N E W Z E A L A N D

N E W  Z E A L A N D

executive summary by darmansjah

Resurgence A winding country road follows the brilliant blue edge of Tasman Bay to this luxe hide-out on 50 acres near the clear bubbling source (“the resurgence”) of the Riwaka River. Native birds, including the melodious tui, flutter across meandering pathways to large and sunny chalets. Among other sustainability highlights, the husband and wife who own the Resurgence plant an indigenous tree for every couple who visits. The location could hardly be better: hip artist enclaves and the Nelson region’s renowned wine estates can be found nearby, and total wilderness immersion awaits on guided treks in Kahurangi National Park, an easy day-trip away. 10 rooms; from $437, including breakfast.

I N D O N E S I A

I N D O N E S I A

executive summary by darmansjah

THIS ECO-HIDEAWAY, consisting of 13 breezy bungalows handcrafted out of salvaged driftwood, turns the old cliché that the journey matters more than the destination on its head: It’s not easy to reach this remote outpost in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago, but being there makes it all worthwhile. Located at the center of Southeast Asia’s famed Coral Triangle, Misool provides front-row access to an underwater world teeming with marine life-there are more kinds of fish and coral here than bird species in the Amazon. Local village visits and paddling across the baby blue waters are also options, but for diving and snorkeling aficionados, this is a trip of a lifetime. 13 rooms; from $5,466 for 7 nights (minimum stay), including full board.

South Island, NZ

Vertical Challenge

executive summary by darmansjah

I make it a point to travel at least once yearly, and if it was a city like Tokyo last time round, the next would be somewhere with beaches, while the one after perhaps somewhere with historical or archaeological sites. This time, I headed to New Zealand and it was an amazing experience to travel by various modes of transport ranging across trains (Tranz Alpine), camper vans a helicopter glide across the Fox Glacier, gondola ride in Queenstown and cruising in Milford. I also managed to tick off one event on my “World’s To Do List” bungy jumping at the Kawaru Bridge!.