School is nearly out and summer is almost here, which means it’s time to start thinking of holidays.
June is a great time to book a getaway as its often the last month before peak summer season in many destinations, allowing travellers to visit before the mass crowds swoop in.
As the month with the longest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, June is also a time for sunshine-filled days in many places around the world, and for seasonal events in other destinations.
Here are some of the best places to visit this month.
Glastonbury, UK
The world’s largest greenfield music and performing arts festival takes place every June in 900 acres of countryside in England’s south-west. Running for more than five decades, Glastonbury attracts hundreds of thousands of revellers each year.
For 2023, the festival will kick off on June 21, running until Sunday, June 25 with music from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Guns N' Roses and Elton John.
Away from the festival, quirky Glastonbury is filled with independent shops, cafes and bars, and is home to the ruins of the ancient Glastonbury Abbey and Glastonbury Tor, a prominent hill that gives climbers epic views over the Isle of Avalon, Glastonbury and Somerset.
Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s original surfing playground, Arugam Bay comes into its own every June. While the country’s monsoons soak the teardrop island’s southern and western coastlines, on the east coast it’s a different story.
June in Aragum Bay means sunshine-filled days and epic surfing conditions with waves at their peak. It’s also the best time to go before the country's beaches fill with summertime tourists who typically flock to Sri Lanka during July and August.
Dalarna county, Sweden
With winter long gone, Sweden celebrates its annual midsummer festival every June. Coinciding with the longest day of the year, the occasion has long been considered a magical night for Swedes and celebrations include parties at summerhouses, wild flower crowns and dancing around wooden poles.
Midsummer events happen across the country, but Dalarna County in central Sweden is the place to go for the full experience including revellers dressed in traditional folk costumes, dancing, garland-filled parades and maypole raising.
In 2023, the festival falls on Friday, June 23, but celebrations typically take place before, during and after Midsummer Eve.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
A bucket-list experience awaits in Tanzania this month as the great migration unfolds in Serengeti National Park. Head to the park’s Western Corridor to see the wonder of nature in all its glory as herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra make their way north in search of food and new breeding grounds.
Daytime brings sunshine and temperatures averaging around a pleasant 25 degrees, although evenings are colder so don’t forget to layer up.
Queensland, Australia
In the southern hemisphere, Australia is getting its first taste of winter this month but in Queensland the country is shining, welcoming its dry season and lowest rainfall. It’s also the end of ‘stinger’ season – meaning beach-filled days that are jellyfish free.
This month is the perfect time to swim and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, or to sail the Whitsundays. And since its considered off season for international travellers, it’s the right time to find deals on hotels and flights, and to enjoy a visit that's not filled with tourist-ridden coastlines.
Husavik, Iceland
Summer has arrived in Iceland this month bringing with it the endless midnight sun, blooming fields of lupin and warmer temperatures. Husavik, on the country’s northern edge, is the place to go for a summertime whale watching experience.
The former fishing port has made a name for itself as Europe’s whale watching capital, and Iceland's summer sun draws huge shoals of plankton – which happens to be the main food for whales – to the waters around the pretty town.
Whales aside, there's plenty to do including visiting the steeple-topped Husavikurkirkja church, which dates back to 1907, and soaking in a geothermal pool – an activity that's something of a national pastime for Icelanders. Just don’t expect to go swimming, the water temperature will still be hovering around a chilly 6 degrees.
Uganda
Home to more than 400 mountain gorillas, Uganda has made a name for itself as one of the best places in the world to see the great apes in their native habitats.
June is the start of the country’s drier season, which means trails are less likely to be rinsed away and the ground is much more trekkable, so it's a good time to spot these majestic creatures. Days are warm and dry, with only an occasional rain shower. It's also a good time of year for a visit to Lake Victoria if you want to visit before the summer crowds arrive.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Match info:
Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
RESULTS
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
