A gentle guide to the stays worth discovering
Hotel Musotrees
Hotel Musotrees is our dedicated online feature where we highlight remarkable stays from our travels — ranging from boutique hotels and heritage properties to curated homes, apartments, and aparthotels. Each feature is based entirely on our firsthand experience, offering genuine insight, thoughtful storytelling, and a perspective that resonates with our global readership.
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Innit: A Vernacular of Light and Sand in the East
◎If there is one thing Innit must lead with, it is the architecture. Yet, fortunately, the resort offers much more than what first meets the eye. The one-hour drive from the airport toward Lombok Timur is unmistakably a journey to the East. While you can technically choose to check in by boat from a nearby port, the rainy season made the road the more favourable option for my trip. Between you and me, I actually prefer the road.
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Prince Da Nang: Between Sea and City
◎This was my first time in Da Nang, and I arrived without expectations. That changed quickly. Prince Da Nang Hotel sits along the waterfront, close to everything yet unhurried. When I opened the door to my room and saw the ocean stretch endlessly in front of me, the plan became simple. Sit on the balcony, watch the sunset, and let the city introduce itself in its own time.
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Rawla Bisalpur: Rajasthan’s Hidden Royal Retreat
◎I had always imagined Rajasthan as a place shaped by dust and light, where time slows and the land carries memory. Growing up, films painted villages under an open sun, where rooftops shimmered in heat, cattle wandered down empty streets, and stories were spoken in silence rather than words.
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Abode Jaipur: Modern Hideaway in the Pink City
◎The moment I stepped into the lobby, the chaos of Jaipur’s streets seemed to vanish. It was just me, the soft glow of wall lamps, and the gentle flow of malachite-green tiles beneath my feet. I felt like I had stumbled into a world where contemporary design met the soul of the Pink City, a place that was both familiar and entirely new.
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Namli Haus: Contemporary Home in Jaipur
◎This is not my first time in Jaipur, yet arriving at Namli Haus feels completely new. From the quiet corner it occupies among the rustic houses of Civil Lines, to the warm smiles and hot masala chai that greeted me after a seven-hour journey from Delhi, everything feels thoughtful and welcoming. It feels less like checking into a hotel and more like stepping into a home that has been waiting for me to notice its details.
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The Kayana: Lombok’s Softest Escape
◎Driving through villages and winding hilly roads from the airport was a surprisingly gentle pleasure — everything was green and quietly alive, with thick, lush landscapes occasionally opening up to glimpses of the sea. A simple but fulfilling life, I thought. At one point my heart whispered, “I can live with this.”
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Hotel Wellenberg: Winter Stay in the Heart of Zurich
◎Staying at Hotel Wellenberg in Zurich last winter felt like settling into a place that understands comfort in a very natural way. It has that premium, quietly confident charm that comes from being a well-run, family-owned hotel. Nothing loud, nothing overdone. Just a warm, personal atmosphere that makes you feel at home from the moment you step inside.
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Abode Bombay: Nostalgic Stay in Southern Mumbai
◎Mumbai has a way of enveloping you the moment you arrive. The bustle, the honks, the colour, the constant movement. So when you reach Colaba, the city’s storied southern district, and slip into the quiet entrance of Abode Bombay, it feels as though you have stepped into an entirely different world. From the lively rush outside to the calm embrace within, there is a gentle shift where the present softens and the past rises to greet you.
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Pavilion: Slow Living in Phnom Penh by MAADS
◎The entrance leads you into what feels like a small jungle enclosure — tall trees, thick shrubs, and a calm atmosphere that makes you forget the traffic just outside the gates. A long pool stretches towards the lobby, where a bright yellow colonial-style mansion sets the tone. It’s believed to have once been Queen Mother Kossamak’s private residence, and there’s a presence to the building that adds weight without feeling intimidating.
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Pa.te.os: Where Architecture Meets Stillness in Alentejo
◎Driving from Lisbon to Melides felt like slowly peeling back the layers of Portugal. It was my first time driving in the country, and the further I got from the city, the more the scenery opened up—small villages and wide-open skies. The road turned quieter as I got closer to Pa.te.os, with a few bumps and potholes hinting that I was heading somewhere a little more remote.
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Bisma Eight: Boutique Haven in Ubud
◎At first glance, Bisma Eight hides itself well. Tucked just off Ubud’s busy Jalan Bisma, it doesn’t shout for attention. But step through its entrance, and the atmosphere shifts entirely — the air feels different here. The hum of scooters fades, replaced by the hush of rustling bamboo and the faint rhythm of distant gamelan. It’s as if you’ve stumbled upon a secret sanctuary in the heart of town.
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Lumen Hotel: Modern Light-Filled Escape in the City
◎Designed by architect Frederico Valsassina, Lumen Hotel is an unassuming yet modern accommodation that caters to both young professionals and seasoned families. Nestled in the Picoas neighborhood, the hotel is strategically positioned between the city’s bustling business areas, just a stone's throw from the iconic Marquis of Pombal Square and within walking distance of a metro station, making it an ideal location for both work and leisure.
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Volume 12 marks a bold new chapter for Musotrees — celebrating design and collaboration in all its forms. This issue brings together creative minds from Kuala Lumpur, Salzburg, Mumbai, Manila, Jakarta, Vienna, and beyond, each sharing stories of passion, craftsmanship, and purpose. With refreshed visuals, refined typography, and vivid narratives, The Design Issue captures the power of collective creativity, blending art, architecture, and thoughtful living into an anthology that reflects the evolving spirit of Musotrees.
The front cover, photographed by Krish in Chandigarh, captures the architectural essence of the city — a visual nod to its modernist and Brutalist heritage shaped by Le Corbusier’s enduring influence. A past contributor and long-time friend of Musotrees, Krish returns in this issue with his distinctive photographic perspective — one that continues to explore space, structure, and the human connection to design.
From Inside Volume 12:
NEWROOM
March 02, 2026
Tracing the In-Between: A Conversation with Dias Novita Wuri
Words and Interview by Kerol Izwan.
That Friday, as late afternoon settled over Kuala Lumpur and early morning dawned in Rotterdam, a conversation unfolded that felt less like an interview and more...
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February 10, 2026
Pleasure in Proximity with Aēsop, this February.
This season, Aesop presents Pleasure in Proximity—an exploration of the understated bonds formed through shared rituals and quiet gestures. The focus shifts away from grand declarations toward the...
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January 25, 2026
Art Jakarta Expands Platform with First Edition of Art Jakarta Papers
Art Jakarta will introduce a new fair format with the inaugural edition of Art Jakarta Papers, scheduled to take place from 5–8 February 2026 at City Hall, Pondok Indah Mall 3, Jakarta. The fair wi...
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January 12, 2026
Dubai, With Open Arms
What will 2026 in Dubai offer for Malaysian travellers?
In 2026, travel is no longer defined by distance or novelty. It is defined by alignment — with values, with rhythm, with the way people want ...
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December 08, 2025
bōl x TROVE: Heirlooms for the Festive Season
By Kerol Izwan.
Quite morning in Jalan Sin Chew Kew, Bukit Bintang, and nestled among the city streets is bōl, a Michelin-recognised restaurant with the tagline Asians Classic Reimagined. Painted i...
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November 17, 2025
[MEDIA PARTNER] Musotrees Joins ADGI Design Week 2025
Musotrees is proud to serve as a media partner for ADGI Design Week 2025, an international graphic design festival taking place in Jakarta from 19–23 November 2025. Organised by the Indonesian Gra...
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November 14, 2025
Ubud’s Quiet Voices, Loud Truths
By Kerol Izwan
Each year, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival gathers an eclectic mix of voices, ideas, and cultural expressions against the backdrop of Bali’s lush landscape. It’s a place wh...
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October 30, 2025
The Gathering of Words: Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2025 Unfolds in Bali
Ubud, Bali – 29 October 2025 – The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) 2025 officially commenced last night, marking the beginning of a four-day celebration of words, ideas, and cultural ex...
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October 25, 2025
Vetiveria by Ormonde Jayne
A refreshing morning with TROVE and Ormonde Jayne’s latest scent, Vetiveria — an ode to green serenity and modern refinement.
Kuala Lumpur was raining that morning — a soft drizzle that left the ci...
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October 21, 2025
How Heavy Is a City? Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2025 Questions the Weight of Our Urban Future
By Musotrees Newsroom.
From 2 October to 8 December 2025, Lisbon will once again transform into a living laboratory of ideas. The 7th Lisbon Architecture Triennale, titled How Heavy Is a City?, inv...
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October 20, 2025
Art Jakarta 2025: Where Conversations Flow Beyond the Canvas
By Kerol Izwan.
Each edition of Art Jakarta feels like a ritual — a convergence of people, stories, and emotions orbiting within one expansive space. This year’s fair, held once again at the JIExpo...
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October 01, 2025
Bouça: Álvaro Siza’s SAAL Social Housing Legacy
From social ideals to urban reality: Siza’s Bouça stands the test of time
Words and Photos by Kerol Izwan
It was a sunny morning stroll. I hadn’t really planned what to explore that day, letting my...
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THE BRIEF