As we start to go into spring season, it's time to add to our existing wardrobe so that it will look fresh and new. Here are few of my favorite pieces from the spring/ summer collection this year.
Valentino
This spring and summer season, Pierpaolo Piccioli brings us few themes: panther, stars with camo, ID camo, cuban cigar box embroidery, and rockstud. I'm not a fan of the panther. He found the pattern from Valentino archive. I just find the whole panther look unappealing. Stars with camo was a them he had for this past fall/ winter collection. Personally I'm not fan of the combo. ID camo is interesting as you can go into Valentino and have them print your initials onto bags, clothes etc. A good way to ensure people buy your clothes at full retail! My favorite from this season by far is the cuban cigar box embroidery collection. I find the color combo on the embroideries very pretty. Unfortunately this is also the most expensive among the spring offering from Valentino. Last but not least is the rockstud collection which had been going on for awhile now. Still looks good.
Loewe
Ever since Jonathan Anderson became its head designer, I thought it would give the brand a huge boost. I thought the first season's clothes few seasons ago was very interesting and showed lots of promise. The design proportion was new and just seem different from every other designers out there. But since then, the proportion and design just gets weirder and weirder. Luckily, the accessories are still quite charming. I love the Anton backpack and various animal charm/ coin purse.
Gucci
If there was ever a maximist, Alessandro Michele has to be it. While I love the new direction where Gucci is going to, sometimes it can just get too busy. With that said, I love the embroideries they do on all of their polo shirts. The tiger, bee, snake motifs all look very charming and new. I also love his souvenir jackets. I would love to get one from Gucci every season.
Thom Browne
His clothes doesn't vary a lot. It's either so out there that you can't really wear them unless you are going to a Halloween party... think big spikes on super wide shoulder blazers that make you look like a Frankenstein, or they look like a normal suit that's slightly shrunken. Then of course he pulls a rabbit out of a bag and give you tote bags that look like a dog, a shark, or a steamboat! I mean what can you do with those tote bags? Can you really carry them down 5th avenue? Well, minimally I think they are at least interesting to look at in your office.
There are many islands to visit in the Caribbeans. If you do go to St Martin, there is only one hotel you should consider: Belmond La Samanna. This hotel has a gorgeous beach, delicious food, and good service.
The hotel is actually not that far from the airport. The airport itself is on the Dutch side of the island. The hotel is on the French side. Even though it's on the French side, it's very close to the Dutch side which makes getting to the airport rather convenient... not that island is that big....
Once you arrive, you are greeted by a gorgeous hallway that frames the aqua blue water. Staff brings you wet towels and drinks. Once you check in, they bring a buggy to take you to your room. If you are in the ocean looking back to the hotel, you will see the check in area actually sits on the highest point of property. The hotel consist of clusters of villas. The villas are usually two to a building. One unit is upstairs and one unit is downstairs. The upstairs one tend to have a large outdoor area and downstairs one is bigger but the downside is you have someone right on top of you. Because I stayed in one of the upper unit, I'm not sure about sound insulation if you stay in downstairs unit. We had someone stayed downstairs and I didn't hear a thing from them. I would say the best ones to stay are B,C, D, E. A is consists of several units. Almost like an apartment building so less private. All A to E units are literally right in front of the beach so very convenient if you want to go back to use restrooms, take showers, and what nots.
The finishes inside the room is nice. I thought the bathroom was
especially lovely despite the open shower. I don't particularly care
for open showers (seems like the concept is prevalent throughout
Caribbeans) as water gets splashed everywhere but luckily bathroom is
large enough that I don't feel like I'm drenching the whole bathroom
each time I take a shower.
I remember reading some negative comments on Tripadvisor about the food at the restaurants so for several nights I went into town to eat at their local French restaurants. The lunch I had at the beach restaurant was good. I had a grilled fish which was cooked to perfection. I was quite impressed as grilled fish can easily dry out. The last night at the hotel, I went to their Trellis restaurant with trepidation. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Having ate at multiple one, two, three Michelin star restaurants several time a year for decades, I would say the quality of food at this restaurant is on par with one Michelin star which is not an easy feat since we are in the middle of nowhere. I'm a bit confounded by all the complaints. The food wasn't cheap but it wasn't outrageously priced....I would say same with any other one Michelin star restaurants in San Francisco or New York City.
One of the biggest plus about this particular beach is that you can snorkel locally. In fact, sometimes you have boats from other establishments that send people to snorkel near the beach. While I did enjoy snorkeling at La Samanna, it didn't compare to Hanauma Bay in Hawaii or the Maldives.
Because St Martin is close to equator, you can really feel the sun rays beating down onto you. I have been to other places that are hotter but sun wasn't nearly as strong. So definitely make sure you wear lots of sunscreen.
On the beach, there is a water sports center where they let you use snorkel gears for free. If you are looking for motorized activities, those will cost you money. They also have boats that can take you island hopping. You can also rent beach cabana from them. They have a few of them that looks fairly fancy and elaborate. I'm guessing if you are not a guest of the hotel, this will be the next best thing to have a station on the beach. Hotel also have several tennis courts which during my stay, I did not see anyone using them.
Overall it was a lovely hotel. Not the best hotel service I ever had but I would say it's good. One minor complaint though, I do think they need to hire more beach staff as it takes awhile to get service when you are on the beach as there seems to be only two beach staff servicing the whole beach.
That place is Oberoi Amarvilas. This is my first time staying with Oberoi resort group and definitely won't be the last. This hotel is the closest hotel to Taj Mahal among all the hotels in Agra. In fact, it is so close that you literally can see the Taj Mahal from one's window! Not only the view was magnificent, but the service was just as fantastic.
We felt the legendary Indian hospitality right as we exit our car. We arrived around 7PM after enduring over 5 hours of car ride from Amanikhas near Jaipur. The lobby of the hotel was just stunning. The central oval dome is painted in zigzag pattern in gold with a massive traditional chandelier hung in the middle. It was just beautiful. Once you pass the central dome, there is a gorgeously decorated lounge area on the right hand side or if you want a drink, bar is on the left side. Everything was in pristine condition. I was just amazed how well they take care of the property... thinking the place used to be a palace that was converted by Oberoi. Later I found out the hotel was built in 2000! LOL. Well, in any case, the decor give you an impression that this place used to be a palace.
Our room was beautifully decorated. I love the peacock blue in the bathroom. I'm sure Kelly Wearstler had been to this hotel a time or two. Unfortunately they don't lit Taj Mahal at night so one can barely make out Taj Mahal from Oberoi. Nonetheless, the garden at Oberoi was lit up like Christmas tree (in a good way).
Following morning Oberoi drove us on a golf cart to Taj Mahal. Yes, the hotel is that close to the famous Tomb. Once we soaked in the gigantic white marble building, we head back to the hotel to check out rest of the facility. I have to say I have never ever seen a manicured garden as pretty as Oberoi Amarvilas'. It's the most stunning formal garden in a hotel/ resort I have ever seen. The colors were just incredible and with a backdrop of Taj Mahal to boot! The pool in the middle of the garden had been painted in azure blue which popped among the most gorgeous patio umbrellas I have ever seen. I need one of that STAT!
Inside the hotel, there are several boutiques where you can buy stuff to take home. Luckily most of stuff were of good quality. Nothing I hate more is buying tacky souvenirs. One of the shop I like quite a bit is a store that sells paper mache boxes. All the boxes and pen holders are hand painted. The work on them are very detailed and definitely don't scream tacky. Some of them are quite cheap too. Tiny boxes started around $10. I know I would charge a lot more if I have to sit down and painted these boxes myself... Not that I can paint as well as these people. There is also a store that sells stone inlaid objects. In fact, there are many such stores dot around Agra because Taj Mahal is covered by inlaid stones if you look closely. The skill trade had been past down since Taj Mahal time. The way Indian does it is very similar to Italian's. In Italy the work is call pietra dura. In fact, I saw some table top stone slabs that could easily be passed off as made in Italy. Anyway, the store inside Oberoi has some fabulous pieces with price to match. The price corresponded to number of inlaid pieces and how intricate the pieces were. The smaller the inlaid work pattern, the more expensive the object is. Some large boxes can be had for few hundred dollars while a tiny little box with intricate work can cost over a thousand. The store in Oberoi had objects under a hundred dollar to stuff well into tens of thousands dollars. So a little bit of something for every budget.
Hotel food was also yummy. We didn't feel like to do the formal Indian restaurant and opted for the casual one. The service in the casual one rivals any one Michelin star restaurant in the US; attentive but not obtrusive. There were plenty of Indian dish as well as European style food. I had an Italian pasta that was cooked perfectly. I was surprised and at the same time not surprised. It's Oberoi after all.
Following morning we checked out early as we had a plane to catch in Delhi. The hotel manager came by and asked if we need a to go lunch box on our way to the airport. The only hotel/resort group that I can recall with this kind of service is Aman and Aman is a much smaller operation. For something as big as Oberoi Amarvilas, I don't know how they are able to personalize this kind of experience. They come off as they really care about you and want to make sure every single detail is taken care of. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone trekking to Taj Mahal. They will treat you like a royalty.
I know I have said in the past "this is the most gorgeous villa I have ever stayed at" before. But this one truly is! LOL. I suppose I've cried wolves one too many times. With that said, my villa at Cheval Blanc Randheli is the most expensively decorated villa I have ever stayed at bar none. We are talking about Minotti furniture, drawers with stitched leather lining, etc. Well, let me take you all the way back to Male first.
Once we arrived at the capital of Maldives, we were ushered by several ground staffs from Cheval Blanc and were whisked off to their air conditioned reception room in the seaplane section of the airport. We were given a snack menu. I wasn't particularly hungry so I only had one pastry and a glass of freshly squeezed juice. And yes, they literally made the juice onsite. We waited for about 20 minutes and the Cheval Blanc's private seaplane was ready to take off. The seats were covered in leather and there were 9 of them total. I believe the public seaplane has 18 seats. Thus CB's is obviously more spacious and comfortable. Staff handed out ear plugs and off we go. The interior of the seaplane was not air conditioned so it was a bit warm. But as soon as we were air born, it got cooler. After flying for about 40 minutes, we arrived at Cheval Blanc dock with 7 staffs welcoming everyone. Of course they know everyone's name right off the bat and we were whisked away by our butler to our over water villa via a buggy.
Our over water villa was absolutely stunning. The ceiling must had been 18' high. When you enter the foyer area, there are two hidden doors. One on the right and one on the left. Right side door led to a pantry kitchen with fridge and a sink. This is where your butler will compose all your food before he bring it into your living room or exterior deck. The door on the left hand side led to a powder room which had another door that led to the deck in the back. Pass foyer and you entered into a marvelous living room. Just about everything in that room was made in France/ Italy. The Italian sofa sat beautifully. The rug was silk or silk blend. A wall of glass windows of view of Indian ocean was beyond. Next to living room you have master bedroom area segregated by swinging panels that can be enclosed. Bed was soft and cozy and they have a huge menu of pillows you can choose from should you not like the pillows on the bed. Pass bedroom you come to a gorgeous free standing soaking tub and behind the feature wall with a Vincent Beaurin's limited edition coloured spots artwork is a rain shower enclosed by glass walls. Behind the bedroom there is a beautiful closet with ample closet space and drawers to put all your clothes. Astonishingly each drawer is lined with stitched leather lining. This kind of detailing is done only for very expensive private homes as the cost can be prohibitive. I have never seen this done in any hotels/ resorts.
Each villa is given two bikes which is great as they allow you to come go as you please. Waiting for a buggy to come pick you up never takes a long time but I prefer to be on the go when I want to so bikes are great. I didn't realize this until later.... in order to stop these bikes, you have to pedal backwards. There are no brakes on handles. One time I almost flew off my bike because I couldn't stop! Besides biking, there was snorkeling right off our villa. The amount of tropical fish I saw surpass what I saw at Hanauma Bay. In fact, one day I must have seen hundreds and hundreds of tuna fish right below our villa. I have never ever seen that huge of school of fish in my life except on TV. They were swimming in circles for unknown reason. Besides fish, I saw a sting ray, several squids, and dauphins. It was just incredible. Of course there is also a gym next to the main complex. I went there to do an hour of workout. I was the only person! HA!
Speaking of working out, I was trying to burn off all the delectable food from various restaurants on the island. Food at this resort was just incredible. I would say most of them minimally one Michelin star and their signature 1947 would be a two Michelin stars level food. To achieve this level of cooking in the middle of nowhere is astonishing to say the least. The Italian restaurant Deelani near seaplane drop off was yummy. Every single pasta dish we had were perfectly cook and presented. However, cost of food was eye watering. Two pasta dish, one pizza, and two ice tea came out to be $250! This was almost double what it would had cost at Cipriani in NYC. But then again, we were in the middle of nowhere.... Food at 1947 was great. I don't know how they can cook this kind of food in a place so far from anywhere. The tab without wine came out to be $1000 for two! So food was definitely pricey but at least everything we had was tasty. At some point, you just want them not show you food bills anymore because what's the point? Diptyque is their signature Japanese restaurant. If you are into sushi/ sashimi, then you are in for a treat. Their cooked Japanese food is just so so. I would not bother with this restaurant if you don't eat raw fish. The worst (expensive) food I had onsite was their Maldivian night. The food was like a bad Sri Lankan food and for $175/ person, I would skip it. On top of that, resort had a group of teenage kids came out and do awful singing and dancing. It was atrocious. I was expecting Hawaiian luau but I feel like I got punked instead. Luckily they alternate the entertainment with a small band that come out after those teenage boys and sang Maldivian version of American popular songs which was very lovely. The lead singer had a beautiful voice.
The spa island is something one must try. In order to get there, I had to take a small boat. It was actually rather lovely to have to take a boat to get a spa treatment. Once you arrive on the spa island, you enter this gorgeously designed reception area. Your treatment specialist then take you to a small private villa where you get pampered. I had a deep tissue massage and it was the best hotel/resort massage I ever gotten. My guy was from Malaysia and he went in deep. Nothing I hate more is getting a massage where your masseur just lap on oil and roll that oil back and forth on your back. This guy attacked my knots and at the end, I was a whole new person. In the villa, they also have a shower where you can rinse off and a whole area where ladies can reapply their make up. They even supply a large selection of Guerlain products in case you didn't bring yours. It's a very thoughtful touch. On the island, they also have a spa cafe. It's a lovely space to watch sunset and sip on fresh juice.
My understanding is that once Cheval Blanc Randheli opened, a large section of people from One and Only resort came and never went back. I was told that One and Only resort is much bigger thus had hundreds of rooms versus less than 50 at CB. Because the One and Only resort had the land, it's more private. However, if you are looking for topnotch villa finishes and food, CB is it. I would like to try One and Only someday as well as Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. When that happens, I will put Cheval Blanc Randheli as the last resort I visit among all three as I have a feeling, it is the best one. Until then, I shall go back to relive my time at CB via videos and photos.
I really had zero expectation for my trip to Amanbagh at the city of Ajabgarh. Well, technically, it's right outside of Ajabgarh. After flying into Mumbai via London from New York, then transferring to an Indian domestic flight from Mumbai to Jaipur, I was about dead after the long flight and lay overs...24 hours so far... Amanbagh had sent a driver to pick me up from Jaipur airport to the hotel. The drive was about 2 hours long. This is the first time for me in India so I didn't know what to expect. Soon enough, our car was sharing roads with cows, sheep, camels, dogs, and everything in between! It was an interesting drive to say the least.
Once I arrive at Amanbagh, the staff gathered to welcome me. A lady came out singing in Indian language and right away tone was set. It was a fantastic way to give you a sense of place. I received a garland of marigold and was accompanied to my pool suite. In side the main structure, Aman had hired a flutist playing traditional Indian music. Amanbagh definitely know how to create mood. On the way to my suite, I saw an absolutely gorgeous pool in the middle of the property. It was stunning. And throughout the walk, I can hear birds singing. I felt like I was in some kind of paradise.
My suite was equally as beautiful as rest of the property. A small courtyard acted as a segregation device to separate public walkway and my villa. Once inside my villa, I can choose to go to right which is sleeping quarter or left which is bathroom and closet area. Decoration at Aman properties is typically fairly sparse. This is done to their advantage IMO as interior design, like fashion, does age as time progress. The less decor you have inside a place, the harder it is to date an interior. Hence most Aman properties have a timeless feel to them partially because they lack intricate interior decoration. This can be good and bad depending on individual. For me, I appreciate their more austere aesthetic. In this particular case, I would say this is a more elaborated decorated Aman suite than other ones I've seen. Behind the property, you have an outdoor eating area and a decent size swimming pool (ie bigger than dipping pool which one typically see at resorts). I did see some water damage on roman shades. I'm assuming because of the yearly monsoon season, this is inevitable. Of course Aman can have the drapery cleaned yearly, but I'm assuming it may not be cost effective? Nonetheless, the villa had luxurious feel to it. I was very happy with it. The biggest draw back for me is traffic sound which you can hear when you are outside your villa. Now my villa is far away from the main road that traverse through this part of the world. However, occasionally, you will hear Indian music being blasted by a truck driving by. The juxtaposition of birds chirping and Indian music is a bit jarring but I suppose that's part of the charm of the place.
The food at the resort was very fresh. Most vegetables, if not all, are from their organic garden. The quality of the food was very good. While it was not one Michelin star level, I would say the sophistication was just a notch below one Michelin star. Their naan bread was delectable. The best I ever had. I can eat those naan all day long. Another benefit of eating at Amanbagh is you can safely eat their salad as you don't have to worry about water contamination/ pesticide with their vegetable. Ice cubes at Aman properties in India are also made by filtered water so there is no worries on that part. All in all, this Aman probably has the best food at any Aman properties I have ever stayed at.
What set Aman properties apart from all other luxury resorts is their cultural activities. They give you a set of activities you can choose from if you decided you want more than just spa treatments and doing absolutely nothing. For me, I chose to do the following: Bhangarh Visit, Aarti at Barakhambi Temple, Needlkanth Temple followed by Mansarovar Lake, Camel Ride followed by Cow Dust Tour, Maharani Massage, Pratapgarh Fort, and Chhatri Dinner. While sounds like I was everywhere and doing everything. Truth of the matter was in no time did I feel like I was rushing through any of these experiences. In fact, most of my day there didn't start until after 1PM. My very favorite activity of the bunch was Pratapgarh Fort. It's only about 30 minutes car ride from the resort and it's EVERYTHING. The fort is high up on a small mountain and the only way up is trek up a gravel hill. When you get near the front entry point near top of the mountain, there are some stairs that were constructed recently. Otherwise you are just scaling up 30-45 angle gravel path...not for people with weak knees for sure. Once you get up to the 18th century fort, you have a commanding view of the surrounding towns and valleys. The view is majestic and the fact that my group was the only people up there is just fantastic....no people talking...no flashes going off people's phones like at Taj Mahal. It's just silence with occasional bird chirping and wind blowing. I feel like I'm in a role playing game like Zelda and traveling through an abandoned fort on my way to find treasures!
With regrets that I couldn't stay longer than few days. All good things must come to an end. I shall return someday. Hopefully soon.
Let's just say you have a cousin who has everything she wants.... well, maybe except that $81 million dollar Monet Haystack painting that was sold less than two weeks ago at Christie's auction house. And clearly you don't have the budget that even come close to affording that insanely priced painting, what do you do?
If you have been following my blog for awhile, you know I love buying artist collabs utilitarian stuff. Here's a collection of art x stuff (much more affordable than the Monet Haystack) that you can afford to giveaway as Christmas gifts. And who knows, they may go up in value 50 or 100 years from now!! ;)
Flower Packable Tote Bag. $26. This is a tote bag by Herschel Supply co. and is a great bag on the go. You can fold the tote bag to 6" x 8" and just stick it in your purse. The bag is designed by Takahashi Murakami for Complexcon. At $26, you can't really go wrong.
Water Bottle. $28. This water bottle is designed by Alex Katz for Art Production Fund. It's a perfect water bottle for using at a gym. Just because you are sweating doesn't mean you can't be stylish at the same time.
All You Need Is Love T-shirt. $38.75. This T-shirt, designed by Damien Hirst for RED few years ago, is still on point. All profit from the sale of this t-shirt goes to RED that finances programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa. Fashion never looked so good.
Come to think of it, this is a perfect outfit for your cousin's yoga class! She can use the Murakami tote to carry her Katz water bottole and Hirst t-shirt to her gym. Now if only I can find an artist designed yoga mat....
According to Conde Nast Traveler readers, Eden Rock in St Barths is the best hotel in the world. Surely Pippa Middleton, whom had vacationed at ER, agrees as her in-laws to be are the ones who own the resort. But just how good is Eden Rock? I set to find out for myself.
The motto of the hotel is "Anything is possible". And that's pretty much the attitude of the staff at Eden Rock I encountered. Service is over the top and finishes of the rooms are either eclectic or luxurious.
After arriving from St. Martin via a propeller plane, the only way (besides boating) to reach St Barths island as the existing runway is short, you are whisked away by the staff of Eden Rock. Bottle waters and cold towels were supplied in the one minute car ride to the resort.
My room wasn't ready but they provide me with a small temporary room that I can stash my stuff, take a nap, change to a swim trunk, or take a shower. Very thoughtful. I imagine these rooms are used quite often for people who arrive early or with super late checkouts.
The hotel is basically laid out in three sections. In the middle section, you have the rock where there are several categories of rooms available. The cheapest ones are called Legacy rooms where essentially you are facing away from ocean and to either garden or mountain views. The most expensive ones are the ones facing ocean. Christopher Columbus suite is the most expensive and newest. It's essentially a huge one bedroom suite with insane views. Above Christopher Columbus suite is Howard Hughes suite which is the second most expensive suite on the rock and is currently under renovation. It is being made into a two bedroom suite. I imagine it would be perfect for a family with kids or two couples. Like Christopher Columbus suite, it also has fantastic views. De Haenen Suite is below Christopher Columbus suite and has similar view as CC suite although the finishes is much more eclectic to reflect Mr. De Haenen's taste. Mr. De Haenen was the original owner of Eden Rock resort. Last but not least, Garbo Suite also has wonderful views of the ocean and cost about the same as De Haenen suite. The difference is De Haenen suite has front and center view of the ocean but ceiling is lower hence feels less gracious where as Garbo suite view is not as good as De Haenen but ceiling is higher hence the room feels more spacious. There are few other premuim suites on the rock such as Fregate and Harbour House. They are currently under renovation so I didn't get to see them. They have bay view and are cheaper than De Haenen and Garbo suites.
The right section is compose of Fontaine, Michaels, and James suites. James being the largest of them all and have a private dipping pool and ocean/ bay view. It's priced higher than De Haenen and Garbo suite. If you are coming with family, Fontaine is a good option as it has two separate bedrooms (the master has view of the bay whereas the other room has minimal views) and an interior private pool. Michael is basically a smaller version of James suites. I would say the con to stay on this side would be it's literally next to Nikki Beach thus you will definitely get lots of noises during lunch time. I believe Nikki Beach closes at 7PM.
The left section is composed of beach houses and two ultra luxurious villas. If you are in the mood to spend money, Villa Nina or Villa Rockstar is definitely for you. Both villas, next to each other, are huge with Villa Rockstar the biggest property at Eden Rock. Finishes at both villas are insane and if you have a large entourage, you can even combine both villas as the wooden wall between both villas can slide open to create a gigantic villa. Both villas also have parking space for your car rental. I believe Villa Rockstar comes with it's own car.
If spending five figure daily rate is not in your budget and you have more than two people in your party, I would highly recommend Frangipani which is the villa I stayed in (although if you go during December through March, which is their high season, Frangipani is priced at five figure). It's a three bedroom villa that comes with its own kitchen, two outdoor dining areas, a private pool (the most private at Eden Rock, even more private than the ones at Rockstar and Nina as no one can see in), a Jacuzzi, and a large rooftop balcony. It's essentially two buildings connected by a shared garden. One of the building has kitchen, living room, and powder room downstairs and a bedroom with bathroom upstairs. The other building has basically one bedroom suite upstairs and one bedroom suite downstairs. The design is quite smart as the way they layout the bedrooms, it can function as three separate cottages. The only exception would be the rooftop terrace is shared unless they put up a removable wall which I think they should in case they can't rent out the whole Frangipani suite, they can break it up and rent the buildings individually.
I would say Beach House side (left section of the resort) is the quieter side of the resort and probably the most convenient as you are just steps away from the powder white sand beach but far enough away from restaurants where most of the noises will be coming from.
The food at Eden rock is quite good. I went to Sand Bar, their beach restaurant, to grab lunch and let's just say their truffle pizza is possibly the best tasting pizza I ever had. It oozes truffle oil and is super fragrant and tasty. Rock bar is nice. They serve you nuts with truffle flavor and they are free! I find it almost funny that even warm nuts are drenched in truffle. Can it be more over the top than this??? It's just one of the luxurious details that made Eden Rock number one in the world. I thought the food at On the Rocks was solid. I was hoping for Jean George NYC level great but it definitely was not. I thought L'Isola restaurant in Gustavia and the main restaurant at Le Toiny resort are a notch better than On the Rocks. By the way, food prices at St Barts is not that expensive when you are used to NYC and SF prices. It's on par with both cities. However, if you live outside of those two places, prices may come as a shock to you.
I went to see the beach at Cheval Blanc resort as I heard they have a nice beach as well. I have to say I thought Eden Rock's beach at St Jean bay is prettier. The wave is also stronger at Cheval Blanc. Since I'm not a good swimmer, I prefer Eden Rock's gentle waves. There are turtles in the St Jean Bay. I was lucky to saw couple and actually swam with one for a good twenty minutes. Besides turtles, there doesn't seem to be a lot of fish....specially when compare to Hanauma Bay in Oahu. Nonetheless, the water is so clean and color is absolutely gorgeous. The ocean color is prettier than the ones I seen in Hawaii or Bali. Eden Rock also assign you to same lounge chairs for the duration of your stay so you don't have to get up early to grab your seat which is nice.
Overall, the service level is very high at Eden Rock. I find all the staffs extremely friendly and helpful. The hotel is centrally located and if you are into the "scene", it's an absolutely no brainer to stay here. Sand Bar is one of those place that is great to people watch and being seen. Because the resort only has 34 guest rooms and villas, it is routinely sold out especially during Christmas holiday. Many of their guests come back year after year staying in the same room. Depending on when you come, prices can sometimes double! Would I return again? Absolutely! I thought the guests I met were all very nice and not snobby at all as one may have assumed. The Eden Rock experience was worth the money. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. Have I seen better finished resort rooms? Yes. But if you routinely travel, you know hardware is the easy part. It's exceedingly hard to get the right service staff. This hotel staff are all topnotch. They are best of the best. It is the combination of gorgeous beach, perfect staff, delectable French cuisine, and friendly guests that made this resort a must stop for every globetrotter.
Nothing irritates me more than some interior designers, whom clients rely on for their knowledge of interiors, confuse the style between Louis XIV and Louis XV. Often times, even though they may know there are differences between Baroque and Rococo style, they fail to acquire the knowledge. I see in magazines that a Rococo chair been described as Baroque style and on television Baroque interiors get confused as Rococo style.
Baroque style started in 1600s and probably the most famous building in Baroque style is the Palace of Versaille outside of Paris. If you stand in front of the palace, you will notice that architecturally, the building is stately, balanced, and formal.
Rococo style started around 1720s as people got tired of formality and desired more playfulness in their everyday living. The most famous building in Rococo style is the Hermitage Museum/ Winter Palace. Comparing it to Versaille, you will notice the outside is less formal and use of color is lighter and less stuffy if you will.
So what is the biggest difference between both styles when it comes to interiors? The biggest difference between both style is symmetry. Baroque style is always symmetrical whereas rococo style tends to be asymmetrical. In addition, Baroque furniture tends to be heavy visually. In response to the heaviness, Rococo is usually very playful and light.
The easiest way is look at plaster on the wall when one is trying to
identify if a room is Rococo or Baroque. With a Rococo interior, which
the word Rococo is derived from the French word Coquilles (seashell),
you will often see seashells. So whenever you see seashell plaster work
on a wall, you are most likely looking at a Rococo interior.
When it comes to furniture, it is actually pretty easy to identify which ones are Baroque and which ones are Rococo. Case and point. Here is a Boulle commode (chest of drawer) on the left hand side. Andre-Charles Boulle is often associated with Baroque style. The chest of drawer is ornate and heavy looking. It looks like it will easily take an army of four guys to lift this chest up. As you can see, the decoration is symmetrical.
On the right hand side, we have a BVRB commode. BVRB, aka Bernard II Van Risemburgh, is often associated with Rococo style. Here we have a chest of drawers that is covered in Japanese lacquer. As you can see, the image on the lacquer is not symmetrical and the feet that commode stands on are much smaller compare to Baroque chest of drawers. Even the gilt bronze decoration is much lighter and more delicate looking.
SFMOMA had not been opened for that long but it certainly had made plenty of headlines. The new addition done by Snohetta, next to the iconic Mario Botta cylinder, is beautiful. But how well does the new addition talks to the original building is whole another matter.
I visited the museum couple months ago. I was very excited as I missed looking at modern art here in SF and was eager to have them back into my life. Having another world class building in SF is equally exciting and I was looking forward to see how Snohetta gel the old space and new space together. Furthermore, I was looking to see how the existing collection speaks to the Fisher collection.
As I approach the museum on 3rd street from Folsom street, I wasn't sure if I was suppose to into the building from the old entrance via Botta's building or there seem to be another entrance right on Howard Street. I took a chance to walk into a gap on Howard Street hoping I do not have to backtrack to the original entrance by Botta on 3rd street. As luck would have it, looks like there is an entrance on Howard street although I did have to climb few stairs up.
Right near the entrance there is a giant sculpture by Richard Serra that reminded me of the one I saw at Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum. I was happy to finally see one here in San Francisco. Getting a ticket was easy and I got an audio headset to help me understand the collection better. Off I go.
I took an elevator all the way to the top and start going from top to bottom. The Fisher collection in the new building was impressive. It basically has who's who of modern art.... from Alexander Calder to Gerhard Richter, from Chuck Close to Andy Warhol. However, I'm not seeing any of the paintings that were in the old Botta building. With the incredible collection from Fisher, SFMOMA's modern art collection will be elevated to second best Modern Art collection in the world but where are old paintings???
Finally I came down in the new building far enough that now it is connecting to the old building. There is a stark difference between the old and new building. I would think they minimally refreshed the old building to make it look more cohesive with the new one. Well, maybe they ran out of money because nothing was done. A good addition will make you feel the two buildings came together as one. This one, unfortunately feels like two separate buildings that desperately want to get away from each other. There is a stark contrast between new part and old part. And the old SFMOMA collection are all hiding in the Botta building. I came to realization that essentially the Snohetta building is the Fisher wing of SFMOMA. There is no flow between the collection which begs one to wonder why doesn't Fisher just open their own museum and call it a day? Why do they want to be under the SFMOMA moniker and then essentially want nothing to do with the existing collection? Just seem so odd to me.
Once I got down to the first floor, I saw the old Botta atrium was gone and Snohetta had built a brand new stair right in the middle. I was aghast to say the least. Not that I was a big fan of the old Botta building but by building a giant stairwell in the middle of the atrium, Snohetta had essentially killed off the Botta building. The essence of the old Botta building is that atrium. Which made me wonder why didn't they just torn down the old Botta building and start anew? To me that would make much more sense and make the whole museum feel more cohesive. My guess is money.
I have to say I was happy to see the new addition but sad to see how separate it is. SFMOMA right now is in a no men's land. The experience of viewing the collection as a whole is disjointed and the experience of walking through the old and new space is odd too. I guess that's what happen when you want a highly valuable collection to join the museum....you are at their mercy. According to SF Chronicle, SFMOMA won't be owning the collection down the line either. It's all on loan from the Fisher Art Foundation. Although the loan is 100 years long and can be renewed at 25 year increment after, makes you wonder are all those art loans from Fisher family worth it for SFMOMA to bend forward and backwards for them?
There are few iconic places I feel should be on all traveler's bucket list: Versaille, Great Wall of China, Pyramids, and last but not least Angkor Wat. AW is a temple located in the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. If you are looking to go there from US, your easiest bet is probably fly directly to Hong Kong, then take a nonstop flight on Dragonair to Siem Reap.
Before coming here, there are few things you need to know. First there are two seasons, monsoon season which is basically May till November. Dry season is December to April. Best time to go is January or February because it is the coolest time of the year and are the none raining months on the calendar. I went at the end of October. There were some rain here and there but typically it rains hard for 30 minutes and rest of the time is either sunny or overcast (and humid!). In terms of visa, you do need a visa to go to Cambodia. I got mine in the US; it was an easy process. Last but not least, even though the official currency is Cambodian Riel, in reality it is US Dollar. You don't need to change your money to Riel before you come here as Dollar is pretty much accepted as the defacto currency.
Khmer culture is an interesting one. Before coming to Cambodia, I did very little research as my friend who lives part time in Siem Reap had asked her friend, who's a professor at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, to come and lead me to various temples. Since he teaches history of these temples for living, I was thrilled to have him as my guide as he knows these temples better than just about anyone in the World. After few days spending with him, two highlights I learned was: 1. These temples used to be Hindu temples and they are greatly influenced by Indian mythology. 2. Things that I associate with Thai style actually originated from Khmer culture. The funny thing is I told him XYZ looks so Thai. Did Cambodians copy Thai? He replied, actually Kingdom of Cambodia came way before Thailand existed. They copied us. Me: oopsy..... #facepalm. Few temples I love to highlight (despite I saw more than a dozen temples within few days... I lost count on how many): Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat, Neak Paon, Bayon, and Banteay Chhmar.
Area around Angkor Wat was made even more famous by Hollywood hit film Tomb Raider starting Angelina Jolie that came out in 2001. Most people associate the film with Angkor Wat. But in reality, the film was shot at Ta Prohm temple which isn't too far from Angkor Wat. This temple is best known for overgrown trees straddling temple walls and roof. It's an absolute must for anyone visiting Siem Reap. It is purposely not rebuilt so that it can have a neglected look which I much prefer when compare to Angkor Wat. Because of the movie, there will be whores of people so go early.
Angkor Wat temple is a huge Khmer Palace built in 12th century. The ground is big.... over 400 acres! It was originally Hindu then turn Buddhist. So you can see Hindu carving on walls and Buddha stand alone statues on the top floor. On the bottom floor you will see bas-relief friezes along an open gallery. The amazing carvings just go on and on and on. You can spend all day just following the story on these carvings. This temple had been cleaned up more so than any other temple around. While it definitely doesn't look spanking new, I prefer the ones that look less pristine. I was told usually there are tons of people standing in front of these friezes but on the day I was there, I could roll a bowling ball down the gallery blind folded and it would not hit anyone! I was happy to finally see Angkor Wat, but it was not my favorite temple.
Neak Paon (Holy Island) is a temple in the middle of a lake. I was told when the temple was first created, it was in a lake. However, the lake had slowly dried up centuries ago and people started to farm there. The government of Cambodia decided fairly recently to flood the existing farmland and return the temple to its original state. The only way to access the island would be to walk along wooden plank path from shore to the island. Flooding of the farmland was controversial but I get why they did it.... the lake is just beautiful. The temple itself is actually in the middle of another lake which you can't really get to but the sight of the exterior lake and the romance of walking on this long wooden path to reach this holy island made this excursion worth it. Neak Paon is not the most popular temple in Siem Reap but I highly recommend it.
Bayon is one of those iconic temple that when I first saw it for the first time, I had a revelation... I saw that face on a wood carving at my local spa before!! Now I know where that face came from. Chances are you also saw that smiling Buddha face relief panel at your local spas as well. Besides hundreds of smiling Buddha's all over the walls, there are also carvings of a naval battle among other mythology. This temple is centrally located in the temple area and you will definitely pass it when you go see Angkor Wat. I would say 100% worth your time to walk through this temple.
Last temple I like to highlight is actually not in Siem Reap. It's actually about 2.5 hours of bump road ride outside of Siem Reap close to Thai border. It's one of those temple that is so rundown that if you want to truly experience what it feels like when Angkor Wat was first discovered by an outsider, this temple definitely fit the bill. Because it is so far from Siem Reap and the road to Banteay Chhmar isn't exactly all paved asphalt, few tourist ever made it to there. In fact, the asphalt was laid just few years ago so it used to take even longer. The fruits of the long ride is you pretty much get to tour the whole temple all by yourself. It literally look like Tomb Raider/ Indiana Jones movie set... overgrown trees intertwined with falling apart temples. You have to climb over rocks, well, more like what used to be temple pillars/ ceilings, to reach the inner sanctum. This temple is best known for the thousand arm Buddha bas-relief. I believe it's the only kind in existence in a Cambodian temple. I was told the whole temple has two or three of this particular relief. Because the temple is so close to Thai border, my understanding is smugglers would pop over from Thailand from time to time and chop up the temple to sell on the black market in Thailand/ Western world. So if you get a chance, definitely go see it before all the reliefs get stolen.
On this trip, I didn't go to Phnom Penh so I can't say anything about it. But I did left Siem Reap with great memories of the history and the people of this wonderful country. I look forward to return to Cambodia someday.
According to S. Pellegrino's the World's 50 Best restaurant list, Restaurant Tim Raue is ranked number 34 this year. This restaurant in Berlin, Germany, is the highest ranking German restaurant on the list and recipient of two Michelin stars. So when I had a chance to travel to Berlin, I knew I had to stop by. And boy was I glad I did.
The decor of the restaurant is nice and simple. Couple birdcages at the entrance to give an IndoChine vibe to the decor. Menu was concise as well. The tasting menu I had consists of 6 small dishes of chef's compliments. Those were delicious... lots of Asian flavors one would associate with Southeast Asia. The first dish was a carefully composed Imperial Caviar that looks like delicate macaroons. Let's just say they melted in my mouth in a New York second. The second dish was White Asparagus. Tasted like spring to me! After that was Hamachi. Perfectly cooked. Then came the prawn. The tomato sauce was amazing. I wanted to lick the plate. The fifth dish was the suckling pig. This was unfortunately a miss for me. The pig was dried out. Luckily the next dish, Dim Sum Duck, which was his version of deconstructed Cantonese soup dumpling, was brilliant. I thought to myself all is well with this dinner. I was a bit worry it was all going downhill after the pig. Disaster averted! Then came the super tender Shabu Shabu Wagyu dish. The beef literally melted on my tongue! Hands down the best dish of the night for me. Then we had a green tea palate cleanser before the last dish which was a Calpico flavored dragon! I love my Calpico. I always drink it whenever I'm in Asia. This was a perfect ending to a wonderful dinner.
This restaurant has to be on any foodie's list. I know where I'm eating when I return to Berlin. In the mean time, I'll just have to make due with his dessert dish at In Situ restaurant here in San Francisco.
Well, if you have been loosely following fashion news, you probably know that Gucci, Valentino, and Saint Laurent Paris are the "in" brands right now. If you follow fashion closely, you would know that Hedi Slimane had left SLP in the spring which makes this FW2016 collection his last one. And let's not forget the latest news at Valentino is that Maria Grazia Chiuri jumped ship to House of Dior and left Pierpaolo Piccioli at its helm as sole creative director. Given the messiness of "divorces", the only steady ship within this trio is Alessandro Michele who took helm of Gucci just last year! Whew, are your heads spinning yet?!
This new Gucci is far from Frida Giannini's. I felt she played safe and pretty much just rehashed what Tom Ford did. But then again, it's hard to follow Tom Ford... after all, he did revived a pretty much dead brand that was heading the way of Pierre Cardin. However, it's hard to recall such a quick resurgence of a brand within such short gap between its last revival. Much credit to Alessandro that he was able to execute his vision flawlessly. Regardless if you like the new Gucci look or not, at least it's not a rehash of Tom Ford's vision.
I'm not a big fan of some of his super exaggerated retro pieces but here are the ones I like:
I really can't imagine anyone throwing trash into this Hermes Equilibre d'Hermes wastebasket. I mean after all, I would not want to get that exceedingly expensive wastebasket dirty would I?! And where's my lotto tickets again?! LOL. Joking aside, I do get that the leather is all hand dyed and everything is hand stitched on this beautifully designed trashcan. I'm pretty sure that the canning on the basket as well as the leather strapping near the bottom is all hand done as well. Be forewarned though, this will probably be the most expensive trash can (cost is equivalent of a Birkin bag) you have ever purchased in your life unless you have trash cans made of gold!!!
Just came across an article on Lanvin's wooden chess set based on illustrations by Alber Elbaz. As everyone knows, he was ousted as head designer from Lanvin recently. However, his spirit at Lanvin lives on with this whimsical chess set. I can totally see this set displayed on a coffee table or on a desk of a fashionista. Heck, I'm very very tempted to buy one myself! Get yours at Net-a-Porter!
If you are looking for French and Japanese fusion food, you go to Narisawa. If you are looking for pure unabashed traditional Japanese food, you go to RyuGin in Tokyo. Chef Seiji Yamamoto makes his magic in this small restaurant and what you get is fresh traditional Japanese ingredients that transform into pearls of delectable yums. This restaurant ranks #2 in Japan and #31 in the world according to S. Pellegrino's the World's 50 best restaurants. But honestly all the restaurants ranked in the top 100 are pretty much on the same level. I can't say Le Bernardin (#24) is better than French Laundry (#85) by a mile. If anything, I prefer French Laundry to Le Bernardin. It's a personal taste. One thing is for sure though, I never had a better pure Japanese meal than at RyuGin. What he created for me was just eatable Japanese art. If you get a chance to go to Tokyo, do not hesitate and make a reservation there. Your stomach will thank you! BTW, if you love uni, this is the place to get fresh uni. It's so fresh and tasty here that any other uni you have anywhere else in the world will not be able to come close.
One of the hottest trend right now in men's fashion is Souvenir Jackets and I'm sure that trend will last for few years so one should definitely get one if you don't have such a jacket in your wardrobe.
There are many places you can get vintage Sukajan jackets such as Ebay, Craigslist, etc. Brands like Gucci, Valentino, Saint Laurent Paris also have their own versions... Here are some of my favs from this past and coming season:
This one from Gucci is reversible so when souvenir jackets are no longer in, you can just wear the jacket inside out! Price of one for two. My kind of jacket! SS16
This one is from Valentino from FW16. A different take than most souvenir jacket motifs!
And if red is your color of choice, Louis Vuitton has one just for you! Gorgeous crane embroidery in the back. SS16
If you have followed me on this blog for the past few years, you know I have suggested you guys to pick up some limited edition artwork here and there. While art, like stock, is never a sure thing, but I always feel if you buy a blue chip artist's work, most likely it will increase in value while give you joy daily. Of course most of the blue chip artist starting prices typically is five to six figures and often they can command seven or even eight figure for masterpieces. I certainly don't have the budget for those one off pieces so I go for limited edition that are published by museums and charities by these artists.
Today, I went back to see the pieces I have recommended in my blog and did a search on the internet to see what they fetch today. Here's what I found:
On January 9, 2015 (so about year and a half ago), I recommended you guys to buy a limited edition Cindy Sherman tray from Sundance Institute. The run is limited to 500 pieces and sold at an affordable $150 a pop. Today, I found one on ebay sold on June 5, 2016 for $950! I also found it at an art gallery asking $1750!! Now how many asset classes out there command this kind of return?!
On September 22, 2014
(almost two years ago), I recommended you guys to buy a limited edition
print by Takashi Murakami whom is probably most famous for his
collaboration with Louis Vuitton. This print was sold on Yoox.com and
you have two options. One is called Contemplating Dark Matter and the
other is called Standing on the Bridge, Linking Space and Time. The run
was 125 pieces each at $585 a pop, which includes frame and matting
plus shipping. If any of you have custom frame a print before, you know
how expensive it is! A quick search yield someone on Ebay in Ireland
selling theirs for $950.
On December 23, 2012 (three and a half year ago), I recommended you guys to buy a limited edition Peter Doig print from Tate Modern called Two Faces and a Guitar. The run is limited to 500 pieces and sold at £350 a pop. Today it is being sold by an art gallery for £950. A listing on German Ebay sold for €800.
On December 26, 2012, (three and a half year ago), I recommended you guys to buy a limited edition print by fame photographer Mario Testino. I even give you a discount code to save you £250. I recommended the Kate Moss print as I believe it would be the more valuable among the selection. This print had a run of 175 pieces at £1200 a pop but with discount code, the price dropped to £950. This is by no mean pocket change especially back in 2012; one pound was worth about 50-60% more than dollar. Fast forward to January of 2015, one was sold for £7,500 at Phillips auction house.
Although not everything I recommended had gone up in value yet. Case and point, I recommended to buy Jeff Koon's Split Rocker plate for $475 on December 4, 2014. Unfortunately the edition is still not sold out so until it does, the value will remain the same if not somewhat lower on the secondary market.
Buying art is not always about investment. I always believe you have to love what you buy. But I do think if you stick with blue chip artists' limited edition artwork, you are likely to rip the rewards few years (or a decade) from now.
Just came back from St Regis at Princeville. Had a great time. The resort was quite nice although they really could use some improvements.... some simple, some not so simple.
This was my first time on Kauai. I've been to the Big Island and Oahu before so Hawaii is not foreign to me. However, many people said Kauai is the prettiest so of course I have to see it for myself. I have never stayed at St Regis hotel chain before although the lobby of St Regis in San Francisco is quite chic so my expectation was high. My understanding is that if one were to go to Kauai, St Regis was the place to stay. A close second would be the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. Having stayed at both during this trip, I would say St Regis Princeville is definitely better than Grand Hyatt Kauai.
First, a little 411 about Princeville. It was named after Prince Albert Kamehameha when he paid a visit
at Hanalei Bay in 1860. This location is also used as the back drop
for Hollywood film South Pacific in 1958. You can actually see the
exact same trees in the movie that still exist today at St Regis
Princeville's beach. In addition, the legend has it that the song Puff
the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow and Leonard Lipton, was about Hanalei
Bay with red part of the mountain as dragon eyes and Na Molokama
mountain range as its spine. The mythical land called Honah Lee refers
to the town Hanalei, a stone throw from St Regis Princeville.
The pluses at St Regis Princeville: location, amenities, and the crowd.
St Regis Princeville is located at Hanalei Bay. Having stayed at places like Four Seasons Koh Samui, Amankila in Bali, Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro, etc. I would say the view of Hanalei Bay was the best. The reason is with places like Four Seasons Koh Samui or Amankila in Bali, you get palm trees and white sandy beaches (or in Amankila's case, black sand beach), but at Hanalei Bay, you get all that plus Na Molokama mountain in the background. Or shall I say icing on the cake! The view is tranquil yet majestic. Waking up daily to the view is just incredible.
There are lots to do around St Regis Princeville. Some of the onsite amenities include snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking. There are lots of coral reefs in the Hanalei Bay. I would say it's actually not too safe to do regular swimming as there are just too many corals around to do laps. If you like snorkeling, this is a very good place to be. There is a desk next to the beach where you can rent paddle boards, kayak, or snorkel gear. They charge by the hour (Four Seasons Koh Samui include these amenities in room rate... cough cough). The fish is not as abundant as Hanauma Bay in Oahu or Blue Lagoon in Bali. With that said, it's a lot more convenient to snorkel when your hotel room is few feet away. There are definitely more fish (interesting ones too) when compare to Four Seasons Koh Samui which also have onsite snorkeling. Some people saw turtles... I didn't unfortunately.
Another good amenity at St Regis Princeville is their Kauai Grill restaurant by Jean-Georges. Possibly the best lunch I ever had was at Jean-Georges in NYC so I had high expectations for Kauai Grill. I was not disappointed. My surf and turf entree was cooked to perfection. The maitre d' knew it was my birthday so they send a moist and delectable chocolate cake on the house for dessert. A perfect way to end the dinner. I would come back here again. By the way, they require you to wear long pants and dress shirt at this restaurant. Don't mind that as everyone was wearing t shirts and shorts.
Having spent a night at Grand Hyatt Kauai, I definitely prefer the St Regis crowd. There are less people at the St Regis for one. In addition, there are a lot less kids at St Regis as well. If you are on a honeymoon, I would definitely recommend St Regis Princeville over Grand Hyatt Kauai. If you have kids, then it's a toss up as Grand Hyatt Kauai has water slides which everyone likes.
The minuses at St Regis Princeville: physical plant, weather,
When comparing this resort to others ones such as Four Seasons Koh Samui, or Four Seasons Haulalai on Big Island, this St Regis just looked tired. The architecture had not been updated since the 80s and it showed. The finishes in guest rooms looked like something out of 80s/90s/ and 2000s and we are already halfway pass 2010s. Lounge chairs on the beach look like something right out of 1980s sitcom. I stayed at St Regis Ocean View Suite and the marble in the bathroom was green.... Alexis Carrington called and she wants those marble back! What Starwood Property really need to do is revamp this whole hotel. The location is magnificent but the physical plant is not. With that said, I have a feeling that Starwood is going to milk this property dry until Four Seasons finally put a resort on Kauai. Better yet, Starwood should sell this resort to Four Seasons as I'm sure Four Seasons will do a phenomenal job at this resort. I mean just look at what they did to the Four Seasons Lanai... it went from a tired 1980 resort not too long ago to a modern day rock star!
The weather is another ding against this resort. I was told summer is the drier months at this location and it rained every single day when I was there. Rain usually does not last long....sometimes ten minutes...sometimes thirty minutes. Only one day was more or less all day. You rarely see sky without any clouds. In fact, clouds typically linger around Na Molokama mountain range while Hanalei bay is usually fairly sunny. A bit odd but as long as the clouds don't interrupt my sunbathing, I'm fine with them. If you are planning to be here during the raining season, you may want to think twice.
If you are staying at the suite level, you will get a butler. What's great about St Regis butler service is that they will come and unpack and pack for you. For some people, that's a huge plus. In addition, they will iron your clothes. That's a big plus in my book although I'm in Hawaii so not exactly useful. Moreover, they will bring freshly brewed Kona coffee to you anytime you want. Most places when they say they serve Kona coffee, it just means Kona coffee is part of the blend. But not here. Your butler will bring 100% Kona coffee to you and it's heavenly! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Lastly, your butler can really enhance your cultural experience here on Kauai. The odd thing about this St Regis is that some of the staff are very friendly while others don't smile at you at all (somehow St Regis didn't train them right... but that's a different complaint). We had the fortune to have Robert as our butler. He's the head butler at this St Regis and I can see why. I honestly think that St Regis does not deserve to have him as their head butler. He's exceptionally wonderful and kind and dedicated to his job. If Four Seasons ever opens a resort on Kauai, Robert is the guy to train all your staff. He's worth every single penny and then some. Robert took time to explain to me about the culture and history of Kauai. He advised me where to go for a great authentic luau. He even planned a lei making session as well as Hawaiian dance session for me. I can honestly say besides the great view, Robert was the second best thing at St Regis.
I really enjoyed my time at St Regis Princeville. There are definitely cons to be had (mainly the dated facility while paying high prices). I'm crossing my fingers that next time when I return, I will see a beautifully remodeled resort. Until then, mahalo.
