Latest news with #DreamoftheDesert
India Today
03-07-2025
- India Today
Luxury on rails: Five top trains to see the world
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today Spice issue dated June 2025)Discover legendary routes along which traders once traversed in the east, landscapes that vary from the lush green countryside to the stark vastness of the Saudi desert and pristine rainforests of Malaysia, from the comfort of your gilded luxe cabins aboard new luxury trains that revive the golden days of slow travel with a new layer of opulence. While some are already on track, others will launch in the coming months. Get set to turn back the OF THE DESERT, SAUDI ARABIA Dream of the Desert is Saudi Arabia's first luxury train with 34 luxury suites on board advertisementIf crisscrossing lush green countryside is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a train journey, then board the Middle East's first five star luxury train to uncover a dramatically different landscape – the mystique of endless stretches of brown and red sand. The Dream of the Desert will depart from Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and go through some gorgeous terrain and natural sites which are expected to include Hail region, a UNESCO world heritage site. The itineraries are being finalised as it debuts towards the end of next year. Taking inspiration from what lies beyond its windows, the train, which has 34 suites will reflect the aesthetic of the desert while paying homage to Saudi culture and craftsmanship. It will all come with a touch of glamour -- think sandy and beige tones offset by shades of gold; intricate wood carvings, woven textiles and wood panelled walls. The reception lounge is designed like a traditional majlis, a communal sitting room in a Saudi home. Art pieces and photographs of Saudi cultural sites will adorn the corridors. When it comes to dining, the chefs will curate local and international cuisines. The train, a collaboration between Saudi Arabia Railways and Italy's Arsenale group, is being launched as the country steps up its game to woo by the end of 2026https:// The itineraries are being worked onLA DOLCE VITA ORIENT EXPRESS, ITALY Chug along with the gentle rhythm of the Italian countryside or the country's stunning southern coastline ensconced in a luxury cabin that evokes memories of the world's most famous train that once traversed Europe. The La Dolce Vita Orient Express, Italy, made its debut in April with a run from Rome to the medieval hilltop town of Montalcino along the 'Tastes of Tuscan Vineyards' route. It is the first of six trains that will wind along towns like Venice, Siena, Matera and the shores of Sicily for one or two nights offering eight itineraries. This luxury train fleet is not just reviving a legacy, it is redefining the world of slow travel from the moment you step into the plush La Dolce Vita lounge at Roma Ostiense its design inspired by 'the sweet life' (la dolce vita), the train's 12 deluxe cabins come with double beds, carpeted floors and wooden beamed ceilings. In its 18 suites, lounge on a sofa or armchairs as you watch Italy disappear in a blur from your window. For a more opulent experience, check into the signature La Dolce Vita suite. Sip the best wine from the region you are traversing as singers belt out Italian numbers and dine on crisp linen laid out with the finest porcelain on a menu curated by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck with local culinary traditions in in April 2025Https:// train runs along eight different itineraries varying from 1 to 2 nightsBRITANNIC EXPLORER, UNITED KINGDOM There are two gorgeous dining cars at Britannic Explorer Come July and explore a slice of the English countryside, whether it is the rolling hills of Wales, the shimmering coast of Cornwall or the peaks and serene water bodies of the Lake District in the country's first luxury sleeper train by the Belmond Group. Starting from London, it will glide along these three regions offering either three or six night journeys. Besides 15 plush, oak panelled suites, it has three grand suites that come with double beds, marble bathrooms and personal butler service. Meals are curated by award-winning British Chef Simon Rogan The experience will be quintessentially English all the way—from a typical afternoon tea to meals crafted by award-winning British Chef Simon Rogan. They will be served in two dining cars where soothing cream and green interiors reflect an English country garden. When you want a tipple, head to the Observation car—the train's social hub— stocked with artisan gins and craft beers or choose a cocktail mixed with botanicals inspired by Victorian apothecaries. Depending on the route you are traversing, stroll in a lavender meadow, hike, swim, party at a Cotswolds pub, or attend a gala dinner in a 15th century mansion in Oxfordshire when the train halts. And while on board, take time out to indulge in relaxing therapies and massages in the Wellness will run from July train offers seven itineraries varying from 3 to 6 nightsEASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS,MALAYSIA There are two dining cars on board offering cuisine from East Asia; One of the train itineraries goes through a national park You wouldn't have experienced South East Asia like this before. Winding its way from Singapore to Malaysia's tropical jungles, islands and small towns, the luxury Eastern and Oriental Express was relaunched last year after the pandemic. While its trademark green and gold exterior is unchanged, the interiors have been given a facelift and it has added two new seasonal routes to the six itineraries it offers. On 'Wild Malaysia,' the hero stop is the Teman Negara National park, one of the world's oldest rainforests which one explores in open jeeps, hoping of course to sight the endangered Malayan tiger. The other new route - Essence of Malaysia - goes through Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang allowing time for activities like the three nights on the train, spend time in revamped cabins, suites and two Presidential Suites that come with cherrywood panelling, silk fabrics and patterned carpets. Dine on sumptuous East Asian cuisine prepared by chef Andre Chiang in the two beautiful dining cars. The train's social heart is the gorgeous Piano Bar where performers entertain passengers as they sip wine or a signature cocktail in crystal glasses. The pampering does not end here – when there is time to spare, head to Southeast Asia's first Dior spa on a train. Done up with the brand's iconic Toile de Jouy motif, it offers five treatments in two rooms. But the journey's best moments may well be just sitting back in the Observation Car to enjoy the train's gentle rhythm as picturesque rice fields and small towns roll in February 2024Https:// train offers six itineraries – five are for 3 nights and one is for 6 nightsGOLDEN EAGLE SILK ROAD EXPRESS, ASIA The train goes through various terrains including a desert The bathroom of the Han Dynasty Suites comes with a bathtub For centuries, merchants plied the ancient Silk route in horse and camel driven caravans. Starting next year, explore some of those legendary trails in the lap of luxury on board the new Golden Eagle Silk Road Express via three different itineraries. Take a 22 day journey from Beijing to Tashkent in Uzbekistan that will cross historic cities like Samarkand and Bukhara, a 13 day journey from Urumqi to Lhasa in Tibet. Whatever you choose, ancient cultures will unravel. In its two restaurant cars—Western-style and Chinese-style—the smallest details scream sophistication. The luxury quotient will go up many notches for those checking into the Han Dynasty Suite that comes with a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne, a separate living room and dining table. The Observation Car is the perfect place to watch the landscape rolling by and when you want to unwind with a cocktail or wine, head to the Bar Car where tunes from a grand piano fill the room each train will launch in train will have three itineraries varying from 12 to 22 daysSubscribe to India Today Magazine- Ends
News18
13-06-2025
- News18
Saudi Arabia's First Luxury Train ‘Dream of the Desert' To Launch In 2026, Here's What To Expect
Last Updated: Taking inspiration from the historic Hejaz Railway that once connected Damascus to Medina, the Dream of the Desert will travel from Riyadh to Al Qurayyat in the north. Saudi Arabia is all set to welcome luxury travellers with its first-ever high-end train service – Dream of the Desert – scheduled to launch in 2026. Launch Timeline The Dream of the Desert is expected to begin operations by the third quarter of 2026. Details on ticket prices and travel packages are set to be announced in the coming months, as per Onmanorama. Dream of the Desert: All You Need To Know The Dream of the Desert will feature 14 beautifully designed carriages, housing 34 private suites. Inspired by the shifting sands of the desert, the interiors will be filled with warm earthy tones, elegant furnishings, and detailed craftsmanship. Each suite will include a private bathroom, and some will even have hot bathtubs. Food lovers will be spoiled for choice with a menu that spans traditional Arabian delicacies to global gourmet dishes, all made with fresh ingredients by renowned international chefs. Guests can unwind in luxurious lounges, enjoy a good book, or gaze at the stars through lounges with glass ceilings. The train will also offer cigar lounges and intimate cinema rooms, making the entire journey feel like a five-star retreat. To honour local traditions, the Saudi Ministry of Culture is working closely with the Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR) and Italy's Arsenale Group to weave in music, art, and folklore throughout the journey. Inspired by the legendary Hejaz Railway—which once connected Damascus to Medina—the Dream of the Desert brings a modern twist to an iconic route. Starting from Riyadh, the train will travel all the way to Al Qurayyat in the north, with stops at historic spots like Hail and several UNESCO World Heritage sites. First Published: June 13, 2025, 08:10 IST
New York Times
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Testing New Twists on Unexpected Materials at Milan Design Week
Where else but at Milan Design Week would you find bookcases made from books, a bar cabinet covered in hairy hide and a pavilion (and all its contents) fashioned from the stuff that stoppers wine bottles? The resourcefulness of designers working with unexpected materials is once again on full display, sometimes to make a point about sustainability (like Casa Cork, a project led by Rockwell Group), and sometimes just to look great. Built With Books and Memories 'I was saved by literature,' said Aline Asmar d'Amman of her exhibition at Galleria Rossana Orlandi called 'The Power of Tenderness.' 'These books that I imbed into concrete are the bricks and mortar of my inner foundation.' Ms. d'Amman is a Lebanese-born architect and interior designer. Her firm, Culture in Architecture, with offices in Beirut and Paris, has refurbished suites at the Hôtel de Crillon with the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. It is currently renovating the Orient Express Hotel Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice, as well as the Dream of the Desert train, being developed with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture. Ms. d'Amman has often spoken of her childhood in a war-torn country where she soothed herself by reading. She still thinks of books as her companions, she said: 'Their physical presence is a necessary oxygen.' The new pieces are created entirely by hand. Ms. d'Amman works side by side with artisans at the Laboratorio Morseletto in Vicenza, Italy, and uses simple ingredients: books that she has collected over the years, concrete, and scraps of marble and other stones. She has described the resulting pieces — shelves, pedestals, tables and bookends — as 'contemporary archaeological compositions,' but some may see in them survivors of war. 'Being Lebanese and going through years of war,' Ms. d'Amman said, 'your eye is marked by the ruins, and by the beauty and the nobility of what remains.' 'The Power of Tenderness' opened on April 6 and is on view through the year at Galleria Rossana Orlandi, 14 Via Matteo Bandello; — RIMA SUQI A Ceramicist Tackles Teapots For about a decade, Loewe, the Spanish fashion house, has shown a collection of home décor during Milan's design week. The presentations began in 2015 with a focus on a specific category — baskets, chairs, lamps and the like — and always with an emphasis on craft. This year, 25 artists, designers and architects from 10 countries were invited to create a teapot or tea set in ceramic. Among them was Dan McCarthy, an American ceramicist known for his 'Facepots.' Mr. McCarthy had never made a teapot before. 'I had to buy special clay and special glazes and fire at temperatures I don't usually fire at,' he said. Functionality was not a requirement (only about half the teapots in the group can be used), but he steamed ahead with a workable model: 'I wanted to make something that felt loose and accessible and said, 'I've arrived here in my gooey magical way.'' The artist, who is originally from Hawaii, undertook the challenge from his home in the Catskills in New York. In the end, he made 10 teapots for Loewe to choose from, each about a foot tall. 'I wanted to show off a little bit, so I made them kind of big,' he said. (Two were selected.) He gave special attention to the handle, which, in order to remain upright, was fashioned from an oak dowel and wire normally used for mending fences. This way, he said, the teapot is always at the ready. 'Loewe Teapots' is on view Monday through Sunday at Palazzo Citterio, 12 Via Brera. — RIMA SUQI Keeper of the 'Water of Life' At a glance, Orior's new Beatha drinks cabinet evokes sophisticated caveman décor. It is a stocky, solid walnut piece with doors wrapped in Italian cowhide. Those doors open (via hand-formed bronze handles) to reveal an interior that can be customized for the user's needs. Options include bottle storage, wine racks, drawers and trays; the only fixed piece is the top shelf, which is clad in marble. In photos, the cabinet 'looks really tall and broad, but it is quite small and compact, which is nice because it doesn't overwhelm a room,' said Ciaran McGuigan, the creative director of Orior, which was founded by his parents in 1979. The piece, which is about 5 feet tall by 4 feet wide, was crafted at Orior's workshop in Northern Ireland, with the exception of the handles and hinges, which were made at a foundry in County Cork. About the cabinet's name: It is a shortened version of 'uisce beatha,' which is Gaelic for both 'water of life' and 'whiskey.' Mr. McGuigan is good-humored about the derivation. 'There's no rhyme or reason to some of the pieces we launch. Being Irish we should 100 percent have made a drinks cabinet before this, but we're pleased with the outcome.' Beatha is one of nine pieces Orior is introducing in Milan this year. It is on view from Tuesday through Sunday at Bocci Milan, a residential showroom at 20 Via Giuseppe Rovani; — RIMA SUQI Highlighting an 'Invisible' Resource Rockwell Group, the design firm known for creating immersive interiors for restaurants, hotels and stage productions, will unveil a space in Milan's Brera neighborhood that highlights a sustainable and versatile material: cork. The material is the focus of Cork Collective, a nonprofit initiative that was founded in part by Rockwell Group and works with the hospitality industry to collect and repurpose discarded cork bottle stoppers. Cork, which the firm's founder David Rockwell said can be infinitely recycled and sequesters carbon, is 'one of these major invisible resources that is right under people's noses.' The installation in Milan, called Casa Cork, taps members of the design and hospitality communities, as well as students and educators, to showcase innovative ways that cork can be fashioned and reused. Visitors are invited to move through three spaces in which the material appears as flooring, light fixtures, furniture and other objects: a gallery where people can interact with various types of cork, a workshop that will host designs from a student competition and a salon with a bar for wine tastings. Throughout the week, speakers will host discussions and demonstrations about cork and its different uses. The centerpiece of the installation is a replica of a cork tree in Portugal that has been scanned, 3-D printed and laminated with cork from fallen trees, representing the material's source and potential for a second life. The firm also thought about its own footprint, designing the installation to be packed up and used again elsewhere. 'Although it's being created for Milan,' Mr. Rockwell said, 'it's a kind of circular economy, too.' The exhibition is open Tuesday through Saturday, 31 Via Solferino; — LAUREN MESSMAN Designing Locally With Aluminum Last year, Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy company, collaborated with seven designers to create home décor items made entirely from Hydro's 100 percent post-consumer aluminum. This project, unveiled at Milan Design Week, explored the design possibilities of the material. In this second installment of Hydro's CIRCAL 100R series, the company seeks to minimize the material's carbon footprint as it is converted into a design object by focusing on 'extremely local production,' said Jacob Nielsen, a communications director at Hydro. For the project, titled R100, all parts of the manufacturing and design process had to be done within a 100-kilometer (about 62-mile) radius, including the collection of post-consumer scrap and the assembly of the final prototypes. Five industrial designers worked with the project's art director, Lars Beller Fjetland, to create the aluminum objects, exercising total freedom in the size and type of extrusions. One participant, Daniel Rybakken, a Norwegian designer who runs a studio in Sweden, said he saw this as 'a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you get the chance to do kind of whatever you want.' For his project, 'Fields,' Mr. Rybakken created a sculpture that has no inherent practical function. He said he originally considered more traditional typologies, like an extruded lamp, but then thought, 'Why not do something that no manufacturer would touch in normal cases?' Resembling an architectural model, his piece mediates between the cold industrial components and a warm, poetic object. 'That was actually the most challenging part of it, because it's the balance of an abstraction,' Mr. Rybakken said. 'Where it's recognized as something and not being too literal at the same time.' The R100 objects are on display Tuesday through Sunday at Spazio Maiocchi, 7 Via Achille Maiocchi; — MORGAN MALGET
CNN
28-02-2025
- CNN
The world's smallest park is about the size of four pieces of paper
If you want to take a stroll around this park in Japan, you will have to be very nimble on your toes. A park roughly the size of four sheets of paper in Japan's central prefecture of Shizuoka was recently crowned the world's smallest, according to Guinness World Records. Despite measuring just 2.6 square feet, the recreational space offers a stool made up of a block of wood held up by a rock, with a little bush encircling it. From afar, it could easily be mistaken for a bonsai, an example of the Japanese art of manicuring miniature trees. The park is a short walk from the town hall of Nagaizumi, about 68 miles southwest of the capital Tokyo. The previous official world's smallest park was Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, which helped inspire the Japanese contender that officially took the title on Tuesday, according to Guinness. When a Nagaizumi local was on vacation in the US, 'they found the previous record holder for the smallest park,' Shuji Koyama, a team leader of the town's construction division, told Guinness. 'So they wanted to create an even smaller park.' Locals have been referring to it as the world's smallest park since it was built in 1988, despite a lack of official recognition. To qualify for the Guinness title, Shizuoka officials brought in a certified surveyor to measure the park. Koyama told Guinness World Records he was relieved that the park was finally recognized. 'We want to continue maintaining the park with the community, as well as creating a landscape that is more social media friendly, so that even more people will find attractions of our town,' he said. ————————————————————————————————————– Like what you've just read? Here is more of our recent travel news, from railway ambitions in Europe, China and the Middle East, to the delicious foods that Sweden does better than anywhere else. Adding Britain to your European rail vacation could get a little easier in the future. London St. Pancras, the United Kingdom's only international train station, is working with the Channel Tunnel on opening up more services to France and planning new routes to Germany and Switzerland. The aim is to shorten journey times, improve timetable coordination and introduce a larger rail fleet. St. Pancras also plans to expand peak-time capacity for international passengers from 1,800 per hour to 5,000. In other rail news from around the world, China is hoping its new fleet of 'silver trains' will encourage the up-in-years portion of its aging population to travel more and spend more. The trains will be fitted out with senior-friendly features such as handrails, oxygen bottles and emergency call buttons. From silver to gold: The Middle East's first super-luxury train, Saudi Arabia's Dream of the Desert, will launch in fall 2026. Its gleaming golden interiors are designed to complement the sandy expanses outside. Nordic cuisine is having a moment, but there's a lot more to Swedish food than meatballs and cinnamon buns. From sandwich cake to Västerbotten cheese pie, here are the dishes to try if you're visiting the Scandinavian nation. In South America, there's a food revolution going on in Bolivia, where elite restaurants are getting international notice and ancient Inca and Aymara traditions are finding their way into modern fusion dishes. In the 15th century, Beijing's Forbidden City was one of the most powerful places on the planet but governed by extreme secrecy. Even now, details are still emerging about what they feasted on in the royal household, from tiger testicles to bird's nest soup. Visitors to New York's Center for Jewish History can tour a full-scale recreation of the secret annex where diarist Anne Frank hid from the Nazis in wartime Amsterdam. Originally set to end on April 30, the exhibit has proved so popular that it's been extended until October 31. CNN visited the Manhattan exhibit. A 1,000-year-old French masterpiece is about to disappear from view for two years. Visitors will get their last chance to see the Bayeux Tapestry, an illustrated embroidery telling the story of the 11th-century Norman conquest of England, on August 31, before the Bayeux museum undergoes a major renovation. Istanbul's Maiden Tower, which sits on a tiny island between Europe and Asia, has reopened to the public after it too had a huge facelift. Here's what it was like when CNN had a look around at the end of last year. Mongolian couple Buyanaa and Yuk are traditional nomads and digital nomads. Their posts documenting their lives on the steppe have gotten millions of video views online. If the pair's cozy headgear has you envious, then it might be time to invest in a new winter hat. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have a roundup of the best noggin-warmers for 2025. A winter wonderland decorated with cotton wool and bedsheets disappointed visitors. It's snow joke. An American spent thousands of dollars on a passport to enter North Korea. Here's what he discovered there. Adventurer Tom Turcich spent seven years walking around the world. But his biggest challenge was being back home. Moo Deng and Pesto became internet celebrities. What happens when cute baby animals grow up?
CNN
28-02-2025
- CNN
The world's smallest park is about the size of four pieces of paper
If you want to take a stroll around this park in Japan, you will have to be very nimble on your toes. A park roughly the size of four sheets of paper in Japan's central prefecture of Shizuoka was recently crowned the world's smallest, according to Guinness World Records. Despite measuring just 2.6 square feet, the recreational space offers a stool made up of a block of wood held up by a rock, with a little bush encircling it. From afar, it could easily be mistaken for a bonsai, an example of the Japanese art of manicuring miniature trees. The park is a short walk from the town hall of Nagaizumi, about 68 miles southwest of the capital Tokyo. The previous official world's smallest park was Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, which helped inspire the Japanese contender that officially took the title on Tuesday, according to Guinness. When a Nagaizumi local was on vacation in the US, 'they found the previous record holder for the smallest park,' Shuji Koyama, a team leader of the town's construction division, told Guinness. 'So they wanted to create an even smaller park.' Locals have been referring to it as the world's smallest park since it was built in 1988, despite a lack of official recognition. To qualify for the Guinness title, Shizuoka officials brought in a certified surveyor to measure the park. Koyama told Guinness World Records he was relieved that the park was finally recognized. 'We want to continue maintaining the park with the community, as well as creating a landscape that is more social media friendly, so that even more people will find attractions of our town,' he said. ————————————————————————————————————– Like what you've just read? Here is more of our recent travel news, from railway ambitions in Europe, China and the Middle East, to the delicious foods that Sweden does better than anywhere else. Adding Britain to your European rail vacation could get a little easier in the future. London St. Pancras, the United Kingdom's only international train station, is working with the Channel Tunnel on opening up more services to France and planning new routes to Germany and Switzerland. The aim is to shorten journey times, improve timetable coordination and introduce a larger rail fleet. St. Pancras also plans to expand peak-time capacity for international passengers from 1,800 per hour to 5,000. In other rail news from around the world, China is hoping its new fleet of 'silver trains' will encourage the up-in-years portion of its aging population to travel more and spend more. The trains will be fitted out with senior-friendly features such as handrails, oxygen bottles and emergency call buttons. From silver to gold: The Middle East's first super-luxury train, Saudi Arabia's Dream of the Desert, will launch in fall 2026. Its gleaming golden interiors are designed to complement the sandy expanses outside. Nordic cuisine is having a moment, but there's a lot more to Swedish food than meatballs and cinnamon buns. From sandwich cake to Västerbotten cheese pie, here are the dishes to try if you're visiting the Scandinavian nation. In South America, there's a food revolution going on in Bolivia, where elite restaurants are getting international notice and ancient Inca and Aymara traditions are finding their way into modern fusion dishes. In the 15th century, Beijing's Forbidden City was one of the most powerful places on the planet but governed by extreme secrecy. Even now, details are still emerging about what they feasted on in the royal household, from tiger testicles to bird's nest soup. Visitors to New York's Center for Jewish History can tour a full-scale recreation of the secret annex where diarist Anne Frank hid from the Nazis in wartime Amsterdam. Originally set to end on April 30, the exhibit has proved so popular that it's been extended until October 31. CNN visited the Manhattan exhibit. A 1,000-year-old French masterpiece is about to disappear from view for two years. Visitors will get their last chance to see the Bayeux Tapestry, an illustrated embroidery telling the story of the 11th-century Norman conquest of England, on August 31, before the Bayeux museum undergoes a major renovation. Istanbul's Maiden Tower, which sits on a tiny island between Europe and Asia, has reopened to the public after it too had a huge facelift. Here's what it was like when CNN had a look around at the end of last year. Mongolian couple Buyanaa and Yuk are traditional nomads and digital nomads. Their posts documenting their lives on the steppe have gotten millions of video views online. If the pair's cozy headgear has you envious, then it might be time to invest in a new winter hat. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have a roundup of the best noggin-warmers for 2025. A winter wonderland decorated with cotton wool and bedsheets disappointed visitors. It's snow joke. An American spent thousands of dollars on a passport to enter North Korea. Here's what he discovered there. Adventurer Tom Turcich spent seven years walking around the world. But his biggest challenge was being back home. Moo Deng and Pesto became internet celebrities. What happens when cute baby animals grow up?
