Sojourn Magazine Spring 2017

$9.99 

SPRING 2017 

sojourn 

THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO 

Maletsunyane Falls 

Published by Jungle Bird Media GERMANY www.junglebirdmedia.com

SPRING17//SOJOURN

SOJOURN//SPRING17 

CONTENTS 

//05 STELLAR BRIDGE OF STARI MOST//06 

COTSWOLD WEEKEND BAG FROM ETTINGER// 

07 TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING//08 

STANLEY FRENCH PRESS AND GROWLER//09 

ANCIENT TOWN OF CHINA//10 NOMAD 

POWERPACK//11 COVER STORY//17 THE LAST 

BACKPACK YOU'LL EVER NEED// 

1

SPRING17//SOJOURN 

CONTENTS 

//19 CHRISTMAS IN NUREMBERG//23 

MINIMALISTIC TRAVEL WITH UNBOUND 

MERINO//25 YOUR GUIDE TO SPRING 

FESTIVALS IN EUROPE//27 THE LATEST IN ITB 

BERLIN 2017//29 INTERVIEW WITH NOAH, 

FOUNDER OF NOMAD// 

2


CONTENTS 

//31 HIDDEN BARS AND HOW TO ENTER 

THEM//33 TRIER, THE OLDEST CITY IN 

GERMANY//39 TRAVEL ESSENTIALS FOR A 

WORRY-FREE TRAVEL//41 PURPLE RAIN//45 

NEW HOTEL OPENINGS// 

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EDITOR'S NOTE 

This spring edition of Sojourn Magazine 

explores a range of travel destinations including 

Bosnia and Herzegovina, New Zealand, China, 

Lesotho, Germany, and many more. We also go 

in depth into the latest in luxury hotels & resorts 

and amazing hidden bars scattered around the 

world. Although this year has witnessed a 

significant slowdown and uncertainty in the 

global economy, the demographics of 

international travellers still remain unchanged, 

despite the variations in numbers. On the 

contrary, a number of new, luxurious properties 

opened their doors for the first time this year 

and many more are slated for opening in the 

upcoming months. The luxury travel market is 

bursting with new properties, big and small, all 

claiming to fame by offering at least one if not a 

range of such expressions and differentiators. 

The budget traveller is also spoilt for choice for 

locations to visit, experiences to be had and the 

way they wish to explore. The hoteliers of today 

know what offerings to focus on so as to hit the 

spot with their repeat clientele. It’s no longer 

about size as well. Boutique hotels with 

anywhere from 3 to 30 rooms are becoming 

popular with the savvy travellers. We sincerely 

trust that you will have as much pleasure 

reading this edition of Sojourn Magazine as we 

enjoyed compiling this for you. Start reading 

and then start packing! 

Azhar.A 

Editor-in-Chief 

4


STELLAR BRIDGE OF STARI MOST 

THE OLD BRIDGE IN THE CITY OF MOSTAR IN BOSNIA AND 

HERZEGOVINA 

Photo by Narikki Kudinar-Kwee 

Our pick for your next getaway might not be your conventional European destination but 

the city of Mostar certainly has a lot to offer. What we absolutely love is the Stari Most, 

literally translated to Old Bridge which spans the Neretva river for over 400 years. It was 

officialy opened in 1566 but destroyed in 1933 and then rebuilt by 2004. The location is 

popular for diving competitions, in which traditionally men would leap from the bridge to 

the cold river. The city of Mostar itself is worth a visit with its old turkish houses and a true 

testament to its people as it was the most heavily bombed city in the country during the 

war. 

5


FOR YOUR WEEKEND PURSUITS 

PURSUITS COTSWOLD WEEKEND BAG 

www.ettinger.co.uk 

By Azhar Ahmad 

Weekend getaways or short holidays doesn't mean that you should stuff your 

essentials in an ugly bag. This sturdy cotton drill weekend bag from Ettinger is just 

what you need to look good and feel good, even for just 48 hours. No more searching 

for items you need when you pack them at the bottom of your top loader backpack 

as this bag features a wide opening so everything can be easily found all at once. 

Inside the spacious bag, two extra slip pockets are just enough for your passport, 

watch, or even electronic devices so they're not scattered about. This perfect 

weekend companion is available in olive/havana (pictured), sand/havana, black, ivory/ 

havana, as well as navy/black. 

6


TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING 

HIKE THROUGH HELL AND BE REWARDED WITH HEAVENLY VIEW 

Voted one of the world’s top 10 day treks, it lies in New Zealand’s oldest National Park, in 

the central North Island, about six hours drive from Auckland. Here you’ll find weird and 

wonderful landscapes, volcanoes, crazy rock formations, steaming vents, jewel-coloured 

lakes, ancient lava flows, scalding thermal springs and moon-like craters. On a clear day 

you will feel like you’re in a different world with views including Mount Ngauruhoe and 

Mount Taranaki, the vast expanse of Lake Taupo and the Kaimanawa Ranges. You’ll be 

amazed in each direction. The Tongariro Crossing is both an awe-inspiring and serious 

tramp – at 19.4 km long you can expect it to take a good 7-9 hours, depending on your 

fitness, the weather and how many stops you take for once in a lifetime photos. But 

despite all the advice and warnings The Tongariro Crossing is renowned for its legions of ill 

prepared, jandal-wearing, t-shirted day trippers, with little water or training, who think it will 

be a “walk in the park. It is an alpine crossing that is almost 2000m above sea level, at its 

peak, that deserves full respect. Countless people who have completed it can testify that 

its beauty can hide an ugly side if the weather turns. 

7


COFFEE OR 

BEER? 

WITH STANLEY, YOU CAN 

HAVE BOTH 

www.stanley-pmi.com 


Enjoy the taste of French-pressed coffee even 

when you're away from home or cafe with the 

travel press vacuum from Stanley. Featuring a 

drink-thru opening and leak-proof lid, this 

vacuum insulated mug will keep your coffee hot 

for 4 hours, cold for 5 hours and iced for 20 

hours. Imagine drinking a fresh coffee after a 

long hike with a magnificent view. It just can't 

get any better than that. 

Don't enjoy coffee? What about freshlypoured, 

cold beer? In a blazing heat, the 

next best thing is to have a pint. This 

Classic Vacuum Growler is rugged, so 

you can go ahead and drink that beer 

like a champ. An audible ‘pop’ when you 

open this bad boy is a sure sign your 

beer is still carbonated. If you're stuck in 

the woods or trapped in a deserted 

valley, you'll be glad to know your beer 

will still be cold for the next 24 hours! 

8


ANCIENT TOWN OF CHINA 

TRAVEL BACK IN TIME IN FENGHUANG COUNTY OF 

HUNAN PROVINCE 

Surrounded by a lush green forest imbued with a morning fog, the town of 

Fenghuang looks as if it's trapped in a time capsule. The town still 

manages to preserve its stunning architecture with an impressive amount 

of detail. Whether it is the shape of the roofs, the imposing doors and 

courtyard gates or the lattices work on windows and wooden window 

cover, everything remained intact after 300 years.The typical building in 

Fenghuang is called Diaojiaolou which is a unique wooden houses built 

along the river bank. When seeing from a distance, the houses look like 

hanging on the river. This design is to protect the house from the flooding 

situation in Tuojiang River in the old time. Fenghuang Ancient Town can 

be divided into two parts. One is the old town while the other one is new 

town. The old one leans against hills and faces the crystal-clear Tuojiang 

River flowing through the city, and it is the main tourist area in the county. 

The new town is a residential area for the locals. 

9


TRACK AND CHARGE 

NOMAD POWERPACK 

www.hellonomad.com 


Have you ever wondered if you could track your missing powerbanks just as you would a 

smartphone? We never knew we needed the Nomad PowerPack until we tried it as it is 

equipped with bluetooth tracking function via Tile. You can view where the PowerPack is last 

located on a map through the free Tile app and if it appears to be in the vicinity but not visible 

to the naked eye, simply ring it and it will let out a melody through its built-in speaker that can 

easily be heard even if it's buried in a pile of clothes or in a few rooms over. With a power 

reserve of 9000mAh, it is able to charge your iPhone over three times or supercharge your 

compatible Android phones with its fast-charging function. 

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 

THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO 

KNOWN AS THE 'KINGDOM IN THE SKY', LESOTHO IS THE NEXT 

TRAVEL DESTINATION ON YOUR LIST 

Lesotho has the highest low point of any 

country in the world –something that 

requires a second take to appreciate, but 

which meant that whilst the days were 

warm in October visit, snow was still 

visible in the highlands. And whilst 

Western-style dress was the norm in 

Maseru, the capital, patterned blankets 

were the usual, and very effective, 

protection from the cold out in the 

countryside. 

The country is an independent kingdom 

the size of Belgium that stands like an 

island, surrounded by South Africa. It was 

created in the 19th century by the 

remarkable Moshoeshoe the First who led 

the Basotho people into the region and 

then repelled a succession of potential 

invaders, from the Zulus to the British. 

Adventure awaits you in the Mountain 

Kingdom with a range of activities on 

land, on the snow and in the water. 

Lesotho is famous for its spectacular 

scenic beauty branded by breathtaking 

mountain ranges, towering peaks, a rich 

variety of flora and fauna, crystal clear 

streams, surging waterfalls, diverse 

culture and a snow blanket seen high in 

the mountains across the country in 

winter. While travelling around the country, 

visitors will come across the various 

forms of crafts that are handmade by 

Basotho. 

Lesotho has been slow to attract the 

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A 

tourists that have taken to South Africa in such numbers in recent years, but the distinct 

culture and scenery have definite attractions. The Basotho people traditionally used tough, 

surefooted ponies to get around. Indeed, horses are still the most common form of 

transport in the rural areas, and it is pony trekking that now draws many of the country's 

visitors. 

The Basotho Pony Trekking Centre is located at a worryingly named God Help Me Pass. 

The ponies and equipment were scruffy, but this was compensated for by a picturesque 

ride over high passes and through twisting valleys to a hidden waterfall. The horses for 

visitors belong to the villagers, and the local chief, Mafa, usually lead the ride. He cuts a 

dashing figure dressed in a traditional red blanket, conical hat and wellington boots. Mafa 

is chief to over 5000 people in a small village nearby. From the village it was a short ride 

downhill to the top of a steep gorge, where visitors will dismount and follow a narrow path 

down to some ancient rock paintings, drawn by the San people who once roamed the 

area. 

In terms of equipment you'll need to be ready for all sorts of conditions. Because of the 

altitude, Lesotho's weather can change quickly and wildly at any time of year. You should 

take warm clothes, rain gear and, if you're planning to camp, a sturdy tent and a quality 

sleeping bag. Even if it's cold the sun can be savage in the mountains so make sure you 

have a hat and plenty of sunscreen. Tough walking shoes are essential, of course. Once 

you get above the villages the water is generally very fresh and good to drink in Lesotho. 

Purification tabs or drops can be helpful if you're travelling in the valleys or if you're 

uncertain about water quality. There's not a lot of fuel to be found on the mountainside so 

if you're planning on cooking or boiling water you'll probably need a camping stove and 

some gas. You should carry at least an extra day's worth of food, even if you're not 

planning to cook for yourself along the way. Intense, unpredictable rainfall can lead to 

flooding in the valleys and could leave you trapped or force you to change your route. 

In most Basotho villages, which tend to be found in valleys and further down the 

mountains, you'll be able to rent a hut for the night. Just find the chief and have a chat. 

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Even if you're planning to camp it's best 

to get the chief's permission and some 

advice on where to set up your tent. 

Talking to the chief and the locals can 

also help you avoid imposing on 

traditional Basotho tribes. You don't want 

to head off to a nearby waterfall only to 

find you've interrupted a nearby tribe's 

washing day. A guide would steer you 

away from that stuff but while wandering 

by yourself it's easy to come stumble into 

an uneasy situation. You should take care 

to avoid the secretive initiation schools, 

especially in the Maluti Mountains. 

These traditional institutions are 

becoming more contentious and less 

popular because of the harsh discipline 

they employ, some of the values they 

instil and the circumcision that ends the 

process, for boys and girls. Most don't 

want to attract attention and a camerawielding 

foreigner might not get a great 

reception. That said, the growth of the 

tourism industry has seen more and more 

traditional Basotho practices on display 

for tourists so if you're really interested 

you might be able arrange something 

through a local guide. 

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AAAA 


Camping in the open on Lesotho's 

mountaintops can have shocking results. 

Storms can roll in very quickly and in the 

event of lightning you really don't want to 

be the highest point around. Any 

mountaintop campsite will be 

dangerously exposed to the weather. You 

are in the "The Kingdom in the Sky" after 

all. It's best to find a sheltered spot a little 

further down the mountain. Don't camp 

too close to rivers or in steep gullies 

either. Runoff from the mountains can 

lead to flash flooding and leave you, at 

best, a little bit damp and, at worst, a little 

bit drowned. Once you're set up you need 

to make sure you're careful with your 

gear. You should bring everything you can 

inside the tent at night, even your stinky 

shoes. Theft isn't a huge problem in rural 

Lesotho but you don't want to risk waking 

up to find yourself with three days walking 

ahead and no boots. Stray dogs are 

problematic in around the villages. Any 

food left out can attract unwanted canine 

attention. Rabies is a risk in Lesotho so 

don't pat or encourage any dogs, no 

matter how cute they may seem. 

14


15


Whether it is for relaxing, adventure or sporting activities 

that tourists may visit Lesotho, they will always be amazed 

by extreme sporting activities, beautiful rock formations 

and rock paintings, ancient creatures’ footprints like the 

dinosaurs and bird watching. Those who wish to explore 

routes on foot and experience the Basotho culture will find 

what they are looking for. The waters of Lesotho allow for 

canoeing, boating and fishing among a hive of other 

water-based activities. 

16


CABINZERO IS THE LAST 

BACKPACK YOU'LL EVER NEED 

NEIL VARDEN SCHOOLS US ON ITS INCREDIBLE BACKPACK 



Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I’m from the UK and I’m the founder and 

CEO of CABINZERO. Having spent a 

decade working in I.T, I decided I would 

have a complete career change after 

experiencing a critical illness 15 years ago. 

After this near-death experience, I decided 

I.T was not for me and I had to be in 

control of my destiny. Since then, I have 

been trying to build and shape the brand 

CABINZERO whilst living the dream of 

travelling. I think I have the perfect job, 

being able to work anywhere and build a 

business whilst I am on the move. I 

empower our team to do the same and 

actually if travel is not your passion, and 

you prefer to work in an office rather than 

at a Beach Restaurant, then you probably 

are not suitable to work for CABINZERO. 

You had a great story about how you 

decided to create CABINZERO. Can you 

tell us a little bit about that? 

The brand was essentially created after I 

started to become disillusioned with 

countless luggage and backpack failures 

whist travelling the world. I had a eureka 

moment where I thought, ‘I can make 

better products than these brands and I 

will try to do so! It seems to have been a 

long time since I first started this journey in 

2010, but so far everything is going well. 

The backbone of everything we do is 

quality and we try to ensure we provid the 

highest quality products in class, to ensure 

our CABINZERO customers never have 

the frustrations I have had with multiple 

bags and luggages failing. 

What has been the most difficult 

challenge you faced so far? 

The biggest and continual challenge is 

trying to manage workload. We’ve grown 

to a team of 11, including our sales 

agents. In addition, we have distributors 

spread all over the world. All of us are 

stretched and working to the limit. 

Hopefully we’ll add a couple more people 

to the team sooner rather than later and 

we can then all have a more manageable 

workload. An additional challenge is that 

we all work remotely. Whilst we have 

offices in the UK and China, they are 

empty most of the time. Our team 

generally work whilst on the move. 

Personally, I am in London now but will 

take a flight to Hong Kong later today. 

After Hong Kong, I will be in Dubai and 

possibly Qatar. We have an important 

exhibition in Singapore and all of the team 

wants to come to that! This type of 

structure does present problems though, 

as it’s not always easy collaborating with 

each other across multiple time zones. We 

plan to have annual CABINZERO 

conferences at leading beach resorts once 

or twice a year, so all the team can get 

together and meet each other in person! 

CABINZERO offers one of the best 

warranties we’ve ever seen. Was there 

any returns made before warranty is 

over and how do you feel about that? 

17


So far, the warranty is not expired on any product we have sold. I guess we have another 20 

years before that will happen. Maybe we will offer a special prize to the customer who sends 

us a photo of them using their original CABINZERO bag in 20 years, when the 25 years 

warranty is up! That would be cool! 

Tell us more about the bags. What’s the best part about producing these quality 

product? 

The best part is seeing the brand on sale in over 30 countries and seeing so many fans 

embrace our products and lifestyle. We’re on sale in some of the most prestigious 

department stores, some of the busiest airports and some of the coolest multi-brand 

lifestyle fashion stores. Personal highlights are producing special edition exclusive styles for 

Galeries La Fayettes in Paris, and BEAMS and UNITED ARROWS in Japan. 

Any plans of expansion for the company this year? 

We have big plans for expansion this year and every year, which is why our team is growing 

significantly. New products, new territories, new website and big new accounts are already 

planned. 

Visit www.cabinzero.com 

or follow their adventures on Instagram @cabinzero 

18



CHRISTMAS IN NUREMBERG 

THIS MEDIEVEAL BAVARIAN CITY IN GERMANY IS FAMED FOR ITS 

AMAZING CHRISTMAS MARKET 

Christmas markets – they’re everywhere. 

But the original, and many would say the 

best, is in Nuremberg. The Bavarian city 

can trace its gathering of festive 

commerce back to 1628. Yes, there are 

plenty of sausages, mulled wine and 

wooden tree decorations among the 

attractions, but this is the real McCoy. 

Centred on the marketplace but spread 

throughout a large part of the city, 

Nuremberg is a template to the world as all 

our ideal Christmas take on a ever-more 

Germanic feel. 

The whole Christkindlesmarkt kicks off 

the Friday before the first Sunday of 

Advent with a declaration by the 

Christkind, high above the market place on 

the balcony of The Church of Our Lady. 

The tradition of Christkind - Christ Child – 

is a relatively new one from 1933. A young 

woman, who must be 1.6 metres tall, is 

selected from applicants to be the 

figurehead for the markets for two years. It 

is the Christkind, rather than Father 

Christmas, which brings presents to 

children in the region. Medieval 

Nuremberg, ringed by walls with 80 

towers, sheltered by the castle of the Holy 

Roman Emperors, seems like something 

out of a fairy tale at any time of year. But in 

dark December it dazzles, its 400-year-old 

Christkindlesmarkt the prototype for 

Christmas markets across Europe. 

With 186 market stalls, there’s a lot to 

see before it draws to a close on 

Christmas Eve afternoon. There’s also a 

special children’s market with fairground 

rides, craft workshops and lower stalls so 

toddlers can see something other than a 

sea of legs; and a ‘sisters’ market which 

features stalls from Nuremberg’s many 

‘twin’ cities from throughout the world, 

including Glasgow. 

When locals and tourists come to sip 

mulled wine and purchase hand-made 

Christmas presents at Germany's holiday 

markets, they are participating in a 

tradition that has been around for 

centuries - and has even become more 

beloved lately. Even before Christmas 

markets began, winter markets were held 

in Europe during the Late Middle Ages. At 

that time they usually took place over just 

several days, rather than weeks; the 

markets were an opportunity for residents 

to come together, trade food and 

handicrafts, and stock up for the coming 

winter months. While the markets didn't 

initially have a strong Christmas focus, 

people started using them to purchase 

baskets, toys, wood carvings and baked 

goods for Christmas. 

19


WHERE TO STAY 

Motel One isn’t your standard budget hotel or motel, despite its name. For a start, there’s 

the price: it’s unusual to see rates this affordable, especially when it's just a few minutes 

walk from the main train station. Then there’s the well-designed interior — the hotel lobby 

is elegant, with its smattering of blue, grey and brown hues, and a perfectly placed 

"fireplace" just in case you need some visual warmth. As cheesy as it may be, it's still 

great to see a lot of effort are put into it to make sure their guests feel like they've just 

entered a 5-star hotel. 

And it does feel like it. The posh lounge area with its 24 hours bar, and not to mention 

the bartender shaking up amazing cocktails similar to what you get in a speakeasy bars. 

As we browsed through the bar, aptly called the One Lounge, we noticed the amount of 

gins they have on the shelf. Over 40 varieties of gin are offered here, with its own 

beautifully-designed 'One Gin' menu which we contemplated to steal one home. 

Motel One Nuremberg-City is one of two hotels in Nuremberg so you have two locations 

to choose from in one city. With 55 hotels and counting, the brand revolutionised 

expectations of budget chic, offering comfort and affordability without compromising style 

and design. The brand also became the largest provider of budget hotels in Germany, a no 

easy feat considering they have one of the most strategically located hotels in main tourist 

cities. 

20


After walking around the city, we came back to the hotel 

post-dinner and the lift hauls us upstairs to a corner room. 

It’s big —not for a normal hotel, necessarily, but definitely 

for the price. The design is simple but chic: hangers on an 

open rail, a large king bed with Artemide lights and the 

bathroom is small but well equipped: a huge rainfall 

shower, organic toiletries with fresh lemon smell and 

extremely fluffy towels. 

Our room is facing the train tracks but the windows did 

a good job cancelling the noise. The mattress is so 

comfortable with its 100% Egyptian cotton linen and box 

spring bed. We were too exhausted to enjoy the flat 

screen TV with entertainment (in English, no less) so we 

fell blissfully asleep. 

After our good night’s sleep, we head downstairs at the 

lobby which have now been transformed into breakfast 

area. Like the rooms, the breakfast is affordably priced too 

especially because it’s a buffet. Waiters in trendy slashedshoulder 

aprons whirl between blue and brown chairs and 

tables and the buffet area. 

The selection — seeded organic rye bread with organic 

Andechser cheese from the Bavarian Alpine Foreland, or 

an organic bread roll with ham and tomato. We’re a bit of 

a sweet tooth, so we were headed straight to the fresh 

croissants with organic Alnatura jam, sweet buns and 

moist Bundt cake. 

As for drinks, there's not only chilled water, organic 

apple juice and Fairtrade orange juice, but also gourmet 

teas from Eilles as well as Fairtrade organic coffee. 

www.motel-one.com 

Bahnhofstraße 18 

90402 Nuremberg 

Phone : +49/911/ 27 43 17-0 

nuernberg-city@motel-one.com 

21


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 

AAA 

Make sure you are dressed to beat the 

cold. When I ventured out it was dark by 5 

p.m. and the festivities had already begun. 

Well-lit streets and stalls, dotted lights in 

the form of stars, angels and Christmas 

trees adorned the streets. Rows and rows 

of stalls selling homemade goodies, 

traditional toys and Christmas decorations 

were like a carnival. The Christmas season 

had begun. 

The fragrance of delicious mulled wine 

called glühwein wafted in the air and I 

headed toward a stall that offered it. 

Served in a frosted glass mug that has a 

picture of a Christmas tree on it, the wine 

is hot and flavored with spice. The hot 

wine is a good idea as it warms you while 

you move around; make sure you hold it 

carefully because of the crowds! The 

bonus is you can keep the mug as a 

souvenir. Well warmed, I continue my jaunt 

to other stalls. Aromas of hot chestnuts, 

grilled sausages and gingerbread biscuits 

known as Lebkuchen, marzipan figures 

and other sweets were tempting. The 

world over, Germany is the only country 

that has exclusive Christmas markets to 

bring in the joy of the festive season in a 

traditional way. To add to the festive 

atmosphere, there is music everywhere. 

When you're done sipping mulled wine 

and eating sausages, There’s a lot to see 

elsewhere in Nuremberg, too. One of its 

most famous son is the artist Albrecht 

Durer whose famous depiction of hands 

clasped in prayer is familiar throughtout 

the world. His house near the city walls 

escaped the worst of the war’s ravages 

and is now a museum. 

Above the old town, sits the Imperial 

Castle. Perched on a rocky outcrop, it was 

one of the most important places in the 

Holy Roman Empire – the complex 

combinations of kingdoms which ruled 

central Europe for seven hundred years up 

to 1806. Later that century, the nations of 

Germany and Italy were founded. 

It’s definitely worth the walk up from the 

market square for the view but the 

exhibition inside gives real understanding 

of an overlooked period of history. The 

emperor would travel around his empire, 

staying in a vast network of castles. 

Nuremberg often went years before the 

royal court descended, but everything had 

to be kept ship-shape for when the great 

occasion arose. 

NUREMBERG LEBKUCHEN 

When you think of Christmas, you think of 

Nuremberg Lebkuchen, the city’s famous 

gingerbread. These sweet and spicy treats 

have been baked for more than 600 years 

and are loved by young and old alike. 

22



MINIMALISTIC TRAVEL WITH 

UNBOUND MERINO 

MEET THE BRAINS BEHIND YOUR NEW TRAVEL ESSENTIALS 


Tell us a little bit about yourself and 

your role in the company 

I am Dan Demsky and I am an 

entrepreneur based in Toronto, Canada. I 

am one of three co-founders of Unbound 

Merino alongside Dima Zelikman and 

Andrew Cariboni. 

How did all the founders meet? What 

inspired you guys to start Unbound 

Merino? 

Andrew, Dima and I have all been best 

friends since elementary school (around 

4th grade). We've all worked together in 

various jobs and in our previous company 

BizMedia, which is a video production 

agency which is still active in Toronto. We 

created Unbound originally for ourselves. 

We wanted to find a way to be able to 

travel with less stuff, and discovered a 

whole world of performanace fabrics 

typically made to be activewear for people 

who compete in marathons and triathlons. 

We loved the materials and their ability to 

regulate temperature, repel odors, wick 

sweat and dry quickly - but thought they 

all looked a bit silly on people who weren't 

competing in some kind of race. So we 

began to make simple shirts for ourselves 

and quickly realized how many of our 

friends loved what we were making and 

wanted it for themselves. So we decided 

to create a crowdfunding campaign to see 

if the rest of the world wanted this stuff as 

much as we (and our close friends) did. 

We ended up raising over $350,000 USD 

and sold in almost 90 countries around the 

world! Germany being our third largest 

market! 

What made you decide to be in this 

industry? 

We created something simple and clean in 

an industry full of stuff that looks sporty 

and technical. There's nothing wrong with 

clothing that looks sporty - it's just not the 

kind of clothing we wanted to pack for our 

trips. So we created what we felt was 

missing. 

Tell us about your product. Why merino 

wool? 

Merino wool is the world's best all natural / 

non-synthetic performance fabric. By 

using the highest quality Merino wool we 

were able to create luxuriously soft 

clothing that is odour-free, wrinkle 

resistant, moisture-wicking, and 

temperature regulating (keeps you cool in 

the heat and warm when it's cold). 

23


What excites you most about the 

company? What is the best part about 

being in the team? 

I've been a full time entrepreneur for over 

10 years, but this is the first time where the 

product we're making and selling is truly 

something where we are the core consumer 

ourselves. I've always heard the 

entrepreneurs stories of them starting a 

business after realizing the world was 

missing something they themselves 

wanted. Unbound is that to us. Every email 

we send out, every Facebook post we 

make, every new product we develop - it all 

comes so naturally because we fit into the 

same demographic as our customers. I 

speak with our customers all the time and 

instantly feel like I could be friends with any 

of them. So we're really excited about it all. 

We're excited to make and release new 

products, we're excited to continue to 

connect with all the great people from all 

over the world who send us emails or post 

pictures wearing our shirts on Instagram, 

and we're just happy that people are 

enjoying the product as much as we do. 

Any plans of expansion for the brand? 

New materials or products perhaps? 

For now we're focused on Merino wool 

because we have so much more we can do 

with this material. That includes heavy 

expansion of the men's line as well as a 

whole women's line. We have scheduled 

regular releases of new products the next 2 

years, for both men and women. People 

interested can sign up for email 

announcements on our website 

www.unboundmerino.com 

What about you personally? How are you 

achieving your life goals? 

I feel like I'm really in the right place 

because of Unbound. Being an 

entrepreneur is already very natural for me, 

and it's amazing to be part of a venture that 

so perfectly aligns with mine and my 

business partners' values. Having said that 

- I have lots of goals and always want to 

keep growing and improving, and with 

Unbound I get to do that while enjoying the 

ride! It helps to have an amazing wife who 

supports the long hours and endless hustle! 

It would be a whole lot harder without her! 

Visit www.unboundmerino.com 

24


YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO 

SPRING FESTIVALS IN 

EUROPE 

Compiled by Jasmine Joseph 

WHAT: LOST & FOUND 

WHERE: MALTA 

WHEN: 13-16 APRIL 

WHY: Curated by the prodigious BBC 

Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, the festival 

draws the biggest names in 

contemporary club culture to keep the 

4-day party going strong. Grab your 

sunscreen, a pair of shades and a 

pool float, and head for this 

Mediterranean bash 

HOW: www.lostandfoundfestival.com 

WHAT: XJAZZ 

WHERE: BERLIN, GERMANY 

WHEN: 3-7 MAY 

WHY: With events held in five 

fantastic venues in Kreuzberg, XJAZZ 

is all about celebrating international 

legends of the experimental jazz 

game on the one hand, and 

highlighting the local, genre-pushing 

talent on the other. Around 70% of 

each year’s lineup is dominated by 

German-based acts – a rarity in the 

country – outlining just how ahead of 

the curve Berlin’s jazz scene is 

HOW: www.xjazz.net 

WHAT: THE GREAT ESCAPE 

WHERE: BRIGHTON, UK 

WHEN:18-20 MAY 

WHY: Every year, the dedicated team 

behind The Great Escape deliver a 

line-up showcasing the best in new 

music, with 450 genre-spanning acts 

performing in 30+ local venues, from 

the regal Brighton Dome to the 

backroom of a local pub after closing 

hours. The festival also hosts a 

prestigious industry convention, 

featuring panel debates, interviews 

and keynote speeches from industry 

bigwigs and music tastemakers. 

HOW: www.greatescapefestival.com 

25


WHAT: NUITS SONORES 

WHERE: LYON, FRANCE 

WHEN: 24-28 MAY 

WHY: This pioneering multidisciplinary 

festival dominates Lyon, 

swooping in to 40 of its public 

spaces, from a former light bulb 

factory to the Musée des Confluences 

science institute, and handing them 

over to the most exciting names in 

electronic music and visual arts. 

HOW: www.nuits-sonores.com 

WHAT: NOS PRIMAVERA SOUND 

WHERE: PORTO, PORTUGAL 

WHEN: 8-10 JUNE 

WHY: This fun weekender features a 

handful of international acts, plus 

some great local talent (both in terms 

of music and winemaking), and 

delivers it to indie music lovers. 

Beyond the festival frolics, it’s the 

perfect opportunity to explore one of 

the most architecturally rich and 

romantic metropolises in all of 

Southern Europe. 

HOW: www.nosprimaverasound.com 

WHAT: SIDEWAYS FESTIVAL 

WHERE: HELSINKI, FINLAND 

WHEN: 9-10 JUNE 

WHY: With a small audience capacity 

of 12,000 people, Sideways is small 

enough to feel authentically Finnish – 

with great street food and drinks from 

nearby restaurants, plus local bands 

– while still being big enough to draw 

in prominent international figures 

from the Indie world. Last year also 

offered up record-stalls for avid 

collectors, and a retro arcade hall. 

HOW: www.sidewayshelsinki.fi 

26


THE LATEST IN TRAVEL 

NEWS FROM ITB BERLIN 2017 

NEW AND IMPROVED EMIRATES 

New Business Class seat will be installed in all Emirates’ new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft 

delivered from November 2016 onwards. The newly enhanced seat has been designed with 

total customer comfort in mind: an ergonomically designed headrest, a pitch of 72 inches 

and the latest touchscreen controller allowing the seat to be electrically converted into a fully 

flat sleeping position at 180 degrees. The improved layout also comprises one of the 

industry’s largest personal TV screens at 23 inches allowing customers to enjoy Emirates‘ 

award-winning ice inflight entertainment and additional amenities like a conveniently located 

mini-bar. 

GOOD NIGHT DUSSELDORF, 

GOOD MORNING 

SEYCHELLES 

Already on its first service on 30th 

March, the twice-weekly service is 

expected to attract over 100,000 

visitors. Roy Kinnear, CEO of Air 

Seychelles, said: “In just three weeks’ 

time Air Seychelles will begin serving 

the great city of Düsseldorf, connecting 

our one-of-a-kind tropical islands to 

Germany. The excitement is building 

quickly and ITB Berlin, as the biggest 

travel exhibition in the world, is the 

perfect event to meet the future 

holidaymakers who will be flying with 

us. We are working closely with our 

partners, especially airberlin and the 

Seychelles Tourism Board, on a 

collaborative approach to make our 

new air link from Germany a success." 

27


SOCIAL TRAVEL WITH QATAR'S QSUITE BUSINESS CLASS 

Now, Qatar is back with a business class cabin that's said to be even better. 

Unlike existing business class offerings, the QSuite is designed not only for 

individual comfort and convenience, but also to thrive in group settings. Even 

though its individual suites look fairly conventional on the outside, they offer a 

new level of flexibility and a communal atmosphere unheard of in the era of 

private premium seating 

EUROWINGS' NEW APPROACH 

“Everyone’s talking about it, we’re doing it” – is the slogan used 

by Eurowings at the ITB 2017 to launch a consistent program for 

digitising the company. MakeMyWay forms the basis for the 

development of new business models and customer services at 

Eurowings. The programme combines a large number of the 

airline’s innovative projects and digital services. Oliver Wagner, 

chief executive, Eurowings, said: “The customer is 

unconditionally the focus of MakeMyWay. 

28



THE 

NEW 

NOMAD 

WE SPEAK TO NOAH, 

CO-FOUNDER OF NOMAD, YOUR 

NEW TRAVEL COMPANION 


First, tell us a little bit about yourself 

and your role in the company 

I’m Noah, CoFounder and CEO of Nomad. 

Like everyone at Nomad, I wear many hats 

and my role develops over time. My 

number one goal every day is to make 

Nomad a successful and sustainable 

customer, whether it’s staying up late 

brainstorming product concepts with 

Brian, the other Nomad CoFounder, 

racking my brain with pricing spreadsheets 

or having “fun” sifting through various 

contracts, it’s about plugging holes, finding 

new opportunities and trying to keep 

things on the right course. Oh yeah, and 

trying to keep the lights on, which can be 

tough for a young and growing company. 

What made you decide to be in this 

industry? What was your calling? 

Well, it all started with a problem. I was 

living and working in Madrid and had a 

company issued Blackberry. My phone 

kept on dying and I figured that there had 

to be a better way to stay charged on the 

go. So I started kicking around the idea of 

a tiny USB cable that was small enough to 

fit in your wallet. And then Kickstarter + a 

great cofounder who shared the vision and 

energy made it all possible. 

One of your most unique products is the 

battery cable. What was the inspiration 

behind it? 

Brian and I were drinking some wine after 

a tough week and talking through some 

business challenges we were facing. As a 

fun distraction we started talking about 

coming up with another product. So we 

thought to ourselves, “what is out there 

that we could improve on?” We started 

talking about cables and batteries, two of 

the main product categories for 

smartphone accessories, and Brian said 

“battery ... cable?” And voila. It seemed so 

obvious from the moment he said it. There 

were some existing products that had a 

very small battery and very short cables, 

but that functionally didn’t really give you 

much juice on the go, around 10% of an 

iPhone 6 Plus, so we wanted to make one 

that could give a serious amount of charge 

to your phone on the go. Battery Cable an 

iPhone 7 Plus over 50% and gives close to 

a full charge to an iPhone 7. 

Another product that we love is the Tileenabled 

PowerPack. We never knew we 

needed to keep track of our power 

banks until we saw this. What was the 

reason behind this unique collab? 

Powerbanks are a core product category 

in mobile accessories, but there were 

already so many of them, so we didn’t just 

want to make another boring powerbank. 

We loved the idea of crowdsourced 

Bluetooth tracking and we figured that by 

integrating Tile we could offer a 

powerbank that was truly forward-thinking. 

To round it out and make it categoryleading 

as a powerbank, we put in quickcharge 

USB C ports and even a lightsensor 

so that the charging lights don’t 

annoy you when charging at night. We 

always try to anticipate what’s next and be 

one step ahead of the industry. We don’t 

take our customers for granted, we want 

to offer them something special with 

everything we launch and continue to win 

their support over time. 

How long does it take to create a 

product? And how do you choose the 

materials? 

29


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 

AAA 

We’ve gone from concept to production in 

less than 90 days before, but it generally 

takes a little big longer than that, and it all 

depends on the complexity of the product. 

We work super closely with our factories 

and have great trust and relationships with 

them that allow us to move quickly and 

efficiently. As for materials, materiality is 

super important at Nomad. Whether it’s 

the classic Horween leather that we use in 

our leather series, or the durable Bayer 

polycarbonate we use on our Key, we 

carefully consider and specifically select 

every material we use on every product we 

make. 

How do you know when a product is 

ready for the public? 

A product is ready for the public as soon 

as the production quality is there. We 

don’t have a problem launching forwardthinking 

products that are a few months or 

even a year ahead of their time. If we 

believe in a product strongly, we’re gonna 

make it, and we’re going to trust that our 

fans are going to like it, too. 

Any plans of expansion for Nomad this 

year? 

We initially thought that 2017 was going to 

be a year of growth mostly with our 

current product lines, but it’s actually 

turning out that we’ll be launching a lot of 

new products this year. We’re currently 

working on stuff for iPhone 8, Samsung 

Galaxy S8, and updates to our Rugged 

Cables series, and we have a really cool 

product that we’re making for the home, 

because at the end of the day, most 

Nomads have to live somewhere. 

What about you personally? What would 

you hope to achieve this year? 

By far and away, my goal is to have a 

successful year for the business where we 

launch our new products, maintain a 

healthy organization, develop our sales 

channels and our customerbase, and do 

all that while keeping the lights on. No big 

mystery goal here, just looking to have a 

solid year. If we can do that, I will be more 

than content. Further building out the 

Nomad brand and better telling the 

Nomad story will be the icing on the cake 

that I think will come from the combined 

effort of all of the above. 

Visit www.hellonomad.com 

30


DISCOVER HIDDEN BARS WITH 

GREAT COCKTAILS 

LOCATED IN CITIES YOU LOVE, FIND OUT HOW TO ENTER THESE 

SPEAKEASY STYLE BARS 


Mezcaleria La Milagrosa 

New York 

It looks like a deli from the outside, but there is a hidden bar on the inside. The former 

space was once a laundromat but the design feels more like a mix between a train car 

and cabin in the woods. It's reservations only, so make a call in advance. 

HOW TO ENTER 

Call (718) 599-1499 and find the freezer door with a red telephone 

Foxglove 

Hong Kong 

Named after the eponymous flower, Foxglove is a revival of the classic drinking dens of 

the 1930s, bringing guests on a time travel journey back to the golden era of bartending 

with iconic cocktails and fine liquor. 

HOW TO ENTER 

Found yourself inside a fancy umbrella shop? Just grab the right umbrella towards the 

back of the boutique and a door will slide open 

31


Ladies and Gentlemen 

London 

knock back some of London’s finest cocktails made with liquor from the bar’s own 16-liter 

copper still, including the famous Highway gin, and a changing roster of speciality 

boilermakers. 

HOW TO ENTER 

Look for a Victorian-era public bathroom with a huge 'Ladies & Gents' sign. You can't miss 

it 

Museum HR Giger Bar 

Gruyères 

Located near a sci-fi museum, this bar is owned by the same guy responsible for the 

aesthetics of the Alien series. The walls and ceilings of this bar are lined with oversized 

vertebrae that crisscross the vaulted ceiling, and hang over customers sipping basic 

cocktails in chairs that have alien legs next to walls with protruding, concrete baby faces 

where you can sip straightforward Giger-themed cocktails (the green vodka/Baileys Alien 

Blood is a favorite) and fill up on famous Gruyère cheese 

HOW TO ENTER 

Find a tiny alcove adjacent to the museum. If you think you're inside an alien's spine, 

you've found it 

32



THE OLDEST CITY IN GERMANY 

ROMAN RUINS REMAIN ALMOST INTACT IN THE CITY OF TRIER 


Trier is on the east bank of the River 

Mosel, surrounded by woods and 

vineyards. Most of the main sights lie 

within the outline of its Roman walls. Badly 

bombed in the Second World War, the old 

town is a hotchpotch of old and new. 

First settled by ancient Celtic and Gallic 

tribes, it was the Romans, under their first 

emperor, Augustus, who put Trier on the 

map, about 16BC. Nestled on the right 

bank of the River Mosel, a tributary of the 

Rhine, Trier became an important hub of 

trade, an imperial getaway, a Second 

Rome – and now bills itself as having more 

Roman ruins than anywhere else north of 

the Alps. These relics have earned the city 

a UNESCO World Heritage rating. 

Start at the Porta Nigra, an impressive 

2nd-century Roman city gate. It’s the 

world’s best preserved roman city gate 

and Trier’s landmark. You can enter the 

gate and climb to the top for a beautiful 

view over the city. Then, move on to the 

central market square, a lovely town 

square surrounded by impressive buildings 

constructed over the centuries, showing 

you the rich history of Trier. Around the 

square you find a great selection of shops, 

bars and restaurants making it the perfect 

location for a break or some (souvenir) 

shopping. Germany’s oldest market cross, 

dating back to the year 958, can be found 

on this square. 

The Trierer Dom or Dom St Peter is the 

oldest cathedral in Germany and houses 

an impressive collection of artworks, 

architecture and holy relics. You can’t miss 

this impressive piece of architecture. Once 

you are inside the cathedral walk all the 

way to the back where on the right side of 

the building you will find a door leading 

you to a stunning courtyard. From there 

you can really see 2000 years of human 

history represented in architecture: look up 

at the cathedral and the neighboring 

church to see all the different building 

styles making the two structures into what 

they are today. After that, visit the 

Liebfrauenkirche, which is located next to 

the Trierer Dom. It is one of the two 

earliest Gothic churches in Germany and 

offers a lovely contrast to its older 

Romanesque neighbor. 

The Konstantin-Basilika, Constantine’s 

throne room, was built by the emperor 

Constantine (AD 306–337) at the beginning 

of the 4th century. It is the largest surviving 

single-room structure from Roman times. 

The Romans wanted the architecture to 

express the magnificence and might of the 

emperor. Since the middle of the 19th 

century the building has been used as the 

first and oldest Protestant church in 

Catholic Trier. When you visit this Basilika, 

walk around the building to have a look at 

the Kurfürstliches Palais (Electoral Palace) 

33


which is considered one of the most beautiful 

rococo palaces in the world and offers quite a 

contrast to the Basilika. 

If you want to get to know the lives of the 

Romans, you’ve come to the right place. Here 

you can find the largest gold coin hoard in the 

world with about 2,600 coins, colorful Roman 

mosaics, impressive burial monuments, and a 

large model of Trier in Roman times. The 

Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier is one of the 

most important archaeological museums in 

Germany. Its collection stretches from prehistory 

through the Roman period, the Middle Ages to 

the Baroque. You can also picture what life was 

like at the Kaiserthermen, a Roman Imperial 

bath. These Roman baths date back to the 4th 

century AD. Only its ruins remain but you get to 

explore and discover the far-reaching 

subterranean passageways with furnaces for 

heating along with the impressive outer walls. 

Just imagine what the Roman bathing ritual was 

like and how much money and time was spent 

on creating these impressive baths 

34


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 

Trier is not just known for its history, but also for its wine tasting experience. For the 

best wine tasting located just around the corner, the sleek Oechsle wine and fish house is 

probably the best. You can sample fresh fish feasts, plus 120 tipples reared from 70 local 

vineyards, some of which use restored Roman wine presses that have been excavated 

from the Mosel's banks. Riesling is the zesty, regional speciality, but there's something for 

everyone: from dry reds to sweet dessert wines. A tempting offer is Oechsle's €15 tasteall-you-like 

deal, available during afternoons. 

For lunch, I recommend Theo's at Simeonstrasse as it serves all sorts of hearty 

Germanic staples in smart, stylish surroundings. Try the Schweinebraten (roast pork) with 

red cabbage and mash, washed down with half a litre of the fruity local white Mosel. Try 

and order the local aperitif too, called Viez. It is a deceptively potent sour pear cider. Trust 

me when I say you won't be needing seconds. 

I find it's best to take a Mosel River cruise before (and not after) a visit to Oechsle. On a 

clear morning, it's a treat to glide along the river. Some excursion boats go as far as Rhine 

duo Koblenz and Cologne, but the regular two-hour cruises grant a glimpse into the 

Mosel's bucolic scenery and whet the appetite for deeper exploration. We pass vineyards 

tucked beneath rocky cliffs and rolling green hills, antique villages, medieval harbour 

cranes and a sturdy bridge pieced together by the Romans. 

We pass vineyards tucked beneath rocky cliffs and rolling green hills, antique villages, 

medieval harbour cranes and a sturdy bridge pieced together by the Romans. We also 

35


keep pace with cyclists pedalling beside the river banks. 

The Mosel area is one of Germany's major radwandern 

(bicycle touring) hotspots. 

Check out moselrundfahrten.de as they have variety of 

programs which includes panorama return excursions for 

one or two hours, all-day excursions to Bernkastel-Kues, 

half-day excursions from Trier to Saarburg, and even 

Moonlight River excursions with live music. They also offer 

seasonal excursions suchwhether excursions with 

fireworks displays, mulled wine excursions, boat trips 

during the pre-Christmas season, or the grand New Year's 

Eve excursion with a gala buffet dinner. There's bound to 

be something for each and every taste! 

36




There are plenty of places to stay in Trier, 

but our favorite is this charming business 

hotel of the Vienna House chain, Easy 

Trier. The arrival of a chain hotel in Trier – 

even if it’s one as quirky as Vienna House 

– doesn’t seem, at first glance, a good fit. 

But then there is Easy. The hotel brims 

with culture and originality while sending 

up convention. Personality hits you at the 

entrance: a wide open stairs with an arch 

standing in between the hotel and its 

conference arena. At the lobby, the check 

in counter is on the right to immediately 

greet you with warmth. 

Every surface is awash with eyecatching 

colours, from brightly patterned 

cushions and black-and-white wallpaper, 

down to its tiny, vintage bar and the 

restaurant on the left. All before you’ve 

even checked in. The dining room alone 

features a huge space for families, groups 

and even for indidviduals traveling alone.. 

And that’s just the dining area. The decor 

here is warm and inviting, and it has a 

and skirts crowding the barman for a tipple 

or two. 

Vienna House Easy Trier is tucked away 

up the street away from the main square 

but it's easy to get to by foot or by bus. 

It's located in 'the Rome of the north' and 

is just 10 minutes' walk from the historical 

old town, right by the Kaiserthermen 

baths. So whether you're here for business 

or pleasure, you'll find a treasure trove of 

history waiting to be discovered. 

Rooms are all the same modular build: 

bizarrely, as they looked like they're 

trapped in a time capsule. Featuring a very 

80s red carpet and blue boxed beds and 

chairs with splashes of havana on the 

walls, the room was extremely very 

spacious and tastefully lit. It has the usual 

facilities such as tea & coffee as well as an 

LCD TV. Its double beds are joined to 

make a king, but nevertheless they are 

extremely soft and comfy. There's an 

armchair in the corner with a tiny coffee 

table to relax in with floor-to-ceiling 

great selection of buffet breakfast to fill 

you up before a day's walk around Trier. 

What this business hotel doesn’t get 

away with is being a tourist experience. It's 

located outside of the touristy area, but 

that also means you get to shy away from 

the bustling square when you come back 

to rest at night. But of course, you may 

console yourself with a cocktail from the 

bar as it is open 24 hours. Being a 

business and conference hotel, the bar 

starts fillling up as early as 7pm with suits 

window. The bathroom is equipped with a 

tub and shower, and is spacious enough to 

share. They also have suites and family 

rooms for those traveling in large groups. 

It's a business hotel, so naturally they 

would have conference rooms. It's located 

on the opposite of the hotel, with a large 

event area and spacious foyer for launches 

or meetings. They have a total of 12 

conferences area and two meeting rooms 

that could accommodate 8o people. 

37


Vienna House Easy Trier 

Metzer Allee 6 

54295 Trier 

Germany 

+49 651 9377 0 

www.viennahouse.com 

38


TECH ATTACK 

YOUR MUST-HAVE ARSENAL FOR A WORRY-FREE TRAVEL 

Compiled by Azhar Ahmad 

TRACKR BRAVO 

www.thetrackr.com 

Always losing your luggage or small items during travels? We cannot 

recommend using TrackR Bravo enough. You can attach it on virtually 

anything, and it's pretty accurate too. Its best feature is the crowd-sourced 

network with a global reach. When another TrackR user is within Bluetooth 

range of your lost item, you will receive a location update on the app. 

WORLD MAP PASSPORT COVER 

www.vinnstudio.com 

Protect your passport with this vegetable tanned leather cover from VIN.N. 

Made in Finland, this premium hand-stitched cover can also be personalised 

with text engraving just in case you bumped into another traveler with the 

same cover (after all, they do look pretty good). 

39


PITAKA CARBON FIBER WALLET 

www.ipitaka.com 

Modular designs are all the rage, and this clever design was injected to this 

ultra-thin wallet. You can now easliy access your cards quickly and its strong 

magnet will hold everything in place. Furthermore, this wallet has RFID 

insulation which blocks nasty scams targeted to travelers in foreign 

countries. 

STILGUT CHARGING CABLE TRIO 

www.stilgut.com 

If you're a gadget freak like us, then you'll know how it feels like to carry 

multiple cables for all the different devices you own. With this trio cable from 

Stilgut, you are now carring just one cable to charge them all. It's compatible 

with all Apple devices with lightning access, devices with Micro-USB as well 

as USB-C. 

40


PURPLE RAIN 

In cities like Chongqing and Guilin, French photographer 

Marilyn Mugot finds a China lit up by the rush of modern life 

41


42


43


44


CHECK IN...CHECK OUT 

NEW HOTELS WE LOVE 

Compiled by Azhar Ahmad 

Hilton Linzhi Resort, Tibet 

The 220-key Hilton Linzhi Resort is Hilton’s first 

property in the Tibet Autonomous Region, 

standing atop 324ha of land between the 

Himalayas and Yarlung Zangbo River. In-room 

amenities include 42-inch LCD TVs, Wi-Fi and 

oxygen supply equipment for guests who need 

assistance acclimating to the hotel’s position at 

3,000m above sea level. Facilities include four 

F&B options, a heated indoor pool, 24-hour 

fitness centre, spa, Kid’s Club, cinema, and 

facilities for billiards, chess and karaoke. There 

is 529m2 space for meetings, including a 231m2 

pillarless ballroom and four boardrooms. 

Ka Lam Retreat Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam 

Located 20km north of Vietnam’s Nha Trang, the 

luxury retreat boasts 33 timber villas across five 

configurations, most of which feature a private 

pool except for the lead-in category Jungle Rock 

Villa. All villas offer a separate bedroom and 

bathroom with sofa bed, separate vanities and a 

wooden bathtub. Facilities include three F&B 

options, an infinity pool on the beach, art 

museum, spa, gym and a Beach House event 

space 

Banyan Tree Jiuzhaigou, China 

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has finally opened 

the 209-key mountain retreat in Sichuan 

Province. Amenities on-site include a spa, five 

F&B options, karaoke rooms, an entertainment 

centre for mahjong or board games, and a play 

area for the little ones. Recreational facilities 

include a gym, yoga facility, and an indoor and 

outdoor swimming pool. As well, there are three 

meeting rooms, one boardroom, a pre-function 

area and a 610m2 Banquet Hall for business 

events. 

45


The Silo, South Africa 

One of the most anticipated urban hotel 

openings of 2017, the Silo occupies an actual 

grain silo on the V&A waterfront. Reinvented by 

Heatherwick Studio, the structure will house the 

much-buzzed-about Zeitz Museum of 

Contemporary Art Africa, which opens later this 

year on the lower floors, and a 28-room hotel on 

the upper levels. Designed by Liz Biden of South 

Africa's Royal Portfolio (Royal Malewane, La 

Residence), the hotel (which opens in March) 

has a modern feel and arresting views from its 

bulging geometric windows. A rooftop pool, a 

lounge and a bar round out the pleasures. 

Hotel Figueroa, LA, USA 

Built in 1926, this downtown hotel was once a 

hub for LA's intelligentsia. Now DTLA is booming 

and the owners have completed a major 

renovation of the Figueroa, poised to become 

the new center of east-side cool--one that's 

artsy and design-forward without being 

intimidating. Along with 268 guest rooms and 

suites marked by stylish details like blackened 

steel, brushed brass and bespoke wallpaper, it 

will have two restaurants from four-time James 

Beard nominee Casey Lane and four bars, 

including a reservations-only bartender's table 

with drinks by Dushan Zaric of the New York 

cocktail cathedrals Employees Only. 

Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, Portugal 

A leading purveyor of Southeast Asian luxury, 

Anantara is expanding westward. The company 

is rebranding a flagship property of its 

Portuguese sister hotel brand, Tivoli, and 

upgrading it to reflect a more international 

sensibility and sophistication--just in time for a 

new set of travelers to explore its sandy Atlantic 

beaches. Additions include luxurious family 

suites, an updated spa and Anantara's signature 

Dining by Design program, in which staff 

orchestrate private, romantic dinners at spots all 

over the property. 

46

Sojourn Magazine Spring 2017

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