For just five days in June 2011, diners in Estonia’s cultural capital, Tallinn, can enjoy Champagne, aperitifs, lunch or dinner 50 metres in the air with spectacular views over the medieval Old Town, Tallinn’s steel and glass business sector and the Bay of Finland.
Dinner in the Sky® can be enjoyed daily between 8th and 12th June 2011, in Tallinn’s Rotermann quarter, the transformed former industrial area between the Old Town and the sea. Guests harnessed into specially constructed dining chairs and seated with 21 other diners at a table, suspended to a height of 50 metres, and enjoy cuisine prepared under the auspices of award winning Executive Chef Rene Uusmees, a patron of modern Estonian cuisine.
High flyers in Tallinn are offered four choices of ‘lift length’ and menu, from a 20 minute Champagne and aperitif ‘taster’ (29 euros pp), to an 80 minute four course meal with aperitif, wine and Cognac, with the final dinner of the day served at sunset by the chef with Tallinn’s skyline as a backdrop (84 euros pp). A 40 minute 3 course lunch and a 60 minute 4 course dinner is also offered.
When people think of Bangkok, mostly they think about wats (temples), shopping, the bustling city and the night life including all the wonderful places to eat. What they may not realise is that the city also has a thriving arts scene.
Would you like to learn to draw and paint? Attic Studios on Sukhumvit Soi 31, have art classes for all. There’s lots going on! Check out their website and see for yourself.
If you’re not lucky enough to be able to visit Bangkok, they recommend artist Barry John Raybould’s “virtual art academy” where you can become a student online. The prices are very reasonable. As someone with a keen interest in art I’m tempted to give this a try myself.
There are several art and photography exhibitions currently happening too.
Have we forgot? (until 27 June 2011)
Photographer Charit Phusri’s first solo exhibition is about “Thainess”. It’s an exploration of whether Thainess still exists in an increasingly westernised world.
Ancient Otaku (until 19 June 2011)
This is artist Thosapol Boriboon’s solo exhibition of “a series of symbolic works which explore cyberspace and reality, highlighting how the concepts of truth and illusion are evident in both”.
Information about the above exhibitions and more can be found on the Ardel Gallery website.
Meanwhile the Sofitel Bangkok Silom’s V9 wine bar and restaurant is displaying contemporary pictures by artist Maitree Homthong depicting the natural beauty of Thailand’s Isaan region.
And finally, the 100 Tonson Gallery is exhibiting a series of weaving installations by Sydney-based Thai artist Phaptawan Suwannakudt. These vibrant paintings aim to highlight the differences between living in Thailand and Australia.
By the way, if you’re keen on drawing and painting, Thailand is an excellent place for buying art supplies. Even the department stores usually stock a great selection of art materials at a fraction of the cost you’d pay in the UK. Leave a little bit of room in your suitcase and take some home with you.
Suite name: The Ritz-Carlton Suite Hotel:The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, USA Size of accommodation: 3,000 sq ft Cost per night: $7,500 Who’s stayed there? International presidents, movie starts and entertainers. Celebrities spotted at the hotel have included Nicki Minaj, Will Smith, Will I. Am (Black Eyed Peas), Matt Damon, Usher and Jennifer Lopez. The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is unable to confirm names of hotel guests. What makes it special? The luxurious 5-bay suite offers panoramic views north to the mountains and west to the ocean from the 25th floorof The Ritz-Carlton.
The Ritz-Carlton Suite, located on the 25th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, opens with an expansive foyer with marble and mahogany hardwood floors which then opens up to the entertainment area which is equipped with a 50″ high-definition flat panel television, wet bar and multiple seating areas. A spacious executive study is adjacent with additional seating.
Further into the Suite a formal dining area offers seating for 10 and is complemented by an adjacent butler’s pantry with a separate service entry. On the other side of the Suite the bedroom and master bath offers a luxurious walk-in shower with rain shower head, wall mounted body jets and hand held-sprayer; an adjacent soaking tub; dual powder room and bidet combination and his and hers vanities. A separate room-sized walk-in closet and powder room off of the foyer rounds out the Suite amenities. Each guest also enjoys access to the Club Lounge with offers a personal concierge, business center, four culinary presentations each day and complimentary beer, wine and cocktails.
Courchevel 1850 has long been the St Tropez of the French Alps; this high altitude resort ensures a long snow sure season and is the most famous of all the resorts within the vast Three Valleys ski area. However it isn’t just the skiing which has turned this into a world renowned resort – the shopping, bars and restaurants are first class.
Lunch on the piste reaches a whole different level with Le Cap Horn, located by the Altiport, which serves seafood and Asian dishes and has a DJ on the terrace. Le Chalet de Pierres to be found on the side of the piste is famous for its alfresco lunches and has puddings to die for. However if you have to look at the prices you can’t afford it!
Skiing for all levels can be found in and around Courchevel 1850. The Saulire area is the largest and busiest and can be reached from the centre of 1850 by way of a cluster of gondolas and a cable-car, the wide pistes returning to resort are ideal for beginners. When you reach the peak of Saulire you can either ski down into Méribel and onwards to the Val Thorens valley. For those more experienced skiers the black Les Suisses is fabulous first thing, more challenging are the Courchevel Couloirs, three narrow corridors of snow between the rocks: Emile Allais, Grand Couloir, and Sous le Téléphérique. The Col de la Loze area can be easily reached and takes you towards La Tania which has gently wooded slopes perfect for bad weather.
Apres ski is a must on any ski trip but here the choice of drink in this resort is Champagne and specialist Vodka for the Russian visitors. The most popular destinations post ski are Le Jump Bar and Le Milk; however a favourite for later on is Les Caves de Courchevel.
If you like Michelin starred restaurants then you can pick from either Le Chabichou which serves inventive regional cuisine in a traditionally-decorated, family friendly atmosphere or Le Bateau Ivre which can be found in the Hotel Pomme de Pin which has inspirational cooking in an elegant atmosphere.
Have you been to Greece? If not, sit back and listen to visitors from all over the world as they tell you what it is like to travel to Greece courtesy of a series of ‘You in Greece’ testimonials. For more information, see www.visitgreece.gr
It was deja vu all over again. We had visited Paris in November and now here we were at the Paris Hotel in Vegas, marveling at the fact that the Eiffel Tower looked exactly like the one we had just seen, albeit a trifle smaller. My expectations were honestly pretty low when it came to visiting a Vegas hotel for the last time. Surely it would be interesting but kitschy and maybe even (dare I say it?) tacky.
I could not have been more wrong. When we pulled up to the entrance of the hotel and saw the Eiffel Tower and the replica Arc de Triomphe, along with the beautifully designed exterior of the hotel which is reminiscent of many of the museums we saw in Europe, we realized we were in for a truly luxurious experience.
We checked in at the gorgeous reception area which is covered with marble and brass and lighted by lovely crystal chandeliers, then had our luggage taken up to our beautiful room. We were lucky enough to stay in one of the wonderful “red rooms” which are quite large, with a nice sitting area and a huge bathroom with a separate shower and tub, that I loved. After a night with some outside noise and a complaint to the front desk, we were whisked away to an even larger and nicer room with a little sitting area between the room and bathroom which we affectionately called “my office” all week since it had a small table perfect for my iPad. There was also a nice, larger desk area in the room itself. This is what our first room looked like; the second was very similar, just larger. We had a very nice view of the Bellagio fountains from our room and were able to watch the day and evening show.
After we had settled in, we headed back down to the lobby area to check out the rest of this gorgeous hotel. When you come out of the elevator alcove and you are a gambler, just head to the left and you will find one of the huge casinos which grace all Vegas hotels. Even if you are not into gambling, you will enjoy strolling around because even this area is beautifully decorated, with arched bridges, little shops, Parisian lampposts and greenery.
It’s also in this area that you will find a replica of a cobblestone street from Paris, which leads over to the Bally Hotel which adjoins Paris. This gives you some options for another casino, as well as additional shops and restaurants. Parisian shops and restaurants line the street all the way over to Bally’s and you can find some wonderful places to eat here.
We had breakfast in this area several times and it’s a wonderful place to find delicious pastries and fabulous, freshly-prepared crepes. You could stay at the Paris hotel the entire time you are in Vegas and be perfectly content. They have a huge swimming pool and a spa with an incredible list of amenities, which we never even had time to sample. You can also pay to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower for an incredible view of Vegas and even have a meal at the restaurant located on the top. And when evening comes, you can have dinner at one of the fabulous restaurants and then go to the Barry Manilow show.
I can personally guarantee that you will never be bored here – and you will have of the most luxurious experiences of your life!
“Simple luxury”: it sounds like a contradiction in terms. And yet, luxury comes in myriad forms, each wholly interpreted by the individual. For some perhaps it’s an exceptionally soft bed; a gastronomic feast; or merely the perfect day spent with the family. On my own travels simple luxuries seem to appear around every corner; an unexpectedly stirring weekday matinee in London; watching street performers at Washington Square Park in Manhattan; sitting on the bow of a friend’s boat at sunset in Charleston Harbor.
And so, when I need a bit of simple luxury from my home in Monterey, California, there’s one place that always springs to mind: the hot springs of Tassajara. Its remote location deep in the Santa Lucia Mountains two hours southeast of Carmel imbues it with a mystical aura fitting of the Zen Buddhist institution. The winding, pitted, and difficult to navigate 14-mile dirt road leading to the center is itself a small piece of luxury—the deeper into the hills I climb and descend, the more the realities of the modern world slip from my mind.
The history of Tassajara goes back some thousand years, when the native Esselen people made pilgrimages to the healing hot springs, prized for their restorative properties. By the turn of the 20th Century, with a resort at the site on the planning board, visitors from far and wide came to “take the waters”. But it was in 1966, when Shunryu Suzuki, a Japanese Buddhist priest who founded the San Francisco Zen Center, first laid eyes on the site that Tassajara evolved into its present incarnation. Now, hundreds of practicing students make the harrowing journey to live traditional monastic lives from September to April, studying, meditating, and working to maintain the property.
Happily, for those of us unversed in Zen Buddhist ideology, come April Tassajara opens its doors for the guest season. Comfortable but rustic accommodations—both private cabins and shared dorm-style housing—allow for multi-day visits, but for me a day trip is all I need to find a little peace and solace. And whereas activities abound here—there are yoga and meditation classes, nature hikes, seminars, and lectures—I often have only one thing on my mind: the waters of the hot baths and springs.
Taking advantage of Tassajara’s natural attributes, the Zen Center maintains a wonderland of watery delights, from Japanese-style bathhouse complete with hot plunges to steam rooms, showers, and glorious sun decks. Little is heard here, as an enveloping quiet and nothing more than hushed conversations are the respected norm. Soaking for a few hours, followed by a quick steam, cold shower, and some unhurried laps in the pool is truly a restorative experience. Deadlines and schedules are washed away by the legendary waters, time slows down a bit, and more often than not the only sounds are those of the wind gently caressing the giant trees and rocky cliffs of Los Padres National Forest.
The drive back to Monterey takes on a decidedly unrushed sense, and for days after a visit to Tassajara I find myself smiling a little easier, the stresses of daily life seeming, well, not so stressful. I found, once again, my piece of simple luxury.
Atlantis, The Palm is a hotel and resort that we first mentioned on A Luxury Travel Blog back in 2007 when the area was still a construction site. It opened at the back end of the following year to a lavish $35 million party and incredible $1.5 billion firework display. Now, almost three years on, the 1,539 room hotel is of course more than just an established Dubai hotel. It’s an ocean-themed destination resort at the heart of one of Dubai’s most prestigious developments – Palm Island in Dubai. It covers an area of 46 hectares (17 of which make up the resort’s own water park) and includes an entertainment centre, boutique shops, convention facilities and dining options backed by the likes of Nobu, Giorgio Locatelli, Santi Santamaria and Michel Rostang, not to mention one of the largest open-air marine habitats in the world, with some 65,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays including The Lost Chambers, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through ancient Atlantis.
And today Atlantis, The Palm is keeping abreast with the latest social media developments and looking to create their own interactive video. Head to Atlantis yourself this Summer and see for yourself the vast array of experiences that the resort has on offer for guests. You’ll be able to upload your own photos on to the Atlantis video, show what an amazing time you’re having, and so contribute to the resort’s Spotted in Atlantis interactive video.
Whether you’re staying in the incredible Bridge Suite, complete with its own elevator and dedicated butler and chef, or whether you’re the adventurous sort who’s chosen to take the 27.5 metre Leap of Faith through a shark filled lagoon, they’d love to hear from you and have you share your favourite moments on their social video.
If you’ve been, or you’re going, we’d also like to hear from you in the comments section of this post!
With the Olympics coming to London next year there will be thousands more visitors than usual in an already busy city throughout the Summer. As well as the sports fans, competitors and accompanying family and friends, there will also be dignitaries, government officials, leaders of industry and a host of VIPs who will want to enjoy the spirit of the games.
London is a beautiful city in Summer: the green spaces come alive with activities and events and the tended gardens, particularly Kew and Hampton Court Palace, are at their best. As well as the parks and gardens, the architecture of the city is a real highlight, which ranges from Romanesque and Georgian splendour to contemporary structures such as 30 St Mary Axe. More commonly known as ‘The Gherkin’, it was created by Sir Norman Foster’s award-winning team of architects and is renowned for its distinct silhouette.
To get the most out of visiting a major city such as London, New York or Paris it’s necessary to know what’s going on, plan, and book a long time in advance. Having lived in London for years, I’ve put together a list of things I can recommend as perfect diversions if you’re in the city next year.
The epitome of all that is quintessentially English, afternoon tea at The Ritz is a must. Served in the Palm Court of the Ritz Hotel you can choose from several varieties of tea and a mouth watering menu of finger sandwiches, fruit scones with preserves and clotted cream, followed by cakes and pastries. The Ritz does insist on formal dress in the public areas of the hotel. Denim and sports shoes are strictly forbidden and they recommend booking up to 12 weeks in advance in the high season.
This little known restaurant is an undiscovered gem in Shoreditch. Located in a converted public house on Club Row the owners have put together something that is quite unique in its almost surreal opulence. Dine from a fine menu while being observed by stuffed tigers in tiaras and crowned gorillas. The service offers everything you would expect from any of the best restaurants in any city. Previous diners include Madonna and Donatella Versace, so who knows who might drop in.
For an unrivalled opportunity to gaze out over London, a ride on the London Eye is something nobody should miss. There is a Champagne experience where you can enjoy a glass of bubbly as your capsule makes its way over the city. But if you’re after a really special occasion, you can book a private capsule, which includes Pommery Brut Royal Champagne and priority boarding pass as well as a guide to point out all the sights.
An interesting alternative to the Eye is The Monument to the Great Fire of London. Located near the point where the Great Fire started, the Doric column stands 202 feet tall. It was built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1677 and has 311 steps to climb. As you climb the cantilevered steps looking down is truly terrifying given the claustrophobic nature of such a confined space, but once you reach the top you stand under an urn of golden fire and can see all of London’s most famous landmarks and the Thames.
The Tate Modern occupies the former Bankside Power Station on the south bank of the Thames. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron (who won the contract by opting to keep the iconic central chimney on the north wall), the gallery receives 4.7 million visitors a year and hosts exhibitions of the best international modern art. Tate Britain, formerly know simply as the Tate Gallery, houses British art from 1500 to today. As well as exhibiting art from galleries the world over the world, it also owns pieces by some of the most famous artists ever to have worked, including Dali, Picasso, Matisse and Mondrian. The gallery also plays host to the Whitbread Prize for Modern Art each year.
Synonymous with the zenith of quality hotels; Claridge’s not only offers luxury accommodation and the finest dining, but also offers to show you how to emulate its style and grace. Claridge’s staff give master classes in building bouquets, mixing the perfect Pimms and cocktails, as well as cooking grouse pie and canapés. So while you stay in its fabulously styled art deco rooms and eat in one of Gordon Ramsay’s dining rooms, you can learn a few tips, which will allow you to bring some of Claridge’s style to your own home.
6. River Cruises
Many of London’s most prized buildings were built to be viewed from the river as much as from the land, so taking a cruise will give a delightful perspective that people on tour buses or seeing the city by foot rarely get to enjoy. If you travel beyond the city limits you sail through some of the most picturesque countryside England has to offer. Heading westward you’ll glide past Kew Royal Botanic Gardens to the port side with Syon Park to starboard, a little further on and you’ll see Hampton Court Palace, former home to Henry VIII, then past Bushy Park. If you have time you could go as far as Windsor, past Egham with the Polish War Memorial and Runnymede which saw the signing of the Magna Carter. Once in Windsor a visit to England’s oldest continuously inhabited castle is not to be missed.
Located on Berners Street, Agua is a 10,000 square foot luxury spa in the heart of London. It provides an oasis of peace and tranquillity in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. There is a dizzying array of treatments available, both ancient and modern to allow you to take some time for yourself. There are fourteen treatment rooms, a chill-out zone and meditation area. The miles of floor-to-ceiling curtains lend a cloud-like feel to the whole environment.
8. Nightclubs and Bars
If you’re in the mood for going out, London offers some of the best nightclubs in Europe. If you’re looking for a big night out there’s Fabric and Ministry Of Sound, two clubs that have become so successful as labels it’s almost possible to forget they were ever clubs at all. If, on the other hand you’re looking for something a little quieter, a little more exclusive, then there are clubs like Annabel’s and China White. Annabel’s is so exclusive that they forego having any frontage so it may be a little difficult to find. China White is well known as a haunt of the celebrities; with a capacity of just 500 they are currently inviting applications for membership.
So, you’re thinking of a Kenyan safari? Forget bumping along interminable red dusty roads for hours in a minibus convoy. Leave behind the herd of striped vans gathered around a bored lion. Don’t even think about staying in a three star hotel in the Masai Mara. Instead hop into a small plane with a bush pilot and soar like a martial eagle over sparkling rift valley lakes to luxurious Loisaba Lodge.
Loisaba is an example of a new exclusive breed of safari lodge springing up in the spectacular remote wilds of Africa’s original safari country. Vast areas of land owned by local tribal communities and farmland have been merged to create the Laikipia private reserve now dedicated to its animal inhabitants. Dotted around Laikipia are some of Kenya’s most exclusive safari lodges, each treating a handful of guests to a true luxury safari adventure.
From its elevated vantage point Loisaba has views across literally a thousand of square miles of golden savannah, forest and rugged hill country. Estimates put the thriving elephant population of Laikipia at around 8,000 and everywhere you go these unique social creatures roam. Long tusked old bulls wave their heads and trumpet piercingly as you pass. Breeding herds of females gently nurture their young, passing down centuries of accumulated understanding of the landscape and water sources. Add to this another 50 species of mammals as diverse as rhinoceros, giraffe, baboon and leopard and you have the makings of an incredible safari.
What sets Loisaba apart isn’t just the stupendous wildlife, it’s also the sheer variety of ways in which you can enjoy the experience. Of course, the expert guides take you game viewing in open four wheel drive vehicles. Yet if you ride you can canter on a thoroughbred alongside herds of gracefully bounding antelope. You can head off in search of hyena on a quadbike, cycle past a group of giraffe on a mountain bike, and drift silently over a herd of buffalo in a hot air balloon. After all that activity your thoughts may turn to the cosy little spa for a treatment before tucking in to a delicious four course dinner that would grace the table of a decent London restaurant.
This alluring mix of comfort and real adventure can be taken up another notch by taking a walk across the reserve with a group of scarlet clad masai warriors who own the land. As you chat with them your luggage, food and essentials follow on camels, until after a couple of hours you reach the Ewaso Nyiro river. There, cantilevered over the river you find your home for the night. The starbeds! A big teak deck a bush bathroom and beds on wheels which can be rolled from under the thatched awning so you can sleep under a vast star filled African sky. News, phone, diary all fade into a refreshingly distant perspective in this unspoilt landscape that’s the same as it was a thousand years ago.
Wake to birdsong and wildlife moving to the river below, as a brilliant yellow sun emerges from the horizon to begin another unique day on your Kenya safari.
Rebecca Sparrow is Marketing Manager at Safari.co.uk.
While the annual holiday is for most of us the highlight of the year, the return home can be a daunting prospect. Not only are we hit with the reality of returning to work but there’s also a host of mundane tasks that need to be tackled. In addition to adjusting our body-clock, processing the holiday snaps and exchanging any leftover spending money, there is usually a huge pile of washing and ironing that needs to be seen to. The average 4 person family returns from holiday with around 10kg of dirty washing. Washing, drying and ironing 10kg of clothing can take around 9 hours which is in essence, an entire day’s work.
However there is an alternative to knuckling down and bringing on the post-holiday blues with a full day of washing and ironing. Your Holiday Wash offers a unique new service – they will collect, wash, dry, iron and return to you a full holiday’s worth of washing within three days, all neatly folded and in a secure box.
The service was developed and launched following a survey of average holiday makers; 52% of which stated that dealing with the piles of dirty clothes that return with them after a week or two in the sun is their most dreaded post-holiday chore. The aptly named Your Holiday Wash saw a gap in the market for a service that could make the transition from sun and sand to the 9-5, easier.
Their aim is to make the service as well-rounded and complete as possible. Each customer is provided with an environmentally friendly laundry bag which they can take on holiday with them, placing all dirty clothing directly into the laundry bag. Your Holiday Wash will even separate the colours and whites, thereby nearly eliminating the need to consider the washing or how it will be handled upon the return home.
What’s more, understanding that collection and delivery from a home address is not always convenient, Your Holiday Wash is able to provide the exact same service to a work or office address. They will even send a text to your phone once they’re on their way with your clean and fresh laundry, with the convenience of delivery up to 9pm so you don’t miss the return of your holiday wardrobe.
While having your washing dealt with and delivered directly to you is undeniably a fantastic way to reduce the depth of the post-holiday blues, there are a few other steps that can be taken which should help ease the transition back into the routine of daily life:
1. Start planning your next holiday
Whether this means simply starting to save, or whether it’s hopping online and reading about all the fantastic places that you’d like to visit, starting to think about the next trip away will provide a welcome distraction from everyday life and should help retain that holiday feeling.
2. Do things that remind you of your holiday
If there’s a song you listened to many times abroad, put it on before you head off to work or while you relax in the evening. Alternatively, remake a meal that you enjoyed whilst abroad or enjoy a night in a restaurant that serves the food of your destination. You could even throw a holiday themed party, complete with summery cocktails and beach games – whatever it may be that will help keep you in the holiday mood.
3. Keep the holiday feeling
Look through your holiday pictures with family and friends, share your holiday adventure and keep that holiday feeling going for a bit longer.
Whatever you choose to do to keep yourself in the holiday spirit, there’s no harm in seeing what Your Holiday Wash can offer. Not only will their service remove some of the stress and strain that comes with a return home, but those nine hours spent washing can be left to the professionals, leaving the holidaymaker with an extra day to relax and rejuvenate.
This week London has been abuzz as green fingered enthusiasts and professional landscapers from all over the globe descend upon the capital to take part, celebrate and commemorate one of the world’s most famous horticultural events which for almost one hundred years has called on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea its home.
Over a five day period every May entrants to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show descend upon West London with ambitions to plant, preen, clip and sculpt their way to success. The result, a vast kaleidoscope of plant life of all shapes, sizes, colours, varieties and origins; often with several new species unveiled to the delight of an anticipant crowd of over 150,000 people.
This year international winners of the coveted Gold Awards included Tourism Malaysia in the show garden category with a display inspired by the rich jungles and sleek architecture of the Malaysian archipelago. The Horticultural Society of Barbados also swept to Gold in the Great Pavillion Awards with their collection of tropical flowers and foliage and the Caribbean had further success when Grenada was also awarded a Great Pavillion gold. Asia was also further represented with the Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens of Thailand charging to Gold for their ‘Reflections of Asia’ display and the irrepressible South African’s also picked up Gold thanks to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch scooping a magnificent 31st Gold medal for their dramatic ‘Botanical Landscapes’ entry.
With such a catalogue of magnificent exhibitions the event will no doubt inspire a new wave of nature lovers to discover these microcosmic ecosystems for real, naturally established in their indigenous environments.
Tourism Malaysia’s fantastic interpretation of rugged jungle beauty is a testament to the incredible geography and fertility of the South East Asian country. To rediscover this seamless fusion of remote and unspoiled nature and innovative architecture travellers to Malaysia can visit one of the many secluded islands that scatter across the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea. Tioman Island’s Japa Mala is sure to rekindle the same sensations of peace and tranquillity or perhaps the privately owned island of Pangkor Laut particularly with its garden and hill villas. Malaysia offers a diverse and rich landscape, a spectacular spectrum of deep green foliage juxtaposed against turquoise blue waters which will humble even the most experienced of travellers.
The Barbados Horticultural Society has been entering into the show for over 20 years and has no doubt won countless admirers for the popular Caribbean island. Despite being a relatively large single island nation, Barbados only stretches to an area of around 170km² making the community quite easily navigable. Geologically composed of coral as opposed to volcanic rock what it lacks in grand topography it certainly makes up for with an unrivalled collection of beautiful flowers, plants and trees. The interior of the island gently rises to a central plateau with the peak of Mt. Hillaby offering superb views out across the vivid green landscape. The Horticultural Society itself is located in the parish of Balls near to the south coast and every January hosts a fantastic annual garden and flower show.
Team Grenada’s aim for the 2011 competition was, ‘to promote the Caribbean island of Grenada through its participation in The Chelsea Flower Show’, and they certainly seem to have achieved this brief. The display called, ‘Castaway’, features a Robinson Crusoe-esque bamboo shack as well as an array of vibrant plants and flowers. Grenada is of course primarily known for growing nutmeg and other spices, hence its nickname of, ‘The Spice Island’, but as can be evidenced from this year’s entry there is certainly much more to Grenada’s nature than that. Coupled with its stunning beaches and gently lapping waters, the interior rainforests of the island expose a lush paradise exploding with colour and an array of endemic species. For an even more secluded and intimate stay you could escape to the smaller neighboring islands of Carriacou or Petite Martinique which make up the Grenadian archipelago.
Tourists journeying to Thailand understandably arrive into the country with a certain set of preconceptions; for decades the country has cultivated (get it?) an international reputation as a haven of nature; a place which despite relative industrial development still retains a sense of wilderness and mystery. The, ‘Reflections of Asia’, feature takes a panoramic look at the tropical plants and flowers of Thailand. Whether exploring the remote jungles of Chiang Mai or the coastal woodlands of its numerous islands visitors to the country are greeted with a marvelous blanket of vibrant and dense foliage. The Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens, the institute behind the success at Chelsea is itself located in the Sattahip district, South East of Bangkok and near to the popular resort of Pattya. It offers tourists a superb collection of ornamented and wild landscapes including a rock garden, orchid garden, manmade lake and a tribute to Stonehenge.
South Africa is of course renowned for its diverse geography, from the shifting sands of the Kalahari to the bountiful Cape Winelands; the rugged East coast to the domineering Drakensburg Mountains. The SANBI Kirstenbosch entry for this year certainly embraces this notion of variety with a display that explores the floral range of the Cape region married with the unique biodiversity of the arid Karoo district. South Africa is a land perhaps best known for its mobile attractions, the iconic animals and birds that can be observed across both land and sea, but this is a country that has just as much to offer from its terrestrial nature. From the grand Baobab trees to the symbol of South Africa, the king protea; the bizarre half men plants of the Northern Cape to the stunning carpet of Namaqualand daisies, South Africa is alive with plant life.
I love motorcycle shows. Nothing beats walking past row upon row of new, classic, and custom bikes on a beautiful sunny day, marveling at the magnificent chrome details, leather accouterments, and personal touches that add that extra bit of finesse. From Harley-Davidson gatherings fueled by Budweiser and Jack Daniels to sport bike shows frequented by riders outfitted in the latest rock ‘n roll fashions, I always find myself drawn to the events like a moth to a flame.
So it was that, on one particularly beautiful day in early May, I found myself in the Edenic setting of the Carmel Valley, at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering, for yet another opportunity to peruse the myriad incarnations of the motorcycle.
It was clear from the start that this was a very different event than others I’d been to in the past. Absent were the hundreds of growling Harleys and high-whining superbikes. Instead, this was a gathering of true motorcycle aficionados, those men and women who love showing off and talking about their prize possessions as much as they like hitting the open road. Here were 60-year-old BMWs that looked like they rolled off the factory floor yesterday; rare Hortons which garnered a continuous chorus of oohs and aahs; sleek custom-designed rockets crafted with a nod to models of yesteryear; century-old Alldays & Onions that looked more like glorified bicycles; and so much more.
The crowd also took a certain aura not seen at other motorcycle gatherings. Instead of chugging beers, helmet-carrying riders were sipping Champagne and scotch; high-end cigars perfumed the air all around; merchandise tents hawked thousand dollar boots and leather jackets, vintage racing posters and the very latest Argentinean leather saddlebags; and racing and designer legends peppered the crowd, telling tales of zooming around Europe in the 1950s or crisscrossing the U.S. as part of the Flower Power generation.
And as beautiful as all the bikes shining gloriously in the sun were, the very setting made them doubly so. Quail Lodge is itself a bit of indulgent paradise, stately resting in the heart of the valley and surrounded by wildflower-covered hills and soaring Monterey pine forests. The event was held on the eighteenth fairway and green of the Lodge’s signature golf course, and therefore it was like walking on a soft green carpet from display to display.
The biggest treat was found in the Lodge’s main building, where a handful of select bikes stood ready to be auctioned off. Some had reserves in the triple digits; others could be had at quite reasonable prices if the buyer was willing to do a bit of work. Here also were exact replicas—down to every detail—of the bike Peter Fonda rode in Easy Rider and a couple of Steve McQueen’s personal favorites from his considerable collection.
Tooling out of the event on my own 40-year-old classic Honda, I felt energized by the entire atmosphere the motorcycling gathering had produced. A sunny day in the Carmel Valley, rows of beautiful machines, to-die-for accessories, and a warm and welcoming manner from everyone involved—nothing could have been better that day than to be at Quail Lodge.
Last weekend we stayed at the Rutland Hotel in the heart of Edinburgh but not in one of their rooms; instead, we were just a short way down the road from the hotel in the beautiful Rutland Apartment which offers so much more than a hotel room. We were warmly welcomed by Liz who made a fuss of our two boys before showing us to the accommodation. Pictured below is the living area of the apartment.
And just off from the living area is a small kitchen and breakfast bar with everything you’d need if you wanted to cater for yourself rather than eat out.
The apartment has two bedrooms, beautifully decorated with bright colours and bold wallpaper print, both with a flatscreen TV, and both pictured below.
Space is of a premium in Edinburgh City Centre so it comes as something of a surprise to find that the Rutland Apartment even comes with its own small garden, perfect for those summer evenings where you can relax with a glass of wine before ambling up the road for the dinner.
On the Saturday morning we had breakfast at the hotel and both opted for the Eggs Benedict on a bed of ham, spinach and muffin. The eggs were cooked to perfection and provided ample fuel for the day ahead.
Later in the day, after a little retail therapy, we ventured into Edinburgh and had lunch at The Hub, a historic Grade A listed building and a bustling café very close to Edinburgh Castle. You would need to reserve a table in advance if you don’t wish to queue on arrival.
After a hearty brown seeded roll with prawns, lemon, dill mayonnaise and an avocado salsa, and having ‘done’ Edinburgh Castle and the Camera Obscura on our last trip to Edinburgh a couple of months ago, we decided to head to Our Dynamic Earth. It sounded like the perfect attraction to take our inquisitive children to… and it didn’t disappoint! First we were taken in a ‘time machine’ which took us back through the ages…
…we learnt about volcanoes, glaciers, evolution and more. Since I have a PhD in glaciology, I can’t say I learnt too much about glaciers that I didn’t already know(!) but it was nevertheless engaging and enjoyable, especially for children, and with some great effects thrown in.
There were plenty of hands-on exhibits and some interesting insights into how we know about certain subjects such as ocean currents.
There was even a simulation of a rainforest towards the end, as well as a 4D film experience.
Back at the Rutland Apartment, we went out for dinner at the hotel restaurant which offered a menu created by head chef David Haetzman and his team. I was due to run the Edinburgh Marathon the next morning so the choice for me was easy… I was going for pasta. So, after a starter of mussels steamed with cider, leeks and cream, I chose the homemade tagliatelle with fresh peas, broad beans, courgette, peas and crumbled goats cheese… which tasted as good as it looks.
We really enjoyed our stay at the Rutland Apartment and would recommend it to anyone visiting the city – particularly families or guests travelling on business who appreciate a little more space, privacy and independence.
Sadly, I can’t say I enjoyed the marathon quite as much! The views on the way out of Edinburgh were lovely, as we passed a number of picturesque beaches which I hadn’t realised existed so close to the city. But by mile 22, having turned back into a horrible headwind on my way back towards Musselburgh, my legs decided they had had enough! At one time it had looked like I could have been on for a personal best but instead I struggled to the finish in a time of 4 hours and 8 minutes. On the plus side, though, I did raise around £600 for the British Heart Foundation!
If you’re ever thinking of a trip to Edinburgh, log on to This is My Edinburgh for information on how to get there, things to do, etc.
It doesn’t take much research to get an overwhelmingly positive sense of the Maldives. In fact, typical reviews from holiday-goers are so loaded with superlatives, you can be left wondering if every word written on the internet was commissioned by the state tourism department. But they weren’t – it’s just that most people who visit return with the honest opinion that it really is the tropical paradise they had always imagined, the stuff of dreams.
‘Tropical paradise’ has to be one of the most over-used phrases in the travel industry, but remains a powerful idea we can all relate to. We all imagine our dream locations in different ways, but I’m of the opinion that most people can satisfy their personal ‘tropical paradise’ fantasy in the Maldives.
For some it’s the ultimate solitude, peace and quiet, and welcome distance from the stresses of life. It may be a tired old cliché that will never wane – like Robinson Crusoe, we hope to one day be shipwrecked, and left in paradise forever – preferably with an infinite cache of food and wine, and the occasional select visitor.
Other people conjure up a paradise where they lounge on dream-like beaches by day, dazzled by glittering gentle waves and sparkling sand, waited on hand and foot. Then as the sun sets over a perfect still ocean, the only sound for miles will be the gentle tinkle of glasses, flickering candles and soft voices, and the knowledge that their private retreat is in easy reach.
In another person’s tropical paradise, the dreamlike island locations festooned with verdant palm trees, balmy, warm water and spectacular reefs teeming with life are the perfect setting for adventure. For them it’s all about days well-spent in paradise, enriching life with unforgettable diving experiences. The thrill of swimming in the ocean with magnificent creatures such as giant Manta rays and dolphins, or discovering mysterious submerged wrecks beneath the waves.
All these visions of paradise exist in abundance in the Maldives, and with the tourist industry making up most of the country’s economy; it is plain that the people of the islands understand our appreciation of their home. Often best enjoyed with the relaxed freedom of an all inclusive Maldives holiday, the luxurious, impossibly beautiful resorts of the Maldives are typically of an incredibly high standard. There are definitely options available to suit all tastes – making it a simple task to select the island, resort and accommodation which matches your ultimate tropical island fantasy.
Peter Richards is a Digital Marketing Manager at Tropical Sky.
Suite name: The Presidential Suite Hotel:Dan Tel Aviv Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel Size of accommodation: 1,378 sq ft Cost per night: $1,420 Who’s stayed there? Madonna What makes it special? The long, private terrace with a beautiful view of the sea and the old city of Jaffa.
Dan Tel Aviv, the luxury beach front hotel has been associated with high profile guests from when it first opened in November 1953. During the past five decades the hotel has undergone many changes and improvements but has always remained best known for its excellence. A mark of this reputation is its high record of returning guests, due in part to the superior level of hospitality and individual care given to each visitor.
One of the celebrities to enjoy such hospitality in recent times is Madonna, who stayed in the Presidential Suite, which is situated on the fifth floor and occupies 128 sq. meters. The suite is comprised of a large sitting room, bedroom, bathroom and a long private terrace facing the sea and the old city of Jaffa. The staff went to great measures to ensure that everything was perfect for the star during her visit and on leaving she signed the register thanking the staff for taking care of her and her family, commented on how beautiful the view was from her suite and how she enjoyed watching the sun set over the sea. She signed her entry ‘love Madonna’.
With costs starting at $1420 per person per night guests staying in the Presidential Suite will enjoy its spacious rooms, luxury fittings and splendid views. The king sized bed in the bedroom faces towards the sea so that guests enjoy the view from the moment they wake up with subtle lighting and attractive art work adding an air of elegance.
Deep comfortable settees are divided by a coffee table in the living room with a dining table and eight chairs situated behind, allowing guests to hold private dinner parties and entertain others as required. Visitors in this suite are also entitled to the ‘Red Carpet Treatment” whereby they are provided with complimentary transportation to and from Ben Gurion airport – in other words a super-deluxe experience from beginning to end.
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For just five days in June 2011, diners in Estonia’s cultural capital, Tallinn, can enjoy Champagne, aperitifs, lunch or dinner 50 metres in the air with spectacular views over the medieval Old Town, Tallinn’s steel and glass business sector and the Bay of Finland.
Courchevel 1850 has long been the St Tropez of the French Alps; this high altitude resort ensures a long snow sure season and is the most famous of all the resorts within the vast Three Valleys ski area. However it isn’t just the skiing which has turned this into a world renowned resort – the shopping, bars and restaurants are first class.
It was deja vu all over again. We had visited Paris in November and now here we were at the 
“Simple luxury”: it sounds like a contradiction in terms. And yet, luxury comes in myriad forms, each wholly interpreted by the individual. For some perhaps it’s an exceptionally soft bed; a gastronomic feast; or merely the perfect day spent with the family. On my own travels simple luxuries seem to appear around every corner; an unexpectedly stirring weekday matinee in London; watching street performers at Washington Square Park in Manhattan; sitting on the bow of a friend’s boat at sunset in Charleston Harbor.
With the Olympics coming to London next year there will be thousands more visitors than usual in an already busy city throughout the Summer. As well as the sports fans, competitors and accompanying family and friends, there will also be dignitaries, government officials, leaders of industry and a host of VIPs who will want to enjoy the spirit of the games.
So, you’re thinking of a Kenyan safari? Forget bumping along interminable red dusty roads for hours in a minibus convoy. Leave behind the herd of striped vans gathered around a bored lion. Don’t even think about staying in a three star hotel in the Masai Mara. Instead hop into a small plane with a bush pilot and soar like a martial eagle over sparkling rift valley lakes to luxurious 
While the annual holiday is for most of us the highlight of the year, the return home can be a daunting prospect. Not only are we hit with the reality of returning to work but there’s also a host of mundane tasks that need to be tackled. In addition to adjusting our body-clock, processing the holiday snaps and exchanging any leftover spending money, there is usually a huge pile of washing and ironing that needs to be seen to. The average 4 person family returns from holiday with around 10kg of dirty washing. Washing, drying and ironing 10kg of clothing can take around 9 hours which is in essence, an entire day’s work.
This week London has been abuzz as green fingered enthusiasts and professional landscapers from all over the globe descend upon the capital to take part, celebrate and commemorate one of the world’s most famous horticultural events which for almost one hundred years has called on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea its home.
I love motorcycle shows. Nothing beats walking past row upon row of new, classic, and custom bikes on a beautiful sunny day, marveling at the magnificent chrome details, leather accouterments, and personal touches that add that extra bit of finesse. From Harley-Davidson gatherings fueled by Budweiser and Jack Daniels to sport bike shows frequented by riders outfitted in the latest rock ‘n roll fashions, I always find myself drawn to the events like a moth to a flame.
It doesn’t take much research to get an overwhelmingly positive sense of the Maldives. In fact, typical reviews from holiday-goers are so loaded with superlatives, you can be left wondering if every word written on the internet was commissioned by the state tourism department. But they weren’t – it’s just that most people who visit return with the honest opinion that it really is the tropical paradise they had always imagined, the stuff of dreams.
