Breakfast chefs
Reply
Category Archives: Family Travel
Surprise breakfast in the bush
Cheetah sighting
Sunset
Sunset at Amboseli
.
Sundowners
.
Massai Warriors
.
Nelson showing the village children pictures he took of them
.
Susanne and Woody on a game drive
Massai Villagers coming out to greet us.
Sunset mountain
Let me backup and say that Vince and Barbara Dooley caught up with the group in Nairobi, so we are a happy group of 7.
Yesterday we went on a morning game drive which ended in delightful bush breakfast. Everything from omelets to fresh fruit on long tables draped with Massai Warrior plaid tablecloths and camping chairs. Lunch was buffet- amazing what they can do in a remote camp kitchen. This camp has a gorgeous organic garden, so all the vegetables and salads can be eaten with no worries. A quick swim, then we went for a LONG walk through a volcanic rock field. Not much fun but great exercise. We ended with a climb up a 1500 foot hill and a surprise bar for “sundowners”, watching the sunset on the right and a pink Killimanjaro on the left. We really earned our gin and tonics. Woody turned into Chas Woods. No, he did not get over served!
We climbed sunset mountain
Killimanjaro in the background-WOW!
.
Our lion!
.
Day one Amboseli-the group
.
Amboseli-Tortilis Camp
First day on Safari
Amboseli
First day of safari- Amboseli
We had an amazing first game drive when we landed at Amboseli Park. We saw ostrich, wart hog, hippopotamus, giraffe, two lioness, water buffalo, cranes, egrets, eagles, horned bills, and hundreds of elephants in herds. Wake up call this morning was 430A – Yikes! We flew by charter from Nairobi and are staying at Tortilis Camp. The view on the Verandah is of MT. Killimanjaro, lunch was homemade pasta, chicken and rice, baked eggplant, organic salads and dessert was fresh fruit and Apple Crumble. Barbara, Susanne and I are writing on our iPads. Coach Dooley is taking a walk. Nelson is entertaining us with stories. What better entertainment can you ask for!
Flying into Lamu
Dutch House, Galle Sri Lanka
When a client says to me: we won’t spend anytime in the room so book an inexpensive one, I have to change their mind. Travel is about exploring, learning and experiencing the location. Enriching your life. Part of that experience is your hotel. If you are surrounded with a beautiful sense of place, excellent service, relaxing sleep, great food, your travel experience will be immensely enhanced. And that is before you see the sites! Dutch house in Galle is that kind of special place. It is a historic villa, built in 1712 by the head of Dutch East India Company-also known as VOC. It is one of the oldest and best preserved Dutch Mansions in Galle. In it’s time it was the only house on the hill overlooking the hill and dominated the fort and harbour, where it’s occupants could see ships coming and going. The best part is that the interior decoration is equal to the outside house. Beautifully furnished with art and Dutch local Antiques, I feel like I am staying in a Dutch museum! I am In Heaven! Sun House, it’s sister hotel is equally stunning. I feel like I am on the set of the movie Elephant Walk.
Dutch House, Galle Sri Lanka
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
Kandy Sri Lanka
Today, on our way to Kandy, we stopped by Heritance Kandalama-a hotel designed by world famous architect Jeffrey Bawa. Brilliant! Reminds me of Howard Ruork’s philosophy in Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. He built the hotel to blend in to the mountain side. Vines are growing over the rooms, it is built with a lake on the edge. A gigantic rock outcropping forms on one side of the main hallway in the lobby.
Next was a visit to the holy Dambulla cave Temple. The largest cave monastery in the country with a history going back to the 1st century BC. Each cave is lined with various sized Buddhas. The Temple has some spectacular wall and ceiling paintings. Only 300 steps straight up. Not for anyone with bad knees
Temple of Buddha’s Tooth Relic- Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
.
Invisible edge pool next to pond at Vil Uyana
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
.
Stairs to the muraled caves at Sigiriya
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
.
Sri Lanka
Said to be the original garden of Eden, Sri Lanka- formerly Ceylon- is lush and so green. I have seen many varieties of trees and flowers from coconut palms to rubber trees. I have never seen bigger and fuller Frangipani. Mangos are in season. Acres, and acres of rice fields. Our first stop was the hotel Vil Uyana, a Small Luxury Hotel, which means Lake garden. Only 4 years old, it was delightful. One can drive from Colombo- about 3 hours or one can take a helicopter- 30 minutes. They have a pad. We were there because nearby are the 8th wonder of the world, Sigiriya and the ancient city of Polonnaruwa – The ancient heart of Sri Lanka. An important royal capital with its well-preserved 12th century ruins & impressive stone culture recalls an inspired past. Although nearly 1000 years old, it is much younger than Anuradhapura and generally in better repair. The monuments are arranged in a reasonably compact garden setting and their development is easier to follow.
We spent the morning climbing the spectacular Sigiriya rock fortress with its rocky abode & water gardens. 1200 steps, yikes! Sigiriya is famous for its toadstool of golden-hued granite, protruding into the searing blue sky from a hot, flat wilderness of scrubland, which is transformed in the rainy season to a water garden. In the 5th century King Kashyapa domesticated the Lions Rock, by building a palace atop its summit. Sigiriya commemorates some of the turbulence of Sri Lanka’s history.
Evening was massage time- divine! Then gin and tonics by the invisible edge pool watching multitudes of birds including eagles, bee eaters, kingfishers, storks, egrets-and those are only the names I know. They were everywhere. In the early morning we participated in a blessing ceremony for the beginning of the rice harvest. The whole hotel staff and some of the villagers were there. It was a privilege to attend this very moving ceremony.
Backwaters views
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
An independent associate of Sterling Brownell Travel
10 March, 2011 10:44
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
An independent associate of Sterling Brownell Travel
catherinewhit@sterlingtvl.com
Meenakshi Temple Madurai
PHOTO BY TOBY SINCLAIR, OUR ILLUSTRIOUS GUIDE
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
Chettinad
One of the main attractions of Chettinad is the huge country homes of the Chettiars. These ancestral houses, that were built more than 100 years ago, have massive high walled structures and were decorated with the finest of wood and craftsmanship. They are packed with imported period furniture, chandeliers, curios and paintings. The Chettinad museum, which is housed in an old converted house. It showcases the traditional jewellery, textiles, household implements and utensils, and all other unique lifestyle products of the Chettiyars. We checked into a beautiful country house hotel called Visalam.
Peacock in the garden, Maderai India
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth
catherinew@sterlingtvl.com
Profile: http://www.brownelltravel.com/catherinewhitworth.html Travel Blog: https://catherinewhitworth.wordpress.com/
About Brownell Travel: http://www.brownelltravel.com/brownellvideo.html
PASSPORT NOTICE – due to constantly changing passport requirements, I recommend that for ANY travel outside the United States,
you travel with a US PASSPORT which is valid 6 months after your return.
View on the drive to Madurai India
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
Photograph by Toby Sinclair
Pilgrims at Sri Renagranatha Temple in Srilangram India
Sent from my iPad
Catherine Whitworth CTA
Sri Renaganatha Temple in Srinamgram
We met pilgrims who walk 104 Kilometers to visit their temples. They were resting in the courtyard of the temple. Srirangam is famous for Sri Renganatha temple which is one of the 108 vaishnava temples and is called Earthy Heaven (Boologa vaikundam). Srirangam boasts an historic past rich in conquest and civilization which is very old and it is proved by carbon dating test and containing the most ancient, genuine and recognizable traces left by the aboriginal Indians.
Stairwell of the Taj Mumbai
Stairwell Taj Mumbai
Site visit to Amangiri in Utah- Wow!!
View from a room
Pool at Amangiri wraps around a mesa.
Sight from a Mesa View suite
I was invited to visit the new Amangiri while I attended the Virtuoso Conference in Las Vegas.
What a day! We started by being treated to a helicopter flight to the bottom of the Grand Canyon by Papillion Air. They are the ones that you want to contract for a helicopter excursion to see the Grand Canyon. Wow, wow, wow is all I can say!!! Upon landing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, Aman Resorts hostesses brought out the Champagne!! Veuve Clicquot no less- I love that orange lable! Nothing short about those cute girls! We then flew on the the fabulous Amangiri Resort. We got to look at all the amazing rooms, suites and Spa. They are set up in the middle of the most gorgeous and emormous boulders in the desert. The most amazing views I have seen in a while. Most guests say that they did not stay long enough. There is so much to do. Boasting one of the most dramatic landscapes in the USA with deep canyons and towering plateaus, the region has been home for centuries to the native Navajo and Hopi tribes yet is sparsely populated and presents the raw landscape for which the American Southwest has become famous. Activities include
treks, guided hikes and biking
Amangiri guests may enjoy treks and guided hikes, customised rock climbing, via ferrata (fixed climbing routes) and canyoneering, as well as recreational and advanced biking. Our expert team of guides can teach guests the basics of GPS navigation, map reading, rope techniques and desert travel, as well as providing an introduction to the ecology, geology and human history of the area. For guests who are interested in a more in-depth study of this diverse environment, Amangiri will arrange for expert scientists, geologists and naturalists from the region to be available for tours and lectures.
boating trips
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, with the pristine waters of Lake Powell, slickrock domes and sandy bays, provides access to some of the most amazing scenery and geological formations on the Colorado Plateau, as well as numerous prehistoric cliff dwelling and rock art sites. Named in honour of Civil War veteran and explorer John Wesley Powell, the lake has almost 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) of shoreline. Boating day trips provide the ideal platform for enjoyment of the turquoise waters where guests may swim and kayak. For those who enjoy fishing, the lake is famous for its striped bass, walleye and largemouth bass.
archaeological tours
Guests may also experience the history and culture of the region with Amangiri’s natural history, palaeontology and archaeological tours which provide insight into species diversity, prehistoric occupation, Navajo storytelling, culture and art.
scenic tours
From hot air ballooning and scenic helicopter or fixed wing flights to equestrian adventures departing directly from the resort, guests have a unique opportunity to experience the area’s sweeping landscape, canyons, peaks and mesas.
Amangiri is the ideal launching pad to enjoy customised National Park and Monument Tours to the Grand Canyon’s North and South Rims, Bryce and Zion National Parks, Rainbow Bridge, Grand Staircase – Escalante, Vermillion Cliffs National Monuments and Monument Valley in the Navajo Nation – the largest Native American Nation in the US covering over 70,000 square kilometres (27,000 square miles).
I am quoting their website. http://www.amanresorts.com/amangiri/home.aspx
I am definately going back when I can really stay and explore the area.
Your travel wish list!
Between August 16 and 20, I will be at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas for Virtuoso’s annual professional show, Travel Mart.
While in Las Vegas, I will have appointments with representatives from hundreds of Virtuoso hotels, cruise lines and tour companies.
The contacts I make during these meetings are the people with whom I work when you have special requests with Virtuoso properties around the globe.
Building these relationships is an integral part of representing you best.
I would love for you to help me make the most of this important trip.
Before I leave town, if you would, do a little dreaming!
Please send me a personal “wish list”, by email, with a few destinations you would like to visit over the next few years. This way I will be able to keep an eye out for your travel interests during my meetings. Also if you have specific questions for any properties, please share those and I will do my best to have them answered directly by their representatives.
Thank you for taking the time to send me your list.
I look forward to planning special trips for you after I return.
Catherine Whitworth
An independent associate of Sterling Brownell Travel
a * VIRTUOSO* agency
A Member of the Tzell Travel Group
DS Thailand, Hong Kong ,SE Asia
398 Dearing Street
Athens, Georgia 30605
Telephone 706 714 3766
catherinew@sterlingtvl.com
Unbelievable Elephant Experience!
Bangkok is back-Better than ever!
Now is probably the best time to travel to Thailand- maybe ever! Crowds are down, you can get a reservation at any great restaurant – and there are so many – security has never been higher and traffic is down. Everyone is so glad to see Americans, and bargains abound. The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is still the Queen-unmatched service and such a warm welcome! One of their inhouse restaurants, Lord Jim’s continues to serve amazing seafood with a great view of the entertaining river traffic.
Other good hotels are the Penninsula, Four Seasons, Sukothai, and a lovely new one- the Lebua. Rooms go up to the 62nd floor- incredible views! The Lebua has Mezzeluna and Sirroco restaurants. Two of BKK’s tops.
If you are trying to figure out where to take your next trip, call you favorite consultant and book a trip with A&K Thailand. Their planning is terrific. They are the only company that will meet you at the plane and get you through customs upon arrival. They have a marvelous ground operation. They know all the good spots, hotels, shopping, restaurants. They actually go out and personally visit sites, and hotels, so it is first hand knowledge.
More pictures from Asia!
Exquisite Asian Flowers!
The flowers here are so exquisite that I am thinking of planning a Garden Tour! Let me know if you are interested.
More on the magnificent Balinese hotels …
In spite of the ever growing traffic, and development, Bali still has that indefinable magic. The Balinese are still so happy to see us, the hotels are still amazing, the temples are still thriving, great restaurants are growing in number. Craftsmanship is incredible. Bali is one of the best places in the world to shop. For five star hotels, Amandari, Amankila, Amanusa, Four Seasons Sayan, Jimbaran and Bulgari are going strong. The most pleasant surprise was the Bulgari Uluwatu. Very glamorous really beautiful hotel. The bathtub was bigger than most hotel’s plunge pools. In the more moderate range was the Chedi Club- delightful, Uma- with a more health oriented clientel in Ubud, and the Legian Club in Seminyak. In a differnet category, the Tugu- chock full of antiques and more traditional, in Canguu.
I hated to leave.
Bali – Carolyn Tyler’s stunning villa!
Having Breakfast at Carolyn Tyler’s stunning villa. Tomato cheese omelet, and a gorgeous plate of local fruit- mangosteen, papaya, mango, and passion fruit. Watching the rain and birds on the wide veranda. A villager is putting out offerings on the steps down by the river. Breeze wafting by. Just heaven. Starting my day of hotel site inspections. Some exciting new ones and some old favorite.
Bali
Day one in Bali. started with Carolyn Tyler’s stunnig villa (http://www.carolyntyler.com/). It will sleep 10 and is gorgeous! Not quick finished yet. In the Ubud (http://www.indo.com/active/ubud.html) area. I also check out the Viceroy http://www.viceroybali.com/en/introduction.php with it’s helicopter pad. The rooms were built on the side of a ravine and divine. Hugs suites, five star all the way. Next was one of my favorites, the Amandari http://www.amanresorts.com/amandari/home.aspx. To me one of the grand dames of Bali, it is still in pristine condition, service is impeccable, and the suites are so beautiful. We had lunch there, the chef is from Salt Lake city, and it was as good as any I have had on Bali. A definate 5* hotel always. They have some very good packages which are a good value. Both the Viceroy and Amandari are Virtuoso and have some great amenities. Another nice surprise was the Uma http://www.uma.ubud.como.bz/. Very good value, aims toward a more holistic stay. Beautiful rooms and gardens. Farther out from Ubud was Ubud Hanging Gardens http://www.ubudhanginggardens.com/web/pubu/ubud_hanging_gardens.jsp by Orient Express Hotels. Literally built on the side of a mountain, it even has 2 funiculars. The setting is absolutely amazing. Vistas are delightful. Rooms were large and grand. Service was the friendliest I have seen anywhere. They have 7 shuttles into Ubud everyday. 30 minutes from Ubud. They offer lots of interesting activities. such as cooking classes, painting classes, activities for children, etc. The best surprise was the Chedi Club http://www.ghmhotels.com/. Built by the leading architect of Indonesia for his family compound. Loaded with private art and antiques. Villas are roomy , bright and beautiful AND a very good value for pricing. They also offer some great packages. Near to Ubud.
Four Seasons Sayan http://www.fourseasons.com/sayan/. Dramatic, stunning property. One walks out toward to what looks like a large disk which is a pond on top of the building. the lower circles are reception and bars,a nd dining. The views are incredible of the valley!! Amazing service. Truly 5*. Everyone greeted me by name. the room have their own plunge pool huge and dramatic. I want to go back!!
Today Hotel Tugu, Oberoi, legian Club, Intercontintal then Four seasons Jimbaran YAY!!
Singapore!
Sitting in my suite at Raffles hotel in Singapore (http://www.raffles.com/en_ra/property/rhs). We were met at the PLANE by a Raffles rep and he went ahead and started sorting out the luggage. They sent the Bentley for us so we really felt like movie stars! Having coffee, they send when you get your wake up call. Going to go out and take some shops of this grand dame!! The fragrance of Frangipani is everywhere, and the buffet breakfast is out of this world. The very best pleace to start a long trip to Asia. Getting on our Singapore air flight theis afternoon for Bali.
Dispatches from the Road 