Behind the Journeys

The Borneo Sun Bear is classified as vulnerable on The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, but there is a conservation centre in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo working to reverse this decline. In this blog, we discover some fascinating facts about the world's smallest bear and celebrate the work being done to protect it.

Saint-Marie-aux-Mines in Alsace is the birthplace of the Amish movement, a history that is marked by the European Patchwork Meeting. We've delved into this history and its textile connections. 

The Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) has established itself as one of the most important flower and garden shows in the world. Blooming into life every two years, this celebration of botanical creativity brings together award-winning landscape and garden designers, florists, and horticulturists from across the globe. 

The Mauritshuis museum in the Hague is famous for its collection of Dutch masterpieces but the silk-covered walls of this elegant Golden Age building also boast the best collection of 17th Century Dutch and Flemish flower still life paintings in the world – including Vase of Flowers in a Window by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder. Here we take a closer look at this captivating trompe l'oeil. 

Glass baubles twinkling on the branches of pine trees are part of the magic of Christmas. But when - and where - did the tradition begin?  We take a look at this sparkling history. 

The Noordoostpolder in the central Netherlands is a mysterious land reclaimed from the sea and its mineral-rich soil makes for fabulous flowers. There are tulips of course, stretching as far as the eye can see in a glorious patchwork of colour. But there are many beautiful domestic gardens too. Some of the makers of these gardens are generous enough to share their green spaces with others and in this blog, we bring you three of our favourites.