Huka in the Winelands; and Armenia as the next Hot Spot?

Above 2 images © Grande Provence Estate

When I got a call from CH asking me if I wanted to meet with the Manager of Huka Lodge, I have to admit I wasn't too keen. Afterall, I was (and still am) swamped trying to meet the month end deadline of putting all 3 upcoming Little Cream Books to bed. I had just visited Huka Lodge last year, I explained to CH, I didn't think that I needed another presentation. "Just 10 minutes," CH insisted. Begrudgingly, I acquiesced. Of course, surprises always come up. I found out that Huka has a new addition to their stable of ultra-luxe properties (Huka's Owner's Lodge caters to the set that travels with security detail, nannies etc.). Grande Provence is located in Franschhoek, South Africa's Winelands. The Owner's Cottage can accommodate up to five couples. On the estates are the wineries that produce Angels Tears and Grande Provence wines, a restaurant, gallery and private function venue. The size of Grande Provence makes it the perfect venue for a small, intimate family vacation or celebration.

Above 2 images © Grande Provence Estate

So now, with La Residence and Le Quartier Francais also nearby, visitors to Franschhoek are spoilt for choice.

Another interesting meeting today was with an Italian journalist from Milan and her accompanying photographer. Sometimes, you meet people you just click with. And recently, that has been the case. A couple weeks ago, when I met CR, a freelance writer who has just spent the past 6 months travelling throughout Asia to research and write Condé Nast Traveler's 2006 Hot List, it was a meeting of travel minds. We spent hours swapping travel addresses over 2 Starbucks-laced meetings. Likewise, I immediately clicked with Chiara, especially when we got on the topic of skiing in Cortina. Turns out, she grew up skiing Cortina. She was in town on the invitation of Hong Kong Tourism Board checking out the city's spas (including the brand-new, totally revamped Peninsula Spa. I have yet to check it out, but Chiara loved it and placed it above Four Seasons' spa) and had chanced upon our books in G.O.D. But the most fascinating thing about the meeting had nothing to do with our conversation about Little Cream Book or my travel planning company WANLILU Play, but had to do with where she was heading next. When she mentioned Armenia (and when she mentioned that the best coffee outside Italy was to be found in Beirut), my interest immediately piqued. I hadn't really even thought of Armenia as a travel destination, but when she mentioned Armenian architecture (her father is an expert in this field), with its intriguing blend of Roman, Persian and Arab influences, I began to think it would be a fascinating place to visit. So now I'm eagerly awaiting her Armenian travel addresses. But being impatient, I did some research myself and found: Tufenkian Heritage Hotels (with Avan Villa in Yerevan and three other properties in Lake Sevan and Lori in Georgia). As soon as I saw the photo of the Lori property though, I realized that I had just seen a picture of the property in last weekend's FT How to Spend It Special Travel Edition ("A growing tribe of wealthy travellers are signing up for tailor-made trips to 'difficult' parts of the world," reports Sophy Roberts in her article, feeling a bit risky?)! In fact, DY had just sent me a copy of the magazine yesterday and it was sitting at the top of my as-yet unread travel magazines and articles. While I hadn't had time to read through it thoroughly, I did skim all the attractive photos and captions and had some recall. Check it out: the first photo below is of Avan Villa in Yerevan and the second is Avan Dzoraget in Lori.

Above 2 images © Tufenkian Heritage Hotels

Now, are you interested in Armenia?

Singapore 2: Scarlet Hotel

27 April -- Scarlet Hotel is on Erskine Road (a road that not too many taxi drivers are familiar with, but it's the next street over from the more widely-known Ann Siang Hill), within walking distance of New Majestic. Scarlet's design inspiration is lush bordello and makes me think of Jacques Garcia's hotels such as Hotel Costes and Hotel Bourg Tibourg. However, although the public areas are a bold scarlet, black, gold and crystal colour scheme, the rooms are a rich neutral tone.



Scarlet has been open for a while now. Service was as one would expect. It has 84 rooms and I booked online for a Executive double room at SGD200+++ (US$127/per night). The room was compact, but comfortable with desk, bed, tv, dvd player. The bathroom didn't meet the JR luxury hotel test though -- no bathtub. While there was no in-room wifi (there is wifi in the lobby and public areas), they did have free, in-room high-speed broadband access and supplied a cable long enough to allow you to move the laptop around the room.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at Scarlet. It was comfortable and efficient -- speedy delivery of broadband cable, internet (no problems whatsoever connecting), laundry -- and drama-free. It's location is very convenient for shopping (there are a few nice shops just downstairs), eating and late-night drinks. Ann Siang Hill (a really cool shop is Asylum, which sells lots of art and design books and other knick-knacks) is the street behind, which leads to Club Street.