Editor’s note
Away we go!
Volume 14 (Discover), Spring 2024
Charl looking out at the view from Mürren, at Drei Berge Hotel in Switzerland.
I’ve been a very lucky traveller this past year. Work has taken me to some special “corners” of the globe, some planned, some unplanned, and some quite last-minute, which I’m always game for. I’m the type of traveller who can arrive in a city without having made any plans or having booked accommodation (I love the adrenaline rush).
Thus, probably not the best travel partner for those who love strict itineraries and ticking lists. I’m a more “in the moment”, “go-with-the-flow” kinda traveller, and always in that spirit to discover. If you’re so busy planning or ticking off lists, chances are you’re closing yourself off to chance encounters or missing out on that unexpected moment while in a mad rush. On the other hand, I’m probably also missing out on the most important things to see on that said list. I guess this is the most appropriate time to apologise to all previous travel companions, and to confess: I’ve come very close to missing flights, boats, and trains, or not having anywhere to sleep on a few occasions… You’re probably all thinking: “Should have stuck to a strict itinerary, Charl!”.
Case in point: I recently traveled to Marseilles to experience the newly-opened Tuba Club (read all about it in our previous travel-themed edition, Volume 11: Wander), and was meant to travel back along the coast towards Milan. Long story short, plans to stay at another hotel fell through, and I found myself stranded without accommodation. A little panicked, I called my friend (and Editor-at-Large) Tammy Tinker, based in Europe, thinking I’d invite myself over for an impromptu visit, to which she excitedly responded: “Meet me at Drei Berge instead.”. So I jumped on a train to Switzerland… (see p114 for the full story.)
It reminded me of the time, a few years back, when a similar thing happened, and where I really pushed my traveller’s luck.
I’d traveled back to Zanzibar, after a safari in the Serengeti, wanting to show friends the most idyllic beach-side hideout I’d stayed at the previous year (big mistake – never recreate a trip). We found ourselves arriving on New Year’s Eve day (mistake number two), without having booked the accommodation (mistake number three). The previous time I stayed there, we had the most carefree and effortless experience.
This time, not so much. The beautiful beach huts had been demolished, and we were left without a place for the night. It forced us to walk from hotel to hotel, backpackers to backpackers, looking for any available stay along the coastline. The sun was setting, the new year fast approaching, and high tide was making it almost impossible to walk from beach to beach, backpacks atop our heads. Without a place to crash, we decided to camp out and celebrate below the fireworks (first good decision).
The next day (and year), we explored the other (less busy) side of the island, now desperately in search for a place to stay. After many stops and inspections, we finally found a place that could accommodate us (we ended up sleeping in the rooftop of the bar, much to the amusement of the other guests).
What we discovered was by far the most magical experience and surprise, totally unplanned. We would never have found this hidden gem had we booked accommodation in advance. It was something straight out of a bygone era: the most charming beach den, the vibe so cool, yet casual. It even had vintage National Geographics lying around (not placed for Instagram effect – this was before that era).
When I travel, and check into hotels, I often look for these details before settling in – the authentic book collections, local art on the walls, or curated finds of the area displayed throughout the space, or the more minute detail, telling of the hotel’s owner or the visitor it attracts. Like the time I arrived at the laid-back Mango Drift, a lodge on Malawi’s Likoma Island, and spotted a British Vogue casually placed on a pink kikoi, against pink bougainvillea, and a backdrop of blue skies and water. I knew instantly I was in the right place. So I threw down my bags, and headed straight for the lake.
Hopefully, this very House and Leisure could be that item, left on a hotel’s coffee table (or poolside) by another guest, to be enjoyed by another, as a sign for the traveller with a discerning eye for detail (you, and I), looking for their small sign or cue that they are indeed in the right place.
Coincidentally, I fondly started referring to this edition during production as our love letter to National Geographic – you’ll spot quite a few places and pictures that could have been straight out of its pages. But it’s not just the evocative imagery. This edition also features many personal travel essays and anecdotes, covering many “corners” and curiosities around the globe (see p27 for ‘Around the world’, as well as our special Digest chapter on p216).
You’ll also get to visit almost every continent throughout all of the chapters, page-hopping from the Serengeti to Sweden, Newfoundland to New York, Singapore to Sri Lanka, Namibia to Norway, Indonesia to Italy and Iceland, and to our very own Cederberg. And last but not least, the colourful Morocco (see p100). It’s a true atlas of discovery and delight.
We hope this edition awakens your adventurous spirit – perfectly (and humorously) captured by our cover image. After all, what’s more inquisitive and well-traversed than a goat?
See you again in summer for Volume 15.
Ed.
