Spooky sites

Paris

A spiral staircase takes you down 19m into the darkness of a former stone quarry. Bones of the city’s former inhabitants were deposited here from 1786, but it was not until 1810 that they were arranged into the haunting wallpaper on show today.

mexico

Mexico

Just outside Mexico City centre, Sonora Market has been pedalling occult items since 1957. You’ll find magical objects and traditional medicines, including deer eyes to ward off the ‘evil eye’. Items relating to the cult of Santa Muerte are particularly popular.

alley

London

November 9 marks 125 years since Jack the Ripper slaughtered Mary Jane Kelly – his final victim. In the winding Whitechapel streets where the bodies were discovered, join a walking tour filling you in on the history and horror of the murders.

bumper-car

Chernobyl

British and Ukrainian operators offer tours to this macabre destination. Combining the engrained, horror-movie fear of abandoned theme parks with the real-life tragedy of the Chernobyl disaster, a visit to the site is both humbling and chilling.

crosses

Lithuania

This site of Christian pilgrimage lies north of the Lithuanian city Siauliai. Crosses began to accumulate in 1831 as families left tributes to rebel soldiers. Despite Communist attempts to remove them, the crosses always returned – today there are around 200,000.

Where’s it cheapest to say ‘cheers’?

Most expats move abroad to benefit from a more relaxed lifestyle; for many this involves enjoying a few of life’s little luxuries. Everything comes with a price tag though, and at a time when living costs in the UK are under the spotlight it’s worth taking a look at how prices vary between countries.

Once any mortgage or rental payments, council tax, groceries and utilities bills are all paid for, it’s often life’s little luxuries that cut into an expat’s monthly budget. It’s all very well fuel being cheap abroad, but if you have to pay a small fortune for a drink or meal out, that saving may become inconsequential.

Using our team of expat writers living around the world, The Overseas Guides Company did a bit of research. For starters, we found out that France remains one of the cheapest places to enjoy a quality glass of wine. Alexis Goldberg, an Overseas Guides Company writer based in the Languedoc, said: “One of our favourite things to do is enjoy a drink in our local bar on an evening and despite all of the years that we have called the Languedoc home, it never fails to be a pleasant surprise when we are charged just €1.20 (approximately £1.02) for a large glass of lovely wine that you would be likely to pay £5 or more for back in the UK”.

Alexis also revealed that at €3 (£2.58) a glass, beer is slightly more expensive than wine in her local town. If beer is your drink of choice, expats may be wise to look further south for the real bargains.

Ben Taylor, based in the Algarve, tells us that you will pay just €1.20 for a regular-sized beer (typically half a pint) compared with the equivalent over here, which normally hovers around the £2.50 mark – more if you are in London. Italy follows closely behind with a glass of beer setting you back just €2 (£1.70) in a village bar.

How about if you fancy a night out? Where will you have to part with a small fortune for the pleasure of watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster? Cinema ticket prices in the UK average around £6.40 but can be as much as £10 or even more in big cities. When looking at the results of the survey, it seems that the price of a flick is much of a muchness across Europe – France €5-€7 (£6), Spain €7 (£6), Cyprus €8 (£7), Turkey 20TL (£7). It is the USA where you’ll find the cheapest cinema ticket, coming in at just $9, or £5.70.

Although the ticket in the US costs less, to precede the film with a romantic dinner shoots the US back up to its position as one of the more expensive expat destinations. Writer Carole Wirszyla, who lives with her family in North Carolina, confirms that, “alcoholic drinks can push the restaurant bill up significantly but it is possible to get a meal for two in a nice restaurant for $50 (£33) but don’t forget that you will have to pay a 20 percent tip on top of that. When it comes to grabbing a quick bite or drink, you have to tip every time – this needs to be factored into your budget if you’re planning a move to the USA”.

When it comes to dining, things are considerably cheaper back across the pond in Europe where set menus offer the best value. Sally Veall, The Overseas Guides Company Spain writer on the Costa Brava, said: “A typical set menu, which is always fresh and delicious, should only cost around €12 (£10.27) and this includes food, water and wine.” A similar set menu, complete with food, water and wine, is the same price in neighbouring Portugal (€12), France €12-15 (£10-13), Italy €12 and €10-15 in Cyprus, but with wine excluded. In Turkey, things are a little pricier – a set meal costs around 50TL (£18) per head.

Richard Way is Editor of The Overseas Guides Company, 0207 898 0549.

ForeverMap2

Life would be terribly difficult if you didnít know where you were going. Fortunately, if you have a tablet or a smartphone and ForeverMap 2, this need never be a worry. Even when 3G fails, or youíve exceeded your overseas roaming limit, every key feature is available offline. Plot a route to your next meeting, leisurely dinner or touristic sight, by foot, car or bike, on one of four different map styles. Once downloaded, users will receive map updates for life, so your information is never out-of-date. The app now also features a built-in travel guide, so you can absorb some local knowledge as soon as you touch down at each new destination.
skobbler.com | £1.99

Istanbul keeps its eye on the ball

It was a close call, but sadly for Turkey the 2020 Olympics have gone to Tokyo, not Istanbul. Getting the Olympic Games typically triggers a flood of infrastructure upgrades in the future host city. Despite losing out this time, Istanbul remains one of the most exciting cities in Europe – and Asia. Economic activity is bullish compared to the West, an increasing number of foreign, including Middle Eastern, investors and firms are establishing themselves there, while there are some highly ambitious infrastructure projects in the pipeline – and this looks set to continue, Games or no Games.

Many of Istanbul’s burgeoning residential districts have come closer to full accessibility, thanks to a landmark new rail link connecting the European and Asian sides of the city. It was nearing completion in August, when it carried its first passengers as part of a test run.

Railway innovation
The Marmaray Project, described as one of Turkey’s greatest railway engineering projects, is a much-needed solution to Istanbul’s traffic congestion and expanding suburbs, caused by the city’s rapidly growing population. It is expected to open at the end of October 2013, four years after the initial completion date.

The four main components of the Marmaray Project include: an underwater railway tunnel beneath the Istanbul Strait, which will be the deepest immersed structure in the world; improvement of the Haydarpaşa-Gebze and Sirkeci-Halkali suburban railway lines; electrical and mechanical upgrades, including rebuilding 37 stations and building three new ones; and the procurement of new rolling stock.

“The Marmaray Project will be a shot in the arm for Istanbul as a whole, but a number of districts will really benefit,” said Julian Walker, Director at Turkey property specialist Spot Blue. “It will not only provide an east to west transport corridor between the European and Asian sides of the city, but there will also be a connection at Yenikapi to the north-south metro line, completing a very effective and convenient transport system. Turks will find it much easier to commute from the city’s suburban areas and developments close to stations should be very appealing to foreign buyers, including buy-to-let investors. Only recently we sold a $150,000 apartment in Istanbul’s Bahçeşehir district to someone from the Middle East.”

Property in Halkali
Halkali is a district on the western edge of the European side of Istanbul and the furthest terminal on the new suburban rail line. A high-capacity line will link it to Gebze, on the Asian side of the city. The journey time between these two terminals will drop to 104 minutes, from the current 185. Halkali also has rail connections to other cities, in and beyond Turkey.

Walker continued: “Halkali is already a busy hub, thanks to its excellent connections, and the Marmaray Project will enhance this. We have opportunities to invest in a selection of new developments there, with prices starting at around £36,000 for a studio apartment, rising to around £104,000 for a three-bedroom apartment. The other bonus about Halkali is that is it very close to the city’s Ataturk Airport.” Other areas on the European side with investment opportunities include Beylikdüzü and Bahçeşehir. Otherwise, on the city’s eastern side is the district of Erenköy, also on the new Halkali-Gebze line, so with strong investment prospects.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s first high-speed inter-city rail service – running between Ankara and Istanbul – is due for completion next year. There are plans to connect this with the new Marmaray suburban line, thus effectively completing a high-speed train line between Asia and Europe. Istanbul has also launched plans for the world’s largest airport – the city’s third.

Richard Way is Editor of The Overseas Guides Company, 0207 898 0549.

Keep your hands on your money

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 321,000 people left the UK in 2012. Although this was a drop on the year before, that’s a lot of people moving abroad, and a lot of money moving with them.

As you sit here reading this, you may well be a migrant in transit, on your way to start a new life abroad. Or, perhaps you’re already an expat, travelling for business. Either way, ensuring your financial estate and tax status are in order should be an important consideration. We see this type of scenario all the time in the currency transfer business.

One of the companies we work closely with is a tax advisory and financial planning firm that specialises in helping expats. They recently sent me details of how they helped one expat couple, Mr and Mrs White, save money and arrange their financial affairs to suit their new situation.

When the Whites relocated for employment reasons they failed to give much thought to their UK tax situation. Fortunately though, two years into their move to Singapore, they discovered through the aforementioned IFA that they were owed money by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

So how does this work? Since leaving the UK, the Whites have been renting out their Surrey home. They still keep most of their money in the UK, opening an overseas bank account solely to receive Mr White’s salary. However, they didn’t update HMRC about their move, believing that as there had been no contact with them prior to their departure, none would be needed when they left.

“The starting point of our advice was to clearly outline their respective residence positions,” a spokesperson for the IFA said. “While the Statutory Residence Test has been introduced, it remains highly complex.”

“We provided advice having understood their circumstances before and since leaving the UK. This outlined that their circumstances enabled the tax year of departure to be split, which under the new rules is not always possible, and we also confirmed to them a suitable level of UK visits that would enable them to continue being treated as non-resident, while they visited the UK to catch up with family and friends.”

As both Mr and Mrs White had been in employment prior to their departure, their tax advisor advised them that HMRC should be notified of their move. The advisor continued: “The purpose of this was to secure a refund of tax for both of them, as they left the UK part way through the tax year. We attended to the paperwork with the refunds being paid shortly after.”

The tax advisor then reviewed the situation of the Whites’ Surrey property, which they rented out. “As no contact had been made with the Revenue, neither had registered under the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme,” said the advisor. “As a result, the letting agent had been deducting tax from the rent, so we prepared the paperwork to ensure that no further tax be taken, which meant that Mr and Mrs White’s cash flow improved immediately.”

The tax advisor also prepared tax returns for the previous year for the Whites, reporting all allowable expenditure from the property in order to refund some of the tax retained. They also ensured that future tax returns were filed on time. “In the course of preparing the return it was noted that it would be preferable for a good deal of the money they held in the UK account to be moved offshore to enable more of the available personal allowances to be offset against the net rental.”

For the Whites, it has certainly been worth their while taking professional advice about their financial status as expats. They could also save money by using a currency exchange specialist to send money to and from Singapore, rather than asking their banks to make a transfer. Currency firms consistently offer better exchange rates than high street banks.

When you think 320,000 people are moving abroad each year, chances are a few of these could be missing out on tax rebates – contributing unnecessarily to the government’s coffers – while even more may be gifting money to banks by asking them to send money abroad, and in the process accepting poor exchange rates and paying unnecessary commission. Do you want to be one of them?

Bayan Soundbook

Listening to music when you’re travelling is often more painful than pleasurable, with tinny laptop or phone speakers ruining the experience. Yet a carefully curated playlist can be the best way to focus the mind on work, or relax after a day full of meetings. Bayan Audio’s portable Soundbook presents a neat solution. It’s only 16cm long, has an attached flip cover for protection in transit, and allows you to stream music via Bluetooth, eliminating wires. One charge and you’ll be good for 10 hours of music – or radio, thanks to the integrated, invisible aerial. And it has a variety of extra benefits for the business traveller: a built-in microphone turns it into a tool for hands-free conference calls; the crisp audio and TDMA noise rejection technology mean you won’t miss a single word.
bayanaudio.com | £149.99

Flight and fight

The average nine-to-fiver probably isn’t much help in a scrap. Mountains of desk work tend to doom even the most daring adventurers to a depressingly sedentary life, and most white collar heroes don’t know the first thing about self-defence. Lacking the time for an after-work gym class or even a cheesy instructional DVD, aspirations of becoming a revered warrior seem ludicrous.

Don’t let the dream die yet. By using a long holiday or extended business trip as an excuse, it’s easier than ever to immerse oneself in the mythology and methodology behind the deadliest martial arts. Age-old masters of every fighting style imaginable run academies across the globe, and are willing to take on the rawest recruits for a matter of hours or months.

With a little help from eager mentors, the most inactive desk jockey can soon be practicing deep meditation on the misty mountaintops of Wudang, or learning to brawl at a boxing gym in the winding alleyways of Old Havana. They just need to know where to look.

Display patience and a willingness to learn and you’ll be welcomed with open arms. To become a martial artist is to commit oneself to a mantra of forward-thinking. The art of kung fu cultivates patience and critical thinking. Muay thai develops respect for opponents, while kushti drills self-discipline. Yet to become fully versed in each fighting style, it’s worth going back to where it all began. Fortunately for culture-hungry explorers, the world’s deadliest martial arts just so happen to trace their origins back to the globe’s most sought-after travel destinations.

Eastern tradition
Every journey in martial arts should begin by heading east – and no eastern combat style is more revered than the ancient art of kung fu. Several schools have cropped up in China’s Henan region, but the only authentic way to learn kung fu is by the instruction of a man who’s devoted his soul to the region’s religious teachings. Drawing from the words of Buddha and Tao, kung fu is about more than breaking cinderblocks with fists and foreheads; it’s about awareness, concentration and unworldly patience.

Fighters abstain from drugs, alcohol, meat and often women

One of the best genuine schools is the Qufu Shaolin Martial Arts School in Henan, which was opened in 2008 by disciples from the Songshan Shaolin Temple. There, westerners are not only taught the deadly martial art, but are also instructed by monks on the finer points of Buddhism, calligraphy, basic Mandarin and acupuncture.

Further south, different forms are taught by the Taoist acolytes at Wudang Mountain – rural China’s top hidden treasure. For millennia, the mountain has been revered as the most holy spot in China. The UNESCO heritage site features a number of charming distractions – such as Ming-era palaces and ancient shrines. Best yet, Wudang is hidden from the standard tourist route, allowing visitors to revel at its rambling palaces in isolation.

Thai parry
A totally different strain of martial arts can be learned in the tiny archipelagos that dot south-east Asia. In Thailand, a favourite for many Europeans, beachside camps provide eager travellers with the perfect martial arts holiday. Just a short ferry ride from tourist-mobbed Koh Samui, Koh Phangan offers aspiring fighters quaint but comfortable bamboo huts in which to relax after training. Unlike some of its rowdier neighbours, parts of the island retain a rural feel.

Luxury accommodation is available on the island, but it’s worth exploring traditional options – it adds substantially to the authenticity of education in muay thai. At the Muay Thai Chinnarach camp, one of the art’s world champions teaches private lessons at a manageable pace. Unlike kung fu, the breakneck speed of muay thai is driven by aggression and tenacity; professional fights tend to end in bloodshed. Above all, it teaches practitioners to be persistent and to never knowingly underestimate an aggressor.

Sticky business
Across the archipelago, a quieter (but no less breathtaking) tourist spot is home to the equally enthralling eskrima. This blade or stick-based form of combat is unique to the Philippines, and goes by many names. All forms encourage resourcefulness and the ability to predict an opponent’s movements. There are dozens of professional schools in Manila, but the most relaxed learning environment is outside the country’s bustling cities.

On the island of Cebu, guests spend days training in the jungle, frittering evenings away relaxing on the beach. More aggressive forms of eskrima, such as arnis or kali, help aspiring fighters to gain an edge using eastern weaponry. Intensive but encompassing education can be developed at the likes of the Bonifacio Global City School in Taguig. Such establishments don’t have much of a holiday feel, and aren’t for the faint of heart. Yet between training sessions there are dozens of abandoned islands scattered across the bay that can make for a relaxing day trip.

Ultimate detox
Further north, India has spent centuries cultivating lesser-known forms of martial arts. In Delhi, kushti has evolved into perhaps the most macho form of wrestling imaginable. What makes it special is that it’s never about winning. Sure, there’s fleeting glory in victory, however, kushti primarily serves as a way to become one with the earth. It’s an existential exercise in controlled violence, and the only way to reach this degree of clarity is by maintaining a Spartan-like training regimen.

Kushti can teach a new fighter plenty about themselves – and even more about self-discipline and personal control. Fighters abstain from drugs, alcohol, meat and often women. That may seem a bit heavy, but many akharas (kushti training grounds) are happy to take on beginners for short courses in the finer, spiritual side of the sport. For a slower-paced introduction, try Guru Samandar Akhara in Haryana. It maintains an open-door policy to outsiders, and is within proximity of some of India’s best-kept secrets, including the monolithic Jal Mahal and the ancient temple of Modawala Mandir.

Western innovation
Film and television often depict the east as the world’s sole source of martial arts. That’s simply not the case. In Europe, the French art of savate (or boxe française) has evolved into the continent’s most arduous form of kickboxing. Distinctly more graceful than muay thai, savate is a national treasure. Its secrets are closely guarded, but plenty of clubs in Paris are willing to take on beginners. Led by the country’s top fighters, the Kajyn Club is the best place to learn the basics. Better yet, the club’s central location makes for a perfect base of operations from which to explore the city.

One could spend ten lifetimes in Paris and still be unable to fully ingest all of its splendours; visitors can’t afford to waste any time. Just up the road from the Krajyn Club, aspiring fighters can attempt to channel the energy of the sporting greats who rest in Père Lachaise, before wandering up the Seine towards Notre Dame. Paris is riddled with mesmerising sights, sounds and distractions. Savate is perhaps the most captivating of them all.

Latin American lessons
Across the Atlantic, one can learn conventional boxing in the winding alleyways of Old Havana. Castro’s Cuba has evolved into one of the Caribbean’s premier holiday spots, but for those travelling to the Latin paradise in the hope of finding a more authentic cultural experience, take heed of this old Cuban proverb: “the best way to really get to know a place is to fight its locals”. Boxing is Cuba’s national sport, and parents raise their children on the exploits of all-time greats like Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier. Consequently, Havana is home to some of the best training grounds in Latin America.

In dusty gyms like Gimnasio de Boxeo Rafael Trejo, more Olympic champions have been trained than anywhere else on earth. For as little as £13 for half a day’s training, Cuba’s answer to Mickey Goldmill will demonstrate the basic laws of the ring. After sweating it out in the gym, fighters can wander up the Malecón (the old town’s main thoroughfare) to one of Havana’s popular beaches. The city bursts with vibrant colours, food, music and dance. It’s easy to get drowned out by the madcap assemblage of characters who congregate in the city’s opulent squares, but remember: boxers carry a lot of social clout in Havana, and tend not to pay for drinks in many tavernas.

Brazilian resilience
Finally, it would be a travesty for any aspiring fighter to visit Copacabana without making time for a session in the gym of Ricardo De la Riva. De la Riva is one of the most prolific Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters in history, and also one of Brazil’s leading teachers. His club is highly regarded in Rio, and he runs an open-door policy – anyone is welcome to drop by unannounced.

Unlike some of its Asian cousins, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a grappling art that’s fought primarily on the ground. Consequently, beginners leave De la Riva’s gym having learned the basics of a vital life skill: how to keep on fighting even after you’ve been knocked down. What’s more, trainees can utilise De la Riva’s central location to fully immerse themselves in Brazilian culture. For a protein boost after a demanding day of jiu-jitsu, try the meat markets at Cadeg. If you just want to relax, grab a caipirinha and mingle with the locals on the beaches of Copacabana.

None of these martial arts are for the faint of heart. Even if being taught by a pacifist Buddhist monk, taking up an extreme martial art will push the body to its limits. Yet nothing is more rewarding. There are few more authentic ways to acquaint oneself with a foreign culture than to embrace its martial arts. Meanwhile, practitioners learn to be stronger individuals. Even after returning to that constricting desk, the toils of daily life seem slightly less monotonous. After all, nobody messes with a CEO who knows kung fu.

Natural talent

There was a collective sigh of relief when naturalist Sir David Attenborough, now 87, recovered from the surgery that had forced him to call off his Australian tour. Over the years, he has captivated imaginations – his voice becoming synonymous with adventure. He has been labelled a national treasure in the UK and, while he has never been fond of the accolade, it is hard to find a better phrase to describe a man whose illustrious career has spanned generations.

Attenborough is the godfather of natural history television, introducing the world to his furry, feathered and sometimes ferocious friends. Most television personalities may have sought retirement after receiving a knighthood and having several different species named after them, but not Attenborough. As he once said: “I wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.”

Lifelong passion
Born in London in 1926, he acquired a fascination for fossils as a boy. It acted as the catalyst for his curiosity about nature. His inquisitive disposition would lead him to Cambridge University, where he studied natural science, specialising in zoology and geology. Although he excelled in academia, he preferred to be out in the field, bringing facts to life. This led him to apply for a training course at the BBC, where he joined the factual department and made his first natural history series, The Pattern of Animals, in 1953.

The passion and flair he showed in front of the camera made him the obvious choice to fill the shoes of Jack Lester, the original host of Zoo Quest (1954-63), after he fell ill while filming. Attenborough and his team went in search of exotic animals in parts of the world seldom seen. The series propelled his career forward and helped establish him as the face of natural history television. However, in an interview last year with Robin McKie of The Observer he expressed regret for the part he played in the series. “50 years ago, I used to go along, chase a giant anteater and pull it by the tail so we could film it. I am sorry about that sort of thing. But those were different days.”

Behind the lens
Attenborough’s evolution in thinking transferred to his filmmaking and he played a huge part in shaping mankind’s relationship with its fellow creatures. However, in his opinion the shift in man’s relationship with nature was achieved not by his dulcet tones on screen, but through scientific revolutionaries: people like Francis Crick and Jim Watson through their discovery of the structure of DNA, and Richard Dawkins by picking up Darwin’s evolutionary mantle. Nevertheless, he must have made a big impression on the boy who would go on to popularise the gene-centred view of evolution; Dawkins was just 16 years old when he first met Attenborough. The pair spent the day trampling through ponds and ditches, hunting for tadpoles, and sharing their passion for the natural world.

During his career, Attenborough has filmed in every continent and captured the most enthralling encounters with nature. He visited Dian Fossey’s sanctuary in Rwanda, where he was groomed by gorillas in a spectacular scene for Life on Earth (1979); experienced zero gravity in The Living Planet (1984); delivered his lines as vast swarms of crabs clambered over him on Christmas Island in The Trials of Life (1990); and was spat at by a cobra in Life in Cold Blood (2008).

Family sanctuary
With his vast number of documentary credits and the days spent flitting around the globe to film them, Attenborough seems to live a nomadic existence, but the great traveller does have a place to call home. Back in Richmond, his house has contained animals retrieved during his early adventures. Parrots, monkeys, pythons and bush babies are just some of the animals that lived there, cared for by his wife Jane, and studied in wonder by their two children, Robert and Susan.

It was Jane who made Attenborough’s career possible, looking after the children and always there to greet him when he returned from distant lands. In 1997, while filming in New Zealand, he received a phone call explaining Jane had suffered a brain haemorrhage. He returned to Britain and was by her side when she died. He rarely talks about her, but the home is full of the love the two shared. He said: “There isn’t a square inch of the house that isn’t bound up with Jane in one way or another.” In his memoir, Life on Air, he admitted he felt lost without her. Work steered him through grief and he has immersed himself in new projects ever since.

Always innovating
Throughout his life he has remained at the forefront of broadcast technology and always looked for new ways to capture the attention of his audience. Kingdom of Plants (2012) was filmed at the Royal Botanical Gardens using the latest in 3D technology. And, although he concedes the technology is not perfect, he says: “when you see time-lapse photography of plants flowering in 3D, the results are absolutely mesmeric.” It is this enthusiasm that has captured the hearts and minds not just of his billions of fans, but of his colleagues too.

Anthony Geffen, CEO and Executive Producer of Atlantic Productions, has collaborated with Attenborough on a number of projects. He admits that after a long day of shooting he expected the octogenarian to retire to his room for some well-earned shuteye. Far from it. Geffen says: “when we get back he’s fired up and wants to go out and talk and drink red wine.” It is this lovable charm that has made him a cult figure.

It is easy to forget his advanced age; he still wears the same joyful smile and exudes the same gusto he always has. During the filming of Galapagos he was reunited with Lonesome George, the last known Pinta giant tortoise. “It was almost the last shot we got,” says Attenborough. “I crawled up alongside him and he looked at me. He was very old and creaky, just like me. I said a few words to him, he didn’t reply. He was, in a scientific sense, already dead because a lonely male without a female has no future.”

The comparison between the two giants is remarkable: both are in many ways the last of their kind – something we are unlikely to ever see again. There have been many articles written about who will succeed such an iconic figure, but he doesn’t need replacing, not yet. He is a grandfather figure to so many, and like so many grandfathers he has plenty of years left to astound and captivate the attention of yet another generation of children.

Wild nights

The Mirrorcube | Harads, Sweden

Sweden has its own modern means of being absorbed into the wilderness. In the far north of the country, near the small village of Harads, suspended among the trees, is The Mirrorcube. This alien object is striking, but does not feel out of place among the trees. The box, clad in mirrored glass, reflects its surroundings, creating a camouflaged encampment. Concealed perhaps a little too well, the mega-modern treehouse has a transparent ultraviolet layer laminated onto its outer shell so birds can spot it and avoid a collision. Space inside is abundant for the two people it holds. The cube contains a double bed, small bathroom, living room and a roof terrace. A 12-metre long rope bridge grants access to this surreal abode. Britta’s Pensionat – where guests check in – serves exquisite food throughout the day. There is even a restaurant, bar, sauna and relaxation area on the site. The Mirrorcube is one of several uniquely designed spaces to try at the Treehotel.

The Bird’s Nest and UFO are two other peculiar yet beautiful rooms available. Price per night: 4400 SEK ($665). More information here.

Juvet, Valldal | Norway

A little closer to the ground, the Juvet landscape hotel surrounds you in Norwegian wilderness. Juvet is not just a striking slice of modern architecture, it’s an experience – and one that owner and designer Knut Bry is more than happy to explain. Nature flows in through the enormous panoramic windows of the contemporary cabin; minimalist rooms offer a quiet sanctuary from which to take in the landscape. The clear Valldøla River winds its way around the site, which sits among moss-covered rocks and tall evergreens. Juvet fully immerses its occupants in nature. Few places can offer such stunning views of waterfalls, mountains and vast valleys all from the comfort of a hotel bedroom. Food is provided in the main building – a converted farmhouse – and is a communal affair. Expect a superb selection of local meats and fresh fish. Facilities at Juvet include a spa, with sauna, steam room and treatment tables, to help unwind after days spent trekking the surrounding terrain. Knut will be on hand to give directions to the best local trails. Geiranger and Trollstigen are close by if the urge to venture a little further afield takes hold. It is a simple retreat; there are no distractions, just beautiful Norwegian scenery. Juvet offers a real brush with nature.

Price for a double room with breakfast: 1,450 NOK ($235) per person, first night and following nights 1,250 NOK ($202) per person. More information here.

Tree Top Hut | Brumunddal, Norway

Twenty-five feet above the forest floor, suspended high in the tree line, sits the amazing Tree Top Huts. Three unique cabins (Larch, Spruce and Pine) located in the picturesque woodlands of Ringsaker, north of the nation’s capital. Each comfortably houses six to eight people – perfect for a family wanting to spend the holidays cuddled around a log fire, or couples looking for a romantic hideaway from the rest of the world. Deep in the Norwegian wilderness the huts allow the mind to escape from the urban sprawl. Larch cabin, the biggest of the three, boasts a huge porch spanning out above the forest floor and overlooking a tranquil lake teaming with trout. Spruce cabin provides stunning views of its own, the wetlands beneath it housing an abundance of wildlife. All the cabins are surrounded by a vast variety of flora and fauna. The local woodpecker checks in with guests several times a day and elk can be seen grazing in the distance. A host of nature’s bounty can be viewed from the cabins, but if you feel the call of the wild you can explore the backwoods via the great network of skiing tracks and cycling roads located only a short distance from the retreat. Each cabin contains a separate bedroom with a double bed, plus sleeping racks with two further double beds in the main living quarters. All three huts are fully insulated, ensuring no warmth escapes, and are equipped with a gas oven, fridge, sink and bathroom – all the essential comforts of home. Directly under the cabin is a large shed with an ample supply of firewood to keep the flames burning throughout the night.

Price per night: 990 NOK ($160). More information here.

The Vulkana | Tromsø, Norway

Sailing the Norwegian fjords in a 1950s vintage fishing vessel, redesigned to accommodate a Turkish hamam, sauna and wood-fire hot tub, sounds like a dream. But aboard the Vulkana it seems that dreams have come true. Designed by Finnish architect Sami Rintala, the Vulkana is a stripped-down wooden boat, once used to catch herring and cod from the Arctic Ocean. However, instead of the hull smelling of a fishy harvest, it is now ready to accommodate up to 12 passengers for a stylish tour of the Arctic Circle. When the boat is not at sea, it is moored in the city of Tromsø, known as the ‘capital of the Arctic’ – the perfect home for this vessel. The Vulkana offers short trips to the snow-covered Lyngen Alps or the fecund fishing banks off Senja Island. In the aft of the vessel, below deck, lie three cabins with double beds. In the bow there is a traditional cabin with four more beds and at the stern, seven metres above the ocean’s surface, a diving tower dares guests to take a plunge. Just below the diving board sits the saltwater hot tub, the perfect spot from which to admire the midnight sun as it fills the sky. The wood-fire sauna provides warmth, while offering panoramic views of the scenery. Then to cool off, a Turkish bath filled with either sea or fresh water. Meals are prepared in the ship’s kitchen, complete with a renowned sushi chef on hand to cook the catch of the day. The boat’s library permits some late-night reading as the northern lights pass overhead.

Price ranges from 490-2,790 NOK ($80-$455) per person. More information here.

Sala Silvermine | Västmanland, Sweden (The world’s deepest hotel)

Travelling a little deeper, this time underground rather than under the water, is the Sala Silvermine suite – the world’s deepest hotel. The suite is located in the depths of the earth, 155 metres underground. Upon arrival, a guided tour of the mine familiarises guests with the new environment. Warm winter clothes are essential, as the temperature remains a frigid two degrees Celsius, all year round. Luckily, the suite is warmed to 18 degrees and the bed is equipped with extra-thick covers and stocked with additional blankets to ensure a good night’s sleep. After the introductory tour, the guide presents a hamper containing an assortment of refreshments (cheese, biscuits, fruits, sparkling wine and chocolate). Armed with biscuits and bubbly, the experience becomes increasingly relaxing. The surface is contactable via an intercom radio, just in case tranquillity turns to turmoil. A toilet is on hand 50 metres from the mine suite and access to showers is available in a hostel above. In the morning the guide will return, bringing breakfast, after which the journey ends.

Price: 3,990 SEK ($603) for two people (for bookings made before April 30) and 4,290 SEK ($648) for two people (for bookings made after May 1). More information here.

Autumn’s leisure and culture highlights

Affordable Art Fair
Oct 3 – 6
New York

Will Ramsey established the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea, London 14 years ago. Now the event is making art accessible across Europe, the US and Asia. Each event includes installations and special projects, drawing classes, talks about the industry and how best to start a personal art collection, and activities for kids. Over half of the artworks are under $5,000, but each one has been carefully selected for discerning buyers.

affordableartfair.com

Austin City Limits
Oct 4 – 6 & 11 – 13
Austin

This family-friendly music festival takes place in one of Austin’s largest public parks. Over 130 acts from around the world and across the genres – including big names like Depeche Mode, The Cure, Atoms for Peace and Kendrick Lamar – set City Limits on a par with many larger festivals. And it’s not just about the music; infamous local chicken dishes sweeten the deal.

aclfestival.com

Baltic House Festival
Oct 9 -20
St Petersburg

Originally built in 1936 as the Memorial Lenin Komsomol Theatre, the Baltic House Festival Theatre adopted its current name at the festival’s inception in 1991. Now in its 22nd year, the festival welcomes acts from all over Russia and the Baltic states, interpreting the year’s chosen theme. As well as a proliferation of performances, the festival involves conferences, thematic seminars and workshops.

baltic-house.ru

Melbourne Cup
Nov 5
Melbourne

The Emirates Melbourne Cup Day is the highlight of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with a whopping $6.2m prize money at stake. The atmosphere is always exuberant and the racegoers’ outfits are always as spectacular as the contest itself. The two-mile turf race has been going since 1861 and is best enjoyed as part of one of the Flemington racecourse luxury hospitality packages.

melbournecup.com

Autumn business travel events

Tokyo Designers Week
Oct 26 – Nov 4
Tokyo

This creative festival consistently showcases the best of the Japanese capital’s architecture, interior, graphic and product design. Last year over 100,000 people visited the Meiji-Jingu Memorial Picture gallery, where the main event is staged, and 2013 marks the first time that the venue has been constructed by a female designer. Booths, workshops and creative installations fill the space, presenting intriguing goods to industry buyers and public shoppers alike.

www.tdwa.com

Best of Britannia
October 3-5
London

A celebration of British manufacturing, Best of Britannia promises exhibitors ranging from heritage brands to exciting start-ups, encompassing clothing, electronics, furniture, cars, food, music and film. The event’s trade day attracts buyers from stores such as Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and Fenwicks, while the public day brings in affluent shoppers. Talks cover the nature of ‘Britishness’ and entertainment is provided by some of the country’s emerging musicians.

www.bestofbritannia.com

PATA Travel Mart
September 15-17
Chengdu

The Pacific Asia Travel Association’s annual industry show visits a different country each year. Chengdu will be the first host city in midwest China, and promises an impressive and lucrative event. There will be numerous networking opportunities, including extravagant welcome dinners, coffee receptions and PATA-organised buyer/seller meetings. Youth forums, workshops and explorative tours of the region fill the rest of your time productively.

www.pata.org

Monaco Clubbing Show
August 21-25
Monaco

This is the fourth edition of the nightlife trade fair. This year 150 top brands are exhibiting, while owners, managers and suppliers peruse the stalls. Conferences cover drink trends, franchising and nightclub design. Lucrative tailored meetings can be arranged between decision-makers and exhibitors. The weekend also includes the MICS DJ festival; past acts have included Pharrell Williams, Bob Sinclair and Fatman Scoop. A stage provides attendees with constant entertainment.

www.mics.mc

Palace Hotel Tokyo

The Palace Hotel Tokyo reopened last year following a meticulous rebuild. The original Palace Hotel, established in 1961, was built as a symbol of Japan’s modernisation and a raft of international dignitaries attended its celebratory inauguration reception. The hotel maintains a strong sense of history, overlooking the Imperial Palace Gardens and its connected moat, and offering guests exquisite views of Tokyo city centre.

Inside, you’ll find a contemporary take on the traditional Japanese interior. Nature-inspired colours and subtle patterns adorn minimally occupied rooms. Balconies and terraces accompany most of the rooms and are a welcome spot from which to take in the Imperial Gardens. Glass-walled bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes and a sophisticated minibar complete the comfort of each room. Suites are highly recommended for the corporate traveller, but with a business centre located on the 19th floor there is always enough space and the right equipment to complete any important work. The hotel will soon be introducing bespoke business packages.

The hotel’s dining provisions are outstanding. It has ten venues, including seven restaurants, and quality is certainly not compromised by the increased choice – expect collaborations between Michelin-starred chefs and Japan’s best new culinary talent. The signature Japanese restaurant, Wadakura, focuses on teppanyaki, tempura and sushi. Crown, the hotel’s longest-running restaurant, serves fine French cuisine.

Palace Hotel Tokyo even has a futuristic spa, the first of its kind in the city. Peaceful lounges, a marble sauna, reclining baths and treatments drawing on traditional Japanese seitai trigger point work, ensure every guest leaves totally relaxed.