Destinations

• Singapore: The Lion City

  
  Singapore offers night life, innovative cuisine, impeccable cleanliness and iconic Marina Bay Sands. I quickly realized there was so much more this country had to offer with hidden secrets nestled throughout.

  

  Singapore Airlines

  I began my solo traveling experience by flying with one of the world’s most luxurious leading carriers, Singapore Airlines. All the flight attendants and cabin crew treated the passengers with grace, ease and white glove service. If this was to be my first introduction to this region, I was more than excited to have this long-haul flight set such a positive tone. Twenty-three hours and a connection later, I arrived. The cleanliness and the hospitable nature of the people were immediately evident.

  Touring the City

  

  After settling in, I couldn’t wait to explore. The top of the observation wheel known as the Singapore Flyer offers 360-degree views of the city. To enhance the experience, I was able to indulge in a delicious dinner from a private premium sky dining cart. On a one-hour trip around the Flyer, I was able to capture the breathtaking views. The Botanic Gardens were next on my list as these are the first and only tropical botanic gardens on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. I was able to weave around incredible floral displays, a forest environment and even healing gardens before I realized I had spent hours in awe of the beauty.

  

  Singapore Sling

  Of course, no stop would be complete without indulging in a Singapore Sling drink! This beautiful pink gin-mixed beverage is famous all throughout the city and comes highly recommended. The drink is yet another way that Singapore distinguishes itself from other countries with its eclectic culture and hospitable people.

  

  Singapore: The Lion City was last modified: April 22nd, 2019 by Jacqui McDonald

  

  Jacqui McDonald

  I come from a background of 15 years in the hospitality industry, but knew for much longer that I carry a passion for people. Creating a warm, positive guest experience can be a challenge; however, it’s one that always presents an exciting result and can guarantee that two days will never be the same. Throughout my hospitality career, I learned very quickly that the standard by which the guest experience is measured consists of very detailed and precise perception of the property itself coupled with the service provided. I have a passion for travel, for people and for making the guest experience both comfortable and memorable.

  April 22, 2019 • Asia, Jacqui McDonald, Travels • Views: 79

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• The Ultimate Safari Guide

  
  

  Safari Gear | Photo Credit: Kathryn Fischer

  Figuring out what to wear on safari may seem daunting. Many travelers assume that technical gear is required, but your favorite baseball cap, broken-in boots and comfy tees are perfectly sufficient. Absolutely browse your closet before splurging on a new wardrobe. Though if you decide that you need some updates, invest in everyday basics that you’ll wear again.

  Layers are key. Most game drives start before the sun is up, so you’ll want a jacket and pants for the brisk mornings. By midday, you’ll be comfortable lounging around camp in a t-shirt and shorts. As dusk approaches, the temperature begins to drop again.

  Start off with a tank top or t-shirt, add a second layer such as a lightweight sweater or linen long sleeve shirt and top it off with a jacket or vest. Long pants are the best option. A scarf is handy to protect you from the wind and dust. It also adds an extra layer of warmth for those chilly mornings and evenings. Luxury camps even offer blankets and hot water bottles to keep you cozy.

  

  On Safari | Photo Credit: Kathryn Fischer

  The Essentials

  Aim for minimalist, versatile pieces. Dark colors attract heat so it’s best to stick with neutrals. Plus, it makes it even easier to mix and match. Tan, cream, gray, pastel and green fabrics are best.

  Basics for Layering

  • Tank tops & t-shirts – lightweight, sweat-wicking fabrics are ideal
  • Long sleeve shirts – linen shirts, button downs, light sweaters, athletic quarter zip shirts, etc.
  • Jacket – you won’t want to take your eyes off the landscape, so you’ll want certain items to be within reach. A jacket with pockets for necessities such as lip balm, tissues and your cell phone is helpful
  • Vest – a vest that you can stow in your backpack is a great investment
  • Breathable pants – linen trousers, synthetic joggers, light sweatpants, convertible pants, etc. A little stretch in the fabric is always nice
  • Loose shorts – wear them while lounging at camp during the day

  

  Elephant Encounter | Photo Credit: Kathryn Fischer

  Handy Accessories

  • Comfortable boots or sneakers – it’s nice to have your ankles covered if they’re susceptible to  bug bites, so boots or high-top sneakers are useful
  • Hat – bring a wide brim safari style hat or a fitted baseball cap. You’ll want a hat that’s tight enough that it won’t fly off your head during the game drives
  • Scarf – a pashmina scarf is perfect to wrap around your shoulders for added warmth and protection
  • Backpack – pack sunglasses, sunscreen, extra water, binoculars, camera gear, chargers, bug spray and wet wipes

  

  Swain Destinations Safari | Photo Credit: Kathryn Fischer

  Ultimately, wear what you are most comfortable in!

  Luggage restrictions for smaller charter flights are typically around 33 pounds inclusive of hand luggage, but don’t be too concerned! The complimentary laundry service at most camps have a quick turnaround so you may rock the same outfits day after day.

  Visit the Swain Destinations Online Travel Store to find the items you may need for your upcoming adventure!

  The Ultimate Safari Guide was last modified: April 8th, 2019 by Kathryn Fischer

  

  Kathryn Fischer

  Though I was born and raised in Philadelphia, a city that values tradition, my path of life has been not so standard. I’ve lived on the East and West coasts of the United States, and have ventured over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, studying food and wine in Italy, and working in the travel industry in Australia. Travelling across the globe has allowed me to recognize my true passion: helping others experience this beautiful, yet varied world that we live in. I have a wandering soul that continually urges me to visit new countries, meet new people, and learn new things; I love to adventure to faraway destinations, discovering unfamiliar cultures, and tasting their local cuisine.

  April 4, 2019 • Africa, Kathryn Fischer, Travels • Views: 916

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• Christmas in Vietnam and Cambodia

  
  Vietnam

  My boys and I arrived in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi after a long flight from JFK. After a restful night, we awoke early and walked to the Hoan Kiem Lake, which was but a stone’s throw away from our hotel. At the lake, morning music blared while both the young and the old practiced Tai Chi. We watched the graceful art at first before attempting it with mixed results for ourselves.

  

  Colorful Hanoi | Photo Credit: Bela Banker

  The tranquil morning spent at the lake stood in stark contrast to the day spent in the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The Old Quarter has the charm and energy of a vibrant young city despite its vast number of traditional shop houses. It is also home to the Temple of Confucious — additionally known as the Temple of Literature — which was founded in the 11th century as the site of Vietnam’s first university. Next, we visited Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where we saw the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh. We then explored the Old Quarter by foot, discovering narrow alleys, with a stop at Street Food cafe and the famous Vietnamese coffee.

  

  Hanoi | Photo Credit: Bela Banker

  Hanoi to Hoi An

  From Hanoi to Danang, we flew Vietnam Air before transferring to Hoi An. Our hotel was located close to the Hoi An Ancient town and Hoi An market — a charming area with night markets, lanterns and great cafes. The next day, we took a Vietnamese cooking class which provided us with one of the more memorable experiences of our trip. During the class, we rode our bicycles to the market to pick up all the ingredients and then we visited the vegetable fields where we soaked in the flavor of the local farm life before cooking a delicious meal. We spent the next few days exploring Hoi An, gorging on local food and taking in the striking views that looked out over the sea.

  

  Hoi An Market | Photo Credit: Bela Banker

  

  Hoi An Lanterns | Photo Credit: Bela Banker

  Ho Chi Minh City

  We flew from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City — still known as Saigon to many. Upon arrival, we were struck by the energy of the city. Our guide told us that there are more than eight million motorcycles in the city of twelve million people! The constant buzz of the engines seemed to be an appropriate soundtrack for a city as fast-paced and dynamic as Ho Chi Minh City.

  

  Biking | Photo Credit: Bela Banker

  The next day, we drove to the outskirts of the city to Ben Tre. We rode bikes on small roads, immersing fully in the local culture of the Mekong Delta and the rustic countryside. We passed secluded areas of lush orchards, green rice paddy fields and coconut trees. Lunch was delightful at a traditional Mekong restaurant, and afterward we stopped for “Keo dua” (coconut candy).

  Cambodia

  Siem Reap — the cultural capital of Cambodia — was the last stop on our trip. Our hotel was centrally located, allowing us an easy walk to the market, cafes and souvenir shops. We participated in a quad bike excursion that took us through the countryside backroads of Siem Reap, weaving along rice paddy fields and beautiful scenery.

  

  Siem Reap Biking | Photo Credit: Bela Banker

  

  Bela & her sons | Photo Credit: Bela Banker

  The next day, we rose early to see the magnificent Angkor Wat at sunrise. It took almost 37 years to build this Hindu temple which later became the center of worship for Buddhism. It was stunning at sunrise to see the play of light on the stones.

  

  Angkor Wat | Photo Credit: Bela Banker

  We capped our trip by walking through Siem Reap’s local market and enjoying the local food and culture. It was a perfect trip for my boys and I for Christmas.

  Christmas in Vietnam and Cambodia was last modified: March 21st, 2019 by Bela Banker

  

  Bela Banker

  I was born in Bombay (now called Mumbai), and have lived in the USA for more than 30 years. I have a passion for travel, for exploring, learning new cultures and being in new places. I love India and like to introduce all our clients to the colors, sounds, scents, traditions and food found throughout India. I customize all India trips and take our clients off the beaten path, where they can touch the heart and soul of the country. Other than travel, I love to read, cook, hike and spend time with my four boys.

  http://www.swaindestinations.com

  March 20, 2019 • Asia, Bela Banker, Travels • Views: 1446

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• From Camera Lens to Cover Page

  
  Each year, we take on an expansive search to find the perfect images for our annual Travel Catalogs. Our goal is to find imagery that captures each destination’s beauty and mystery, while inspiring wonder and excitement to travel!

  After searching through countless stunning images, we became captivated by these three beautiful photos from Johan Lolos’ portfolio. Johan Lolos, a native Belgian, is a self-taught photographer that travels the world capturing breathtaking moments in time.

  Just as important as the image, is the story behind it. Follow the journey below.

  Can you tell us the story behind each image?

  

  Africa Cover | Photo Credit: Johan Lolos

  Africa: Namibia

  I took that photo about a year ago in Namibia. It is an interesting story. I was in Namibia for a personal project – I just wanted to go to Africa to experience a safari. I got in touch with a private reserve called Erindi and stayed for a week. Every day we would go on an early morning game drive to spot wildlife. The drives lasted all day. I took a few great images that I’m very proud of, but that specific image of the elephants, I took from the restaurant at the lodge.

  Basically, the lodge is inside the reserve and from the balcony of the restaurant you can see a part of the reserve with water ponds. The ponds draw in elephants, giraffes and other kinds of wildlife. One morning I was having breakfast with no intention of taking photos due to light that day. Then, I saw this family of elephants coming from far away. They were walking towards the water ponds, so I quickly grabbed my tele-zoom lens and started to take photos of them. I was very happy with the results. Spending a week in that reserve is one of my best memories and I would love to go back.

  

  South Pacific Cover | Photo Credit: Johan Lolos

  South Pacific: Victoria, Australia

  This photo was taken five years ago in early 2014. At the time, I was living in Australia after graduating school in Belgium. I had bought a one-way ticket so I could spend a year there. I lived in Melbourne for a few months where I mostly worked, nothing exciting. Then January 2014, I went on my first big travel mission, not as a photographer. I wanted to do the Great Ocean Road, and my friends and I rented a car for a three-day road trip. We, of course, stopped at the Twelve Apostles where I took a few photos. It was the very first time my images went viral online when National Geographic reposted one of my photos.

  At the time, Instagram was just beginning to get popular and I figured it would be a great opportunity to make a living out of it. I saw that NatGeo, every Wednesday, would repost images from followers who used their hashtag – #NatGeoTravelPic. My goal was to be featured. Every photo I posted, I was using that hashtag and one day, they shared my photo of the Twelve Apostles. I completely freaked out and woke everyone up to show them. I went from a few hundred followers to a few thousand followers overnight. That’s how everything started for me.

  

  Asia Cover | Photo Credit: Johan Lolos

  Asia and India: Myanmar

  This photo was taken in Myanmar in April 2018. The woman in the photo is my partner, Delphine. We had gone on a three-week trip and it was my first big photography trip in Asia. I had spent a week in Bali before, but nothing beyond that. I had never been in Southeast Asia before. It was a private project mostly about having fun and discovering new cultures. When we visited Bagan, my goal was to shoot one of the famous temples.

  I began looking around to try and find a more remote temple with less tourists. So many people come to watch the sunrise or sunset over the temples. My mission was to find, through Google Maps, one remote temple so Delphine and I could enjoy the sunrise. In the distance, we could see the famous balloons soaring over the temples. It was an amazing view.

  Finding a remote temple was not easy because there are so many temples in Bagan – upwards of 5,000! The biggest ones were famous so there were hundreds of tourists there every day. I wanted to not only find a remote temple, but also find a temple with a nice view. Not all of them offer the best views. However, every year, Myanmar is more restrictive with entry to the temples. In 2017, the Myanmar government shut down all access to temples. It is almost completely forbidden to climb the temples for safety and conservation reasons. Currently the Bagan temples are not a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so the new rules are to increase the chances that Bagan will be included on that list. I was lucky enough to find a temple that was not fenced off which is how I was able to take the photo.

  Follow Johan Lolos on Instagram

  From Camera Lens to Cover Page was last modified: February 25th, 2019 by Swain Destinations

  February 8, 2019 • Africa, Asia, Australia, Interviews • Views: 656

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• InterContinental Circuit: Bora Bora

  
  Bora Bora Le Moana

  

  InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana | Photo Credit: Jacqui McDonald

  The only way to reach the InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana from the small airport is via sea boat. This only added to the mystique of the hotel. The moment I arrived on the dock there was a palpable electricity in the air. Surrounded by crystal clear water, eager guests and more friendly faces, the Maruuru phrase rang clear throughout and my arrival felt like an event unto itself. They provided us with cold towels as a respite from the heat coupled with an indigenous mocktail. A friendly staff member gave a thorough walk through of my room and explained the resort’s layout and facilities.

  

  Le Moana Bungalow | Photo Credit: Jacqui McDonald

  The next morning, I ordered breakfast and a staff member rowed it out to my private patio in a canoe. I ate breakfast in my bathrobe while watching stingrays swim in clear waters and considered the rest of my day. Snorkeling or canoeing? A dinner set to live music while the sun set in the background? That was what every day was like here.

  Bora Bora Thalasso

  

  Bora Bora Thalasso | Photo Credit: Jacqui McDonald

  A 20-minute boat ride is all that separates Le Moana from InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso. It is definitely worth the trip. Set in the shape of a horseshoe, the over-water bungalows at Thalasso are different shapes and sizes. The layout allowed me ample privacy, quiet and never-ending views of open water. Certainly, views like these are why this island means “The Pearl of the Pacific.”

  

  Over Water Bungalow | Photo Credit: Jacqui McDonald

  The bungalow itself was spacious and modern. I removed the glass top of my dining room table to get a better look at the fish swimming beneath the bungalow. For years a family of sting rays has made the journey to the shore of the property every afternoon at 2:00pm. As a result, guests always gathered to watch the creatures. Then, I joined an expert stingray master who taught guests about the feeding process. Moments like that made it easy to get lost in the beauty, colors and spirit of the InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso.

  

  Thalasso| Photo Credit: Jacqui McDonald

  InterContinental Circuit: Bora Bora was last modified: February 11th, 2019 by Jacqui McDonald

  

  Jacqui McDonald

  I come from a background of 15 years in the hospitality industry, but knew for much longer that I carry a passion for people. Creating a warm, positive guest experience can be a challenge; however, it’s one that always presents an exciting result and can guarantee that two days will never be the same. Throughout my hospitality career, I learned very quickly that the standard by which the guest experience is measured consists of very detailed and precise perception of the property itself coupled with the service provided. I have a passion for travel, for people and for making the guest experience both comfortable and memorable.

  January 24, 2019 • Jacqui McDonald, Property Highlights, South Pacific Islands, Travels • Views: 990

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• InterContinental Circuit – Tahiti & Moorea

  
  Tahiti

  I stepped out of the plane to the sound of live music and an unmistakable feeling of warmth. The Tahitians greeted me with “Maruuru,” a phrase that means hello, thank you and welcome to Tahiti. I accepted a flowered lei as a gift and then rode to the InterContinental Tahiti. Once there, the heartfelt welcome continued in an open-air lobby. The breathtaking views of the neighboring islands and the hospitable staff led me to believe that the property was special. I was not wrong.

  

  Aerial View of Tahiti | Photo Credit: Tourism Tahiti

  The InterContinental stretched out over the edge of the island. Spanning the property was a main hotel corridor, a private section for over-water bungalows and multiple swimming pools. They also had water sport cabins and a snorkeling pond. As versatile as it is beautiful, the resort can accommodate all travelers. Trips to the neighboring town are an event. Its streets serve as an open-air market featuring vendors with local food, handmade clothing, and jewelry. But perhaps most memorable about my visit to Tahiti were the sunsets. Every night pastel colors of orange, yellow and red shot through clouds and glazed across the tops of mountains on the islands. Everyone gathered together to watch the sun set into the water and soak in the beauty of the moment.

  

  Island of Tahiti | Photo Credit: Jacqui McDonald

  Moorea

  A 25-minute flight and 45-minute car ride brought me from Tahiti to the island of Moorea. The drive itself was special. The one lane highway tracked along the coast of the island with the South Pacific Ocean ever-present. Upon arrival at the InterContinental Moorea, I noted the layout of the hotel. The property was spacious and spread out, placing the guest’s privacy at a premium.

  

  Over Water Bungalow | Photo Credit: InterContinental Moorea

  Dinners serve as a communal event at the resort. Every night I watched a team of fire dancers put on a show as I dined on fresh, local seafood. The unquestioned highlight of the InterContinental Moorea, though, is the rehabilitation center for dolphins and sea turtles located at the edge of the resort. The resort invited me to swim with dolphins that they cared for and also allowed me the opportunity to learn more about the rehabilitation process.

  

  Turtle Clinic | Photo Credit: InterContinental Moorea

  

  Dolphin Center | Photo Credit: InterContinental Moorea

  Also offered is a variety of land activities. Guided ATV tours teach riders about the history of the island. Visits to pineapple plantations are also popular. This, coupled with Moorea’s land activities, ensure that memorable experiences came in bunches on the island.

  InterContinental Circuit – Tahiti & Moorea was last modified: January 28th, 2019 by Jacqui McDonald

  

  Jacqui McDonald

  I come from a background of 15 years in the hospitality industry, but knew for much longer that I carry a passion for people. Creating a warm, positive guest experience can be a challenge; however, it’s one that always presents an exciting result and can guarantee that two days will never be the same. Throughout my hospitality career, I learned very quickly that the standard by which the guest experience is measured consists of very detailed and precise perception of the property itself coupled with the service provided. I have a passion for travel, for people and for making the guest experience both comfortable and memorable.

  January 17, 2019 • Jacqui McDonald, South Pacific Islands, Travels • Views: 861

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