Curiosities, Quirky Tidbits, Travel Hacks

EXPERIENCES

Venture into the Mayan Jungle for a Tree Lovers Tour

Mother Nature had rolled out the red carpet. At least, that’s what I thought as I cruised through a tunnel of towering scarlet trees on my way to the ruins of San Gervasio.

Cozumel island, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, might be famous for scuba diving—but there’s equally amazing natural beauty when you venture inland to the jungle. Staring up into the wide canopy of a royal poinciana tree, whose fallen blooms had formed our vibrant roadway, was the perfect start to the Tree Lovers Tour.

Over the next couple of hours, local tree expert Tati led our tour group through jungle pathways—finding fungi and flowers, seedpods and cenotes, bees, bugs, and birds. As we journeyed, Tati taught us the medicinal benefits of plants like the waist-high pheasant’s tail, whose leaves are boiled and added to a healing bath for back pain, arthritis, rheumatism, and muscle and joint sprains, and the gumbo limbo tree, whose peeling red bark treats sunburn.

Plus, we learned about edible plants like the huge tamarind tree. Its seed pods hold a sticky sweet treat (similar to dates) that makes the tamarind drink popular throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and Asia. The Tamarind’s delicate draping flower clusters attracted so many tiny native (stingless!) bees that the tree seemed to hum.

Tati explained that the jungle provided everything to the Maya, even building materials for their homes; guano palms were harvested on the full moon to make thatched roofs strong enough to withstand hurricanes. She also pointed out trees sacred to the Maya, like the ceiba whose layered canopy was believed to be the thirteen stairs to heaven. (Its thorny trunk, a defense mechanism, works; that’s one tree I did not hug.)

If you’re in Cozumel, I highly recommend joining the tour. You can go in a group ($39 per person) or enjoy a private tour by booking through Tree Lovers Tour. Remember to bring water and wear hiking boots or tennis shoes—and some bug spray wouldn’t hurt.—Bel Woodhouse

UNIQUE STAY

A Castle Stay and Rosé-Colored Sunsets in France’s Green Provence

If you drive too quickly along highway D48 in southern France, you may just miss the turnoff to Château les Crostes: an elegant hidden castle in the verdant countryside of Provence Verte (Green Provence). Only a 45-minute drive from mythic Saint Tropez, a stay here offers something not usually found along the bustling French Riviera… absolute serenity.

The warm turquoise and honey-yellow château belongs to the royal family of Luxembourg and sits on 136 acres of land surrounded by olive trees, vineyards, a tennis court, goat farm, and a Monetstyle, lily-padded lake—giving credence to the surrounding countryside’s name of Provence Verte. The winery and world-class bed and breakfast-can only be reached via a slim road which cascades through a sea of vine-covered hillsides and rustling olive orchards. The somewhat rustic introduction to the domaine—the French term for a winery—ends along the loopy road. What awaits is pure, sun-kissed luxury.

The château’s caretaker, Enora, greets each guest in the opulent foyer for a guided tour of the 17th-century building, which comprises both cozy couple’s bedrooms and spacious duplexes in lofty towers. Every guest has full access to the castle’s amenities, including downtime in the mahogany- and leather-filled library and full use of the chef’s kitchen. A sign-in clipboard lets you “check out” any of the domaine’s wines.

If you choose to enjoy a crisp Les Crostes rosé on the terraced veranda—watching the sun dip behind the vines—you may find Georges, an oversized and quite intrepid duck, waddling across the terracotta stones to make your acquaintance. The complex has 12 rooms and suites, with prices starting at €180 ($196) a night in the high season, or €230 ($250) if you’d like to add a breakfast in front of the château’s swimming pool. — Tuula Rampont

The Wine You SHOULD Be Drinking

The topic is Argentinian wine. And your first thought, quite likely, is “Malbecs from Mendoza.”

Not a bad first thought. Argentina’s Mendoza province certainly spits out some quality Malbecs (along with way too much mini-mart swill). But bonus points if your thought was Salta.

This is the province in Argentina’s far northwest corner. High-desert country, through the middle of which runs a gorgeous Andean valley, resplendent with mile-upon-mile of vineyards—some as much as two miles above sea level.

And those vineyards are producing Malbec, Torrontes, and Tannat wines that are, in a word, stellar.

I’ve toured the region and local wineries a few times, and the wines are bolder, fruitier, and more tannic because the grapes have to survive the intense, high-altitude sunlight and vast day-night temperature swings. That gives them a unique Salta fingerprint.

If you can find it, Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate’s Laborum was blessed by Dionysus and Bacchus. It’s just an inky black glass of yum you’d sip over a late-night steak with a bit of John Coltrane in the background. Try the Puna 2600 Gran Reserva and the Salta Malbec as well (though I’d argue Laborum is better). The Gran Reserva grapes are grown at 8,200 feet, and only 12,000 bottles exist.

So next time the topic is Argentinian Malbecs, go to your second thought first: Salta. — Jeff D. Opdyke 

COUNTRY UPDATES

The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Program Makes a Comeback

For foreigners eyeing Malaysia for their potential new home—or for an extended stay—I have good news about the recent changes to the requirements for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program.

The MM2H was once Malaysia’s premiere visa for potential long-term residents, allowing non-citizens to live in the country for up to a decade—if they met certain financial requirements. The program was shuttered in 2020 due to COVID-19 and, when reinstated, had a requirement for a prohibitively high monthly income.

But now, on the ground in Malaysia, I’m hearing that these requirements will be changing—potentially for the better.

TG, founder of Malaysia’s most prolific MM2H agency, reports: “The updates have made the prospect of relocation, or a longer stay in Malaysia, more straightforward—and appealing—for those interested.”

The Ministry of Tourism has announced that the MM2H will soon offer three tiers:

• Silver, which requires a fixed deposit of 500,000 ringgit ($108,000) and comes with a renewable five-year visa.
• Gold, which requires a fixed deposit of 2,000,000 ringgit ($433,000) and comes with a 15-year visa (issued as three five-year visas).
• Platinum, which requires a fixed deposit of 5,000,000 ringgit ($1,082,000) and includes eligibility for permanent residency.

All tiers require the holder to spend at least 60 days a year in Malaysia, although it seems dependents can also fulfill this requirement. Eligible dependents include spouses, parents and parents-in-law, children under the age of 21 (or unmarried children aged 21 to 34), and disabled children of any age.

In all cases, half the fixed deposit can be withdrawn after one year for a home purchase (a condominium or standalone property), or for ongoing medical expenses. There is no monthly income requirement.

Note that these rules and regulations are for peninsular Malaysia and the state of Sabah only. The rules and requirements for the state of Sarawak are different, as Sarawak is allowed some autonomy with regards to immigration matters; you can apply for its SMM2H separately from MM2H.

You can also read about Malaysia’s newest visa option, ideal for digital nomads, here. —Keith Hockton