Lifestyle and Adventure

Featuring Create your own Swiss timepiece

But what if you had all the quality components in front of you, a Swiss watchmaker beside you to guide you in creating your own genuine Swiss timepiece? Not only will you have made it yourself, but the learning experience will certainly enhance your knowledge in watchmaking technique, beauty and tradition.  

Featuring A different kind of escape in the Loire Valley

An estate spanning 1400 acres takes you back in time to a place of complete serenity, nature and purity – even pictures don’t do justice to the beauty of Les Bordes. Located in the heart of the Loire Valley, the estate is made up of the 20th-century Château Bel Air featuring eight suites, a restaurant in a glass orangery and a cigar, whisky and wine bar. In addition to a cosy clubhouse, there is a spa and wellness centre under the canopy of trees, accompanied by swimming pools, tennis courts and a gym. Need more convincing? How about lighting up a fine cigar while sipping on some rare whisky complemented by a delectable meal in the Club du Baron? According to Les Bordes, ‘It’s the feeling of homecoming as you sink into an armchair beside grand, leaping fires. The way the outside world fades away – and all that matters are the people around your table.’  But if you would rather take refuge in a good book or a play a game, the clubhouse has a library and games room.

Featuring Luxuriously design your private jet

Time to add those spectacular touches to make it feel like your very own, of course. The Sybarite recommends award-winning luxury interior studio AirJet Designs, based in Toulouse, France, with commercial presence across Miami, Hong Kong and Sao Paolo. The studio provides tailor-made design solutions or à la carte services to reflect their clients’ tastes. From design proposals, layout definition and 3D mock-up generation to completion and follow-up, just about every request can be catered to. Of course, safety comes first, which means every component must pass certain safety standards approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. AirJet Designs’ aesthetic approach leans toward the avant-garde. Its founder, Jean-Pierre Alfano, is also its Creative Director. The studio specializes in ‘corporate jet, VIP and Head of State aircraft interior design’. The company has won two prestigious International Yacht & Aviation Awards for its ‘Dolce Vita’ interior design concept, which incorporates neo-baroque elements and is a tribute to Jean-Pierre Alfano’s Italian and French background.

Featuring Experience the Trans-Siberian Railroad on this 15-day...

The adventure lasts 15 days, departing from Beijing and Moscow, with expected stops including Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude and Ulaanbaatar, among others. The experience will be very unique, as guests will be able to travel the normally closed original route of the Trans-Siberian Railroad and be accommodated in one of Tsar Gold’s five cabin categories, ranging from four berth cabins to luxury cabins with en suite facilities. The views are, without question, spectacular. One example is the frontier between Mongolia and Russia, which also happens to be an immigration stop-point with a twist: Passengers can literally present their passports while in their sleepwear, as immigration officials board the train.

Featuring Experience spectacular views of planet Earth by Bloon

It’s a near-space flight that takes you to the edge of the atmosphere, now bookable at a price tag of €110,000 and lifting off as early as 2016 (or 2017 at the latest). The journey takes approximately four hours, commencing with a countdown to vertical lift-off lasting about 10 minutes, as the bloon begins its ascent from the Earth’s surface to an altitude of 36km. At this point the bloon cruises at a constant altitude, providing spectacular views of the planet. Finally, there is the venting phase, which enables the bloon to descend onto its predefined landing area for sail separation. So, why use a balloon for this exciting flight experience? According to the company, there are three reasons: ‘Safety, experience and environmental impact. The oldest type of flying machine known, the balloon, is inherently safer than other forms of high-altitude flight. By using a pod with a balloon we create a softer and more pleasant journey.

Featuring Rio: The city with art and Jazz at heart

Today, its international profile is rising with the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics games, and it’s not just sports fans who have their eye on this vibrant city. Art exhibitions put on here are among the world's most-attended, while both Rio and Sao Paolo have art fairs and talent strong enough to rival any emerging cultural hotspot. Last year, Brazillian artist Beatriz Milhazes' set a new record for Brazilian art, selling a piece for $2.1 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York. A host of new international galleries single the city out as the must-see destination for any global art connoisseur: Emmanuel Hervé (Paris), Société (Berlin) and Thomas Brambilla (Milan,) are some who have made Rio their next home. A perfect time to experience this vibrant city can begin with ArtRio, Rio’s first contemporary international art fair launched in 2010. Every September, a week is packed with stimulating events and private dinners; those looking for a truly exclusive experience may want to brush shoulders with the most exciting creative minds and the glitterati of the city at the black-tie gala ball held at MAR, one of the city’s leading contemporary art museums.

Featuring Take diving to a more luxurious level – all you need to...

How? By having it tailor-made just for you, of course. One company that specializes in creating tailor-made diving holidays is Original Diving. The company sets out to create itineraries for the individual based on precisely what that individual is seeking during their experience. Not only that, but the company sees to it that every single detail is taken care of so that the only thing one needs to remember is their passport. For convenience, a 24-hour helpline is just a phone call away; customers can rest assured that they will always have someone at the other end to answer quick questions or to rely on should anything go wrong. Of course, it goes without saying that Original Diving is made up of expert divers. Let us, however, get to the more exciting bits, like where to go diving. The choices seem endless: From North America, the Caribbean, Antarctica and Africa to the Far East, Australia and the Pacific Islands, how do you choose?

For your next private function or wedding, experience...

The Sybarite has had the pleasure of visiting this stately residence and we are giving it the grand OK for those looking to host a private function or wedding in France that offers convenience, beauty and exclusivity. Chateau Bouffemont is the ideal place for a “homely” wedding ceremony where guests are able to mingle and hold intimate conversations in an atmosphere that provides the 5- star touch yet shows no signs of unpretentiousness. The Chateau has undergone a complete refurbishment after being bought from its new proprietor in 2012 – the theme is chic and elegant. Imagine, Tiffany coloured walls, wooden floors; gorgeous verandah overlooking the landscaped gardens, a magnificent staircase, private elevator and ten magical suites. We feel that the interior design of the Chateau combines both a masculine and feminine touch, as if its proprietors were a couple – you can certainly feel the male-touch in one of its five reception halls decked out with leather arm chairs and a fireplace, whereas the main hall hangs a large ornate chandelier with walls coloured in a sort of Tiffany turquoise green. It is by all means, a setting that is great for photo taking.

Karl Lagerfeld and The Odyssey

Featuring Explore Europe’s ‘off the beaten track’ waterways aboard...

It is rather fascinating with so many waterways to be discovered – through the vineyards of Burgundy, the historic Po Valley in Italy to the Caledonian Canal in Scotland and the more open waters of Loch Ness, cruising along Europe’s waterways is one adventure to add to that bucket list – we think. The best way to explore Europe’s waterways is of course a gentle cruise on a hotel barge; one that is replete with perfectly adorned suites and a well-rounded crew. European Waterways has been pioneering hotel barges for nearly 40 years and currently has a fleet of hotel barges to suit different passengers – an example is the Hotel Barge Finesse, a luxury double-decker hotel barge that is currently being commissioned. The Finesse offers room for 8 passengers in four spacious twin or double-bedded suites with air-conditioning and private shower rooms to match. “She will also boast a large saloon with panoramic windows and a demonstration galley where guests can watch their chef preparing delicious gourmet meals”. Cruising for the Finesse will begin from May 2016 travelling through River Saone and Southern Burgundy where one can discover its vineyards.

Featuring Emirates takes to new heights

It will be the “world's longest non-stop flight and the only one to offer First Class service” The Dubai based airline will commence its first non-stop flight from Dubai to Panama City come 1st February 2016 and will take approximately 17 hours and 35 minutes. Our question is, how does one keep themselves entertained on a 17-hour flight? Well, forget about popping those sleeping pills, as the airliner is one of the world’s longest-range jetliner - Boeing 777-200LR, capable of flying 10,817 miles and can even carry up to 15 tonnes of cargo. The flight will outstrip Qantas as being the longest overhaul flight, which flew from Sydney to Dallas. This will be an experience in itself. The flight is also going to prove a great connector to Central America, especially for travellers leaving from Dubai and heading onto the Caribbean to the northern parts of South America.

Featuring For the tourist-goer this is not for you – Bali’s best...

Located off the beaten track, crossing many a rice fields, small villages and lakes you could not imagine that a resort would be this remote. Once the car reaches the inclined hill, you find yourself atop a historical village greeted by the sounds of xylophone music, the smell of fresh air and a view that has you deeply exhaling that tension away. It is quite an experience for the Bali holiday goer as there aren’t too many guests either. It feels private and quite frankly, it feels wonderful. In short, it is a true find. The aim for the Puri Sebatu Resort is to offer its guests a place of tranquility and respite from the many tourists who often holiday in Bali. That is why its location is rather difficult to find but The Sybarite promises you that upon reaching, one will find that this is a truly special escape. Its design “incorporates traditional Balinese architecture. Guests are surrounded by the textures and color of nature, dressed slate, terracotta floor, smooth unpainted wood, soft homespun fabrics, intricate worked copper, fragrant alang-alang grass roofing, natural bamboo, rough cut stone, flowers and foliage”