Global Citizen 64

BUSINESS

THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET

CULTURE

MEET TURKISH ARTIST KEMAL YAZICI DESTINATION

JAPAN’S WINTERSCAPES

SRI LANKA: THE JEWEL OF ASIA

LIONEL MESSI MAKING A LEGEND

JANUARY/

FEBRUARY 2023

HOROLOGY

ROLEX DEFYING THE LIMITS

BLANCPAIN YEAR OF THE RABBIT

AUTOMOTIVE

MCLAREN

ARTURA HIGH PERFORMANCE

HYBRID

CONSERVATION

HOPE REEF

EXPERIENCE THE EXTRAORDINARY

Welcome to Trump International Golf Club, Dubai

Located in the heart of DAMAC Hills, Trump International Golf Club, Dubai brings links-style golf inspired by the game’s homeland of Scotland. Magnificent golf blended with culinary excellence and well-equipped leisure facilities creates an elegant lifestyle oasis in the United Arab Emirates for members and guests, alike.

Our stunning property boasts an exquisite 18-hole championship links-style golf course and a PAR 3 floodlit 9-hole course designed by world-renowned and 2016 Olympic golf course architect, Gil Hanse. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities, Trump International Dubai is home to the Trump Dubai Golf Performance Academy with air-conditioned indoor swing studios that offer virtual golf and SAM Puttlab technologies, a one-of-a-kind double sided LED floodlit TrackMan driving range, and immaculate short game area with practice facilities.

Complementing the extraordinary golf course and world-class golf facilities, the crescent-shaped 30,000 square foot clubhouse with its arching curves and soaring light-filled spaces provides the finest amenities, such as a chic Italian restaurant, luxurious sports bar and cigar lounge, a beautiful infinity swimming pool, a well-equipped fitness center and an expansive golf pro shop offering exclusive apparel brands in golfing and lifestyle accessories.

Visit Trump International Golf Club, Dubai to experience championship golf and a luxurious golfing lifestyle.

connected life

It’s when the spaces we create connect with people, that bonds are made, challenges are solved, and healthier, happier lives take shape. From the farmer’s market, to the bike track, to the hospital, to the cinema.

By nurturing and investing in these spaces – as well as our homes – we at Arada are creating a dynamic that puts people and their lives at the centre of everything we do. A dynamic where people and their needs inform every decision. Every action. Every innovation.

We call this Connected Life. It is our purpose – and we achieve it together.

arada.com

You’ve got to try it!

CONTENTS

COVER

20 LIONEL MESSI’S MOMENT

The World Cup 2022 final has offered a new peak in the football star’s legendary career.

INTERVIEWS

26 THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET

WEB3’S Mirko Maccarrone breaks down the future of Internet.

30 ART IN HIS HEART

Turkish artist Kemal Yazici uses art to showcase his life experiences and inspire young artists.

HOROLOGY

32 DEFYING THE LIMITS

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge is an extension of the experimental watch.

34 YEAR OF THE RABBIT

The water rabbit stars in the 2023 series of Blancpain’s Traditional Chinese Calendar watch.

36 ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TIMEPIECE

The Jaquet Droz Rolling Stones Automaton is a micro-mechanical rock-and-roll tribute.

38 A REFINED SPORTS WATCH

Another Alpine Eagle joins the eyrie, bringing with it two major firsts for the collection.

42 BREITLING ETIHAD EDITION

The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Etihad Airways marks the 70th anniversary of the Navitimer chronograph.

AUTOMOTIVE

44 MEET THE ASTON MARTIN DBX707

Aston Martin unveils its super SUV for the first time in the UAE.

46 TACTICAL TECH

The 2024 GMC HUMMER EV SUV’s enhanced off-road proportions meet new features.

48 HIGH-PERFORMANCE HYBRID

McLaren Artura marks a revolutionary leap in innovation for hybrid supercars.

50 THE ULTIMATE COLLECTIBLE

Mercedes-Maybach releases the limitededition series Haute Voiture.

52 FULFILLING A PROPHECY

Rolls-Royce debuts Spectre, the marque’s first fully electric motor car.

ALPINE EAGLE

With its pure and sophisticated lines, Alpine Eagle offers a contemporary reinterpretation of one of our iconic creations. Its 41 mm case houses an automatic, chronometer-certified movement, the Chopard 01.01-C. Forged in Lucent Steel A223, an exclusive ultra-resistant metal resulting from four years of research and development, this exceptional timepiece, proudly developed and handcrafted by our artisans, showcases the full range of watchmaking skills cultivated within our Manufacture.

CONSERVATION

54 HOPE REEF

SHEBA’s coral restoration program aims to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reefs.

REAL STATE

56 HOT PROPERTY

Sobha Realty launches two new spectacular residential projects in the heart of Dubai.

DESTINATION

58 THE NATURAL WONDERS OF COSTA RICA

Discover a land of incredible natural splendor, ewhite sandy beaches, and breathtaking scenery.

STYLE

62 FASHION PICKS

Top fashion picks for attention-seeking style afficionados and low-key sartorialists alike.

64 REMEMBER THE WHY

Adidas Basketball is broadening their reach into luxury sportswear apparel.

66 REWRITE THE CODE

Armani jumps into the metaverse with a Fortnite game inspired by Armani Code Parfum.

68 BURBERRY X MINECRAFT

Burberry and Minecraft team up to bring the Burberry brand story to life.

70 FIT FOR THE SLOPES

BOSS and Perfect Moment team up for an exclusive skiwear capsule collection.

TECHNOLOGY

72 SMART FITNESS

The AIMOOV smart camera turns any TV into your personal fitness trainer.

74 GADGETS & GIZMOS

Technology and innovation have shown there are no boundaries to the human mind.

75 SMART & NIMBLE

Huawei’s latest member of its flagship Mate series — the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro.

78 PACK & RIDE (QUADRA RIDING SUITCASE)

Why carry your suitcase when your suitcase can carry you with your Quadra Riding Suitcase.

80 RINGCONN

The smart ring is an innovative wearable that keeps tabs on your health.

DESTINATIONS

82 DISCOVER JAPAN

Explore the best of Japan’s midwinter scenery.

86 SRI LANKA: THE JEWEL OF ASIA

Sri Lanka offers the perfect mix of relaxation, natural beauty, and cultural experiences.

EDITOR’S LETTER

ome say the new year is a fresh start — a chance to look back and reflect on our past and a time to plan for our future.

In this issue, we take a dive into a variety of topics—from sports to conservation—to share new perspectives on how people and organisations are changing the world with grit and determination. We start with Lionel Messi, who came from humble beginnings and has achieved global juggernaut status (or his favourite moniker—Football’s GOAT) in the world of sports. Then, we move into what the world has in store with the future of the Internet with an exclusive interview with Mirko Maccarrone, an award-winning marketer, public speaker and guest lecturer, specialising in the new frontiers of WEB3 Marketing. Did you know that Sheba— the leading cat food brand—has begun work on the world’s largest coral restoration program? Check out how this incredible initiative aims to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reefs around the world by 2029.

Are you more interested in the technology side? We’ve discovered that innovation shows no boundaries to the human mind—something that is being revealed daily with the development of new tech-innovative products.

Speaking of planning for the future, our destination features highlight three bucketlist-worthy trips you’ll want to plan for. We’re heading to Japan, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka, and we’re sharing the experts’ top tips on what to look for while you’re there!

For us here at Global Citizen, we like to take the beginning of the year to plan and look at what we have coming up in the year ahead. Planning a magazine is not exactly a walk in the park and can take months to plan, execute and perfect all before it ever hits the stands, but with every magazine comes the untold stories of visionaries, movers and shakers, philanthropy, and more importantly, our global landscape. We hope every issue serves in a way to inspire your interests, and ultimately, to become a global citizen yourself.

Cheers

GLOBAL CITIZEN

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Andrea Antal

COPY EDITOR

Sameer Denzi

CREATIVE Fierce International Art Team

CONTRIBUTORS

Teresa Esmezyan

www.global-citizen.com

www.issuu.com/global-citizen www.facebook.com/GlobalCitizenMag www.instagram.com/GlobalCitizenMagazine

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FIERCE INTERNATIONAL FZ LLC

PUBLISHER

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Copyright 2020 Reach Media. All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of Fierce International. Where opinion is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the editorial views of the publisher or Global Citizen All information in Global Citizen is checked and verified to the best of the publisher’s ability, however the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

Andrea Antal

to 2023, here’s to making it a

great one!

Lionel Messi

Photographer: Gareth Cattermole

MASTER OF MATERIALS

CAPTAIN COOK HIGH-TECH CERAMIC HRITHIK ROSHAN SPECIAL EDITION

LIONEL MESSI’S MOMENT

The World Cup 2022 final has offered a new peak in the football star’s legendary career.

It’s fair to say that 2022 will be a year forever associated with Lionel Messi’s name, thanks to his World Cup glory in Qatar. After 28 days, 64 games and 172 goals at Qatar 2022, Messi walked up on the podium at Lusail Stadium to finally get his hands on the World Cup trophy that had eluded him throughout his career. The thirty-five-year-old provided seven goals and three assists, and broke multiple records, as Argentina conquered the sport for the first time in 36 years. It was, for many, the perfect ending to a World Cup that has been viewed by over a billion people around the globe.

Messi, arguably the best soccer player in the world, won thirty-five major titles for Barcelona, the club for which he played most of his professional career, before joining Paris Saint-Germain last year, and won the Ballon d’Or, the international award given to the best soccer player of the year, more times than any other player. But he had never won a World Cup for Argentina; so at the age of thirty-five, and with his fifth, and likely his last, chance to do so, it almost seemed like a destined target. In the past, many Argentines accused Messi of not trying hard enough because he didn’t care enough about his country of birth. An NPR/Futuro Media podcast, “The Last Cup,” from the Argentine American journalist Jasmine Garsd, counterargued that winning for Argentina had been Messi’s dream since he left for Europe, in 2001; that Messi, like so many migrants, want to return home as the prodigal son.

The child of working-class parents from Rosario, the third largest city in Argentina, Messi became a soccer sensation at a very early age. Salvador Ricardo Aparicio, the neighborhoodclub coach, remembered the now-mythic moment, during a game on a dirt field in Rosario, when a ball landed at the feet of a four-year-old Messi. Tiny and shy, he didn’t know what to do with it, so he let it pass. When a second ball came his way, he looked at it and suddenly started running, pushing it forward at full speed, passing every opponent.

Messi was thirteen when a scout from Barça—F.C. Barcelona—offered to bring him to Spain. It was decided that Messi’s father would go with him, while his mother and his three siblings stayed in Rosario.

He was a rising star in Spain but still unknown in his home country when, three years later, the coach of the Argentina under-seventeen national squad, Hugo Tocalli, invited him to play in a friendly match against Paraguay. Messi startled home fans by scoring a spectacular goal. It was an exhilarating moment: Argentina had found the next Diego Maradona, whom many consider to be the best soccer player ever.

But the shrewd, charismatic, larger-than-life Maradona, who died in 2020,carried entire teams on his shoulders, and secured victory after victory, both abroad (he brought Napoli from obscurity to the top of the European clubs in the nineteen-eighties) and at home. Maradona won the World Cup for Argentina in 1986, with two now legendary goals: the controversial Hand of God goal and the Goal of the Century. Messi delivered victories for Barcelona.

He played for Argentina in the Copa América in 2007,2011,2015,2016,2019, and 2021, and in the World Cup in 2006,2010,2014,2018 ,2018, and 2020 and the team lost all but one of those contests.

It wasn’t just the losses that Argentines lamented; it was Messi’s perceived attitude. “He played like he played in Spain. When he lost the ball, he acted like it wasn’t a big deal,” Gerardo Salorio, who was Messi’s trainer in Argentina’s under-twenty squad, told Garsd. “I told him, ‘Here, if you don’t run, they are gonna kill you. Here, we play with a knife under a poncho. If you don’t run and score, people here will spit on you.’ ” Comments were vicious: Messi had no devotion, no courage, no feelings, no patriotism.

The rest of the world saw him as a supernatural athlete, but local commentators and fans dismissed him as “no longer Argentine” and “a failure.” The crowds in the stands chanted “Diego, Diego” to tell him who he was not. “Maradona is our immortal hero, who not only gave Argentina a World Cup but did it by beating England” in 1986, Ezequiel Fernández Moores, a highly respected Argentine sports journalist, told me—a symbolic victory four years after Argentina had lost the Malvinas War, also known as the Falklands War, to the British. “Maradona is much more than a soccer player,” he said. “Messi wants to be just a soccer player.” But that’s not enough for a country where soccer is so deeply embedded in the national identity.

For a century, Argentina has been in thrall to the idea of a lost grandeur, a crucial moment in time when it was to become one of the most important nations in the world, but was somehow missed, crippled by politics or circumstance.

Since then, the country has looked for its alleged superiority in the individual successes of scientists, writers, and sport figures. Friends in Argentina constantly ask me, “What are they saying about us in New York?,” as if everyone in the world were paying attention to the national drama. And every four years, at the World Cup, when the world actually is paying attention, it’s Argentina’s value as a nation that’s at stake. Messi’s “attitude” seemed to imply he didn’t care about that value as much. He had, after all, left the country. And Argentina, long the host to millions of migrants from around the world, has a complicated relationship with those who leave to make it elsewhere, either as political exiles or as escapees from economic straits.

In 2016, after Messi failed to score a penalty kick in the final match of the Copa América, against Chile, he finally quit. “I am done with this team. Like I said before, it’s been four finals. Unfortunately, I searched for it, it was what I wanted the most, and it was not given to me, but now it’s over,” he said. But, despite the years of opprobrium, his resignation shocked the country.

Crying kids posted videos on social media begging him to stay. Commentators apologised for having been too harsh. “In soccer, you always get your revenge,” a boy said, addressing Messi in a video that went viral. “And, I promise, you will get yours. You will win the next cup. All I ask is that you come back to Argentina.”

Messi did, and, on July 2021 Argentina won the Copa América, beating Brazil 0–1. It was a stunning win, not only because Argentina hadn’t won the title in twenty-eight years but because the game took place in the Maracanã Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, the sacred temple of Brazilian soccer, where the national team had only ever lost a competitive match once, against Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup.

Messi didn’t score the goal, but he was the captain of the team, and, when the game ended, the cameras immediately focussed on Messi as he collapsed on the ground, and the Argentine players, one by one, hugged him as if saying, ‘We did it for you, Leo.’ And Messi couldn’t stop sobbing.

He had finally won while wearing the Argentina jersey, but, more important, the country had seen his pain. All the sorrow he had been carrying for not having been able to give Argentina its victory was in the open, for all to see. For those who needed an Argentine Messi, there they had him.

Now on their route to the World Cup trophy, Messi was the man to help Argentina take the lead in their 0-3 semi-final win over Croatia, firing home an emphatic penalty to break the deadlock. The game›s final goal saw Messi tormenting Josko Gvardiol before squaring for Julian Alvarez to tap in. It was merely the latest divine intervention from the legendary forward.

And in the final it did not take long for Messi to get on the scoresheet in the final against France from the penalty spot after a dubious spot-kick was awarded to Argentina early in the first half. And then he scored his second in extra-time to put his side 2-3 ahead. They were pegged back again at the last, but prevailed thanks to Emi Martinez’s penalty heroics.

Now that he’s successfully added soccer’s greatest prize to his honour roll it may seem like there is no frontier left to conquer for Messi as he readies himself to return to action, with his sights presumably set on the one major competition that he has played in and not won since he turned professional almost two decades ago: the Coupe de France.

THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET

Mirko Maccarrone, award-winning marketer, public speaker and guest lecturer specialising in the new frontiers of Web3 Marketing, breaks down the future of Internet.

Over the last 12 years, Mirko has helped worldclass organisations in the tech and luxury sector cultivate and achieve brand, marketing, and business objectives including Huawei, Saatchi & Saatchi, Bvlgari and Bitsong (Cosmo Blockchain) — across the UK, Australia, Italy, and now Dubai.

Mirko now leads the digital transformation of LIGHTBLUE, pushing the creative boundaries of what’s humanly possible with the mission to become the leading Web3 experience agency in the Middle East, working with clients including Algorand, Burberry, MDLBEAST, Puma, Sony PlayStation, and Tom Ford.

What is Web3, and why is it important?

Web3, a term coined by Gavin Wood (the cofounder of Ethereum) in 2014, refers to the decentralised, blockchain-based internet of the future.

It places a high priority on the security and empowerment of its users by returning the control of their data and online personas back to them.

This is done through blockchain technology, a distributed database that allows multiple parties to securely store, record and transfer data without the need for a singular, central authority.

Web3 technologies have the potential to bring about significant changes to the way the internet operates, potentially resulting in a wide-ranging impact on industries such as healthcare, finance, and more.

What are the big questions you should ask to create value in Web3?

It’s essential to carefully consider these and other questions as you plan and develop your Web3 solution to create value in the space.

What problem are you trying to solve?

Identifying a clear problem and understanding how your solution can address it is crucial for creating value in Web3.

How does your solution leverage the benefits of Web3 technologies?

Web3 technologies offer unique benefits such as decentralisation, security, transparency, and more. It’s important to understand how your solution leverages these benefits to create value.

Who are your target users, and how do you plan to reach them? Understanding your target users and how you will engage with them is crucial for success in Web3.

How will you monetize your solution?

It’s critical to have a clear plan for how you will generate revenue from your solution. This could include charging fees for access to your service, selling tokens or other digital assets, or using other monetization strategies.

How will you ensure the security and reliability of your solution? Web3 solutions must be secure and reliable in order to be trusted by users. It’s essential to consider how you will address security and reliability issues in the design and development of your solution.

How will you build a strong community around your solution? Building a strong and engaged community is crucial for the success of any Web3 project. It’s important to consider how you will engage with and build a community of users, developers, and other stakeholders.

How Web3 Is creating space for ‘Phygital’ Experiences?

The reality is that we aren’t just buying products or services anymore – we are craving experiences, paving the way for an era of the ‘Experience Economy’.

Businesses that are ahead in this game are generally more successful than those that aren’t. In fact, the Experience Economy is expected to be worth $12 billion by the end of 2023.

The value of experiences has taken precedence, with 78% of millennials choosing to spend money on an experience over products. By creating unique and immersive experiences, businesses can tap into the emotional needs of their customers, and Web3 is the primary playground for it.

With the introduction of new technologies fuelling a more connected world, we’ll begin to see the physical and digital worlds blend in new and interesting ways. “Phygital” is one way to refer to this interplay.

Web3 is allowing us to create a seamless, immersive, personalised customer experience at the intersection of physical and digital worlds. An example of this is a Dubai-based experience for Mastercard that was showcased at Expo 2020.

The introduction of the Mastercard Cube was an installation that immersed visitors in a range of multi-sensory experiences as they embarked on Mastercard Priceless journeys tailored to their passions, including sport, food, and music.

At the Cube, visitors were wowed by mixed reality content that brought to life the next era of innovation, as Mastercard demonstrated how the power of payment technology can be harnessed to make life safer, easier, and more connected for all.

How is the metaverse defined?

The metaverse is a virtual world that is created and shared by users through the internet. It is a space where people can interact, communicate, and engage with each other as well as virtual objects and environments in an immersive and interactive way.

The term “Metaverse” was first coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel “Snow Crash,” in which it referred to a virtual world that was accessed through the internet.

The concept of the metaverse has gained significant attention in recent years, as advances in virtual and augmented reality technologies have made it increasingly feasible to create immersive and interactive virtual spaces.

The metaverse is often seen as the next evolution of the internet, and is expected to bring about significant changes to the way we communicate, work, and engage with each other and with digital content.

Think of the Metaverse as if it was Microsoft Office. If you were born in the analogue era, you have undoubtedly experienced numerous software changes. You might have been typing reports in Word or making budgets in Excel 20 years ago.

You can still do that, but you can also use Microsoft Teams to conduct an online conference for coworkers all over the world. The point here is that software evolves over time.

We are currently seeing Metaverse 1.0, and we can’t predict exactly how version 2.0 or 3.0 will be because there are endless possibilities and uses.

But that doesn’t mean you should stand back and wait for the Metaverse to unfold. The time to start integrating it into your business strategy is now.

What are the challenges and opportunities with the metaverse?

Like every new and unexplored technology, the metaverse presents both challenges and opportunities, and it is important to consider these as we work to build and shape this emerging virtual space.

Challenges:

Like every new and unexplored technology, the metaverse presents both challenges and opportunities, and it is important to consider these as we work to build and shape this emerging virtual space.

Scalability: The metaverse must be able to handle a large number of users and transactions simultaneously in order to be viable. On the other hand, new hardware and software are being developed to withstand the technological demands, for example Unreal Engine 5, the Meta Quest Pro VR headset, and other advancements.

Interoperability: The metaverse must be able to seamlessly integrate with a variety of different platforms and technologies in order to be successful.

However, we can see Digital Avatar platforms addressing this, such as ‘Ready Player Me’ having the ability to be used across multiple platforms on different mediums (mobile, VR, and web).

Regulation:Tthere are many legal and regulatory issues that need to be addressed in order to ensure the viability of the metaverse. However, as governments begin to adopt the technology, they are creating entities to develop regulatory frameworks.

Opportunities:

Innovation: The metaverse offers a vast and untapped space for innovation and creativity for both businesses and individuals.

Collaboration: the metaverse allows for new forms of collaboration and communication that were not previously possible.

The term “Metaverse” was first coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel “Snow Crash,” in which it referred to a virtual world that was accessed through the internet.

The concept of the metaverse has gained significant attention in recent years, as advances in virtual and augmented reality technologies have made it increasingly feasible to create immersive and interactive virtual spaces.

The metaverse is often seen as the next evolution of the internet, and is expected to bring about significant changes to the way we communicate, work, and engage with each other and with digital content.

Education: The metaverse can be used as a platform for education in a variety of different fields.

Entertainment: the metaverse offers a new platform for entertainment and leisure activities.

How is Web 3.0 transforming the Middle East business landscape?

This is perhaps happening now more than ever. Starting with the UAE, Dubai is on a mission to become a global hub for Web 3 and expand towards new and innovative economic models.

More specifically, Dubai is aiming to become one of the top ten metaverse economies in the world, supporting more than 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030, and adding USD 4 billion to Dubai’s economy in five years.

Since 2006 Saudi Arabia has had an established plan for digitization, called the National Strategy for Digital Transformation, leading towards their Vision 2030 plans, which focuses on a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) collectively are streamlining their digital developments, with Qatar also launching initiatives to support sustainability and digital transformation.

The potential contribution of the metaverse to GCC economies could be around USD 15 billion annually by 2030, of which USD 7.6 billion would be in Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, the emerging technology’s contribution to Qatar and Kuwait is expected to hit around USD 1.6 billion and USD 1 billion, respectively, by 2030.

What does 2023 hold in terms of Web3 development and progress?

It is difficult to predict with certainty what the future holds for Web3 development and progress.

However, there are a few trends and developments that may shape the Web3 landscape in 2023:

Increased adoption of non-fungible tokens (NFTs): NFTs, which are digital assets that are unique and cannot be exchanged for other assets, have gained significant attention in recent years and are expected to continue to grow in popularity in 2023.

Improved scalability and performance: as the Web3 ecosystem matures, it is likely that we will see continued improvements in scalability and performance, which will make it easier for developers to build and deploy decentralised applications (dApps).

Greater mainstream adoption: Web3 technologies are still in the early stages of adoption, but it is possible that we will see greater mainstream adoption in 2023 as more people become aware of the benefits of decentralised applications and technologies.

Continued regulatory developments: as Web3 technologies continue to grow it is likely that we will see increased regulatory scrutiny and the development of new regulations to govern these technologies.

Overall, the Web3 landscape is constantly evolving, and it is difficult to predict with certainty what the future holds. However, these are a few trends and developments that may shape the Web3 ecosystem in 2023.

ART IN HIS HEART

Turkish artist Kemal Yazici uses art to showcase his life experiences and inspire young artists.

Turkishcontemporary abstract artist Kemal Yazici defines his art as an expression of the culmination of various cultural, professional, and geographical experiences in his life. Born in a small town in the Turkish Aegean, Kemal later moved to Germany with his parents. At the age of sixteen, he began training in a metal branch and received a certificate in craftsmanship. In university, he studied architecture while simultaneously learning about different artistic mediums, such as watercolour, acrylic, and oil painting. With a successful career as an architect in Germany, he shifted back to Turkey in 2004 to start his own construction business.

With his passion for creativity, Kemal started painting as a personal hobby, creating artwork inspired by acclaimed German abstract artist Gerhard Richter. In 2014, Kemal relocated to Dubai. Within five years, he decided to pursue his art full time. In 2022, he opened a studio and gallery in Al Quoz, Dubai—the perfect location to showcase his work to the city’s creative crowd. His work features intricate details that invite the viewer to gauge meaning in his array of colours, textures and layers. He is fascinated with geometrical and organic shapes and lines. His creative process includes using self-made heavy tools to transform a blank canvas into a piece of art that allows the viewer to transcend into a journey of self-discovery.

With every stroke, Kemal brings himself closer to achieving his vision of a world where every child has access to art. He aims to fund and educate children in his community to inspire young minds to indulge in their own creative pursuits. With a unique technique, Kemal is a visionary in the Dubai art scene, representing the powerful mastery of different professions and combining them to produce elegant artwork.

Where do you find inspiration for your artistic creations?

I’m inspired by the local beaches, the architecture of the region, and the desert. My art also reflects the memories from the places I’ve lived before, such as the woods I saw as a child in Germany, the fishermen, and the sailing boats in Bodrum.

What does your creative process look like?

I start by choosing the colours and medium to paint with. I usually paint in the morning in my studio. My art depends on my mood that particular day. The impressions of the world around me tend to reflect in my work. Layering is a huge part of my process. I use my own tools, such as a squeegee, palette, or even self-made tools to create compositions with varying textures and organic shapes.

With your background in construction and architecture, how did you decide to transition your career to being a contemporary abstract artist?

Art has always been my passion. After working as a metal technician and an architect, I finally wanted to pursue art. I’m grateful to be able to transition to my career as a full-time artist with my own gallery. It’s been my dream to be able to have a dedicated space to create and exhibit art.

You are committed to funding and educating young artists. Why is this important to you?

Art is a way for young minds to express their imagination. I want to make art accessible to children, especially those who are unable to afford it. It’s an important aspect of learning and expanding their creativity. I wish for every child who wants to learn art to be able to do it without limitations.

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in your field over the past decade? How have these changes influenced your work? Over the past decade, the art world has constantly evolved. We’ve seen many new exhibitions, and the art scene in itself is evolving globally with Dubai also becoming a cultural hub for artists and art lovers. The digital landscape has also expanded, seeing more people are actively creating and selling art online. In this post-pandemic world, we are also witnessing the rise of new mediums of creating art, including NFTs and now AI also entering the market. I started selling my artworks online, and I keep my community updated on social media, sharing glimpses of what it’s like to be an artist in Dubai.

Outside of the region, who do you see as your peers? With whom do you share affinities, and with whom have you collaborated?

I’ve participated in group exhibitions such as Elements in Bodrum Loft, Hamdi Akin in Turkey in 2020.Recently, I was also part of a group exhibition for the 99th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey at Rixos Premium JBR, Dubai. It was truly an honour to be able to present my artworks in the exhibition. I have not collaborated with any artists as of yet. I create my own artworks in my studio at Bedia Gallery.

Outside of the region, who do you see as your peers and why? With whom do you share affinities, and with whom have you collaborated?

I’ve participated in group exhibitions such as “Elements” in Bodrum Loft, Hamdi Akin in Turkey in 2020. Recently, I was also part of a group exhibition for the 99th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey at Rixos Premium JBR, Dubai. It was truly an honor to be able to present my artworks in the exhibition.I have not collaborated with any artists so far. I create my own artworks in my studio at Bedia Gallery.

How do you envision your studio/gallery in the future? How will it be different from today?

I’m not sure where the world will be headed in five or ten years, but I hope to collaborate with curators and different artists. In the beginning, our focus will be on German, Turkish, and local artists. However, slowly we plan to collaborate with artists from other regions too.The team is also working on participating in local art shows and exhibitions.

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

I think for aspiring artists, finding the right market to position themselves is truly important. Dubai is one of those places. The emirate is part of a region that is constantly evolving and adapting to changes taking place in the world.Hard work is really important in life, and I believe that if you really want something, you will do whatever it takes to get there. Having a good mindset is one of the key features that any aspiring artist should have.

DEFYING THE LIMITS

The ultimate diver, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge is an extension of the experimental watch created in 2012 to accompany James Cameron in the Mariana Trench.

As profound as the depths of the ocean may be, they open up new horizons for humanity. But reaching these yet undiscovered locations requires withstanding extreme pressure. For almost 70 years, Rolex has accompanied explorers, developing ever more powerful tool watches. Models that became both watchmaking icons and benchmarks in the diving world, namely the Submariner, launched in 1953, the Sea-Dweller (1967) and the Rolex Deepsea (2008). A result of this expertise, the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge represents a new milestone in the journey to the deep. This new model in the Oyster Perpetual collection is inspired by the experimental Rolex Deepsea Challenge watch that James Cameron took on his 10,908-metre (35,787 feet) descent to the Mariana Trench on 26 March 2012. To provide guaranteed performance with optimum comfort on the wrist, the Deepsea Challenge is crafted from RLX titanium, a grade 5 titanium alloy. Equipped with the helium escape valve and the Ringlock system, it is capable of accompanying divers in any environment – during freedives, submersible dives or in hyperbaric chambers – to the extreme depth of 11,000 metres (36,090 feet). In any situation, the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge turns pressure into an ally.

While the experimental watch of 2012 was attached to the manipulator arm of James Cameron’s submersible, the Deepsea Challenge is designed to be worn on the wrist. From the production of the case to that of the bracelet, every element of this 50 mm watch has been crafted with everyday use in mind. A watchmaking accomplishment made possible by using a grade 5 titanium alloy selected by Rolex: RLX titanium. Thanks to this robust and particularly lightweight metal, the new watch is 30% lighter than the experimental model of 2012. To create a timepiece of harmonious and ergonomic proportions, modifications were made to some of the components – the crystal, for instance, was slimmed down. The Deepsea Challenge is distinctive among the Professional watches for the particularly visible grain in its satin finish and the polished edges of its lugs. The bracelet extension systems – Rolex Glidelock and the Fliplock extension link – allow the watch to be worn over a diving suit up to 7 mm thick.

The Deepsea Challenge incorporates the full spectrum of Rolex’s expertise in divers’ watches. It includes all the major innovations developed by the brand over many years: the Ringlock system, a patented case architecture that enables the watch to withstand extreme pressure; the helium escape valve, which allows surplus gas to escape from the watch during a diver’s decompression phase in a hyperbaric chamber, reducing the pressure inside the case which could otherwise damage the watch; the Triplock crown, with three sealed zones; and the Chromalight display, whose long-lasting luminescence provides exceptional legibility. To test the waterproofness of each Deepsea Challenge, Rolex specially developed, in partnership with Comex (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises), an ultra-highpressure tank capable of reproducing a test pressure equivalent to that exerted by water at a depth of 13,750 metres (45,112 feet). At the heart of the Oyster case is calibre 3230, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. A consummate demonstration of technology, this self-winding movement contains several patented components: the Chronergy escapement and the Parachrom hairspring, insensitive to magnetic fields, as well as Paraflex shock absorbers. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, calibre 3230 offers a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. Like all Rolex watches, the Deepsea Challenge carries the Superlative Chronometer certification and boasts chronometric precision of the order of –2 /+2 seconds per day.

The Deepsea Challenge is engraved with the words “Mariana Trench” as well as the dates “23-01-1960” and “26-03-2012” on the case back, in tribute to two historic dives into the Mariana Trench: that of oceanographer Jacques Piccard and U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh aboard the Trieste, in 1960, and James Cameron’s solo descent in DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, in 2012. Both expeditions took experimental Rolex watches with them. The design of the watch that accompanied James Cameron’s dive presented a sizeable challenge for the brand in a short production time. Tested to withstand a depth of 15,000 metres (49,200 feet) and 17 tonnes of pressure on the crystal, it was developed in only a few weeks, thanks to the extensive experience of the Rolex teams in the domain of deep-sea divers’ watches. Throughout the seven-hour dive, three hours of which were spent at the bottom, filming and collecting samples, this experimental watch flawlessly withstood the tremendous pressure, as the 1960 watch had also done. Today, the Deepsea Challenge marks a new milestone in the human and technical adventure that Rolex engineers and deep-sea explorers have shared for decades.

YEAR OF THE RABBIT

The water rabbit stars in the 2023 series of Blancpain’s Traditional Chinese Calendar watch.

From 22 January 2023, the water tiger of Chinese astrology will give way to the water rabbit. To mark this transition, Blancpain is pursuing its custom initiated in 2012 by unveiling a new edition of its Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar model. Crafted from platinum in a 50-piece limited edition, this watch displays the main indications of the Chinese calendar on its dial, while its oscillating weight honours the new year’s zodiac sign.

The Traditional Chinese Calendar is an exclusive timepiece developed by Blancpain. Its complexity is similar to that of the perpetual calendar, and it is produced in the Grand Complications workshop of the Manufacture in Le Brassus, where only a few watchmakers are capable of mastering its construction. This exceptional timepiece is based on the principles of Chinese tradition and its lunisolar calendar, which it combines with the Gregorian calendar. The white grand feu enamel dial features a chapter ring composed of gold appliques swept over by hands shaped like hollowed- out sage leaves.

The dates of the Gregorian calendar are indicated by a blued steel serpentine hand. They are painted in enamel, as is the main information of the Chinese calendar, i.e. the double hours, the day and month with the mention of the leap months, the signs of the zodiac, as well as the five elements and the ten celestial pillars.

Moon phases – a signature complication that Blancpain returned to the forefront of the watchmaking scene in the early 1980s – are also represented. They are not only an integral part of the Brand’s complete calendars, but also serve to determine the months of the Chinese calendar.

Crafted from platinum and measuring 45 mm in diameter, the double-stepped case of the Traditional Chinese Calendar is faithful to the aesthetic of the Villeret collection. The famous Blancpain correctors are concealed beneath its lugs and can be activated by the simple touch of a finger. Equipped with a sapphire caseback, it houses the 3638 self-winding movement whose gold oscillating weight is engraved with the zodiac sign of the year 2023. Depicted as a couple, the Blancpain water rabbit inspires gentleness and trust, two notions that emanate from its refined, perceptive and diplomatic nature. Issued in an individually numbered 50-piece limited edition, the Villeret Traditional Chinese Calendar testifies to Blancpain’s technical prowess while celebrating the incomparable wealth of cultural diversity.

A ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TIMEPIECE

The Jaquet Droz Rolling Stones Automaton is a micro-mechanical rock-and-roll tribute.

Since playing their first note in 1962, the Rolling Stones have become one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, with music that has transcended generations and left a lasting impact on pop culture. Led by the charismatic Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones are now in their 60th year, an occasion that is being marked by Jaquet Droz with the Rolling Stones Automaton.

A signature timepiece of Jaquet Droz, the automaton watch is traditionally decorated with themes from the natural world (and occasionally the fantasy realm of dragons and elves). But the tribute to the Rolling Stones instead reproduces their instruments and rebellious album covers on a rotating vinyl record. Automatons by Jaquet Droz are beguiling thanks to the attention to detail evident in each watch, most of which are made to the client’s specifications and thus unique. The Rolling Stones Automaton very much personifies that ethos but in a very different way. It combines the brand’s trademark microautomaton with late-20th century pop culture and manages to captures the spirit of the rock icons.

The Rolling Stones Automaton is a miniature homage to the brand’s music. Each band member’s musical instruments are intricately replicated on a tiny scale, including Keith Richards’ famous five-string guitar, Mr Jagger’s harmonica and microphone, along with the minimalist drum set used by the late Charlie Watts. And around the mini instruments are the band’s album covers on a vinyl record, which can be customised by the buyer. Jaquet Droz offers a selection of 23 albums, including chart toppers like Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St.

The vinyl record is the automaton and meant to evoke a record player. When the automaton is activated by the pusher in the crown, the vinyl disc will spin for at least 30 seconds. And as the disc revolves, the red tongue emblem of the band sways up and down at nine o’clock. On full wind, the automaton can be activated eight times before requiring winding.

While the Rolling Stones motif sets this apart from the typical Jaquet Droz automaton, the watch is otherwise identical in terms of dimensions and mechanics. So to describe it as large is an understatement. At 43 mm in diameter and 16.96 mm high, it makes a statement on the wrist. But the size contrasts with the minute artistry on the dial, which is literally a rock concert sitting on the wrist. At the heart of the Rolling Stones Automaton lies the manual-wind cal. 2653 AT2, a variant of the movement that powers the brand’s other automaton watches. Each timepiece will feature an engraved rotor that bears the name of a Rolling Stones album, as well as the year and place it was first recorded.

A REFINED SPORTS WATCH

Another Alpine Eagle timepiece joins the eyrie, bringing with it two major firsts for the collection: the tourbillon, and the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.

With Alpine Eagle, Chopard has created a contemporary sporty-chic collection featuring a pure design and sophisticated mechanics. After a flyback chronograph movement and a high-frequency calibre, Alpine Eagle extends its range of complications with a model equipped with a flying tourbillon. At just 3.30 mm thick, the L.U.C 96.24-L movement stems from developments by Chopard Manufacture. Its advanced characteristics make the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon one of the very few flying tourbillon watches to bear double Chronometer and Poinçon de Genève certification.

Featuring a case measuring 41 mm in diameter and an integrated bracelet, it is made entirely in the Maison’s workshops from Lucent Steel A223, an exclusive, ultra-resistant and remarkably brilliant alloy. A 6 o’clock opening on its textured Aletsch Blue dial reveals a transparent and light tourbillon mechanism that endows the entire creation with its elegantly sophisticated character.

Inspired by a historical Chopard model reinterpreted by three generations of men from the Scheufele family, the Alpine Eagle collection has been constantly enriched since its launch by new innovations. The latest is a flying tourbillon movement developed thanks to the watchmaking expertise of Chopard Manufacture, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021. The introduction of an innovative movement such as L.U.C Calibre 96.24-L within a watch from the Alpine Eagle collection now bears witness to the maturity attained by the Manufacture. The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon model is the first complication watch in the Alpine Eagle collection acknowledged by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.

An innovative, certified tourbillon in free flight

A flying tourbillon is characterised by the absence of an upper bridge. Since the tourbillon carriage is held only by the lower bridge, it appears to fly, creating an effect of transparency throughout the movement. L.U.C 96.24-L is based on the development of Chopard Manufacture’s first calibre (L.U.C 96.01-L presented in 1997) and is similarly slim, at only 3.30 mm.

This ultra-thin movement made it possible to optimise the size of the Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon watch: the case has been reduced to just 8 mm thick, and the flanks and bezel have been trimmed down compared to a classic Alpine Eagle Large model, offering a wider dial aperture. These well-balanced proportions, a signature feature of the collection, endow the timepiece with an elegant and graceful appearance entirely suited to the lightness of the complication.

The L.U.C 96.24-L movement is equipped with a stop-seconds function enabling precise time setting. This precision is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, evidenced by the “Chronometer” inscription on the dial below the logo. Among the flying tourbillon watches on the market, those by Chopard are the only ones to receive both Chronometer certification and the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark. The latter guarantees the fine craftsmanship and smooth operation of the timepieces assembled within the Canton. Stamped on the case-back of the watch, it depicts the city of Geneva’s coat-of-arms composed of a golden key and above all of an eagle: a symbol reminiscent of the original inspiration behind the Alpine Eagle collection.

Thanks to its two stacked barrels based on Chopard Twin technology, the movement guarantees a 65-hour power reserve, and its automatic winding is driven by a 22-carat gold micro-rotor whose density contributes to the slenderness of the movement. Finely crafted by the artisans of the Maison, each of its components is adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif recalling the attention to detail cultivated by Chopard Manufacture.

Aesthetics with a twist

With its pure and assertive design, the Alpine Eagle collection reflects Chopard’s creative richness and visionary spirit as well as drawing inspiration from the power of Nature. The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon model is faithful to this aesthetic: a round case with stylised sides, a crown engraved with the compass rose, a bezel with eight functional screws set at a tangent, a stamped dial featuring deep colours, luminescent indications, and finally a metal bracelet that is particularly comfortable on the wrist.

The Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon is made from Lucent Steel A223, an innovative steel alloy developed by Chopard for its anti-allergenic properties, its robustness and its incomparable brilliance obtained through a meticulous re-smelting process. Its Aletsch Blue dial is finely textured on a solid gold base according to a pattern inspired by the eagle’s iris. Centred on the tourbillon at 6 o’clock, this radiant design highlights the mechanism by emphasising its perfect transparency.

The collection’s aesthetic codes are also picked up on the arms of the tourbillon carriage, specially redesigned in the same shape as the gold hands on the dial. Equally, the tourbillon carriage bears the small seconds hand, which has been meticulously coated with SLN X1 by the artisans of the Manufacture. Chopard’s entire production process is vertically integrated, thus enabling it to make and assemble all the components of its Alpine Eagle collection in-house, from movement through to case and bracelet.

BREITLING ETIHAD EDITION

The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Etihad Airways limited edition marks the 70th anniversary of the Navitimer chronographTraditional.

Breitling celebrated the 70th anniversary of its iconic Navitimer by releasing a limited-edition series in partnership with its aviation partner, Etihad Airways. The co-designed series is limited to just 250 pieces each featuring an engraved caseback with ‘’Etihad Edition’’ inscription. The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Etihad Airways limited edition features a striking green dial presented on a brown alligator strap. Serving as the airline’s official timekeeping since 2019, Breitling’s limited edition was unveiled for the first time during a spectacular launch party in Abu Dhabi, which also celebrated the opening of Breitling’s new boutique in The Galleria Al Maryah Island — its first boutique in Abu Dhabi.

‘’Breitling’s legendary Navitimer chronograph has been synonymous with travel since it first debuted in 1952,” said Aed Adwan, Breitling Middle East Manging Director. “The Navitimer grew up alongside the burgeoning civil aviation industry and is beloved by airline captains and aircraft enthusiasts; therefore, it seemed fitting to mark the Navitimer’s anniversary with a limited-edition series with our airline partner, Etihad Airways.’’ To support the growing partnership, Etihad Airways is gifting each proud new owner of the Navitimer B01 Etihad Airways limited edition the planting of a mangrove tree, in Etihad’s Mangrove Forest located in Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi. Launched in February 2022, the Etihad Mangrove Forest is focused on biodiversity, wildlife and environmental protection. On purchase of the watch, each customer will receive a unique code with a link to the name of their mangrove tree, customers can also watch their tree grow, tracking its location, age and height – and even chat to it – for up to 10 years.

The initiative supports Breitling’s #SQUADONAMISSION to do better by making luxury more sustainable. In October this year, Breitling introduced the Super Chronomat Automatic 38 Origins, the brands first-ever “traceable watch” which transparently informs and engages owners about the origins of its precious materials. By 2025, Breitling’s entire product portfolio will feature better gold and better diamonds: artisanal gold and lab-grown diamonds, responsibly sourced from accredited suppliers. To be fully accountable to its mission, Breitling is also introducing end-to-end traceability.

The 2022 Navitimer preserves the most recognisable aspects of the icon’s design code. From a distance, this is unmistakably a Navitimer, with its circular slide rule, baton indexes, trio of chronograph counters, and notched bezel for easy grip. Up close, however, its modern refinements come through loud and clear. A flattened slide rule and a domed crystal create the illusion of a more compact profile. Alternating polished and brushed finishes give the metal elements a lustrous yet understated quality. A slimmer silhouette on the oscillating weight enhances the open-caseback view of the COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Etihad Airways limited edition is 43mm with a stainless-steel case on a semi-shiny brown alligator strap. And if there is one feature sure to spark nostalgia, it’s the return of the AOPA wings to their original position at 12 o’clock.

MEET THE ASTON MARTIN DBX707

Aston Martin unveils its super SUV for the first time in the UAE

Aston Martin’s DBX707 super SUV was recently unveiled at the Aston Martin showroom in Downtown Dubai, showcasing Aston Martin’s drive to be the pinnacle in its class with a unique combination of intense performance, supreme dynamics, unmistakable style, and absolute luxury.

Engineered with an abundance of character and compelling capability, DBX707 takes DBX’s widely acclaimed design, dynamics and driver-pleasing character as its starting point and builds brilliantly on those authentic sporting attributes. Every area of the car has been enhanced to boost performance, intensify driving pleasure and amplify its on-road presence.

DBX707’s unique Aston Martin developed 4.0-litre V8 generates increased power to 707PS and 900Nm; the new model also features a comprehensive suite of transmission, suspension, brakes, electronic systems and aerodynamics upgrades. Hardware highlights include new 9-speed wet clutch gearbox and 420mm carbon brakes. The result is a car which sets new standards and further distinguishes the DBX from its class rivals.

In keeping with its extensive engineering upgrades, the exterior and interior of the DBX707 have received an equally thorough design makeover. The result is spectacular - overtly sporting but with the style and attention to detail for which Aston Martin is rightly celebrated.

For those looking to further enhance the exclusive nature of DBX707 and create something truly unique, Q by Aston Martin, the brand’s bespoke service, delivers the ultimate in personalisation. Offering an extensive palette of options, from unique graphics through to tinted carbons and bespoke materials on both the interior and exterior, each ‘Q by Aston Martin – Commission’ car can push the boundaries of desire and is completely tailored to the customer.

As the flagship model in the DBX range, the DBX707 is poised to continue the multi-award-winning achievements of Aston Martin’s first SUV, which has achieved more than 3000 sales in its first year of production and scooped a host of accolades.

TACTICAL TECH7

The 2024 GMC HUMMER EV SUV’s enhanced off-road proportions meet new features, including trail mapping and Power Station generator.

GMC’s electric supertruck lineup expands with the addition of the 2024 HUMMER EV SUV — and it is loaded with smart, purposeful technology. “GMC’s HUMMER EV SUV offers an exceptional balance of on-road performance and offroad capability, enhanced by a unique structure that allows for our signature open-air experience,” said Al Oppenheiser, HUMMER EV chief engineer. “New features debuting on the SUV reinforce its role as a tactical tool in almost any situation.”

New technologies include trail mapping available via the redesigned myGMC app1, and a new available Power Station generator2 that enables customers to utilise up to 3 kilowatts of power from the vehicle, turning the HUMMER EV SUV into a power source on the trail or a backup generator. HUMMER EV’s interdependent body/battery structure enables the Infinity Roof on the EV pickup as well as the SUV, and expected best-in-class off-road proportions help make the new SUV even more maneuverable — while making the most of the HUMMER EV’s signature Master of Maneuverability

With a nearly 9-inch shorter wheelbase than the HUMMER EV Pickup, the HUMMER EV SUV offers even greater maneuverability, with expected best-in-class off-road proportions and a turning circle of only 35.4 feet (10.8 meters) with 4 Wheel Steer — smaller than a Mustang Mach-E.

Without the constraints of a conventional propulsion system and traditional drive axles, tremendous power and control is available to each wheel. In fact, the Ultium drive system can channel power to a single wheel, keeping the vehicle moving in some of the toughest driving conditions and terrain — including 13 inches of suspension travel, climbing 60 percent grades (forward and reverse), scaling 18-inch verticals and fording water more than 2 feet deep. Standard features on 2X, 3X and Edition 1 models include 4 Wheel Steer with CrabWalk3, which allows diagonal-drive functionality, as well as Adaptive Air Suspension with Extract Mode4 and 22-inch wheels with 35-inch-OD Goodyear all-terrain tires.

Immersive Experience

The 2024 HUMMER EV SUV offers a multisensory, immersive experience that puts drivers in the middle of every moment. The HUMMER EV’s user experience team worked with Perception, a creative agency best known for their science fiction thinking and technology design work within the Marvel Universe, to create a cinematic in-cabin experience that engages the senses. Special features such as available Watts To Freedom5 bring their own unique multisensory, interactive experiences, with distinctive sound via the premium Bose audio system, feel through the haptic driver’s seat and sight with custom screen displays showing the special performance mode is “armed and ready.”

The user experience is customisable through My Mode, allowing the driver to tailor their favorite features including steering, suspension, sound and acceleration for a truly personal interface that celebrates every drive. The HUMMER EV’s remarkable driving capabilities blend with these engaging technologies and a carefully crafted user experience, creating a sense of intensity and drama for drivers and passengers, while features such as the standard Infinity Roof and modular Sky Panels create an open experience, allowing customers to enjoy HUMMER EV’s nearly silent movement during outdoor adventures. The HUMMER EV SUV was also designed as a two-row SUV with a shorter wheelbase to help optimise its off-road maneuverability while providing secure rear storage, with instantly recognisable proportions that convey HUMMER EV’s characteristically aggressive stance.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HYBRID

McLaren Artura marks a revolutionary leap in innovation for hybrid supercars

McLaren’s first-ever series-production High-Performance Hybrid (HPH) supercar is not just meant to be a technological game-changer. It is the distillation of every attribute inherent in a McLaren – distinctive design, unrivalled performance, dynamic excellence and engineering innovation – with blistering electrified power now bringing the additional benefits of even faster throttle response and lower emissions. Both on the road and the track. The refinement of the EV mode is striking as the car serenely cruises on urban streets.

With the legendary DNA of McLaren’s engineering and innovation over half a century, the Artura introduces a number of patent-pending technologies - multiple elements of the MCLA; a patent relating to the use of the E-motor in lieu of a mechanical reverse gear to enable rearwards travel and also allows gearbox length to be reduced; and a patent that covers the innovative lightweight adjustment mechanism of the all-new Club sport seat.

It is also the only supercar in its class to offer the combined attractions of super-lightweight carbon fibre construction, a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration, the purity of electro-hydraulic steering, the instant torque of an E-motor (which helps to deliver throttle response that is twice as rapid as any non-hybrid McLaren) and the advanced handling benefits of an E-differential.

Artura is the first model to be built on all-new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), uniquely optimised for HPH powertrains. Designed and manufactured at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in the Sheffield region, UK, the MCLA sets a new standard for McLaren’s advanced flexible chassis design. This scalable platform architecture heralds the beginning of a new era of McLaren supercars.

The Artura has the world’s finest petrol engine with an E-motor. The all-new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 petrol engine with an E-motor produces a combined output of 671bhp and 531 lb-ft. of torque. The 94bhp E-motor delivers instant torque of 166lb-ft, ensuring the sharpest-ever throttle response from a McLaren with 0-60mph in 3.0 seconds.

Designed around ‘everything for a reason’ principle at McLaren, the Artura has a ‘shrink-wrapped’ appearance to optimise performance and manage airflow for aerodynamic performance and cooling. The cockpit is centred on the driver, more than ever. The driving mode selection enhances the driving ergonomics. Dynamic precision is additionally enhanced by Pirelli Cyber Tyre technology.

Other innovations include the stiffness of the MCLA, fluid-filled mounts for the powertrain and the new rear suspension design and settings. Pirelli’s patented Noise Cancelling System (PNCS), which uses a soundabsorbing device on the inside wall of the Pirelli P-ZERO tyre, reduces the vibration and noise.

THE ULTIMATE COLLECTIBLE

Mercedes-Maybach releases the limited-edition series Haute Voiture

Mercedes is continuing to launch fashion-oriented limited editions of its flagship Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. This time, it’s not associated with any particular designer, like the Virgil Abloh model from earlier this year. But this Haute Voiture model makes the fashion connection by getting its very own line of luxury handbags that will be offered for sale.

Mercedes-Maybach presented the S-Class Haute Voiture for the first time during an event in Dubai. The series car will start retailing in early 2023 at Maybach Icons of Luxury stores- both physical and online. It is available in different styles and sizes in a limited run.

The luxury sedan consists of high-quality materials and exquisite details, created by Mercedes Benz’s most specialised customisation and craftsmanship team in the Manufaktur in Sindelfingen.

The car itself is a Mercedes-Maybach S 680, which comes with a 621-horsepower twin-turbo V12 and all-wheel drive. It’s finished in a two-tone colour scheme with a dark blue on top with rose gold sides. The wheels are painted to match the blue top. The car’s unique production number, key ring and a scale model of it will be presented to each customer in a gift box along with a custom car cover.

The interior is the highlight, and it continues the blue and rose gold theme with the colours added to hard dash panels. Seats are finished in white leather. Most unique are the bouclé fabric accents on the door panels and in some areas on the seats that have a blend of dark blue, beige, gold and rose gold colors to tie the vehicle together. Mercedes also customised the infotainment system so users can have fashionable avatars to mark their profiles, and there are animations scattered throughout such as glitter clouds to evoke fashion shows.

The luxury sedan is limited to just 150 units worldwide. Each vehicle will feature a badge in the centre console outlining its number within the unique run of 150.

Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Mercedes-Benz Group said, “The intricate features and exclusive design elements are what makes the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Haute Voiture one of the most extravagant models we ever created.”

FULFILLING A PROPHECY

Rolls-Royce debuts Spectre, the marque’s first fully electric motor car

In 1900, Rolls-Royce co-founder, Charles Rolls, prophesised an electric future for the motor car. Having acquired an electric vehicle named The Columbia Electric Carriage, he foresaw its suitability as a clean, noiseless alternative to the internal combustion engine – providing there was sufficient infrastructure to support it. Today, more than 120 years later, the time has come for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to fulfil the prophecy of its founding father.

This prophecy could not have been fulfilled without a more recent promise, when Rolls-Royce CEO, Torsten MüllerÖtvös, made a public commitment to electrification by announcing that he would bring a fully electric Rolls-Royce to market within the current decade. Charles Rolls’ prophecy and Torsten Müller-Ötvös’ promise led to an historic moment. In September 2021, the marque confirmed that it had commenced testing of Spectre, the first Rolls-Royce to be conceived and engineered from the very beginning as an electric car.

To ensure that this transformative motor car was sufficiently prepared for the most demanding consumer in the world – the Rolls-Royce client – the marque devised the most exhaustive testing programme it had ever conceived. Spectre is being subjected to a journey of more than 2.5 million kilometres, simulating more than 400 years of use for a Rolls-Royce. On its completion in 2023, Spectre will represent a prophecy fulfilled, a promise kept, and an undertaking completed. Spectre is not only an historic moment for Rolls-Royce, but also an historic moment for electrification – with Spectre, the marque confirms that the technology has reached a standard that can contain the Rolls-Royce experience. To that end, Rolls-Royce has confirmed that by the end of 2030 its entire product portfolio will be fully electric.

Spectre is more than a motor car. It is a statement of intent and a symbol of a bright, bold future as Rolls-Royce progresses into an all-electric era. This commitment to an all-electric powertrain will only enhance the Rolls-Royce experience – instant torque, silent running and the sense of one imperceptible gear have defined the characteristics of an extraordinary canon of products dating back to the very first Rolls-Royce, the 1904 10 H.P.

Spectre is more than a motor car. It is a statement of intent and a symbol of a bright, bold future as Rolls-Royce progresses into an all-electric era. This commitment to an all-electric powertrain will only enhance the Rolls-Royce experience – instant torque, silent running and the sense of one imperceptible gear have defined the characteristics of an extraordinary canon of products dating back to the very first Rolls-Royce, the 1904 10 H.P. With Spectre, RollsRoyce has harnessed a revolutionary ‘Decentralised Intelligence’ system that allows for the free and direct exchange of information between more than 1,000 vehicle functions, further elevating the marque’s celebrated quality of ride. Its designers have captured a contemporary yet timeless aesthetic that significantly progresses the brand’s iconography as it embarks on its electric age. Its craftspeople have created a suite of contemporary prêt-à-porter personalisation possibilities, including Starlight Doors and Illuminated Fascia, inspiring clients to realise their own Bespoke visions.

The marque’s designers are deeply rooted in the context occupied by their motor cars. Therefore, their inspiration is drawn from worlds far beyond automotive, including haute couture, modernist sculpture, nautical design, tailoring and contemporary art. In conceiving the principal sketches for Spectre, the marque’s creatives were drawn to modern yacht concepts, specifically the clarity and precision of line, intelligent use of reflection and application of taper to emotionalise silhouettes. Inside, Spectre is provisioned with the most technologically advanced Bespoke features yet, drawing inspiration from the timeless mystique of the night’s sky. For the first time on a series production Rolls-Royce, Spectre is available with Starlight Doors, which incorporate 4,796 softly illuminated stars. The coach doors can also be commissioned with a backdrop of wood Canadel Panelling, which takes its name from the cove in the South of France where Sir Henry Royce and his design team spent their winters.

Spectre is equipped with a completely redesigned digital architecture of luxury named SPIRIT, presented in quintessential Rolls-Royce style. Not only will SPIRIT manage the motor car’s functions, but it is seamlessly integrated into the marque’s Whispers application, allowing clients to interact with their car remotely, and receive live information curated by the marque’s luxury intelligence specialists. For the first time ever, clients are now able to extend their Bespoke commission beyond the physical world and into the digital architecture that underpins SPIRIT. Inspired by the marque’s clients’ love of bespoke timepieces, the colour of the dials can now complement the interior hue of the motor car.

As with all Rolls-Royce motor cars, Spectre’s interior suite offers clients near-infinite Bespoke possibilities. The allnew front seat design has been inspired by British tailoring, with lapel sections that can be rendered in contrasting or matching colours to the main base. Bespoke stitching, embroidery and intricate piping has, as ever, been considered in their inception. For Spectre, Rolls-Royce’s engineers have seen much of their discipline pivot from the workshop to the digital space. Spectre is the most connected Rolls-Royce in history, and in harnessing the power of the motor car’s remarkable Decentralised Intelligence processing capabilities there is more requirement than ever for expert human experience.

To ensure the continuity of the Rolls-Royce experience, as well as its progression, the marque selected the most experienced test and development engineers to lead the project, some of whom have been with the marque for more than two decades and were responsible for creating the first ‘Goodwood-era’ Phantom. These engineers describe the experience offered by Spectre as akin to “Rolls-Royce in high definition” on account of the speed and accuracy of the motor car’s response to a worldwide spread of road and weather conditions. The final power, acceleration and range figures are still being refined, as the extraordinary undertaking of finessing Spectre enters its final phase before completion in the second quarter of 2023.

HOPE REEF

Leading cat food brand SHEBA has begun work on the world’s largest coral restoration program, which aims to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reefs around the world by 2029

Hope Reef, the start of the world’s largest coral reef restoration program, has been unveiled off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The reef, which can be seen on Google Earth, has been built to spell the word H-O-P-E and is a symbol to show the world how positive change can happen within our lifetime.

Scientists estimate that if the world does nothing, 90% of the world’s tropical reefs will be gone by 2043, impacting nearly 500 million people who depend on them for food, income and coastal protection . The effort to solve this requires global cooperation on a massive scale and SHEBA aims to play the role of catalyst, helping to ensure the future has coral reefs and fish.

While Hope Reef was only recently unveiled, its restoration began two years ago. Since then, coral cover has increased from 5 to 55%, fish abundance has increased, and ushering the return of species, such as sharks and turtles. By the end of 2029, SHEBA’s ambition is to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reef at sites around the world – roughly the size of 148 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Viewers who watch the SHEBA Hope Reef story, “The Film That Grows Coral,” on YouTube will help raise money for reef restoration. With every view, the advertising money generated is invested into coral reef restoration through campaign partner, The Nature Conservancy. This is the first time ever that 100% of the funds from a YouTube channel have been monetised for sustainability efforts.

Providing a simple but effective solution, Hope Reef uses innovative ‘Reef Star’ technology – a 90 cm-wide, star-shaped, steel structures that are handmade by the local community in Indonesia. Each star is joined underwater to create a strong web that covers the seabed and provides a stable base for coral fragments to regrow.

“We’re thrilled to unveil Hope Reef and show that there really is hope for our oceans,” said Professor David Smith, Chief Marine Scientist at Mars Inc. “Our efforts around the world to restore and regenerate these precious ecosystems are showing exciting results and having a positive impact on local communities, which we’re delighted to see. We hope our efforts inspire others to join us so we can all play our part in helping to prevent the extinction of our coral reefs.”

“Coral reefs are the heart of our oceans, supporting over a quarter of marine life,” added Dr. Elizabeth McLeod, The Nature Conservancy’s Global Reef Systems Lead. “ Reefs also supply millions of people worldwide with food, livelihood, life-saving medicines, and protection against storms. It’s imperative that we scale up our work to protect and restore the long-term health of these vital ecosystems, as well as addressing the threats that have caused their decline and building their resilience to a changing climate.”

Since 2008, SHEBA’s parent company, Mars, Incorporated, has invested more than $10m in research, restoration and community engagement as part of its coral reef program. In addition, the company has invested $1 billion to drive action for the protection and restoration of the planet and those who inhabit it through its Sustainable In A Generation Plan.

HOT PROPERTY

Sobha Realty redefines luxury with the unveiling of their latest developments during Cityscape 2022.

Sobha One

One of Dubai’s largest developments, Sobha One features five interconnected towers and spectacular waterfront views. The superstructure includes elegantly designed one- to four-bedroom apartments and two- to four-bedroom duplexes, each fitted with upscale amenities.

The community also includes an 18-hole pitch and putt golf-course, clubhouse facilities, polyclinic, mosque, an esplanade with an array of retail and dining options, BBQ area, private party sky courts, a themed courtyard interconnected on the sixth floor, multiple sky terraces, and nursery facilities. The new development is strategically located within proximity to Dubai’s major attractions and landmark destinations. It also faces the Ras Al Khor sanctuary and offers exceptional vistas of the Creek, the Burj Khalifa, and downtown.

Leading luxury real estate developer in the UAE, Sobha Realty recently launched two of their highly anticipated mixed-use real estate development projects in the UAE, both of which are situated in the heart of Dubai.

Sobha Hartland II

Sprawling over eight million square feet of land area with 90 acres of lush greenery and open spaces, Sobha Hartland II offers five- to six-bedroom villas, and one- to four-bedroom apartments, boasting ultra-luxurious living inside a private gated community. State-of-the-art amenities include a clubhouse, religious facilities, school, a crystal lagoon with waterfront retail outlets, a community retail centre, and much more.

A private canal and beach meander along the private villas adding to the beauty of the project. Over 8,000 trees are expected be planted in the community, with over 50 percent of the community area dedicated to greenery and open spaces. Strategically located within the vicinity of the developer’s original Sobha Hartland community, residents enjoy an easy commute, just minutes away from the Burj Khalifa and downtown, and magnificent views of the Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary and Burj Khalifa.

P.N.C. Menon, Founder and Chairman of Sobha Group, said: “At Sobha Realty, we believe in creating unique experiences and offering the highest standards of living. Each of our projects is developed with a keen eye for detail to meet the exacting needs of all our residents. Our goal is to raise the benchmark of the real estate industry and provide a living experience like none other.”

“Dubai has been attracting a plethora of investors through its lucrative real estate offerings and has positioned itself as one of the most modern and progressive markets for luxury properties. We have been making conscious efforts to contribute to the sector in Dubai, along with exceeding the expectations of our customers,” he added.

Francis Alfred, Managing Director of Sobha Realty, said: “Our latest developments are a true reflection of our dedication to adhere to the highest standards of quality and excellence. With an innovative and modern approach, our new projects offer a reimagined lifestyle, and are the perfect example of our efforts to meet the increasing needs of the real estate market. We expect that Sobha One and Sobha Hartland II will be two of the most-preferred residential options for both local residents and global investors.”

THE NATURAL WONDERS OF COSTA RICA

Discover a land of incredible natural splendor, expansive white sandy beaches, and breathtaking scenery

A visit to Costa Rica is an experience you won’t soon forget. Costa Rica is a land teeming with wildlife, from the many species of tortoise in Tortuguero, to monkeys of Monteverde, and the great flocks of colorful birds around the Arenal. To experience this natural world is to experience nature at its richest.

The Costa Rican government works hard to preserve and maintain the natural scenery, and all the places mentioned below are protected natural parks. If you are a lover of nature or the outdoors, a Costa Rica holiday will give you memories worth sharing.

Mountains and Mystery at the Arenal National Park

The national park is home to an exceptionally diverse range of wildlife. Nearly 53% of all Costa Rica’s bird species are present in the park.

The scenery of Costa Rica is marked with large mountains and volcanoes. The king of them all is the majestic Arenal volcano, which appears to break out from the midst of a large and resplendent forest. You may certainly have seen it in a photograph or film, as it is one of Costa Rica’s most famous landmarks.

Less commonly known, but no less spectacular is the Chato Volcano, which, like the Arenal, is in Arenal national park (some affectionately consider it the Arenal’s little brother) . Thousands of years ago, the summit of the Chato Volcano collapsed inwards, leaving a large crater, which is now filled by a picturesque green lagoon. Unlike the Arenal, the Chato has been fully consumed by the jungle resulting in lush green cover all over it.

The national park is home to an exceptionally diverse range of wildlife. Nearly 53% of all Costa Rica’s bird species are present in the park. You’ll likely see many of them, like the fiery-billed aracari, fly past you as you set out to explore. This abundance of bird species makes the Arenal a paradise for bird watching.

Aside from birds, there are over 131 species of mammals, including several species of monkey such as the fascinating Howler Monkey and the Spider Monkey, 135 species of reptile, and more. Even during the briefest visit, you’ll be amazed at the diversity of wildlife you’ll see, and this is apart from the incredibly diverse tropical flora.

You can experience the full splendor of Arenal National Park thanks to a varied range of guided hiking routes. Some of these are high above the ground, right up amid the canopy of the jungle (which you can safely walk through thanks to an intricate series of bridges). Some of the park’s trails can only be crossed on horseback, a wonderfully traditional way of exploring the country. This way, you truly can get closer to nature during your Costa Rica vacation.

There are numerous natural hot springs in Arenal national park, many of them within the grounds of the park’s hotels and resorts. So, if you make the wise decision to stay in the Arenal during your Costa Rica vacation, you will be able to enjoy the hot springs with a degree of exclusivity.

Adventure on Your Costa Rica Vacation Amid the Mists of Monteverde

Monteverde encompasses 35,089 acres of the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range. Its legendary cloud forest is a land unlike any other, famous for its mysterious damp cloud which rests just above the canopy level of the rainforest. This gives the rainforest a mysterious, dreamlike quality. As you explore, you are quite literally, walking in a cloud. This becomes especially the case if you decide to explore the forest high up on a suspension bridge.

Although you can explore some of Monteverde by yourself, we recommend hiking with an experienced guide who can show you the area skillfully. Like in Arenal national park, you can enjoy some of the area on horseback! There are numerous bird-watching tours in Monteverde for you to choose from, which will allow you to see this avian diversity through expert eyes.

The unique climate makes it a place of almost impossible biodiversity. You will see all six species of cat, (Ocelots, Jaguars, Pumas, Jaguarundis, Margays, and Oncillas), over a thousand species of reptiles, hundreds of bird species including the rare and endangered Three-wattled Bellbird. It is considered one of the most biodiverse places in the country, and in the world! No Costa Rica Vacation will be complete without experiencing it.

Although the area is immensely popular with people around the world, the Costa Rican government have done amazing work to ensure that the area is well protected. In the late 1940s, a group of Quakers who had fled the Korean War draft settled in Costa Rica, and noticing the incredible natural scenery, set aside an area of land to be protected. Overtime, the protected area grew and came to be maintained by the Costa Rican State.

Monteverde is considered one of the most biodiverse places in the country, and in the world.

Swamps of Tortuguero

Every year without fail, the beaches around Tortuguero fill with hundreds of Turtles. To see this remarkable natural phenomenon is an experience unlike any other.

Far from the mountains and rainforests of the Monteverde and Arenal, lies the swampland of Tortuguero– a place famous for (and indeed named after) the vast numbers of sea turtles who nest on the coast here. As the area is thick with rivers and canals, it is best explored by boat.

As you sail or float down the waters on a motorboat or canoe, you’ll see exotic birds fly overhead such as Billed Toucans, or the Slaty Tailed Trogon, and below you, colorful tropical fish or other amphibians (the area has many forms of alligator or crocodile). It is an experience far removed from the treks and hikes of Monteverde but is equally unmissable.

Of course, no experience in Tortuguero will be complete without a nesting turtles tour. Every year without fail, the beaches around Tortuguero fill with hundreds of Turtles. To see this remarkable natural phenomenon is an experience unlike any other and is very much worth the effort for any lover of wildlife.

FASHION PICKS

Curated for the sartorially inclined gentleman, GC picks luxury staples and time-tested favourites alongside fashion-forward designs straight from the runway. Inform your new-season wardrobe with the latest from fashion powerhouses.

ATTENTION SEEKER

If you’re partial to the limelight, big prints are your go-to. Sure to turn heads, Etro’s ornate silk shirt teams with Tom Ford’s velvet trousers for a flamboyant take on timeless silhouettes. Best of both.

ETRO Silk Pegasus Print Shirt

TOM FORD Velvet-Waistband Trousers

BOTTEGA VENETA Large Leather Cassette Cross-Body Bag

BOTTEGA VENETA Leather Tire Chelsea Boots

VALENTINO GARAVANI Rockstud Necklace

TOM FORD Drew Pilot Sunglasses

LOW-KEY SARTORIALIST

Dressing to the nines isn’t the only way to be seen. Some guys adopt a cooler approach to occasion wear, calling on boxy, functional cuts that keen eyes will appreciate. Exemplary of this, OAMC’s work jacket and trousers blend comfort with blink-and-miss-it details including cropped legs, seam pockets and recycled polyester fabrication. Of course, there’s no reason why you can’t up the visual ante and keep it casual.

OAMC Boxy Jacket

OAMC Dusk Trousers

JUUN.J Cotton Zip-Detail ShirtTrousers

NIALAYA JEWELRY Sterling Silver Link Bracelet

DOLCE & GABBANA Step Injection Square Sunglasses

DOLCE & GABBANA Portofino Sneakers

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Loubitown Leather Cross-Body Bag

REMEMBER THE WHY

Adidas Basketball is broadening their reach into luxury sportswear apparel with its ‘The 2023 Collection: Chapter 01’

The Adidas Basketball 2023 FW Collection marks the beginning of the brand’s series of premium offerings and features luxury sportswear designed to deliver “style versatility – on and beyond the court.” This includes premium sweats, track pants, sleeveless shirts, and shorts in a muted palette.

Adidas Basketball’s latest film ‘Remember The Why’ highlights how Adidas prides itself on upholding “the Three Stripes’ revolutionary spirit and strips away the excess with a refreshing new palette for the game.”

Distractions are a part of everyday life. From scrolling on handheld devices to the stress of cynics trying to knock us off our game, daily intrusions are embedded all throughout routines. Adidas writes, “We look for a way to reset; to find a little silence and focus on what matters most. In reality, it’s a journey spent rediscovering the moment we first found our Why—the reason we were inspired to begin with. It’s this spirit that drives the next chapter of adidas Basketball. Crafted to serve the modern athlete while building on pillars of the past, the new collection establishes its versatility by focusing on the essentials: form, function and color.” Eric Wise, Adidas Basketball’s global general manager, advocates the importance of connecting back with the source of passion that inspired us to do what we love in the first place.

This collection transcends the scope of basketball as it reaches into the heart of all that basketball touches. Fashion, music and culture are all watered by the devotion found out on the hardwood. Adidas’ press release says, “In many ways, basketball has been a cultural catalyst on a global scale for over half a century; the lines between on-court performance and off-court style are blurred now more than ever.” This collection rests at the intersection of possibility. Modern design selections from colorways to oversized fit, all embrace the communities we each individually influence.

The ‘2023 Collection: Chapter 01’ offers timetested silhouettes, launching in ‘halo green,’ ‘metal grey’ and ‘cloud white’.

REWRITE THE CODE

Armani jumps into the metaverse with a maze-like Fortnite game inspired by its Armani Code Parfum

Armani Beauty has made its debut in the metaverse by launching “Rewrite the Code” on Fortnite, inspired by the new Armani Code Parfum. Personified by British actor Regé-Jean Page, this avant-garde Armani Code fragrance is said to embody the essence of modern masculinity.

Players race through maze-like speed runs in the metaverse to collect the code numbers needed to unlock the Armani Code building, access the Armani Code Parfum bottle and use its magnetic power to rewrite the code. Each speed run is an immersive mini game, featuring a different ingredient drawn from the Armani Code Parfum olfactive composition.

The first speed run takes place in the middle of the day. Players run through the city’s streets making huge leaps and avoiding obstacles left in their way. After reaching the teleportal, players will be transported to a mysterious Souk. Here, they will have to search for the iris flower to unlock two code numbers.

The second speed run sees players navigating a maze-like, underwater structure. After making it to the teleportal, players will be transferred to a homely treehouse, surrounded by giant cedar wood trees. If players find the cedar wood plant, it will reveal another secret two-digit code, helping them on their quest to unlock the Armani Code building entrance.

To reach the end of the third speed run, players will need to traverse the city at night, leaping across rooftops and avoiding helicopters to reach the teleportal that will transport them to a rustic French cottage. In this provincial setting, players will need to find the sage ingredient to reveal the code numbers that will help them unlock the Armani Code building.

At the end of each speed run, players are given a two-number code. Once they have completed all the speed runs, players will then have to run backwards to the start of the speed run to return to the courtyard. There, they will enter the two-number codes. Once players have entered all three codes, they will be able to reset time to its correct, forwardsmoving direction.

Additionally, Armani Beauty will also leverage influencer activation including local livestreams with gaming influencers as well as media amplification to promote its metaverse. The brand says that the metaverse serves as an opportunity to reach and engage Gen Z audience in an authentic and unique way.

The new Armani Code Parfum is crafted as a statement bottle with a unique, roundedsquare shape, the new Armani Code flacon is refillable, reflecting the brand’s commitment to sustainability.

BURBERRY X MINECRAFT

Burberry and Minecraft team up to bring the Burberry brand story to life in a new and unexpected way

Comprising of an in-game adventure from Burberry and Minecraft called ‘Burberry: Freedom to Go Beyond,’ a physical partnered capsule collection and a range of extensions and experiences, the collaboration allows consumers to both physically and digitally immerse themselves in a distinctly Burberry x Minecraft universe.

Uniting two brands with shared values of exploration, creativity and self-expression, the collaboration marks the first time that Burberry has partnered with a gaming franchise to create a fully immersive and branded ingame experience, which is bespoke in both landscape and story line.

Designed together with Minecraft mapmakers Blockception, ‘Burberry: Freedom to Go Beyond’ takes inspiration from Burberry’s pioneering heritage and reimagines journeys into nature through the power of adventure. Commencing in a fantastical version of the City of London, the home and global headquarters of Burberry, the game is punctuated by creative references to the brand’s universe – including an Equestrian Knight character, Thomas Burberry Monogram maze and a range of members from the Burberry animal kingdom, each bestowed with mystical powers. With a venturesome and fast-paced narrative, game players assume the role of a modern explorer, adventuring into the unknown to restore four element-inspired realms to harmony.

Bridging the digital and physical worlds, Burberry and Minecraft encourage communities to showcase their self-expression and equip the modern explorer with in-game skins and character creator items, as well as a physical limited-edition capsule collection. Available exclusively online at Burberry.com and in selected stores, the capsule offers items for both men and women – including unmistakable Burberry icons, from the Waterloo Trench Coat and Car Coats to logo-print sweatshirts, hoodies, hats and scarves. Adorned with virtual landscape scenes and graphics of the Minecraft creature Creeper, pieces are animated by a pixelated iteration of the Thomas Burberry Monogram – inspired by Burberry’s founder – and enhanced by floral embroidery in an ode to the outdoors. Complemented by five iconic looks also available in-game as character skins and captured on models alongside digital avatars, the creation of this collection marks the first time that Burberry has partnered with a video game series for a capsule collection.

To further celebrate the partnership, each of the stores and pop-ups stocking the capsule collection have been transformed into immersive spaces featuring ‘Burberry: Freedom to Go Beyond’inspired window displays, digital screens and flooring.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Minecraft to bring the Burberry brand story to life in such an immersive way,” said Phillip Hennche, Director of Channel Innovation at Burberry. “With a shared belief in adventure, community, and the power of creativity to open spaces, the natural synergy between both of our brands has allowed us to connect our respective worlds in a way that is unexpected and yet entirely natural. By coming together, we hope to connect communities and inspire our consumers with a whole new way to experience our brand.”

“We are excited to announce Minecraft’s first luxury goods collaboration with one of the most iconic fashion brands in the world, Burberry. Our capsule collection and exclusive in-game content bridges the digital and physical worlds through a celebration of adventure, exploration, and self-expression,” added Kayleen Walters, Head of Franchise Development at Mojang Studios. “Through our partnership, we will bring the joy of gaming to the world of luxury fashion and introduce new audiences to the endless creative possibilities within Minecraft.”

Set in the natural world, where game players are encouraged to complete various outdoor challenges and interact with the animal kingdom, ‘Burberry: Freedom to Go Beyond’ reflects Burberry and Minecraft’s appreciation of the wonder of nature. Teaming up to protect and conserve naturescapes for the explorers of tomorrow, Burberry and Minecraft will make a donation to help protect 500,000 trees and plant 25,000 trees through environmental organization Conservation International and their forest conservation efforts around the world. Support from this initiative will not only help protect and restore forest ecosystems but also help conserve critical wildlife habitats in places where Conservation International supports. It complements the ongoing commitment that Burberry and Conservation International have to protect nature through the Fashion Pact.

FIT FOR THE SLOPES

BOSS hits the slopes with a Perfect Moment collaboration, fit for après-ski or tackling the trails

BOSS is the moment, following on from its Gen-Z-centric campaigns and star-studded Fall/ Winter 2022 runway show with a Pre-Spring 2023 collaboration, tapping into skiwear with Perfect Moment. Inspired by both of the collaborators’ archives, the skiwear capsule covers form and function with a select choice of colors, graphics, cuts, and styles fit for the colder weather. Regardless of whether you’re more après-ski or savvy on the slopes, the BOSS x Perfect Moment collection includes layers for all — from the glossy duvet jackets and ski jackets in orange or black that combine the BOSS moniker with Perfect Moment’s “North Star” graphic to bright unders like the tight-fitting orange top, it’s all a throwback to some of the duo’s retro undertones.

BOSS’ “B” logo is worked into a new monogram pattern that adorns everything from jackets to mittens, while the checkered panel that the monogram sits atop is deconstructed to become a star of its own, working its graphic touch on zip-ups and knitwear options. In that latter field, the collaboration also offers chunky rollnecks branded with the collaborative logo, while leggings and sunglasses feature alongside other throwback numbers like an all-in-one ski suit.

Senior Vice President of Creative Direction at HUGO BOSS, Marco Falcioni, says: “When considering a return to the ski slopes, we knew we had to find the right partner. Perfect Moment balances a fashion-forward approach with deep technical expertise, and the outstanding results of our collaboration speak for themselves. I am very excited to see these looks on the ski slopes this season.” Perfect Moment Creative Director, Jane Gottschalk, adds: “We are thrilled to partner with BOSS at such an exciting moment for the brand, when its long history of sporting excellence and fashion innovation is being infused with fresh spirit. This collection is for the Moment Makers — those who are seeking out unique, authentic experiences on and off the slopes, and want to look and feel great in the process.”

WOMENSWEAR

MENSWEAR

SMART FITNESS

Personal fitness at home has seen a rise over the past few years, but despite the convenience of never having to head to the gym, not everyone has been able to embrace a healthier lifestyle for various reasons. Those include the cost of home fitness equipment and subscriptions, as well as doubts about the correctness of the exercises you’re doing.

Just as you don’t need equipment to exercise at home, you might not also need a human trainer to always be looking over your shoulder, especially not with today’s technology. Combining the latest innovations in imaging and AI, the AIMOOV smart camera is able to transform any TV into your home gym, complete with an intelligent coach that will nudge you a bit when your form is wrong, ensuring that you get the best workout even when working out solo.

The AIMOOV smart camera turns any TV into your personal fitness trainer.

There are actually very few reasons why home exercise can’t be a sustainable effort –excluding creative excuses, naturally. You don’t even need special equipment, especially when your own body or some pieces of furniture can be used to provide the necessary tools for that. The one valid concern on people’s minds would be the potential injury they might incur if they do the exercises right. Usually, you’d need a personal trainer to guide you through the proper movements, but thankfully, we now have AI for that as well.

AIMOOV is the combination of a camera that connects to any TV with an HDMI port and an AI that acts as your fitness coach. The simplicity of the camera, which is about the size of a soda can, belies the advanced technology found inside. A Sony STARVIS sensor, for example, makes sure that you can use AIMOOV even when there’s little light in the room. It can connect to your smartphone and smartwatch to give you more insight into your fitness goals. And thanks to its privacy cover and the fact that it has no mic, you can always be assured of your privacy when you’re not using it.

The secret sauce of AIMOOV is, of course, in the AI trainer. It offers a wide range of workouts from professional coaches to match whatever fitness goals you might have. It then monitors your every move so that it can correct your form when it detects that something is wrong, reducing the risk of injuries and optimising your exercise efficiency.

You can also control the whole program using gestures, so you won’t have to reach out for a remote control or phone in the middle of a workout. And when you’re in need of a morale boost, you can connect to your Spotify account and play your favourite music as you move to the beat.

GADGETS & GIZMOS

Technology and innovation have shown there are no boundaries to the human mind— something that is being revealed daily with the development of new tech-innovative products. Here are the top gadgets disrupting the industry.

Dodow

Designed by and for people who have trouble sleeping, Dodow was created and inspired by a relaxation method called Sophrology. It works by guiding users through a breathing method synchronising their breathing with a soft and blue light signal—causing a hypnotic effect and thereby calming one’s mind.

Couchmaster CYBOSS

Brought to you by a small German hardware company, Nerdytec, the Couchmaster CYBOSS is an inclusive allsize lap desk ergonomically and specifically designed to enhance your comfort and efficiency while you work or play, so you can say goodbye to your back pain and future back problems.

TheraFace PRO

Therabody, the company known for creating products that help with muscle relaxation, launched the TheraFace PRO, a facial device integrated with LED lights that helps to relieve tension from the face, jaw, and neck, and helps to reduce wrinkles and improve muscle tone.

Litra Glow

Designed by Logitech, the Litra Glow is an LED light device specifically designed for video streamers to add a cinematic glow that will improve your appearance on camera and help you look more professional. It comes with a diffusion design to deliver full-spectrum LED light and can last up to 12 hours.

Barista Express Impress

Making coffee is an art and coffee lovers can vouch for this. That’s why Sage Appliances is helping people prepare their morning masterpieces in the easiest way possible with the Barista Express, a product that will help you take advantage of whatever coffee beans you want to try.

It comes with cool features, such as 25 grind settings, handcrafted microfoam milk, and assistant tamping.

PowerVision S1

The PowerVision S1 is a gadget that has it all when it comes to recording videos, taking photos, and editing visual content. It comes with gesture control, a wireless charge bank, and professional-level photograph and editing. Every user is also able to download their in-app editor where you can share photos and videos freely, with the app available for iOs and Android.

SMART & NIMBLE

Huawei’s latest member of its flagship Mate series — the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro —comes equipped with a range of cutting-edge technologies, breaking new ground and expanding the scope of what users can expect from a smart device.

The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro represents a major step forward in smartphone aesthetics, thanks to the symmetrical Space Ring Design. The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro also packs an Ultra Aperture XMAGE Camera, which boasts the first-ever 10-scale adjustable physical aperture and most versatile photography capabilities ever seen on a HUAWEI Mate smartphone. In terms of performance, the HUAWIE Mate50 Pro is armoured by the ultra-reliable “Kunlun Glass” which boosts drop resistance by ten times. These robust features are enhanced by futuristic Super Device and EMUI 13, which debuts on the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro and offers a broad array of seamless smart services.

Crafted Quality and Classic Design

In addition to the signature Mate Series design language of iconic symmetry and Space Ring Design, the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro also makes use of the elegant Clous de Paris step-patterned embossing design for the first time ever, showcasing a new kind of ordered beauty that is crafted down to the last detail. The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro come with two different types of rear cover, glass and vegan leather. The glass cover is available in two colours, Silver and Black, which give the phone a distinct, elegant finish. The vegan leather version comes in Orange, inspired by radiant orange rays of the sun.

Ground-breaking Ultra Aperture XMAGE Camera

Huawei launched its very own mobile imaging brand “XMAGE” in July 2022, with the goal of offering consumers a new shooting paradigm that fuses science with culture, and aesthetics with technology in terms of technologies, imaging style, and shooting experience. The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro features a cutting-edge Ultra Aperture XMAGE Camera with a 10-size adjustable physical aperture, which incorporates key advances to the optical system, mechanical structure, imaging technology, and image processing. The smart aperture adjusts to match the aperture size with the scene and shooting scenario identified in Auto mode. Switching to Professional mode allows you to manually adjust the depth of field and degree of blur.

Advanced hardware and algorithms are deeply embedded to enhance static image shooting. The Ultra Aperture Camera comes equipped with an F1.4 large aperture, working with the XD Fusion Pro image engine and high light intake, to set the image brightness, light and shadow details, as well as cold and warm comparisons to perfection.

Portrait mode applies natural background blurring to make the subject stand out from their surroundings. Night mode captures photos with highly distinct bright and dark regions, even in dimly lit environments. The periscope telephoto camera supports a zoom range of up to 200x, bringing scenes from the great beyond right in front of your eyes. The wide-angle macro camera magnifies details from tiny worlds, presenting millimetre-level strands and dew droplets with outstanding clarity. The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro also supports macro video shooting and macro picture-in-picture (PiP) to accurately convey scenes in motion.

Mighty Performance

The HUAWEI “Kunlun Glass” consists of ten quadrillion-level nanocrystals, the result of composite ion strengthening, which make it more resilient and drop resistant, as verified by the first-ever fivestar glass drop resistance certification from Switzerland’s SGS. This makes the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro modules the first phones to ever achieve this certification. The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro also supports IP68-rated water resistance of up to 6 metres underwater, allowing it to easily handle wet and dusty environments.

Additionally, the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro display provides a window into a crystal-clear world. Combined with the P3 wide colour gamut, fine-tuned colours are calibrated to ensure absolute authenticity. The smartphone comes with a 6.74-inch HUAWEI FullView Display with a screen resolution of 2616 x 1212 pixels and a high refresh rate of 120Hz and 1440Hz PWM dimming to reduce flickering and relieve eye fatigue.

The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro packs a 4700 mAh battery within its slim body. It offers 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge wired and 50W HUAWEI SuperCharge wireless fast-charging solutions to strike an optimal balance between battery life, fast charging, and portability. Moreover, with an innovative low-battery Emergency Mode that activates when the battery level falls to 1%, SuperEnergy Boosting enables the HUAWEI Mate50 Pro to extend standby time by three hours of standby, or 12 minutes of call time.

SuperStorage removes duplicate files in an imperceptible way and compresses rarely used apps. This preserves up to 20GB of space (on a phone with 256GB of ROM), leaving more room for the abundance of photos and videos that today’s users capture.

Visionary Super Device features and Streamlined Interactions

The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro is the first smartphone form Huawei to run on EMUI 13, which streamlines daily interactions with effortless one-touch navigation. EMUI 13 introduces the Super Device SuperHub feature, an innovative file transfer capability. Users can simply press and hold on any text, pictures, videos and files, drag to SuperHub’s floating window to store the files temporary. Users can then switch to another application, select the files within the SuperHub for a seamless cut and paste. With the batch transfer capability, users can also use SuperHub for multi-files transfer between their smartphone, tablet and PC.

On one hand, it improves efficiency and avoids the process of users switching back and forth between multiple applications and duplicating them. On the other hand, the visual presentation of the copied content allows users to freely combine and arrange the copied content, which brings higher information transmission efficiency. With EMUI 13, Multi-Screen Collaboration now also supports Multi-Window on HUAWEI Notepad and the proprietary Mail app. When the smartphone and PC are connected via Super Device, users can now enable split-screen usage of the mobile apps on the PC screen, bringing more convenience when browsing and using apps.

Additionally, EMUI 13 brings enhanced cross-device collaboration capabilities with Super Device, supporting up to ten types of smart device connectivity combination and collaboration. The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro can connect more devices such as earbuds, smart glasses, smart screens and laptops with a simple drag, bringing together an inter-connected intelligent service across devices. This means that users can enjoy enhanced smart office, entertainment, fitness and travel experience with Huawei’s suite of smart devices. With Super Device, Huawei has taken another step forward in achieving the ultimate goal of bringing the Seamless AI Life to consumers.

A world of opportunities with HMS and favourite apps from AppGallery

The HUAWEI Mate50 Pro comes pre-installed with HUAWEI AppGallery - the third-largest app marketplace in the world. Users download a wide selection of global and Local apps using this. Celebrating its 4th anniversary in the MEA region on Thursday 8th of December, AppGallery is today available in more than 170 countries and regions and has over 580 million active monthly users.

The platform now has 6 million registered developers, up from 2.3 million in early 2021. Similarly, the number of app downloads reflects AppGallery’s remarkable growth: users downloaded over 432 billion apps in 2021, a 93% increase over 2019. As part of Huawei’s expanding ecosystem, HUAWEI AppGallery emphasizes privacy, providing enhanced security and a unique, intuitive user experience.

HUAWEI AppGallery will continue to invest in its partners in order to enrich its collection of apps that have become a staple of users’ digital lifestyles. Furthermore, the HMS Core, which unlocks a multitude of Huawei software and hardware capabilities, is regularly updated with new capabilities that enable the hassle-free development of premium apps. Huawei is dedicated to generating new opportunities for users and partners in HMS’s dynamic, collaborative ecosystem.

PACK & RIDE

Why carry your suitcase when your suitcase can carry you?

It might take a while for ‘riding suitcases’ to become a norm of sorts, but the Quadra is ideal for people who can’t lug their luggage around with them. Whether it’s a traveller with fatigue, a flyer who’s running late for a flight, or perhaps the noblest scenario, an elderly traveller or a traveller with special needs, the Quadra could be just the thing to help you and your luggage get from point A to B. The Quadra, instead of being dragged or pulled, ends up driving you around the place.

A step up from those self-driving suitcases we saw at CES last year, the Quadra fits an entire e-scooter into the suitcase, allowing you to pull it around when you want, and letting you drive it around airport lobbies.

The design of the Quadra packs a foldable handlebar, two wheels, and even a pair of legrests into it. One side of the suitcase ends up becoming your seat, and the entire suitcase effectively turns into a scooter that runs on an internal battery.

While carrying batteries or power-banks in your check-in luggage is a big no-no, the Quadra is designed to be compact enough to serve as cabin luggage. Given that the wheels fold into the Quadra’s form, it would mean compromising slightly on storage space, but the Quadra still packs enough for a side-bag. Besides, let’s not discount the fact that it’s also the only side-bag that can drive you around the airport and spare you the fatigue brought about by constantly having to wheel luggage around with you as you walk from terminal to terminal.

RINGCONN

The smart ring that keeps tabs on your health so you can keep wearing your favourite watch

Keeping track of our health has become almost a necessity these days. Knowing not only the number of steps we’ve taken but also our heart’s rhythm or our blood oxygen level can mean the difference between life or death for some people, especially when the symptoms aren’t evident. Fortunately, we have enough technology today to cram all the necessary sensors into something the size of a watch.

Not everyone is a fan of these smartwatches and fitness trackers, especially when it means having to give up their watch collection. That’s where RingConn comes in, a smart ring that does everything (and more) a smartwatch can while also looking stylish on your finger and freeing your wrist for your favourite classic timepiece.

While smartwatches seem like a miracle of science and technology, cramming sensors and components that we’d often see as distinct medical gadgets in clinics and hospitals. At the same time, however, they’re not always the most convenient or most comfortable devices for such purposes. They also have short battery lives, which means you have to regularly remove them to charge them, and they will not always match your sense of style, even if they’re the more expensive smartwatches from designer brands.

In that context, RingConn is an even bigger miracle, considering it can do all that a smartwatch can without the downsides. In fact, it works even better because you wear it on your finger instead of a wrist, where there’s less muscle and skin to get in the way of “seeing” your blood vessels. That way, you can get an even more accurate reading of your body’s state or activity 24/7. That means having access to a wide range of health data, including sleep quality, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, stress levels, as well as your typical steps, walking distance, and calories burned.

For example, it not only detects when you’re sleeping but can properly detect different stages of sleep, from light to deep to REM. It even knows when you’re taking a power nap and properly categorises that in its sleep report. The highly accurate PPG (PhotoPlethysmoGraphy) sensor can keep track of your heart rate continuously on its own, or you can opt to manually focus on certain times and events manually. Combining your heart variability and heart rate, the RingConn will alert you when you’re experiencing stress and remind you to wind down a bit. All of this data, including your steps and blood oxygen level, will be available in the mobile app for free forever, no monthly subscriptions required.

The icing on the RingConn’s impressive performance is its stylish and comfortable design. Made from durable and lightweight titanium, the ring won’t cramp your style. In fact, you might even forget you’re wearing it, which makes it perfect for all kinds of sports and activities where a smartwatch would normally weigh you down. It’s also IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, so you don’t have to worry about getting it wet. And, of course, that leaves you free to wear the watch you want, be it digital or mechanical, without having to worry about losing sight of your health. And with a seven-day battery life, together with a 500mAh charging case, you can go for as long as three months without even having to plug it in.

Whether you’re leading a very active and sporty lifestyle or you just want to keep a close eye on your health, the RingConn promises to deliver the health data you need without compromising your style.

EXPLORE THE BEST OF JAPAN’S MIDWINTER SCENERY

There’s no avoiding the fact that Japan gets cold in winter. But that cold weather brings magical scenes that are breathtakingly beautiful. From ice-packed seas in the far north to snow festivals, skiing and more, it’s worth braving the cold temperatures for sights that will dazzle, in spite of the temperatures.

Ice, Ice, Baby – Drift Ice in Hokkaido

The Okhotsk Sea off the northern coast of Hokkaido is covered in drift ice in winter. To fully appreciate its magic, board an ice-breaking ship for a cruise like no other. The ice that covers the surface of the water here drifts down from the Amur River in Russia, reaching Hokkaido’s coastal waters by late January and retreating again in late March. It’s at its thickest and most dramatic around the town of Abashiri, and you can easily find an ice-breaking cruiser that will take you out to explore this natural phenomenon. The MS Aurora is a popular and comfortable option.

You can, of course, enjoy the view from the warm interior of the ship, but for real adventure, wrap up warm and head out onto the deck where you’ll be able to see the ship carving a path through the drift ice, and hear the extraordinary sound of the ice giving way. Keep an eye out for seals resting on the ice, and for sea eagles plucking fish out of the frigid waters. On a clear day, the views are magical, the white of the drift ice corresponding with the snowy peaks of the mountains inland, and the clear blue winter sky providing the perfect canvas for it all.

A magical ice kingdom at the Sapporo Snow Festival in February

After a three-year absence, the Sapporo Snow Festival is finally back. Launched in 1950 by a group of high school students who made snow sculptures in the park, it’s grown to be one of the longest-running and most popular winter festivals in the country, with more than 400 spectacular snow and ice sculptures, nighttime illuminations, live music, and the Sapporo Big Air ski and snowboard jump contest.

2023 will be the 73rd time the festival has taken place, and it will run for one week from February 4 to 11. Even if you arrive before the official start of the festival you’ll be able to see the work in progress – soldiers from Japan’s Self Defense Force start creating the structures of the largest ones a few weeks in advance, and watching the process is fascinating. Don’t come expecting overgrown snowmen – the scale and detail of the sculptures is incredible. Previous creations have included large-format models of castles and Thai palaces, as well as manga characters, animals and mythical creatures.

The best place to start your walk through the festival is in the central Odori Park which hosts many of the larger sculptures, as well as plenty of smaller ones. In the western side of the park is the main snow sculpture competition, with teams from around the world competing. There are also illuminations and projections throughout the city, and plenty of cosy places to retreat to for a hot bowl of noodles or a warm drink.

High-end hot springs and a winter festival in Jozankei

On a smaller scale, but no less dramatic, is the candle festival at Hokkaido’s Jozankei Shrine. Known as the Jozankei Onsen Yukitouro, or snow candle way, there’s a special magic to this quiet, peaceful festival where 1,000 candles in lanterns made from ice light up the snowcovered grounds that surround the shrine. This winter’s festival runs from January 28 to February 4, and you can join the visitors to make a negai-no-akari – a wish as you carry your candle to the central snow tower without it going out.

The whole town of Jozankei takes on a magical mood in winter. Famous for its onsen hot springs, the first hot spring bath opened more than 150 years ago. Set in a tree-covered ravine, the scenery is exceptionally beautiful in winter when covered with snow, and there are few things more special than soaking in an outdoor rotenburo bath, watching the steam rise off the surface of the waters while snowflakes fall on you. You can experience this at many of the high-end traditional ryokan inns located throughout the town.

One particularly good option is Nukumori no Yado Furukawa, offering a warm welcome in a cosy traditional setting, with beautiful hot spring baths to soak in. Sink into the private cypress wood bath, or book one of the guestrooms with its own private hot spring bath so you can move straight from bath to bed for a night of deep sleep.

Pro Tip – be sure to wear non-slip boots as the snowy pavements can be slippery. Alternatively, you can pick up spikes to attach to your shoes at many of the city’s convenience stores.

A brand new ski resort - Club Med Kiroro Peak

Hokkaido’s mountains are legendary for the quality of their powder snow, and skiers flock here every winter to enjoy some of the world’s best conditions. A new family-friendly property is opening up for the 2023 winter season, giving visitors even more ways to explore the snowy peaks.

Whether you’re an expert or a novice, the new Club Med Kiroro Peak offers two distinctive resorts to suit all types of families. Club Med Kiroro Peak caters for families with teenagers above the age of 12, and Club Med Kiroro Grand welcomes families of all ages, with a wide range of children’s facilities.

Club Med’s all-inclusive concept means that group skiing and snowboarding lessons are included, providing families with great opportunities to learn together, to practice their skills, or take on the adventurous challenge of the powder-covered mountains.

Adults and older kids will also love heading out on a snow-shoe trek, or finding balance with complimentary yoga classes. There’s also the opportunity to learn about the culture of the Ainu, the first settlers of Hokkaido, through their crafts, carving and music.

After an active day, soak in the resort’s hot spring waters or head to the sauna and whirlpool. And with skiing meaning you’re likely to work up an appetite, you’ll be able to dive right into the extensive dining options across the hotels, with Western and Asian buffets at main restaurant Otaru, specialty Asian dishes including local seafood, meat and vegetables at Ogon, and hearty barbecue items at The Kaen Yakiniku restaurant. It’s all guaranteed to give you enough energy for another exciting day on the mountain.

SRI LANKA: THE JEWEL OF ASIA

Golden coastlines, verdant forests and alluring cities – Sri Lanka draws you in with its wonderful history and epic natural landscapes. Go beyond the nation’s most visited destinations and create an memorable itinerary that’s entirely your own with these oncein-a-lifetime wildlife encounters and immersive cultural excursions.

Awaken your senses as you take a walk in Agro Park

Colombo never fails to amaze with its handsome heritage sites, vibrant shopping districts and endless eateries serving up tantalizing Sri Lankan cuisine. If you’re craving a day outside the hustle and bustle of the city though, add Agro Park to your agenda.

The oasis sits just 27 miles away from the capital in the district of Bandaragama and it’s easily one of our most exclusive excursions. See how Sri Lanka’s rural communities thrive and learn all about their ways of life and methods of cultivating the area’s lush paddy fields, tranquil tea plantations and fragrant cinnamon trees.

Find your zen with the monks of Umandawa

Sri Lanka is home to several quiet retreats that allow you to switch off and be at one with nature. If you are looking for a spiritual experience, one of our top picks is a trip to Umandawa. The 70-acre estate is set within a fertile valley and is a blissful haven for those seeking some peace and quiet. The retreat is run by Buddhist monks and nuns, with each activity bringing guests closer to the natural world.

Learn the art of mindfulness, take part in daily meditation sessions, lend a hand at planting trees or help cultivate tropical delights from Umandawa’s organic gardens.

If a full-blown retreat doesn’t quite suit, try incorporating another spiritual hotspot into your itinerary. Visit Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth as part of an enlightening ayurvedic tour or stroll among the beautiful ruins of ancient sacred monuments in Sigiriya and Anuradhapura.

Be one with nature at Gal Oya National Park

Sri Lanka has no shortage of national parks where you can surround yourself with fantastic flora and fauna.

Go off the beaten path and explore lesserknown regions, such as the Gal Oya National Park in Sri Lanka.

Sprawled out along the banks of the Gal Oya River, the park is a paradise for animal lovers. Watch majestic elephants – the area’s most well-known inhabitants – swim between the river’s tiny isles during a thrilling boat safari.

Alternatively, you might appreciate a trip to Bird Island where you can witness dozens of bird species nesting on its green shores.

Gal Oya is the ideal destination to add to your Sri Lanka itinerary if you want a quieter, lesscrowded wildlife experience.

Watch baby turtles glide across the sand in Bentota

Peaceful Bentota is tucked away on the country’s southwest coast and it’s an ideal location for a luxurious getaway. As well as relaxing on its pristine shorelines and enjoying the amenities of its indulgent resorts, you’ll have the chance to witness a spectacular phenomenon – the hatching of baby sea turtles.

Run by the Sea Turtle Association, the hatchery gives visitors a chance to see nesting turtles up close. When the eggs fail to thrive in the wild, the organisation carefully removes them to the hatcheries where they steadily develop. Once hatched, the newborn turtles are returned to the beach where they begin their journey across the sand to the sea. The process is unbelievably moving and you’ll not want to miss it!

In addition to watching turtles take to the ocean, you could also visit other idyllic beaches in this tranquil corner of Sri Lanka. Galle’s beaches are like something out of a painting thanks to their watercolor skies and calm waters dotted with traditional stilt fisherman. Tangalle is awash with white sand shores, while Negombo’s wide beaches and location 37 km north of Colombo make it a popular side trip for those visiting the capital.

Delve deep into culture at Kandapola Village House

Is tea your preferred hot beverage? Don’t miss a trip to Nuwara Eliya. Nestled in central Sri Lanka’s fertile hill country, it brims with botanical gardens, tumbling waterfalls, national parks and numerous plantations where you can learn all about the process of tea cultivation.

Besides enjoying a tour of one of the area’s fragrant plantations, take a trip to Kandapola Village House.

Learn more about the locals and their peaceful ways of living and tuck into simple yet delicious dishes courtesy of the village’s kitchen. Typical options on the menu include spicy chicken biryani, crispy dosa with mango chutney and delectable, sweet treats such as laddu and kesari bat.

The tranquil hideaway in the hills is surrounded by bright green tea fields and is the perfect place to understand more about Tamil culture.

Watch elephants at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Sri Lanka’s most beloved animal must be the elephant. They’re found across the country, from its vast national parks to its dedicated conservation areas.

A great way to interact with these incredible creatures is to take a trip to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Situated a short distance from Kandy among swaying coconut trees, it is home to around 90 elephants.

Spend the day with these gentle giants, watching them bathe in the cool waters of the Maha Oya stream and feeding them fresh bananas from your hand.

BIG BANG UNICO

Titanium and blue ceramic case. In-house UNICO chronograph movement.