unearthing asia 01 2010

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The crystal blue water is per ector water sports and activities



the islands o south east asia 77

THE GUIDE



Amidst the in ux o over owing tourists,

Bali retains its hidden charmsand unexplored attractions,

Barrie Lie-Birchall enthuses.

Fog and mist creeping into the orest as the

setting sun envelops the horizon. Ubud, Bali.

Scenic sur and steepcli s on the coastline



Bali, unlike other islands in thearchipelago o Indonesia, is drenched inmass tourism, and yet, the Balinese stillretain their cultural and religious wayso li e; una ected. The cyclonic invasiono this tiny island began with a trickle inthe 1930’s with the likes o artists Walter

Spies, Rudol Bonnet and Le Mayeur,but soon became a novelty destinationor celebrities such as Noel Coward,

amongst others. Bali’s eventual stepinto the limelight was predominately dueto anthropologist Margaret Mead whoresearched and documented, in-depth,the Balinese.

As a paradise destination orwesterners, this became apparent whenthe island o Bali became a stopover onthe renowned ‘hippy trail’ in the 1960’s.From then on the steady ow o touristsincreased over the coming decades.

As the tourist in ux grew and Bali wasooded with care ree tourists romaround the world, it soon became atarget or anti-western extremist Islamicgroups. In October 2002, the maintourist district o Kuta was devastatedby three massive bombs killing 202people. The impact upon the Balitourism industry was immediate. Bali

was soon to be crushed again onOctober 1, 2005 with a series o terroristsuicide bomb attacks in Jimbaran andKuta. The Balinese eared a repeatupon tourism that occurred previously in2002. It didn’t happen.

The ancient temple

o Taman Ayun


THE GUIDE



Bali once again enjoys boom times withrecord numbers o tourists visiting theisland. There are numerous reasons thistiny Hindu island possesses immenseappeal to westerners. Primarily, it’s acheap holiday destination with muchthe same on o er as most South-east

Asian destinations; good shopping,relaxed tropical atmosphere, bars andnightclubs as well as restaurants every50 metres. Bali is geared towardstourists and frst impressions will see youbeing overwhelmed.

More than Meets the EyeBut, there is more to Bali than thea orementioned. It is an island thatpossesses a spiritual mystique wovenaround a unique culture and a religionthat is a ascinating amalgam o animismand Indian Hindu belie s. In the land o a

1,000 temples, religion is the dominatingorce and this can be seen in the dailyrituals and ceremonies o the Balinese.

Travelling around Bali can be anenlightening experience. The delight ulthing is that wherever you go, yoursenses are tantalised by sheer beauty.Green textured rice paddies clinging

to hillsides and rugged mountainsare mesmerising. Being an island o varied landscapes it a ords some o the most spectacular panoramas in theIndonesian archipelago.

It is no wonder then that Bali is soappealing. Travelling anywhere acrossthe 140-kilometer wide island yieldsbreathtaking surprises and everlastingimpressions. An island covering anarea o 5, 561 sq kilometer and totallysurrounded by crystal blue oceans it isonly natural that a lot o the coastline isspectacular, and at dusk, un orgettable

mind-blowing sunsets. Coconut-palmlined sandy beaches and sparkling clearwaters o er some o the best scubadiving and surfng to be ound anywherein the world.

The whole island is one enjoyablesurprise a ter the other. Walking aroundtraditional markets has always beenone o my avourites taking in theatmosphere o Balinese traders hagglingor imbibing in the delights o the arrayo traditional oods. Scaling the steps o centuries old temple and gazing at themyriad o statues slowly being eroded

by time or witnessing a temple estivalwith the Balinese in colour ul dress hasnever ceased to amaze me. Bali hassomething to o er everybody. Talkingslow walks along sandy beaches atsunset or being adventurous and bungy-

jumping o dizzy heights, or just chilling-out leisurely wandering the streetstalking to the locals.

Green rice terraces orms a beauti ul scenery

www. unearthing asia .com80

THE GUIDE




Pura Ulun Danu temple onLake Brataan, Bali, Indonesia



Unexplored ParadiseGetting around Bali is quite easy andthere are many areas in Bali that arerarely visited by tourists or travellersalike. Then there are those areasyet to be ully developed as a touristdestination. The east coast o the island

is one such area that has escaped theonslaught. This is one part o the islandthat has always entranced me. Sleepyfshing villages are dotted up and downthe coastline with deserted beacheslined with row a ter row o colour ulfshing boats. Inland you will fndpristine areas o dense jungle clingingto towering hillsides and valleys with a

carpet o rich-green rice paddies.

Not ar rom the town o Amlapurathere is a place seldom seen by regulartourists that has the most stunning andbeauti ul panoramic view o rice feldson the entire island o Bali. It is a place

called Ngis, a small village barely visiblerom the main road. In between the town

o Amlapura and the village o Abangalong the east coast road you will cometo a sharp bend in the road and hereyou will fnd the heavenly view.

The island o Bali is the epitome o paradise. Where else in the tropicscould you drive through a massive holein a sacred Banyan tree, be thrilled atthe power o white-water as you ra t

uriously along the rapids o the AyungRiver deep in the jungle, or go fshingwith the locals on their traditional boats.Bali has something or everyone. I you

are just a tourist with a desire to chill-out and relax or possesses a lust oradventure, a passion or archaeologicalhistory or perhaps a nature-lover; Baliand its riendly people have all these andmuch, much more.

Being centrally located in thearchipelago, Bali a ords the travelleropportunities to visit the other islands inIndonesia with a variety o inexpensive

ights on o er utilising numerous airlineservices. You can virtually travel to allpoints o the compass and experience

other cultures or as many days as youlike and still return to Bali and fnish yourholiday.

Bali as a tourist destination in South-east Asia has so much more to o er.It is an island where you can relax insheer luxury at high-end resorts, or revelin the crazed tourist scene o Kuta in

budget accommodation. Bali is an islandwhere you can live on $10 a day quitecom ortably and an island where youcan be a global citizen in paradise and,it is a place that time has not orgottenbut respected or its unique culture and

riendly people.




STYLEGUIDE



A Tropical

A airUnrestraint and picturesque

settings conjure a per ect beach rontrendezvous by the seaside coast

o Segarra , Jakarta.Photographed by Bona Soetirto ,

with make up and styling bythe Dresscode Team .

Modern batik printed dress – Nila Kandi at Alun AlunIndonesia; Heart buckled ethnic belt – Tari Maya at

Alun Alun Indonesia; Crossed-weaved heels – Dum

Dum at Alun Alun Indonesia; Ringlets Bracelet – Origoat Alun Alun Indonesia



85

STYLEGUIDE



This Page Tie-dyed summer dress – Lilou at Alun AlunIndonesia; Color ul Ringlets Statement Necklace – DivvyHippy Yippy at Alun Alun Indonesia; Rope wooden sandals– Heroine at Alun Alun Indonesia; Batik printed clutch –Ilalang at Alun Alun Indonesia

Opposite Page Long wool shawl (worn as a headband) –Mellies Moss at Alun Alun Indonesia; Tube summer dress –

BIASA; Batik printed corset (worn as an obi) – Nila Kandi at Alun Alun Indonesia; Rattan ethnic bangles (set o 3) – Dioriat Alun Alun Indonesia; Gold Ethnic fats – Gi a at AlunAl I d i H d i d d i b ll Nil



87

Alun Indonesia; Hand-painted decorative umbrella – NilaKandi at Alun Alun Indonesia

STYLEGUIDE



Sarong style skirt (worn as a tube dress) – BIASA;Striped vest – BIASA; Multicolor statementnecklace – Divvy Hippy Yippy at Alun AlunIndonesia; Crossed-weaved beach hat – Nila Kandiat Alun Alun Indonesia; Fish scales sandals – VNC

Modeled by Audrey;Styled by the DRESSCODE Team;

Photographed by Bona Soetirto;



Culture, Li estyle and Attractions



Unearthing AsiaThe latest addition to your list o essential reading, Unearthing Asia is a magazinededicated to inspiring its readers to explore this beauti ul region we call home. Themagazine is an indispensable guide to Asia, eaturing exciting adventures, stunningsceneries and unique attractions rom all over the region.

For this inaugural issue, we are generously o ering our readers ree one yearsubscriptions. And not only that, subscribers also stand a chance to win ree hotelstays at various destinations – Hong Kong, Jakarta and Bali! Turn to page 42 ormore details.

Culture, Lifestyle and Attractions Vol 01 Dec/Jan/Feb 2010

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New Zealand’s SplashingLake Taupo + A Guide to Middle

Eastern Cuisine + Heedingthe Call of Asia in Taiwan +

Singapore Stopover + Spotlighton Jakarta + Flashpacking

Essentials + A Tropical Affair

Vol 01 - Issue 01

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TALES GOURMET



Nabeetha Naseer samplesthe vivacious array o culinary delights

rom the region o Middle East,and comes up with a tasty guide

or the oodie at heart.

TALES GOURMET Arabian cuisine usually consists o a dozenor more small dishes. They can be eaten onits own, but more commonly used as dip or

pita bread, or mixed with one another



92

Right, rom topPita bread a serving o dips;

Grilled chicken with vegetables



Middle Eastern cuisines come in a widevariety o taste, shape and color. Eachcountry adds their own distinct touchesto the mix, completing a vibrant map o culinary delights throughout the region.

A common bond between themhowever, is the usage o aromaticspices. Honey, sumac, sesame seeds,parsley, mint and chickpeas – these area ew o the common ingredients you’llfnd throughout the region. While a mealmay exclude meat, it is almost neverwithout the region’s staple ood, bread.

Mezze (or appetizers)When you are in Lebanon, make sureto try out a course o mezze and you’llrealize right away why the tables are allsuper large. You’ll be served dozenso small dishes with exotic tidbits all

placed on the table at once Some o the more common mezzes are thebaba ghanouj, an eggplant dip; borek,

eta-stu ed phyllo pastries and dolmas,stu ed grape leaves. The baba ghanoujis especially tasty, but be warned – it canbe quite spicy!

Main Courses

Depending on which country you arein, the main course could vary betweenkebabs o grilled chicken or lamb;

ela els, deep- ried chickpea balls;khoresh, lamb stew in a sweet-soursauce. It may even contain a numbero rice dishes that is mixed with meats,vegetables, ruits and nuts.

For the uninitiated, kebabs are generallygrilled or broiled meats over skewer orsticks. Since Muslims do not consumepork, the most commonly used meat are

chicken, bee and lamb. It has becomea part o everyday multicultural cuisinesaround the globe. Iskender kebab is a

amed specialty rom Bursa, northern Turkey, in which thinly cut grilled lambis basted with tomato sauce over pidebread and generously slathered withmelted butter and yogurt.



Vegetables, salads and breads This is the usual companion o meals. Among the commonones are Tabboulleh (tart parsley), sautéed tomato andeggplant with yogurt, spinach, pita, at breads and thetraditional Jewish Challah.

Desserts and Snacks

You are normally served a small cup o sweet, thick, co ee.One thing I learned is to leave the sludge at the bottom. It cangive your throat an itchy, uneasy eeling, unless i you are inIran where tea are commonly served. Other desserts includebaklava and perhaps almond crusted cookies as well. Dessertsare served occasionally. But or those who ancy desserts ontheir own, most bakeries tend to sell sweet pastries and thelikes to curb your sweet tooth cravings.

Brides Fingers (Asabia el Aroos) are slender crisps o flo flledwith sweetened nuts that are popular with the locals. Theyare comparable to the likes o baklava, but with lower caloriesand at. Protein and fber are in abundance due to the inclusiono nuts.

Meals in the Middle East are o ten eaten using your hands,ollowing the Islamic tradition that is prevalent in the region.

I you’re uncom ortable with this, do not hesitate to ask or aork and spoon. But i you are to try eating with your hands,

avoid doing so with your le t hand, as it is orbidden in theIslamic tradition to do so.




TALES ART



Heeding the

Call

Light shining into Khao Luang Caves,Phetburi (Phetchaburi), Thailand.

A ter years o travelingaround the region o Asia,

photographer Craig Fergusonfnally settled down in Taiwan.

He shared tales o his amazing

journey with Nikolas Tjhin .



The call o Asia is a strongone. With its numerouscultural traditions and someo the most ascinatingsights on earth, it’s nowonder how so many

people have allen headover heels with this beauti ulregion. Craig Ferguson isone such victim, having

allen in love with Asia overhis various treks throughoutthe region. Now, the award-winning photographer calls

Taiwan home, and is starting to shi t hisocus away rom travel photography into

music, wedding and personal portraittype photography.

First LoveCraig hailed rom Australia, havinggrown up mostly in a beach-sidesuburb o Sydney. Even rom a veryyoung age, he has always shown an

interest in photography, “I rememberalways wanting to take pictures with mydad’s ‘slide camera’.” He then learnedthe ropes on his own on a ManualSLR while at school in the 1980s andprogressed rom there. He initiallystudied science and graduated with adegree in Environmental Science. Righto graduation, he traveled through

Asia or a year, landing in Bangkok andsimply “winging it” as he goes along. “Ihad nothing booked, and worked it outas I went along. Somehow, I ound myway onto a local bus to Banglamphu,and then into a cheap guesthouse. A terthat, I basically made it up as I wentalong!” shared the enthusiastic traveler.

Bright red lanterns.

The yearly pilgrimage or Mazu, TheGoddess o the Sea, in Taiwan

Always with a camera.Photo credit - Selina Ferguson.


Japanese gate, Hualien, Taiwan.



TALES ART Angkor Wat, Cambodia, a World Heritage

site and a major tourist destination



That impromptu travel lasted a whole12 months and more, on a path thatsees him on a very unusual backpackerstrail across Asia. He headed southtowards the Thai islands or a while,then down into Malaysia be ore crossingover into Sumatra – “orangutans, lakesand surfng made up most o it,” andthen to Bali, transiting in Singapore, thento Lombok, back to Bali, then onwardsto Jakarta through Mount Bromo and

Yogyakarta.

Having exhausted the south eastern parto Asia, he headed back up towardsSurat Thani, Koh Pha Ngan and thenBangkok, and onwards to Nepal ora slower pace o li e, trekking in the

Annapurnas and exploring the old partso Kathmandu. He spent a good fvemonths in the Himalayans region, be oreheading back home to Australia, but notbe ore a fnal couple weeks o relaxationon Koh Tao.

So in 2001, he booked a ticket back toBangkok and went on the road again.Starting out in southern Thailand, hisso called second round o travel seeshim journey to Langkawi, Burma andthen onto Nepal. From there he wentto Kathmandu, and on to Lhasa, Tibet.“All this happened a couple o daysa ter the 9/11 attack in the US, so itwas an interesting experience to becompletely cut o rom the news or fvedays at that particular time,” he shared.One o the everlasting experiences o this particular travel was the winterpilgrimage season in Bodhgaya, whichintrigued Craig so much that he madeplans to return the ollowing year as well.

“I mostly did it alone, meeting up withother travelers along the way. I’d savedenough money that I was able to travelbackpacker style or the year withoutneeding to work. People o ten askwhat the best memory etc is and it’sreally hard to say – there were so manyhighlights!”

Heeding the Call A ter returning to Australia, Craigsearched around or a ulfllingopportunity, but never ound it.Following a short stint in corporate IT,local governance, hospitality and NGOs,he didn’t fnd anything that fts him andgave him satis action. “A ter some hal -hearted attempts to ft into the standardcareer-track in Australia, the call o Asiagrew too strong,” he shared.


TALES ART

Taiwanese opera per ormer romthe Xin Ing Feng Opera Group.



On that second trip to Bodhgaya, hefnds himsel spending time with some

Thai monks who were staying there. “Itwas through them that I got to meet theDalai Lama – he came to visit them, andthey invited me inside their temple,” henarrated. Craig was privileged enoughto be able to witness the ceremonybetween the two di erent Buddhisttraditions, and also shake hands withand speak to the Dalai Lama.

Settling Down

Following that, Craig headed back eastto replenish his unds. He stopped in Thailand and Vietnam, be ore endingup in Taiwan where a riend was alreadybased. Initially, his intention was to stay

or one to two years, and then continuetraveling, but he ended up alling inlove with the li estyle here and stayedlonger. He has now spent seven years in

Taiwan – “it was a pretty easy transitionto make to li e here. I spent a substantialpart o the time living in one o thesmaller cities, which was an amazingexperience. Along the way, I met andmarried my wi e, and we have no plansto leave,” he enthused.

To Craig, being a travel photographeris rewarding work but hard. “As wellas all the usual rustrations o travelerseverywhere, but there’s the addedpressure o marketing, chasing clients,

looking or new leads andmeeting deadlines,” henoted, “I wouldn’t swap it

or the world though!”. Tobudding travel photographers,his sound advice is to “tryto shoot the images andsubjects that give you themost satis action. Shootwhat you enjoy. And thenshoot it again. Let your ownnautral style and creativityshow through, and you’ll fnd

success starts to come yourway,” he opined. “I got intotravel photography as a resulto my love o photographyand my love o travel. The rest

just ollowed.”

“It’s hard to choose a avoriteplace because I’ve been to

so many great places,” Craigshares. Amongst his list o highlights,some stood out more than others.Naturally, his meeting with the DalaiLama in Bodhgaya is one o them,“the whole India and Nepal area is oneI love, although it’s been quite a ewyears since I was last there.” On topo that, Craig also had a so t spot or

Thailand, where he spent a ew tripsphotographing the various Angkor-eraruins in both Cambodia and Thailandwhich have proved to be photographichighlights.

Now, Craig is busy building a multi-aceted photography business. He is

starting to teach photography, withgroup workshops and a couple o one-on-one students, with his ocusdri ting a little urther away rom travelphotography since being here. He nowshoot a lot o portraiture, weddings andmusic as well, and had the pleasure toshoot or Oasis when they toured earlierthis year, which included interviewingNoel Gallagher or 30 minutes be ore theshow. Once again, persistence is key tohis success, a tip he constantly shareswith his students and riends alike.




Oasis, per orming in Taiwan

“A Moving Sound”, a Taiwanese theater per ormance



The Indie Travel Podcast is an independent travel sitewith regular audio and video podcasts along with articlesby travellers from all over the world.

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TALES ADVENTURE



Debbie Reyes-Coloma ventured

into the Kiwi’s stunning landscapeto fnd the Maori spirit o adventure

well anned and alive

SplashingLake Taupo

One o the most amous hiking routes in the Tongariro National Parkleads to this amazing sight o the Blue Lake © Destination Lake Taupo

The Waikato River is the longest waterwayin New Zealand © Rob Suisted

A cli stone carving © Darryl Torckler



The Kiwis are known or inventingsome o the world’s craziest, mostextreme adventures, such as bungy

jumping and zorbing. Perhaps inspiredby New Zealand’s pure naturalsurroundings— rom vast open spaces

flled with stunning rugged landscapesto gorgeous beaches, awe-inspiringgeothermal and volcanic wonders, andtemperate climate—the Kiwi’s spirit o adventure is what has attracted visitors

rom across the globe to join in the un.

The youngest country on earth hassome o the most incredible water

adventures that guests can experience.Plus there are plenty o chances totake a break and continue the un ondry land.

With 47 rivers and streams owing intothe lake, this area is renowned or troutfshing and kayaking. The Waikato Riveris the only river owing out o the lake.

At 425 km in length, it is New Zealand’slargest natural waterway. To the local

Kiwis, the Waikato River has alwaysbeen a great provider— rom fsh andreshwater lobster to drinking water,

irrigation and hydroelectric power.

Situated in the volcanic heart o theNorth Island, the Lake Taupo region ishome to New Zealand’s largest reshwater lake, ascinating geothermal areasand the amous Huka Falls.

Lake Taupo is Australasia’s largest lake.It was created by a gigantic volcaniceruption in 181AD. Spanning 619 sqkm, it is as big as Singapore. The lake’sattractive pumice sand beaches give itthe appearance o an inland ocean.

Water activities take place in the lakesall year round—which include water-

skiing, parasailing, jet skiing, fshing,cruising, swimming, kayaking, canoeing,and sailing. There is no shortage o activities or vacationers regardless o age or ftness. There are also many touroperators in the region who o er daytrips or overnight camping excursions.


TALES ADVENTURE

Below Tandem skydiving will show you the most



Feel the exhilaration and the power o a Huka alls Jet(www.huka allsjet.com) boat ride! Marvel at the incredible

water level views o the spectacular Huka Falls, and enjoythe sensation as you slide past cli s and trees at 80km perhour. The awesome per ormance o the Huka Jet boats willput your heart in your mouth when your driver spins yourHuka Jet through 360° in its own length at high speed.Be ready to get wet!

To scuba dive in Lake Taupo, one needs experience andpro essional help because o the lake’s location above sea

level. To the amateur diver this requires skill in reading yourdepth gauge. You should seek advice and assistance roma qualifed pro essional scuba diving school or tour operatorin the area. Should you wish to scuba dive in a volcanicarea, White Island o the coast o Whakatane is a uniqueexperience as New Zealand’s only active marine volcano.Because o the warm waters, aquatic li e is abundant.

Lake Taupo and its connecting rivers represent one o themost prolifc wild trout fsheries in the world @ Gareth Eyres

© Destination Lake Taupo

© Destination Lake Taupo

stupendous view o the central North Island

Far BelowI you pre er your scenery with a large dasho action, catch a jet boat ride to the base o Huka Falls




You’ll never regret walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This 17-kilometre volcanictrail rises to 1600 metres above sea level, leading you over ancient lava ows, upmountain summits, along scoria slopes and through craters. There’s nothing elselike it in the world © Destination Lake Taupo



Lake Taupo’s panoramic 360° views areamazing. A chartered cruise is oneo the best ways to experience goldensunsets, tranquil waters and pumicebeaches. Sailing on a yacht, chuggingon the old steamboat or speedingacross the lake on a launch is alsoa thrilling way to spend a day or latea ternoon. The lake’s re ective watersmirror mountains, bush and sky. Makesure you have your camera with you.

From parasailing to wakeboarding ,Lake Taupo is the ideal place to try yournerve and your water skills. Arrivingin Taupo by road as a visitor, it’s justso wonder ul to see this beauti ul lake

ull o swimmers, sail boats, waterskiers, speedboats or jet skis. It’s sucha beauti ul holiday scene with people

enjoying and relaxing on the lakeshoresdespite the season.

Take the Clearwater Cruises (www.clearwater.co.nz) through stunningLake Tarawera on the 38- oot luxury

launch Clearwater Pride. There is a ullrange o fshing equipment on board soguests can try fshing or trophy-sizedrainbow trout. Cook your catchin thermal sand at Hot Water beach,where you can also enjoy a soak ina natural hot spring. The majesticbackdrop o a dormant volcano,naturally heated thermal waters andunspoiled ora and auna provide abeauti ul playground, and Clearwater

sta can organise a range o on-waterand land-based activities.

The Tongariro River is known as theper ect river or your frstwhite waterra ting experience. It’s the exciting, wet,wild adventure that any brave adventurerneeds to do. It’s the white water seekerschallenge o un. Float past ancient

beech orests, through gorges, pastlimestone and volcanic cli s and thenrace down 50m ‘roller coaster’ rapidsat exhilarating speeds. The white waterra ting experience can be a peace uldri ting trip on the Tongariro’s or the

Mohaka or the adventure seeker whoneeds the thrill o blasting down endlessrapids at a romping pace. Now’s yourchance to race the rapids!

At Orakei Korako , the Hidden Valley(www.orakeikorako.co.nz), go backin time in this unique geothermalwonderland, one o nature’s true gi ts.Cross the Waikato River by boat,and then explore a world o gushing

geysers, hot springs, boiling mud poolsand some o the largest silica terracesin the world.

New Zealand has our seasons: Summer(14°C rom Dec to February), Autumn(10°C rom March to May), Winter (9°C

rom June to August) and Spring (12°Crom Sept to November). The weather in

New Zealand can change unexpectedlyas cold ronts or tropical cyclones quicklyblow in. Check www.metservice.co.nzbe ore your trip.

Visit www.newzealand.com or moreadventures o and on the ground.

The chilly waters at the mouth o the Waitahanui Stream are easier tostand when there’s the distraction o an amazing sunset © Gareth Eyres


The volcanic landscapes o the Tongariro Alpine Crossing never ail to surprise.Within this world o earth tones that were spewed rom subterranean magmavaults, wild colours provide visual excitement. Here you can see the Emerald Lakes,explosion craters that have flled with mineral-rich water running down rom the RedCrater thermal area © Destination Lake Taupo



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The AYANA Resort and Spa Bali The Fairmont Beijing Hotel

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)

Flee as ar as possible rom your usualhaunts. Shed away your habitual in uencesand your customary com orts. For youSagittarius, the time is right or a simplebreak o isolation and new experiences.Invent a new character, a personality with an

interesting back story, and enjoy a week o acting and play-making in the isolated heightso Tibet. A ter playing out your antasy, you’lldo well to re ect back and determine a newdirection or your personal li e.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

TRAVELHOROSCOPE



Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19)

According to my analysis o the astrological omens, thenonchalant Aries is largelyunaware o the creative energy that hasbeen welling up inside you. Your homework,

Aries, is to let loose and tap into this creativeenergy. May I suggest a trip to the Big Duriano South East Asia, Jakarta? It’s a placewhere you can do anything you want to,or so they say. You’ll fnd all o your mostcreative inner whims ulflled with a simplesnap o your fnger.

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The time is right to head backinto your natural habitat, dearCapricorn. I suspect this willbe a place ooded with sea water, a place inbetween worlds, a doomed beauty that willsooner or later die away – much like everythingelse on earth actually. Venice is one suchdestination, a hauntingly beauti ul city doomedto lose itsel to the drowning sea. Don’t worrytoo much about whether things are going yourway. Relax and go with the ow.

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)

A little o bad news is comingyour way Taurus, but don’t

give up – the story is ar romover! Take some time out inthe middle o this stress ul period to collectyoursel and ponder a thought. I’m thinkinga place o leisure and relaxation, like thesouthern islands o the coast o Thailand.Renew your energy and fgure out whatcomes next, and then get back into it rightaway a ter your well-deserved break.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

Party harder and smarterthan usual Aquarius. The timeis nigh to drown yoursel inalcoholic beverages o all kind. Celebratethe coming estivities with a bang, and givetoast to the coming year. The passing yearmay seem ull o negative experiences, but

they are important in shaping you up or thebrighter uture ahead. In act, I would book aticket to the Christmas Islands i I were you,to boldly welcome the coming new year assoon as possible.

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20)

You’re not ully in ormed– quite yet. But being inthis place eels liberating.Suddenly, you eel able to do and say allkinds o things that didn’t seem permissible

be ore. Go or it! You’ll meet up withother people who are in similar states o trans ormation and journey, and togetheryou’ll orm quite a merry crew. Make sure allthe proper orms have been flled out overthe weekend – this next part o your triprequires meticulous attention to make sure itall goes smoothly.

The isolated heights o Tibet awaits you Sagittarius


Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

You’re totally ready to take things to the next level,romantically or in some other way. I envision anevent ul getaway in the near uture, with the sweetsmell o romance in the air. Bali is a popular place orhoneymooners, but that maybe too early or you. Maybe start o slow, with the sun-flled days o the coast o Palawan?

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

For the oreseeable uture, the cosmos grant you thelicense to thrive on the unexpected blessings thatcome rom giving yoursel to the random intelligence o a stranger. There will be an o er to travel and celebrate the estivitiest g th l d i d d il T k it!



Leo (July 23 - Aug 22)

Li e is just way too short to worry about peopleneedlessly! So i you’re wondering about what peoplemay think o you as you embark on this personaladventure, ret not. Li e is only worth living your own way, as I alwayssay. The city o Queenstown in New Zealand o ers much in the wayo adventure, dubbing itsel the Adventure Capital o the World. Get

set and let the adrenaline roar!

together, away rom your usual crowd o riends and amily. Take it! A ter all, your riends and amily will still be there or you come 2010. They can wait.

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)

The most challenging parts o your travels havealso brought you the greatest lessons. When youthink about everything you’ve done and seen, you’regrate ul or all o your experiences. Make an e ort to range ar andwide during your explorations. It was said there are so many ramenstalls in Tokyo that even i you were to eat ramen thrice a day, it

would take a good ew years to try them all out. Better start now.

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22)

Spare no expense. Don’t put restraints on yourenjoyment or give yoursel a subconscious guilt trip orwhat you’re seeing and doing. All this mental liberationleads you to want to try a ew daring physical acts too, and you woulddo well to ollow your heart’s content – lest you live to regret thismissed opportunity or a unique experience.

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

Be ore you commence your li e-long dream Scorpio,whatever that may be, I bid you make your peace withGod. A spiritual journey is on the cards – may I suggestthe region o India? It’s an area reeking with religious mysticism, romthe Gods and Goddesses o Hinduism to the passionate compassiono the Buddha, you’ve got it all here.

BON VOYAGE



The winner of 2008’s Cleo Award for the Best Young

Designer, Stella Rissa is fast becoming a rising star inthe Asian fashion industry. Fresh off the plane from herLondon trip, she snuck some time out from her hecticpreparation for the upcoming Jakarta Fashion Weekto share with us her love and passion for traveling.

I o ten go to New York to visit my sister, atleast once every two years, which is a veryhectic, ast-paced city that never ails to

amaze. It’s a great place to go or a creativeinspiration, because its one o the most stylishtrend-setting ashion cities in the world, butyou do have to be care ul o overloading yoursenses. That happens o ten here, it’s crazy! It’slike one world in the same place together.

Bali is another avorite, a paradise haven closeto my hometown, and in act its really likemy second home. Beauti ul people, amazing

I love to travel. I love to go to new places,interesting destination that is more than justa shopping destination. I always have a good

impression or new places, and what attractsme the most is the culture, the ood and thepeople. I love to meet new people and fndnew perspectives to li e and unique ways o li e that can only be ound rom the lives o local people.

culture, artistic inspirations and jaw-dropping

nature, and it’s all in Rupiah – much cheaperthan spending in Dollars and Yens! I gothere at least once every two months, andmy avorite places in Bali are KuDeTa or itsamazing ambiance, and the new Rock Barwhich simply boasts a spectacular lookingvenue. I don’t really enjoy much o theluxurious fne-dining scene in Bali, as I pre erauthentic local ood, like at Warung Made.

Finally, another destination that I absolutelyloved was Japan. I’ve only been there once,but I totally ell in love with the place. The oodwas amazing, rom the street-side stalls servingramen noodles (a personal avorite) to theluxe sushi restaurants serving one-o -a-kinddelicacies, they were all superb! It is also oneo the rare places where a very strong culturalroots and a modern outlook in li e are mixedseamlessly in harmony. I’m planning or anothervisit there actually, the sooner the better!

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unearthing asia 01 2010

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