Get Lost

Island Escapism at Its Finest

If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping the chaos of everyday life to a remote tropical island where Wi-Fi signals can’t reach you and your biggest decision is whether to swim or snorkel, Dryft Camp on Darocotan Island should be your next stop. Touted as the number one glamping resort in the Philippines, this slice of paradise is less a resort and more an immersive island experience, where “roughing it” feels gloriously refined.

The Journey There: A Scenic Prelude

Getting to Darocotan Island isn’t exactly seamless, and thank god for that. You’ll first make your way to El Nido, where a local boat will whisk you away to the island. The 30-minute ride might just be the perfect time to say goodbye to emails, notifications, and that frantic urban energy you didn’t realize had been clinging to you until now. Instead, you’re greeted by the sight of pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and the complete absence of, well, pretty much everything. It’s just you, the ocean, and a few bamboo huts scattered along the shore.

Glamping Redefined

Forget your standard glamping setup with a tent plopped down somewhere next to a road. At Dryft Camp, glamping is an art form. The handcrafted bamboo huts and bell tents offer a level of rustic luxury that screams Robinson Crusoe, but with better Instagram lighting. There’s a certain wild elegance here—the tents come with actual beds, linens so soft you’ll question every pillowcase you’ve ever owned, and private outdoor bathrooms that let you shower under the stars. Sure, there’s no air-conditioning, but trust me, a breeze off the Pacific beats any fan, and nothing says “I’ve made it” quite like a cold shower after a long day of swimming.

Disconnect to Reconnect

It’s hard to describe just how liberating it is to be totally off the grid. At Dryft, your phone becomes irrelevant—there’s no Wi-Fi and zero cell signal. But here’s the thing: you won’t miss it. Not once. Instead of doom-scrolling, you’ll spend your days snorkeling in the nearby reefs, kayaking around the island, or chilling in one of the hammocks scattered along the beach. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious (and hydrated), you can even sign up for a spear-fishing trip with the local fishermen, an activity that’s as badass as it sounds. And let’s talk sunsets. They’re the kind that make you feel guilty for having ever spent a golden hour indoors. As the sun dips into the ocean, grab a beer or a fresh coconut, and take it all in—there’s nothing quite like a Darocotan sunset to remind you why people leave everything behind to live on islands like this.

Eco-Luxury with a Purpose

The best part? Dryft Camp isn’t just about aesthetic goals. It’s built around sustainability. The resort is 100% solar-powered, and everything from the composting toilets to the locally sourced meals is designed to minimize impact on the environment. You can stuff your face with delicious seafood, knowing it’s fresh off the boat and as eco-friendly as your bamboo hut.

Nights Under the Stars

When night falls, the vibe shifts. The campfire gets going, drinks flow, and you can hear the sounds of the island come alive—waves crashing, the breeze rustling through the palms, and the occasional guitar strum. If you’re lucky, someone will pull out a ukulele and you’ll find yourself singing along with other guests, all of whom have the same glazed-over, blissed-out expression of island-induced euphoria.

The Verdict

Sure, Dryft Camp might not be for everyone. If you need air conditioning, round-the-clock room service, or a five-star spa, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you’re after an authentic island escape, where the luxury is in the experience and not the thread count, this place is a dream. It’s the kind of spot that lingers in your memory long after your tan fades and you’ve returned to the chaos of real life.

DRYFT AWAY

Southside R[evolution]

If you thought hotel rebranding was all about slapping on a new logo and calling it a day, think again. Ovolo has gone full throttle with a r[evolution] in Hong Kong, launching Southside by Ovolo—a cheeky new chapter in the city’s first warehouse-turned-hotel saga. Forget the usual fluff; this is where designer luxury meets raw, unfiltered Hong Kong culture, right in the heart of the ever-so-hip Wong Chuk Hang.

This isn’t just a facelift; it’s an all-out experience overhaul. Southside by Ovolo isn’t just a place to crash; it’s a playground for those who like their stays with a side of attitude and a dash of rock ‘n’ roll. Think Rock Star Suites that Freddie Mercury would have approved of—built-in bar, custom art, and views that make you forget you’re just a hop away from Ocean Park and Water World.

Speaking of hops, let’s talk about Flat Iron Deluxe, the new steakhouse that’s thrown its hat into the Southside ring. We’re not just talking steaks; we’re talking the best cut you’ve probably never heard of—the Flat Iron—served up alongside club sandwiches that might just change your life. Oh, and did we mention the weekend brunches, cooking classes, and a kids’ menu that’ll make you the hero of family outings? Yup, they’ve got that too.

Now, before you get too comfy, know that this r[evolution] is all about the details. There’s the Wonder Bar, a quirky spot where you can grab a drink, shoot some pool, and even snag curated goodies for your room. And because Ovolo knows how to keep things fresh, they’ve thrown in themed rooms that’ll make the kids go wild—hello, B. Duck! Yep, the beloved Hong Kong character now has his own room, complete with play tents and enough cuteness to melt even the most jaded hearts.

But wait, there’s more. Book direct and you’re in for the Ovolo Standard, which is code for, “We’ve got your back.” Think up to 15% off, flexible cancellations, and even a cheeky free drink during Apero Hour. And because Ovolo likes to keep things moving, they’ve relocated reception to the third floor—no more awkward lobby encounters, just a warm, inviting space that makes check-ins as smooth as your last cocktail (or mocktail, if you’re into that sort of thing).

Southside by Ovolo is also the perfect playground for events, from product launches to rooftop cocktails. With versatile spaces like G.i.G and The Terrace, you’re covered no matter what you’re planning. And let’s not forget the dog-friendly VIPooch experience, because who wouldn’t want to share their staycation with their four-legged bestie?

So, if you’re ready to dive into the Southside R[evolution], pack your bags (and maybe your dog’s too) and get ready to experience Hong Kong like never before. Because this is more than just a hotel—it’s your new local.

News: North Korea re-opens

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), otherwise known as North Korea, were the first country to close its doors due to the COVID pandemic. Now, almost five years later, they’ve just re-opened, allowing the tourists to flock to the traditional travel hotspot known for its nightlife and freedom of expression.

Chinese tour companies have begun operating there once again, with tours available to people from pretty much all nationalities, as long as it is through one of those selected companies.

We at get lost predict one day, probably in the very distant future, North Korea will have its travel boom. Travellers will be curious to go – borrowing a term from 1989 – ‘behind the curtain’, and discover life in this mysterious hermit country. Volcanic mountains and decent ski/snowboarding are top of the list, and the very few who have visited have spoken about a cuisine completely untouched by western influence.

But that all would need to wait until the Kim dynasty finishes up, which doesn’t look like happening any time soon.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) Smart Traveller website has a “do not travel” note in place for North Korea. get lost is all for travel to far-flung places, but we agree with this warning – travel to North Korea is still under extremely tight restrictions, and any money that goes into a tour goes toward supporting an oppressive, totalitarian dictatorship.

Five pretty wild travel facts about North Korea

1. Jeans are illegal. Everywhere. Leave your Levis and Dejours at home.

2.Construction of the Ryugyong Hotel, the 1,080 foot pyramid-shaped skyscraper which dominates Pyongyang’s skyline began in in August 1987. It has never been finished. The North Korean Government is allegedly looking to turn it into a casino.

3. The Masikryong Ski Resort is the country’s first ski resort, and supposedly has some pretty decent slopes. The resort, which we visited about 10 years ago, has been described as a “prestigious propaganda project for the regime.”

4. Paektu Mountain, shared with China, is the country’s highest point. It last erupted in 1903.

5. Air Koryo is the country’s official, and only, commercial airline.

Capella Kenting

The year is 2028 and surprisingly, no one cares about who’s leading the medal tally in L.A.

Or if Simone Biles has won another gold. Or if Snoop Dog’s making cameos at equestrian event (hard to believe we know). That’s because the hottest new resort has finally opened in Taiwan and it’s creating a bigger buzz than the inevitable subpar standards of the Olympic Village.

But let’s rewind. Unless you’ve just woken up from a coma or somehow got hold of a time machine, it’s still 2024 and yes, we have to wait four agonising years before we can live it up in one of only 65 spacious rooms at Capella Kenting. But this place looks so cool—like futuristic meets Byron Bay cool—that we’re already counting down the days.

Boasting oceanfront views thanks to its location along the western coastline of Taiwan’s Hengchun Peninsula, this sprawling property has been meticulously designed to be the best damn hotel you’ve ever stayed at. We’re talking world-class architecture. Decor that matches the natural landscape. The largest rooms in all of Taiwan. Private swimming pools. Hot spring facilities. Local cultural immersions. Honestly, we could go on…

…and we’re going to. The resort’s signature wellness program, including lunar phase-specific therapies and restorative experiences, is never more than a deep breath away. And once you’ve healed your soul to the sound of the nearby ocean waves enough to work up an appetite, the resort’s farm-to-table culinary concept will take you on a tastebud-tingling journey.

But you don’t just have to stay at the resort (although we get why you would). Kenting is known for its wild beaches, crystal-clear waters and vibrant nightlife. It’s also an epic surfing spot with water temperatures at a comfortable 22°C-28°C year-round. And it was one of the primary locations for Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, so there’s that.

All we know is the next four years better fly.

IMMERSIVE FORT

First there was Squid Game and now, after the resounding success of Netflix’s latest Japanese drama series Alice in Borderland, the world has a new immersive death game.

The hit TV show follows Arisu, a gamer who finds himself trapped in a survival of the fittest sickest game that takes place in a parallel universe. Japan’s Immersive Fort Tokyo has whipped out the UNO draw 4+ card equivalent, taking this theme and running with it by recently launching it’s 7th attraction “Alice in Borderland: Immersive Death Game”.

This is very much a play-at-your-own-risk type of adventure with participants experiencing the life-or-death game wearing the same ‘collar bomb’ shown in the series. Fully immersed in a set of visuals carefully created by the Netflix staff who worked on the show, it’s every man for himself as you fight to survive. We don’t even reckon Tim Burton could dream this twisted shit up.

The language barrier is one thing you won’t have to think about (a small yet welcome reprieve) as the attraction is available in English, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional) and Japanese.

And if one PTSD-inducing death game isn’t enough, Immersive Fort Tokyo has 6 other attractions you can try out. Maybe you’d be better at solving mysteries as part of an immersive Sherlock Holmes whodunit. Or perhaps you’re looking for something a bit more hardcore and fancy the sound of stumbling your way through a horror maze as Jack The Ripper takes chase.

Whichever attraction you choose, this immersive theatre theme park promises an adventure to die for, literally.

The Arc of Life

You know the tropical paradise you dream about at 3.30pm on a Tuesday afternoon, when you’re supposed to be listening to Mike, the Assistant General Manager of Accounts, give his quarterly report?

Arcadia on Pandanan Island feels like that dream. Based on the miniscule island of Pandanan in Malaysia’s Sabah region, off the coast of Borneo, the hotel is the ideal place for a wholesome eco-adventure with some besties or your special bestie.

There’s an Arcadia Hotel in Toorak, Melbourne; a pub with the nickname ‘The Shark Park’ due to the kind of clientele that frequent it. But there are no sharks at Arcadia Beach Resort.

The waters are teeming with life – get lost’s Editor saw more turtles (green sea and hawksbill) in the three days he spent at Arcadia than he has combined for his entire life up until that point.

It’s unbelievably well set up for the ‘Gram, if that’s your thing. The rooms are all white, giving off Greek island vibes. But for us, it’s the diving, swimming, snorkelling and island hopping (pictured above – nearby island Bohey Dulang) – all of which are elite.

The word Arcadia actually loosely means to be in harmony with nature, or in a utopia.

You’ll be just that at Arcadia.

A Shogun inspired adventure

The brand-new adaptation of James Clavell’s novel, Shōgun, which you can watch on Disney+ and Hulu, can actually be experience in-person in Japan.

If you want to be a passenger princess on holiday for once, not having to organise everything – Inside Japan Tours Shogun campaign is for you. They can curate a tailored adventure that allows you to learn more about 17th century Japan and the Edo period.

The Shōgun trail entails learning about samurai culture of Kyushu in Nagasaki city. Surrounded by a bay and mountains, it isn’t just a picturesque place to visit but one oozing in history, most notably with the reconstructed man made island of Dejima. For 220 years this was the sole region of Japan accessible to Europeans, and for a limited number of locals, a unique chance to engage with the outside world before their country opened up in 1853.

You could get your steps up and walk where the Samurais and Daimyo Lords did, along Nakasendo. The entire route spans 534km through central Japan dating back to the 17th century, sprawling with tree-lined paths and mountain towns through central mainland Honshu….but you don’t have to walk the entire length like Samurais did, obviously.

What about a two-hour kenbu class in Kyoto? A dance with a katana sword and a fan, you could be just like samurai who would gather strength before a battle in a kenbu ritual.

Speaking of swords, you could also visit a workshop in one of Japan’s last-remaining traditional sword-smiths. See if you can figure out the traditional way to fold steel, and see first-hand some of their older blades.

As Shōgun says ‘Lose yourself in the music, the moment…’ wait sorry, wrong lose yourself.

‘Lose yourself in it, make yourself one with nature…’.

Check them out here.

Art we can get around

Now this is art we can get around.

A second teamLab Borderless has opened in Tokyo at Azabudai Hills, another immersive visual art installation showcase from the absolute weapons who brought you the first.

Technically, this is art, but it’s not like you’re sniffing someones armpit trying to get a half-decent shot of the Mona Lisa, nor is it staring at a picture of an apple which is apparently worth US$274,000, which just quietly, you reckon you could have painted.

At teamLab Borderless, you don’t so much as move from room to room but flow that way.

Each room is an experience, designed to make you feel a certain way. Mirrors, lights, cutting-edge technology and plants alike are used to create different universes, blowing your mind constantly from one room to the next.

In the new edition, one room features countless wobbling lights which run continuously through a space that infinitely expands, meaning you can’t really get your head around depth perception. The lights also shimmer beautifully, just managing to straddle the line between trippy and incredible.

If you went to the old teamLabs borderless at Odaiba, there’s a couple of things you should know. The first is that this new site at Azabudai Hills in the city’s south is bigger…way bigger. No less than 50 (!) the world renowned independent installations are featured in the 8.1 hectare site (where tf did they find eight hectares in Tokyo from?). One of these is an adaptation from the room of lamps that featured in teamLab mark I, which has evolved into a room of light bubbles.

How to celebrate Mt. Fuji Day

Is there a more aesthetically pleasing mountain than Mount Fuji?

Forever a landmark of the Land of the Rising Sun, Fuji’s snow-capped peak is an active stratovolcano that raises it’s head majestically above mist, or on a clearer day standing in full visibility from the capital Tokyo.

Japan is the number one trending global destination for 2024 according to Tripadvisor, aptly crowned ahead of this year’s Mt. Fuji Day on Friday 23^rd February.

Fuji Day commemorates and promotes the iconic mountain, with towns surrounding the 3,776-metre mountain getting ready to party. Lake Kawaguchiko Winter Fireworks have been happening through January and February but are set to go out with the biggest bang on Mt. Fuji Day.

And yeh sure, you could climb it…OR you could go full get lost and paraglide around it, taking the Big Boy in from mid-air.

For more adrenaline, there’s a half-day rafting experience. Fly along the Fuji River you’ll get to splash your way through the 6km course and maybe even tip one of your mates out hold on for dear life. For those who prefer to stay dry, there’s a few cycling tours that allow you to take in the views of Japan’s tallest mountain as well as the stunning countryside.

Images courtesy of Explore Shizuoka.

Three Fukuoka pilgrimages to conquer

Tucked away in the southwest of Japan, Fukuoka offers the best the country has to offer in one intriguing package. The largest city on Kyushu Island, Fukuoka is famous for teasing visitors with the intoxicating aromas of street food at ‘yatai’ stalls, world-class shopping, culture and nightlife.

It also has something for lovers of the outdoors—built on the shores of Hakata Bay, Fukuoka offers easy access to beaches and the stunning mountains that embrace it on three sides. Those mountains have beckoned pilgrims for centuries. Now it’s your turn.

Whether you’re searching for enlightenment, a life partner or a demon slayer, Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture has a pilgrimage to suit. Just don’t get your mountains confused.

Love mountain

Before Tinder, there was Mount Hōman. The mountain was known for being able to help the unlucky in love, with pilgrims praying to find their life partner as they headed up the trail. Its profile has been raised even more thanks to its starring role in a popular manga series.

The trail through lush forest includes several small waterfalls with cascading crystal-clear waters en route to the summit, 829 metres above sea level, where you’ll enjoy sweeping views of Fukuoka City—from the coastline and city in the north, to the mountains in the south.

Tamayorihime no Mikoto, enshrined in the main hall of Houman-gu Kamado Shrine, is famous as the god of matchmaking. It is said to bring together not only romantic relationships but also all kinds of connections such as family, friends, and work.

There are two rocks on the right side of the main hall called Aikei no Iwa, or ‘Charming Rocks.’

It is believed that if you walk from one rock to the other while closing your eyes and thinking of the person you love, your love will come true. Worth a crack.

Mount Hōman loop

Distance: 5.6km

Elevation gain: 602 metres

Time requirement: 3 plus hours

AllTrails rating: Challenging

Hard Hiko

With AllTrails rating the summit climb as ‘challenging’, it’s no wonder followers of the Shungendo religious tradition—a combination of Buddhism, Shintoism and mountain worship—picked Hiko as one of their training mountains. The Shungendo pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits in their bid to achieve enlightenment. Lesser mortals may need to stop to rest at the awe-inspiring Hikosan shrine. A registered national historic site conveniently located about halfway up the mountain, Hikosan is thought to bring good luck and is just one of a number of significant temples and shines on the mountain.

You know you are about to enter a sacred space when you spy one of iconically Japanese ‘torii’ gates, featuring upright beams supporting lintels.

Hiko’s summit rewards your hard work with a panoramic view of the bustling Fukuoka city against a glittering Pacific Ocean backdrop.

Mount Hiko loop

Distance: 7.4km

Elevation gain: 732m

Time requirement: 3-4 hours

AllTrails rating: Hard

Forest bath

The Japanese have been the brains behind many useful, and not so useful, inventions, ranging from the Bullet Train to emojis. But it is during a leisurely stroll up the gentler slopes of Mt Kubote that you appreciate one of their more off-beat creations – ‘shinrin-yoku’ or ‘forest bathing’.

Forest bathing is now recognised internationally for its physical and mental well-being benefits. The idea is simply to spend time in densely forested areas to let the trees soothe and heal. With Mt Kubote’s ancient forests emitting the heady smell of cedar, all your troubles, including a fear of moths destroying your clothes, simply melt away.

Along with Mount Hiko, Kubote was a key training ground for the mountain-worshipping Shungendo, who believed Gods lived in the hills and that if followers endured severe training at altitude, they would gain superhuman powers. You can see evidence of Shungendo training grounds, temple ruins, halls, and graves strewn throughout Mount Kubote, which has been declared a national historic site.

End your adventure with a more traditional type of bathing in the natural hot springs at Kubote Onsen (assuming you haven’t gained superhuman powers, in which case you’ve probably got more important things to do)

WHICH LETTER DOES YOUR DESTINATION START WITH?

region: Asia