The elusive tiger
Reply
Toby Sinclair – greatest guide in India
Our illustrious guide for the last game drive- Salim Ali and his father
Welcome To Atlanta’s New International Terminal
I just received this from Delta concerning their exciting new terminal:
On May 16th, the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal will open at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). This state-of-the-art, LEED-certified terminal will accommodate more passengers and make international travel a breeze.
Most international flights will arrive at Concourses E or F, although some international flights from “pre-cleared” countries will arrive on Concourses T through D.
If Atlanta is your final destination:
You will proceed through Passport Control and claim your baggage at the new international terminal.
You will no longer need to recheck your baggage upon exiting Customs.
There is a passenger pickup area and ground transportation center at the new international terminal.
From the international terminal, complimentary shuttles are available to both the domestic terminal which includes MARTA, as well as to the rental car center.
Since you are departing Atlanta prior to the new terminal’s opening and returning after its opening, please note the following:
If you parked at the domestic terminal and your flight arrives at the international terminal, you may take the complimentary shuttle bus to the domestic terminal.
If someone is picking you up at the airport, please let him or her know you will arrive at the new international terminal, which is accessible from Interstate 75.
Please visit delta.com for more information about the international terminal.
A&K 100 Club with Royal Malewane’s Liz Biden
A&K 100 Club meeting -Chicago
I am in Chicago to attend the A& K semi annual meeting. We meet all the A&K representatives from around the world and get the latest information about Abercrombie and Kent and their worldwide tour offerings. It’s always an exciting meeting and so much fun to see alL of the people we work with during the year. The meeting also has luxury vendors from around the world such as Liz Biden from Royal Malewane. We get all the latest information, and offerings from top luxury suppliers so we can better offer our clients insider options
Sunrise Chicago!
500 calorie lunch Allium Chicago
VinaVik with our host Gonzague de Lambert
Harvest time at Vina Vik
We are delighted to find that we have arrived at harvest time!
Harvest depends on the perfect time of grape maturation – four factors influence the harvest timing: tannins, chemical analysis , maturation, and sugar level.
Grapes at Vina VIK are a combination of Carmenere and Cabernet Savignon , Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. The Vina Vik winery aims to be the top wine in Chile – 100 points. They also strive to be the greenest and most organic in Chile. Tonight they begin picking the grapes at 1AM while it is cool.
Vina VIK vineyard is located 2 hours above Santiago. The valley is spectacular- green, green, green- mountains circle all around . Our host is Gonzague de Lambert.
One fact I learned: sulfites are in all wines for a fruit preservative. Vik keeps the sulfiltes very low for a more natural taste. A good harvest depends on weather conditions, light, rain, soil, the subjective decisions made during the growing year and the timing for harvest.
Cristian Vallejo is the winemaker; he along with Gonzague, make an invincible team. The combination of vast winemaking knowledge, dedication to detail for the year in- year out effort and passion for great wine is impressive. I have no doubt Vina Vik Vineyards will have the number one red wine, and it will be very soon
Carmere grapes Vina Vik vineyards
Vina VIK Vineyards 10,000 acres
VIK Vineyards
Dining room Singular Patagonia
Sunrise at Singular Patagonia
Explora Patagonia
I tried my panorama lense.
Room at Explora Patagonia
View from Explora Patagonia. Hard to beat
The Towers. Torres del Paine park
Explora Patagonia lobby
Singular Patagonia
Hallway Singular Patagonia daytime
Top Hotels in Southern Chile
Singular Puerto Bories Patagonia
We stayed at the brand new Singular property near Puerto Natales in southern Patagonia
It was a sheep processing plant built between 1906 and 1914, and closed during WW11 . It is family owned and operated. The architect kept the factory fittings in the main building and added contemporary rooms onto one wing. 60 rooms and suites are in the hotel. Rooms are large and very spacious in feel. Windows are floor to ceiling Bathrooms are well lit and spacious. The decor follows the industrial chic direction of the factory. Walls are metallic, ceilings were cement color. Predominant colors were earth tones with grey and black. contemporary feel. Uncluttered and pleasant. Meals and We found the restaurant delightful.
One goes to Patagonia to hike, kayak, fish, horseback ride, mountain climb, rock climb. I have never in my life seen such glorious scenery.. Two major parks, the Andes mountain chain, lake and glaciers are your focus One plus for Singular is they cover all of the area including Torres del Paine National Park. They also offer speedboating to see the Seranno and Balmaceda Glaciers, Patagonia Fiords and Lago Azul The negative is that it takes 2 hours to drive to the park, so your day starts early. Singular offers three activity levels for guests and about 30 offerings of trekking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and boating, kayaking. All guided by an expert staff. They can be half day or whole day activities. One major note: in the summer one will be contending with gale force winds on you hikes. Be prepared with wind resistant clothing.
Explora Patagonia
It is all about the view at Explora. You are situated right in front of the Devil’s Horns in the
Torres del Paine National Park. Explora is situated in the middle of the park. The view is beyond breathtaking. They also offer three levels of activities and about 35 choices of things to do. So activites can more flexible, which can be very good because the weather is often highly unpredictable .They have a strict 4 night minimum, Singular does not have that restriction. The hotel seems more like a lodge. Rooms are smaller and more simple, as well as small bathrooms. But it is all about the view and convenience of being right in the park. Explora also offers meals, transfers and activities.
Rooftop bar. W Hotel Santiago THE place to be!
W hotel Santiago. Awesome!!
Patagonia glacier
Glacier drops
Glaciers, glaciers, glaciers!
I saw my first group of Glaciers today, what a thrill. The color of that ice is really gorgeous. The blue come from the minerals in the water. It is not photoshopped. We took speedboats to see Fiords in the region near Torres del Paine National Park. The color of the water changes from silver to turquoise to an amazing deep blue. The color depends on the amount of silt that washes down with the glacier runoff. This part of the world is simply breathtaking, photographs simply cannot do it justice.
More glaciers!
My first up close and personal glacier!!!
Patagonia
Devil’s horns Torres del Paine National park Patagonia
Great travel buddies
Wind was 50 miles an hour. Hey -yulp!
View hiking Torres del Paine national park
View from Explora Patagonia
Patagonia
The bottom of the world
The bottom of the world
Remote, majestic, untouched, wind blown pampas, big sky, spectacular, unspoiled, pictures can’t capture the majic – all these words came to mind as I traveled to Punta Natalas. We are staying at the brand new Singular hotel at the bottom of the world. Activities include trekking on glaciers, hiking to the Torres del Paine National park, fishing, speed boating through the fiords, biking, horseback riding, and or bird watching in some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever experienced!
At the bottom of the world
Packing and planning for Chile: Patagonia and Santiago
I am starting to pack for my first trip to Chile. I am really looking forward to it! The itinerary calls for lots of hiking activities and I can’t wait. I am so interested in the Torres del Paine National Park and we will be able to view up close and personal the Paine Massif. We fly into Santiago and then immediately fly to Puntas Arenas in Southern Chile. We will be staying at the Singular Patagonia. http://thesingular.com/puertobories-en
It is an old cold storage plant remade into a first class hotel. They offer 19 activty experiences from hiking to biking, horseback riding, sailing, birdwatching. Levels are easy to expert. I am deciding between trekking to the base of Torres del Paine, glacier trekking the Mirador Glacier grey, sailing around the Patagonia Fjords: Serrano and Balmaceda Glaciers, Lago Azul or a visit to Shotel Aike wetlands. We only have two full days to get in activities and each one take a whole day, so I have to choose wisely! My paperwork says I will only need my passport, hiking boots, camera and a light backpack.
Less is more. Ha ha….
The group
Cars
Photographer Havana
Havana
Dispatches from the Road 