From the Publisher

GGoing to Bali these days can sometimes be a sobering experience. It is surreal to see how quiet once-thriving areas like Seminyak have now become; the sheer number of shuttered shops, hotels, and restaurants points to the pain wrought by ongoing border restrictions. But the travel and hospitality industries are nothing if not resilient. A handful of high-end resorts have made their debut on the island in recent months, and many of the hotelier friends I’ve spoken to there are hopeful that better times lie just around the corner.

We’re all keen to see things improve in the second half of the year. Bali plans to welcome travelers from certain countries by late July, while Phuket is reopening to vaccinated tourists from the beginning of that month. Elsewhere in Asia, the much-anticipated travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore has, unfortunately, been postponed again; let’s hope the third time’s a charm.

For the time being, the emphasis remains on exploring places closer to home. Our editor-in-chief Christopher P. Hill recently embarked on a weeklong phinisi cruise through eastern Indonesia to reach a destination that has long eluded him: the fabled Banda Islands, which was the world’s sole source of nutmeg and mace until the early 19th century.

Looking beyond Southeast Asia, the United Arab Emirates is celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence. We’ve rounded up 50 must-do experiences, including the delayed Expo 2020 Dubai, now slated to kick off in October. Whether you’re interested in desert stays, fine dining, adventure, or culture, I’m sure you’ll find something that tickles your fancy.

And if you have your sights set on the far side of the world, why not consider Mexico? The vibrant colors and flavors of Oaxaca almost leap off the page in our feature story by photographer Matt Dutile, who had the chance to delve into the area’s rich culinary and mezcal-making traditions before the pandemic hit.

On that note, I encourage you to get vaccinated at the soonest possible opportunity. There’s a whole world out there to explore, and a return to international travel hinges on our own personal choice to be inoculated against the virus. It’s the least we can do.

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

–Gustave Flaubert