"The Magic Isle" Captures Highest Score of Any Destination in the World MAUI, Hawaii - For an unprecedented 17th time, "Maui, the Magic Isle" captured "Best Island in the World" honors in the 24th annual CONDE NAST TRAVELER Readers' Choice Awards. With a score of 92.1, Maui was also voted "Best U.S. Island" (formerly "Best Pacific Island") for the 21st consecutive year. In the same category, sister island Kauai placed 2nd (90.0) while third … [Read more...]
Island Escape, Roxy Maldives Resort
A stay on a private island in the middle of the Maldives can make the rest of the world seem mundane, pedestrian in comparison. Such is the case of Roxy Maldives Resort (formerly Zitahli Resort & Spa Kuda-Funafaru) on its own private island in the heart of the Noonu Atoll, accessible via a 50 minute seaplane ride from Male (the capital city of the Maldives). The "welcome pier" at Roxy Maldives "Remote" Maldivian resorts such as these … [Read more...]
Asia trip Videos
Here are a few videos from our most recent trip in Asia. The first one is a few clips in Japan and the Maldives - the 2nd one is of our adorable niece in the village in Eastern Thailand. … [Read more...]
GranMonte Vineyards, All in the Family
After returning from Brunei and a quick day of rest we set out for the jungles of Khao Yai National Park and part of Thailand's "wine trail". GranMonte Vineyards located in the heart of the small Asoke Valley was the highlight of our day. This winery was founded by Thai couple Visooth and Sakuna Lohitnavy. Their daughter Visootha (or Nikki) is Thailand's first female winemaker (only in her 20's, she has many harvests ahead of her). The entire … [Read more...]
Visiting Male City, Maldives
It was hard leaving the resort today to start heading back to the "real world". Our sea plane took off in the early afternoon and dropped quickly from the sky to several also stunning resorts, picking up additional passengers who also looked somewhat depressed to be going home to cold weather countries this time of year. We spent the afternoon in Male (most of Male can be walked in merely several hours). This city is intruiging as is built on … [Read more...]
Another day in Paradise, Maldives
Another day in Paradise. Roxy Maldives (formerly Zitahli Resort) is one of only two resorts in this entire atoll of islands. There's no one around once you get on a boat and head away from the island. Even on the island you don't see very many people except at meal times a few will wander in. Empty white sand beaches, coral reefs, a natural lagoon and azure water that beckons one for a swim are all part of the attraction of a stay here. Oh, and … [Read more...]
Cebu Paradise, History So Affluent
A surge of Faithful Catholic devotees at the Basilica's prayer sanctuary. The Philippine Islands would never be in its present popularity had it not been for the stroke of luck which led to the discovery of Cebu by the great explorer Fernando Magallanes who first sighted Samar, Cebu's neighboring island, on March 16, 1521. Unlike many of its interesting destinations, this central part of the Philippines certainly does an important milestone … [Read more...]
Roxy Maldives Resort (formerly Zitahli)
This morning we jumped in a 19 seater Maldivian Air Taxi seaplane for our 50 minute ride north to the private island where Roxy Resort and Spa is located (only 700 meters long by 250 meters wide island!). There are two commercial seaplane companies in the Maldives and we were on Maldivian Air Taxi. The companies are Canadian and Swedish owned - many of the pilots are from these countries. What a lifestyle! The pilot either barefoot or in … [Read more...]
Heading to the Maldives
We arrived in Male late last night after a several hour stop over in Colombo Sri Lanka. We were in Sri Lanka early last year for several weeks and would have liked to have explored more this time but we satisfied ourselves with using the free Internet consoles. It was wierd to land at country's capital city airport (Male). There were no lights here only the darkened ocean. Reminded me of a totally different reason for no lights - when I dropped … [Read more...]
SpaFinder Names Top 10 Global Spa Trends for 2011
President Susie Ellis Predicts "Aging-Raging," An Explosion of Spa Brands, A Liberal Dose of Salt, and Dubs 2011 'The Year of Asia' Click here for a detailed version of SpaFinder's 2011 Spa Trend Report. NEW YORK, NY - December 22, 2010 - SpaFinder, Inc., the global spa and wellness resource, today announced its annual spa trend forecast, now in its eighth year. SpaFinder's Spa Trend Report identifies global spa trends that will influence … [Read more...]