Some call him a genius, others a mad scientist. But mostly, he is one of the world's most revered and respected architects and environmental designers. The first time I met Eduardo Neira (known to most as Roth), we were at his compound deep in the jungle of Tulum, Mexico. He entered the room barefoot, wearing all-white flowing attire adorned by numerous large necklaces. He is was a soft-spoken, brilliant man who immediately lit up the room, and I was transfixed.
His home, a magnificent piece of art, is in the dense jungle where he lives, within the same compound as the AZULIK UH MAY, a cultural center for the arts. Influenced by the natural forms of nature, Roth's home challenges architectural conventions while showcasing a unique, harmonious relationship with the nature around it.
Roth is a self-taught architect whose creations follow natural geometry and is largely influenced by Mayan culture. He studied ancient communities to make dwellings that imitate and respect mother nature. He does not destroy the vegetation and uses trees as bridges between the interior and exterior, following the natural contours of the jungle floor, resulting in unusual, natural forms.
And now, far away from Mexico, Roth is making waves of another sort, deep in the heart of the desert of Saudi Arabia. The outrageous, futuristic, somewhat alien-lookingAZULIK AlUlaResort will be a stunning eco-luxury property. Slated to open in 2027 in the Nabataean Horizon District, the property will be positioned nestled within sandstone canyons and near other sites, including an Equestrian Village and a world-class outdoor sculpture park.
The resort will comprise 76 luxury villas of six varieties, a spa, a VIP club, welcome lounges, all-day dining, and AZULIK's signature museum, SFER IK. As is custom with AZULIK designs, the resort is inspired by the surrounding environment; dramatic sandstone cliffs will mirror the properties, and undulating exteriors will use all-natural materials and woven fibers.
AZULIK AlUla Resort promises to protect and incorporate nearby ancient rock art inscriptions and utilize a natural system of existing waterways to feed irrigation and safeguard against floods. No private vehicle traffic will be allowed on-property; instead, an all-electric mobility system will be provided, along with horse and camel routes and hiking trails for guests to enjoy the surroundings.
I spoke at length with Roth about the project and his plans for more AZULIK properties in the future.
What first attracted you to the area of AlUla?
“We were kindly invited by H.H. Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Farhan Al Saud, Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla and First Minister of Culture, to design a hotel and a museum. AlUla
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
If you needed any more proof that San Diego has turned into a foodie town, just head to Westfield UTC in La Jolla, where the internationally acclaimed Ramen Nagi has just opened its fifth U.S. location. Don’t worry about finding it in the huge outdoor mall – your nose will happily lead you there.
Epic landscapes, diverse wildlife and the creative capital city of San José draw many visitors from all over the world to Costa Rica – don't risk a last-minute disappointment by not having your paperwork in order.
Delta Air Lines is adding 30 percent more capacity to Latin America and the Caribbean next winter with more flights to popular destinations from Costa Rica to San Juan.
Located at the confluence of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Isla Mujeres serves as a treasure trove of North American biodiversity, with bottlenose dolphins, sailfish, and green sea turtles all thriving in its surrounding waters—yet one animal in particular has long suffered due to human activity. Though they play a prominent role in the local marine ecosystem, sharks are often unnecessarily culled due to their reputation as mindless killing machines, and in the Quintana Roo area, the animals have historically been targeted by the local fishing industry as well.
Carefree days lounging on the sand are a hallmark of an idyllic vacation for many travelers. But beaches themselves are a commodity, vulnerable to retreat that’s exacerbated by climate change. In fact, nearly half of the Earth’s sandy beaches could be extinct by 2100, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change.
Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood has left one key group vocally underwhelmed: members of Starwood’s Preferred Guest program, particularly Starwood elites who have become accustomed to perks and services that play no part in Marriott’s Rewards program.
In the week that’s followed the 2016 presidential election reports of racist threats and hate crimes are up, and many Americans have taken to city streets in protest. In response, countries like Turkey and the Bahamas have issued U.S. travel warnings, and the future of foreign travel to the States seems uncertain under a President Trump.
For many vacationers, Acapulco means sun and fun. For one major cruise line, it means the potential for violence and mayhem from Mexico’s spreading drug wars. And while travelers seem mostly oblivious to the danger, the cruise company is acting on its concerns.
Emirates has announced it will reduce service between Dubai and almost half its destinations in the U.S. Flights to Boston, Seattle, and Los Angeles will be reduced from two per day to one, and daily flights to Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale will be reduced to five per week each. The total number of weekly flights cut comes to 25.
Remember Donald Trump’s oft-repeated promise during the recent presidential race to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and force Mexico to pay for it?
It’s official: Passengers flying on nine airlines non-stop to the U.S. from 10 airports (Cairo, Egypt; Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Casablanca, Morocco; Doha, Qatar; Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia; Istanbul in Turkey; and Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates) will be prohibited from bringing electronic devices larger than cellphones on board with them.