The Journey Edition
hey say that life is a journey. And that’s our theme in this issue of Haute — we are all cosmic travellers in a small slice of space time, with a limited number of people to meet and places to be along the way. This is a precious journey and, for me, it means being kind to ourselves as well as to our fellow travellers.
On the subject of mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing, I’d love to hear what readers think about the concept of Healing Hotels which we have featured. The founders’ approach to hospitality puts immersive wellness at the centre of everything they do — and I, for one, am all in.
There’s also something very energizing about beautiful locations, such as St Moritz, Paris, Milan and NYC which we visit on tours of palatial hotels and cocktail-infused destinations. Or perhaps the perfume capital of the world in Grasse can transport us through scent? The great outdoors is good for the soul as well, so we’ve made our way to the mountaintop with Whitecap Alpine, and with two downhillers to the Olympian heights of Yanqing.
Elsewhere, we’re investigating the psychic impact of beautiful, handmade objects with ceramicist Michelle Grimm and artist Roberto Sironi. I’ve also picked out some of my cherished design icons in Objects of Desire.
At ASPAC, we believe that enlightened living is a mix of mind and body — a sensory and reflective experience, inextricably combined. I hope that we can help you discover what home means to you by taking a journey into the mental universe of entrepreneurs, artists and healers of all kinds, here in Vancouver and around the world.
I want my companions on my own journey to be Adventure, Happiness, Fun, Excitement and maybe occasional Blood and Tears. I think it was Hunter S. Thompson, channelling Confucius, who so wisely stated: Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
Bon voyage, wherever your journey takes you.
Ryan Laurin
Editor-in-chief
