Amanpuri
Aman is Sanskrit for peace. Indeed, that is what you will find at Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand. Get ready to experience an idyllic white-sand beach, feast on gourmet dining, find your balance at the Holistic Wellness Centre, get the heart pumping at water-bound adventures, soak in cultural discoveries, and take a nature tour.
If you are not sold on that, you might like the sound of this: Amanpuri has added two new wellness services to enhance guests' overall wellness experience. With Tei An - My Wellness Concierge, guests are given the option to have their treatments customised according to their personal preferences. These wellness specialists will recommend appropriate treatments for all guests based on a holistic approach to treating various health conditions. Amanpuri’s new Wellness Mini Bar caters to those enrolled in the Immersion Program and to other guests looking for ways to feel relaxed and rejuvenated during their stay. The Wellness Minibar includes healthy items such as plant-based milk, kombucha, fresh vegetable juices, healthy snacks, and various herbal teas.
Get on board with Amanpuri's new fitness centre, where guests can access state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, a strength circuit studio and an outdoor power athletic gym. To disconnect, try the Pilates and meditation studios and a steam room while providing a range of adaptable wellbeing programmes tailored to meet personal goals. Offering guests original and intensive immersions and a range of medically led therapies and holistic treatments designed to alleviate stress and lift their spirits across three nights or more.
Belitung Island
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Experience a full island life with a stay on Belitung Island (known as Billiton), a beautiful natural marine reserve and archipelago in the South China Sea. In 2021, the island was officially designated a Unesco Global Geopark for its rich geological diversity. Belitung’s striking rock formations date back to the Triassic period, some 210 million years ago.
In its more recent history, known as Billiton, the island was in the possession of the United Kingdom from 1812 until it was ceded to the Dutch, in 1824, much to the dismay of Sir Stamford Raffles, who thought it as strategically important as Singapore and cautioned against losing it. In the 1850s, the island became known as a rich source of shallow tin mining, and by 1900, the Billiton Maatschappij now known as BHP Billiton the largest mining company in the world.
With all of this rich unspoiled natural beauty, it’s no surprise that Belitung has been selected as one of the ten new travel destinations by the Indonesian government, having transitioned from a historic mining economy to one based on sustainable tourism. It is a natural choice to showcase the future of sustainable environmental tourism in the country.
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Although currently little known except to expats living in Jakarta, and with a population of just over 300,000, Belitung aims to put itself back on the world map as the perfect destination for those who appreciate a pristine, unspoiled natural environment with controlled low-density low-impact tourism. Belitung is renowned for powdery white sand so fine that it is sought after to make crystal clear glassware.
Nikoi Island
Just and two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride, you will arrive on the beautiful Nikoi Private Island, a 15-hectare private island located 8km off the east coast of Bintan, Indonesia. Nikoi emphasises conservation and deep consideration for the environment and local communities. Each island component, from construction to food sustainability, is crafted to minimise wastage and pollution while providing guests with a tranquil and secluded escape.
With much of the island left untouched, Nikoi allows guests to explore the beauty of the rich biodiversity at the destination with dedicated foot tracks. Secluded relaxing sections are located along the pristine white sands of the beach, with natural plantation umbrellas and sun lounges readily available.
Spoil yourself in one of the island’s 18 rustic villas that use local driftwood with vernacular rooftops constructed of alang alang grass. The stylish two-storey beach houses blend with the surrounding environment where guests can experience lush living from ample bedroom spaces and tropical-styled ensuite bathrooms, with open showers, to an expansive balcony with ocean and beach views.
With holidaying by the sea, expect to partake in the activities such as exploring the island’s surrounding scenic reef or try snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, and windsurfing. Unique to the island, guests can also revel in a cooling dip in one of the expansive pools secluded away from the villas and main facilities, offering an oasis gateway experience with the backdrop of stunning rock formations and the glistening South China Sea.
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Nikoi Island also participates alongside The Island Foundation to create opportunities for children living in the Bintan Regency, Riau Islands region. Founded in 2010 by the owners of Nikoi Island and Cempedak Island, the foundation works to continue improving learning ecosystems in coastal communities and provide them with opportunities.
Pack it up
Island holidays do not mean rustic where you grab a backpack, and off you go. Take the luxury cue from Rimowa with the Original Pilot Silver, an update on the signature design with newly enhanced functionalities.
Its shape, functionality, and robust shell and roomy interior made it a choice piece for professionals; from DJs who use it as a makeshift case to element-proof their records and equipment to business travellers who found it convenient in storing both their files and travel essentials in one place.
Inside, a padded compartment can hold a laptop up to 16 inches or be removed to transform the business case into a versatile toolbox. There are pockets of multiple sizes to keep essentials organised, from two zipped pockets intended to hold batteries and chargers to a vertical pocket designed for a small water bottle or umbrella.
Paying respect to Rimowa’s rich design history, the Original Pilot Silver features a grooved aluminium exterior that echoes the aesthetic of the Original suitcase collection. Supported by the pioneering Multiwheel system, the case features a stage-free telescopic handle and is opened from above to provide easy access to laptops, documents, and other items.
Another reason intrepid travellers love it is that it is easily manoeuvrable, perfect for long or short-haul journeys, and features two TSA-approved locks to secure it safely. A sticker set featuring five original designs is available to accessorise your Original Pilot Silver case. Drawing inspiration from aviation companies from the 1990s, the vintage-style stickers employ bold font and archival colours for a nostalgic feel.
The Original Pilot made its debut in 1994 and soon found a massive cut following as the product of choice for pilots due to how it neatly fits between the two pilot seats in a cockpit. Apart from that, the bag opens like a classic pilot case that creates easy access to materials inside. Another attraction has to be Rimowa’s aluminium exterior having been inspired by the early days of aviation.
