Iceland’s volcano may be wreaking havoc on the travel industry,
but not all mountains that
rumble are bad news. Boutique hotel specialists Mr and Mrs
Smith (www.mrandmrssmith.com) have come up with a list of stylish hotels in volcanic destinations.
» 101 Hotel, Reykjavik, Iceland
They don’t call it the Land of Fire and Ice for nothing, but if it’s cool you’re after, make a date with the 101 Hotel in Iceland’s happening harborside capital, more than 100km from headline grabbing volcano Eyjafjallajokull. Behind the classical facade you’ll find a vision of metropolitan monochrome, with sleek bedrooms and freestanding baths. Dine on Mod Icelandic cuisine at the restaurant or consider the local art at the 101 Gallery. Then warm up in the basement sauna.
» Hacienda de San Antonio, Colima, Mexico
Backstroke up and down the enormous pool at this coral-pink, classically decorated heritage hotel and you’ll be able to eyeball the unmistakably steep slopes of the Colima volcano in the distance. Nestled near the Pacific coast, west of capital Mexico City, this elegant 120-year-old retreat offers stately manor luxe amid lush landscaped gardens. You can’t beat the El Quetzal Junior Suite, which boasts panoramic views of the smoke-haloed volcano from its pretty terrace. The hacienda runs its own organic ranch so you can dine on delicious local produce, then kick back with a margarita made from local mango grappa.
» Mystique, Santorini, Greece
Set on a rugged Cycladic island summit with vistas of a cliff-lined volcanic bay, this getaway is high on romance, relaxation and nature. Soaring above the rocky heights of the southern tip of Oia, in the north of Santorini, its serene, all-white suites are spacious and airy with private terraces overlooking the sea. Gym freaks will love the spa-inspired Spiritual Suites, which come with a Jacuzzi, exercise machine and spa bed to ensure you’re looking your best.
» The Boatshed, Auckland, New Zealand
If you love making an entrance, hop aboard the 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland to Waiheke Island, home to the Boatshed. En route you won’t be able to take your eyes off the dramatic low-lying lines of volcanic island Rangitoto, which means “blood red sky” but which last erupted about 600 years ago. With just seven suites, and chic nautical styling, the Boatshed is a laid-back haven with friendly hosts who can cook up a storm. The hike up Rangitoto takes about an hour, but the views from the crater rim are worth it. With 50 volcanoes making up the Auckland Volcanic Field, this is a volcano fan’s dream destination.
» Hotel Raya, Aeolian Islands, Sicily, Italy
Fashion designer Giorgio Armani regularly holidays on Panarea, one of the volcanic Aeolian Islands off the northeast coast of Sicily, and it’s easy to see why. For a boutique bolt-hole that perfectly captures Panarea’s Mediterranean charms, check out the Hotel Raya, which offers vistas of iconic volcano Mount Stromboli, delicious seafood, top diving and sailing, and Raya nightclub for hot evenings out. Fiery Stromboli and sulphurous Vulcano are just two of the seven Aeolian Island sisters if you fancy touring, or stop over in mainland Sicily where iconic volcano Mount Etna dominates the landscape.
» Amankila, Bali, Indonesia
What do you get when you team a luxe Aman resort with a coastal cliff-side spot nestled below Bali’s tallest and most sacred volcano? Amankila, on the island’s east coast near Manggis, which boasts jaw-dropping views of towering Mount Agung. Enjoy the skyline from the rustic-deluxe sanctuary of your private terrace, set amid coconut groves, or from the tempting three-tier infinity pools that step down from reception to the shore like paddy fields. All suites are freestanding huts with thatched roofs, but interiors offer a sophisticated modern take on Balinese style.
» Ace Hotel, Portland, US
Within reach of dormant volcanoes Mount Hood and Mount Tabor, as well as active Mount St Helens and Mount Rainier further north — and some superb snowboarding — this hip hotel is the ace in downtown Portland’s pack. The look here is groovy graphic designer’s den, with edgy wall murals by local artists, quirky vintage finds and vinyl record players in rooms, plus a box of discs to spin. Pop down to Clyde Common bar and restaurant next door and you may find yourself sharing a One-Trick Pony cocktail, or even a Suicide Note, with the grungerati.
» Huka Lodge, Lake Taupo, New Zealand
A traditional 1920s hunting lodge famous for its sumptuous riverside rooms, creative dining and world-class fishing, Huka Lodge is one of New Zealand’s most sought-after stays, beloved of celebrities. Set in the heart of the North Island near Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake formed by volcanic eruption 30,000 years ago, it’s also within striking distance of still-active Mount Ruapehu, home to the Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields, where you can slalom down volcanic cones.
» La Minervetta, Sorrento, Italy
Working a quirky nautical look, this Amalfi Coast cliff-hanger near Sorrento comes with vertiginous views of Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples from its lofty pool and stunning terrace. La Minervetta is handy for visiting the famous archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum (Ercolano) nearby, both victims of devastating ancient volcanic eruptions but now among Italy’s top tourist must-sees.
» Losari Spa Retreat & Coffee Plantation, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
This coffee plot in a remote mountain setting on Indonesia’s main island Java is surrounded by plantation fields and ringed by no less than eight volcanoes. Stay in authentic antique-filled Dutch colonial villas, set amid 25 hectares of lovingly tended gardens and coffee plants. Naturally, the home-grown coffee is a highlight, as is the award-winning spa which boasts a Turkish-style hammam bath and uses herbs and ingredients harvested on site. If you’re heading out and about, there’s great jungle trekking, and cultural centre Yogyakarta and Buddhist temple complex Borobudur both within easy reach.
On the final approach to Lanshan Workstation (嵐山工作站), logging trains crossed one last gully over a dramatic double bridge, taking the left line to enter the locomotive shed or the right line to continue straight through, heading deeper into the Central Mountains. Today, hikers have to scramble down a steep slope into this gully and pass underneath the rails, still hanging eerily in the air even after the bridge’s supports collapsed long ago. It is the final — but not the most dangerous — challenge of a tough two-day hike in. Back when logging was still underway, it was a quick,
From censoring “poisonous books” to banning “poisonous languages,” the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) tried hard to stamp out anything that might conflict with its agenda during its almost 40 years of martial law. To mark 228 Peace Memorial Day, which commemorates the anti-government uprising in 1947, which was violently suppressed, I visited two exhibitions detailing censorship in Taiwan: “Silenced Pages” (禁書時代) at the National 228 Memorial Museum and “Mandarin Monopoly?!” (請說國語) at the National Human Rights Museum. In both cases, the authorities framed their targets as “evils that would threaten social mores, national stability and their anti-communist cause, justifying their actions
In the run-up to World War II, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, head of Abwehr, Nazi Germany’s military intelligence service, began to fear that Hitler would launch a war Germany could not win. Deeply disappointed by the sell-out of the Munich Agreement in 1938, Canaris conducted several clandestine operations that were aimed at getting the UK to wake up, invest in defense and actively support the nations Hitler planned to invade. For example, the “Dutch war scare” of January 1939 saw fake intelligence leaked to the British that suggested that Germany was planning to invade the Netherlands in February and acquire airfields
Taiwanese chip-making giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) plans to invest a whopping US$100 billion in the US, after US President Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on overseas-made chips. TSMC is the world’s biggest maker of the critical technology that has become the lifeblood of the global economy. This week’s announcement takes the total amount TSMC has pledged to invest in the US to US$165 billion, which the company says is the “largest single foreign direct investment in US history.” It follows Trump’s accusations that Taiwan stole the US chip industry and his threats to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent
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