100 Stories: Moments of Connection

Travel is not just about discovering new places. It creates a soft shift in perception, a widening of the heart, and a new way of seeing, carried long after your journey ends.

100 Stories is a collection of such memories. Postcards left behind by travellers who found moments of joy and connection at Banyan Tree sanctuaries across the world. Some discovered stillness and a reconnection with themselves. Others rekindled bonds with family and friends. Many felt the quiet magic of nature – its peace, its presence, its ability to remind us of what truly matters. Past guests are invited to craft their own postcard, adding their stories to this shared global journey.

Rediscovering yourself

Travel is more than discovering a new destination. Sometimes, it is a return to ourselves. A new place can unlock something within us. A door we had forgotten, or perhaps one we never realised had closed.

Calm I didn’t know I was missing.

Vivien Quiambao experienced this emotion at Banyan Tree AlUla, a sanctuary cradled in the desert silence of Saudi Arabia’s Ashar Valley, where ancient sandstone giants rise from the earth. “Simply stepping onto the grounds of Banyan Tree AlUla brought a calm I didn’t know I was missing,” she shared. “In the stillness of the valley, my body relaxed.”

At Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru in the Maldives, stillness comes courtesy of the ocean. Here days are measured by the tides, the light, the colour of the sky. For Andrew Kodithuwakku, the sea did not just calm him, it softened something within: “Being surrounded by such peace softened the weight I carried inside, helping me breathe again and reconnect with a sense of calm and wonder...” he remembered.

Peace doesn’t always come from escaping far away.

Not every sanctuary is set deep in nature. Sometimes, stillness is found in an urban centre, if we pause long enough to notice it. At Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, Ching Teng looked across the city while the sun bled across the skyline – a brief pause between day and night that brought a sense of calm and reflection.

“Sitting high above the city, watching the sunset paint the skyline, I was reminded that peace doesn’t always come from escaping far away – it can be found in pausing, breathing, and cherishing the present moment right where I am.”

Finding connection

Connection happens in many ways – in the spark of conversation, the exchange of a smile, the shared moment of wonder before a mountain or temple.

Our guests often speak of having time again – real time – to look at the people they love, and to learn from the people who call each place home.

At Banyan Tree Lijiang in China, heritage is not displayed, it is lived. Our resort sits in the shadow of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, near Shuhe Ancient Town, where artisans, tea houses, and calligraphers continue traditions older than the cobbled lanes themselves.

Yvonne Ngoh Gek Pheng watched one such calligrapher as he brushed the character for “home” – 家. A single word that holds generations, memory, longing. She mused: “Maybe we are all the same – kindred spirits learning to make sense of what home meant in our hearts.”

At Thailand’s Banyan Tree Samui, forested hills cradle turquoise bays, providing welcome respite from the pace of modern life. There is time again – for unrushed meals, conversations without distraction, attention returned to those who matter. As Meena Dattani shared: “This place has a magical way of grounding you and making you appreciate what really matters.”

Far away in Mexico, Banyan Tree Puebla holds a different kind of connection. One shaped by colour, craft, and heritage. Talavera ceramics shine in blue, cobalt and white, carrying the stories of makers who shaped them. Javier Lozano felt that history move through him: “It reminded me that Talavera has lived through centuries” he said. “It brought me back to appreciating the human effort, the resilience, the beauty behind every creation.”

Embracing nature

Nature is not just a backdrop. It is a guide, a host, and a reminder of how much life unfolded on this earth long before we arrived.

At Indonesia’s Banyan Tree Bintan, where rainforest meets the sea, conservation is woven into daily life. Guests learn firsthand the fragility and courage of newborn sea turtles – small creatures stepping into a vast world of risk and possibility.

For Amelyn Beverly, being involved in the simple act of sea turtle release, watching as they made their way towards the moonlit ocean, was transformative: “Learning about their low survival rates gave the moment deeper significance, we released off with a quiet wish that they’d survive and one day return to these shores.”

Nature isn’t just scenery, it’s sacred.

Under the jungle canopies of Singapore’s Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree, nature is not something admired at a distance. It is part of a living exchange. Here, habitats are conserved, local communities uplifted, and guests are invited to move through the rainforest with intention rather than hurry, finding themselves enriched in the process. As Ko Tin Oi reflected after a stay here: “Nature isn’t just scenery, it is sacred.”

At Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Mexico, the Riviera Maya unfolds in a tapestry of mangroves, quiet canals, and shoreline washed by the Caribbean. For Petra Barthova, this closeness was not just beautiful but fortifying. “When I connect softly with nature,” she reflected, “I draw strength – then move forward powerfully again.”

‘This Right Now’ is our invitation to pause in the wisdom and beauty of nature. Journey with us to Banyan Tree sanctuaries nestled in the mountains, over rivers, and under starscapes, and explore their stories.

Discover more 100 Stories moments from across Banyan Group’s hotels and resorts worldwide.