings. NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON Click your way through room after room; jump right to the highlights, such as canvases from Bosch, Titian and van Eyck; or explore digital-only collections like “Monet’s London,” a curated look at the artist’s paintings of the…

TOP 100 HOTELS OVERALL 1. Capella Ubud Bali, Indonesia 99.85 Architect and designer Bill Bensley created this intimate refuge, where nightly entertainment ranges from screenings of black-and-white movies to campfire tales spun by a local storyteller. 2. Hotel Amparo San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 99.23 3. Fogo Island Inn Newfoundland 99.02 4. The Ritz-Carlton Bali, Indonesia 98.85 5. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi 98.79 6. Secret Bay Dominica 98.60 7. Raffles Istanbul 98.40 7. Canaves Oia Epitome Santorini, Greece 98.40 9. Awasi Patagonia Torres del Paine National Park, Chile 98.25 9. Singita Kruger National Park South Africa 98.25 11. Finca Cortesin Hotel Golf & Spa Málaga, Spain 98.11 12. Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Sacred Valley, Peru 98.07 13. Shangri-La Hotel, at the Shard London 98.06 14.…

TOP 10 SMALL-SHIP OCEAN CRUISE LINES 1. Quasar Expeditions 99.17 The staff members aboard this Galapágosbound line’s two ships—one for 16 passengers, the other for 32—coordinate activities like kayaking, while naturalists tee up unforgettable wildlife viewings. 2. Crystal Cruises 97.50 ⋆ 3. Australis 92.72 4. SeaDream Yacht Club 92.42 5. UnCruise Adventures 91.39 6. Silversea Cruises 90.16 ⋆ 7. Ponant 89.47 8. Lindblad Expeditions 89.37 9. Windstar Cruises 89.22 10. Celebrity Cruises 86.05 ⋆ TOP 10 RIVER CRUISE LINES 1. Crystal River Cruises 97.14 This line’s refined culinary program earns raves, as do its butler service and personalized shore experiences. Spacious staterooms with floor-to-ceiling windows ensure guests greet each day with stellar views. 2. U by Uniworld 95.91 3. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises 95.51 ⋆ 4. Tauck 95.21 ⋆ 5.…

TOP 5 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND CITY HOTELS 1. COMO The Treasury Perth, Australia 95.73 Part of Perth’s ongoing renaissance, this collection of reinvigorated 19th-century government buildings brilliantly weaves together the old (Victorian architecture, decorative moldings) with the new (bespoke contemporary furniture, a glassed-in rooftop restaurant). 2. The Langham Sydney 90.77 3. Park Hyatt Sydney 90.48 ⋆ 4. The Langham Melbourne 87.71 5. Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay 87.58 TOP 5 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND RESORT HOTELS 1. Farm at Cape Kidnappers Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand 94.67 This 2,400-hectare cliffside ranch is outdoor-oriented luxury in the heart of the first Kiwi wine center. Play its award-winning golf course, go heli-fishing and eat locavore gourmet. 2. Lizard Island Resort Great Barrier Reef, Australia 94.59 3. Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley…

TOP 15 CONTINENTAL U.S. CITY HOTELS 1. The Mark New York City 96.24 Urban hotels often distinguish themselves by harnessing the personality and excitement of their hometown, and no property accomplishes that better than this dashing Manhattan hideaway. 2. The Georges Lexington, Virginia 96.19 3. Santa Monica Proper Hotel California 96.00 4. La Peer Hotel West Hollywood, California 95.62 5. Row Hotel at Assembly Row Somerville, Massachusetts 95.00 6. Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston 94.77 7. The Surrey New York City 94.76 8. Wentworth Mansion Charleston, South Carolina 94.76 9. Kimpton Hotel Born Denver 94.58 10. Bristol Hotel Bristol, Virginia 94.48 11. Inn of the Five Graces Santa Fe, New Mexico 94.29 12. John Rutledge House Inn Charleston, South Carolina 94.26 13. The Art, a Hotel Denver 94.11 14.…

THAT DAY, WE HIRED A TAXI GUIDE specifically to take us to Bagan’s most popular viewpoint. We hoped for a speedy ride so we could catch the sunset in time, but he must have been new because he was unfamiliar with the roads. I realized that we would never reach our destination in time for sunset and quickly made a decision. I had him stop the car at a temple that would allow me to continue on foot to get as close as possible to the viewpoint so I could get my photo. I tried to get the most out of this shot, and it makes me feel quite excited to know that no one else might ever get the same perspective of Bagan as I did. That and the…

I FIRST MET José Andrés in January 2014 at the Cayman Cookout: a beachside celebration of food and wine headlined by marquee names in the culinary world at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. At a Sunday champagne brunch, Andrés was working the room—a skill that comes easily to the gregarious Spanish-born chef and humanitarian—and spent time posing for pictures with his fans, myself among them. I wish I could say this second conversation with Andrés was as joyful and lighthearted. Since spring, he and his team have been working with restaurants in the U.S. and Spain to provide tens of millions of meals to frontline workers and individuals experiencing food insecurity due to the worldwide crisis. Here, some excerpts from our recent discussion. Jacqui Gifford What inspired you to start World…

NB: This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented due to COVID-19. The results, therefore, reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come—whenever they may be. TOP 25 CITIES OVERALL 1. Oaxaca Mexico 93.54 A tapestry of colors, tastes and indigenous traditions propelled this historic city (last year’s No. 5) above all others. Readers can’t get enough of the diverse crafts and cuisine, including seven different styles of mole. 2. San Miguel de Allende Mexico 92.01 3. Hoi An Vietnam 90.52 4. Chiang Mai Thailand 89.62 5. Florence 89.21 ⋆ 6. Kyoto Japan 88.77 7. Udaipur India 88.49 8. Luang Prabang Laos 88.17 9. Ubud Indonesia 88.16 10. Istanbul 88.14…

TOP 5 NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST CITY HOTELS 1. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Dubai 97.20 Travelers staying at this hotel—a standout tower in a city known for its modern skyline—revel in perks like private butlers and 18-karat-gold-plated iPads. 2. Royal Mansour Marrakesh, Morocco 97.19 3. Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem 94.50 4. La Mamounia Marrakesh, Morocco 94.18 5. Nile Ritz-Carlton Cairo 93.87 TOP 5 NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST RESORT HOTELS 1. Kasbah Tamadot Atlas Mountains, Morocco 95.57 Out in the High Atlas Mountains, Richard Branson’s resort combines lavish, relaxing spaces with avenues for cultural enrichment, including Moroccan cooking lessons and visits to nearby villages. 2. The Chedi Muscat, Oman 92.80 3. Beresheet Mitzpe Ramon, Israel 91.84 4. Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel Muscat, Oman 91.80 5. Al…

Getting There Fly into Tokyo or Osaka and take a bullet train to Kyoto Station. Japan Airlines (jal.com) offers daily flights from most major cities. Where to Stay Park Hyatt Kyoto (hyatt.com; doubles from ¥98,000) offers guesthouse-style luxury near Ninenzaka slope. For a resort retreat on the outskirts of the city, stay at Aman Kyoto (aman.com; doubles from ¥140,000), or for a nostalgic guesthouse experience choose a suite at Sowaka (sowaka.com; doubles from ¥39,930). Also in Gion, with a rooftop terrace is the new Junei Hotel Kyoto, Gion (juneihotel.com/kyoto; doubles from ¥23,000)—sister property to The Junei Hotel Kyoto Imperial Park West (doubles from ¥20,800). New hotels include Hiramatsu Kyoto (hiramatsuhotels.com; doubles from ¥64,200); which incorporates a converted shophouse, and Ace Hotel Kyoto (acehotel.com; ¥27,000) located close to shopping in the downtown area. Coming soon: the centrally…

I’ve been driving for two hours before the dust hits. In a matter of seconds, the hard-blue cloudless skies have been washed sepia, and the wind has turned an angry gale-force, whooshing giant tumbleweeds around like dried-up asteroids. The only other vehicles on the highway are 200-tonne “road-trains” overtaking me like seasoned quarterbacks, charging through the now mud-thick haze. Cell service has dropped out and I’m now white-knuckling towards the sharp-tooth mountains in the distance on my own, hoping it’s nothing more sinister than a dust storm, as this is bushfire territory. Thankfully, it’s the former and I keep my foot on the pedal, driving slowly but steadily away from civilization to Arkaba Conservancy in South Australia’s backcountry. Solo adventuring in the outback takes grit, even for a seasoned traveler.…

ON FEBRUARY 29, a friend of mine crossed the water border from Thailand into Burma to sail off-grid into the Mergui Archipelago, where he and four other volunteers planned a three-week conservation project at a five-star resort. Four months and a global pandemic later, he made it out to Yangon and on a repatriation flight back to France. I’ve never spoken to someone so happy to leave paradise. As you might imagine, it’s a weird time to take the wheel of a travel magazine because, well, everything is weird, especially travel. So, I’ve changed things up a bit this month and we’re easing into this issue with a much-needed deep breath, courtesy of an insightful young Rinpoche in Bhutan. We’ve also enlisted a few thoughtful writers to try to make…

JUST GO, BE ALERT and do your best, as always,” my mother Tundra used to tell me on the eve of each new journey. It was her way of chasing away bad luck, for my unconventional traveling-and-writing lifestyle gave her both infinite pride and inextinguishable apprehension. Tundra carried the name of a gelid and featureless Arctic region that inspires adventure, but her chilly name didn’t match the warmth of her heart, nor the fact that she never traveled as much as she had wanted. But, in her later years, my efforts to escape the uninspiring reality of Voghera—my small hometown in Lombardy—had given her new reasons to be curious about life. Please understand that in Italy’s ever-conservative mindset, writing for a living means committing a heinous career crime. Still, back…

POSITIVELY ITCHING FOR A BREAK, you’ve decided to run the new-normal gauntlet of international travel, with deserted beaches, unsurfed waves and sunrise-volcano hikes firmly fixed in your mind’s eye. You’re absolutely in need of a tropical island dripping in fresh fruits, festooned with exotic animals, surrounded by big, barreling waves, and with local warungs serving up tasty nasi goreng and fresh-cracked coconuts. Just take my money. Get me there. Here. Where I’m sat right now writing to you. Bali is the place you need. A welcome dose of quarantine medicine served by some of the most hospitable, peaceful people on Earth. Sound good? As lockdown begins to ease and those of us here wander up and down lonely beaches passing empty hotels, the question on everyone’s minds is: What does the…

IF THE PANDEMIC has taught us anything, it’s that local is more reliable than global—and that neighborhood diners provide food for the soul. Forced out of our usual routines and shuttered out of our favorite top tables, we turned increasingly to our home communities for sustenance, and found some “hidden” gems worth holding onto long after lockdown. Here, three T+L Southeast Asia correspondents share the heroes of their cities’ indie food scenes. Singapore STREET EATS TO YOUR DOOR BY GRACE MA STORMS PRODUCE rainbows, and mine in the midst of Singapore’s “circuit breaker” from April 7 to June 1 were not multi-colored, but arched in comfort-food finds such as fishball noodles and fried chicken. To make sense of social media’s great hunting ground, I relied on Hawkers United–Dabao 2020 (fb.com/groups/HawkersUnited2020), a…

TOP 10 INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES 1. Singapore Airlines 90.84 ⋆ This beloved carrier aces the flying experience every step of the way. The airline continues to innovate, prioritizing not only luxury and safety but also fliers’ wellness through its partnership with Canyon Ranch. 2. Qatar Airways 89.88 ⋆ 3. Emirates 87.43 ⋆ 4. Eva Air 85.67 5. All Nippon Airways (ANA) 84.98 6. Air New Zealand 84.95 ⋆ 7. Japan Airlines (JAL) 84.56 8. La Compagnie 84.39 9. Cathay Pacific Airways 84.30 ⋆ 10. Virgin Atlantic Airways 84.28 TOP 10 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS 1. Singapore Changi Airport 93.49 Since the 2019 debut of Jewel—an impressive entertainment complex, complete with a 40-meter-tall indoor waterfall—this hub has given travelers ample reason to extend their stopovers or to arrive extra early for their flights. 2.…

TOP 10 ASIA RESORT HOTELS 1. Capella Ubud Bali, Indonesia 99.85 Raised above the forested slopes of the Keliki Valley, 22 dramatic, one-bedroom tents outfitted with antiques, local textiles and private pools immerse guests in a Bill Bensley–designed glam jungle camp. 2. The Ritz-Carlton Bali, Indonesia 98.85 3. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi 98.79 4. Leela Palace Udaipur, India 97.64 5. Anantara Chiang Mai Resort & Spa Thailand 97.57 6. Belmond Jimbaran Puri Bali, Indonesia 97.50 7. Oberoi Rajvilas Jaipur, India 97.33 ⋆ 8. The Mulia Bali, Indonesia 96.73 9. Rambagh Palace Jaipur, India 96.50 10. Oberoi Amarvilas Agra, India 96.45 ⋆ TOP 10 ASIA CITY HOTELS 1. The Oberoi Mumbai 97.05 Overlooking Marine Drive and Back Bay, this elegant hotel gives guests a sense of tranquility that’s reinforced by its…

TOP 10 EUROPE CITY HOTELS 1. Raffles Istanbul 98.40 Elegant Byzantine flourishes and Turkish artwork imbue this glistening 185-room tower with an unrivaled sense of place. 2. Shangri-La Hotel, at the Shard London 98.06 3. Hotel Café Royal London 97.07 4. Ritz Paris 97.01 5. St. Regis Florence 96.62 6. Mandarin Oriental Munich 95.25 7. Milestone Hotel & Residences London 95.16 8. Park Hyatt Milan 95.11 9. J.K. Place Roma Rome 95.09 10. The Stafford London 95.03 TOP 10 EUROPE RESORT HOTELS 1. Canaves Oia Epitome Santorini, Greece 98.40 Spellbinding sunsets and intuitive service put this family-run jewel at the top. 2. Finca Cortesin Hotel Golf & Spa Málaga, Spain 98.11 3. Katikies Santorini Greece 97.62 4. Hotel Caesar Augustus Capri, Italy 96.87 5. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel St. Moritz, Switzerland…