Vieques Island Puerto Rico

This hidden treasure is located 50 miles east of Puerto Rico. Some call it one of the "Spanish" Virgin Islands. Countless beaches, each with its own personality, and sense of seclusion await. Stroll for miles on soft sugar sand, stretch under your private palm tree, lose yourself to a good book. The island of Vieques, pronounced "vee-eck-us", boasts flamboyan trees and bougainvillea which provide living rainbows illuminating the land.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Vieques is famous for one of the most spectacular bioluminescent bays in the world. Touring the bay at night is a truly unique and magical experience.  Under a clear star studded sky, marvel as a mystical force of nature in the water turns all that moves aglow.

Savor 105 varieties of mango or pluck a papaya from its tree.  Cleave a coconut for its refreshing water. Enjoy passion fruit juice with Puerto Rican rum. Pick fresh avocado for salad and enjoy the delicious plantains.

The island's 82 degree weather year round beckons you to the water. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling or diving. Explore cays by kayak or bike through this quaint 52 square mile island.

A 30 minute flight from San Juan on Cape Air provides spectacular views of Puerto Rico throughout the short journey. This intimate flying experience with 8 of your new closest best friends is truly a delightful experience provided you can get over the check-in process where they weigh your luggage and boldly ask you "how much you weigh"!

I am staying at the unique W Retreat Resort in Vieques, which opened a little over a year ago. This is one of three (3) W Retreat Resorts in the world and truly a sanctuary of delights. More to follow in the days ahead.

A Long Night at the Long Bar and more....

A few of us enjoyed our last night in Singapore by revisiting Raffles and seeing a new side of it from our first visit to dinner. We were fortunate enough to have an appointment with Roslee, the assistant guest relations manager/ concierge. Little did we know we were in for a treat! We are convinced he is one of the best historians of this historic property. Roslee gave us a private tour and delighted us with colorful and detailed stories that brought this landmark hotel alive. We felt a part of the history. Stories included an interesting tale about the silverware that was buried under the pool prior to the Japanese invasion of Singapore.

We visited the prestigious suite that Queen Elizabeth stayed on her visit to Singapore. This is a perfect place to bring your family and allow them to become a part of the history. A priceless and rare gift for those desiring a one of a kind experience. Celebrities include Ava Gardner, Queen Elizabeth, Charlie Chaplin, Heads of State, and many more too numerous to mention.

We finished our evening at the infamous “Long Bar” to enjoy the signature Singapore Sling drink. This beverage was created at Raffles Hotel at the turn-of-the-century by Hainanese-Chinese bartender, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon.

In the Hotel’s museum, visitors may view the safe in which Mr. Ngiam locked away His precious recipe books, as well as the Sling recipe hastily jotted down on a bar-chit in 1936 by a Hotel visitor who asked the waiter for it. Originally, the Sling was meant as a woman’s drink, hence the attractive pink color. Today, it is enjoyed by all.

Raffles Hotel, the legendary symbol for all “the fables of the Exotic East” was established in 1887. Be sure on your visit to say hello to Jimmy at the Grand Lobby Piano while enjoying his tunes - the best ever!

Singapore Facts

Singapore – Republic of Singapore - I love little facts at a glance on destinations I visit. Here is a great overview:

• Singapore Dollar $1.20 USD = 1 Singapore Dollar
• Multi-cultural: Chinese 70%, Malay 15%, Indian 10%, Other 5%
• Population 5 million – about the size of St. Lucia in the Caribbean and growing – “reclaimed land”. It is the 2nd most densely populated country (1st is Monaco)
• Singapore has over 50% of its area

covered by greenery with over 50 major parks and 4 nature reserves. It is an enchanting garden city.
• History: This area was a part of Malaysia and they separated in 1965.
• Changi Airport – well organized, and incredibly fast immigration and baggage
• Location: Southeast Asia, South of Malaysia, North of Indonesia and right near the equator
• Weather: Tropical Climate: Hot and humid
• 18-hole fully lit golf course for night play (approximately $400 for green fees, club rental, cart, hotel transfers)
• The Flyer – A “ferris wheel” similar to the one in London. Approximately 30 people are lifted in the sky in an enclosed air-conditioned capsule for spectacular views of Singapore. One revolution takes 30-minutes and the capsule moves very slowly. Shopping and restaurants are located all around this area.
•Description:
o Vibrant nightlife scene
o Multi-cultural for dining and shopping: Little India, ChinaTown, Arab area,
o Orchard Row – 5th Avenue shops and miles and miles of shopping malls
o Marina Bay – newest feature dominated by the Marina Bay Sands casino, shops, and the SkyPark***
o Riverside – Singapore’s colonial core, museums, statues, theaters, restaurants, bars, clubs
o Sentosa-a separate island once a military fort developed into a resort. Sentosa is the closest that Singapore gets to Disneyland, now with a dash of gambling, Universal Studios, Feng Shui exhibit and tour (I actually found it very informative! Just a little bit “Universal Studio’ish). Capella Resort located on Sentosa.

Raffles Hotel Singapore

Home of the Singapore Sling and named after Sir Stanford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore in the 1800's, the Raffles Hotel is an iconic hotel to visitors and one of the most beloved grand hotels in history. It's British colonial charm and contemporary elegance amid the lush green landscape is an inviting destination to travellers. It is now a National Monument and a must visit when coming to Singapore.

Laurent, the new General Manager shared what he believes to be one of the greatest secrets and values for this property: the Butlers. Guests will be privvy to the personal attention and service of their own private butler in one of the 100 all-suite guest rooms.

We enjoyed a fine dining experience at Raffles Grill with the General Manager after cocktails in the garden courtyard. Visits to the Longfin Bar must not be missed. This two-story bar is home to the Singapore Sling and the bar's design was inspired by the Malayan plantations of the 1920's.

Singapore's China Town - by Trishaw!

Kristin and I travelled throughout China Town and the Financial District of Singapore in a Trishaw! This is similar to a rickshaw; however, it requires "pedal power" in the form of a bicycle. We had a Chinese driver that spoke very little English so we enjoyed the breeze and scenery of this colorful part of Singapore. We were followed by fifteen or so other Trishaws with our friends from Travel+Leisure. It was a perfect way to navigate the narrow streets where the shop vendors could show their wares. Several continued on foot to shop and some to visit the Buddhist Temple or to feast on the famous "chicken-rice" dish.

After a tour of the city, we boarded a "bum boat" to take in the view of this vibrant city and coastal area on the Singapore River. We terminated our cruise at the Fullerton Heritage area where the infamous Merlion statue is positioned. This area draws more than a million visitors each year.

Business Class with Singapore Airlines

Some say Singapore Airlines is one of the most outstanding airlines, and it's true. The gracious service and beautiful Singaporean women are a welcome respite in the world of air travel today. Singapore has a new fleet of aircraft that make it an extremely comfortable way to travel.

I experienced the First Non-Stop All-Business Class flight between North America and Asia, offering the newly designed Business Class seats.

The seat configuration is 1-2-1 and the seat width is 30". The best part was that the seat fully reclines to a flat bed with a generous 6'4" length! There is A/C power, a USB Port, and a 15.4" TV monitor at every seat.

You can immerse yourself in non-stop entertainment which offers more than 1,000 on-demand entertainment options, ranging from the latest blockbusters, TV programs, interactive games, and an extensive menu of audio CDs and radio channels. There are even learning applications including foreign language learning, management and leadership Executive book summaries, and culture quest. This competes with your discipline to carve out some time for sleep.

During my flight, I enjoyed a review of the book called "Primal Leadership" and gained some great insight! I also brushed up on my conversational French. The flight was actually shy of 16 hours and despite the many video options, I enjoyed a restful sleep arriving in Singapore around 430am. My daughter Kristin arrived two hours earlier and was there to greet me upon my arrival. It was a wonderful way to be welcomed to this beautiful island.

Singapore with Travel+Leisure 2011

Singapore will complete my third trip to Asia in the past 12 months. The Asian people define hospitality beyond what we pride ourselves in the South as Southern Hospitality. It is a joy for me to return to Singapore with many of my esteemed colleagues within the travel industry, and more importantly to share this wonderful experience with my daughter Kristin.

Singapore is a tiny island state in Southeast Asia, south of Malaysia. It encompasses over 250 square miles and is half the size of the island of Kauai in Hawaii, and a little larger than the island of St Lucia in the Caribbean. Over 5 million people call Singapore home with over 75% of the population Chinese. Despite it's small size, the island is expanding. There is much "reclaimed land".

Singapore is 12-hours ahead of Eastern time zone. So, if it is 5pm in Atlanta, it is 5am the next morning in Singapore. Simply advance 12-hours and you will know the time difference!

I am sitting in the relaxing Star Alliance Lounge in Los Angeles waiting for my 9pm Singapore Airlines departure. We will be flying on their all business class flight non-stop to Singapore, for what I believe to be a 16-hour flight! I plan to enjoy a good night's rest in the flat-bed business class section. Pictures hopefully to follow... good night...good

morning...I guess it depends where in the world you are :)