Back in London. Staying in a hotel in Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge ... in great comfort.

I have "proper" internet now but miss the Blackberry experiment.

Editing the Malaysia show tomorrow ... so today is scripting and more scripting.

I have the BBC News on and I am watching & listening to the output from Japan. The "180" at Fukushima are true heroes. If they succeed in their mammoth task they will be remembered for generations. Tokyo is one of the world's great cities along with the likes of New York, London & Paris ... I - like millions - hope and pray ...

A visit to Robert Graham in West London. My wardrobe for 2011 is very nice indeed.

Daniel and Richard - Robert Graham in London

Yes - an afternoon cigar (or two) with dear Eddie at Davidoff

Piccadilly - the Japanese Embassy ...

I am still in the internet wilderness. I am not saying where this is being written but there's a photo below which shows how I am doing it. Yes - that is a keyboard on a screen. It's not easy!

The weather is miserable today here in London ... mist, fog and cold. Brrrrrrr ....

In two weeks time I will be in the Seychelles! If the sun is not shining there .... grrrr ....



EDITING DAY 1 tomorrow. I love the edit process ... turning the raw footage into the building blocks of a full show. We have so many out-takes ... none of which - thankfully - will ever see the light of day!


Tomorrow I will start using my new Leica ... awesome.


My thoughts are with the people of Japan.

(Mittens - my adorable kitten)

ok - well this is a first for me!

I am writing this on my Blackberry. I am staying with my Papa just 17 miles from Hyde Park Corner and there is no internet! No BTOpenzone ... No stealable networks - just the signal my poor Blackberry is getting.

Have some very busy days coming up ... All good though ...

I was recently asked what - if anything - I take from the hotel rooms I stay in.

A few years ago, on his first ever trip abroad, a member of ILT staff rang me from his suite to ask if he was allowed to use the soap in the bathroom. It was Hermes and he was worried that it would appear on the bill! Naive - yes, sweet - yes ... worrying - oh yes!
On the other hand, Tim is always asking me if anyone would miss the 50" plasma HD television set, king-sized bed or bright leather sofa that decorate his many hotel rooms!

I do swipe the toiletries - actually not all brands. Ren is worth taking - as is Aqua di Palma ... oh and Jo Malone ... but own brands, Molton Brown, Penhaligons and indeed Hermes are always left behind. Shoe mitts are useful for wiping camera lenses and the disposable laundry bags are great for wrapping sun cream and mosquito repellent bottles in. You would have to be mad (or desperate) to want to take towels, bed linen, batteries from remote-controls, carpets, light bulbs, cushions, lamp shades ... or pee in apple juice bottles from the minibar. Actually, if I had the time I could tell you some stories of theft and anti-social behaviour that would make you toes curl.

Most rooms/suites that I stay in have - of course - Gideon's Bible and a plethora of magazines. I know this may shock you but I am not an Elle or Vogue reader (unless there is of course an article on the latest trends in fluffy leggings or mankinis) ... but I do like to flip through Time and Newsweek.

Last week at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, I DID swipe the Ren products ... and a copy of Newsweek to read on the bus (I HATE London Underground). The magazine is dedicated and features the "150 Women Who Shake the World". From Hillary Clinton to Suraya Pakzad and Meryl Streep to Shirin Neshat, the magazine tells their stories. It's been a long time since I have just sat on a bus reading until the end of the line and then back again to my stop ... 90 minutes late(r). If you can get a copy of this issue - do - it's quite amazing and moving.

I watched the news today and this lady was standing in Sendai, Japan looking over the area that was once home to her, her family and friends. Nothing was left ... and she said "we will rebuild, we must". 151 women ...

While going through some photos today I took in Asia recently, I found this one ... it made me smile ... it sends the right message ...

I have tried my very best to keep away from the television news today. But when I have watched it - especially the BBC - I have got quiet angry at the coverage ... some reporters seem to be revelling in the misery ... this is a very sombre moment in history and the way it is reported has to be reflected in that way.

I have a very busy three weeks now before I fly to the Seychelles for the next episode. I am spending a week at the family home in Surrey (just outside London) with editing trips into the City, then I am travelling to Germany for an unscheduled but quite exciting trip to a destination I haven't been to before ... and in there somewhere I have to travel down to Cornwall (deep, deep South West England) to pick up my new car AND there is so much to do for the rest of the series. It's good to be busy ...

The Life of Moo ... zzzzz

With thousands of people dead or missing in Japan, today is another very dark one. The devastation is just enormous ... I spoke to two of my friends there this morning. One said " ... I have lived in Tokyo all my life - this is the worst I have ever seen ... " and the other has not stopped crying and shaking for a day. She has family outside Tokyo and is very worried about them. When you know of real people, with real members of their families missing, it hits home just how helpless the situation currently is.

I was astounded by the footage from Fukushima-Daiichi where the nuclear reactors have been put on high alert. For those nuclear naysayers, you must remember that ALL the buildings in the area around the reactors were flattened but the reactors still stand. We must now hope that the nuclear leakage is kept to a minimum ...

With so many at war around the world - surely, SURELY people in power MUST realise that  "humanitys'" biggest enemy is not humanity ... but Nature ...

Like millions of others around the world, I have been glued to my television set watching the truly awful images coming from Japan.

We are being told time and time again that Japan is the best-prepared nation in the world for earthquakes & tsunamis but the fury of nature made a mockery of all these statements.

Over the next few days and weeks, the full extent of this disaster will come to light. I can only hope and pray that the human suffering is at a minimum and that the world can put its differences aside and help Japan through this nightmare.

I have just been for a swim. Why? Guilt!

This morning I awoke in the hotel which has my favourite hotel swimming pool in the world (only bettered by the one at The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle) and I didn't use it. The pool at the Carlton Tower is made of stainless steel and in my youth I used to jog there from my home, paddle and then jog back. Haha! That was a lifetime ago ...

This morning I woke early for breakfast with my mate - delightful Gary - (now "Country Manager for South African Airways"! ooh aah!) and lovely Alison (Marketing at the hotel). I should have had a dip but instead gorged on smoked salmon and scrambled eggs! Yum!

I slept like a baby after a rather large bag of Pinot Noir last night ...

Now I am just pooped.

I have a NEW camera - the Leica D-Lux 5 ... so far, so good ... I am so looking forward to taking great shots with it ...

Alison

Skyline from the 15th Floor - The Belgrave Suite

AWESOME!

The Boss

Greetings from the 15th floor of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower here in London.

It's a clear night and I can see south as far as ... well ... around 15 miles ... and it's gorgeous.

It's been a late night for me so I won't write much.

My suite is actually one of the best I have had here in London for a LONG time. The rooms here were designed by the same chap as the Burj Al Arab in Dubai ... thankfully he has matured with the years and the suite I have is spacious, comfortable and makes me feel like I am the first guest to stay in it ... it's not garish but warm & comfortable.

Have the new Leica V-Lux 5 to play with ... fab!

I love London like no other city in the world!

Where am I?

Answer: Malaysia ... and the famous Kuala Lumpur skyline. The major landmarks from left to right are: Petronas Towers, the Mandarin Oriental hotel and the KL Tower.

“Melayu” is taken from a Sanskrit term that means “land of mountains”. Kuala Lumpur translates as “muddy estuary”. Malaysia was formed in the 18th century and is separated into East and West by the South China Sea. To the west is the mainland (Peninsula) with Thailand to the north. To the east is Borneo bordered by Brunei.


Kula Lumpur is the 5th most visited city in the world ... and its skyline is one of the most recognisable in the world.


The Petronas Towers is still the tallest twin tower-construction ever built at 451.9 metres. The Towers featured in the 1999 Sean Connery bank-robbery flick, Entrapment.


The KL Tower – at 421 metres in height – is the second tallest free-standing tower in the world.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I have no fear when it comes to wild animals. I have cuddled a Tasmania Devil, gone Scuba-diving with Tiger and Great White Sharks, shared an apple with a Cassowary, been stalked by an unhappy female Rhinoceros, charged by an Elephant, abused by an ugly Baboon, been savaged by Penguins and fed raw meat to Polar Bears ... but I do have one nemesis ... the mosquito.


It seems that wherever I go the “Mosquito family” has one of its members there ready to take advantage of my thick, sweet and juicy blood. The constant itching, unsightly lumps, weeping wounds and general discomfort are just a few of the side-effects from a small Vampire-like bite. Of course there are preventatives; creams, garlic tablets, Vitamin D, sprays, wrist bands, iPhone Apps, buzzers, nets, swats, coils, Tea Tree oil and that old favourite tonic water (with a splash of Gin) ... but sadly none of these seem to work effectively for me (although I do try the last remedy time and time again – in hope!).


My latest filming trip to Malaysia - while truly splendid - was marred by unwelcome and frequent visits from my arch enemy.


First stop was Kuala Lumpur. I have explored KL before, so was not too upset that I had to leave after just twelve hours and head to the state of Pahang – situated on the east coast of the Peninsula. I have to mention though that the KL skyline in both day & night time is spectacular. I believe to be one of the “sights to see before you die”.


Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia – with roughly two-thirds of it made up of rainforest. I was lucky to be offered a helicopter to ferry me and the crew to Tioman Island just 32 kilometres off the coast.


The eco-resort – JapaMala - boasts that it can be dismantled entirely within a fortnight and that all trace of its existence wiped away. If true, this is sustainable tourism at its best.


Tioman Island is made up mainly of rainforest ... and is filled with creatures including flying squirrels, monitor lizards, monkeys, snakes (including the python) and mosquitoes. In the sea you will find turtles, walking catfish ... and the wrecks of several WW2 ships which adds to the diverse diving locations on offer around the island.


Next time you watch the classic 1958 movie South Pacific – keep in mind that the beaches featured in Bali Hai were actually filmed on Tioman.


From Pahang, I ventured north to Terrenganu state and one of the finest resorts in Malaysia – Tanjong Jara. The resort is designed to look like a 17th century Malay palace ... and I had one of those archetypal luxury beach “chalets”. My suite was stunning – but the views of the South China Sea made it just so extra special.


Thankfully I did not have to worry about being bitten by snakes or spiders here ... or chased by monkeys looking for peanut M&Ms but yes, I did get nibbled on by the Tanjong Jara chapter of the Mosquito family.


One of the highlights of my visit to Terrenganu State was venturing to the fish market in Dungun. In good old England, I head to the fish market where all the produce is laid out on clean ice and sanitation is almost the key to sale. Here in my Malaysian fish market, there was no need for ice as the fish was being bought in, by the hour, fresh from the boats and sold immediately. Not only did I witness the main ingredient of fish head soup start life but also catfish leaping in & out of buckets, red snapper fighting for their final breath and king prawns “playing” chess on table tops ...


Before I sign off today, I must mention that none of my crew were bitten ONCE by a mosquito on the entire trip ...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Varun Sharma is the host of Inside Luxury Travel – a television show that focuses on high-end travel. The show airs in over 165 countries, in 18 languages and is beamed into 500 million homes worldwide. He has now stayed in over 500 luxury hotels & resorts … and has in the past year flown in a fighter jet, gone diving – without a cage – in Tiger Shark infested-waters, had dinner with a dingo and has cooked with over 60 Michelin-starred chefs! He likes nothing better than playing a round of golf with his beloved pooch Gemima by his side, cigar in mouth and flask of single malt Scottish whisky to hand!

Another week ...

After my many complaints about the lack of Spring, I am pleased to say that Spring has finally sprung ... well in "my world" at least!

It's been chilly but full sunshine and blue skies have been the order of the day! The snowdrops are in full bloom with the daffodils are threatening to do so in the next few days.

Oh: http://blog.leica-camera.com/viva-varun-2/viva-varun-where-is-he-now-18/

I have started preparing for next month's filming - Seychelles and Budapest! The former is a favourite for me (holidays and relaxing times) ... while the latter joined the list quite late after an awesome visit in January!

Perfect Pops, perfect family, perfect friends, perfect Pooch, perfect Kittens, perfect food, perfect whisky, perfect movie, perfect weather, perfect cigar, perfect music ...

As Lou Reed once wrote ... "just a perfect day" ....


Just a perfect day
drink Sangria in the park
And then later
when it gets dark, we go home

Just a perfect day
feed animals in the zoo
Then later
a movie, too, and then home

Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spend it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on

You just keep me hanging on
Just a perfect day
problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own

it's such fun
Just a perfect day
you made me forget myself
I thought I was
someone else, someone good

Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on

You just keep me hanging on
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow
You're going to reap just what you sow

Thanks Lou: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYEC4TZsy-Y

Upsides of my life: I have THE best job in the world

Downside of my life: I miss friends, family ... and concerts! I REALLY, REALLY wanted to see the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain playing "live" but I am filming in California! Darn it! There is something about the ukulele that is fun ... and alluring ... and crazy! Oh well ... next time ...

 Sharing a helicopter with Tim

 King for a day!

 James and P-Bear

 For Cath

Tim ... the Chipmunk!

http://www.insideluxurytravel.com/newsletters/ilt_newsletter_03_2011.html

have cold - in bed - MISERABLE!

----------------------------------------------------------------

The new series of Inside Luxury Travel is now in full production!

The team is just back from a rather wonderful filming trip in Malaysia. We started off in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, for just one night - staying at The Villa Samadhi. This is a new and quite comfortable boutique property in a rather affluent part of the city with great views of the Petronas Towers.


From KL, we flew to Tioman Island in the beautiful state of Pahang. We stayed & filmed three nights at JapaMala. This property - which faces the South China Sea - is surrounded by fabulous rainforest, teaming with plants and animals. The highlight of my stay was watching as James (camera assistant/field producer) was chased along a walkway by a small troupe of angry-looking monkeys. How I laughed...


From Pahang, we ventured north to Terrenganu state and YTL's Tanjong Jara. This is undoubtedly a world class luxury resort with quite impressive facilities and service. A highlight for me here was - uncharacteristically - thumping my first shot on a Par-3 onto the green and holing the putt for a birdie on the Bukit Besi Golf Course. It was my first round of the year...

Malaysia is fast becoming a favourite for a new breed of luxury traveller and is a very affordable alternative to Thailand and Bali.

On my way home, I popped into Hong Kong... one of my personal favourite travel destinations on Earth. I stayed at the magnificent Peninsula hotel but also popped into the Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, Upper House, Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton (which is set to open at the end of March). Honkers IS buzzing...

March is a quiet month - I will be doing a couple of Leica trips but we will carry on filming the show in earnest from April. Last month I featured Nashville and Chicago. You are able to see what I did and where I stayed by heading to the Leica blogsite http://blog.leica-camera.com/ or if you become a friend of Leica (or Inside Luxury Travel) on Facebook. It currently has 90,000+ friends on this site alone...and countless millions of fans around the world. Leica is THE camera brand. I am very lucky that Leica - last year - invited me to share my travels by writing a fortnightly blog accompanied with a dozen photographs (taken on a Leica). While I write a blog for Leica from every location I film, I will still be short this year of destinations! So if you want guaranteed coverage of your location on the Leica blog, Facebook, Twitter and our own Daily Diary, please contact me on varun@insideluxurytravel.com

Due to current political and climatic issues occurring around the world, our 2011 filming list may have to be amended but we are still hoping to film (not in any order): Seychelles, Antigua, Sydney, Napa Valley, Big Sur, Wales, Geneva, Sweden, Budapest, Botswana, Egypt, New Delhi and Mumbai. If you have any feature or hotel/resort ideas, please do not hesitate in contacting us here on: info@insideluxurytravel.com

For all our friends in India, Inside Luxury Travel now airs on ET Now - the premier business channel in the country - which is owned by The Economic Times. In New Zealand, the show now airs on Travel Channel on the SKY platform. Around the world, Inside Luxury Travel now airs in 167 countries, in 18 languages and to 500 million homes.

Karen Luard of KP Communications is looking after the public relations for Inside Luxury Travel. If you have any PR enquiries please do get in touch with her on: kp@kpcommunications.co.uk

I have now written over 850 entries on my daily diary insideluxurytravel.blogspot.com and it's going strong! Not a day missed in over two years!

We are always looking for interesting, exciting and fun luxury features for the show and if you have any ideas, please email Emma (producer) on: emma@insideluxurytravel.com.

Throughout this series we have worked with the likes of Robert Graham (apparel) and Leica to add that extra touch to the production. We like this, so any more brands out there that you think we should be working with, please also contact us!

With love, Varun

We take an amazing number of photos (on Leicas of course!) during each film shoot ... Jimmy takes many of them ... sometimes at great physical risk to himself.

My favourite incident of the Malaysia shoot was watching James being chased by an angry troupe of monkeys on Tioman Island. It turns out that he had failed to ask one of the female monkeys permission to pose for a photo for our Facebook page and her boyfriend (& his mates) took exception! Run James, Run ... how Tim & I laughed ...

I am exhausted.

Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur - 3 hrs 45 minutes
Kuala Lumpur Airport to Kuala Lumpur Airport - 39 minutes (don't ask)
Kuala Lumpur to London - 13 hrs 14 minutes
London to home - zzzzzzzzzzzzz

The long flight home was rather bumpy ... and I spent much of it asleep or crying -watching movies about dogs, cats and a horse. I wish there was a "horror" channel on these aircraft - then I would stop this crying. Even the old lady sitting opposite to me looked worried ...

I am 8 hours behind myself ... zzzzzzzzz

The boys, Gerdi and Andrea locked me in the trunk of an SUV and would not let me out until I promised to stop eating ketchup with everything ( I am still in there!)

WHISKY!

Things I love about Hong Kong:


Tasmanian Ballroom, Priscilla, skyscrapers, Lung King Heen, weather, the amenity bag from The Upper House (the BEST in any hotel in the world), wi-fi in every Peninsula Hotel Rolls-Royce (the BEST airport "shuttle" service in the world), shopping malls, Bear, people watching, whisky, Air Asia (fabulous service was a genuine smile), Jono, the Magic Hour, exchange rate, the 52-second elevator ride from 8th to 103rd floor of the ICC Building (Ritz-Carlton), Tattie & Piper, optimism, Star Ferry, Phooey, MTR, Pulpy, Winvy, hand gel machines, Victoria Harbour, cheap taxi fares, karaoke, Sunday, sunrise, sunset, Maria, bamboo scaffolding, XO sauce, Kowloon, bling, lobby lizards, Pocari Sweat ...


Things I hate about Hong Kong:


Designer dressing in the dark, lack of basic manners, in Europe I am a "large" - in Hong Kong an "extra large", leaving ...


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


-- My ride for the morning, a Peninsula Mini Clubman ... ideal for zipping around the city in ...

-- Dean Winter - General Manager - The Upper House


-- Pocari Sweat ... Eau de Chien?


-- Ms Rainy Chan - General Manager - The Peninsula Hotel


-- My airport ride!


-- Bugs Bunny drives an Audi TT ... !

Another awesome day in Hong Kong and another day of seeing people I love and hotels that I love too!


Up early (again) and a wonderful breakfast ... at The Peninsula ... with my dear Peninsula family ...


Catch the MTR to Central and after a naughty shop, have lunch with the General Manager and Director of Sales and Marketing at The Four Seasons. Michelin-starred Chef Tak at Lung King Heen whips up an awesome meal ...


Quick meet with the new Spa director at the FS by the pool - it's a lovely warm day!


Then head over to Kowloon to the ICC Building for a guided tour of The Ritz-Carlton hotel ... with its DOSM and PR Director. The hotel opens in 29 days. It's the 4th tallest building in the world and the highest hotel in the world. From floors 103 to 118 - it's rooms/suites/restaurants/bars/gym ... and pool on the top floor. It DOES look rather amazing ... if the service matches the look & feel ... it may turn out to be one of the greatest hotels in the world. Watch this space ...


Back over to Central again to meet with the "Man from Air New Zealand" here in Hong Kong and the PR Director of the Four Seasons ...


FINALLY over to the Island Shangri-La for a drink with Maria - the Director of PR for Shangri-La hotel & resorts worldwide ....


PHEW!

Winvy & Priscilla at The Peninsula

Catherine & William at The Four Seasons

Shoshana at The Four Seasons

Bonnie & Ivy at The Ritz-Carlton

Brandy - the gorgeous Spaniel at the R-C who licked my hand and made me feel loved!

Jonathan and Claire (Bear) at The Four Seasons .. balcony on the 78th (!) floor!