Hualalai

Aloha is hello and goodbye for us visitors but in the Hawaiian language it means affection, peace, compassion and mercy.  And that is exactly the way I felt the entire festive week I spent on the largest of the Hawaiian Islands which is the original home of King Kamehameha and the landing spot of the first Portuguese explorers.  You could call it the island that started everything but just don’t call it the Big Island! The locals hate that.

It is home to one of the worlds most active volcanoes (kikiuea), the tallest sea mountains in the world at more than 33,000 feet (maunakea), the most massive mountain in the world (maunalua) and the largest park in the state (volcanoes national).  Impressive. However, we did not see any of them. In fact, we never left the premises of Hualalai.  Why would we? It’s gorgeous, relaxing and incredibly accommodating.  Everything we needed was at our fingertips, even wildlife.   The food was fresh and delicious, the gym and spa (ahh…the lomi lomi massage) was perfect, complete with a little yoga studio. The property is bookended by golf courses and beaches. One of my favorite afternoons was the annual sunset “barefoot and drunk golf tournament” organized by our crazy California friends.  And the winners were… female… who were obviously not drunk enough.  Surrounded by family and great friends during the holidays doesn’t get better than being in this magical place.  But you are going to need a second mortgage on your home for a piece of this happiness… we’re going back next year!

Mahalo… “thank you”!

New Zealand

Kia Ora are the first words you hear when you arrive in New Zealand.  It means “be well/healthy” in Maori, a culture alive and well in these parts.  It sounds so much nicer than our American greeting “Hi”.  I knew it from the get go that this was going to be a great country and trip of a lifetime.  Awesome landscapes. Lush forests. And more Sheep than peeps make New Zealand a beauteous outdoor place to unwind and recharge.  We started on the North Island at gorgeous Kauri Cliffs named after the indigenous Kauri tree after crossing the date and time line and losing a day.  The setting is exquisite on Matauri Bay not far from the “Bay of Islands” where we sailed one afternoon when not golfing, hiking, biking, or  Possum Hunting!  This nocturnal national pest and our guide Darcy turned out to be a highlight for us in Kauri. A team effort and we shot 4 of them right between the eyes.  Off to the South Island to experience Queenstown and the world’s greatest wilderness regions specifically The Milford Track, known as the finest walk in the world. And indeed it was.  We were group 11 on 11-11-11,a most auspicious day to begin our 5 day 33 1/2 mile hike through the heart of Fiordland National Park (World Heritage Site) and a 4,864 square mile preserve along the coast bordering the Tasman Sea.  The Waterfalls were everywhere, streaming down the sheer granite  canyons and peaks. But the most impressive and exhilarating was the spray we got from Sutherland Falls, the world’s 5th highest.  I can still feel the mist. The water was freezing.  We walked in the footsteps of history as the “freedom walkers” did before us in 1964 and Mr Mackinnon even before them in 1888.   It’s a magnificent well run guided walk with some parts reminding me of the lushness of Washington State.  The huts we stayed were perfectly placed in nature and the guides had a real dry Kiwi sense of humor that kept us all belly laughing. Bird watching? hula hooping?  Heard we got lucky with the sunny weather in that it rains in the forest at least 200 days a year.  As tranquil as the Milford Sound was, it’s back to Queenstown for some adrenaline.  Helicopters are the preferred method of transport in NZ.  Not a moment to soon for the exhilarating shotover jet through the narrowest of canyons doing 360 degree spins. Scary shit.  The boys chose golf…ho hum.  Next up, Worldclass fishing and the boys weren’t going to miss that. Heli up and down looking for rivers to snag the trout. Luckily the guide knew how to hook em.  The food, the wine, and the people in NZ are authentic and genuine.  Auckland is worth a stop over for a couple days, especially to ferry over to Waiheke Island to enjoy brunch at the stunning wineries.  Put the Wild Kiwi country on your wish list and and make it happen.  We will live on these memories for a long time and delight in keeping the Maori traditions alive by wearing our Maori jade greenstone called Punamu. Cheers Mates!

The Big Easy

New Orleans is a party town like no other. With their anthem song in my head “when the Saints come marching in” and “WHO DAT” rolling off my tongue…we partied hardy in celebration of our dear friend Joe’s Jazzfest, lovefest, and foodfest birthday weekend. You can hear the music playing all day long in the streets from the BBQ festival in Lafayette square to the brass band escorting us to dinner to our very own “Felson Five” jamming together for yet another gig. Eats were plentiful at Dick and Jenny’s, August, and NOLA.   Muffalettas at Mothers, Po Boys at Johnny’s, and Beinets at Cafe Du Monde. It’s the home of the fried fare.  Southern hospitality was rampant especially at the grand Dame of old line restaurant Galatorires…Authentic French Creole and jackets required even for lunch. The beauty of tradition is that it never changes.  We even made time for a little give back with paint brushes in hand for a non-profit organization, Youth Rebuilding New Orleans started by youth, for youth, following Hurricane Katrina.  Unfortunately, there is still a lot of work to be done in this city with soul.  The weekend was as perfect as the symbol of New Orleans itself, the fleur-de-lis, which is said to represent perfection, light, and life.

Beach time in the Hamptons

After Labor Day and the beginning of the Fall season is the best time to visit the Hamptons.  Not only are the crowds gone and the traffic on Rt 27 releases its grip, but the weather is crisp and the beach is open to dogs at any time.  Sydney’s first time on a beach and she didn’t know what to make of the waves and sand beneath her paws but she loved eating the crab claws washed up all along the coastline.  And what better way to get to the beach without a pass but by bicycle…some of us have better style.  It’s always perplexing how just after one week into Fall that the pumpkins are so BIG and beautiful. How did that happen?  Another advantage of visiting after season is that you can eat without advance reservations for dinner… even at Nick and Toni’s.  Lunch at Babette’s was a different story. I bet you never knew that they have a dog menu… yup that’s right and Sydney was studying the choices. It’s a dog’s life in the Hamptons. Thanks for having us Di and we’ll be back soon in your sand-free zone house.

Art, Music, and Ride for the Cure

Aspen is not the sort of place where you would go to get away from it all.  In fact, Summertime in Aspen is a very busy place to be.  

Between all the outdoor activities and nature at its best, there is the internationally renowned classical music festival running 9 weeks and Jazzfest in June and another on labor day weekend with incredible musicians taking the stage.

Artists from all over the world come here to work and play. Anderson Ranch hosts many of them as well as artist talks.  I had the opportunity to attend them all and here’s one to watch…Theaster Gates!  He is an artist, musician, and “cultural planner” from Chicago. He staged a live performance for an intimate group with his band, the monks from Mississippi.  It was truly “transformative” and that’s how he describes his work.  He is committed to the restoration of poor black neighborhoods, converting abandoned buildings into cultural spaces.   Another artist/musician to watch is John Oates as in Hall and Oates fame from my college days.  I was honored to be invited to an intimate performance at a friend’s house to benefit the Aspen songwriters foundation and all the amazing work they do. Getting involved in this community is a gift.  It renews my spirit and brings joy to every aspect of my life.  And our Ride for the Cure was the icing on the cake.  It’s a commitment to save lives and end breast cancer forever.  Ali and I combined our efforts and together we rode 40 miles up the monastery to deaf camp and back up heartbreak hill to the finish line.  We rode for those who can’t and next year we will do it again and up the ante to 100 miles!  God willing.

Paws Up In Montana

Paws Up is a 37,000 acre working cattle ranch in Montana nestled under the biggest sky you’ve ever seen.  And the perfect backdrop for a big birthday celebration with your favorite girlfriends and sisters!   It started off with a bang on our very own chuckwagon to parts unknown for one of our many delicious meals.  They call it glamping and it certainly reached its pinnacle (our campsite) situated on a bluff overlooking the Blackfoot River where “A River Runs through it” was filmed.  Our Butler was on call 24/7 to fulfill any of our wishes…yup that’s right…camping will never be the same without a butler. Especially to prepare our nightly S’mores which one of us couldn’t get enough of.  Think Billy Crystal in City Slickers and you will know that you haven’t lived until you go on a real Cattle Drive.  We had our very own cowboys Max and Mike (not unlike Curly in City Slickers) teaching us the ropes while we herded those cows into and out of the pasture. It was quite an authentic experience.  And we even got a marriage proposal out of it…Max offered up his belt buckle for her hand!  And then it was time to cool off in the Blackfoot on our float trip.  Laughing was the common thread here.  Highest water in decades, very cold but extremely refreshing.  Some of us even took control of the oars and the guides! What a blast!  Another day, another activity.  This time it was downhill mountain biking through the Garnet region and ghost town.  Speed was not everyone’s friend but we did make friends with the rocks and we were back in time to enjoy the afternoon’s delight…sporting clays.  girls with guns!   And could you guess who was the best at that after 2 cosmos?!  This was truly an unforgettable adventure of renewal and purpose with a very special group of women.  We are blessed to have created these memorable moments to draw upon when life gets complicated…it will bring a smile to your faces.  We came as City Slickers and we go home as Cowboys…wearing life vests!  Happy Birthday Lisa.

Summer Solstice 2011

The first long stretch of the summer on the longest day of the year in New York City’s Time Square of all places.  Thousands of lithe and limber yogis welcomed in the summer of 2011 chanting and Omming to the Bikram beat.   And here we are here at 1:16p.m. when the sun appears to have reached its northernmost extreme and seems to stand still in the sky.  Solstice means “sun” and “to stand still”.  Yeah Dave says June 21 is the most auspicious day to break free of routine and we did just that.  Off we went to do something different at the one of the only Hamam in NYC at the Trump Soho.  What’s that you ask? It’s a turkish bath in the middle of the day…the turkish variant of a steam bath but with someone actually washing you or make that scrubbing you hard!   Water was everywhere. Very hot water splashing about (forget about your hair) and then when you’re sufficiently exfoliated comes the Very cold water that makes you yelp.  A completely exhilarating and fun experience… do it with YOUR bestie.  Living life to the fullest!

St Tropez

The ultimate playground for the jet setting crowd and a “must do” on your list of places to go before the season starts in July.  Hurry or there’s always next year. This little fishing village where Brigitte Bardot was discovered and Pink Floyd wrote a song about is glorious.  The light illuminating from the famous St Tropez clocktower alone is an inspiration to painters past and present.  The weather is perfect and the scene is quite french-authentic especially when you are celebrating a birthday with “the newlyweds” and lunching daily at Club 55 (cinquante cinq to those who know)…where the artichokes are absolutely heavenly washed down with multiple bottles of Domaine Ott. It’s the original of the St Tropez beach clubs born in 1955 (hence the name) on Pampelonne Beach.  The late seating is the best for people watching especially the ones coming off the megayachts that dock in front of the lilac blue “topless” beach with “very tan” men selling floppys.  

Stay at the Zen 10-room Pan Dei, which used to be a private home…absoutely gorgeous…where our 2-man band sang to us nightly below our window overlooking the pool. And if lunch was late, dinner was even later at Salama, the best Moroccan food you’ll ever taste.  Then it’s off to Les Caves du Roy in the Byblos Hotel til dawn or at least that’s what YOU should do.  We didn’t quite make it as our beauty sleep was necessary for shopping the morning market  and of course shopping even more into the evening.  Awe… the French Riveria has it all. Stay tuned for the announcement from the newlyweds in nine months!  

Turkey

The Turkish flag was everywhere flying high and proud in this country full of magical people and places of interest.

We started our journey of a lifetime in the stunning and VERY remote slice of wilderness called the Kabak Valley. Nature was the main attraction here at the Shambala resort (using the word resort loosely). “Who needs hot water anyway” as the proprietor smiles.There was certainly an energy vortex here as we practiced yoga on the veranda overlooking the most incredible blue/green Mediterranean water.  Some of us even braved the cold water and took a swim. As we hiked along the unspoiled coastline of the 300-mile Lycian trial, we marveled at the beauty and diversity of the terrain. Then it was onward and upward (4000 feet above sea level) towards the wonderland of Cappadocia in the middle of Turkey known for its fairy-like landscapes. But before I get ahead of myself, I wanted to mention an absolute highlight of the trip which was our visit to Konya to see Rumi’s old stomping ground and where he wrote his most profound poetry. And because we all read the “40 Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak, it made the visit engaging.  Especially the Whirling Dervish show where we all took turns either napping or hysterical laughing. Speaking of laughing, it was a”curb episode” in the turkish bath with naked “soapy” girls in the Hamman.  Just the visual, no pictures!   Sunrise in a hot air balloon felt like we are on top of the world over a lunar landscape…truely surreal and not to be missed. I will remember it forever.  As I will the faces of the beautiful children in the village of Soganli that we so generously donated a new computer and printer to their school. Giving back is the essence of our being. And long bus rides were a testament to our nature.   Next stop, Istanbul!  Straight to  the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, topkapi palace (marvel at the 86 carat spoonmaker’s diamond) and the enchanting underground Cistern.  Did I mention shopping?  Yup, the famous bazaar didn’t know what hit them between buying fake hermes, leather jackets, evil eyes and rugs. We divided and conquered.  Cruising the bosphorus to our oasis on the Asian side enlightened all of us to the beauties of Istanbul from the sea.  And saved us hours in traffic which is a real problem in this city of dreams.   Finally take note that even though the country became a secular state in the 1920s, the population is still predominately Muslim and sounds of the call to prayer is heard everywhere 5 times a day.  In fact, the pre-dawn muezzin chants “it’s better to pray than to sleep”.  Let us pray…until we meet again.

Happy Passover

Syd says Chag Pesach!