Red Magazine - August 2015 issue

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Le Jardin de Monsieur Li Eastern Explorations

EDITOR'S NOTE

WISH YOU WERE HERE Yesterday, I went to view the Alhambra, which is the most beautiful castle I've ever seen. The muqarnas, horseshoe arches, voussoirs, domes, crenelated arches, lancet arches, ogee arches, courtyards, and decorative tile work found in Moorish architecture are lavish yet easy on the eyes because there is not too much use of color. While touring, I found myself thinking of the people who had lived there and imagined the kids running around in their beautiful gardens.

I also learned that in those days, the wealthy would have two homes very close to each other because it was dangerous to travel far distances.

One home is for the cold season and had rooms with lower ceilings, the other for summer and had high ceilings and more domes and plants to provide shelter from the sweltering heat. I guess they’re much like the summer homes people have these days.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love to travel. I find that I need to “get away” once in a while because it gets a bit too busy for me in Manila. After escaping to somewhere, I come back happier and more efficient in everything.

While doing this issue, the team and I decided that for our fashion and beauty pages, we are going to focus on small items that are easy to pack. See the minuscule essentials we've discovered that can pass TSA standards and the beautiful bags you can tuck them into in our baRED and attiRED sections. When you’re packed and ready, learn of a destination that takes your breath away first with a long but rewarding trek then with a stunning view through our travel story about a trail on the edge of Greece. Discover as well the wild adventures that Tracie Anglo-Dizon has had during her personal trips and work travels as a creative director of an African safari business.

Packing and traveling can be stressful, but they’re the kind of stress I don’t mind having. And after going away for a while and seeing the world, home feels much more like, well, home upon my return.

@riaprieto: Walking thru Alhambra #spain

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CONTENTS

8

ACQUIRED Furniture pays homage to the era of glamor

ART

7

EMPOWERED

29

Artworks exploring identity and culture

Tracie Anglo-Dizon narrates her wildest escapade

ATTIRED

10

EXPLORED

Tinier renditions of the classic travel suitcase

A hiker’s take on the enduring glory of Greece

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20

BARED

14

INSPIRED

Chic essentials set in miniature

The home as the brainchild of a creative collaboration

18

ADMIRED

Group Publisher Bea Ledesma Editor in Chief Ria Prieto Creative Director Nimu Muallam Associate Editor Meg Manzano Copy Editor September Grace Mahino

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li, Hermès On the cover: Photography Patrick Segovia Creative Direction Nimu Muallam Model Jessica Yang Nails Lavie Nail Spa Le Jardin de Monsieur Li, Hermès; Serpenti Tubogas ring, Serpenti Tubogas twirl bracelet watch, B.zero1 bangle bracelet, Bvlgari

Editorial Assistant Pristine L. de Leon Staff Photographer Patrick Segovia External Relations Officer Sophie Villanueva

Board Chairperson Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez SVP and Group Sales Head, Inquirer Group of Companies Pepito Olarte Sales Director Ma. Katrina Mae Garcia-Dalusong Business and Distribution Manager Rina Lareza

Contributing Writers Cai Subijano, Randz Manucom, Mara Santillan Miano, Jizelle Bautista, Romeo Moran, Bea Ledesma, Lex Celera Contributing Photographers Patrick Segovia, Jizelle Bautista, Joseph Pascual, Tammy David, Miguel Nacianceno Interns Catherina Dario, Angela Natividad, Chab Ocampo, Katya Roxas

Sales Inquiries Email: sales@hip.ph Telephone No: +63 (2) 403 8825 local 239

ON THE RADAR

JET SET, GO! W ORD S RA ND Z MA NUCOM

RIGHT AT HOME

TWO BECOME ONE

There’s a new “It’”bag on the rise and you’re going to like what’s inside—another bag.

The new Prada Inside Bag, dropping this fall, has a differently colored interior pouch sewn inside. The bag-withina-bag can be carried zipped shut or flung wide open to reveal the contrasting inner bag.

The compartments inside make it the no-nonsense go-to travel bag.

Cut down on your vacation miles as Palawan, Philippines takes the top spot in Condé Nast Traveler’s 30 most beautiful islands in the world, as voted by its readers. The island’s limestone cliffs in Coron and the underground river in Puerto Prinsesa, now part of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, have become must-visit hotspots, helping Palawan sprint ahead of Bora Bora, the French Polynesia, and Maldives to become the go-to favorite of global travelers. Also on the list at number 12 is Boracay, Philippines.

FEELING PLUSH

The shearling coat proved to be the new first class travel companion of any woman for fall. While this plush piece isn’t the most convenient to handcarry, Lanvin f/w 2015 doesn’t scrimp on it at all. In fact, the overdone passementerie exude the ultimate comfort that you would want in on this luxury. Lanvin creative director Alber Elbaz has “painted a convincing portrait of a sophisticated adventuress.”

True enough, the pieces from this collection are like sartorial souvenirs from a life well-traveled.

GO SET A WATCHMAN, HARPER LEE Fifty-five years in the making, the follow-up to the American classic To Kill a Mockingbird is the book event of the decade. In the sequel, set 20 years after Mockingbird—but actually written before it—we meet an adult Scout Finch visiting her hometown, and an Atticus Finch that’s decidedly different from the one we met in Lee’s previous novel.

THE FESTIVAL OF INSIGNIFICANCE, MILAN KUNDERA The author of the novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being has released his first book in 13 years. The Festival of Insignificance plays with the realities of the contemporary world and, at the same time, tries to completely avoid realism. This tension similarly encountered by a group of friends in Paris.

THE DUST THAT FALLS FROM DREAMS, LOUIS DE BERNIÈRES Set against a background of war, this book, which took the author seven years to write, tells the story of Rosie McCosh who has to choose between the two men she loves: one an infantry soldier and one a flying ace.

1. Fighting History Runs until 13 September 2015 Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, UK Fighting History explores the artist’s creative response to history and how artworks interpret and transform sociopolitical events into visual narratives. The exhibit features 18th century works by John Singleton Copley and Benjamin West, as well as 20th century and contemporary pieces by Richard Hamilton.

2. Jeff Koons: A Retrospective Runs until 27 September 2015 Guggenheim, Abandoibarra Etorb., 2, 48009 Bilbao, Biscay, Spain Jeff Koons’s distinctive, innovative style has made him one of the most prominent contemporary artists in the international community. His work, which typically uses industrial materials, borrows from several artistic traditions and discusses the relationship between individuality and context.

THE ROUND-UP

ART

This month’s shows tackle histories both personal and cultural

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3. Pangaea II: New Art from Africa and Latin America Runs until 6 September 2015 Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY, United Kingdom Saatchi Gallery, London The supercontinent that broke apart 200 million years ago is transformed through the works of 19 different artists from Africa and Latin America, rendered as large-scale installations and paintings that tap into the postcolonial consciousness.

4. Dinh Q. Lê: Memory for Tomorrow Runs until 12 October 2015 Mori Art Museum, 6-10-1 Roppongi|53F, Minato 106-6150, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan The Vietnamese artist recounts the Vietnam War through photography and media art, focusing on personal histories of ordinary individuals whose experiences seemingly dissolved amid national turmoil. It urges discourse between the private and the public spheres of the individual.

5. Tropical Mythologies by Gonzalo Fuenmayor Runs until 13 September 2015 Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States Gonzalo Fuenmayor challenges the historical tension between Latin America and Europe in collages that merge jungle foliage with ornate architecture and decorative objects, depicting the cultural clash between the two regions.

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ACQUIRED

The Redondo, its name meaning “round” in Spanish, counters the linear shapes of the current trend, with the round design evocative of protective shelter and embrace.

ODE TO AMERICANA

Patricia Urquiola's Redondo harks back to the era of glamor WORDS B E A J. LED ESMA

Last July, Patrizia Moroso, scion of the eponymous Italian furniture company, was perched on a Patricia Urquiola sofa, fielding questions from leaders in the local design industry during the launch of the new Casa Bella showroom in The Fort.

Urquiola, a favorite of Moroso’s—the designer is responsible for designing Moroso’s current home— designed the Redondo, a sofa with a “distinctive, two-part shape.” Americana was Urquiola’s starting point, in particular the cars of the ’50s and ’60s.

Their striking configuration—the rounded corners, the retro upholstery, the substantial weight of its body—was manifested in the padded contours of the Redondo’s shell, the quilting evocative of the threedimensional patterns on antiquated automobiles.

Urquiola herself stitched the design on the quilt, conveying an impression of depth and dimension.

The Redondo harkens to a time of glamor and ease, when reclining on a sofa while sipping on a cocktail at the end of the day was the norm rather than the exception.

Redondo Sofa is available at G/F MDI Corporate Center 10th Ave. corber 39th St., BGC, Taguig

Organic materials inform lighting company Feliix’s latest collection. Molded into space-age silhouettes, the tabletop and suspended fixtures find much in common with underwater inhabitants.

For the Coral Reef lamp, a sleek beacon that derives its design from the jagged cropping of rock and coral, the design team collaborated with Taiwan’s National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium to evoke the feeling of light refracting underneath water. The jellyfish served as inspiration for the Aurelia, its transparent double acrylic shades mimicking the sea creature’s rounded form.

Feliix touched on organic forms beyond the sea in duplicating naturalgrowing crystals with the Crystal Lamp, a complex, manoeuvrable, multi-unit light that delivers a subtle glow through its diffuser. Connected by magnet, users can adjust and mold the piece to the shape of their liking.

Top: Aurelia suspended and table lamps; From left: Coral Reef Lamp; Crystal light; Feliix is located at 3/F Greenbelt 5. www.feliix.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY TAMMY DAVID (PATRICIA URQUIOLA)

WHEN NATURE ILLUMINATES

SQUARED

CREATIVE MICROCOSM Inside Miguel Rosales’ design laboratory

WORDS MA RA SA NTILLA N MIA NO P HOTOGRA P HY PATRICK SEGOVIA

The vastness of Miguel Rosales’ work cannot be encompassed within the bijou of a space that is the Caramel office, though it does provide a glimpse of the man’s creative vision. Walls are covered in framed art, unhung canvases lean on the corner, and the selection of furniture accentuates the art rather than the other way around. It’s an effortless mix of antiques and modern pieces, high and low.

Embroidery by Geraldine Javier reads “250 Ways to Prepare Meat.” Eighteenth century Philippine silver panels hang in their frames.

A Tom Epperson smoke photograph stands out as the sole abstract piece. A cabinet houses various objets d’art, including a nesting doll painted as Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family. “We want to show variety. These are more project pieces that we offer to designers who walk in and need a piece to complete a project.”

There’s only one working desk, bare save for some blueprints, floor plans, and art books. Rosales’ real work happens outside: design, creative consultations, art advisory and management, artist representation, and hotel projects—the biggest one, as of writing, is the new Shangri-La at the Fort. His vision for the luxury hotel is a showcase of fine art and architecture that honors authentic Filipino heritage and incorporates works of local artists.

“The details are so different from the usual Shangri-La look; it looks amazing. I think it will get people remembering how beautiful our country and our culture are.”

ATTIRED

LAND LOCKS

Go on bold excursions with elegant armory in tow

Petite Malle Sequins and Petite Malle Monogram, both from Louis Vuitton

Pink wedge clutch, Loewe; tan curved calfskin clutch, CĂŠline

Griss fossile and black men’s zip case with key ring, both from Balenciaga

PU R

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BARED

CHIC 'N LITTLE

Traipse around the globe with beauty staples in miniscule proportions P HOTOGRA P HY PATRICK SEGOVIA

Aromatic perfumed sachet (Red Currant), Votivo, Adora, Greenbelt 5; lip balm, Carmex; advanced active radiance serum, Murad, Rustan’s Makati; scented votive candle, Malin+Goetz, Adora, Greenbelt 5; anti-friccion stick, Compeed; retractable kabuki make-up brush, Becca, Adora, Greenbelt 5.

This page: Scent library, Penhaligon’s, Adora, Greenbelt 5 Opposite page: Shave Cream, eShave

SPECIAL FEATURE His wanderings around the world had inspired Jean-Claude Ellena, to capture those moments and eternalize them the best way he knows how— through his magical Jardins Collection.

AN OLFACTORY DESTINATION To a place where spring is eternal W ORD S CA I SUBIJ A NO

They say you never step into the same river twice.

The same could also now be said about gardens.

In an increasingly urban landscape, the art of gardening has been relegated to the caring of succulents, air plants, terrariums, and other lowmaintenance living things. The orderly cacophony of flora clashing with fauna, the balance of trees and shrubbery, and the experience of being transported into a place where nature rules above all else has become novel.

Jeane-Claude Ellena, the in-house perfumer for Hermès, himself has been inspired many times by the gardens of the world. He began with Un Jardin en Méditerranée (2003), inspired by the

Tunisian garden of Leïla Menchari, director of displays for Hermès. Next came Un Jardin sur le Nil (2005), created for the garden islands of the Nile at Aswan, then Un Jardin après la Mousson (2008), spurred by a visit to the tropical paradise in Kerala, India. He circled back to home base with Un Jardin sur le Toit (2011), where he rediscovered the beauty of the rooftop garden located on 24, faubourg Saint-Honoré, at the heart of the Hermès House.

With Le Jardin de Monsieur Li, Jean-Claude’s latest journey takes us to the lush, verdant plains of China. “I remembered the scent of the pools, of the jasmine, the wet stones, the plum trees, the kum-

quats, and the giant bamboo. It was all there, even the carp in their pond, taking the time to live to a hundred. The Sichuan pepper bushes were as thorny as roses and the leaves gave off a lemony scent. All that remained was to compose this new garden, one which contained all the others,” he says.

One spray, and it’s as if all the world, really, is a garden.

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is available at Hermès boutique, Greenbelt 3; Hermès perfume counter, Rustan's Makati, Rustan's Tower EDSA, and Rustan's Cebu

INSPIRED

5

NATURAL CONNECTION

Of bridging the gap between the home and the outdoors W ORD S LEX CELERA P HOTOGRA P HY MIGUEL NA CIA NCENO

1

Fuctionality with a twist: This residence espouses structural integrity without encountering resistance.

When does a residential space become a dwelling?

When the residents’ sensibilities shine through the spaces they tread on, landscaping the space towards what they are—or will soon be—familiar with.

From interior accents to structural refinements, building a home rests on THE HOME HAS TO clear vision, beginning with design.

REFLECT THE PEOPLE For this residence in Nuvali, the WHO LIVE IN IT, OR design rests on a mindfulness of the AT LEAST HOW THEY environment it is situated in and a ENVISION THEIR FUTURE desire to have a private sanctuary LIFESTYLE TO BE. worth coming home to. This translates to a cohesion with its surroundings: cool winds and lush greenery. Instead of resisting, the home becomes one with the land it thrives on.

From a footprint grid of Even the design process necessitates cohesion: nine squares, the house this modern home is a result of a collaborative is designed in a way that allows for passive project between interior designer Chako Hirayama cooling and natural light, of Design HQ and architect Micaela Benedicto, successfully integrating who tightly corresponded with the clients to outdoor space into the structure of the house. understand their aesthetic preferences.

What was your inspiration for the design? Can you call it modern, minimalist, both, or neither?

Micaela: The architectural design can be called modern and minimalist like my other work, although each project really has its own character and its own story. Aside from the client’s needs, the design for this house in particular was informed by its setting (a windy, green village outside of Metro Manila), the plot of land that is almost a perfect square, and the surrounding views.

What notable considerations did you take for the space?

Chako: Since the architecture of the house is very open to the outdoors with lots of floor-to-ceiling windows, we kept the color scheme inside pretty muted so that it would contrast nicely with the lush greenery outside. The living/dining/kitchen is all part of an open layout, and I think the dark gray of the kitchen cabinets play well with the woodcladded ceiling, the light-colored floor tiles, and, of course, the garden outside. We’re also really happy about the huge sculptural dining table, which serves as a dynamic focal point and I hope will turn into one of the central gathering spots of the home along with the lanai, especially since I think they plan to entertain a lot.

M: Easy maintenance was an important requirement. This was translated into stripping down the architecture into its purest possible form, and doing away with unnecessary elements. There’s no special cladding; the entire exterior is covered in a dark pigmented stucco—a material that is enduring and will age well.

What kind of aesthetic were you aiming for with this project?

C: The home has to reflect the people who live in it, or at least how they envision their future lifestyle to be. The clients are [middle-aged professionals], and they said at the start that they wanted a house that felt like a sanctuary, a home they’d want to come home to. We were mindful of doing it in a way that is adult and comfortable and not too trendy.

“The owner is a voracious reader so a big part of the second floor is devoted to bookshelves and reading nooks.” designer Chako Hirayama says. “As a bookworm myself, I was inspired by that. I’m certain he’s not going to run out of bookshelf space for quite a while.”

At the end of the Catamaran cruise, travelers find their boats docked at the Red Beach.

EXPLORED

CALL OF THE CALDERA The trail on the edge of Greece warrants a resolute commitment and an inexhaustible capacity for wonder W O R DS A N D PHO T O G RAPH Y BY JIZE L L E B AUT IS TA

It starts off with faint sounds: the crunch of loose rocks underfoot, the soft chatter of an animated conversation, the hum of a familiar tune. The signals vary but they’re there—sound cues alerting hikers of the approach of another. Inevitably, they cross paths, likely along a narrow footpath carved out of a seemingly barren terrain of red clay and black volcanic rock. In any other circumstance, these strangers will settle for exchanging nods. Alas, they are hiking Santorini’s legendary Oia-Fira trail, and their circumstance is far from ordinary.

Without hesitation, strangers greet each other like long-lost friends: “What time did you leave?”

“Don’t miss the small chapel.” “Be careful down that hill.” Whether speaking the same language or by smiles and hand gestures, hikers do not separate ways without giving each other a moral boost. The connection is immediate and palpable. They belong to a very small number of tourists who dare to take on the nine-kilometer walking trail between Oia and Fira along the rim of the caldera. Although several hundred thousands of tourists come to Santorini each year, not many decide to spend two to four hours of their day walking along the edge of the caldera, through rough terrain, under the scorching Cyclades sun. But those who do—the

very few—are rewarded infinitely.

Formed by volcanic activity, Santorini’s landscape is a beautiful palette of red earth, punctuated by clusters of bright white houses, set against the deep cobalt blue background of the sea and sky. Although the most popular towns of Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli will give visitors the postcard-famous picture of cliffside white-washed towns peppered with blue domes, the best and most breathtaking views of the island are seen from the caldera rim. Those who hike at daybreak to avoid the sweltering midday heat get to witness the dramatic colors of sunrise. And those who venture out at sundown get to gaze at the iconic Santorini sunset without the maddening crowds, in all but utter silence—making the experience quite powerful, almost spiritual.

Nine kilometers of walking is not for the unfit, so those who do hike come prepared with proper shoes to manage the loose rocks, lots of water to avoid dehydration, snacks for energy, and most importantly, some level of commitment to the task. The most fit complete the full length of the trail in a little over two hours, while those who take their time and stop for photos—and there are plenty of opportunities—can spend four hours or

longer. Whatever the pace or fitness level, the trail requires enough physical exertion that warrants significant lounging and lazing around the day after.

Fortunately, Santorini’s options for these are plenty.

Canaves Oia is a five-star luxury hotel that sits at the caldera rim, its doors wide open to the exhausted hiker or two. Two immaculate pools with sweeping, uninterrupted caldera views invite guests for lounging and relaxation. For a more private retreat, guests of the hotel also get to soothe sore muscles in their very own private pools right outside their villas. Should the lure of the caldera be too strong, the hotel can also arrange a private yacht or a luxurious catamaran cruise that will take guests to the many beaches around the caldera, complete with an authentic BBQ serving authentic Greek cuisine onboard. At several points during the cruise, the boat stops to allow the guests to jump into and swim in the crystal clear blue waters of the Aegean. To the exhausted hiker, this brings the experience full circle: from trekking the cliffs and getting captivated by the grand views of endless azure to actually floating in the same velvet blue, looking back at the stunning caldera rim that’s been hiked with commitment, deeply appreciated, proudly conquered.

Opposite page: A yacht cruise permits a view of the conquered Caldera rim.

This page, clockwise: Santorini at sundown; stunning pockets around the hotel; a terrace overlooking the Caldera

AND THOSE WHO VENTURE OUT AT SUNDOWN GET TO GAZE AT THE ICONIC SANTORINI SUNSET WITHOUT THE MADDENING CROWDS, IN ALL BUT UTTER SILENCE—MAKING THE EXPERIENCE QUITE POWERFUL, ALMOST SPIRITUAL.

DEVOURED

A THREE-ACT DISCOVERY Uncovering the (new) finest exports from Japan W O R D S ROME O MORAN PHO T O G R A PH Y PAT RIC K S E G OVIA

It’s been a long day at work. The moon now hangs high in the sky, but you don’t feel like turning in just yet. After today’s battles, you want something to ease you into the calm.

You find yourself in front of a rather nondescript door somewhere in bright yet quiet Serendra. You open it, and discover a little haven that glows amber.

An unassuming Japanese man asks what you’ll be having. You look at the shelves in front of you, stocked with enough liquor to last through two apocalypses. You order a scotch, neat, because it’s that kind of day, but he tells you there’s no scotch here. Everything is Japanese, because unbeknownst to you, you’re in a Japanese whisky bar called Lit. Not everything in here is whisky, but everything’s definitely Japanese.

You ask for a whisky. Chill-san—whom you later learn is named Francis Hasegawa because he will chat you up while you sip your chosen spirit— asks which one you want. Checking the menu, you see whiskies from Suntory, Nikka, brewer Kirin, Ichiro’s Malt, White Oak Akashi, Mars, and Chivas Regal (still not a scotch, because that’s Chivas Japanese whisky).

You don’t know what to get at all because this is entirely new to you; you didn’t even know Japan makes whisky. Hasegawa suggests trying one of his meticulously crafted whisky flights, made exactly

WHISKY BUSINESS

The toast of Japan

Hasegawa suggests that the guests dilute the whisky shot with some water.

for this scenario.

It’s not just a quick way to make a peso. There’s an unofficial social contract among the Japanese called omotenashi, which obliges them to go to great lengths in the name of hospitality. It’s an honorable notion from a society that places value on honor.

Need a coat? They got you. Want the purest handcarved ice with that 12-year? Doesn’t matter if you

ordered the cheapest drink. Omotenashi.

Your three-shot flight is the best whisky you’ve had—well, maybe; you’re still digesting the entire experience. Finding out that Japanese whisky exists is a lot to take in already. That’s why Lit stands: not just to allow people the indulgent experience of having some fine liquor but also to tell them this whole thing is out here, waiting to be discovered.

Although they are crafted in the Scottish style, Japanese whisky has been considered as one of the best whiskies in the world with its aromatic clarity and use of Japanese Oak. Japan has been creating whisky for over a century; a case of Scotch whisky reached Japan in 1872, and since then, breweries and distilleries started to produce their own homegrown versions.

EMPOWERED

RUNNING WILD This creative director of A2A Safaris relates her pursuit of the life exotic W OR D S P RI S T I N E L . D E L EON

HAIR AND MAKE UP EDDIEMAR CABILTES

P HOTO G RAP HY JOS EP H PAS CUAL

“I can open a cabinet of curiosities,” intimates a wide-eyed Tracie Anglo-Dizon, painter and creative director of the safari business A2A. “I told my husband I need a corner for skulls.” Among the skeletons in her closet, you’ll find porcupine quills, a buffalo head, a feathered tribal necklace, and a kudu horn, skinned to reveal its white inside— artifacts culled from her ventures into the wild.

In between anecdotes of canoeing with crocodiles

and a honeymoon spent with the hippos close by, she shares, “You go to Paris and you’re like, ‘I want to see the Eiffel Tower,’ but Africa has nothing like that. It has no monuments; it’s all experience.”

What’s it like being the creative director of A2A Safaris?

This is now our 13th year. [The first office was in Hong Kong], the second in Manila, then the third

in Singapore. Basically, our company is called A2A Safaris; [A2A initially meant] Asia to Africa. This year, we launched a new division: A2A Journeys is the Latin America and Antarctica business. We’re about experiential travel. It’s almost like invisible service, so when you get [to the destination], you are well taken care of until you leave. But if you want to be independent, we’re just there to ensure that you’re safe.

Do you plan the whole trip?

What we do is FIT, which is Fully Independent Travel. Say you are a birder and you want to see lovebirds; we’ll cater to your interest and propose this camp in Botswana that’s known for its bird life. It’s kind of customized, tailor-made. We’re not like a travel agency; we don’t do tickets where as you book your own flight. But once you’re in Africa, we do everything for you.

What’s a great way to urge more people to go?

I’m in charge of safari packets. There’s an itinerary, a guide book, stuff to read. I do marketing and events. You know the Maasai tribe in Kenya? We brought a member of the Maasai royalty on a tour around Asia; we did a road show with him.

It created the most sensation. In Singapore, he got stopped on the street. He’s really a Maasai; he rode the plane in his tribal suit with slippers.

When was your first trip to Africa?

During my honeymoon. It was pretty intense. On my first time in Africa, my husband took me to a level 7 safari. Tourists will go through levels 1, 2, 3; I went from zero to 7! [We] were in Zimbabwe and felt like Ernest Hemingway, who himself went to Kenya. We felt as if we were the first to see it. Zimbabwe was virgin territory, so we really felt like explorers. We went to this water camp.

Our rooms were houseboats, and the lobby was called the mother ship; you go to it through this lake [inhabited by] crocodiles and hippos. There was a sign, ‘Beware of crocodiles.’ The swimming pool was next to the mothership, so when I got there, I was excited. The manager was crazy; he said I could jump into the pool. I jumped in—and it was a cage! And there were crocs trying to get in the pool! It was a crazy camp.

The best guides in the world are Zimbabwean.

They train everyone because it’s so wild there.

We’d say ‘Can the speedboat take us to our room?’ because we were scared to canoe [with the] crocodiles around. After we’d gone, one year later, the camp closed. I had thought, how could you even run a camp like this? It was so wild! But after that trip, I was hooked. But for our clients, we would never send them to a place like that.

There [would] always [be] someone with them who’d have weapons.

How do the Maasais live?

They measure their wealth with cattle. The Maasai are traditional and they are original—like when you are a little boy, you are required to hunt a lion using your spear. All the little boys have [to undergo this]right of passage: they go out alone and they have to kill a lion. [The Maasai royalty] speaks English and hosts a documentary show on BBC. He talked about his life and, by the end, people were, like, ‘We want to go to Kenya.’

What’s the key in getting people to explore the culture in a foreign country?

We cater to their interests. There are different categories. If you like food, we can give you a food experience. If you like design, we can give you [that]. [It’s] not just the adventure. The key to exploring is you should definitely manage your expectations, you should keep an open mind, and you should always be curious.

So the trip isn’t just one way.

Yes, and we never advertise. The product speaks for itself. Africa speaks for itself. Africa is not about animals—that’s a misconception. It’s about the experience. It’s all nature, which is amazing.

What do you do when you’re not traveling and you have a lot of free time on your hands?

I paint. It’s my therapy.

Africa's Finest, which discusses the most breathtaking camps and lodges in Africa, is one among Tracie AngloDizon’s collection of safari books; Colin Bell, author of the book and founder of Wilderness Safaris, pens his personal message; AngloDizon’s living room oddities include a tribal necklace, a painting she created, and the skull of a hartebeest.