Fusion Escapes

Where in the World Wednesday is back for 2013! Take a look at...

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 03:42:00 -0500

Where in the World Wednesday is back for 2013! Take a look at the photo and guess where on earth this scenic rail route might be. Remember, it’s extra points for random facts and travel related stories. We’ll announce the winner on our Facebook page later this evening… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

Happy New Year from the team at Fusion Escapes! From Singapore...

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Happy New Year from the team at Fusion Escapes! From Singapore to Santorini, here’s a pick of our favourite New Year celebration pics from around the world. Wishing you a fantastic 2013 filled with glamorous getaways!

Illuminated lanterns featuring wishes for 2013 floating in the bay in Singapore (main picture)

Burj Khalifa, Dubai (top left)

Santorini, Greece (top middle)

Rome, Italy (top right)

Fireworks exploding during New Year celebrations over the Brandenburger Tor gate, Berlin (middle left)

Midnight in Times Square, New York (middle right)

Charles Bridge, Prague (bottom left)

Fireworks light up Sydney harbour bridge, Australia (bottom right)

Happy Holidays from Fusion Escapes! Wishing you a fantastic 2013...

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 06:41:51 -0500

Happy Holidays from Fusion Escapes! Wishing you a fantastic 2013 filled with glamorous getaways!

It’s Where in the World Wednesday! Take a look at the...

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 03:38:00 -0500

It’s Where in the World Wednesday! Take a look at the photo and guess where on earth you would find this ethereal garden. We promise there is no CGI involved! Remember it’s extra points for details, random facts and travel related stories! We’ll announce the winner on our Facebook page later this evening… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

It’s Where in the World Wednesday! Take a look at the...

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It’s Where in the World Wednesday! Take a look at the photo and guess where on earth you would find this tunnel of trees. Remember it’s extra points for details, random facts and travel related stories! We’ll announce the winner on our Facebook page later this evening… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

Well done, Ana. The answer was indeed the Tunnel of Love, Ukraine. Located near the town of Kleven, this luscious green tunnel provides passage (rather unromantically) for a private train transporting fibreboard to a local factory. Measuring 1.8 miles long, the unusual rail route in Eastern Europe has become known as one of the most romantic places on earth. Lovers travel here from all over the world to make a wish. It is said that if they are sincere in their love, their wishes will come true…

It’s Where in the World Wednesday! Take a look at the...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 04:12:00 -0500

It’s Where in the World Wednesday! Take a look at the photos and guess where on earth you would find this quirky hotel. Remember it’s extra points for details, random facts and travel related stories! We’ll announce the winner on our Facebook page later this evening… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

No correct guesses this week! The answer was Dune Ecovillage & spa, Pondicherry, India. One of the four enclaves of former French India, and known as “The French Riviera of the East” (La Côte d’Azur de l’Est), Pondicherry is the setting for the new film, Life of Pi. The Dune Ecovillage (15km north from the heart of Pondicherry on the east coast Road) is a French run hotel with a bohemian chic vibe, set over 35 acres of landscaped wilderness along the bay of Bengal. Recently visited by Marianne Faithfull, the hotel boasts a top notch Ayruvedic spa and yoga retreat, as well as an organic farm and a selection of restaurants serving gourmet fusion food. Nearby, Pondicherry’s Old Town is unique in India, with wonderfully preserved pastel French villas and streetscapes steeped in the history of the colonial era. Wander down the tree lined boulevards of rue Dumas or Labourdonnais and stroll along the seafront promenade at sunset before popping into pop-art styled Villa Shanti for a hibiscus Margarita and French-electro soundtrack. (Dune Ecovillage & spa:http://www.thedunehotel.com/index.php?page=home&hl=en_US)

Photo credits: 3rd row (centre) outoflinden, bottom row (right) fromtraveldiaries, bottom row (centre) late-night-cat,

One egg or two? It’s Foodie Friday, so take a look at the...

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:43:00 -0500

One egg or two? It’s Foodie Friday, so take a look at the photo and have a guess where in the world you might find this traditional dish served. Remember it’s extra points for details, random foodie facts and travel related stories. We’ll reveal the answer and announce the winner on our Facebook page later… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

Good guess Calum, but it’s not an egg McMuffin! The answer was Loco Moco - a classic Hawaiian “plate lunch” that typically consists of a beef patty and fried egg over white rice, drowned in lashings of brown gravy. Importing the island-style dish to LA has recently resulted in a pretty funny culture clash. For those that have never heard of the traditional Loco Moco, pointed out that the word “moco” means “snot” or “boogers” in the Spanish language… and we all know what “loco” means. Crazy snot burger anyone?!

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for travel fans… Number 5: The Miniot Mk2 ipad cover made in Holland from reclaimed solid wood (pick from 6 shades: Cherry, Mahogany, Walnut, Oak, Smoked Oak, or Maple - or for a little extra, customise your own wood tones and add an engraving) with an ultrasuede microfiber lining. A lot like the Apple Smart Cover, but whole lot sexier (AND sturdy enough to stand your iPad up in portrait orientation), the joints let you fold the cover into various arrangements, and the magnets wake and sleep the iPad as you open and close the cover (from €69 https://www.miniot.com/webshop/?portlet=miniot&page=miniotcoverm2)

It’s Foodie Friday! Take a look at the photo and have a...

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 06:18:00 -0500

It’s Foodie Friday! Take a look at the photo and have a guess where in the world you might find this traditional dish. Remember it’s extra points for details, random foodie facts and travel related stories. We’ll reveal the answer and announce the winner on our Facebook page later… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

Well done Cheryl! The answer was indeed Buuz, the Mongolian steamed dumpling filled with minced mutton, or beef and seasoned with onion, garlic and herbs. Breakfast and lunch are the biggest and most important meals of the day for Mongolians and these usually consist of boiled mutton with lots of fat and flour, washed down with a generous amount of salted milky tea made with fermented mare’s milk, butter and roasted millet (süütei tsai). As an old Mongolian saying advises: “Keep breakfast for yourself, share lunch with your friend and give dinner to your enemy”! To name a few variations of this delightful dumpling…. we have the Tibetan Momo, the Turkish or Armenian Manti, the Polish Pierogi, the Russian Pelmeni, the Korean Mandu, the Chinese Jiaozi, the Japanase Gyoza and, as Hossein kindly informed us, the Georgian Khinkali. Let us know your favourite!

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for...

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for travel fans… Number 4: The Leica D-Lux 6 compact camera with that irresistible vintage look leather case… Now for the impressive stats: 10.1 megapixels; DC-Vario-Summilux

4.7–17.7 mm f/1.4–2.3 ASPH zoom lens with a focal length range from 24 to 90 mm (35 mm equivalent) and a new 1.7” CMOS image sensor for absolutely brilliant, high-contrast images with even greater depth of field; a click wheel allowing users to quickly and easily select the distance, shutter speed and exposure corrections; 1,280 x 720 pixel HD movie recording feature - all classically packaged in an all black, silky smooth, anodised metal casing. From £599 from Leica Store Mayfair, 34 Bruton Place, London, W1 (0207 629 1351;http://www.leica-storemayfair.co.uk/news/leica-d-lux6.html)

Charles Bridge, Prague.

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 04:55:48 -0500

Charles Bridge, Prague.

lassasymphonie: Prague…. literally stunned by the beauty...

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 04:54:22 -0500

lassasymphonie:

Prague….

literally stunned by the beauty of the old town square in prague. <3 this is a city veiled in old-world charm and mystique, yet on the other hand (side?) there is something cold and harsh about its communist past.

i love it.

It’s a seasonal Where in the World Wednesday this week!...

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 04:27:00 -0500

It’s a seasonal Where in the World Wednesday this week! Take a look at the photo and guess where on earth you would take to skates on this lake. Remember it’s extra points for details, random facts and travel related stories! We’ll announce the winner on our Facebook Page later… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

Photo credits: Aerial kite photography by Eric Kieboom

Good guesses Kirsten, Calum and Barry! The answer was Paterswoldse meer, part of the Groningen-Drenthe lakes just South of the city of Groningen, the Northernmost state in the Netherlands. The ice is generally thick enough to skate on between December and February and popular for sailing and kite surfing in the summer months.

The photographs on our blog were by Eric Kieboom, an expert in kite aerial photography.

Tip: Explore the surrounding countryside of Ommelanden (north east of Groningen) by bicycle, winding through the small towns, quaint fishing communities, little castles (known as “borgen”) and windmills. Take a trip to the region’s coast - the Wadden Sea — a UNESCO World Heritage site and buy fresh fish and eat smoked eels in the old Dutch fort, Bourtange.

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas...

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for travel fans… Number 3: The Wallpaper* City Guide. Perfect for Christmas stockings, these pocket size travel guides by Design and style magazine Wallpaper*, provide the savvy

traveller with an insider’s checklist of all you need to know about the world’s most desirable cities. From Marrakech to Maastricht, discover the best restaurants, bars and hotels (including which rooms to request); find the most extraordinary shops and sites; and reveal the most enticing architecture and design hot spots: (£4.95 from Phaidon: http://uk.phaidon.com/store/travel/)

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for...

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 04:34:00 -0500

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for travel fans… Number 2: The Elvis & Kresse Washbag (£56.50). All products are made from recycled, de-commissioned British fire brigade hoses that were otherwise destined for

landfill and 50% of all profits go to The Fire Fighters Charity! Also check out the gorgeous Overnight bag and their range of wallets, belts and cufflinks (made from waste tea sack or scrap sail cloth). All bags are packaged in a reclaimed parachute silk and come delivered in a waste tea sack: http://www.fire-hose.co.uk/Shops/Bags/buy_wash_bag.html

It’s Foodie Friday! Take a look at the photo and have a...

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 05:47:00 -0500

It’s Foodie Friday! Take a look at the photo and have a guess where in the world you might find this local speciality. Remember it’s extra points for details, random foodie facts, favourite recipes and travel related stories. We’ll reveal the answer and announce the winner on our Facebook page later… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

Love it or hate it, the answer was Saltimbocca! Literally meaning ‘to jump in the mouth’, this classically Italian dish is made from rolled-up veal, prosciutto and sage.

Photo credits: kaipiranha (3rd row on the right), maliag (bottom row, centre)

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for...

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:33:00 -0500

Drop a not-so-subtle hint and share our Christmas gift ideas for stylish travel fans… Number 1: Induce luggage envy with “The Overnighter” from Steamline’s Entrepreneur Series, £156. Screaming good taste and radiating the elegance of yesteryear, Steamline’s vintage-inspired luggage is perfect for anyone with a love of travel and a sense of style. Also check out their briefcases, hat boxes, vanity cases and carry-ons, all trimmed in contrasting leather and available in a range of retro-flavoured colours: http://www.steamlineluggage.com/

It’s Where in the World Wednesday! Take a look at the...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 03:23:00 -0500

It’s Where in the World Wednesday! Take a look at the photos and guess where on earth you would find this surreal structure. Remember it’s extra points for details, random facts and travel related stories! We’ll announce the winner on our Facebook page later this evening… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

Well done Rebecca! The answer was the René Magritte Museum in Brussels, celebrating the work of the surrealist Belgian artist. The museum which opened in June 2009, is located in the five-level neo-classical Hotel Altenloh, on the Place Royale and displays over 200 original Magritte paintings, drawings and sculptures. During restoration of the building, it was covered with a giant canvas depicting the artist’s painting Empire of Light (1953-54). Magritte is probably best known for his paintings depicting everyday objects such as apples, umbrellas, pipes and men in bowler hats.

We heart Hotel Locarno, Rome Experience Rome like Mary Pickford...

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:15:00 -0500

We heart Hotel Locarno, Rome

Experience Rome like Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks in this intimate Art Deco hotel situated only a stone’s throw away from the magnificent Piazza del Popolo. Packed with period charm and oozing 1920s glamour, each antique filled room (reached by the ancient birdcage elevator) is different. It’s no wonder that Hotel Locarno is a favourite retreat for famous film actors, directors, writers, producers and musicians. Indeed, film director Bernard Weber was so enamoured by the place, that he shot his film “Hotel Locarno” here in 1978.

Hint: Take an extended breakfast in the delightful wisteria-scented courtyard, borrow one of the hotel bicycles for a whistlestop tour around Rome’s back streets and return to the hotel’s historic bar (with log fire) for a Bellini before heading for the roof terrace at sunset for sensational roof-top views of Rome.

It’s Foodie Friday! Take a look at the photos and have a...

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:26:00 -0500

It’s Foodie Friday! Take a look at the photos and have a guess where in the world you might find this unlikely gourmet treat. Remember it’s extra points for details, random foodie facts and travel related stories. We’ll reveal the answer and announce the winner on our facebook page later… https://www.facebook.com/FusionEscapes

Well done Calum and Logan! Kopi Luwak (often nicknamed poop coffee) is harvested from the half-digested beans found in the excrement of the small weasel-like animal, the Luwak - a species of the Civet cat native to Indonesia. The coffee’s fine taste is often attributed to the fact that the Civet is said to only eat only the choicest, ripest, most perfectly matured beans. The animal’s unique digestive enzymes are also thought to break down the proteins in the beans that ordinarily make coffee bitter.

Kopi Luwak is one of the rarest, most expensive brews in the world. Only about 500 kilos of this coffee are said to be collected per year and sells for between £80 and £300 a Kilo. Coffee connoisseur Chris Rubin explains what makes Kopi Luwak worth the exorbitant price:

“The aroma is rich and strong, and the coffee is incredibly full bodied, almost syrupy. It’s thick with a hint of chocolate, and lingers on the tongue with a long, clean aftertaste. It’s definitely one of the most interesting and unusual cups I’ve ever had.”

However, coffee connoisseurs beware! The window for consuming this prize coffee is only a week long due to the fact that the beans mature and quickly begin to deteriorate after roasting. Furthermore, according to industry gossip, up to 40% of the product sold as genuine Kopi Luwak is fake. We only hope that such fakery means the passing off of regular coffee rather than the beans being passed through an inauthentic animal!

If you fancy a taste, Harvey Nichols sells bags of Kopi Luwat for £25 (£43.86 per 100G): http://www.harveynichols.com/s346139-edible-civet-coffee-ground.html