The annual Janadriyah Festival kicks off with a wild camel race and up to 2000 riders and begins on February 1. It’s Saudi Arabia’s biggest cultural event and offers western tourists an opportunity to get to know Arab customs, art and folklore traditions.
„Six years ago, Antoni dropped out of regular society and moved to Matavenero, a remote ecovillage in the mountains of northwestern Spain, to live in harmony with nature.“
Kevin Faingnaert, photographer, Ghent/Belgium
7351
The First World Hotel in the Genting Highlands roughly 50 kilometers northeast of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, boasts 7351 rooms, which makes this three-star hotel the largest in the world. Not for long, though: Abraj Kudai in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is poised to overtake. The mega hotel is due to open with 10 000 rooms this year.
Sunset Boulevard, the heart of Hollywood, can be over the top – but pockets of normality exist. The Gwen serves meaty dishes and has an in-house butcher shop. The new restaurant seats 80 diners; the decor is muted and the atmosphere, relaxed.
Palace of dreams
The Tuschinski Theater in Amsterdam with its art-deco facade of glazed tiles, ceramic sculptures and wrought-iron grids and lamps, is one of the most spectacular cinemas in the world. Built shortly after World War I by Polish immigrant Abraham Tuschinski, the main auditorium had an astonishing 1600 seats. Happily, it has survived unscathed and is now owned by film distributor Pathé.