After a negative experience, Crowne Plaza Today Gurgaon impresses
Wow. That’s all I can say after the Crowne Plaza’s contact with me yesterday. I wasn’t that complimentary about the Crowne Plaza Today Gurgaon hotel during my time in India on my personal blog. The service was a trifle slow for such a top-rated (and expensive) establishment, and I blogged about it, almost […]
While Stanley had grander breakfasts at Shanti Home, I was in a rush one morning. Chef Adil Khan promised he could rustle something up in five minutes and he was true to his word, as the masala omelette and mango juice (left) appeared very rapidly. During less rushed mornings, the chef and his team […]
After Stanley Moss stayed at New Delhi’s Shanti Home earlier this year, I found myself confirming every word he wrote: it is truly a home away from home, exhibiting the very best of Indian hospitality. Waking up to these views is a very amazing experience for Christmas week. The human emotions of kindness are […]
Simply Paris dans la nouvelle ville
Simply Paris, famous in Wellington for its pastries and French cuisine, opened a new shop in the capital city’s fast-gentrifying Newtown district (at 112 Riddiford Street) on December 18. Pascal and Agnès Chivot welcomed such luminaries as HE Michel Legras, Ambassador of France; Her Worship Kerry Prendergast, Mayor of Wellington; Miss New Zealand Samantha Powell […]
Amanresorts celebrates 20 years with new book
Our friends at Amanresorts have launched a book celebrating their 20th anniversary, called Aman². This third custom-published book, photographed by Hong Kong-based Basil Pao, reveals the spirit behind Amanresorts properties from the Himalayas to Caribbean reefs. At 264 pp., the hard-bound book is available for US$88 on www.amanresorts.com. Pao has tried to capture […]
Kelly Thompson opens new exhibition in Wellington
The only New Zealander to have photographed more than one Lucire cover, Kelly Thompson, opened her new illustration exhibition at the new Pixel Ink Gallery in Wellington tonight. Kelly’s illustrations have mixed realism, innocence and female sexuality. Her latest exhibition, Recent Works, differs from her earlier work by avoiding block colours. Glen Cooper, […]
Michael Caine is London’s favourite Londoner
In an effort to get tourist numbers up, Britain’s Visit London campaign, in association with Virgin Atlantic, has presented an award to actor Michael Caine—Sir Maurice Micklewhite—for being London’s Favourite Londoner. The award was voted on by fellow Londoners and is one of fourteen Visit London awards that are presented. The awards are now in […]
Ryanair criticized again for calendar
Is Ryanair’s 2009 calendar, featuring 13 of its flight attendants in swimwear photographed by Mike Rosenthal in Spain, appropriate? The airline has come under fire for its 2009 calendar, as it did for its 2008 one last year, with its critics accusing it of sexism. Criticisms centre around Ryanair’s objectification of the flight […]
South Island by Clio, sans Nicole et Papa
I was interested to find that there were still photographs from my 2007 South Island drive that hadn’t seen the public light of day. These were good shots of the Renault Clio 3 that the company had loaned to me. Outside Carey’s Bay Hotel, the Clio looked more 21st century than the 1990s cars parked […]
CitizenM’s win suggests the Dutch do it better
Normally we’re against those tiny hotel rooms that put style and design over space and comfort, but with CitizenM’s win of the European Hotel Design Award, we wonder if the Dutch do it better. Apparently they haven’t skimped on the comfort stakes and the group took home several awards beyond the Hotel of the Year […]
