The environment in morocco is having great verity according to geographical location, combining skiing and mountain ranges with the vast expanse of the Sahara desert. And the mountains are heavily wooded and in winter the mountains are covered with snow. This country is very important in the migration of birds that spend time of winter in Morocco.

The exoticism of Morocco has fascinated many western travellers- from icons like Talitha Getty in the 60´s to the fictional Penny Lane from the movie ´Almost Famous´, referring to Marrakech as the capital for privileged, bohemian chic.

There are plenty of sophisticated riads and hotels, facilitating luxury travel to Morocco. The Palmeraie area is Marrakech sees luxury incarnations of palaces, discreet luxury hideouts referencing Persian pleasure gardens and Andalusian architecture to the chic boutique riads in the areas closer to the Djemaa el Fnaa.

The official language of this country is Arabic. But the people there can speak French, Spanish, and English as well. The Religion is Islam and the mosque is center of all worship. The national drink is mint tea- instantly obvious once you get invited to the many rounds of mint tea whilst carpet merchants roll out their offerings. Industries include construction textile and processed food. Tourism earns foreign exchange as a result of millions of tourist. In the culture of morocco music and dance plays a vital role. And in the Islamic culture the architecture have resulted in great and splendid treasure- main hallmarks of which will be present in any luxury travel itinerary.

Trekking, climbing on mountain ranges, horse riding and during winter, skiing, are activities that can be undertaken during your stay in Morocco. Being a Muslim country there are many festivals and holidays according to Islamic calendar, New Year’s Day, the end of the month of Ramadan, National Day, the Anniversary of The Green March and Independence Day are among the National celebrations.

right connections and working with someone who knows the best places in the city.

Dubai combines well with other countries in the region- Abu Dhabi, Oman or Iran and would make for an excellent stopover, the convenient flight connections to and out of Dubai as well as its sophisticated infrastructure making it an ideal staging ground for any journey around the Middle East.

Dubai is one of the states of United Arab Emirates (UAE), there is much more capital invested in its progress than any other manufacturing site in the whole world. There are many projects still in Dubai which are under construction; and one of its major projects at this time in progress is the Three Palms, in which there are 3 non-natural islands are under construction in the form of palm trees, and at the top of these three false islands there is constructing a breakwater in order to give protection to each island. It is also fact that each palm of Specific Island will have more than one function; the Jebel Ali will mainly concentrate on entertainment, the Jumeirah on international hotels and restaurants, and leisure and the Deira on residential use. It is very famous in the world and people used to refer to it as the 8th Wonder of the World.

Argentina is without any doubt one of the most impressive countries on earth and aluxury tour through the country will be probably one of the most memorable of your life. The best starting point for luxury tours in Argentina might be Buenos Aires showing its grandeur through the edifices of its grand, colonial buildings which represents the cities architectural heritage and Jewish history. Luxury in the city, like everywhere else in the country is tinged by Latino charm. You´ll find it in the town´s backstreets looking for the best of porteno fashion as in it´s luxury hotels like the majestic Alvear Palace, located in the most exclusive neighbourhood of Buenos Aires or at the El Metejon Polo Resort that offers a taste of estancia life and gaucho existence.

Outside of the capital, the discerning travelers are at liberty to discover a country stretching from Antarctica in the south to subtropical jungles of the north, on their luxury tour wealthy of landscapes and cultures, tastes and sounds, that you´re not able to find somewhere elseon earth. Is there a better way to experience such a multifaceted part of the world than on a private luxury tour of Argentina? Authentic experiences full of truly inspiring luxury would be the quintessence of a luxury tour through Argentina.

After learning more about Argentinean history and heritage in Buenos Aires, getting impressed by the Iguazu Falls and indulged on a winery in Mendoza, travelers can move on with a luxury tour through Patagonia, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Staying in a luxurious design hotel like Eolo you can enjoy some of the best seafood in Argentina or try Patagonian chocolates and ice cream after a day of ice trekking through a unique landscape that you might see in your mind’s eye while getting a relaxing massage at the hotel´s health club.

It doesn´t matter if you´re nature lover who wants to see the snowcapped mountains after awaking in a first class luxurious lodge or a culture vulture that likes to be taken from the tango dance halls of Buenos Aires to the milongas of San Telmo, right at the heart of where tango began – luxury travel to Argentina will always be the right choice.

Renowned Thai hospitality and the sophistication of the luxury hotels in Thailand, allows for luxury tours to Thailand to be within the reach of many.

The official language of Thailand carries a beautiful quality and inflections, which, even to the casual observer, would reveal the gentle attitudes of its people. The currency used in Thailand is named as “baht”. Thai people are very conscious about their traditions and one

tradition is “wai” i.e. to press your hands like you are in prayer and bent yourself a little. This greeting is possibly a cultural influence of India, indicating the cultural trajectories around Asia.

The visitors of Thailand have one big advantage that they a wide variety of choice in every field i.e. to live in an eco-beach resort, a wellness getaway favoured by celebrities like Elizabeth Hurley to the dizzying array of luxury hotels and beach resorts to activities like visiting the archaeological ruins in ancient capitals, a private blessing ceremony in Ayutthaya or visiting monasteries involved in the preservation of the Thai traditional performing arts. And it is well known about Thailand that is always had something new even for the persons who have already visited- with many regional travellers opting for weekend getaways to sample the shopping, spa and luxury hotel experiences of its capital Bangkok to the international traveller who visit Thailand over and over again- and experiencing something new each time.

Many visitors come to Thailand for shopping and it is too easy to spend a lot of time shopping for exotic souvenirs in Bangkok and other favoured tourist cities like Chiang Mai and Phuket. Luxury travel to Thailand is easily facilitated by the efficient domestic flight connections within the country.

Destination weddings talked about for many years(or generations) to come – from weddings in remote Bhutanese dzongs accessible by an hour-long trek
officiated by Bhutanese monks and attended by people from nearby villages to glorious weddings in Ottoman yalis and palaces with the picturesque Bosphorus
as a backdrop. Scouting for the most inspired settings- dramatic cliff-side chapels with glass bottoms, a hundred Maasai warriors serenading the
guests with the magical Ngorongoro Crater as a backdrop or the re-enactment of a courtship ritual on horseback in Kyrgyzstan. Every detail- from the food to the
wedding decorations, the photography to the entertainment, will be planned in consultation with the couple.

Friends and family who’d come to share in the joy of the couple will encounter a similarly meticulous attention to detail- from individual dietary preferences to
customized tours pre- and post-event, decadent parties and stylish cocktail receptions- Talitha Getty-inspired togs optional.
Our luxury honeymoons are every bit as spectacular and inspired- safaris featuring star beds where you’ll see the night stars, particularly brilliant due to your proximity
to the Equator, alternately waking up to views of the boundless Serengeti and Patagonia’s dramatic Paine Massif in lodges defining standards of luxury in remote
places or exploring the stunning juxtaposition of tropical forests and cool Himalayan climes of the Burmese Himalayas.

Image courtesy of &beyond.

Luxury adventure travel Mongolia

The themes of luxury and adventure travel aren’t as divergent as it’s been made out to be- whilst the true (and best, according to Chatwin), nomads, are able to withstand the most basic of living conditions- travel in the modern world is a temporary affair, couched against the comforting knowledge that no matter how bad things get, there’ll always be the luxury of home to return to at the end of the journey. The most famous adventurers of modern times are almost always financially well-off and Chatwin, despite his championing of the basic lifestyles of the nomads, found it fit to complain in his diaries:
“18th day of disasters. Wrecked my plans. (…) Feeling very hard done by. At least the sun is shining. It rained earlier. Difficulties of Patagonia. Want a salad. Cannot face any more meat. Dust in your eyes”- from the thesis of Jonathan Michael Chatwin, 2008.

Have not found any shit on Thesiger though…

Ettore Sottsass, (1917-2008) designer and ardent design philosopher, worked throughout his career to shake the static ways in which people thought about design and to try to create a body of work outside of what he thought were “hierarchic bureaucratic structures of industry.” The influential architect died of heart failure last month at his home in Milan. He was 90.

Although Sottsass was born in Austria, he studied at the Turin Polytechnic and is identified as one of the major forces behind the immense wave of design that began flowing out of Italy after the war. His main interest was in creating objects that challenged the icons of Italian design that he felt functioned in terms of status and money. By constantly questioning and rethinking ideas and processes, Sottsass’ work teeters on the very edge of the anti-design movement. He never ceased to imply the importance of design in society, however, stating that, “to me design…is a way of discussing life. It is a way of discussing society, politics, eroticism, food and even design.”

So many everyday things could bring you into an intimate physical connection with this aster’s work and inventive mind. At home, the bed, taps, door handles could all have been designed by him, so could the kitchen furniture, desks and chairs, and even light switches to choose from. This is the man, who brought design into our everyday life.

Sottsass showed that it was possible to understand design as a cultural as well as a technical issue. When he designed the Valentine portable typewriter for Olivetti in 1969, with the British designer Perry King, he was able to turn a piece of office equipment into a desirable object by understanding that there are emotions involved as well as ergonomics in the way that we use and understand our possessions.

The Valentine was fashioned out of bright red plastic, with twin splashes of vivid orange for the spools; turning it from a machine into a kind of toy. As he put it himself, “the sort of thing to keep lonely poets company on Sundays in the country”. Four decades later, Jonathan Ive did the same for Apple, with the iPod, turning technology that grew out of office equipment into a desirable possession.

Like his father, also called Ettore, Sottsass saw himself first and foremost as an architect. Almost all Italian designers trained as architects, and too many of them want to go back to designing buildings, even though they are manifestly better sticking to the scale of cutlery and chairs. Sottsass was an exception in that he really was a highly gifted architect, even though he was entirely outside the mainstream.

In architecture, he sought to imbue emotion and delight as well. The Mayer-Schwarz gallery in Beverly Hills, with its dramatic doorway made of irregular folds and jagged angles. He even managed to build an apartment in the unlikely setting of Albany in London for Johnny Pigozzi, the celebrity photographer.

The Memphis Movement,компютри started in 1981 by Sottsass and his friends, broke down barriers between high and low art, between assumptions of “good” and ‘bad” taste, and raised the question of access to art design by people of all economic backgrounds. They created furniture and other objects with bright colours, slick surfaces, off shapes and sizes. In an interview with Pure Commentary, he said, “We tried to design without thinking of the conditions the “industrial culture” had imposed and is still imposing with all the possible means, legal or illegal, to define what is “good” and “bad” taste.

Ettore Sottsass was a great man. An icon whose design challenged the tenets of modern design. He propelled functionality with design and made it a success, allowing normal people like everyone of us to come into contact with good art everyday.

http://www.urbanespaces.com/sottsass.html –An avant garde design modern bungalow by Sottsass.

Art is a reflection of society. Buildings are built according to the ideals of the flourishing empire and paintings may portray the type of life people envision. With the rise of a new social or cultural movement, new buildings are erected and those of the past demolished. Hence, to understand the past or to know the future, we can turn to art and architecture.

With the liberalization and rapid development of the 1.3 billion people nation, China is turning heads of many around the world. China as a superpower commands respect, admiration as well as fear in the eyes of many politicians. Businessmen are now all jumping onto the Chinese bandwagon, to get their slice of the pie as the Chinese economy grows exponentially. They are not the only ones, artists and architects are looking towards the Red Dragon once again.

Chinese Art is making a comeback and it is now bigger and bolder. Contemporary Chinese interior design maintains its penchant for details but includes new and modern elements like steel. The use of bold colours—lime green, sunshine yellow, neon pink replacing the traditional wooden finishing—signifies the great leap forward for China once again. This exciting movement is certainly worth paying close attention to.

Old vs. New

Traditional Chinese architecture focuses on the delicate details of each piece of furniture. This can be seen in the elaborate wood carvings of dragons and phoenixes. The meticulous artist pays attention to all the elements then intricately crafts his art as a whole. The final product, an article that is continuous, where there is a seamless transition from lines to curves. The look is extremely polished.

While the old Chinese design may prove to be a little stuffy for most of us, contemporary Chinese architecture is exciting. A greater mix of materials and colours brings life to Chinese art, transforming it from its old fashioned self.

Traditional floral patterns are toned down by reducing its design complexity to give a slightly more neutral look. By painting these patterns on a lime green wall or lacquer it over a brown wall, an eclectic effect is created. Who would imagine that Chinese art can be combined with sleek modern edges and clean lines of steel cabinets?

By increasing the size of the Chinese daybed, yoke back armchairs and console tables, then painting them a pink panther or sunshine yellow, the contemporary Chinese furniture can bring life to any neutral tone house.

Chinese Art

Chinese Art can be divided into periods by the ruling dynasties of China and the changing technologies. Politics, education, philosophy and religion also influence the direction of art.

From the Shang Dynasty focus on the clarity of details, to Song’s emphasis on spiritual elements in subtle expressions of landscape and Ming’s perfection in colour painting, traditions were followed strictly to maintain the prestige and culture of the prevailing periods. Modern Chinese art however, is said to have departed from the avant-garde movement’s focus on social and political change. Critiques claim that many artists are dropping political or social themes altogether to create works that appeal to the aesthetic sense of wealthy buyers. Mao Ze Dong’s portraits are now created in dark and cynical hues that are incompatible with his image at the peak of his career.

This emphasis on pretty pictures in the 1990s however, reflects the change in cultural make up of the society towards the goals of wealth and economic power and the formation of a white collar and commercial culture. The likes of Xu Bing (leader of Chinese avant-garde art), Huang Yong Ping and Cai Quo Qiang among many others were thought to be disregarded by the public.

The changing economy provided contemporary artists new themes despite the foreseen demise of social commentary—the desire to get rich quickly, competitiveness, widening income gap, consumerism, leisure. The new ideology in China led to Political Pop and Cynical Realism styles.

The focus on portraits in modern Chinese art also expounds on the themes of individualism, desire and reality showing how people comprehend and reconstruct the roles amid the confusion of the city life. There is some sort of abstract qualities to the portraits with certain alien like qualities that varies from blank expressions to wide eye astonishment.

Avant-garde themes are still favoured in contemporary Chinese art; it is just that the forms are prettier, more personal and private in subject matter and more professional in technique. Social commentary is still alive.

Where to get Contemporary Chinese Art

Linda Gallery—established in 1990, specialises in contemporary Chinese art and Indonesian paintings. he gallery has held numerous exhibitions, featuring works by famous Chinese Contemporary artists, Indonesian maestros, Indo–European artists, as well as other South East Asian artists. #01-03 Block 15 Dempsey Road, Tanglin Village.

Jasmine Fine Arts—Specialises in contemporary Chinese art and holds regular exhibitions. It has exhibited works by Zeng Fangzhi (in collaboration with the Singapore Art Museum) and Yang Jinsong. 290 Orchard Road, #05-25 Paragon.

Kwan Hua Art Gallery—Offers a good selection of Oriental and contemporary Chinese art, including thoe by Bai Jin Shun, Zeng Jie and Zhang Xian Ming. Prices range from 1-6k. 19 Tanglin Road, #02-61 Tanglin Shopping Centre

Ode To Art—One of the largest galleries in Singapore. 252North Bridge Road, Raffles City Shopping Centre #01-36E/F

Singapore Art Museum (SAM)—Has exhibitions featuring works of Chinese contemporary artists. Zeng Fangzhi has been featured previously. The exhibition, entitled Idealism, showcased 36 major works including his celebrated series Hospital, Meat, Mask and Portraits. 71 Bras Basah Road

Soobin Art International—One of the first local galleries to carry contemporary Chinese art. The gallery has represented some top artists like Yue Minjun, Wang Guanyi, Zhang Xiaogang, Ye Yong Qing etc. While the gallery has sold its collections by these famous artists, it continues to promote new artists from places like Szechuan and Chengdu. 140 Hill Street #01-10/11/12 MICA Building.

Luxury travel to China effectively introduces you to the trendiest art galleries, the best restaurants and insider access whilst being based in the most luxurious hotels.

Singapore has a delectable mix of people from all countries, of all races and religion, of multiple personalities. We love foreign talents because they bring the best from their countries and we love other things they bring along with them e.g. their culture, art, design, food etc.

Imitation is the best form of flattery and Singaporeans are the epitome of this sentence. Regardless of where we go, we take back the best bit back to our wonderful little country and sometimes come up with something uniquely Singaporean after mixing everything together. Sometimes.

There may be some correlation between home décor in Singapore and travel patterns. Perhaps? Think the Banyan tree look in the 80s, the tropical modern look, Zen in the later 90s and now Modern Baroque is making a comeback. But I question the relation to traveling. There is a greater likelihood that Guy A goes over to Bali, sees something he likes, decorates his home after it, perhaps got his place showcased in a magazine and “WALA!” everyone copies the same Balinese style. Luxury travel in Bali with its world class resorts or rather, luxury travel in Indonesia with an increasingly sophisticated array of travel solutions in off-the-beaten trek locations, offer a great way of orienting the home decor neophyte with an exotic South-East Asian aesthetic. Nevertheless the popularity of certain interior design themes in Singapore is worthy of a mention.

Balinese

Courtesy of blogman from sxc.hu

Singaporeans love the beach and resort feel. So much that they have brought back the resorts right into their homes. The desire to create a hideaway, reminiscent of the charming villas found in the tropical Indonesian island of Bali, has led to the burgeoning trend of Balinese themed décor.

Singapore was a developing nation in the mentioned period. Travelling was mostly limited to the surrounding countries. As a result, Singapore home décor was very Asian (nothing to do with any intrinsic cultural trait) but rather due to the logics of consumption (what we can afford vs. what we really want).

Nevertheless, the Balinese style still lingers in some Singaporean homes today. The idyllic feel and care freeness of this particular style takes away one’s pressure from the hustle and bustle in the city. One can almost pretend they are relaxing on a deck chair enjoying the breeze with a cocktail in hand or perhaps partying on the sandy beach with the hottest babes and hunks or even meditating in the woods, listening to the trickling of a stream.

Some features of the Balinese styled homes would be the amount of space (or the illusion of space). Furniture and ornaments are often simple, reducing the amount of clutter in the room. As a result, sunlight streams in easily, creating an airy, well lit effect throughout the house. Water feature is almost a must. The constant trickling of water relaxes the aural senses and calms the soul. It also adds some life to the monotonous day we have had in our little office cubicle.

Whether it is the handcrafted carvings that double up as intricate showpieces, the beautiful and bold paintings that pepper the rooms or the woody furniture where weary homeowners can sink their tired bodies in and fall straight into an idyllic reverie, the rustic décor attracted a large group of followers. But of course, Singaporeans are fickle and they look for change and hence the development of the modern Balinese themed homes.

Michael White a.k.a. Made Wijaya of the 90s

Born Michael White, Made Wijaya is one of the world’s most celebrated tropical garden designers with about 600 gardens to his credit in locations as far away as Morocco, Hawaii, the continental United States, Spain, India, Malaysia and Singapore

Wijaya, a multi-talented artist with a comprehensive and meticulous knowledge of Balinese culture, architecture and tropical landscape design has propelled Balinese culture to a greater height by adopting the latest trends from overseas and creating a tropical modern look, one favoured by many Singaporeans as well.

Balinese home will never to go out of style. Strike a balance between the rustic Balinese charm and the sleek, modern lines and you will not be laughed at by the modern Baroque style of today.

Other than the Balinese style he is very fond of, Wijaya is outstanding at creating the tropical gardens that are sensitive to local nuances. His breakthrough, the Bali Hyatt hotel, showcased the exuberant growth of local coastal plants with English style attention to texture, colour and decorative accents.

On modern tropical home décor, Wijaya’s approach is about the celebration of living in the tropics, hedonism in life, all in the presence of nature. The whole idea is to break free of the alienation from the environment and welcoming all the pleasure of tactile and sensorial experiences of nature. Smell the light scent of a flower, listen to the singing of a frog or respond to the touch of the wind.

Screens replace walls, stones and woods became the main attraction of the modern tropical look. Kitchen and eating rooms can open to the garden. Plants like the palm tree can help create a home away from home look as well. The whole idea behind the modern tropical home is to embrace the nature while maintaining the stylishness of the modern home.

Zen

We love everything Japanese. Japanese conveyor sushi belts, Japanese trinkets, Japanese toys, Japanese electronics, Japanese cars, Japanese food (think tako pachi, Jap pancakes, ramen, dons etc), the language etc. It is natural that if we want to live like a Japanese, we want to recreate the same home décor in our homes as well.

Photo Courtesy of sradion from sxc.hu

The Japanese Zen missionary expansion continued in the early 20^th Century, influencing Singaporeans with its simple lines, little colours and minimalist approach to decoration. This interior design situation arose out of something of universal appeals—Zen paintings.

Simplicity is the sophistication of the 21^st century and Zen fits right into this mode. A Zen room provides a clam and quiet environment for the owner, something that is hard to find in our highly stressful lives.

The minimalist approach means that all clutter has to be stored out of sight. Storage bins, cabinets or pieces of furniture that allow for storage are necessary. Under the list of decorating scheme, some metal, chrome, whites, creams and very simple lines are used. Anything too ostentatious should be rid off to create the stark effect.

With the rapid modernisation of the late 90s to early 20s, the young, contemporary trendsetters are lured by the Zen style of interior decorating, making the Zen style a big hit.

Modern Baroque

The trend to minimalism throughout the 1990s is being replaced by opulence. Think the painted ceilings of San Benedetto in Catania, the domed roofs of Santa Susanna, the dynamic rhythm of columns and pilasters, central massing and the protrusion and condensed central decoration of Baroque’s Italian beginnings. After last year’s presentations of baroque homages by well-known protagonists like Capellini with the “New Antiques” chair or Sawaya & Moroni with the collection ”Barock ’n’ Roll ”, baroque elements are finding their way into the entire furniture industry.

The trend to resort to nostalgic elements is based upon fulfilling the consumers’ desire for well-established values and the security associated with them, and meanwhile this trend has become a significant economical factor. The tendency towards a new Baroque era is reflected in particular in specific ornamental designs and patterns but is also expressed in lush round forms and luxurious materials.

In the Singaporean context, the Baroque movement represents a flaunting of wealth as the economy continues with its high growth rates. The property market boom made many millionaires over night from the en bloc saga, consumerism is at an all time high, luxe developments are sprouting up in places we have never thought of. The fast moving economy and the tendency to want to best have brought back the Baroque movement in Singapore décor. Other contributing factors would be the IR and its range of high end deluxe hotels and the F1 race.

When it comes to luxe residences, the trend is to go baroque as it is a representation of the high life. However, the minimalism trend has yet to die out especially in the homes of young trendsetters as well as in chic boutique hotels.

The best places to find inspiration for interior design whilst traveling remain Morocco, India, Bali and Thailand but for a more interpretive aesthetic and more exotic throwbacks, it’s worthwhile to start looking towards Syria, Turkey, Mongolia(having inspired quite a slew of private gers in backyards), Myanmar and China.