A taste of old Rangoon
Hidden away in corners of Yangon, Myanmar, are memories of the often unwelcome presence of occupying nations. Nevertheless they offer stylish refuges from the modern bustle and clutter of this busy city. Yangon like so many Asian cities is growing faster than it can accommodate in terms of cleanliness, clutter and noise. It’s not one of the most attractive cities we’ve been to, being an amalgam of pagodas, power-lines and pollution...
Ferme Favourite
La Petite Ferme in South Africa’s Franschhoek winelands not only offers high quality homely accommodation but great cuisine and stunning views. ‘The Little Farm’ is named, not as an affectation but as a reference to the 17th & 18th Century Huguenot exiles from France, who escaped persecution by Louis XIV, bringing their vines, crafts and skills with them, at the invitation of Dutch Protestant settlers in the Cape. As the story...
Every seasons’ fare at The May Fair
Playground of High Society since 1927; graced by King George V and Queen Mary; showcase for London Fashion Week and the British Film Institute; masterpiece of contemporary style and opulence – The May Fair Hotel has evolved to lead expectations; like a charismatic chameleon throughout each era of its existence. Its initially slightly dour and conservative facade, despite the decorative trappings of Christmas, is quickly...
Searching for a great meal in Cape Town? Visit these five ace places.
In this, the last of our Cape Town series, we’ve avoided the ‘must be seen at’ places – even if we could get into them in less than a month – opting for attractive and unusual places that offer good quality, interesting food, with an overall great atmosphere and service. We’ve listed them below in alphabetical order to avoid favouritism, as each is excellent in its own right. Ash Restaurant ASH, as the name unsurprisingly...
Magical Royal Mansour – Marrakech
Dining fit for a King… To call the Royal Mansour an ‘hotel’ is to create preconceptions for the visitor that threaten to undermine the true magic of the experience. One should go with an open mind. Arriving at the commanding Moorish façade one could be forgiven for thinking that you’d simply arrived at the walls of the Medina itself, until on closer inspection the first hints of true craftsmanship appear. Passing through the...
