As travel bubbles start sprouting in various countries, it will not be long before we start making trips again. Here are what you can see and do in Bali, Venice and The Maldives very soon
The cocktail hour
Venice is a must-visit place as soon as lockdown is lifted. While you are there, live in ultimate luxury at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc where the famous cocktail Bellini was born in 1948. It was invented by Guiseppe Cipriani, then-owner of Harry’s Bar in Venice. Cipriani’s white peach concoction reminded him of the soft pink colour of a woman’s dress in Giovanni Bellini’s San Zacca- ria Altarpiece painting, which inspired the cocktail’s name, The Bellini.
Get a taste of it at home and follow this simple recipe:
Ingredients
2-3 white peaches (Verona or flat) Juice of 1⁄2 a lemon
1 tsp. simple syrup
Your favourite Champagne or Prosecco
Method
Mash or blend white peaches to create a puree texture. Stir in lemon juice to prevent oxidation and simple syrup to balance the acidity. Fill glasses half full with the peach mixture and top with your chosen sparkling wine. Garnish with a peach slice on the edge of each glass and sit back and enjoy.
Designed to impress
The Andaz brand has just opened its doors in Sanur, considered to be one of the most scenic spots in Bali. The property pays homage to Balinese art and craftsmanship, and that is seen in the design and décor of the resort. The overall concept reflects the locale and is inspired by the sur- rounding villages, from its intimate scale with buildings nestled amid the lush greenery to the use of distinctive red brick, traditional construction material in Sanur. Bangkok-based Tierra Design and Tokyo’s Spin Design Studio are responsible for Andaz Bali, which has 149 guest rooms including 18 Garden Villas and four Beach Villas arranged in a series of courtyards, which create a sense of discovery as guests move through the resort. Each room has a private balcony overlooking the garden, ocean or lagoon.
Located just a few steps from the beach is the two-bedroom Beach Villas that offer a verdant out-door terrace for intimate gathering and barbecues, a spacious living room, a swimming pool and in-villa check-in.
For hungry guests, there are some delicious choices such as the Fisherman’s Club which is a modern take on the Jimbaran seafood dining experience with a beach club ambience. The Village Square offers four intertwining restaurants on the ground floor with a private dining room and guest rooms on the upper floor. Whether it is Asian fare and Indonesian favourites from Wok Wok, meat fresh from the grill at Fire Fox, roasts from the eponymous Blue Oven or coffee and desserts from Deli & Bakery, each dining option delivers unique flavours that bring the senses to life.
Tired after a day of activities? You can decompress at the Shankha Spa at the adjacent Hyatt Regency Bali that is connected via an aromatic herb and flower garden. The spa offers treatments inspired by Balinese healing techniques using indigenous ingredients and also houses a fitness centre, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, yoga space, an adults-only pool and a small boutique and lounge.
Support sustainability efforts
Patina Maldives in Fari Islands is a new resort that is slated to open later this year. It is also committed to reducing waste in its supply chain and boosting the health of its guests, neighbours and local environment by becoming the first resort in the Maldives with a 100% solar-powered kids’ club, recreation and dive centres.
The hotel is looking to tackle marine plastic pollution and implement a comprehensive coral propagation project, helping establish the Fari Islands as a new standard-bearer for marine conservation in the Maldives.
Even culinary aspects are looked into such as the nose-to-tail, root-to- leaf dining — which not only minimises waste but also advocating the benefits of a plant-based diet. Roots, the signature dining experience at Patina Maldives, is the manifestation of the latter. It is a conscious and conscientious lifestyle and plant-based concept created responsibly for curious foodies seeking a nutritional food and drink experience without compromising flavour and quality, all in an environment that is ethically produced.
The resort has also built an on-island organic permaculture garden where fresh produce will be cultivated for various departments, reducing greenhouse gas emissions during the supply chain process.
Guests are encouraged to explore and forage the variety of vegetables and herbs available within the garden at their leisure. As part of Patina Maldives’ commitment towards reliance on renewable energy, plans are in place to expand its Swimsol solar plant to provide 50% of the resort’s energy needs. Future plans include investing in long-term blue carbon partnerships and a solar-powered transportation fleet.
During the construction of the Fari Islands, energy consumption was reduced by an estimated 12% through sustainable practices such as the use of prefabricated materials, which significantly reduced waste and carbon emissions versus conventional construction methods.
The resort is aware of the global challenges that are affecting the worldwide carbon footprint. Stay here and learn more about the re- sort’s sustainability efforts and make conscious decisions even after you leave.
