Acclaimed film director Wes Anderson will release his much-anticipated Asteroid City next week.
Set in a fictional desert town in 1955, the film stars Scarlett Johansson, Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks, and is the story of a junior stargazer convention that’s spectacularly interrupted by world-changing events.
The film is shot using Anderson’s visually distinctive cinematography, which has inspired the current #WesAnderson TikTok trend where users replicate the director’s whimsical style to produce videos featuring symmetrical shots, quick cuts and saturated colours. The trend has already amassed more than 977 million views.
Travellers hoping to get in on the trend and star in their very own Wes Anderson movie can look to Airbnb. The accommodation platform has a host of listings that appear to be straight from one of the director's film sets. Here are 10 of the best.
1. Off-grid fire tower in Oregon, US
Summit Prairie is an off-grid cabin towering over open grasslands in Tiller, Oregon. Built in the style of US Forest Services’ fire lookout towers, the wood-clad cabin has everything guests need for a remote getaway.
There’s a fully equipped kitchen, an outdoor shower, a wood-fired hot tub and swaying hammocks. Friends can join in with a tent and camp on the 160 acres of private land where there’s also a vegetable garden and firepits for evenings under the stars.
The tower comes with amazing views – and two bright red Adirondack chairs from which to admire them and perhaps stage an Anderson-style shoot. It's also the perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts, with river rafting, hiking trails and waterfalls nearby.
2. Flying saucer stay in Wales, UK
Bed down in a one-of-a-kind UFO in the heart of the Welsh countryside. This spaceship-style Airbnb is accessible via a remote-controlled hatch and has space for up to four guests. As quirky as it gets, the vessel comes with a monitor where travellers can indulge in classic '80s arcade games like Space Invaders and Defender, and the property counts bell tents, yurts and dome tents as neighbours.
The entire space can be rented for anyone wanting to host an event or perhaps stage their own Anderson-inspired mini-movie reel. It’s also close to the popular seaside resorts of Tenby and Saundersfoot, known for their white sandy beaches and colourful harbours.
3. Solar camper in Tennessee, US
A back-to-basics stay with all the makings of a Wes Anderson scene await at Camp Grits in Tennessee. This sunshine-yellow vintage trailer with fire-engine-red outhouse is set in a wood-filled yard and is the ideal place to hide away from the world, curl up with a book or cook up a storm on a propane stove.
Lit by solar pendant lights, it has a full-sized bed and a bathhouse with a fire-powered claw-foot tub. TikTok users will have to wait until they return to civilisation to post their #WesAnderson video creations on the platform, as there’s no Wi-Fi or phone coverage at this off-the-radar escape.
4. Private island escape in Hvaler, Norway
Adventure seekers will love this tiny wooden cabin set on a 10,000 square metre private island in the Norwegian archipelago of Hvaler. Known as the municipality with the highest number of sunny days in the Scandinavian country, it’s the perfect site for a scenic getaway. Travellers will stay in the solar-powered cabin and have access to their own boat for the duration of the stay.
Days can be spent fishing, sunbathing, swimming or exploring the other islets in this western archipelago while evenings brings stargazing and outdoor gatherings around the cabin’s firepit.
5. Airstream trailer in California, US
As Anderson as it gets, this gleaming airstream trailer in Joshua Tree, California is inspired by the desert, similar to the setting for the director's upcoming film Asteroid City.
The 1959 vehicle has been newly renovated and inside is a mix of boho-chic interiors, wood cladded walls and tie-dye fabrics. Guests have access to a shared swimming pool, hot tub, solar shower and alfresco claw foot bathtubs – ideal for an evening spent bathing under a star-filled Californian sky.
6. Pop art apartment in Puglia, Italy
Colour and quirk combine in this artist-designed apartment in the village of Casamassella, a few kilometres from Otranto, the bay of Porto Badisco and the Italian beaches of Alimini. Guests checking into this accommodation will be sleeping inside a work of art – the apartment was designed by artisans and young artists from the Salento region.
It offers a fun experience with bold primary colour furniture contrasting with pastel-coloured fixtures and fittings, vibrant car bonnets as wall art, a plant pot-filled balcony and original stonework walls. It’s also pet friendly – so guests as obsessed with their dogs as Wes Anderson is can bring their own little fido along for the ride.
7. Retro caravan in New Zealand
Luxury glamping awaits in Claris, a restored vintage caravan located in a clifftop campsite at Omana Regional Park. Boasting endless views of the Hauraki Gulf Islands and surrounded by rainforests, mangrove walks and pristine beaches, this Clipper Caravan was saved from demolition two years ago and now welcomes holidaymakers to spend the night at this coastal reserve.
The tiny vintage vehicle nods to the 1950s and 60s when it was the most popular way for New Zealanders to holiday and its revival is a nod to simpler times, according to its Airbnb hosts. Inside, there’s a double bed, a well-equipped kitchenette and cute candy-striped soft furnishings. An orange and white-striped awning acts as a rain or sunshade for days spent alfresco.
8. Colourful canalside town house in Venice, Italy
Nestled between a private garden filled with lush greenery on one side and Venice’s Rio Marin Canal on the other, this apartment is in the charming Santa Croce area and sleeps up to eight guests.
Inside, a palette of bright reds, sunshine yellows and seaside blues sets a playful tone, boosted by the addition of plaid curtains, floral cushions, striped bedding, decorative carpets and unique animal wall prints. The neighbourhood is filled with art and history and is also enjoyed by true Venetians. Tourists seeking the city's crowded sights and streets are just a short walk from the Riva De Biasio water stop, meaning Venice’s big attractions are just a vaporetto journey away.
9. Secret suite in Santorini, Greece
In one of the busiest neighbourhoods on one of Greece’s most popular holiday islands, this secret suite in Oia, Santorini is a well-hidden gem. Designed for just two guests and bathed in pink and turquoise, the whimsical hideaway has a bed draped with pink curtains, art-deco style flourishes and whitewashed stone walls. A bold purple-hued bathroom channels Anderson vibes and the brightly painted balcony offers breathtaking ocean views, as well as a private hot tub from which travellers can enjoy the island’s famous sunsets.
10. Striped lighthouse in Panama
Overlooking the spectacular Playa Venao in southern Panama, this red and white striped lighthouse offers the perfect setting for Wes Anderson fans. Spread over four levels, the nautical-themed residence has a kitchenette and living room, bathroom and shower area, as well as two bedrooms – both with balconies opening out to views of the ocean and the sound of crashing waves.
Up on the top floor, lighthouse guests can enjoy uninterrupted 360-degree views of the entire area. Attached to El Sitio Hotel – the first hotel to open in Playa Venao – the lighthouse also offers guests access to the property's luxury pool, bar and restaurant, as well as an on-site surf shop for guests who want to take to the ocean.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
MATCH INFO
Everton 0
Manchester City 2 (Laporte 45 2', Jesus 90 7')
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
((Disclaimer))
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
Stage 2 results
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 04:18:18
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04
4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates
5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation
General Classification
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16
4 Nikolai Cherkasov (RUS) Gazprom-Rusvelo 00:00:17
5 Alexey Lutsensko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 00:00:19
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Company Profile
Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur
Based: Dubai Investment Park 1
Industry: food and agriculture
Initial investment: $205,000
Current staff: eight to 10
Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
