Feb 18
by Chris Christensen
review
After you have stopped the newspaper and the mail so as not to leave a “please rob me” sign on your house and left a key with the neighbors so that the houseplants don’t die, what else can you do to keep an eye on your house even if you are far away. CNet’s lovely and smart Natalie Del Conte did a video piece recently on some technology solutions.
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Here are some of the products that Natalie recommends:
Feb 10
It was the ultimate touchdown. After a fabulous flight in a seaplane, over hundreds of little islands, emerald and platinum jewels set in a sea of turquoise, we came down with a whirr and a splash into the middle of a tropical ocean. Kunfunadhoo Island, our destination and home to Soneva Fushi Resort, is one of the biggest islands in the Maldives, but still too small for a landing strip. But this was a much more glamorous way to arrive, and much more suited to the romance of the setting.
Soneva Fushi is ridiculously romantic, it has to be said – the stuff of every clichéd island fantasy. There are pristine white beaches, balmy blue waters, and a lush interior full of dappled shade and leaves whispering in the breeze. This is one of those rare places that manage to pull off the feat of being luxurious and unpretentious at the same time. You sit down for a five-course dinner served with fine wine, at a table glowing with candles and crystal, but under the table your bare feet sink into still-warm sand. This no-shoes attitude plays a big part in making Soneva Fushi feel so relaxed – it’s hard to be stressed when there’s sand between your toes at all times.
In effect, our front garden was a private beach. A mother hen led her chicks across the sandy space between the hedges each morning, clucking protectively. And every evening, a rabbit came out to play, a surreal Watership Down silhouette against the waves. Being there was like sitting in a secret world, with a sandy lawn that led to a sunlit sea, with another secret world to enjoy beneath the waves. For those looking for pampering and diversion, the resort has a spa and a boutique and diving and tennis and windsurfing. But I had all the pampering and diversion I needed, what with hens and rabbits and waves breaking and palm fronds swaying and feeding the birds that came to call. They sang beautifully for their suppers – the crumbs of the feasts enjoyed at the table on my very own patch of beach-garden.
Champagne breakfasts at first light and seafood lunches go a long way to keeping a girl happy between books and bobbing about in balmy waters under a tropical sun. In fact, I was totally over-scheduled. So much to do and so little time to do it in – I had to fit in walks around the entire island at dawn and at sunset, as changing light and colour splashed across the water and the sand. And daytime wanders through the shady and enchanted glade that made up the interior. And a most memorable barbeque, on a long and lonely spit of sand a short boat ride away, where cold white wine was drunk as fires were lit and fresh fish grilled as the sun went down, throwing a shimmer over the gentle waves that lapped at this whole world away from the world.
Bekim blogs normally at HotelMee.com.
Feb 24
by Chris Christensen
review
If you drive down Clement street in San Francisco (north of Golden Gate park and south of the Presidio) around 4:30 pm on any given day you will see a line gathering out side of the Burma Superstar! Restaurant. This might strike you a little strange if you happened to notice that the restaurant won’t even open up for another half hour.
To say that Burma Superstar! is an unimposing looking restaurant would be an understatement. But the food is not only certainly the best Burmese food in hundreds (thousands?) of miles, but worthy of note for anyone who likes food.
Our favorites on the menu would include:
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Feb 15
by Chris Christensen
advice, review, travel deals
When we first travelled with our friend Susan we would say something like “oh I need a band-aid” or “does anyone have a wet wipe” and out of Susan’s magic backpack would emerge the desired item. After while it felt like being on the old “Let’s Make a Deal” when Monty Hall would ask if anyone had a raw egg. Susan did her research on what to pack (always including chocolate and peanut butter) on her own but some companies are trying to make this easier for travelers. So eBags for instance offers the Air Travel Essentials:
- 1 Survivor Industries® - Travel Safe First Aid Kit
- 1 Purell® Hand Sanitizer with Aloe
- 2 Shout® Wipes Stain Treater Towelette
- 1 Charmin To Go® Toilet Seat Covers
- 1 Charmin To Go® Bathroom Tissue
- 1 Jaraze® Sewing Kit
- 1 Kleenex® Tissues Pocket Pack
- 1 Gearaid® Mini Rolls Duct Tape (2 rolls)
- 1 BioZide® Disinfectant/Deodorant Pump Spray
- 2 Dramamine® Chewable Formula
- 1 Generic Poncho
- 1 Generic Small Flashlight
Raw egg not included.
Nov 21
The Union Oyster House is the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the United States. It is the earliest standing brick building in Boston. For more then 250 years it has stood sturdily on Union Street as a major local landmark. In 1742 the building housed importer Hopestill Capen ’s fancy dress goods business, known colorfully as “At the Sign of the Cornfields.” In 1771, from this site the painter Isaiah Thomas published his newspaper “The Massachusetts Spy,” long known as the oldest newspaper in the United States. In 1775 Capesn ’s silk and dry Goods store became headquarters fro Ebenezer Handcock, and Federal Troops received their “War Wages” in this official pay station. In 1796 the future King of France, Louis Philippe, lived on the second floor. Exiled from his country, he earned his living by teaching French to many of Boston ’s fashionable young ladies. 1862 marked the end of Capesn ’s silk and dry Goods store and the beginning of Atwood and Bacon’s establishment. The new owners installed the now world renowned semi-circular Oyster Bar where Daniel Webster was a constant customer. Another first for the Union Oyster House is it has the honor of being the first place in the United States that a tooth pick was used. Enterprising Charles Foster of Maine imported the picks from South America. To promote his new business, he hired Harvard boys to dine at the Oyster House and ask for toothpicks. President Kennedy and other members of his family have dined at the Oyster house for years. J.F.K. favorite spot was a booth in the upstairs dinning room. This booth has been dedicated in his honor. In 2003 the Union Oyster House was designated a National Historic landmark. This is a double designation. Not only is it the oldest continually operated restaurant in the United States, it is also the earliest standing brick building in Boston’s Georgian architecture.
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