Josephine Knox: Traveling begins with research

A visit to Palmyra in Syria, a hop on an air balloon over Masai Mara, a walk among the ruins of Machu Pichu in Peru, an overnight journey on the Orient Express train from Paris to Venice and a dive in the Kanantik Reef in Belize are listed in her Dream Travel Destination.

Josephine Knox likewise plans to be a part of the Fiesta de las Fallas in Valencia, Spain, get acquainted with the Riace bronze men at the Reggio di Calabria, Italy, witness the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, enjoy a spectacle at the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center in Noumea, New Zealand, marvel at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, be awed by the island Abbey of Mont-St-Mechel in France and meditate at the Metropilitan Cathedral in Managua, Nicaragua.

She sincerely hopes to admire the raw beauty of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, cherish the memory of Amanjena in Marrakesh, Morocco and perhaps let her heart skip a beat at Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

Josephine Knox has a favorite Japanese proverb – "Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one." And rightfully so, the lover of life is a seasoned globetrotter with a ceaseless passion for history, arts and culture, architecture and cuisine.

One recent rainy afternoon at her all-white pied-a-terre in Rockwell Center – I mean all white from floor to ceiling and everything in between with only very, very few dramatic mute touches of silver and chrome – and in the company of good friends Goya and Jun Reinoso from way, way back, Josephine shared a list that is close to her heart – her Dream Travel Destination (DTD).

Philippine STAR: What do you remember most of your first trip abroad?

Josephine Knox: It was not my first trip abroad, but one I will never forget, as it was my first round-the-world trip alone – a graduation gift from my parents. I was very excited and at the same time very nervous! It was a defining moment in my life. Little did I know then that I would be traveling all over the world – for 10 years as an international banker and the ensuing years till the present as the wife of an international bank executive.

What won’t you leave home without?

There are several items: My necessaire. It has all my necessary items such as medication, a first-aid kit, toiletries, lint remover and even my Velcro rollers. I always have two of them packed and ready to go – one for short trips and another for the extended long ones. Two to three pairs of my favorite jeans. A pair of Sparga, my favorite walking shoes. Champagne swizzler – it’s always in my wallet. Travel books and research articles which I lovingly refer to as "my paperdolls." Fountain pen. Diary – I document everything, reflecting an accounting of my life. Camera – I constantly take pictures.

Who is your ideal traveling companion?

Definitely, Erv, my husband. We not only share the same interests, but he is also very supportive of my Dream Travel Destination (DTD) list which includes cultural, historical, architectural landmarks and events plus gastronomic establishments. I began my DTD list when I was a senior in college, majoring in history and have been updating it every year. At one point, I had 70 DTD items. We try to travel and experience one or two DTDs every year. Last year, it was Egypt Petra and Jordan. This year, it is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

Name your favorite city abroad.

Milano, senza dubbio, sin duda, without a doubt! I consider my eight-year Milan sojourn (1981-1989) as the most defining experience on every aspect of my lifestyle from my sense of style, color and proportion, my cooking and eating regimen, architectural and design preferences, my love of the romance languages, my penchant for car travel and most important, my attitude – the Milanese piacere di vivere ("pleasure of living") – work hard and play hard!

Let’s talk favorites now. Favorite restaurant?

I have several. But it includes Le Normandie at the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok. Each year for a week, they feature a guest chef – usually one of the leading French, Swiss or Italian chefs. Last year to commemorate the hotel’s 125th anniversary, Erv and I had one of our best meals ever prepared by three of the world’s top chefs – Freddy Girardet, Joel Robuchon and Adolf Blokbergen.

Favorite hotel?

The Oriental Hotel. The property is always voted one of the top three in the world for the last 27 years ! The service is impeccable and has one of the best spas on earth! Four Seasons Hotel in Milano, Italy. It was an abandoned monastery on the street where I lived and witnessed its transformation into one of the most beautiful hotels ever. Cour des Loges in Lyon, France. Four renaissance houses linked by a glass atrium overlooking the lobby. Interestingly, it combines very modern furniture in a very old setting – the best of both worlds. Hotel Arts Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. Located on the city’s reclaimed seafront, it has a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea. The furniture designed by Catalan architect Jaume Tressera is stunning!

Favorite resort?

Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand, of course.

Favorite museum?

Musee D’Orsay in Paris, France. Great art and great architecture! I love great architecture, equally, if not more, than great art. Gae Aulenti, who was awarded the commission to transform the Gare D’Orsay into a museum, is one of my favorite Italian architects.

And if you could take home a piece of art, which one would it be?

Calder’s mobile at the garden poolside of La Colombe D’Or in St. Paul de Vence. I would transport it to the poolside of my future home – Bellavista in Punta Fuego.

Favorite building?

Sydney Opera House by the Sydney Harbor; Getty Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California; Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele in Milano; and Glyndebourne Theater which is located 54 miles south of London.

Favorite parks?

I have two – Central Park in New York and the English Garden in Munich.

Favorite musical?

Les Miserables. Erv and I saw it three times in three different cities – Melbourne, London and New York. Three different casts but three equally impressive and moving experiences.

Favorite store?

Villa Moda in Kuwait. The store’s philosophy, architecture, merchandise, furniture, exhibits and restaurants push the envelope! Lucky for me Sheik Majed Al-Sabah, Villa Moda’s proprietor and a nephew of the Emir of Kuwait, befriended me.

Who or what do you miss most when you are away from home?

My husband Erv. I now divide my time between two homes – Kuwait where Erv works as a CEO of Alahli Bank of Kuwait and now Makati City where I will be devoting a substantial portion of the next 12 months overseeing the construction of Bellavista, our future, full-time home in Punta Fuego. I miss having sunrise breakfasts with him on the balcony of our flat on the corniche overlooking the Gulf of Kuwait and sunset champagne cocktails on the balcony of our Rockwell Center pied-a-terre overlooking the Pasig River. I also miss my books, especially my language dictionaries and my eating my pasta dishes while listening to my favorite CDs.

What is the best travel advice you can share?

Research – books, travel magazines, maps, Internet. Solicit well-traveled friends’ advice and recommendations. And of course, read your column, Citizen of the World.

What’s your most memorable trip.

In 1985, Erv and I drove from Milano to Monte Carlo to pick up my parents, Montserrat Atillo Soquez and Francisco Ubante del Gallego. Our destination – Spain to see both of their deceased fathers’ homes and visit relatives in Barcelona, Cataluña and in Villaviciosa, Asturias. Since both of my grandfathers died before I was born, it was a specially meaningful experience to see where they lived and to meet my other Spanish relatives. It was also memorable for we stayed in seven beautiful paradores.

What is the strangest thing have you done on a trip?

Erv and I love and always hand-carry back excellent extra-virgin olive oil. Last February 2001, we tasted the best extra-virgin olive oil at the Green Valley Restaurant in Jerash, Jordan. I persuaded the owner to sell me this oil which comes from his farm. But since it only comes in 25-liter containers, we had to drive to a nearby factory to have one container specially sealed and marked in Arabic so that we could check it in together with our suitcases. Upon arrival in Kuwait, we poured the oil into 15 bottles and are still enjoying it a year later. I just carried back a bottle from Kuwait to Rockwell.

Who would you like to bump into – dead or alive – during your travels?

General Dietrich von Cholitz – who during the days leading to the liberation of Paris, was ordered by Adolf Hitler to destroy the city to ruins. But he chose not to.

Name an event anywhere in the world you would like to participate in?

Fiesta de las Fallas in Valencia, Spain which is a week-long festival culminating at midnight of March 18th, to commemorate the feast of St. Joseph. In addition to the burning of the hundreds of Falas – giant papier -mache effigies of world personalities – all over Valencia, there is a spectacular fireworks display. This will be a memorable way to celebrate my birthday on March 19th. This event has been on my DTD list since I first read about it in college. I have planned two trips, but so far have been unsuccessful.

What are your pasalubongs – outbound and inbound?

Inbound: From Kuwait – almond-filled dates. From Bangkok – cut orchids. From Milano – dried porcini mushrooms. Outbound: Becky’s Kitchen butter cake.

Name a city you have never visited but would like to someday.

Palmyra, Syria.

Name a country you wish to explore.

India.

Looking back at your travels abroad, what would you say is your biggest regret?

One stands out. In 1978, I was on a month-long bank business trip to South America calling on clients in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia and Panama. Unfortunately, I was so busy preparing for this trip that I forgot to consult my personal physician regarding medication to counter the effects of altitude on my prolapse mitral valve condition. For the first time in my life, I experienced palpitation attacks in Lima, Peru which is 9,000 feet above sea level. I then realized it meant no side trip to Machu Picchu which is 13,000 feet above sea level. Now I know better.

What is your favorite spot in the Philippines?

I have two – my serene and relaxing Rockwell Center pied-a-terre and my future, full-time house Bellavista in Punta Fuego.

What would you say is the best part of travel?

The three E’s – travel educates, entertains and enlightens the traveler.

If you could be transported anywhere in the world right now, where would you like to be?

It’s a toss-up between the Amanpuri in Phuket and the Villa Palumbo in Ravello overlooking the Amalfi Coast.

If you could reside anywhere on earth aside from the Philippines, where would it be?

Back to the flat we lived on Via Gesu 14, Milano!