Following the food-themed Issue No.2 of Bateleur, we’ve gone back to (magazine) basics with the return to a more editorial approach for the now hot-off-the-press Issue No.3. Did you know that Bateleur launched in 2012 as a digital magazine that, initially, was shared amongst our 2,000 staff and later grew to include a broader external audience? In fact, loyal longtime readers will recall the interactive Bateleur app that existed prior to the magazine officially becoming a print publication in 2018.
Issue No.3
Bateleur magazine: the cover story
A behind-the-scenes look at the cover art featured on the latest issue of the Bateleur magazine…
In this issue
And just like that, Issue No.3 has officially hit the shelves. Call it kismet, but with 2024 being the Year of the Dragon, the timing proved serendipitous to celebrate Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, and the grand opening of &Beyond Punakha River Lodge, as this issue’s cover story.
Titled “Travel that transcends time”, this emotive cover story is a 14-page spread that delves into the almost time travel-esque journey of first-time travellers to the peaceful and picturesque Himalayan mountain kingdom of Bhutan.
The remaining stories, all written first-hand by experienced journalists and editors, span four chapters: EXPLORE (destination-focused travel inspiration); INDULGE (wellness, food and pampering); ENGAGE (heart-warming people stories and cultural insight); and PROTECT (wildlife and conservation), with impact being a golden thread woven throughout.
Keep an eye out for fascinating and engaging contributions from renowned contributors including Alex Postman, Jessica Nabongo, Juliet Kinsman, Lizzie Pook, Sarah Khan, Sarah Marshall, Shaaz Jung, Smitha Menon and Dookphoto, to name a few.
Year of the dragon
The unique, stylised cover art for Issue No.3 was conceptualised by Terry Parenzee, who oversees the creative direction of the Bateleur magazine. In keeping with the artistic approach of the magazine’s previous covers, Terry’s vision for this issue was to incorporate the rich textiles and tapestries that Bhutan is famed for, but to bring in a subtle, more modern, and slightly edgier look and feel.
Terry commissioned local South African illustrator and artist, Simone Hodgskiss, who skilfully brought the vision to life. The dragon was to be the main motif, to symbolise the Year of the Dragon, alongside other Bhutanese trademarks, such as: the swirling mist and clouds; the endangered black-necked crane; the snow-capped mountains and trails frequented by hikers; the ornate Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten; the terraced rice paddies; and of course, the blue poppy, which is Bhutan’s national flower.
Adhering to a Bhutanese colour palette, the artwork incorporates the deep reds and oranges of the traditional monastic robes, as well as the red, yellow, blue, green and white of the traditional prayer flags seen all over Bhutan.
Simone’s initial rough sketch would later be tweaked and converted into vector art for the next exciting phase of the project.
A stich in time
During my journey through Bhutan for the cover story, I paid a visit to the National Institute for Zorig Chusum in Thimphu, a historic college that teaches the 13 traditional arts of Bhutan. Armed with Simone’s original artwork and Jamyang and Dorji, my incredible Bhutanese guides and trusted translators, we discussed the concept with Sonam Tobgay, one of the art instructors at the college. He loved the idea and started enthusiastically pulling out brightly coloured local fabrics, threads and other embroidery projects to showcase the work of his students.
An important point, not to be lost in translation, was the dragon itself. Sonam delicately highlighted an ever-so-slight cultural nuance that would have been missed had the art not been embroidered locally and authentically in Bhutan. Typically, in Bhutanese art and folklore, the side profile of the dragon should reveal both eyes, and so Simone made a last-minute change to her artwork giving the dragon its rightful cultural significance.
Sonam, together with embroidery student, Tshering Dema, first outlined the final artwork onto tracing paper using tiny pin pricks to create the stencil. They then stitched the entire piece by hand, all the while communicating with Terry and I in South Africa via Ninzy Wangmo, the Operations Manager for our &Beyond touring office in Thimphu. Finally, with Ninzy’s help, the precious handstitched cargo travelled all the way to Cape Town, South Africa, where it would be photographed in studio by the talented Clinton Friedman.
Last but certainly not least, Julia Becker, Bateleur’s dedicated designer merged the beautiful embroidery with the magazine’s masthead and headlines to create the final striking cover. The original embroidery is soon to be proudly framed in the reception area of our Bateleur House offices in Johannesburg.
On behalf of the entire production team and contributors, we hope you enjoy this issue as much as we all enjoyed creating it.
Get your copy today (hard copy or digital)
A beautiful keepsake hard copy of the 144-page luxury magazine can be purchased for the cover price (ZAR375 or USD20) excluding shipping. Contact guestshopping@andbeyond.com to place an order.
Alternatively, click below to purchase Bateleur in digital flipbook format.
Issue No.1
Issue No.1 delves into immersive travel experiences in Africa, South America and Asia that help leave our world a better place. Each of the three chapters tells a story of how travel enables the care of our planet’s land, wildlife and people.
Issue No.2
Issue No.2 is a food-themed edition (with 30+ recipes) that explores the food nostalgia experienced through travel. Each of the five chapters celebrate the unique flavours of the safari adventure, island getaway, farm stay, desert escape and city immersion.
Issue No.3
Issue No.3 leads with a journey through time, to the captivating Himalayan mountain kingdom of Bhutan, followed by four chapters filled with compelling, first-hand stories of transformative travel written first-hand by renowned editors and journalists.
SEE WHAT LIES BEYOND
Click here to start planning your own journey through the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
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