bthere: Inflight Magazine Brussels Airlines

Text Tabitha Lasley
Image Adrian www.Boot/urbanimage.tv

A round-up of travel news from Brussels Airlines’ long-haul network

Hotel with a view
HIBISCUS HOUSE, THE GAMBIA

Where is it? Brufut, the Gambia, tel. +220 995 8774, www.hibiscushousegambia.com

What’s the view? Hibiscus House’s own tropical gardens, which teem with indigenous wildlife – at least 20 species of birds call the hotel home.

What to expect Lush green grounds, warm-toned decor and an extensive roll call of holistic treatments, including reiki, reflexology and Indian head massage.

What you need to know Hibiscus House is one of the new breed of Gambian hotels seeking to move away from the all-inclusive experiences that have seen guests reluctant to venture past the perimeters of their resort. The emphasis here is very much on providing a flavour of real Gambian life. Unusually, the hotel is situated in the heart of a village (though only 400m from the beach) and breakfast is made up of local dishes like chakry (yoghurt) and tapalapa (a type of bread).

Why go there? The year-round sun and relatively untouched coastline, for a start. There’s also plenty to do, like creek fishing, bird watching, drumming and dance workshops.

What does it cost? Rooms cost from €80 per night.

Miss Landmine

Angola is well known for its love of beauty pageants, but this April will see a contest unlike any other. Theatre director Morten Traavik is staging a similar event for the victims of landmines. Traavik sees it primarily as an artistic venture, but there’s also a strong humanitarian element – it aims to provide a support network for unemployed entrants and models are paid to participate. Although the competition has come in for criticism from some quarters, Traavik is dismissive of the idea that it is exploitative, saying: “Miss Landmine is hollowing out the concept of beauty pageants from within. When I look at the contestants, I see beautiful women who are proud, dignified and comfortable with who they are.”

Made in Kenya

As the consumer appetite for ethically sourced accessories increases, companies like Made are as much in the news as their Bond Street rivals. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Made’s ethical jewellery line is sourced almost entirely from recycled and local materials, like cowhide and olive wood, and has provided employment for countless craftsmen in the area. Having been hand-picked to make the leather bowling bags that feature in Kate Moss’s collection for Topshop, Made is now launching a new range of necklaces. Fashioned from discarded flipflops found along the East African coast, they’ve provided work for everyone from beachcombers to bead makers. Bold and colourful, they’re just the thing to brighten up a winter wardrobe.

www.made.uk.com

One to watch…

Baaba Maal

With a brace of albums under his belt, Senegalese singer-guitarist Baaba Maal hardly qualifies as one to watch, but he’s been making the news for reasons other than his music. As a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN, he’s one of a growing number of Senegalese artists using their concerts as a forum to talk about HIV and Aids. And the approach seems to be working: with an HIV infection rate of 1% (the lowest in subSaharan Africa), Senegal’s Aids prevention effort is only equalled by Uganda. Baaba Maal is currently working on a new album – his first in three years – but he did take a break in January to appear at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.