Asia, Countries

Find your own Love Island in the Maldives this Valentine’s Day

Looking for lapping waves for romantic rendezvous then you’ve come to the right place… we’ll help you find your own Love Island in the Maldives this Valentine’s Day.

With a little help from our friends and no we don’t mean Maya Jama and the rogues gallery that is that reality TV show.

But our long-haul friends in the Maldives.

Now, we’ve all of us got our favourite islands, whether they be our own Britain and Ireland and the rocks around its mainlands.

Or those we adopt around our continents or further afield.

Islands in the sun

Right, but oh sarong: On the Maldives

And it was on an island, Malta, that I made Herself the happiest woman in the world when I popped the question and pride of the Aegean Corfu that we honeymooned.

Of course, horizons have been naturally broadened in the intervening years, although regrettably I’ve been a single Pringle on some of those work trips.

Among the loved-up ones, in Barbados and the Maldives.  

Now with lovers’ day coming up I’m just putting it out there knowing that among my Bandanini and Bandanettes there is someone here at home tugging at my hem.

Loving touch 

Water, water everywhere: St Regis

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort  is set on its own private island, the Dhaalu Atoll.

And you can choose from ultra-luxurious overwater or beachside villas providing unrestricted ocean views.

And utilising the Marriott resort’s discreet St. Regis Butler service. 

Now because few things make you feel more relaxed and receptive the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort’s Iridium Spa is offering indulgent couples treatments.

That includes the ‘Divine Duo’ where pairs can massage one another’s skin with natural pure rose oil alongside private Indian Ocean views, sparkling champagne and fresh berries.

The ‘Champagne Toast couple’s spa treatment’ is an equally rejuvenating experience, allowing duos to sip on champagne while basking in a foot soak.

Followed by a soothing massage and refreshing grapeseed oil scrub.

The treatment ends with a suitably romantic rose-petal bath.

Wine and dine

Atoll well that ends well: Water lot of fun

St Regis offers six dining options – five of them boasting breathtaking ocean views.

Whale Bar is a highlight, sat overwater, serving delectable tapas and the resort’s signature drink.

The St. Regis Bloody Mary – the quintessential red-coloured beverage for marking Valentine’s Day with the colour of love.

Now whichever atoll you drift in on on your seaplane will be heart stopping.

Find your own Love Island in the Maldives this Valentine’s Day. But here’s one for starters.

A Garden Villa with Pool, 1 Bedroom Villa, 1 King on a full board package.

With breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and 250 USD resort credit per stay. For $2,500 avg/night.

So we’ll do the math… for four days that’s $13,678. And ain’t that worth it that you’ve been saving up.

 

 

 

Asia, Countries, Deals, Food & Wine, UK

A new Westminster haunt for Sushi Sunak

So where will Britain’s Prime Minister go to relax away from the election hustings… may we suggest a new Westminster haunt for Sushi Sunak?

We’ve all got to know a lot more about the Tory leader these past months and among the titbits is he’s a lover of Japanese food.

And coke, or cola, as he quickly corrected himself in front of a room of kids.

Sushi Rishi may be of Indian heritage but his culinary tastes stretch further east.

Big in Japan

Pinny your hopes on me: Sunak time in Japan

As we discovered when he attended the G7 summit last year in Hiroshima with his wife Akshata Murty (and we’re still trying to find a family link here).

And good sport that Rishi is he signed up for a cooking class to make okonomiyaki.

For those of us who are yet to savour its delights it’s said to be a Japanese pancake.

And so you get a heaped mound of batter, cabbage, noodles and often meat before frying on a hot plate and smother with savoury sauce.

Meaning ‘cooked as you like’ it is widely considered ‘soul food’ in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Now the Japanese restaurants like to fry it in front of the customers.

While it is also common for others to let the customers fry it themselves.

Sushi and sunshine

R&R: After a good meal

Whether Rishi has persuaded the House of Commons or his favourite private clubs to put okonomiyaki on the menu we couldn’t possibly say.

Official Secrets Act and all that.

But we dare say that he would be particularly taken by the new summer season Sushi and Sunshine menu at the Westminster institution that is St Ermin’s Hotel.

With guests and visitors dining alfresco on the revamped terrace, which overlooks the hotel’s lush courtyard.

Where you can graze on freshly rolled sushi designed by Executive Chef John Kouphou.

The exquisite menu offers a selection of Uramaki, sushi rolls with filling and nori seaweed.,

Wrapped in sushi sauce, served with wasabi, pickled gingers and soy sauce.

Tea’s out: Or Afternoon Tea

Each portion contains eight beautifully prepared rolls which include Spicy Tuna (£12), Prawn Dynamite Roll (£12), Classic California Roll (£14), Crab Uramaki (£14), St Ermin’s Vegan Class (£10), and the Executive Chef’s special Beef Uramaki (£12).

Salmon and vegetarian poke bowls are also available on the menu alongside carefully curated Asian-influenced cocktails.

And while Rishi will sipping on his coke through a straw, other guests can choose from… a selection of chosen wines, beers, and spirits, including St Ermin’s London Dry Gin. 

The gin is made from hand-picked botanicals from the hotel’s rooftop garden and honey.

All direct from the beehives and is a refreshing and uplifting alfresco drink.

Rishi’s Bee & Bee hotel

Plush: St Ermin’s

St Ermin’s Hotel is renowned too for its afternoon tea, served in the first floor mezzanine Tea Lounge, which has just completed an extensive redecoration.

Afternoon Tea is served daily in The Tea Lounge and library, 12pm-5pm.

Cost is from £43 per person or £48 per person with a glass of champagne. 

St Ermin’s rightly plays up its history, eclectic styling, rooms and suites.

As well as its enigmatic Caxton Bar and Terrace plus award winning signature restaurant, The Caxton.

The four-star deluxe St. Ermin’s Hotel which is a member of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection.

London life: With everything on your doorstep

And caters for all, with dogs welcome and even bees with resident Buckfast bee hives on the third-floor wildflower terrace.

Which gives rise to calling itself London’s only ‘Bee & Bee’ hotel.

So for the election times that we’re in, it sure sounds like a new Westminster haunt for Sushi Sunak.

St Ermin’s has kindly given us their lead in prices which are: 

So a standard double superior room from £329, family room from £459, suites from £599 and family suites from £599.

And we figure then that a stay at St Ermin’s would be nothing for the generously-off Rishi and his minted Murty wife.

 

 

 

 

America, Countries

Sun was coming up over Santa Monica Boulevard

All I wanna do is have some fun before I die said the man sat in the Uber next to me… and the sun was coming up over Santa Monica Boulevard.

We are in the Uber from hell despite the easy jazz coming out of the driver’s playlist.

Well, they do say that the Devil plays the best tunes.

And forms pleasing shapes with Michael a well turned out Fifty-something dude from Seattle.

Who unfortunately can’t get us back from our night out from downtown LA Live to the pier.

Like a prayer for Donna

Shore thing: Santa Monica beach

Donna, our sainted Irish travel pal from Tour America would be forgiven for going round the bend.

Michael is as he tries to connect his phone to hers with his showing her as a blue dot chasing after him.

Only in America!

After a couple of cancellations, at her cost, and we hope she gets her refund in the 23-hour refund policy.

And an hour in his roomy, air-conditioned Kia people carrier we give up the gig and book a second driver.

Uber to you

Driftin’: Uber world

Michael 2.0 is a different animal and sex… her car is only a four-seater and we’re a five.

And she has brought her home with her which Donna has to sit among in the front-seat.

While she has the heating up full which knocks Julianne out in the back.

While our new pal who has latched on to who for the purposes here we’ll call Bill, or Billy or Buddy.

But whose real name is Stuart (from Manchester, England) and who is on the phone to Spain to his signora from Peru.

Now my Spanish is nada but I can figure out that there was an expletive next to Uber and Michael/Miguel in the conversation.

A toast at the Lazy Dog

Like all of life’s journeys, at least until now, we arrive at our destination.

The JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live, 15 and a half miles away, 45 minutes later.

Donna has a thirst on her like she has been stuck in the Mojave Desert over yonder above Las Vegas.

It is only sporting to take her to join our Irish and Bostonian pals (same thing really) at the Lazy Dog on our hotel doorstep.

For local craft beers… and regale our company with our Santa Monica adventure.

Rollercoasters, bumpers and whack a moles

How Julianne conquered her fears of rollercoasters.

Whupped my ass on the whack a mole, I got my own back on the American bumpers.

Before drinking it off in Bubba Gump  itShrimp, near the sign for the end of Route 66..

And how we’d dragged Donna out of the jumping music joint Big Dean’s for all this.

Just as the sun was coming up over Santa Monica Boulevard.