OutThere Magazine #10 Inspiring Illinois Back Issue

Diversity has always been something true to the heart of the friendly people of Illinois. Ask anyone on the streets of Chicago, Galena, Springfield or even along the famous Route 66 – Illinoians value togetherness, internationalism and balance. And it’s no accident; being right bang smack in the middle of the country means they have a little bit and a lot of everything. They’re also respectful of where they’ve come from, but more than anything, they’re excited about where they’re going. Illinois is all we love about America in one open-minded State.

In the rest of the magazine, John Gregory-Smith travels down under to the Blue Mountains of New South Wales and Clark Harding takes a trans-continental Canadian trip, trying not to go off the rails. I head to India for the first time, in an epic journey to the birthplace of the Ramayana in Karnataka, to discover a community-based tourism project that just blew my mind.

We were lucky enough to be among the very first to stay at the Shinta Mani Angkor Bensley Collection, a new venture by the prolific hotel designer and architect whose name the property bears. We also take a trip to discover two of Taipei’s top hotels and check in to London’s latest whimsical property, The Mandrake – where we also had the pleasure of shooting our rock inspired, Fitzrovia style story.