The Residence by Cenizaro expands its portfolio and opens its doors in Bintan

With a portfolio of excellence and great success in the Indian Ocean and North Africa, the Cenizaro group, in February 2018, makes its first foray into Indonesia with an exciting new opening on the island of Bintan.

Located on the east coast of the island, a short boat ride from Singapore, The Residence Bintan is set within lush tropical greenery with breathtaking views of the South China Sea.

The hotel is the fifth resort of The Residence by Cenizaro group, which owns other properties in the Maldives, Mauritius, Zanzibar and Tunisia.

Each structure represents the typical institutional philosophy of authenticity and a strong sense of place that has always been adopted by The Residence Group. – At The Residence Bintan, this element of strength is even more evident in the design and structure of the Resort. All 127 villas have been built respecting the natural landscape, and fit perfectly into the surrounding tropical environment, incorporating local materials and furnishings.

All the villas and terraces are spread along the coast, allowing guests to enjoy the utmost privacy and a magnificent view of the beach and the ocean. Guests can choose between Beachfront Villas, each with its own pool and direct access to the beach or The Estate Villas, luxurious private villas enjoying breathtaking views of the sea, spectacular granite rocks and coconut palms. The tropical surroundings of the Vista and Garden terraces are an ideal option for families thanks to their interconnecting rooms and open-plan development.

Designed by Hirsch Bedner, the interiors reflect the Javanese influences with locally carved dark wooden furniture, wooden beams and warm colors inspired by the colors of sand and the ocean. Three meeting rooms will also be available for those looking for an ideal destination for meetings & conferences.In addition to being a haven of relaxation and tranquility for all guests, it will offer treatments and wellness programs created exclusively for The Residence by the award-winning Spa Ila brand. The use of local biological and technical ingredients the Spa Ila represents the added value for the atmosphere and The Residence philosophy in Bintan.

The food is a delight at The Residence Bintan. A restaurant overlooking the crystal clear waters, allows guests to dine on traditional Indonesian dishes and a delicious mix of modern Asian regional inspirations, accompanied by the gentle sea breeze and the view of breathtaking sunsets. The fresh and local products are used in the preparation of all dishes, fresh the wide range of herbs and organic vegetables grown directly in the gardens of the Resort.

http://cenizaro.com/theresidence/bintan

For more information, mailto theresidence@tourismconnection.ru

BAKU is getting ready to turn on the Formula 1 engines !!!

by Alessandro Furlotti Senza categoria

Pure adrenaline lovers, listen, listen !!!

Now in its third spectacular edition, the Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place this year along the streets of the Circuit of Baku, on the banks of the Caspian Sea, next April 29th 2018, never so early in the season !!!

This well-known event also offers fans a privileged point of exploration on modern architecture and historical buildings that populate the capital of Azerbaijan. The packages organized by the corresponding ENC TOUR include tickets for the race, as well as overnight stays in hotels and various opportunities to discover the city in all its glory.

For more information, mailto enctours@tourismconnection.ru

The annual “Wiener Festwochen”, one of Vienna’s most important music festivals, can be a musical key angle.

by Alessandro Furlotti Austria Crociere Fluviali

The Austrians are much more festive than you think and the program from 11 May to 17 June 2018 in the capital Hapsburg is the confirmation. On this occasion, Vienna celebrates almost six weeks of music and performances. The historical theater is interpreted in all genres, as well as new approaches to world classics, performed by orchestra, conductors, theatrical producers and singers.

This original festival fills the city with joy, music and color: it is one of the most important cultural events in Europe and combines all the artistic disciplines, they are concentrated in these five weeks between spring and summer. Usually the festival is inaugurated in the open space in front of the Rathaus and attracts hundreds of visitors.

Austrians consider life as a celebration – they are particularly famous for fully enjoying their culture. Their calendar is full of world festivals throughout the year. Music is an important part of Austrian life – Austria’s other major cultural aspect has been excellent museums and art galleries, which are often located in historic buildings worthy of note or striking examples of cutting-edge architecture.

Discover Europe with River Cruse http://www.crucemundo.com

Five incredible aspects that you probably didn’t know about Madagascar

by Alessandro Furlotti Madagascar

It is the fourth largest island in the world

Madagascar is big. It is the fourth largest island on the planet (it is larger than Spain, Thailand, Sweden and Germany).

It is a paradise for wildlife lovers

According to the Conservation International, only 17 countries in the world are considered “mega different”. Each has a vast number of different animal species, many of which are not found anywhere else. Madagascar is one of these. Among the animals that inhabit the island, more than half of the world’s chameleon species and a dozen species of lemurs live on this island.

Unlike the film Madagascar, you do not see tigers, giraffes and hippos.

and bird watchers

Inserted in one of the most amazing habitats in the world, the long-tailed Jay is unique and considered by birdwatchers among the most exclusive bird species in the world. ” The coastal town of Toliara, in the southwest of Madagascar, is surrounded by lagoons , mudflats, swamps of fresh water and, above all, from clearings of the curious Didiereacea endemic of Madagascar. These huge octopus-like trees sprout from the sandy soil, giving the place a surreal feeling.

some of his animal creatures are simply strange

There is the giraffe weevil of Madagascar. Unique makes it the incredible long neck. Among other things, the neck of the males is 3 times longer than that of the females. It owes its name because of the neck that is long (always in proportion of the animal) as a giraffe. These cute beetles of the Attelabdae family, reach 25 mm and have a joint on the neck, an additional neck. This is the result of the adaptation of the insect, in fact it uses it a lot for the construction of the nest, characteristic that only the males do. They use it skillfully to create rolls with leaves, where the female will then place a single egg.

Finally, the giant rat of Madagascar, known locally as votsotsa or votsovotsa, has long ears similar to those of rabbits and large hind legs. Both males and females reach the usual size of a rabbit weighing about 1 – 1.5 kilograms for 30 to 35 centimeters in length with the tail about 20 to 25 centimeters.

The giant rat of Madagascar is similar to the rabbit also because of its behavior, in fact it jumps instead of running. Thanks to its powerful hind legs, it can also jump 90 centimeters, which is why it was also named giant leaping rat.

5. Preserve sites recognized by the humanity world heritage

The royal hill of Ambohimanga, a 500-year-old burial site, the Atsinanana rainforests, house of many rare species of lemurs, and the Tsingy de Bemaraha Nature Reserve, northeast of the town of Morondava. The latter is reached with a journey of about 8 hours of track, crossing 2 rivers on board rafts. It is difficult to describe this surprising park, unique in its kind and classified by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Site”. Imagine a great mass of karstic origin that extends from south to north for about 100 km, carved by the phenomenon of erosion in a very unique way, jagged with spiers (in Malagasy tsingy) hundreds of meters high, sharp and sharp, among them deep canyon. Although access to the Park is not easy and compels the traveler to deviate from the traditional routes by flying over Morondava and going both on the outward and return path a long track in rough, the Tsingy de Bemeraha Park certainly deserves to be seen.

Late winter, the perfect time to visit Marrakech among nice weather and new This is the best time to visit Marrakech, as the days begin to be as sunny as our spring and nights are still cold and heated by the warmth of the charming fires of the fireplaces.

by Alessandro Furlotti Marocco Marrakech

This is the best time to visit Marrakech, as the days begin to be as sunny as our spring and nights are still cold and heated by the warmth of the charming fires of the fireplaces. Now that Christmas holidays are over and number of tourists is diminishing, the Medina and the two new museums, the first in honor of Yves St Laurent and the second the “Museum Mohammed VI of the water civilization in Morocco” are perfect to be explored undisturbed in all their splendor, while low cost flights reach a few hundred euros.

The museum dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent is an impressive structure that aims to become an object of tourist pilgrimage not only for fashion lovers.

Opened immediately after the inauguration of the first Parisian museum dedicated to the famous couturier, it opened its doors in Marrakech last October 2017, the city beloved by the designer who used to spend his holidays here. Both museums were strongly desired by Pierre Bergé, partner and associate of Saint Laurent, who recently passed away. The museum consists of an area of 4,000 square meters, which includes a permanent exhibition area, a gallery for temporary exhibitions, a library, an auditorium, a bookshop and a cafeteria. The new museum, located not far from the Jardin Majorelle where the designer’s villa is located, was designed by the architects of the KO studio under the supervision of the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation. The exterior looks like a set of jagged cubes that remind the texture of a fabric. The interior is, instead, deliberately smooth, bare, luminous almost as if it were really inside and outside a dress. The museum hosts a permanent collection of 5,000 dresses, 15,000 haute couture accessories high fashion designs.

The series of inaugurations last year continued in Marrakech with the official opening of the Mohammed VI Museum of Water Civilization in Morocco. This project aims to “introduce the Moroccan genius in the management of water and to make known the historical role of administration in water”.

The museum complex occupies an area of 20,000 m² with indoor and outdoor spaces. The building houses exhibitions, spaces for temporary exhibitions, sales for professional training, computer sales and an administrative pavilion.

In addition to the green spaces surrounding the museum, a park with water-related facilities will be built in the near future, near the building.

To all nature lovers … visit Sri Lanka from April to July is the best time to spot turtles and from this year Sport is the king

by Alessandro Furlotti Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is recognized worldwide as one of the few places in the world where sea turtles can be observed in their natural habitat. Five out of seven of the world’s sea turtle species are found in Sri Lanka, where in Rekawa, between April and July the highest number of turtles is concentrated, reaching the shore at night to lay their eggs.

The Rekawa Turtle Watch is a conservation project for sea turtles that aims to protect the nesting sites of the turtles and to ensure that the eggs can hatch safely. Here the center volunteers bring the turtle watchers to the beach between 8:30 pm and 11:30 pm, to watch the turtles reaching the shore to lay their eggs and return to the sea. The wait for the turtles can also take a couple of hours, so you need to get a lot of patience.

The center has very strict rules as not to disturb turtles, and be aware that flash photos and flashlights are not allowed.

But from this year, all Mother Nature’s fans, being comfortably seated on board a Cessna, will be able to admire from above all the fascinating behavioral methods of the marine fauna. The take-off is scheduled from the Koggala national airport, to meet the famous Blue Whale, the queens of the sea that reach a weight of 150 tons and a length of about 30 meters. The Blue Whale female is known to be bigger than her male consort. But both male and female, the gigantic mammal is truly an indescribable spectacle. In addition to the queen of the sea it is possible to spot more than 12 species of whales other marine mammals including several species of cute dolphins.

An important turnaround on institutional level is the real activation of a series of initiatives aimed at promoting local sport as an important hub for tourism in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this year, the respective ministers of tourism and sport have given particular impetus to the promotion of the sports sector bringing a series of events of international appeal in Sri Lanka as: “IRONMAN 70.3”, the next 25 February 2018, which will attract participants from 53 countries all over the world. The event is the first of the multi sports events in the world with 1.9 km of swimming, 90 km of cycling and 21.2 km of running that must be completed by a triathlon in 8 hour time lapse. This will place the City of Columbus in the spotlight as a key destination for the triathlon and will be a new experience for the local population of most part of Sri Lanka.

Another sportive event like the World Surfing League will take place from June to July 2018 in Arugam Bay, the ideal place in Sri Lanka for water sports. The event aims to bring out Arugam Bay among the best surfing spots in the world trying to attract professional surfers from around the world.

Stop diet and get ready to enjoy the delicious food from around the world: Dubai Food Festival returns from 22 February to 10 March 2018 for another exciting edition

by Alessandro Furlotti Dubai

Organized by the Dubai Festival and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing (Dubai Tourism), the fifth edition of the DFF will bring together the best of the world’s gastronomic offer and make the wide range of proposals shine through exciting gastronomic experiences, in the most exclusive restaurants off the beaten track.

The Dubai Food Festival includes interesting events such as the Restaurant Week, gourmets can enjoy three-course gourmet menus at negligible prices in some of Dubai’s most fashionable restaurants, not to miss the Beach Canteen, where the most fascinating food trucks and bars they turn into pop-up places on the sand. He will also return to Taste of Dubai, which fills the Media City Amphitheater with lots of flavors and fun for families. The festival will be full of competitions, show cooking and collateral events.

The Dubai Food Festival is a great event that brings together all the gourmets of the world … All of Dubai will be involved for this important event. From the shopping centers, to the restaurants, the beach … in short, everywhere.

Sapa a must- stop in Vietnam

by Alessandro Furlotti Sapa Vietnam

The town of Sapa in northern Vietnam on the border with China is one of the most visited destinations in this fascinating country. Rice terraces, colorful ethnic minorities and a variety of hiking trails are a strong attraction for visitors, who rarely remain disappointed, is a precious gift that Mother Nature has given to Vietnam.

Sapa is 38 km from the city of Lao Cai and 376 km from the city of Hanoi. At a height of 1,500 to 1,800 meters above sea level, Sapa is a beautiful tourist resort that is hidden in the clouds. The average temperature of this area is 15ºC-18 ° C. It is cool in summer and cold in winter. Sometimes, in winter, even snow falls.

The district is home to a large number of ethnic groups, including five major groups such as the Hmong, Yao, Tay, Zay and Xa Pho. The city of Sapa is the place where ethnic minorities gather, trade and sell to tourists their agricultural products such as rice, corn, fruit, crafts and souvenirs.

Sapa is also voted to be the best place for trekking in Vietnam, both from locals and foreigners. The entire district is dominated by the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, which also includes the mountain. Fan Si Pan – the highest peak in Vietnam and the entire Indochina peninsula with a height of 3143 m. This mountain is not only a tough challenge for trekking enthusiasts, but also an opportunity to witness the beautiful view.

The geographical position of the area makes it a truly unique place for a rich variety of plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects, some of which can only be found in the northwest of Vietnam.

Another reason that attracts more and more tourists travelling in this city. Here you can find a wide range of subtropical vegetables such as white cauliflower, red beet or chayote. There are obligatory dishes for all visitors – such as boiled chayote, consumed with sesame or “lon cap nach” – or domestic pigs but grown in the fields or in the forest.

The fresh climate of the region makes grilled meat and fish accompanied by mushrooms and vegetables the favorite street food. Corn, sweet potatoes, gnocchi, rice with bamboo and eggs are grilled. However, tourists can try many other local foods such as purple rice or “thang co” – horse meat right at the Sapa market.

Included by National Geographic in the list of cities to be visited in 2018: Tétouan, the white city of Rif

by Alessandro Furlotti Marocco National Geographic

A city jewel in an extraordinary position at the foot of the Rif Mountains and few kilometers from the sea. Despite having seen relatively few foreign visitors, in Tétouan there is an air of authenticity that adds great value to a visit. The ancient Medina, UNESCO world heritage site, the oldest in Morocco and rebuilt in the 15th century, it seems that it has not changed in several centuries. The modern center that inhabits it shines with white, its Spanish facades give the city a decidedly seductive atmosphere. Why a stay in Tétouan is not to be missed at this time of year? For example to discover Moroccan contemporary art. In this extraordinary city port, local craftsmen still create traditional carpets, but a new movement of fine arts attracts new talents. A must is a stop at the National Institute of Fine Arts to admire some examples of contemporary works, the Museum of Modern Art of Tétouan and Green Olive Arts. This is all possible through our correspondent Transatour with various offices in the most important cities of Morocco. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/best-trips-destinations-2018/#cover

Mauritius, among the top 10 countries of 2018 for Lonely Planet, celebrating 50 years of independence with a party all winter long…

by Alessandro Furlotti Lonely Planet Mauritius

All festivals of the world live in Mauritius, the earthly paradise in the Indian Ocean.
Discovered by the Arabs, it was in the modern era a Dutch, French and then British colony, winning independence in March 1968. This anniversary is celebrated in 2018, focusing the spotlight on the glories of the past through a dense calendar of celebrations, given that the Republic of Mauritius, founded in 1992, has also proudly been declared the most democratic of the African continent.

Consulting the calendar of all festivals you will realize that in this paradise, recurrences and celebrations abound, also in virtue of the multiculturalism that characterizes it. Here take place Indian, Chinese, and all the most important folk festivals of the world.

The tropical island, once a pirate shelter, is nowadays known as a safe haven with luxury hotels on white sandy beaches with volcanic bottoms. It is an island to explore, with Indian temples, colonial houses, botanical gardens and opportunities to spot rare birds among tall ebony trees, or swim with dolphins. The Mauritians, a fusion of French, Indian, Creole and Chinese peoples, are renowned for their hospitality and for visitors to the island who are generally enthusiastic about the service.

The luxury here is surprisingly affordable – Mauritius has some of the best merit offers in the region. Remains of the British colonial era , between the tea plantations and the left hand drive, but the stalls of spices and fruit and vegetables in the markets, the performances of Segà and the ubiquitous icon of the dodo, add an exotic touch.

An important spot not to be missed is a stay at The Residence Mauritius. “The scent of ylang ylang fluctuates in this refined colonial-style hotel, inspired by the island’s sugar plantations: on a kilometer-long glorious beach of the east coast, it was the first hotel on the island to introduce butler service for every suite and heated pool, and its refined service makes it a reference point. Don’t miss the extraordinary holiday program of this glorious hotel, to start a new year in total beauty !!!

http://www.lonelyplanetitalia.it/best-in-travel/top-10-paesi

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