Biking Through Central Java
There have been so many adventures in the last 18 months; I thought it was time to share a few of them with you. Last month, I landed in Vietnam and began a whirlwind trip that took me through Java and ended with a final stop in Bali. So, why don’t we start in the middle with a little adventure in Central Java?
Leaving AmanJiwo early in the morning, they take you up highway 14 to a drop off location. You head off down a small rural paved road through the woods. It isn’t long before you find your path. The real adventure starts as you meet up with the centuries old Dutch canal system, set up to irrigate the fields and tame the abundant rainfall.
As you make your way along the canal, you pass through some spectacular locations. The rainy season had just ended and everything was green, lush and fragrant. You pass people working in the fields and into a couple vistas where you can stop to take it all in.
At points, the trail becomes nothing more than a narrow grass ridge, offering you a chance to focus on the ride and keeping yourself out of the ditch.
Coming on to the main road, we headed past the scooters roaring by and headed towards Candi Umbal.
Candi Umbal was originally built in the 9th century and has two pools bathing pools filled with spring water. Thought to be a resting area and bathing location for the Hindu kings in power at the time of construction, it had been abandoning for centuries before being rediscovered in the 18th century (Wikipedia).
To get to our final destination, we were required to negotiate our passage with the ruling turkey. He controlled the road and initially had no desire to let us pass. One-by-one, we were finally able to make our way around his territory without any ruffling of feathers.
When we finally reached our designation, we were greeted by the waiting staff from AmanJiwo. They had set up a most amazing breakfast.
They had the most amazing pastries and juices ready for your arrival. It was a feast for the eyes and a serene interlude to the adventures of the morning.
Now feeling refreshed and energized, we headed back off to finish our morning adventure back to AmanJiwo.
Duck Walking in Bali.
One evening in Bali, we stopped our bikes on the side of the road to take some pictures of the volcano in the late afternoon sun. All of a sudden, off in the distance we could hear the slow building crescendo of quacking coming down the road. For a second, I thought the duck herder was going to veer off into the field with his flock, but instead he continued down the road right past us. It was yet another unexpected surprise.
The Saigon Coffee Experience
Coffee is king. Just take a stroll down any street in Saigon and you’ll bump into a neighborhood coffee house. Yes, you can go to Starbucks or the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, but you just traveled around the world, is that where you really want to go?
This way to great coffee.
Let’s start with Café Runam; No visit to this city would be complete without it. Especially at night when you have the powerhouse view through the starry skylight glass ceiling. Take a few minutes, relax have a pastry and a strong cup of the coffee. Frankly, most coffee served in Vietnam is a taste revelation and makes American coffee taste weak and tasteless.
Not too far away from Café Runam, is a tower devoted to coffee, café society and all things that bring it to life. The entire building has a curated set of options to choose from. Rumor has it that this temple to the grounds is on life support, but it hasn’t been torn down yet. The city is changing so quickly, developers have little interest in saving the history of the city.
Lầu 4, 42 Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Another location that I really loved is in a building that is also marked for replacement. It is also filled with coffee houses that will take you back in time and forward in flavor. This set of places are much more relaxed and on trend. They carry a more sophisticated vibe.
Người Sài Gòn Cafe - Thái Văn Lung
Or head over to The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre. As a matter of fact, get running, you don't want to miss it...
This is a location that seems very international and references a lot of the architectural ideas that are being embraced around the world now. Why not just start with a tall black.
Wherever you end up, there is an adventure in the making with your name on it.
Just a Taste of Copenhagen
Any amazing trip that I've taken has always included a memorable place to stay. It is so easy to brush off the idea that your lodgings are anything more than a place to lay your weary head at the end of a long day spent exploring a new and exciting place. My experience has been the opposite. Below is the view out of my Airbnb. It offered a lush view of a shared commons. Just a few steps down and you could have a picnic breakfast relax and chat with other neighbors who are out enjoying the late summer weather.
The rooms inside where washed in light and everything from floor to ceiling was a cool tone of white.
All of the basic things like having a market close at hand or options for restaurants are close at hand. Public transportation across the city is a cinch. Buses, trains or bikes can take you right where you need to go. The scale of the city is perfect or biking. It’s the simple solution in this city. It was a shocking thought to simply leave your rented bike out in front of the apartment and have it sitting and waiting for you the next morning. Rental rates are low and nothing beats traveling around the city for a leisurely dinner and then biking back to your flat with the cool breeze and the setting sun shedding its last rays.
Don't forget to stop at the Rundetaarn
This 17th century tower was originally built for astronomers to study the universe. it stands in central Copenhagen as a reminder of the visionary goals that Christian IV's pursued during his lifetime.
There were two goals in this visit. The first is to get your feet up to the 360-degree views that await you at the top of the building. The walk up the winding corridor is incredible in its own right. Once at the top, you can sit and take in this city that embraces both the forward-thinking architecture that pushes design and the centuries of development that beats at the city center.
There is an amazing gallery in the building to make your visit complete. It give you a chance to reflect on some of the things you've just experienced and provides context to Copenhagen that I loved.
The beautiful late afternoon sun changes the experience and made me contemplate how people experienced this building for centuries before electricity.
SOMETHING SPECIAL NEXT TIME YOU ARE IN LONDON
KEW GARDENS
It really is tempting to sequester yourself in central London. Everything you need is right at hand and available in multiple colors and flavors. Maybe this time you are looking to explore past zone 2 on the tube. KEW Gardens may be just what you are looking for. I made this trip in the bone chilling cold of February. Spring is settling in now and the landscape has begun to expresses itself in deep green hues and lush flowery colors. KEW has over 50,000 living plants in this location that has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site.
The gardens are home to the world's largest Victorian glass house. The late afternoon ushers in dramatic light, the changing light making it a visual feast that brings to life the hive.
The hive is so unassuming in the daylight, but at night....
The Hive really comes to life after dark.
As you walk the park, it straddles centuries of development.
Next time you are looking for something a little special, head out to Kew Gardens
THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT WEEK IN MILAN ISN'T FASHION WEEK
SALONE DEL MOBILE 2019, is right around the corner. I for one cannot wait to experience the energy of Milan's design week. Last year, I attended for the first time. The serge of humanity starts at the airports and rail stations. The city pulsates with a surge in guests from around the world coming to experience the latest in design.
Startling exhibits pop up at locations across the city. I never got out to the exhibit halls because the city had so much to offer.
From an entire gallery focused on a singular gesture
The city folds the new in with the ancient. The industrial heart and the design mind of Milan play a huge roll in how the world interprets the best of both worlds.
Margot House
Ever wanted to slip behind a beautiful unmarked door in a city half way around the world and enter a place so different than your own? Behind one particularly solid, stoic looking black iron door, you will make your way across an airy marble covered lobby to a small lift. The lift will take you up and into a private cocoon of hospitality.
This is a small boutique hotel with less than a dozen rooms. Hidden to the world outside, people aren’t charging in from off the street to party up the late afternoon with loads of drinks and throbbing bass. I’ve always preferred to go out for those kinds of things anyways. If you want that, it is just steps from the front doors of Margot House ( http://margothouse.es/ ). But, when you return, you can relax in the library and have a drink with one of the other interesting guests or just draw a fresh bath in your suite and leave your activity filled days in Barcelona at the door. This city is so filled with things to do and places to go that when you do return to your hotel, a calm and secluded environment is a special gift. Coffee, tea and small treats are available all day and it’s a very personal experience, something a large chain can never give you.
This was my first time in Barcelona. How do you know if you selected the right location until it’s too late? Margot House is located on Passeig de Carcia in the elegant, newer Eixample district. It’s an artery that is lined with the some of the best shopping, architecture by Gaudi and subway lines that can whisk you to the beach or to any number of other locations quickly.
When you awake with to the smell of freshly baked breads floating down the hall, I’m ready to get the day started. Breakfast here is about quality. They’ll make you fresh omelets while you graze on the fresh fruits and pastries. I always grabbed a strong café to kick start another beautiful day before heading out into one of Spain’s greatest cities. This is a beautiful and thoughtfully designed hotel. Make your own memories here the next time you visit Barcelona.
Lexi takes on the Zoom Room
December 03, 2014
Last year, my Wheaton Terrier passed away. Inga was a fantastic dog in many ways; she was playful, loyal and stubborn all at the same time. We were lucky enough to have her for 13 years and she hung to the joys of life until the very end.
A few years after we got her, I was invited to a Wheaton round up in the San Fernando Valley. Inga wasn’t a show dog, so she didn’t fit in with the close circle of breeders as they circled the perfectly quaffed show winners that garnered the prime real estate at the round up. As we wondered around, we happened on to the agility ring. It was a side attraction on the peripheral of the round up. Here you found the athletic contingent in their Nike trainers and treat pouches firmly cinched to their waist. The Wheaton’s in this group were focused, lively and raring to go. Inga….well, having never tried any of these contraptions proved less than an eager participant. Neither the A-frame nor the Dog Walk seemed to generate much interest. Inga was convinced the tunnel would only lead her to the fourth dimension, which was one too far for her. She was clear, the agility league just wasn’t for her. In looking back, I still think she would have had a blast, if we had just been able to warm her up to the whole idea.
With Inga’s passing, we found ourselves smitten with a little Labradoodle puppy that I named Lexi. Over the last 12 months, she has proven more than eager to give agility training a go. As a matter of fact, she has become obsessed with the class and the agility league that we joined. The Zoom Room in Hollywood has proven to be the perfect match for little Lexi.
Lexi ready to go....
Agility league is competitive, but no one seems to have told the canine contingent. Just like people, you’ll find the over achieving Border Collie or the lumbering Basset Hound, who never seems to find a reason to pick up the pace. Ever. With beginners’ luck, we made the leader board early on.
A few weeks ago, we had a difficult course set up. You get one test run followed by three timed runs on the course. This course contained 18 components made up of tunnels, tables, a-frames, dog walks and weaves. On the third run, the woman with the Border Collie took a tumble after the sixth obstacle and to all of our collective amazement, the Border Collie completed the course alone! I don’t know if Lexi and I will reach that level of achievement, but it definitely gives us something to shoot for.
The Rock Opens at LACMA
It all begins with an idea.
July 19, 2012
Mayor Villaraigosa, the artist and Terry Semel begin their inaugural walk down through the latest installation at LACMA. This installation has become so controversial. Thought provoking and imaginative, guests to the museum have questioned whether this really qualifies as art? .
The scale and mass of the rock isn't really apparent, as you begin to move through the exhibit.
The scale of Michael Heizer's 340-ton boulder begins to show as you pass underneath. The excitement and anticipation generated by the well-publicized trip from Riverside, eclipsed the coverage the installation received, when it finally opened.
A Little Rough Luxe
It all begins with an idea.
December 15, 2011
The Book Created Significant Buzz at Release
Kahi was busy signing books throughout the night. The book takes on the art of imperfection in interior design. It looks at the intentional incorporation of rough, unfinished, and sometimes aggressively industrial directions in design. She looks at the designers and innovators in this area and why we love the masculine side of domicidal equation..
Lounging Around During the Party
The party was packed with people, which on a week night isn't as common as you might think.
Effen Vodka & Angeleno Magazine Played Host
PDC: Design Loves Art / The Eye & the iPhone Exhibit
It all begins with an idea.
December 3, 2011
Carlos (center) and his photo exhibit in West Hollywood.
The show was a huge success with almost twenty of the original pieces presented in the show selling.
The show was a huge success with almost twenty of the original pieces presented in the show selling.
Carlos was so successful in using light to alter the perception of things as simple as a lamp. He took an image in Europe of a curvaceous lamp and brought to life the architectural elements of the piece. Upon first glance, you felt that you were looking at a vibrant red circular building, like the Capital Records building, but upon closer inspection, you begin to question what it truly is.
Entrance to the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood
On November 17th, PDC hosted a multi-gallery art exhibition. There were a number of really dynamic shows & it quickly reminds you that the art scene in LA continues to thrive, despite the harsh economic realities we face. As you moved up into the second floor of the blue building, you became immersed in a visual storm of color. Mixed media, photography, sculpture and even traditional expressions of art on canvas seemed to be everywhere you looked.
Ted (l) with the Artist (r)
On a whole other evening, I was invited to preview Carlos and his photo exhibit in West Hollywood.
The West Hollywood Library
It all begins with an idea.
November 11, 2011
This is phase one of the West Hollywood Park Master Plan. The $35 million dollar LEED certified structure houses one of the most advanced and adaptable libraries in the country. It creates 35,000 sq. ft. of library space. This includes: the main library, children’s library, audio-visual library, teen center, 150 person conference center, book store/cafe and a career development center. Over forty-five terminals are spread through out the library for public use and numerous electronic checkout stands take the wait time out of leaving.
Over 14,000 sq. ft. of bamboo carved ceilings flow through out the building. It create a unified focal point and a strong design statement. This $2 million dollar installation is finished in a deep, lush, walnut tone. As you enter up from the stairs, the intricately cut pattern flows across the building drawing you from one area of the library to another.
Second Floor Reception
Tasked with solving a myriad of needs, phase one demonstrates how careful planning pays off. Need parking? There are two huge lots attached to the back of the library structure. Need to exercise? Tennis courts are located on the roof of the structure. Need meeting civic meeting space? Dedicated city council chambers and conference rooms included. This is only phase one of the larger $120 million dollar West Hollywood Park Master Plan.