Around the World in 21 Days-Part 11

More attention to gardening details

 

After my encounter with Tide at the palms tree, I met John, who appeared to be washing the plants on the hotel grounds. In fact, that's exactly what he was doing, to remove insects and fungus so the plants can thrive in the absence of chemicals. This is typical of the great attention to detail at a Four Seasons resort.

No Shortage of Activities

List of lots of things to do this Halloween Day!

Our travel group (TCS) offered two exciting activities today; a helicopter ride and a coffee plantation tour. Plus, the Four Seasons resort offered a full array of activities. But, what can I say,  the pool called my name along with a cold beer, more tuna, sun, and swimming. It was a perfect day!

Around the World in 21 Days-Part 10

Palm Perfection

 

Why are these trees so perfect? As I was walking the beach path around the hotel property this question came to mind. Then I met Tide, one of the resort's many landscaping staff -he was up and working before most of us get out of bed. I loved watching his agility in climbing the trees to prune them, (he does have spiked boots, by the way). I was wishing I could give it a try- then came to my senses. Let's leave it to the experts! 




Palm Perfection

Our man Tide.

What I decided against trying; this is one experience I'm not going to have.

Starry, Starry Night

Imagine starry skies, a gentle breeze, the sound of waves breaking while music plays. That was the setting for our dinner last night. The ambiance was enhanced by sensational food and followed by a fun demonstration of Hawaiian arts and crafts.

 

Checker Master

Lots of colourful ukuleles to choose from

I lost badly at the Hawaiian version of checkers but was better at making a fish from grass. I absolutely refused to be defeated by the ukulele, and managed quite nicely to string flowers for a lei. I learned some hot hula moves along the way. The best sound of the evening was the laughter of my new found friends.  

Thinking of those affected by Superstorm Sandy

I hope none of you had friends or family affected by the storm. We're thinking of those who were in the midst of it, and are feeling very lucky to be warm and safe in Hawaii.

Around the World in 21 Days-Part 9

Note to Self.....Must Stop Admiring the Gorgeous  Bouquets at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Around the World in 21 Days- Part 8

A Room with a View

Boarding the plane....

After last night's lovely dinner, I returned to my room where my primary piece of luggage was picked up and whisked away before I went off to sleep. The next morning, all remaining bags magically disappeared. After a great breakfast, we departed on three large buses. A staggered departure from the hotel ensured that we were never queuing, and we efficiently departed the L.A. airport from the 'private jet' area. 

The Interior

The plane is lovely. We have all received a large black Longchamp-style bag to keep items we want stored on the plane - my sweater etc. We also have headphones, and the small speaker phones that will be used during tours. There is no shortage of blankets, pillows, and slippers; in fact, any amenity you can think of is available. My only issue with the plane is that the seat foot rests don't elevate to a comfortable position. 

Our first snack on the plane...champagne and caviar.

After introductions and the provision of flight safety information,  we were finally on our way! Champagne, caviar and a welcome toast put us all in a great mood. The lunch selection included sea bass, filet mignon and ravioli. As our expedition leader pointed out, our chef is sufficiently rounded to suggest that he really knows how to cook well! Our meal was followed by a discussion of 'housekeeping issues' and exciting things to come.

Our elegant leis

A room with a view

We arrived in Hawaii to be greeted with gorgeous leis and friendly "Alohas". After a short drive,  we reached the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu and within minutes, I was out by the pool! Here's the link to this beautiful resort: http://www.fourseasons.com/hualalai/

Around the World in 21 Days- Part 7

Opening Night

About ninety of us gathered for dinner and drinks to 'meet and greet' our fellow adventurers and the trip organizers. We enjoyed an excellent meal while making new friends and exchanging stories. As it turns out, many have travelled with TSC before. We had a briefing on the basics of the adventure and were then sent off to our rooms to pack and prepare for our flight to Hawaii tomorrow.  It begins!

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Tuna, Tuna and More Tuna

I'm overdosing on great tuna. Tuna burger for yesterday's lunch, then tuna 'cones' for dinner and tuna tostadas for lunch today.

Around the World in 21 Days- Part 6

Why It's so Great to Wake Up in a Four Seasons Hotel



What I was faced with this morning....



Around the World in 21 Days- Part 5

In L.A.-This is a Great Start

I arrived at the hotel by eleven a.m. local time and was sitting by the pool minutes later. The weather was plus 80 degrees F. and sunny, so I enjoyed the early afternoon swimming and sunbathing. The pool restaurant served an amazing tuna burger!

In the early afternoon, I began to meet my fellow travelers and we connected with TCS to complete the final paperwork for the expedition. We're ready to go and I'm now certain that this is going to be a great trip.

 
I ended the afternoon at the spa. The Four Seasons has done a remarkable design job in a small space. The waiting area is comfortable, with dried fruit and chocolate wafers available for snacks, plus the most attractive water dispensers ever!

A Treatment Room

My 'Salt and Pepper Scrub' was wonderful, done by a very skillled therapist, Bethany. She had great hands and I'm sure would have provided a fantastic massage had I not already scheduled a complimentary facial with Meagan. The facial was very thorough and really better than many I've paid for in the past.I was very impressed. More than anything I loved that both therapists loved their jobs and were genuinely happy, caring people.

Around the World in 21 Days- Part 4

The Joys of Nexus

 
I was off early this morning for my 8am flight to LA. Traffic was good heading to the airport but we arrived to the typical chaos of cars and cabs at 'Departures' ! I checked in and headed to Customs, where a very long queue wove back and forth six times. I was so happy to skip the line, go to the Nexus kiosk, get my card and basically 'fly' through. This Nexus card has been the best $50 dollar investment ever and it's good for five years - you've got to do it and it's easy to do on you own!

Janet Bass

As a bon voyage dinner we went to the new Four Seasons that open weeks ago in Toronto. http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/. It was truly a fitting choice as i launch myself into their arms for 22 nights. We dinned in the bar as the restaurant is so popular

4:19 AM

 

Around the World in 21 Days- Part 3

The Bon Voyage Dinner

As a bon voyage dinner, we went to the new Four Seasons hotel that open several weeks ago in Toronto. http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/. It was truly a fitting choice for my final meal before beginning my trip around the world. Remember, for the next twenty-two days, I'll be in the hands of the Four Seasons Group and TCS Expeditions.

Blue orchids at the Four Season-Toronto

Because the hotel restaurant is so popular, (and therefore very booked), we dined in the bar. Judging by the constant buzz at the bar, it will never be short of customers and could use a space twice as large. Those both young and old, chic and trendy filled the space from the time we arrived until we left several hours later.

I heartily recommend the bar at the Four Seasons-Toronto for great food and a fun evening.

Around the World in 21 Days- Part 2

Anticipating Day 1

I plan to head to Los Angeles a day before meeting up with my trip mates to enjoy the city and maybe take in some tanning and spa time. If lucky, my body will start the timezone adjustment process.

In preparation for the round-the-world trip, I'm starting with my favorite spa treatment - a body polish of some type. I find a polish to be the most satisfying treatment, one that really makes a difference to your skin....think 'baby's bottom' smooth.

The spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has a wide selection of scrubs,in fact, one of the largest I've seen. Should I have the 'Punta Mita Retreat'- a 'Margarita Scrub' using tequila oil? The 'Body Enzyme Peel' promising luminous skin? The 'Turkish Scrub' that uses salt and a loofah? Or the 'Salt and Pepper Scrub' that uses fine Pacific sea salts and promises to slough away my dead skin?

After consulting with the spa staff, I've decided on the 'Salt and Pepper Scrub' in honor of our recent west coast experience. I'm tagging it with a complimentary 30-minute 'refresher' facial. Remember: When booking treatments always watch for spa promotions. Here's the link: http://www.fourseasons.com/losangeles/spa/

Here I come L.A.!

Around the World in 21 Days

Some months ago I received a lovely brochure promising adventure and excitement in a round-the-world private jet tour offered by TCS & Starquest Expeditions in collaboration with the Four Seasons group. Though unfamiliar with TSC, I am very familiar with the quality of the Four Seasons organization, and was immediately interested in this once-in-lifetime opportunity. The trip became a gift to me from my husband when he realized he was working on a big case that would take him out of commission for some time. Though well-traveled, I have never experienced a group trip like this, with its compelling  offer of “10 legendary destinations.”

The advantages of private jet travel seem obvious – avoidance of congested airport transfers – no missed connections – good customs experiences - no lost bags – I hope! And of course, a little luxury! During the trip we will be offered a variety of experiences, but have the option of doing our ‘own thing’. We travel with a doctor, (which is comforting but hopefully unnecessary), three expert lecturers to enlighten us on the “ten legendary destinations”, and a Four Seasons concierge to ensure everything runs according to plan.

I’ve made my initial excursion selection, though there is lots of flexibility in this regard. I’ve also booked several spa appointments – how could I resist the call of an Ocean Opulence Treatment in Bali or an Uzhichil Massage in Mumbai?

Clearly this should be a first class trip. I head out Sunday and can hardly wait!  I’ll be posting regularly, so feel free to log on to http://travelsfromheathstreet.blogspot.ca and share the adventure with me. I hope you enjoy it.

Secrets from the blog.......

There are three very important items I carry when travelling.

The first is some form of the thermochemical ‘back warmers’ that are available at most drug stores, such as Robax Thermacare™. I find I often get chilly when flying and one of these makes every flight perfect – especially the overnight flights!

The second thing I take on board is some form of shoe alternative. I find fuzzy socks comfortable and yet thick enough to safely walk around on the plane.

Thirdly, I take an extension cord with several types of connections. This is particularly important if you are carrying multiple pieces of electronic equipment such as an ipad, ipod, ebook, and phone. This very clever device allows you recharge them all at once; you don’t have to scramble around looking for multiple chargers. I’m sure that there’s at least one charger left in every hotel around the world every day! I purchased the charger shown in the attached photograph at  Restoration Hardware. It turned out to be one of those awkwardly-shaped objects that once taken out of its compact packaging, will never fit back in.

The Gift

A trip around the world is no small event even for a seasoned traveler like me , so I had been corresponding with TSC and Starquest Expeditions, (our Seattle-based trip organizers), for some time. I'd been told to expect a travel bag in the mail, and on return from our recent trip to San Francisco there was indeed a package waiting for me.  My excitement waned when I was faced with a very small vinyl duffel bag with no accompanying note or explanation, simply a customs tag stating “travel bag”. Could this be it my high class bag from the high class travel group? Was this a taste of things to come? After putting on my glasses I read the fine print on the envelope….. “Please enjoy your free gift from Conde Naste.”

Underwhelmed by vinyl duffel bag

Several days later I received my package from TSC – a lovely carry-on bag with travel locks, a backpack, an amenities set and a binder detailing our adventure. I know I’m going to be on the right plane! 

Packing for a Trip Around the World

How do you pack for a 21-day trip? This is my current dilemma – 8 countries, a broad range of temperatures, and a very full agenda of activities from water sports to climbing Ayers Rock! 

Over the years, I've become a very 'lean' packing machine. I feel foolish when unpacking after a trip and find that I haven’t worn many of the clothes I hauled half-way around the world. My experience with trips to Africa taught me that it’s okay to wear the same outfits repeatedly and that laundry facilities do exist. Plus, I love wearing  jeans (over and over).

Usually, with a couple of pairs of pants and  tops, a sweater, and a rain jacket, I'm done.“Carry on” luggage is my travel philosophy. By and large, I’ve been successful with packing, although France in May was a disaster. Unusually bad weather caused me to wear my one yellow cashmere sweater non-stop - I felt, and looked, like a bumblebee!

So, as for those upcoming 21 days and nights….I see the packing issues as:

·         The tedious nature of repeated packing and unpacking
·         Finding the things you want without having to dump everything out of your bag
·        The  range of possible weather – from tropical to blustery and cold
·         Shoes!         

Our travel company recommends a few pairs of pants – hmm- I’m up to eight pairs of pants and capris already. That's not so good. So, my starting point is going to be a strategy of organization. I've purchased several small bags for different items such as:

• Drugs I need
• Drugs I hope I don’t need
• Underwear
• Items for the beach, from suits to sun tan lotion
• Shoes!

The shoe bag

I found a three-tiered 'shelf' with mesh sides that fits into my carry-on bag and then lifts out to fit on a closet rod – this should be both easy to view and easy to use. We'll see. Currently, I'm organizing my flexible 'shelf' this way: shelf # 1, scarves; shelf # 2,T-shirts; shelf #3, sweaters.

My folding 'shelf"

Remember: rolling clothing, rather than folding it, maximizes space and reduces wrinkles.

It remains to be seen whether my organizational strategy works. Time will tell. I'll keep you posted!