TheESCAPE Bazaar
Fashion entrepreneur turned incubator, Ung Yiu Lin and star athlete husband Azlan Iskandar, bring BAZAAR on a virtual gallery tour of their 10-day adventure in Morocco. By Leila Fitton.
Nothing has changed between Ung Yiu Lin and husband, Azlan Iskandar since they first met in 2008. Crossing paths halfway across the world then, this parenting duo to three children Zara, six, Ava, four, and Luca, two, continue to jet set to this date. They strive to discover new horizons while enjoying quality time together without any interruption. “This is a way for me to keep track of where we’ve gone,” she says, as the 41-year old whips out her mobile phone, flipping through her Insta stories while reminiscing on her most recent trip to Morocco. “It’s the most mystical, magical, and special place,” gushes Yiu Lin, sharing fantastical images of her journey. “Azlan and
I travelled a lot before we started having kids but that came to a halt until Luca arrived. We finally found the time to take a break from family life, and Morocco seemed like the best place because it fused my love for fashion, and Azlan’s love for adventure.”
BLUE PEARL
Swiping through her vast Insta gallery, Yiu Lin desribes her experience driving towards the blue city of Chefchaouen, whizzing through small towns with pit stops of fresh fruits and busy cafés. Arriving with their Tumi luggage, the city slickers enjoy their first Moroccan dinner at Chez Hicham Restaurant before retiring for the night. The new day sees them hike up the Spanish Mosque to the breathtaking view of the blue pearl city, nestled in a valley of Northern Morocco. “Why it’s blue is very much a topic of debate. Some say the Jews from Spain who fled the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th century brought their tradition of painting walls and doors blue, to remind them of the sky and God. However, Yousseff, our Berber guide whose family has lived in Chefchaouen for generations said the city only became blue 30 years ago. Sparked off by a guy who thought blue walls against his flower pots would look pretty,” says Yiu Lin with a giggle. Walking through the medina of Chefchaouen through a labyrinth of small alleyways, arches, dead ends, and cactus fruits, Yiu Lin and Azlan find themselves in a market, sleeves up, ready to bargain. Tugging his newly bought copper sink and two rolls of carpets, Azlan is ready for their following destination: the imperial city of Fez.
DESERT LOST
Exploring the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains, the ancient walled city of Fez with a mix of Arab-Andalusian culture awaits. Besides the 80,000 shops in this old metropolis, there are Hispano-Moorish buildings, dramatic madrasahs, Mosque of the Andalusians, district potters, and commercial warehouse of Funduq alNajjariyyin. In this car-less space, the Fez medina is filled with locals wearing vibrant colours, mules carrying household needs, and the most magical maze of shops behind obscure doors. With the Sahara calling, the power couple stay at the stunning riad Dar
Roumana for a good night’s rest, surrounded by mosaic walls and rooms decorated with detailed wood carvings. After breakfast, it is time to embark on the long journey to Merzouga to make the grand tour of the sand dunes. On a pair of camels from the Desert Luxury Camp, these sunrise seekers venture along the tips of sand dunes, appreciating the light breeze which leaves its art on the desert sand. “Azlan got lost during his desert run and I came to the rescue!” she reveals. “With the help of a few Italians driving in the desert, it took 10 minutes to complete the rescue mission. We calculated the time of his departure, approximate distance based on his running speed, and direction of take off,” laughs Yiu Lin. Time to go back to civilisation—Marrakesh.
SWEET OASIS
The excursion to Marrakesh is broken down with a comfortable night at the house of dreams, the Dar Ahlam. “I have a love affair with the tiles here,” says Yiu Lin. “The detailing is so intricate, even at the bottom of the pool!” Alongside luscious amount of pistachios, walnuts, raisins, and dried peaches, these wonderers dine under date palm trees, undisturbed by others. It is heartbreaking to only spend one night at the kasbah, but the adventure continues. The fortified tribal village of Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou is next on the list. Assisted by keen young children on a track less ventured, the lovebirds cross the red Ounila River for a few hours of touring the mud-walled village. This fortified village is home to a remaining population of eight families. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, Ait-Ben-Haddou was once a major stop along the caravan route between Marrakesh and the Sahara. The striking visage of southern Moroccan 17th-century
architecture contains a mosque, two cemeteries (Jewish and Muslim), a public square, and areas for threshing grain outside of the ramparts. Back on the road to Marrakesh, the former imperial city of western Morocco, they drive through the Atlas Mountains, up high where the clouds meet.
ROYAL BLEND
Marrakesh is a densely packed medieval city dating to the Berber empire. One symbol of the city which is visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque. Here at the ‘Pearl of the South’, Yiu Lin and Azlan visit the Majorelle Garden and Musée Yves Saint Laurent, absorb the smell of rosemary bushes, soak in magnificent blue-tiled hammam spas, customise rattan bags and clutches, shop for pointy-toed Moroccan babouche, as well as seeing storytellers, fortune readers, and snake charmers. On the outskirts of Marrakesh, stands Sidi Ghanem. This industrial area boasts fine stores selling chic candles, artisanal potteries, and more carpets for Azlan’s buying pleasure. “If you aren’t into carpets, you will be once you visit Morocco,” says Yiu Lin. As a completion to this 10-day trip, the loving couple stops by Essaouira. Apart from the stunning blue boats at the pier and grilled seafood of impeccable smell and taste, a rather unique find are goats, at the top of Argan trees. “A land of legend and intrigue, with the perfect blend of cultures passed through (the Romans, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Muslims). A land of ancient royal cities, dramatic Berber villages, and the perfect blend of Moorish and European influences” is how Yiu Lin sums up this experience. “Till we meet again, Maroc.”
J
THINK PINK
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