Varun's Daily Diary

2012-02-01T16:15:00.000Z

Home to find a thick layer of frost covering the ground. Yesterday on Cayman, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was around 27 degrees C ... today in London, the sun was shining, the sky was blue BUT it was around 2 degrees C ... brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

It was a long flight home (via Nassau) ... and I tried to sleep as much as I could. Aeroplane sleep is just okay at the best of circumstances ... so I am quite tired now.

I am finding it hard to believe that it's the 1st February today ... where did January go?

Introducing ... Jack Hardy ... the new "James" ... so far, so good!

2012-01-31T17:56:00.000Z

Time to bid a sad farewell to Grand Cayman, the Caribbean and the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman.

After a wonderful dinner and a morning swim (4 am), we all met up in Blue - the Eric Ripert signature restaurant here in the resort. The Chef de Cuisine Luis Lujan swept me through two dishes - conch ceviche and poached black snapper. Both truly awesomely wonderful ...

The resort has 365 rooms and 24 residences (one of them has been mine) - 9-hole Greg Norman golf course - La Prairie spa - a long stretch of Seven Mile Beach - swimming pools - tennis courts ... nice.

I have to say that Grand Cayman has fast become my favourite island in the Caribbean! The flight from London is a pain ... but if that was sorted out ... I would be tempted to move here! I joke not ... I am not sure the Moo or my Pops would join me though ...

OK - time to check out! Next stop - London!

(TONIGHT - Inside Luxury Travel - new series - 1900 hrs CET on Travel Channel - Europe, Africa and Middle East only - we're in Sweden ... We stay at the Treehotel in Harads and The Grand Hotel, Stockholm - visit the Vasa Museum, cook with Mathias Dahlgren and eat brown bear! ENJOY!)

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

2012-01-30T07:24:00.000Z

What a day!

Started off at Seven Fathoms Rum in George Town - run by Walker Romanica. This rum is distilled using local sugar cane and is matured seven fathoms undersea ... 42 feet ... giving it its unique taste. Yum.

Then we went on the water with chef Niven Patel from The Brasserie. The restaurant - in Cricket Square - is one of the finest on the Cayman Islands. We first went out on the water to make a conch cerviche ... before returning to the restaurant to prepare a red snapper dish. Both most lovely!

In the evening, I met with dear old friends at Bamboo - a local sushi restaurant ...

I am tired!

with Walker Romanica - the owner of Seven Fathoms Rum

Chef Niven Patel from The Brasserie

dear friends - Al (happy birthday dude) and Susanna ... xx

2012-01-29T03:16:00.000Z

It's been a full day of filming ... and what a day it has been ...

First up, we drove 15 minutes to meet Carol Hay - the owner of Cayman Gourmet Pepper Jelly (jam) - which is the premier condiment in the country. She uses "scotch bonnet" peppers in her jelly which is the hottest type one in the world. Carol showed me how she creates her jelly - a 24 hour process - and I made the mistake of licking a knife that had just sliced a pepper ... I can still feel the burn.

Carol is just such a lovely lady ... and her cottage industry is quite successful here on Cayman.

From there we popped into Ambassador Divers which is run by Jason Washington - located just 5 minutes drive from the resort. With Divemaster (Divemistress?) Tara Hodgins and the Head Chef of Michael's Genuine Restaurant - Thomas Tennant - we went on scuba dive to harpoon some lionfish. The lionfish is the biggest pest in the Caribbean ... the species is actually from the Indo-Pacific but has found its way here and is eating everything & breeding like ... rabbits! It is wrecking the ecosystem.

So it's open season for killing the lionfish and we speared eight of them in twenty minutes ...

We then went back to the restaurant where Thomas prepared a fabulous tartare ... and a wood-fired roasted fish too ... both delicious.

It's been an exhausting but wonderful day!

With Carol

Really???!!!

Thomas and Tara

Lionfish

2012-01-28T03:46:00.000Z

I am the victim of culinary abuse ... and I liked it! I have just had a TEN course meal at Blue - the signature restaurant here at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. I usually would not enjoy a meal like that but Eric Ripert (famous US chef) has done a great job to make the food ... awesome. There was also a wine-pairing with each course ... I couldn't cope but Laura, Tim and even Jack were up to the task.

It's been an odd day ... as this afternoon, my work was "cancelled" as the chef was ill.

The morning was spent at Naturally Cayman ... the country's first hydroponic farm ... owned by Stephen Herron. He grows lettuces, green, tomatoes, endemame ... and all sorts ... with no soil, just water and liquid nutrients ...

The island of Grand Cayman is around 200 square kilometres in area with a population of 60,000 ... 99.9% of all produce is imported from the US ... but hopefully this new way of farming will catch on and the islanders will embrace hydroponic produce.

I am so tired ... sleep ... BIG day tomorrow.

on the beach

really?

with stephen

pooch on ritz-carlton beach recliner

jack's new friend (he wishes!)

2012-01-27T01:22:00.018Z

Greetings from the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman!

It was a long, long flight from London to Grand Cayman ... via the Bahamas. Just a few months ago I was on this same flight when we filmed in the Bahamas ... and I remember the flight well as I did not have ANY in-flight entertainment. Guess what? This flight was the same ... THANKFULLY, a wee bundle of gorgeousness - 13-month old Sophia - was sitting by me and was hugely & adorably entertaining for 9 hours! Who needs movies when you have Sock Puppet Man ...!

We arrived here in bright warm sunshine. Tim (cameraman) is in his ELEVENTH year working with me, Jack (new chap) and we are joined on this trip by PR Laura -- who also looked after us in Madeira. Somehow she has come back for more ...

Filming starts in the morning ...

My suite is gorgeous by the way!

2012-01-26T18:00:00.000Z

So, today is Republic Day in India, Australia Day in .... and Liberation Day in Uganda ... happy day to their inhabitants ...

This time tomorrow I will be in Grand Cayman - 82 degrees during the day ... sadly I am there only for 3 nights but hopefully enough time to catch some sun on my ghostly frame. It's been rather cold & chilly here today ... but I have noticed that the days are getting "longer" ...

I need a holiday ...

Me playing at the Yas Links Course in Abu Dhabi ... I believe that some rather fabulous golfers are there this week ...

2012-01-25T16:47:00.000Z

A few years ago - on a trip to Warsaw - I was invited to a traditional Burns Night supper ...

I arrived at the event in one of Poland's finest hotels - dressed in full Scottish regalia and enjoyed a wonderful but slightly crazy evening ... culminating in the tasting of haggis (yuk) and downing several large drams of whisky (hurrah).

The celebrated Scottish poet Robert Burns was born on the 25th of January ... and first up, the Selkirk Grace:

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
And sae let the Lord be thankit.

Followed by soup ...

Then the main course - the haggis arrives:

Address To a Haggis
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o' a grace As lang's my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o' need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dicht, An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, Trenching your gushing entrails bricht, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sicht, Warm-reekin, rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve, Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, "Bethankit" hums.
Is there that o're his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad mak her spew Wi' perfect scunner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner?
Poor devil! see him ower his trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash, His nieve a nit; Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread. Clap in his wallie nieve a blade, He'll mak it whistle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' thristle.
Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer, Gie her a haggis! (Haggis is a kind of savoury pudding containing sheep's heart liver & lungs, minced with onion, suet, spices and oatmeal and encased in an animal's stomach and simmered for three hours!) Then you eat & drink whisky and toast everyone ... then you dance ... Tonight I am having cheese on toast! Ha! (by the way, my spell-check has just had a nervous breakdown.)

2012-01-24T19:54:00.000Z

I have just realised that we fly to Grand Cayman (located just south of Cuba) on Friday morning and I am totally unprepared. So much to do ... so little time.

The central coast of California show aired in Europe (ex-UK & Eire) this evening ... it seems that our viewers really like it.

I went for a full-body massage this afternoon to purge my frame of all the Fit Camp pains ... and it seems to have worked. I feel great ... but still rather tired ... may try a long jog tomorrow ...

2012-01-23T17:37:00.000Z

Welcome to the real world ...

Awoke early today with a slight pain in my arm and leg ... fell out of bed ... vaguely pretended to look for my trainers ... and then realised that Fit Camp was no more and fell back into bed!

Have found that I no longer like tea - with or without sugar and that everything I eat tastes either too salty or sugary ... it's all quite odd ...

Anyway yesterday we filmed a segment at Champneys with Stephen Purdew (the owner) ... in which we "prepared" chicken & lettuce wraps and halloumi stir-fry - both dishes I have eaten last week - both containing under 280 calories! Both quite delicious ...

Yesterday also the marked the start of a new dawn in the form of Jack Hardy - our new camera assistant! More on him later in the week...

I have booked a deep-tissue massage for tomorrow ... as many parts of my body are really aching ... and we are off filming abroad later this week ...

The crew - with Stephen Purdew

Chicken wrap

Chateau Champneys ... hmm ... the vintage 2012 is not bad

With Moss the Head Chef

2012-01-22T17:42:00.000Z

I am home! Finally ...

It's been a rather long day ... after a rather long week!

It could have been quite a lonely last evening BUT I had a surprise visitor ... which was so, so lovely!

Today has been about cooking and filming BUT more on that tomorrow after I have had some sleep.

I did NOT enjoy a sugarless cup of tea today ... or half a KitKat ... Ketchup is still yummy ... bacon & egg sandwich not so ... isn't it strange how a week away from all the good stuff dulls the taste buds?

So looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight ... dreaming of a wee jog tomorrow perhaps?

With James ... he lives only 30 minutes from Champneys (Tring) and he took an evening out of his busy schedule to visit me!!! Ahhhhh ........

2012-01-21T17:24:00.000Z

Boot Camp Day 8:

SO - how well did I do this week? More about that at end of today's Diary entry ...

I am here all by myself today - sadly. The rest of the group have gone home as I am here to do some filming tomorrow.

So what have I done today? Up early for THE weigh-in ... the breakfast .... the another Kriotherapy session where Renata the adorably crazy therapist stuck me in the chamber at - 140 degrees for four minutes (as opposed to - 135 degrees at 3 minutes - the usual) ... then it was 40 minutes on a "power plate" where I got a fabulous work-out.

THEN it was time for lunch ... I mean LUNCH!!!!!!!!!! Of course, it was all healthy stuff - but there no was calorie controlled stuff ... and I didn't unexpectedly pig-out ... instead just munched on good stuff ... I felt quite pious!

After lunch - a colonic ... ouch!

I finished off my afternoon with a relaxing mani/pedi ... tonight ... dinner and rest!

SOOOO ................

OK - well - I lost 7.5 lbs (3.5 kgs) in body weight ... lost 7 cms off my waist ... 6 cms off my waist and gained 1 cm on my chest ... all in all ... I think I have done quite well ... !!!!

2012-01-20T21:39:00.000Z

Boot Camp Day 7:

Over ... & out! I have come to the end of the "official" boot camp ... I am in deep, deep, dark, dark pain ...

I am actually here until Sunday ... so tomorrow I will do some soft exercise ... but nothing too strenuous ... that may change if I get the urge.

So - awake rather early (again) but this time we headed out for a trot around Champneys. The resort is set in 170 acres of countryside ... so there is a GREAT deal of space here!

After a breakfast of smoke salmon bagels (yum) we played some outdoor games before some underwater exercise ...

Lunch was a king prawn Thai curry ... I didn't like it at all ... bleugh!

Then we went on a "Powerwalk".

There are - I think - five main reasons why people do a Fit Camp at this time of year:

1) Those who a relatively fit who need a bit of motivation - something different to add to their fitness regime
2) Those who want to lose a couple of pounds after the Xmas indulgence
3) Those who really want to start getting fit - health, age or overweight
4) Those who have a goal
5) Those who need to change their lives

I am Number 4 ... with a bit of 5 and 3 thrown in there for good measure. With the NY Marathon in November looming ... I need to get with the program ... and this afternoon I managed a 3-mile trot in just over 30 minutes ... this has given me a lot of a positivity! I can do it - I will do it ...

The day did end with a massage ... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Antony & myself double up as tea-boys ... (herbal of course!)

We played cricket today ... and this was one of the funniest and most spectacular dismissals in the history of cricket ... Sherry missed the ball and swung at her stumps ... what you see above is the moment it happened! Awesome! Even Sherry is shocked!

You can run Shazza, you can hide Shazza ... but you can't escape Shazza!

The pool ...

2012-01-19T18:41:00.000Z

Boot Camp Day 6:

Zumba! Now this is one "sport" I never expected to try!

Up and in a stretch class at 0700. Not bad ... No real pains ... then at 0830, it was the Zumba class. I have two left feet ... and two left hands ... which means that ANY kind of dancing is an issue for me. Zumba is no different. Karen the instructor shimmied into studio - played all her best Ricky Martin, Shakira and Cuban tracks ... and danced in a weirdly workouty kind of way. We all followed like lambs ... (hmmm ... lamb ....) - some of the class had rhythm ... same (like me) jumped around like angry fleas. It did bring me out in a wee sweat though ...

Next up - fun on the tennis courts. Circuits and games ...

We then had a motivation talk ... it was ... erm ... motivating?

Spinning - now this is another activity new to me this week. I spun for an hour which equates to the "calories" in a bottle of wine ... the only issue is that we don't get wine here! I sweated like a goat in a desert. My legs were in a bad state after this BUT I still had some energy left for a 5 mile walk after lunch (which I didn't finish as it tasted ... grim ... and I am actually so hungry at the moment that I would even eat my own cooking!).

I slipped out of Pilates - it was rather too intellectual for me - but ended the day working out under water ... in the pool that is ...

I AM BEYOND EXHAUSTED!

Dancing with Karen - I do NOT move like Jagger ... more like King Kong ...

Celine points out that I have grown a beard and now look like a gorilla on a bicycle ... Jacqui stop waving!

2012-01-18T18:39:00.000Z

Boot Camp Day 5:

Last year I visited Lulea in Sweden. I had a fabulous guide at the TreeHotel ... a chap called Love. I remember asking him what is the coldest temperature he had ever endured and he said - 60 degrees C ...

Well, today I stepped into a chamber where I experienced - 135 degrees C. Yes folks MINUS 135 degrees in a treatment called Kriotherapy!

Basically the cold searches out problem areas ... and "sends" oxygenated blood there ... the therapy is meant to help fatigue, muscle ache, joint pain, insomnia ... and a few other ailments.

You are in the - 135 degrees chamber for just 3 minutes BUT you feel it! Two of my fellow "Fit Farmers" - Jacqui and Keely - joined me ... and we shared our time with a professional footballer ...

It was cold ... brrrr ... but worked! I am going back later in the week ... fabulous!!!

Also today: wake up workout, 7 miles hike (ouch) and some cardio games ... finished off with a lovely head massage!

I AM EXHAUSTED ...

Dizzee Rascal (musician)

Chemmy Alcott (skiier)

Inside at - 135 degrees!

2012-01-17T18:23:00.000Z

Boot Camp Day 4:

I love ballet! I really do ... I try and go as often as I can and one of the highlights of our Prague episode was an evening backstage at the Hungarian Ballet ... it was sensational!

Yes - I am still here! I haven't escaped! In fact, I am really quite enjoying this week.

Up early again and into the gym for 45-minutes of warming up ... after a quick breakfast, we headed out onto The Chiltern Way for a 4-mile trot ... before a circuit session on the tennis court. By this stage, every muscle and bone was aching ... but watching my fellow Fit Farmers (?) really, really pushing themselves gave me the added umph to battle on.

At midday we all gathered in Studio 2 to meet with a ballet teacher ... Pippa (aka Pip). Yes, by the way, you have to have a posh name to dance ballet - like Pip or Darcy ... not Sharon or Varun! We learnt grand plie, demi plie, eleve ... Position 1 to 5 ... and yes, it was painful ... but it was great fun. I dance like an elephant who has drunk too much coconut-cocktails - by the way ... I think Pip was very unimpressed! I did break into a sweat ... and the music was lovely ... so there were a couple of positives!

After lunch (healthy again! grrr!) we had the afternoon off to rest ... or not ... I did some work and also went for a walk AND a swim! How righteous do I feel? Ha!

Before dinner I had a relaxing and rejuvenating massage!!

"I feeeeel goooood!" (Jame Brown ... a great singer and dancer ... unlike me who is rubbish at both!).

Pippa ... (and yes, I should steer clear of tight t-shirts!)

Bouncing Ballet! Wowee! I did not try this ... ha!

I did tell Moo ... she is VERY pleased! She doesn't do health farms - she does do chicken farms though!

2012-01-16T20:57:00.000Z

Boot Camp Day 3:

Ouch, ouch, ouch and ouch!

Despite the pain - I am having a fabulous time here at Champneys. There are 20 of us on the course and we seem to have gelled quite nicely. I like that.

So - up very early again and into the gym for circuits ... by 0915, we had eaten breakfast and were "playing games" on the tennis court! By games I mean charging about throwing balls at each other!

Aquafit in the pool was enlightening ... and my arms are in deep, deep pain ...

After a low calorie lunch (I am on 1700 calories a day) it was a 5-mile gallumping around the area. I loved it - it was chilly, dry, sunny ... and ... perfect ... I think I like walking!

We had a nutrition lesson as well today and were taught how to prepare "Bliss Balls" ... which are a very healthy alternative to chocolates, crisps or biscuits ...

--- 250g rolled oats
--- 150g dried fruit (chopped)
--- 1 tablespoon of nut butter (peanut?)
--- 100ml of soya milk
--- 100g pumpkin & sunflower seeds
--- coconut flakes to coat

mix ... roll into small balls ... put in fridge ... YUM!

I think that I may try this one at home myself!!!

One highlight of the day - seeing I was of Indian extraction - one of the world's most famous boxers (who was working out in the gym here) shouted out "How ya' doin' Chief?" - how I giggled ...

3 Week Beard ...

Brrrrrrrr!

2012-01-15T18:45:00.000Z

Boot Camp Day 2:

I am exhausted! Up quite, quite early ... and straight into a stretch class ... followed by breakfast ... which was just one miserable bowl of muesli! No bacon & egg sandwiches here!

At 0830 it was time for bodysculpt ... which is lots of stretching and weights ... at the end of this session I was ready for bed! Every muscle was hurting ... every bone wanted to escape from my body ... but instead I dragged myself to an hour of yoga ... which I have to say was quite lovely! I never thought I would say that I enjoyed a yoga class ... but I did!

It was then a 3-miles powerwalk ... THEN it was a snack ... carrot sticks and hummus ...

THEN it was circuit training ... pain ... pain ...

Finally - LUNCH - I was so excited ... until I had two mouthfuls of tofu! No ketchup here!

After "lunch" it was spinning (on bicycles) which nearly killed me ... and finally some water polo ...

Before dinner - it was time for a body scrub in the Spa ... and it will be a VERY early night tonight! Yes - I have been pushed physically in every way today BUT I feel rather good ...

Sadly, I haven't had time to take ONE photo ... everything looks so beautiful here ... it is cold and frosty ...

2012-01-14T20:22:00.000Z

Boot Camp Day 1:

Greetings from Champneys ... where I am spending the next 8 nights ... and where I am kick-starting my "fitness year". Yes - with the New York Marathon on November the 4th this year ... I need to prepare and this IS step 1.

Arrived here (Tring) at midday and after induction and lunch (I am on 1700 calories a day) ... we went for a walk. The weather was stunning today - cold but clear - so an hour jaunt through the countryside was quite pleasant. From there it was into the gym for an hour of circuits ... then a thalassotherapy session before a small dinner ... and bed - for a well-earned zzzzzzzzzzz! Tomorrow the hard work begins!

I am wearing a "tag" which monitors everything I do during the day - eating, sleeping, walking - yes - SLEEPING! Scary ... "big brother" is watching me!

Why I need to be at Boot Camp (with Tim ... haha)

2012-01-13T18:33:00.000Z

Inside Luxury Travel - new series - 2000hrs & 2100 hrs on Travel Channel - UK & Eire ONLY - Sky 251 & 252 respectively - tonight we're in Switzerland. We visit Geneva (Davidoff cigars, Patek Philippe, Hotel d'Angleterre ... and on the Lake) .... and pop into Clinique la Prairie in Montreux ... enjoy!

Hurrah for Leica! Today I received my new V-Lux 3 ... is it fabulous? Oh yes, yes & yes!

Now, usually I know what to pack for a filming trip - but what does one pack for an eight day boot camp? I have filled my 4x4 with all kinds of stuff I am sure I don't need ... but the weather looks very changeable over the next week so what to do? My luck says snow!

Anyway - tomorrow will see the start of a new - healthy & fit Varun! New York Marathon, here I come!

Now why couldn't my boot camp been in the Bahamas?

2012-01-12T17:28:00.000Z

A truly mad and exhausting day ... I should have trained to be a fireman ... as I have put out many fires today (none literal thank goodness).

I also received a new 24" monitor which attaches neatly to my laptop BUT the screen is so huge my eyes can't cope! And with the built-in speakers, I now have 5 speakers in my office which means every time I listen to my Spotify music, I feel like I am at the front row of a Motorhead concert! So, I am going blind and deaf! Great!

Was sent my clothing list for Champneys ... apparently I need a sports bra ... hmmm ... I am so looking forward to eight days of training ... and I am actually REALLY looking forward to running 40 kilometres ... 26 miles ... in New York in November!! Whoohoooooo!!

Looking forward also to start filming with Tim again ... next Sunday ... whoohoo!!

Tim, me, whisky, champagne and Robert Graham shirts in New York! The Presidential Suite at The Peninsula if I remember correctly ...

2012-01-11T18:16:00.000Z

Last May we were filming on the central coast of California. We stopped off at Harley Farm - a goat farm run by the fabulous Dee Harley. Apart from having a great morning there - filming curious goats, drinking pints of fresh goat milk and watching Tim being chewed on by goats - we met Doggie ...

This is what I wrote then:

This is 12-year old Doggie. This gorgeous pooch and his sister were abused by an evil man for 9 years. Dee took them on and nursed them back to health. Doggie's sister passed away BUT Doggie - although shy & timid - is now a loving and happy member of the Harley family. I fed him some of my homemade ravioli ... I made a friend there!

Dee messaged me today to say that Doggie has passed away.

I do love travelling so much ... I just hate it when I have to say good bye to friends - both the four-legged and the two-legged variety.

Planning week is going OK ...

2012-01-10T17:49:00.001Z

Uggie for an Oscar!

Inside Luxury Travel - new series - 1900 hrs CET on Travel Channel - Europe, Africa and Middle East only - tonight we're in Switzerland. We visit Geneva (Davidoff cigars, Patek Philippe, Hotel d'Angleterre ... and on the Lake) .... and pop into Clinique la Prairie in Montreux ...

Planning Day 2 - where has today gone? In fact, where has January gone? IN FACT, where has 2012 gone???????

One bright spot of the day - Uggie the Dog - the STAR of The Artist. I am going to see this movie - not only because I love B&W films - not only because I like "silent movies" (Metropolis and The Birth of a Nation) BUT the star is a Jack Russell who skateboards! What a pooch! In her day, my Moo could do all sorts of tricks ... mainly with chicken and the speed she could eat it! Ha! Moo!

Uggie for an Oscar!

Awesome Uggie

2012-01-09T17:21:00.000Z

Interesting fact - both the birthday boys from the weekend David Bowie and Stephen Hawking turned DOWN Knighthoods! Neither wanted to be a "Sir" ... good for them!

Planning meetings have started in earnest ... so many locations ... so little time ... but I will be revisiting one of my all-time favourite resorts in the world in February ... and I am so excited ... SO EXCITED!!!! The location will be revealed soon enough ...

I found a treasure-trove of photographs from Tim's Facebook account and this was my favourite ... 2009 ... Thailand ... the Four Seasons, Tented Camp ... with my lovely elephant Yuki ...

2012-01-08T15:42:00.000Z

"Planning Week" has begun in earnest. It's set to be a busy year and it all needs to be diarised ... not only the new series of Inside Luxury Travel but also Culinary Travels ...

Happy Birthday to David Bowie - 65 - I am a huge fan, Stephen Hawking - 70 - he was great in The Simpsons and of course to the "King" - Elvis - who would have been 77 this weekend. He died in 1977 ... but still rocks my musical world!

Today is also the official UK premiere of "War Horse" ... the trailer had me in tears! Bravo Jeremy (& James).

With Constantina Rocca at the Hotel Kulm (St Moritz) golf competition

2012-01-07T17:28:00.000Z

Not much to report ... working hard on proposals ... did catch the Napa show which aired over here this afternoon ... and what wonderful memories it brought back. Note to self - revisit California in 2012 ... LA and Santa Barbara!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS to my Orthodox Christian friends ... most follow the Gregorian calendar ... and Christmas is on 25th December by the Orthodox church follows the Julian calendar which celebrates it 13 days later ...

I am watching Jurassic Park as I write - awesome movie!

At Autostadt in Germany - home to VW - home to the Ritz-Carlton and home to Aqua - an awesome 3-Michelin starred restaurant ...

2012-01-06T17:50:00.000Z

** New series of Inside Luxury Travel on Travel Channel - UK ONLY - tonight - Sky Channel 251 & 252 at 20:00 and 21:00hrs - from #Malaysia **

The greatest discovery/invention of all time? ELECTRICITY!!!!

Spent nearly all of yesterday without any of the stuff ... and my world virtually stopped. No heating, no telephone, no Internet, no cooking facility, no lights, no vacuum cleaner, no microwave, no Internet (!) ... and I had to charge my cellphone from my car!! How much do I rely on electricity? 100% ...

Tim came to visit ... but thankfully wine, beer and whisky ... and a sudden surge of power meant that the evening was not a total write-off. Thank you Thales, Franklin and Faraday!

This time next week, I will be preparing for a week of hell/heaven ... more on that to come ...

My favourite person in the world is here this evening! Pops ... along with fish n' chips and a bottle of wine, it will be a great start to the weekend.

The Geneva episode ... I met up with Charlie Chaplin in Vevey ...

2012-01-05T14:46:00.001Z

Power cut at 0200 ... no electricity ... no heating ... no telephone ... no internet ... grrr ... so short Diary today ... as I am using my BlackBerry ... all hail the BlackBerry! Maybe I should use that iPad! Ha! NEVER ...

Tim the Cameraman is over this evening ... I hope he doesn't mind the darkness ... and cold ...

2012-01-04T19:05:00.000Z

I did not leave the house today. Instead I sat at my desk working ... and listened to the radio. Eighteen odd years ago, a young black man was knifed to death in a racist attack ... and due to the incompetence of the police and lack of political will, his assailants were never brought to book ... until today. Two men were sentenced to over 14 years in jail for Stephen Lawrence's murder. There were another three or four men that night in the gang who are still free ... they are violent, racist thugs ... who - I pray - will one day face prosecution and imprisonment ...

Anyway - I know I live in a democracy, but I was rather shocked to hear some people's views in London. While the vast majority abhor racism ... there were many who hate all "blacks, Asians, Jews ... and anyone who ain't English" ... well, that counts me out folks! Really? In 2012 we are still arguing this matter? Come July/August when the Olympics (yuk) hits the UK, then there really will be every colour under the sun here ... I wonder how "those" people will cope ... stay in bed all day?

2012-01-03T17:45:00.001Z

Inside Luxury Travel - new series - 1900 hrs CET on Travel Channel - Europe, Africa and Middle East only - tonight we're in #Malaysia!

Today has been just the worst weather I have seen for years! Torrential rain, wind gusting to 80 miles per hour, cold, dark ... Moo refused to leave her bed!

I made the mistake of popping to the shops ... only to find that many roads were closed and even more were flooded! Eeek! Lucky I have a 4x4!

How I wish I was somewhere hot ... on a sandy beach ... with sea lapping around my toes ... enough - I have work to do!

In the bath at Jumby Bay in Antigua ... how wonderful was that trip???

2012-01-02T17:02:00.000Z

Today I have been observing the Public Holiday.

It doesn't mean too much ... except that I did sleep in and I am in preparation for tomorrow - the first day of the working year ... I have 32 items on my "to do" list!

Places I want to visit/revisit this year (apart from the scheduled filming destinations): Moscow, St Petersburg, Ukraine, Dublin, New Zealand ... and Warsaw ... better start getting planning under way!

I HAVE worked out where I am going on holiday in 2012 ... it has an awesome beach and excellent accommodation & cuisine!

2012-01-01T17:51:00.000Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This time last year, there was snow on the ground ... and my part of England looked like a picture-postcard. Today I have seen the heaviest rain for ... well ... all year ... I mean in a year ... and I feel rather bleugh!

No worry! A new year means ... plans ... certainly NOT resolutions ...

The New York Marathon in November, a new series of Inside Luxury Travel, a new series of Culinary Travels, more Leica blogs ... and seeing more of the people I love all over the world! Those are my plans ... oh and to lose weight (boot camps here I come) AND learning how to cook and to ski ... oh and take a proper holiday! I am not being demanding on my self enough!

Oh - and I did sleep on a belly full of Dom Perignon 1985 ... before midnight ... way to go ...

2011-12-31T16:32:00.000Z

New Year's Eve ... 2011 ... wow!

WHAT A YEAR!!!!!

Looking back - it's been a year of love, laughter, cigars, whisky ... and oh ... travel ... and so little golf or sleep! Ha! May 2012 be exactly the same!

Memories of 2011 - the Royal Bengal Tiger in India (& Beyond/Taj), Budapest & the Gresham Palace (Four Seasons), Sweden (Treehotel), Camp Bestival, golf in Antigua with Sir Viv Richards and winning a tournament in St Moritz (Kulm), my Leica V-Lux 2 ... Moo still doodling around at the age of 13 ... seeing old friends in LA, Hong Kong, Monaco, Geneva, New York, Cape Town ... and making new ones in Germany, Portugal, Hungary ... and in so many, many more cities & countries ... saying farewell to dear James ... the "birth" of Culinary Travels ...

2012 - HERE I COME!!!!

Up in Germany

Down in India

Semi-nakedness with the Boys!

2011-12-30T17:34:00.000Z

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You ... THANK YOU for all the sweet & kind birthday greetings I received from you today! I am very touched indeed! Some of the messages have been just so generous ... I am so, so grateful ... thank you!

I have had a lovely day despite the misery of the weather! Every year I say that the next I will be sitting by a swimming pool, somewhere awesomely sun-drenched, drinking cocktails and reading books ... and every year I am here in the UK ... freezing. Here's to 2012 ...!

But I have just remembered a bottle of vintage, single-malt Scottish whisky with my name on it in the kitchen ... so ... I'm off ... to drink and dream of white sand beaches, turquoise seas, vodka-based cocktails, hot sunshine, peace ... and sleep ... !

2011-12-29T19:29:00.000Z

Just back home after a two day driving trip around England to see near & dear friends. What fun ...

I did NOT wake up feeling rubbish today as I "somehow" managed to drink 3-pints of water & fruit juice before I crashed last night! As James Brown once sang "I feel good ..."

OK - so - the next trip of 2011 was to the Seychelles where I stayed at the Four Seasons Resort on Mahe and the Raffles Resort on Praslin. I also popped over to Denis Island for some diving ... and got bitten by a thousand mosquitoes on Cousin Island.

One of the highlights of this trip was meeting and spending time with my dear friend Olivier & family ... he is the only GM who has jumped into an ocean to drink champagne with me! For the end credits of the show of course!

2011-12-28T17:33:00.000Z

Oh dear. A bottle of Chateau Batailley 2004 (Pauillac) has just passed my lips ... and erm - I am finally in the true Christmas "spirit"!

Why is there so much Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy on television? It's getting quite annoying ... more Charles Bronson please ... and Homer Simpson ... of course!

So - my next trip in 2011 was to Wolfsburg in Germany - home of Autostadt (the VW HQ), an awesome Ritz-Carlton hotel run by the lovely Edith Gerhardt ... and Aqua - a 3-Michelin starred restaurant ... run by the fabulous chef Sven Elverfeld. The hotel is BRILLIANT ... the restaurant is SUPERB and ... ah ... I have GREAT memories! Oh - and later in the year I cooked with Sven for my Culinary Travels show AND he sent me his cookbook last week ... which is a treat!!!

2011-12-27T18:03:00.001Z

I am not big on birthdays. I used to be and then realised that too many candles on a cake - after a certain age - becomes just embarrassing.

I like giving presents but I am not so good receiving them ...

ANYWAY - I have just been sent - anonymously - a brand new iPad2 ... 32 Gb ... with added go-faster stripes ... for my birthday which erm - falls this week. There are several things wrong here: the anonymity ... it's a crunchy fruit - whose brand I actually dislike ... I have just taken delivery a brand new super-duper laptop (I am a PC) ... I don't like "tablets" ... I don't know how to use it ... erm ... and it's engraved with the words "to be used for ... only". Publicly, I am shocked and amazed by this gift ... inwardly, I am intrigued and quite blushy about it!

By the way - there is an initial - presumably from the sender - that sits after the above engraving ... it's a mystery that will keep me "up" for nights!

Oh ... and yes, I have asked around ... and there have been many, many denials ... and there's no senders address ... so all in all ... unless the "cloud" is lifted ... THANK YOU to whoever sent this to me! Whether I ever learn how to or indeed ever use it is a very different matter!

Next stop in 2011 was Hong Kong where The Peninsula Hotel gave me a runaround to zip through the city streets in ...

It was a Mini-adventure :)

2011-12-26T17:35:00.000Z

I am exhausted! All this eating, drinking and making merry has made me a bloated wreck!

A question I have been asked a few times today is why/what is Boxing Day -- well --

Boxing Day originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. December 26th, or Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries. It is spent with family and friends at open gatherings with lots of food, fun, friendship and love. Boxing Day is so called because it was the custom on that day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year. Boxing Day is also St. Stephen's Day. St Stephen was a little known saint who achieved eternal fame by being the first Christian to be martyred for his faith by being stoned to death shortly after Christ's crucifixion.

The traditional celebration of Boxing Day included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, needy individuals, and people in service jobs. The holiday may date from the Middle Ages (A.D. 400's--1500's), but the exact origin is unknown. It may have begun with the lords and ladies of England, who presented Christmas gifts in boxes to their servants on December 26. Or it may have begun with priests, who opened the church's alms (charity) boxes on the day after Christmas and distributed the contents to the poor.

Some say the tradition stems from Roman times when money to pay for athletic games was collected in boxes. Amongst the ruins of Pompeii, boxes made out of earthenware with slits in the top full of coins have been found. Later the Romans brought the idea of collecting boxes to Britain, and monks and clergy soon used similar boxes to collect money for the poor at Christmas. On the day after Christmas, the priests used to open the boxes and distribute the contents to the poor of the village. Thus this day came to be called Boxing Day.

While government buildings and small businesses are closed, the malls are filled with people either exchanging gifts or buying reduced priced Christmas gifts, cards, and decorations. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing day is classed as the Christmas Season with Boxing day falling on the following Monday if December 26th falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

SO THERE!

From the 3rd trip this year - Malaysia (Save Varun)

If I were a rodent ..

2011-12-25T15:14:00.000Z

merry xmas to you all!

with love from me & the Moo

2011-12-24T16:48:00.000Z

CHRISTMAS EVE!!

It's really cold & there's a wee wind blowing ... brrr ... but there's no snow!

This time last year, there was around 3 feet of snow ... and it was REALLY brrr ...

I can imagine my friends in Russia, Sweden and Canada are laughing at 3 feet ... while they deal with 3 metres of the white powdery stuff ...

All last minute shopping done and now I am going to settle back with a glass of sherry ... and sing Bing Crosby ... while wearing a Bind Crosby sweater ... I did watch High Society today ... I HATE musicals BUT I love this one ... Bing, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly ... Louis Armstrong ... brilliant!!

The third trip this year was ... CHICAGO... Nighthawks ... American Gothic ... Pizza ... The Tribune Building ... The Elsyian (then yah! now urk!) ... ah ... possibly my favourite city in the USA ... besides Nashville that is!

Snowy view from my once favourite hotel in the USA ... now - with a change of management - it isn't!

2011-12-23T18:39:00.000Z

A truly rubbish day. Bad weather, bad courier service, bad traffic ... all leads to my bad mood ... but like a cloud ... it will pass within the next few minutes ...

The second trip of 2011 was to Nashville, Tennessee ... where I first came across my now dear buddy Douglas McHugh (St Ermin's in London), stayed at The Hutton hotel in the city, sang bad karaoke, visited Jack Daniels ... and ...

"This is undoubtedly one of my favourite photographs of all time. It was taken this afternoon at Studio B in Nashville. This studio was owned by RCA and is dubbed "the home of 1000 hits" because this is where the top country & western stars recorded their singles. Elvis used this piano to record 231 of his hits ... THIS piano! Also this studio was home to the likes of Roy Orbison and Dolly Parton ... awesome!"

2011-12-22T17:38:00.000Z

It's just 9 days until 2012. I can't believe it ... what a year 2011 has been.

Today has been crazy again ... I have tried (in vain) to get some shopping done but the stores resemble zoos ... but that is being rude to zoos actually.

The taxman sent me a bill today ... and when I queried it, "he" said "oh, it's a payment towards your 2012 bill - whatever that may be" ... erm, excuse me? A two days before Christmas? Maybe if I took the taxman out for an expensive lunch, I will get a lower or no bill at all ... as happens here in the UK!

Anyway - YES - what a year! So many places, so many people, so many memories ...

I was sent this link to one of my favourite cities of 2011 ... it's rather good time-lapse:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Cbbkj2GhDmo

A hint to the video ... my first trip in 2011 was to here ... that's where the love started!

2011-12-21T17:40:00.000Z

The shortest day of the year and to be honest, it wasn't short enough. I got stuck in a 2 and a half hour traffic jam which meant I wasted most of my day sitting in my car listening to the doom & gloom that is currently our world. In fact, several times when the "news at the top of the hour" came on, I switched over to a French channel ... and you know, even though I am sure it wasn't, it seemed so much better!

Racism in sport (really?? who would have believed it??), riots in Egypt and Syria (ugh!!), markets down (again!!), big business let off tax bills (really??), North Korea (!!), Piers Stefan O'Meara (aka Piers Morgan - ugh!!) and news that Scottish people eat deep fried butter (1450 calories per ball) ... all dominated the news agenda ... not even one rescued cat-up-tree story!

Tomorrow is (hopefully) going to be a wonderful new day!

2011-12-20T18:40:00.000Z

Inside Luxury Travel - new series - 1900 hrs CET on Travel Channel - Europe, Africa and Middle East only - tonight we're in the Seychelles.

With Xmas comes the obligatory Xmas cards ... and I have received quite a few ... but one of my favourites arrived by email TODAY from my dear friend Edward Sahakian from Davidoff in London. I am hoping it was NOT taken today! Great eh?

Singing in the snow!

It has to be said ... HOW did we do our Xmas shopping before Amazon???

2011-12-19T17:49:00.000Z

I am a PC. Yes - I ordered a new laptop today and I was not even tempted by one of those crunchy-fruity "user-friendly" as-soon-as-you-buy-it-it's-out-of-date machines!

So at lunchtime (beans on toast Varun-style ... with fried onions and grated mature Cheddar - yum) I had the choice - the news (death, destruction, misery, gloom), a soap opera (death, destruction, misery, gloom) or the superb "Muppets take Manhattan". I haven't watched a Muppet-movie for years and I tell you what, they are awesomely funny ...

Miss Piggy to Joan Rivers " ... my Frog (sic - Kermit) has turned on me ... "
Joan Rivers to Miss Piggy " ... yes, my tuna was a bit off at lunchtime too ... "

How I laughed ... also Miss Piggy and Joan Rivers on the same screen - I couldn't tell one from the other.

My workload for 2012 is becoming ever-greater! HELP!

2011-12-18T19:45:00.000Z

hibernate (hi¦bernate) - Pronunciation: /ˈhʌɪbəneɪt/verb - [no object](of an animal or plant) spend the winter in a dormant state: some species hibernate in tree roosts of a person) remain inactive or indoors for an extended period. travel presenters who have been hibernating during the winter months get their passports out in spring and head for the sun.

hibernation

noun

hibernator

noun

Origin:

early 19th century (earlier (mid 17th century) as hibernation): from Latin hibernare, from hiberna 'winter quarters', from hibernus 'wintry'

Please do NOT disturb until February 2012 ... and even then, approach with extreme caution!

2011-12-17T19:07:00.000Z

London is ... cold! The weather and the people ... mannerless bunch, some of them.

So George Michael cancelled so I had a lovely meal at China Tang at The Dorchester last night.

Today was a rush ... but I did get to buy some/very few Xmas gifts ... and have not even been able to post them! Grrrr ...

Expecting MORE snow tomorrow! Yay!

The annual gift from Norway in Trafalgar Square!

Too cold for me

Hero

2011-12-16T23:47:00.000Z

Greetings from London!

A fleeting visit - staying at St Ermin's with Dougie and eating at The Dorchester at China Tang ... and I had the pleasure of bumping into one of my most favourite people in the world ...

Tired now - sleep - bed - zzzzzz ...

ILT new series started airing in the UK today ... I hope the viewers liked it ...

Darling Julia

Delightful (!) Dougie

2011-12-15T17:55:00.000Z

I am not a jealous guy by nature ... BUT ... one of my friends is currently playing with elephants in Thailand, one is trekking to the South Pole, one is photographing gorillas in Uganda, one is on safari in India and one off to Cape Town for the weekend. I think I am suffering from serious "travel envy".

Today I have had FIVE power cuts which has wreaked havoc on my plans ... it's been windy, cold and overcast ... with the odd flurry of snow. The Pooch has been wrapped up in her blanket for most of the day ... snoring ... what a life she has ...

Tomorrow in London for odds & ends ...

Baby Girl
Slobbery elephant kiss!

Where I would like to be right now ...

2011-12-14T18:32:00.000Z

SNOW?

Yes - this morning I drove through "four seasons" ... which included rain, warm(!)sunlight, bright sunshine and SNOW! It's bitterly cold ... I can't believe I am already wearing winter socks ... and a scarf ... and gloves ... and hat ... this time last week, I was basking in 29 degrees in South Africa ... oh happy days ...

SO - today was my last "official" day of work ... YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I am now on "holiday" until January ... technically ... whether that is a reality is another matter.

I intend to hibernate with a HUGE "please do not disturb" sign outside my door. Trespassers will be snowballed!

The show started airing in Europe, Middle East and Africa last night to only positive comments ... which is rather nice.

London is glorious.

2011-12-13T20:55:00.000Z

Greetings from the Corinthia Hotel in London!

I am staying at this hotel after meeting the COO of the company Liam Lambert - of Mandarin Oriental fame - a few weeks ago. I actually was quite interested to see this property ... and compared to The Savoy (just down the road) - it's quite fabulous. The chandelier in the lobby is breathtaking!

The views from my suite are awesome!

Last night I stayed in Kensington at the house of very dear friends ... and this morning visited her PR company to explain what I do to her colleagues ... it was quite fun.

Ah - Inside Luxury Travel has started airing in Europe this evening ... UK on Friday! So far only nice, positive comments.

I am EXHAUSTED!!!!

Pesto Spicer the Pooch

The lovely ladies of PrCo

2011-12-12T20:49:00.000Z

A day of travelling ... and tying up loose ends for the show ...

Both my dear Leicas (V-Lux 2 and D-Lux 5) are heading off to Germany for a full overhaul ... between them, this year, they have taken tens of thousands of photographs ... not only for the Leica blog ... but also for the Diary ... and all those other photographs that will be added into the travel book we are working on!

The Leica for this week btw: http://t.co/HzHU0iKg

2011-12-11T18:32:00.000Z

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain ... howling wind ... rain, rain, rain ...

It's been a perfect day to sit in front of the television and watch all those shows I have recorded over the past few weeks. And yes - I did wear my onesie ... NO photo to follow!

Off to work in the morning ... the next couple of days are going to be interesting and fun ... !

On Tuesday this week, the news series of Inside Luxury Travel starts airing in Europe, Middle East and Africa ... and in the UK on Friday ... gulp!

Awesome time-lapse photograph of the eclipse last week!

2011-12-10T17:22:00.000Z

It's been my official day of rest ... and I have not left the house ... and have spent the day in my spotty pyjamas. I did watch a news piece this morning announcing that the onesie is back in fashion ... I am therefore happy to admit that I have had one in bright red for over a decade now ... not to wear around the house ... but as my "fancy dress party" outfit - where I go as Hrundi V Bakshi - the Peter Sellers character from The Party - one of the funniest movies ever made ... I also carry a bowl of nibbles with "Num Num" written on the side it ...

It's almost Xmas which means many-an-Xmas cartoon on and today it was The Simpsons. There's a fabulous episode in which Bart opens up a casino in his treehouse and kidnaps Robert Goulet to entertain ... and the immortal lines are sung:

Jingle Bells
Batman Smells
Robin laid an egg
Batmobile, lost its wheels
Joker got away - hey ...

I have been humming that all day now!

2011-12-09T18:37:00.000Z

Home at last!

Left Nice ... the sun was shining, the sky blue and it was warm. Arrived London ... the sun was shining, the sky blue BUT it was freeeeeezing! Brrrrr ... winter is upon me.

For the latest news on ILT: http://www.insideluxurytravel.co.uk/newsletters/ilt_newsletter_12_2011.html

2011-12-08T16:48:00.001Z

This is - dare I say it - officially - my last "work" day of the year ... I have a few things I need to do next week ... but my last day of ILTM wraps everything up!

ILTM in Cannes has been great fun. I have been hanging out with so many dear travel friends ... and my liver is very much looking forward to a holiday.

Home tomorrow! Yay!

With my friend Charlie at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes

The view from my window ... lovely!

My dear friend Catherine from the Four Seasons, Hong Kong

Early morning in Cannes

Monte Carlo

2011-12-07T16:47:00.003Z

Greetings from the South of France .... Greetings from Cannes ....

Here for ILTM - the International Luxury Travel Market no less! Just here for 24 hours ... I will get home this week ... finally ... I hope!

No time to write big Diary - have to press the flesh!

2011-12-06T10:42:00.002Z

"Every time I say goodbye, I cry a little ..."

Well, time to say farewell to Cape Town and indeed South Africa ... for just a few months at least. We are back in 2012 to film in J'burg and yet another fabulous African safari.

We arrived late last evening at Constantia Uitsig -- a fabulous wine estate/cricket ground/hotel/spa just outside Cape Town. There are just 16 bedrooms here ... and one of the most fabulous restaurants in the world - La Colombe.

The Head Chef - Scot Kirton - had us round for a superb meal last night in the restaurant and this morning I learnt how to prepare a awesome scallops/pork-belly dish followed by a panna cotta dessert. Yum! We had fun!

I then did some wine tasting with the wine-maker here at the estate - Andre Rousseau. Three wines ... sparkling, white and red ... AND now I feel rather sleepy ...!

OK - well - that is IT for 2011!!!! We have finished filming for the year and this also means that we have to say good-bye to James. After three years of being polite, kind, thoughtful and obviously working as a runner/production assistant/second cameraman & decoy (!) - he is off to seek fame & fortune ... which I suspect will come in a matter of day & weeks ... Tim & I will miss him.

So we fly tonight and tomorrow will wake up in London ... from where I fly to Nice ... then to Cannes ... for a travel show ...

ADIEU SOUTH AFRICA

FAREWELL JAMES ... !

James .... ahhhh ....

Signature dish ...

Scot

Andre

2011-12-05T21:59:00.000Z

Greetings from Constantia Uitsig ... where I have just had a wonderful dinner at La Colombe ... one of the most well-known restaurants in South Africa.

It's been a long ... but lovely day!

Up early and drove the 5 kms to Moreson - a wine farm that is part of the Le Quartier Francais "empire" in Franschhoek. We were set to do some filming at "Bread & Wine". First up, I played with Congo - the affable and inquisitive cat ...

I then learnt how to prepare saucisson from the head chef and "amateur" chacutier ... Neil Jewell. It was fun! And it was yum!

Then I learnt how to make bread with his delightful wife - Tina Jewell. This was GREAT fun! As you can see, I took it VERY seriously! I am so pleased that today I have learnt two new skills ... and I will use them ... when I have time!

After a lovely lunch, I did some wine tasting with the wine-maker at Moreson - Clayton Reabow. The chardonnay is quite outstanding.

My drive ... drove to Constantia ... it took around 2 hours ... too much traffic ...

Kissing a reindeer!

The wonderful Le Quartier Francais

Lots of filming tomorrow ... then home ...

2011-12-04T16:02:00.000Z

Greetings from Le Quartier Francais - one of the most famous hotels in South Africa. It's located in Franshhoek ... and I am in a lovely suite - albeit for just one night.

So checked-out of Table Bay this morning and 45 minutes later I was in Stellenbosch and at Rust en Vrede (Peace & Tranquility) home to an awesome vineyard (founded in 1694) and restaurant (2007). I spent the morning with "birthday boy" Chef John Shuttleworth (& delightful wife) cooking two dishes - the first made of springbok ... awesome and the second, a dessert, with pear, doughnuts infused with maple syrup, pear sorbet, geranium pannacotta (yes, really) ... outrageously good!

I then spent a couple of hours with the estate owner, the flambouyant Jean Engelbrecht, tasting three of his wines. A BIG Shiraz, a BIGGGER Syrah and a delicious Shiraz/Cab blend ...

Rust has won many accolades over the years ... and I am so pleased that we got in on the show.

From there, it was a 45 minute zoooom to Franschhoek ... looking forward to tomorrow.

Me injecting syrup into a doughnut! What fun!

Last night's Cape Town skyline

John with springbok

Dessert

My ride - a BMW 640i convertible - vrooooooom

A drink problem I wish I had!

My wee pool at Le Quartier Francais

2011-12-03T18:31:00.000Z

Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh! That’s the hurricane-like wind that has been blowing a hoolie all day here in Cape Town. While it has made filming a wee tough, watching the clouds tumble over Table Mountain is breathtaking.

Awoke early and zoomed off to The Old Biscuit Mill – around 20 minutes from the hotel. Here I met with Cameron Munroe who runs the “Fresh Produce and Design” section of this old mill now market ... on a Saturday, this is THE place to come and shop ... meet friends and eat delicious food ...

I tried some fabulous South African port, stunning sausage and wonderful LOCAL buffalo mozzarella ... where the producers imported Australian buffaloes to make this wonderful, fresh and tasty cheese! Yum!

It was a lovely way to spend a morning and The Mill is a must-visit – at least on a Saturday morning.

Back to the hotel – 329 bedrooms, pool, spa (I had a mani/pedi this evening!), restaurants and amazing views!

I cooked a couple of dishes with the Chef de Cuisine – the affable & talented Donavin Dodds ... we cooked a lamb dish with a fresh local vegetable ragout and a king-prawn with Marie-Rose ... I know, I know ... a 1970’s dish ... but Donavin added some brandy to give it a different oomph!

The day ended in a delightful way – seeing dear friends ... I love this part of my travels ... thank you for visiting me guys ...

The mist-covered Table Mountain

Terry - the meat man!

Donavin Dodds

The Table Bay PR lady ... of 14 years!!!! ... lovely Sarah Prins

2011-12-02T17:07:00.001Z

Greetings from Cape Town.

Arrived mid-morning after a long flight ... I would like to say that the service on SAA was superb, the cuisine tasty, the wines delicious and the in-flight entertainment exciting but I can’t as I slept for over NINE hours (in a nice comfy bed it has to be added)... missing meals, movies, champagne and hot towels! The boys – however – did enjoy their flight! I will try and stay awake on the way home ...

We picked up our rather smart BMWs at the airport and zipped for 30 minutes to the Table Bay Hotel ... which looks up at the mountain and out to the Ocean. It’s quite an enormous sight!

First up, the boys picked up some footage of the hotel ... then we met up with “tea sommelier” Mingwei Tsai ... he gave me a masterclass on tea – did you know that – for instance – green tea should ONLY be drunk at 80 degrees or the properties are not properly released? Bergamot is a type of lemon? The teas were paired with pastries – expertly put together by the wonderful pastry chef here at the hotel – Anita Van Tonder ... cherries and dark chocolate “work” with green tea ... tiramisu with Early Grey ... !

Early dinner and some sleep is in order!

The weather is glorious – although rather windy.

I can tell I am not 100% - I missed packing at least a dozen items in my luggage including jeans, a razor and spare hankies! I am using tissue paper (albeit man-size!) – UGH!

p.s. I can see seals sitting in the sun from my balcony ... and up-close "hello/ork" is in order!

"HELLO CAPE TOWN"!

Mingwei

Anita

View from my Presidential Suite ... :)

2011-12-01T17:56:00.000Z

We are all preparing to fly to South Africa ... goodness, a couple of us need some urgent grooming!

Tomorrow morning I will be in Cape Town! I do love this city so I can't wait ...

Still have a wee bit of flu ...

Thankfully we are all in the 1st lounge at Terminal 1 (courtesy of my dear buddy Gary at SAA) ... so we can relax and I can watch the boys drink premium malt whisky while I sip herbal tea. I need sleep ...

2011-11-30T18:06:00.000Z

I have a touch of flu! That's according to the nice lady at the pharmacy. She has sold me several boxes of pills & potions so hopefully I will be raring to go tomorrow ... for South Africa! Yay!

Sadly, I did have to work today ... looking at "fun" edits ... ah well ...

Still smiling ... although in my joggy bots, I look a wee chavish ... "who you gonna call"?

Movember Oli

Chef Tak in Hong Kong

Somewhere in Madeira

2011-11-29T18:14:00.000Z

Sadly awoke this morning feeling rather ill - every bone in my body hurt. Have spent the day in bed ... feel much better now but what a waste of a day ... tomorrow, back in the edit with Oli.

2011-11-28T18:12:00.000Z

Countdown to Cape Town!

Currently outside my home, it's dark, cold and raining ... it's positively wintry ... in CT it's a balmy 24 degrees, clear and no rain ... tomorrow it will be 29 degrees there! Whoo-hoo!

Last time I was there, I flew in a jet-fighter at Thunder City ... drove cars at great speed ... and went on safari that featured the "Small Five". This time, thanks to BMW South Africa, I will be travelling around in comfort and visiting wineries like Rust en Vrede and Constantia Uitsig and cooking with some of the greatest chefs in Africa... how excited am I?

To compound my stress of today, I had that "once a year" need for a cold beer ... and in my refrigerator ... there was just one beer BUT it was non-alcoholic! Yuk! Really?

The memories!

2011-11-27T16:49:00.000Z

Today I went to the zoo! Why? Because the sun was shining, the sky blue, it was chilly and after writing all night, I needed to go on safari to take my mind off things ... and erm - the nearest game reserve is too far!

The zoo I visited is home ONLY to monkeys & apes that have been rescued from homes where they were pets or orphans who cannot be released back into the wild. Yes - some would say that zoos should not exist - but to them I say, ok - do we let these monkeys die or do we look after them the best we can? Easy answer ...

Anyway - I had fun ... and occasionally it was like looking into the mirror ... or talking to Tim!

Squirrel monkey

Chimp

A cheeky looking 10-ring long-tailed lemur

2011-11-26T19:37:00.000Z

It's a Saturday evening and I am chained to my desk! The Pooch is sitting beside me asleep (as usual) and I have a feeling, it's going to be a long night.

While all the travelling IS fun, I do need to catch up with paperwork when I am home. I believe that Oli the Editor is working tonight too ... brothers in arms etc.

We are designing two new websites for the shows and newsletters need writing! Grrrr!

ALSO I am hungry!

Hello & welcome to an Indian safari

Starring Chief Naturalist - Ratna Singh

Grrrrrrrr! Here puss puss!

Proof that my Leica camera never lies!!

2011-11-25T20:32:00.000Z

A long day ... a very long day ... a very, very long day ...

Had a fun time will Oli and Ed in the edit suite ... India is looking great!

Looking forward to the first weekend home in ... a long time! What to do?

Had quite a late "whisky" night with dear Dougie at the bar at St. Ermins' ... rather too late for me ...

Next week - SOUTH AFRICA! I just home the airport strikes don't affect us too much.

Dancing at The Four Seasons Mumbai ... I am dreadful!

Oli - Movember

Ed - Movember?

Hello & Welcome - Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel

Suite review at the Four Seasons

With the delightful Raymond Bickson - CEO of Taj Hotels

Tea in bed in the Tata Suite

Thank you & goodbye

2011-11-24T19:40:00.000Z

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends across the pond (& around the world) ... I wish much food, wine, happiness, Peace and prosperity to you all ...

Greetings from my St Ermin's in London ... early edit tomorrow so am here working and watching the world go by ...

I am - once again - amazed at people's sheer cruelty. A woman here in England was found guilty today of "murdering" a kitten by putting it in a microwave in revenge/spite over a domestic dispute. She can only face a maximum of 6 months in jail ... I didn't know that such people existed in this world. She will certainly find it hard for even Hell to want her in its community ...

Is it just me or is the world getting darker and colder (I am actually talking about the weather now!) sooner in the day? I can't wait to get to Cape Town!

Dougie

Hus - the fabulous Exec Chef ... with a "growth" ...

2011-11-23T17:58:00.000Z

It's been a weirdly cathartic day ... by doing the chores I hate - washing the cars, sweeping the drive, putting out all those empty bottles of wine, deleting all the "you have won $15,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 emails and shredding the equivalent letters - I feel rather loose & free!

Tomorrow I have to write all my scripts for the Mumbai and Indian safari shows ... I am actually quite excited by the latter ... especially the "Ratna & Varun chase scene" where Ratna drives like the devil to get the best views of a female Royal Bengal Tiger while I ramble on like an over-excited, deranged monkey. Photos to come on Friday, I promise!

Musically, my day has been dominated by James Brown and Chuck Berry ... I wish I could dance like them ... note to self ...

2011-11-22T22:14:00.000Z

First - Leica Part 2 – of course I was in Madeira ... but here are some more photographs and a wee story of how Madeira wine was discovered – by accident!

http://bit.ly/s7ZEtn

It’s been a long day ... but quite fun ... cigars, pineapple juice, Darjeeling tea, trains, meetings, rain, sunshine, London ...

We are currently editing the Mumbai show and I have to say that my review of the Tata Suite at the Tal Mahal Palace is the best suite review I have ever done! It’s just awesome ...! Next – the safari show ... can’t wait to see the tiger sighting! So excited ...

I have a hankering to revisit Nashville, Tennessee ... (could be the Roy Orbison I am listening to as I write this!) ...

That was the life ... memories!

2011-11-21T17:47:00.000Z

The curse of the long-haul flight strikes again! Yes, I did sleep but I also was so teary - at one stage - that a very kind member of the crew had to stop, bring me water and a box of (man-sized) tissues! What set this latest bout of emotion off? Not much! Actually it was a strange movie about the harvesting of body-parts ... not sure what got me into such a state! Hmmmm ...

Anyway - home at last!

The flight was long ... an overnight ... but I had a comfy bed ... a new BA aircraft ... weeks old apparently and EVERYTHING worked! I have become greedy of late and ask for two cocooned seats in the centre of the plane ... one bed for me and the other for imaginary "friend".

I landed at Heathrow at 0440 ... and was in my car by 0500 - HOW COOL IS THAT?

I have a few days at home with a small trip in there before CAPE TOWN (whoo-hoo) next week!!!!!!!!!

Oh by the way: my Leica for this fortnight: http://bit.ly/tBOnYE

With a bear!

With THE Bear

2011-11-20T11:18:00.000Z

I am thankful that I have many dear friends here in Hong Kong. Last night I managed to get see just a handful of these wonderful people ... which was quite lovely ...

We are just about to leave the Four Seasons and head to the airport ... it may have been just two nights here but they have been marvellous ones.

This morning we filmed the hotel - and in the afternoon had a masterclass in delicious sake from a fabulous Executive Chef in the Japanese restaurant next to the hotel - Inagiku - a favoured Japanese here ...

While the boys prepared/packed the equipment for the journey home, I headed to the hotel spa for a 2-hour Turkish hammam experience. Do I now feel like I am walking on air? Oh yes! Spa treatments in Asia just seem so much better than on any other continent. Manju ... THANK YOU!

All that remains is to say thank-you to the FS Hong Kong PR Claire for making our filming visit such a fabulous success. She rocks my world!

The FS Hong Kong

Martin - Istanbul now China

Kurtis & Lizzie - home now Hong Kong

Priscilla - London, home and Hong Kong

Chef Shigeru Tanigawa

Tim didn't invite me!

2011-11-19T17:35:00.000Z

It's not often that on one day, EVERY meal I eat has been prepared in a 3-Michelin starred restaurant!

The morning was spent in Caprice - the 3-Michelin starred restaurant that is run by Chef Vincent Thierry. He prepared two dishes for me - a crab tiramisu and one that featured pigeon and foie gras ... that surprisingly was delicious!

From there, we popped into the "cheese cellar" to meet Jeremy Evrard ... the Master of Cheese and Restaurant Manager at Caprice. He led me through three cheeses -- all from France. The Mimolette extra vieille, the Cabri Ariegeois (a liquid goat cheese!) and a Saint Nectaire. All had a beer or wine pairing! CRAZY Number 2!!

The afternoon was spent with the fabulous Chef Tak at Lung King Heen - 3 Michelin stars. I was made a grouper steamed with garlic and ginger. While this was being made, I interviewed my old friend, the Four Seasons Hong Kong General Manager - Andrew Mackay. We were fed dim sum ... and I was taught about the tea "ceremony" ... which was a precursor to dim sum.

Supper was with Bear at Lung King Heen ... fabulous!

I am EXHAUSTED!

A Bear in the kitchen?!

Chef Vincent

Chef Tak

Mr Cheese - Jeremy

Mr Mackay in the interview

Varun - YOU ARE FIRED!

No Tim! NO!!!

2011-11-18T10:35:00.000Z

Greetings from Hong Kong ... Greetings from the 42nd floor of The Four Seasons Hotel!

I left London at 9 pm last night and arrived here at 4.30 pm ...

Fabulous flight ... slept most of it - thankfully ...

I have loads on this evening ... more tomorrow ...

2011-11-17T11:58:00.000Z

Off to Hong Kong this afternoon - will arrive late tomorrow so - as I don't want to miss a day of the Diary ... here's some holding music ... Please do NOT play more than once or you will slide into brain freeze ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q075mDGwjs

My impression of that Belgian detective ... with my "Milou" ... who is much cuter!

2011-11-16T18:17:00.000Z

OK - so the new - fourth - series of Inside Luxury Travel starts airing in December!

There's a new trailer - which is quite funny ... which I will post nearer to the time.

Airing dates I have been sent:

TC Europe in Hi-Definition
December
5 - 20:00 and 01:00, 6 - 14:00, 7 - 09:00, 10 - 17:00 and 11 - 19:00 CET

TC Europe/Middle East & Africa in Standard Definition
December
13 - 19:00 and 00:00, 14 - 13:00, 15 - 07:00, 17 - 20:00 and 18 - 02:00 CET

TC Germany
December
5 - 21:15 and 01:15, 6 - 16:15, 8 - 08:15 and 11 - 08:15 CET

TC UK
December
16 - 20:00, 17 - 13:30 and 18 - 00:00 GMT

Airing dates for New Zealand, Asia, Japan (new) and mainland China (new) to follow!

The order of airing:

Hungary

Seychelles

Napa Valley (California)

Malaysia

Switzerland

Antigua

Central Coast (California)

Sweden

Botswana

Bahamas

Mumbai (India)

Madhya Pradesh (India) - Indian safari

Look Back

Culinary Travels (from the Seychelles)

Not sure why this exists ... but I am hoping NOT to end up a trophy on anyones' wall!

2011-11-15T18:34:00.000Z

So have just had reconfirmation that Inside Luxury Travel is ALSO set to air in 2012 in Japan and mainland China from 2012 ... this is wonderful news as Japan - especially - is one of the toughest markets to break into! This hopefully means that I can get to visit this wonderful country in early 2012, drink sake and eat loads of yakatori!

I am quite tired - as I got home in the early hours of the day. I have been playing catch up ever since ...

I am VERY excited that I will be in Hong Kong this week. Only for two nights ... with further two nights stuck on a plane BUT hey, what fun! This really is a crazy travel schedule ...

My recent trip to LA was quite instructive. I have a new "Yoda" ... my new friend Lauren aka DeadMouse ... is a whizz at all things computerish and I am hoping that the way I use Twitter and Facebook ... and indeed websites ... will be much more effective in the future ...!

p.s. http://www.varunsharmasculinarytravels.com/ - tell me what you think!

My favourite photo from the past couple of days - the team at work! Making poncha. I am STILL drunk!

Greed

2011-11-14T15:10:00.000Z

The day started with a sad farewell to Casa Branca and the delightful Isabel ... and we drove 25 minutes to Companhia dos Engenhos do Norte ... and the boss Filipe Canning Clode. His family have been making rum on the island since 1927.

The sugar cane is squished and then fermented and then distilled. After 3 days it is a white rum – at 50 percent which is used in cocktails (poncho at al) .... or poured into French oak casks for 3 years when it is then turned into the “brown rum”. Filipe let me sample a 1977 rum – delicious!

Finally to Quinta do Furao where we did an old fashioned “espedada” or barbecue. Instead of skewers, the hotel GM (Pedro Costa) and I used laurel branches to cook the pork instead! Wonderful taste ... !

I am sitting in the quinta now eating lunch in the sunshine ... the Atlantic is filled with whales ... and it’s just stunning!

On Thursday we leave for Hong Kong.

I loved my time here on Madeira – such a shame i didn’t play any golf or go to the 80’s nightclub in Funchal! Next time ...

I won’t forget Isabel and Luis - two of my favourite people on Madeira ... and of course, huge thanks to the lovely Laura the PR for the Quintas in the UK who we have driven MAD but she still loves us (I think) and is taking us to the Cayman Islands in 2012. Whoohoo!!

With Laura

With Filipe

Quinta do Furao

With Pedro

Spot the spanner!

2011-11-13T22:22:00.000Z

My liver REALLY, REALLY hurts ... I have just not stopped drinking!

First up, Blandy's - Madeira wine producers on the island since 1811 ... I met with Chris Blandy - 7th generation wine producer. Madeira has been producing wine since the late 1400's. First it was the usual "table wine" which due to the volcanic, acidic soil it would turn to vinegar quickly. By chance, in the 1700's, on a trip to India, the wine was mixed with brandy and on return the barrel was found to contain this "new" wine. It took off ...

There are several types of Maderia wine from dry to sweet. We tasted three wines ... the 1920 vintage ... yes ... 1920 ... was awesome!!!

From there we drove to Da Ponta do Sol - a quinta around 25 minutes drive from the Casa Branca. We had lunch overlooking the sea! Tim and James were "very naughty boys".

From there it was back to the Casa Branca where I made Laura and the wonderful hotel GM - Isabel Ferraz ... a poncha. This "cocktail" has two uses ... one to keep you warm and one to kill headcolds! It is made up of white rum (50% - strong), lemon & orange juice and honey. It's a KILLER! Only the heaviest boozer could have more than three ... it's THE drink here on the island!

Finally, I met with Americo Pereira - the top sommelier, vintner and wine-buff on the island. He took me through three Madeiran "table wines" ... which are having a resurgence at the moment. The wines are not bad ... they are not great ... one day soon, they will be good ...

This evening we all went to see Tintin at the local cinema. Erm - Snowy (Milou) was fabulous ... but ... erm ... the rest of it wasn't great ... I much prefer the comic books!

Chris with the 1920 ...

Among the oldest & rarest in the cellar ...

Andre Diogo with Shaka the lovely pooch at Ponta do Sol ...

Socks - the Casa Branca cat ...

I make poncha!

For Isabel and Laura

Wine Master Americo

2011-11-12T18:07:00.000Z

Greetings from Casa Branca ... still here in Funchal, Madeira ...

It was a sad farewell to Casa Velha do Palheiro ... the staff there - especially Luis - have just been so wonderful ...

Anyway - first stop the Mercado dos Lavradores - Farmer's Market - which is where the people of Funchal come to shop. Everything fresh & edible is sold here ... plus souvenirs. In the fish market I came across the scabbard - which is found in only certain parts of the world - and is certainly the ugliest and scariest fish in the sea. Ugh ..

From there we visited the Quintinha Soa Joao where we met with the owner Andre Barreto. He took us to the barbecue area where Chef Jose Mendoza was ready to show me how to prepare fried "scabbard livers & roe" ... and chicken curry in a Goan style. The first dish is a Madeiran delicacy ... and was ... different and the chicken curry was delicious.

On the way to Casa Branca, we headed to the oldest Quinta in Funchal - the Bela Vista where I had a local rum masterclass from Hilario Freitas. It was another boozy end to the day!

Tim & I in a staring competition over a slug ...

With Maria Da Luz from Mercado dos Lavradores (Farmer's Market)

Scabbard fish - the UGLIEST fish in the world

SCAREY

With chef Jose Mendoza at Quintinha Sao Joao

With Hilario Freitas at Quinta da Bela Vista

2011-11-11T20:04:00.000Z

It’s been a rather lovely day. The sun has been shining ... the sky blue ... and I have met some rather delightful people ...

SO – I am still here at the Casa Vehla do Palheiro ... which is just as lovely as it was yesterday.

We started off at breakfast – followed by a Madeira wine tasting. And I don’t mean “table wine” – I mean the fortified wine type. With the hotel “sommelier” Luis Emanuel, we tried a 5 year, 10 year and 34 year old ... By the way, the term fortified means addition of “distilled grape spirit”. The wine industry in Madeira has been around since the early 16th century.

I fell asleep for 10 minutes after this before running down to the kitchen to learn how to prepare a sea-bream dish ... which was prepared with sweet potato, green butternut, mango and passion fruit. It was rather tasty. The chef Francesco Quintal is a fabulous chef.

After a lovely lunch at Jardins da Lago (another lovely quinta) we ventured into central Funchal to a sugar cane factory. Honey cake is actually made of syrup ... which is made from sugar cane. So – the cane is harvested, then the juice is filtered three times, heated to 90 degrees, pushed through a vacuum chamber ... and finally it comes out as this deep, dark and VERY sweet ...

The factory – Fabrica do Ribeiro Seco ... it’s run by the Melim family ... who are just fabulous.

We then went off to an artisan baker to learn how to make “honey cake”. This is a normal cake – syrup, flour, spices and nuts ... it is delicious. My two lovely cake makers Maria Camancho and Lucia Govia.

Now a little bit about the hotel ... there are a total of 37 rooms and suites that vary in size from 28 to 60 square metres. Some of the guestrooms were built in 1804 ... which gives you a picture of just how historic some of the buildings in the hotel are!

The Casa Vehla do Palheiro was built as a hunting lodge in the 19th century for Count Carvalhal and once even hosted the King & Queen of Portugal . From the turn to the late 20th century though, the estate fell into disrepair until by Presidential command in 1987, it was restored. The property opened in 1997 – the island’s first 5-star country house hotel.

There are plenty of facilities and amenities on offer.

The hotel has a world famous 18 hole golf course attached ... there’s also a spa – opened in 2009 – complete with treatment rooms, steam & sauna, fitness centre and an indoor heated swimming pool.

There’s also a large outdoor swimming pool and an all-weather tennis court ...

The Palheiro Gardens are renowned for their beauty and diversity. Some of the rare trees that grace the Quinta date back to 1801 ...

By the way, a quinta is a house with a “walled garden” ...

With my new pal Colombo

The Casa

The wonderful Luis

34 year old wine! Yum!

Francesco

San Francisco mocktail ...

Sugar cane to syrup

Maria

Lucia

yumyum!

Madeira Cake!

2011-11-10T17:54:00.002Z

Greetings from the Casa Velha do Palheiro ... a luxury country house hotel on the island of Madeira in Portugal.

My stay at The Ritz in London was all-too brief! I left there at 0430 and met with the boys and the PR of "quintas da madeira" - my old friend Laura - (please note - who was early) at Heathrow ...

The flight to Funchal was just over three hours and it was another twenty minutes drive to this lovely property. The weather is rather changeable ... let’s hope it’s good when we start filming here properly tomorrow.

2011-11-09T23:50:00.001Z

Greetings from The Ritz Hotel in London!

I flew in from LA at around 4 pm and within two hours I was at the hotel, visited Davidoff for a couple of cigars with the Sahakians, met with our television distributors and had a drink with my dear friend James McBride and his delightful partner Brenna at the Corinthia Hotel ... before we retired to George on Mount Street for wine (Felton Road from NZ) and delicious meal followed by a cigar!

I have to be up at 0330 as I have a flight to catch to Portugal in the morning!

No internet access???? So am writing diary on my BlackBerry! It has its uses!

Suite at Ritz is superb - VERY romantic- overlooking Piccadilly - Claire de Lune on the radio - shame I am all alone!

I was VERY sad to be leaving the Beverly Wilshire today ... but this suite on the 6th floor has helped dull the pain!

The flight over was remarkable ... as I remember so little of it ... I slept all the way!

Brenna and James outside George - fabulous evening!

2011-11-08T22:21:00.002Z

My Beverly Hills adventure is swiftly coming to a close ... in a just a few hours I will be on my way back to London - albeit for just 12 hours before I zoom off to Madeira!

My day has been spent shopping, eating and drinking ... I will so sleep on the flight tonight!

The "look back" show is now recorded ... marking the end of an era ... almost farewell James ...

2011-11-07T07:31:00.002Z

Happy Birthday Baby Moo! Twelve years young and still as gorgeous as ever!

Just back from supper at CUT with Darling Jen. So full of food ...

So - first thing this morning, we headed down to North Canon to meet with Hasty Torres - Madame Chocolat. I learnt about chocolate ... and tried my hand at making Eiffel Towers - with strangely, great success. Hasty is fabulous!

From there it was off to Blvd at The Beverly Wilshire - a Four Seasons hotel. Today it was officially "Varun Day" and I had a dish named after me on the menu! I joke not - see photos below ...

To learn how to create the Varun Burger, I headed to the kitchen to meet and cook with the Executive Chef - Gilles Arzur ... what fun we had!

I have now left the Beverly Hills Hotel and am now at the Beverly Wilshire ... all good ...

Gemima! The adorable pooch ...

Hasty ... and me being greedy!

Happy Varun's Day!

With Gilles

Baby G

2011-11-06T23:43:00.000Z

I first stayed at the Hotel Bel-Air, twenty years ago! I have great memories from there ... heehee ...

After a 24-month refurbishment & renovation, it reopened in October - part of Dorchester Collection. It has now 103 rooms & suites ... all very contemporary in design ... limestone floors, natural wood ceilings, state of the art technology ... private terraces & balconies ... Spa pools etc ...

There's a Wolfgang Puck signature restaurant ... a 4134 square feet Prairie spa ... a wonderful fitness centre ... and there's still the lovely swimming pool that opened in 1946 ...

The buildings are still Spanish colonial style ... and the colour is still Bel Air "pink" ... and the legendary swans are still swimming around ...

The weather was TERRIBLE this morning ... but has improved as the day has gone on ...

In the gym ...

in the Bar with Bobbie Pyle ... champagne at 0930!

With the lovely PR - Alisha Mahon

2011-11-05T07:18:00.000Z

Greetings from The Beverly Hills hotel ... zip code 90210 ...!

The hotel was built in 1912 - two full years before the City of Beverly Hills was inaugurated. The property is known as the "Pink Palace" ...

There are 204 rooms, suites and bungalows. The design in quite old school ... the property is set in 12 acres of VERY expensive land!

The hotel has 4 main food & beverage outlets including the Polo Lounge. The area around the Beverly Hills used to be polo grounds so players used to pop into the hotel for food and drink.

First up today, I cooked with Head Chef Kaleo Adams, The first creation was a lovely summery fish dish ... and the second a yummy and healthy salad.

The day was not too tough ... I am tired though.

Have just eaten a Peruvian meal ... REALLY?

Gorgeous pool

Lovely PR - old & dear friend Leslie Lefkowitz

2011-11-04T03:43:00.001Z

Greetings from Beverly Hills in Los Angeles ...

I am here to film for the 4 days ...

The BA flight over was easy and comfortable ...

I LOVE LA!!!!

LA = Darling Jen ... my lil' sis ... and one of the loves of my life!

The traditional start of show photograph ... I love the boys ... but Jen slightly more!

With my old buddy Timothy G ...

2011-11-03T20:16:00.000Z

Greetings from the Sofitel Hotel at Heathrow Airport ... my current second home!

Tomorrow I am taking the early flight to Los Angeles. First stop - the Beverly Hills Hotel. The LA trip is just FOUR days long ... but it's a mighty long way to go for under 100 hours ... but it should be fun ... filming fun that is!

The place

The people

2011-11-02T19:14:00.000Z

Quite sadly checked out of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower this morning ... an excellent stay. Last night, I dined at Moti Mahal ... the best Indian cuisine in London by far ... none of this fusion stuff ... just great authentic food ... yum.

Home for 24 hours ... start my journey to Los Angeles tomorrow ... or maybe not ... watch this space ...

As - sadly - James is leaving us at the end of the year - we have been trying new "replacements" ... the candidates have varied from brilliant to fantastic! Watch this space ...

The last few days have been fun - The Rib Room at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Wilton's, CUT at 45 Park Lane, Davidoff, Louis XIII, The Ritz, Roussillon, Salvatore at The Playboy Club ... champagne, red wine, white wine, cognac, cigars, whisky ... SO much food ... phew!

Tim is still in Bunnyland ...!

Oh noooo!!!

2011-11-01T16:33:00.000Z

Bunny Bunny Bunny Bunny - Bunbun (the name of MY Bunny when I was a baby!) ...

Up early and we headed off to Roussillon - one of my favourite restaurants in London. Located in Pimlico (centre of the universe), it has a new chef -Shane Hughes ... and today we cooked two dishes with him - duck and a treacle tart. Both quite delicious. The paired wines were quite awesome ... sadly not a Trevallon ... my "home" wine ... (along with the Joseph Drouhin 2007 Pinot Noir) ... but still lovely. The sherry with the dessert ... fabulous!

Then we headed to Mayfair and The Maestro - Salvatore Calabrese ... the greatest cocktail maker in the world. His bar is in the Playboy Club ... he made me two cocktails - one with marmalade and the other with chilli ... it was HOT!

Dinner tonight in central London ... awesome Indian!

Shane

with Salvatore

2011-10-31T20:51:00.002Z

I fear that I am turning into an alcoholic.

By 0900 I had supped a Dom Perignon 2002, a Bollinger and a vintage Pommery rose ...

By 1100 a smooth gin cocktail had entered my bloodstream

By 1500 I had added a couple of reds - a Craggy Range from NZ ... and a sensational Bordeaux ...

By 1900 I had quaffed more champagne and red wine ... with some whisky ...

Oh dear!

OK - so - the champagne tasting was done in GILT - the hotel's swish bar ... Michele Caggianese was my tutor! He loves his champagnes!

To the main bar at the Rib Room where Head Barman Saverio Vicari made a couple of the signature cocktails ... gin and bitters are a specialty here.

In the afternoon we headed to The Ritz where we filmed a fabulous feature on game birds with the Executive Chef John Williams - ten minutes of highly entertaining television I promise ...

One day to go of London filming!

With Katherine Gordon from the Jumeirah Carlton Tower - thank you for looking after me!

We don't look HAPPY - but we are - it IS 0900 and we have been slurping wonderful wines.

Saverio - the Gin Man

The happiest chef alive - John Williams at The Ritz

Ritz chips ... yum!

The Adorable Amber Aldred - the PR at The Ritz

One of the most beautiful dining rooms in the world - at The Ritz ... anyone want to have dinner with me here?

2011-10-30T21:16:00.000Z

The Jumeirah Carlton Tower boasts 216 rooms & suites including the new Royal Suite. Standing at 155 square metres in area ... it offers every luxury you can imagine including a personal butler service, up to four well-appointed and furnished rooms and some of the most amazing views of London from its private balcony.

The hotel is located off Sloane Street - close to one of the most famous shopping streets in the world.

The Peak Health club is filled with the latest fitness equipment, numerous massage & beauty treatment rooms ... and studios for yoga and personal fitness training.

On the 2nd floor there is an amazing stainless steel swimming pool ... which sits under a glass roof .... and Peak Golf – you chance to play all the finest golf courses in the world ... ! Virtually!

The champagne bar GILT offers superb cocktails, the Chinoiserie – all day international dining and on the 9th floor there’s the “Club” ... which offers users of the Peak and hotel guests a more healthy option.

The Rib Room is one of London's most famous steakhouses. It was opened in 1961 - the same year as the hotel ... and has just reopened after a massive refurbishment, It looks fabulous ... and there's a new Head Chef - Ian Rudge.

We cooked first thing in the morning with the hotel's Executive Chef - Simon Young. We prepared a grouse dish which was delicious.

In the afternoon it was a steak dish (I don't eat beef so I persuaded a hotel manager to try the dish for me)! We also made a Dover Sole dish which was fabulous! Amazing wines accompanied the dishes - a Chateau Talbot and a Chablis ... hmmmmmm!!!

SO tired! Another big day ahead tomorrow ...

With Ian

The beef dish

The hotel's delectable Ms Hagen - my official food taster!

Dover Sole

2011-10-29T21:29:00.000+01:00

Greetings from the Jumeirah Carlton Tower - here in lovely London!

It's been a looooooooooooong day ... and Tim believes that we have filmed more today than any other day in the ten years we have worked together.

Sadly checked out of 45 Park Lane early in the morning but we headed up to Davidoff on St James. Here I spent a glorious couple of hours with Eddie Sahakian (proprietor) talking after-dinner cigars. Then Alexandre Quintin - brand ambassador for Remy Martin - jumped into the hot-seat ... and MADE me taste Louis XIII cognac! It was so tough - cigars and fine cognac! Ha! What a life ...

From there, we headed to Wilton's which was founded in 1742. It's a superb restaurant on Jermyn Street that is a London institution ... fabulous food and wines ...

I cooked with Head Chef Andrew Turner .... three dishes ... a) lobster thermidor b) grouse c) Eton tidy (Eton mess that was tidy!) ... and then a cheese & wine piece with the restaurant manager and Sommelier ...

I am just tired tonight ... so it's sleep ... after a wee dance around my suite ... ha! Moves like Jagger ....! Ha!

Last night, two of the loves of my life - Adorable Julia and Darling Jen sent me this photo - taken in LA at the Beverly Wilshire ... I was SO jealous ... BUT

at that moment, while I was enjoying a fantastic dinner at CUT - the Wolfgang Puck signature restaurant at 45 Park Lane - when my dear friend Radha Arora (ex-Beverly Wilshire in LA ... now Rosewood Hotels) walked past! What cuddles we had! Ahhhhhhhhhh!

Cigar at 0900 ...

With the brilliant and delightful Eddie Sahakian ...

Alexandre and the Louis XIII

Yes - I am a wee squiffy on VERY expensive cognac! 1030 hrs!

Wilton's of Jermyn Street

Enri Cesarato (Sommelier), Vincent Goyon (Restaurant Manager), lovely Lina Trakymaite, James Grant (General Manager) ...

Chef Andrew Turner ... I think we were supping a 2002 Bollinger Rose ... yes we were!

2011-10-28T23:38:00.000+01:00

Greetings from 45 Park Lane - the newest Dorchester Collection hotel. It sits next to The Dorchester and its all 45 bedrooms and 1 penthouse suite overlooks Hyde Park.

I have really missed filming in London but I am here now for 5 days! Whoo-hoo!

SO - the hotel ... opened on September 1st 2011 ... is VERY different from the Dorch ... it's very cool ... dark lines ... chrome ... plush carpets & furniture ... Brit Art (Hirst, Sir Peter Blake etc) ... lovely chandeliers ... quite Art Nouveau ... lovely comfortable beds ... B&O hardware ... touchscreen controls ...

The signature restaurant is CUT of Wolfgang Puck fame ... the Exec Chef is a fabulous LA dude - David McIntyre. We cooked an outstanding lobster dish for a Culinary Travels episode ...

We also filmed with the gorgeous Vanessa Cinti ... sommelier ... who found a bottle of my favourite red from Oregon - the Joseph Drouhin ...

Yes - I like this hotel ...

My arrival at 45 PL

With the totally adorable Ania .... and David

David McIntyre - CUT

With the lovely Vanessa Cinti - Sommelier

2011-10-27T18:27:00.003+01:00

Greetings from 45 Park Lane! I am staying here as I am filming here tomorrow. 45 PL sits next to The Dorchester ... and as it happens it is part of The Dorchester Collection!

Review tomorrow ...

Today has been Botswana edit day ... and sign-off for the Sweden show ... both fabulous!

an African elephant ... nice but not as nice as an Indian elephant ...

The Swedish Chef ... Mathias Dalhgren - 3 Michelin stars ... at The Grand Hotel - Stockholm

My Suite at The Grand Hotel

2011-10-26T17:51:00.000+01:00

I have spent the WHOLE day at home ... ! The WHOLE day!

I am back in the edit suite tomorrow - Botswana, I believe ... and then we are filming in London for 6 days ... some fun cuisine, wine, spirits, cocktails features ... cigars and Louis XIII too! Whoo-hoo!

Today is actually Diwali ... the Festival of Lights ... and India and the some of the UK is shining with candles, fireworks, bonfires, bright lights and oil lamps ... sweet.

Peace and Happiness my friends ... Peace and Happiness ...

India last night ...

2011-10-25T16:51:00.000+01:00

HOME HOME HOME HOME.. !

HAPPY DIWALI .. !

OK - so there is a huge thunderstorm raging outside, I have just eaten a huge slice of chocolate cheesecake and I feel rather sick, my office smells of cigar (which is quite nice), Moo is constantly begging for treats and I am exhausted - BUT - I am home! Only for two days though ... as I have filming from Thursday!

The flight home was quite startling. It was a 747-700 ... carrying a total of 42 passengers! The crew were bemused and pleased ... in equal measures!

Oh - by the way: http://blog.leica-camera.com/guest-blog-posts/viva-varun-2/viva-varun-in-mumbai/

One of my best memories of India ... on the last day ... at Pench National Park ... dining with a stunning female elephant!

My last Indian sunset