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Another day, another adventure.
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View from the Highlight Room bar in New York

The most exciting new restaurants and bars for 2023

A boho jazz bar in Paris, a Copenhagen favourite heading in a new direction and more.

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Is this the world’s best hotel bar?

Get ready to drink in the architecture as well as the cocktails at this historic – and simply stunning – hotel bar.

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UTE JUNKER

Luxury Travel and Lifestyle - Writer, editor, podcaster. Co-founder, tonicmag.com.au

Ute Junker has been reporting on luxury travel and lifestyle for more than 20 years. She spends much of the year on the road and is happiest snorkelling a coral reef, tucking into a new cuisine, or enjoying an up-close encounter with wildlife.

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So here’s the thing about Bukhara. I’ve wanted So here’s the thing about Bukhara. I’ve wanted to visit Bukhara as long as I can remember. This oasis city has an incredible history stretching back several millennia, and for centuries it was a major cultural capital under both the Persians and the Arabs. A large chunk of the city centre has a World Heritage listing in recognition of its gorgeous architecture, including mosques, madrassas, bazaars and caravanserais. All of which is wonderful. But the other thing about Bukhara is that at this time of year it’s hot. Really hot. And let me tell you, sightseeing in 42 degrees saps you. So here’s my hot tip: do as the locals do and head out after dinner. The temps will still be around 38 degrees but without the sun beating down on you - and with locals out in force, feasting, shopping, having fun - Bukhara by night is magical.
I’ve always loved cemeteries and burial places b I’ve always loved cemeteries and burial places but this one is beyond compare. Sit back and let the beauty of Samarkand’s Shah-I-Zinfandel necropolis - a cluster of magnificent tombs laden with mesmerising details - wash over you.
If you can’t find something to marvel at in a Ce If you can’t find something to marvel at in a Central Asian bazaar, you’re not really trying. The aromatic spices, the freshly-picked apricots, cherries and strawberries you can smell from metres away, and above all the people - here to buy and sell and, above all, gossip. A trip to the bazaar is as much about catching up on the news as it is about picking up the groceries. It’s a huge community hub - and, for that matter, a political one. The bazaaris, or stall holders, are solidly middle class, with a huge network that gives the considerable influence. Cross them at your peril.
A quick photo stop on the spectacular trip from Uz A quick photo stop on the spectacular trip from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan through the Fan Mountains, where wild poppies and wild lavender are currently in bloom, and where shepherds are leading their flocks up to their summer pastures. We travelled through a 5km-long Chinese-built tunnel, the only tunnel I’ve been in that runs uphill (2650 metres at the start, 2740 metres at the other end). It shaves three hours off the journey time on the trade route that accounts for 45% of Tajikistan’s GDP, a route so important that contractors are paid keep it open all through the harsh winter, regularly clearing away avalanches to ensure the traffic keeps flowing.
I’ve done a lot of travelling to a lot of places I’ve done a lot of travelling to a lot of places over the years, and I know a little bit about most places. That’s precisely why exploring Kyrgyzstan, a place I know nothing about, has been a real thrill. From cities like Bishkek and Osh to the countryside that has earned it the moniker “the Switzerland of Central Asia”, every day has been a delight. Our @renaissancetours itinerary has taken in awesome snow-capped mountains, 1500-year-old stone statues called balbals, ancient minarets and a charming capital with lush parks and wide streets lined with cafes. And there’s a lot more to come!
It’s no easy feat, launching a new hotel brand. It’s no easy feat, launching a new hotel brand. In a crowded market. Creating a concept that captures travellers’ imaginations and, crucially, delivering on it, can be difficult. @sirohotels @siroonezaabeel has got it down. Dubai may seem like an odd place to launch a hotel that’s all about fitness and recovery - being active, eating well, looking after your body - but as this snap of the irresistible garden pool shows, they are doing it well! There’s 1000 square metres of fitness and recovery space including serious facilities dedicated to weights, cardio, yoga, spin, Pilates, boxing and more. There are inviting rooms decked out with Technogym programs, gymnastic wall bars and more. And the Recovery Lab - featuring a wealth of therapies including cryo-, compression-, percussive- and vibrio acoustic - is amazing.

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© 2019 Ute Junker, All Rights Reserved | Site By Design Counsel

LISTEN UP

Subscribe to my podcast I Know This Place, a series about the world’s most interesting places, seen through the eyes of the people who know them best. Join me on the road as I talk with chefs, architects, historians and more about the places that are special to them.

I'M ALL EARS

Subscribe

Join my absolutely zero spam email list for insider travel tips and other news.

Get Social

Let's connect.

PRIVACY | CONTACT

© 2019 Ute Junker, All Rights Reserved | Site By Design Counsel

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