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The 2008 Luxe List
This year, our annual showcase of the region’s best new hotels and resorts is larger than ever, featuring 31 properties in more than a dozen countries. From a Himalayan hideaway in Bhutan to tented luxury in the Maldives, read on to discover those places that truly rise above the rest in terms of style, service, and surrounds
Spirited Hue
A city of palaces, pavilions, and pagodas, Vietnam’s old imperial capital remains the spiritual heartland of the nation
Mixed Blessings
From Jakarta to Yogyakarta, contemporary galleries are selling their inventories faster than they can restock them. But will collectors’ newfound infatuation for Indonesian art last?
Tales from the Top End
Soon to star on the big screen in Baz Luhrmann’s Australia, the remote tropical reaches of the Northern Territory have cinematic scenery to spare, as well as crocs, cattle ranches, and the surprisingly multicultural milieu of Darwin, the region’s laid-back capital
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East Timor opened its first state reserve in August, the 123,600 hectare Nino Konis Santana National Park. Encompassing the entire eastern tip of the country, the park encompasses coral reefs and one of the largest tropical lowland and monsoon rain forests in the region.
Lodgings Update
Opening in November, the 90-room Park Hyatt Istanbul - Maçka Palas (90-212/315-1234; istanbul.park.hyatt.com; doubles from US$525) is located in the chic Nisantasi district of town, occupying a historic Art Deco building. The bathrooms impress with extra-deep soaking tubs and a separate rain shower. The hotel also has 25 residential spa rooms with steam baths and heated floors to allow guests to experience an in-room Turkish hammam.
Product
Bon Voyage
Despite having grown up surrounded by sequins and lace in his parents’ bridal warehouse, Californian designer Derek Lam has left the froufrou behind with this creation. Teaming up with skincare label Kiehl’s, his spill-proof leather Limited Edition Travel Kit (kiehls.com; US$225) is stocked with moisturizer, body wash, shampoo, hair cream, and lip balm, all in airline-friendly sizes.
Art
Creative Yearnings
Following the US$3.2 million renovation of a former 1970s factory building in the working-class district of Shek Kip Mei, the new Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (852/2353-1311; hkbu.edu.hk/jccac) looks set to become Hong Kong’s premier creative hub.
Cruise
Berth Announcement
Built in Denmark and now plying the waters off northeast Australia after a major refit, the 31-meter Southern Cloud (61/407-419-933; southerncloud.com.au; charters from US$8,640 per night) is as pretty as her setting.
Spa
Pass the Salt
The sprawling Anantara Spa (962-5/356-8888; anantara.com) at Jordan’s Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea promises to take pampering to new heights along the shores of the world’s lowest lake.
Exhibitions
Snap Happy
Come November, two Cambodian events will focus on new works from a diverse roster of photographers.
Guide
Play Your Cards Right
From its historic hutong alleys to its skyscraper-studded CBD, there’s never a dull moment on the bustling streets of Beijing—provided you have Eric Abrahamsen’s Beijing by Foot (immersion guides.com; US$15) as your guide.
Hot Spot
Lan Mark
Having spent US$1.5 million on a three-day Philippe Starck consultation in creating LAN Club Beijing, Zhang Lan—owner of South Beauty, the group behind the venture—did not hesitate to commission equal excess for its newly minted sister establishment.
Bali Debut
The St. Regis brand may be better known for its classic city hotels, but its latest seaside outpost loses nothing in translation.
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