My alarm buzzed at 6am, which wouldn’t have been out of the ordinary except for the fact that I wasn’t getting ready for work. I was actually half the world away—aboard the Seabourn Quest sailing towards Ísafjörður, a small fishing town in the Westfjords region of Iceland. It was the first port of call after departing Reykjavik on a “15-day Iceland and North Cape Quest”, an itinerary that takes travellers to the western and northern parts of Iceland, across the Arctic Circle to Norway, down and around the Norwegian fjords and ultimately concluding in Copenhagen.
I drew the blackout curtains—a necessity to keep out the eternal sunshine that defines Arctic summers—and took in the view of an imposing glaciated valley with deep snow-filled striations that reminded me of black Carrara marble with sleek veining. The Quest was sailing slowly into a fjord, moving gracefully through the gunmetal waters. This expedition ship was built to traverse such narrow passages and withstand extreme weather, a must as it spends most of its time sailing the icy wilderness of Antarctica. A few minutes later, my doorbell rang with my host (Seabourn’s version of a butler) bearing a breakfast of granola, yogurt and English Breakfast tea—a light start because today, I’m going off the ship for an expedition.
UNCHARTED TERRITORIES
Denne historien er fra September 2019-utgaven av Singapore Tatler.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2019-utgaven av Singapore Tatler.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Mathew Leong
As the Norway-based Singaporean chef celebrates a milestone year both personally and professionally, he opens up about the toughest moments of his career and why failing is not an option
Asian Inspirations
Chef Ace Tan on his second restaurant, Asu-his love letter to regional Asian cuisine
State of the Arts
Arts nominated member of parliament Usha Chandradas discusses growing the creative economy by focusing on both supply and demand
Through a Curator's Lens
Circe Henestrosa, a fashion curator and the head of the School of Fashion at Lasalle College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, merges her personal connection with artist Frida Kahlo with her extensive curatorial experience to explore intersecting themes of identity, disability and cultural heritage
Second Nature
Poet and educator Yong Shu Hoong brings fresh perspectives to the helm of the Singapore Writers Festival, from interdisciplinary perspectives to multilingual programmes
Wine Down
Nothing wraps up the day like a nice glass of vino. From flashy hedonistic escapades to geeky watering holes, these new wine bars promise celebrated viniferous pours that will please even the most discerning of oenophiles
A Legacy in Silhouettes
Kristina Blahnik, CEO of the designer shoe brand Manolo Blahnik and the niece of its legendary founder, shares her insights on preserving the house's heritage and introduces the new Manolo's Silhouettes campaign
To Have and to Hold
With its sumptuous textures, Loro Piana's elegant autumn/winter 2024 collection is a chic celebration of craft, quality and the universal appeal of tactility
Scent of Strength
Hermès unveils its first chypre perfume, Barénia―a captivating fragrance crafted by renowned perfumer Christine Nagel that embodies bold femininity and celebrates the brand's rich heritage
Nocturnal Revival
Nighttime skincare rituals will get a boost of supercharged restoration with La Mer's new Rejuvenating Night Cream