TRAVEL NEWS
IN HARMONY Amanyangyun is a place you visit to forget about the world for a little while. Located a short distance from downtown Shanghai, and surrounded by a camphor forest and lakes, the modern and understated design and décor of this tranquil resort belies its history. Here, Mingand Qing-dynasty dwellings were saved from demolition and reassembled, brick by ancient brick, to create what is now a holistic health and healing retreat. Its spa and wellness centre is one of the largest and most comprehensive in Shanghai and offers treatments, journeys and rituals based on traditional Chinese healing practices. aman.com/resorts/amanyangyun
SPIRITUAL AWAKENING It’s not easy to get to volcanic Ulleungdo Island in South Korea, but if you’re willing to embark on the journey to The Kosmos Hotel you’ll be greatly rewarded. Guests visit this spiritual refuge to reflect inward, heal and contemplate life. Designed by Seoul-based architects The System Lab, the hotel’s architecture is impressively unique, with curved white walls that rise and fall, swirl and swoop, as if powered by the island’s mystical energy. Rooms are luxurious and fitted with state-of-the-art technology, while the views are commandeered by ancient forests and the azure ocean. The otherworldy energy and surrounding natural beauty are sure to restore even the most weary beings. thekosmos.co.kr
GO WITH THE FLOW There is nothing quite as cathartic as the rhapsodic sound of flowing water. And at private nature sanctuary Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia it is the soundtrack to every day. With just 15 custom-designed tents, it’s an extremely exclusive hideaway where guests are ensconced in the surrounding mountain and rain forest (one of the few remaining habitats in Cambodia for wild elephants, gibbons and many other species). Days are spent traversing the wild waterways aboard the private, fully-equipped expedition boats, relaxing at the bar perched alongside a waterfall, or rejuvenating at the tranquil Boulders Spa. shintamani.com
7 1 P R I VAT E E D I T I O N ISSUE 43