ISSUE 52 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 ISSUE 52 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018
ANTARCTICA Awe-Inspiring CANADA/ALASKA Cruising and more NEW CALEDONIA UNESCO World Heritage
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THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS
ASIA Vietnam Malaysia Kyrgyzstan
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BEYOND
29 AUSTRALIA 43 ASIA 71 NEW ZEALAND 83 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 97 PACIFIC ISLANDS 103 CRUISING 113 BUSINESS SECTION
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2 www.letstravelmag.com Contents
Beyond Antarctica 6 Top 10 Destinations 12 Cruising - Alaska/Canada 14
Destination Antarctica
Awe-Inspiring Antarctica Words & images by David McGonigal
A voyage to Antarctica is at the top of many travellers’ wish lists. Expedition leader and Antarctica expert, David McGonigal, shares his experience of the last continent.
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Australia What’s new ‘Across The Ditch’ Gold Coast - Dreamworld Brisbane Comedy Festival Southern Great Barrier Reef
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Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 29
Destination Australia, Queensland
Turtle-watching on The Southern Great Barrier Reef If Crush is your favourite character from Finding Nemo then you are not alone. That chilled out dude of a turtle is one of many turtles that righteously ride the currents to make it to the Southern Great Barrier Reef each year. This is how and where you can meet up and see all the turtles on the Southern Great Barrier ReefÂ
40 www.letstravelmag.com Australia, Queensland
Asia Malaysia - Sabah 44 Vietnam 50 Kyrgyzstan 56 Malaysia - Langkawi 62 Back Roads Touring 68
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 43
Destination Malaysia
Sabah Jungles Words & images by Tim Roxborogh
“I can smell elephants.” I thought our guide, Ryan, was joking, so naturally enough, I laughed. We were deep in the jungles of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo and everyone had told us that the pygmy elephants that occasionally graze here had moved on a week or so ago. If they hadn’t been sighted in the seven or eight days since, it was highly likely they’d headed several kilometres up river by now.
Pygmy Elephant in the Kinabatangan region
44 www.letstravelmag.com Asia, Malaysia
New Zealand Dunedin 72 Millbrook 76 Most Instagrammed 78 Wine Journeys 80
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 71
Destination New Zealand, Dunedin
Top 10 things to do in Dunedin Tucked into a long sheltered harbour on the east coast of New Zealand’s stunning South Island, Dunedin is a fascinating city, rich in heritage and distinctive character. A wonderful mix of urban chic and sweeping landscapes, it is a city that enchants visitors with a warm welcome and diverse range of experiences.
Cityscape Otago Peninsula at Night
Immerse Yourself in Heritage Architecture: As New Zealand’s first city, Dunedin has a wealth of fine Edwardian and Victorian heritage buildings which were built from the riches of gold rush fever. A stroll through downtown Dunedin will unveil countless beautifully preserved buildings of historic significance, which lend a dramatic air to this lovely southern city. The Flemishrenaissance style Dunedin Railway Station is one of the grandest stations in the world and it is said to be the most photographed building in New Zealand. The University of Otago, New Zealand’s first university, with its distinctive clock tower is a perfect example of how the old has been blended superbly with the new. Add to this the abundance of grand old houses and you really do have a city of historic significance.
James Lewis
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Dunedin Railway Station at night
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Explore the Dunedin Street Art Trail: Grab a map and explore Dunedin’s outstanding Street Art Trail which is brilliantly woven through the central city and Warehouse Precinct, making for surprising discoveries around every corner. Featuring
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works from local and internationally acclaimed street artists such as the UK’s Phlegm and Belgiums’s ROA, the artworks provide a colourful and quirky addition to this heritage city, speaking to the unique and deeply instilled creative lifeblood that underpins Dunedin’s urban vibe.
United States of America Long Island, New York 84 Los Angeles Airport 90 Motoring Museums 92 Anaheim 96
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 83
Destination USA, Long Island, New York
Chris Mander
Loveable Long Island - New York’s Beachfront Backyard By Mark William Sheehan
Location, Location, Location! Long Island is not only, just a train or car ride from the hustle and bustle of marvelous Manhattan, but it is home to some of the world’s most bountiful beaches, incredible eateries and fabulously famous folks and folk-steads.
84 www.letstravelmag.com U.S.A., Long Island, New York
Pacific Islands New Caledonia 98
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 97
Destination New Caledonia
Come explore the world’s largest lagoon New Caledonia’s white sand beaches and sparkling blue waters are definitely a favourite with travellers visiting this South Pacific country.
98 www.letstravelmag.com Pacific Islands, New Caledonia
Cruising Windstar Cruises 104 Carnival Cruise Lines 110 Princess Cruises 112
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 103
Far from Ordinary By Gary Dickson
As the sounds of Vangelis’ 1492 Conquest of Paradise boom out over the stereo system at the rear of the ship, one can’t help but be overwhelmed. The mixture of the imposing monolithic islands towering above us, and the haunting sounds of the 1992 hit for the Greek electronics whizz is awe-inspiring. This is the classic ‘sail away’ experienced on board Windstar Cruises and I was on board Wind Spirit, Bora Bora, French Polynesia. I had never heard this piece of music before…but it is now one of my favourites.
104 www.letstravelmag.com Cruising, Windstar Cruises
Business Section Park Hyatt, Saigon Naumi Auckland Airport Hotel The Johnson Hotel, Brisbane The Langham, Bangkok Etihad Airways Air Tahiti Nui Cathay Pacific Airways
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Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 113 New Caledonia
Park Hyatt Saigon By Gayle Dickson
I loved this hotel. Everything about it gelled with me, from the grand entrance portal and majestic lobby, to the stately suites and sophisticated dining, all the way through to the serene terraces and swimming pool. It harked back to an era of glamour, elegance and style that is so seldom seen or enjoyed nowadays. And the service matched‌attentive, fine-tuned and deferential.
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y sleeping quarters were enormous, especially by today’s standards, with furnishings that blended yet more elegance in fine antiques allied with modern amenities, including a mini iPad and Nespresso machine. The large main room featured a super-sized bed with an oh-so-comfy mattress that invited one to linger far longer than one should of a morning! The linens
were crisply luxurious and the artworks worth taking time to look over. Rich wooden floors gleamed while rugs lay thickly underfoot around the bed. The antique writing desk offered up stationery and various menus, the television stood above an exquisite set of drawers, and the corner armoire played host to the mini bar and coffee/tea making equipment. The bathroom boasted a
114 www.letstravelmag.com Business, Hotels Park Hyatt Saigon
gigantic wet area with a super-deep bath and shower complete with bench seat, featuring floor to ceiling marble and classically styled fittings. A separate water closet lay behind a glass-panelled door offering privacy alongside the marbled double vanity. The wardrobe acted as a divider between the hallway, sleeping area, and could be accessed from either the bedroom or bathroom.