travelog - SEL

Luxury Cruise, and Overnight Stay, on the Mekong Delta with Mekong Eyes - Vietnam - January 2016

31/1/2016

Can you spot Issy & the non la Noir. Dining in the Dark, Saigon gave us?

The night before my luxury Mekong Delta cruise I had dinner in El Gaucho - an Argentinian steak place by the Park Hyatt, Saigon. Krug, Cristal & Dom Perignon champagne were on offer and I was shocked by the size of my eventual bill, mainly caused a mediocre steak that was far too big for me to eat. I had to go to Saigon, Saigon, on the roof of the Caravelle hotel, again for martinis to recover from the shock of this.

I had to be ready at 8am for my Mekong Eyes pick up and the journey to the boat took just over three hours, with a rather nice 20 minute stop at the Mekong Rest Stop 1/2 way for refreshments, I got some postcards I love there.

Coffee with the General Manager of InterContinental Asiana Saigon & Tour of the Hotel - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - January 2016

29/1/2016

I had coffee with James Young (General Manager of the InterContinental Asiana Saigon) because we have a mutual friend who used to work at the German Embassy in Doha.

I had not intended to write anything in www.sifrew.com about this but James is such a special person, and his hotel such a quality operation, I had to post something.

Their stunning pool reminds me of the one at the Fullerton Bay in Singapore.

Dinner at Noir. Dining in the Dark, Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - an experience not to be missed - January 2016

29/1/2016

The Noir 'mystery menus', also in braille.

All the great reviews of Noir. Dining in the Dark, Saigon, and the fact it employs blind and visually impaired staff, meant I ignored a friend's moans about the Paris version. Another friend had raved about her Tokyo 'dinner in the dark'.

Despite having read lots about it, I arrived feeling unsure/nervous. Going down a non-descript alleyway, wondering if I was in the right place, did not help. However, Germ (one of the owners) welcomed me by name and I knew it was going to be an incredible experience.

Lunch in Hoi An, Saigon - the best Vietnamese food restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - January 2016

28/1/2016

Hoi An, Saigon's signature dish - cao lau - thin slices of pork, shrimp & crumbled sesame cake pieces over noodles, accompanied by bone marrow broth.

On my third day in Vietnam I decided I must try some 'real' Vietnamese food.

Hoi An, Saigon is regarded as the best restaurant for Vietnamese food in Ho Chi Minh City, & one of the best restaurants in Asia, and so that is where I went for lunch after seeing the Park Hyatt, Saigon.

Tour of Park Hyatt, Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - January 2016

28/1/2016

The Park Hyatt, Saigon is one of the most luxurious (and expensive) hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and so I decided I must have a look around it. I also wanted to have a chat with their staff about the rest of my time in Vietnam.

Etihad Airways Business Class flight from Abu Dhabi to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam - January 2016

27/1/2016

The Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 at Abu Dhabi International Airport, after the hoards left!

After an 8 hour night wait (from just before midnight until 7:35am) in the Etihad Airways Premium Lounges at Abu Dhabi International Airport, I desperately needed my bed on the plane.

From all the people trying to sleep in the Premium Lounge at Abu Dhabi when I first arrived, Etihad Airways (unlike Qatar Airways) have difficulty scheduling fast connections for their numerous transit customers.

Etihad Airways A380 First Class 'Apartment' flight from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi - January 2016

26/1/2016

We 'survived' our first shower on a plane.

Having had dinner with a friend from Shrewsbury School in Gaggan in Bangkok, who had flown in the First Class 'Apartment' on Etihad Airways, where you have a 'living room' and use of a shower on the plane, I decided I had to try their A380.

Staying at The Dorchester hotel in a Deanery Suite, London - January 2016

25/1/2016

I decided, for my last night in the UK before my two months in Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia, I had to stay at The Dorchester again.

I regard The Dorchester as my present 'London home' - sorry Four Seasons Park Lane but Mr Sharp loves The Dorchester too - and Roland (the General Manager), Janice (his PA), Katarina (from Guest Liaison) and John (General Manager of 45 Park Lane) as friends.

Early 2016

19/1/2016

The bar upstairs on an Etihad Airways A380.

Excluding New York, my first big trip of 2016 will be two months in Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia. I will be flying with Etihad Airways on one of their A380s in a First Class Apartment and staying at
The Dorchester on my last night in the UK.

Should be a perfect way to start 2016.

Lunch at Renaissance, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK - January 2016

15/1/2016

Having helped to serve the wine at one of mum's lunch parties, I went off for a quiet lunch alone. I decided to try Renaissance, as mum has raved about their chef's ability.

Haircut at Royston Blythe, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK - January 2016

15/1/2016

When a haircut is needed in Shrewsbury, it has to be Royston Blythe - The Dorchester's former hairdressers, who used to style HM the Queen's hair and have worked with Christian Lacroix, Katie Price and Katy Perry.

Breakfast in Number Four, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK - January 2016

13/1/2016

What do you do on a damp (post-Christmas) day in Shropshire but have a cooked breakfast with one of your best friends from your Shrewsbury School days.

Number Four was the obvious choice, as the best place in Shrewsbury for this.

Club World (Business Class) Flight with British Airways from New York JFK to London Heathrow - January 2016

7/1/2016

The drive from Manhattan to JFK never seems easy these days.

At JFK the Club World check-in at British Airways Terminal 7 is in a separate area with no queues.

Tour of The Mark hotel, New York - January 2016

7/1/2016

When you hear a hotel has a penthouse suite that costs US$75,000 a night, you have to visit the hotel. This is the largest suite in America and the most expensive in the world.

I was also interested to see The Mark again, having stayed there a number of years ago. I was so glad I did this on my last day in New York, it is such a special hotel.

Cocktails in the Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Terminal in New York - January 2016

7/1/2016

I had to start my last evening in New York somewhere special and had read lots about the Campbell Apartment in Grand Central and a number of friends had recommended it.

Lunch at the Oyster Bar & Restaurant in Grand Central Terminal, New York - January 2016

4/1/2016

I always love eating in Grand Central but some poor dining experiences in Michael Jordan's meant I had to find an alternative venue.

Friends have been recommending the Oyster Bar & Restaurant for years. I tried to go there on a Sunday night but they were closed. However, I had more luck at lunchtime the next day.

Tour of The Peninsula hotel, New York - January 2016

3/1/2016

The Peninsula, New York is not a hotel I usually think about but having had such an incredible time with Carrie at the Hong Kong Peninsula I decided I must take my special Hong Kong teddy bear Peter there and I was glad that I did.

Sunday Breakfast at The Plaza Hotel, New York - January 2016

3/1/2016

The Plaza hotel is a New York icon and I decided I must have a Sunday breakfast there. There is something very special when you walk though that hotel's doors.

New Year at Four Seasons New York - December 2015

2/1/2016

New York screams New Year and so, despite all my travel in the last few months, I booked Four Seasons New York to see in the New Year in perfect style.

Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental, New York - January 2016

2/1/2016

I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental New York shortly after it opened in 2003 and decided to try their breakfast again. It is worth going there for the views alone.