Just Back from Singapore and South Africa
...and from a bit of a hiatus here.
It’s been a minute! Last year, I rejoined AFAR as senior deputy editor and got very busy spearheading the travel media company’s hotels and hospitality content. I’ve found more balance lately, and it made me realize how much I missed using this space to share my more unscripted travel tales, and to also nerd out on the great loves of my life: nature and culture. One of my favorite things about this newsletter? The feedback from you, dear readers, whenever I wrote something that resonated. Few things are more rewarding to a writer than sparking conversations with smart minds who share my passions. I appreciate you all for reading me whenever I appear in your inbox.
Over the last couple of months, my travels have taken me to South Africa and Singapore for luxury travel conferences (We Are Africa and ILTM Asia Pacific, respectively). I loved my stays at the Raffles Singapore, Ritz-Carlton Millenia, One&Only Cape Town, and Taj Cape Town—some of the finest hotels in their cities. But what I love most about these shows is the global community of hospitality professionals and journalists who all seem to be rowing in the same direction to make travel a force for good. These days, the companies with a measurable plan for social and environmental impact get the most ink from storytellers. And those storytellers are serving their growing number of readers who want the travel companies they choose to reflect their values. Here’s a stat to ponder: A poll by ILTM Asia Pacific revealed that 84 percent of luxury Chinese travelers venturing abroad are seeking a sustainable trip.
I’m in New York City for much of this month, taking in the glorious, not-too-hot long weekend, with a baseball game (go Giants!), a Brooklyn rooftop hangout, and some moviegoing. I know my American readers have barbecues to prep for tomorrow (Happy 4th of July!), so here’s a scannable read of three things that are inspiring me right now.
HOTEL: Shinta Mani Mustang
Bangkok-based architect Bill Bensley made waves in Southeast Asia a few years back with the launch of Shinta Mani Wild, an 850-acre swath of hardwood forest in Cambodia that he and some investors scooped up in a logging auction to protect it from getting cut down (amazing, right?). There, Bensley created a tented camp experience with a light footprint unlike any other in the region. His maximalist style shows through in antiques and carved furnishings, and the camp itself focuses on connecting visitors with the land, wildlife, and culture. Come August 2023, he’ll debut Shinta Mani Mustang, an ancient Nepalese kingdom that was been forbidden to outsiders for centuries. The 29 suites will channel a traditional Tibetan home (always with a Bensley twist), and immersive culture and nature experiences will give guests a deeper understanding of the region.
REGION: The Congo Basin
You know those times when all signs point toward something (or somewhere)? Well, the Congo Basin is one of those somewheres for me right now. This Central African region is the world’s second largest rainforest. It remains a carbon sink, unlike the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon, which is getting deforested so fast that it's now a net emitter of carbon. If you’re into biodiversity like I am, this region may already be on your bucket list. Forest elephants (different from the savanna ones!), gorillas, and chimps reside here, while bonobos—which, next to chimps, are humans’ closest relatives—can only be found in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It can be tricky and expensive to visit, in large part because the Congo Basin is spread across six African countries, some without great airlift, others wrought with instability. But try not to let these challenges stop you: Check out Congo Conservation Company and NGO African Parks for ideas and camps. The aforementioned Bensley is also building a sustainable, design-driven safari camp in Republic of Congo, called Kozala Zamba Congo, which will hopefully give the region some much deserved attention. Want to learn more? I’m hooked on the Congo Basin series from the environmental news outlet Mongabay, which shares the challenges ahead for the preservation of this special part of our world.TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Don’t let tepid reviews keep you away from this film, which I loved for all the same reasons I grew up watching the first three Indiana Jones films over and over again. (I never saw the odd-sounding fourth installment with the aliens, and may keep it that way.) Dial of Destiny is so many of the things I love: ancient cultures, dusty artifacts, international settings, headstrong women characters. And talk about stoking wanderlust: The settings took me to such magical worlds as winding souks in Morocco and ancient caves in Italy. I was practically sitting on my hands in the theater to avoid booking a ticket to these places on my phone.
That’s all from me now! If anything sparked your interest, I’d love to read your comments.
See you on the road,
Jenn