Hop over to the F1 in uber style next weekend with a luxurious chopper chauffeur service being introduced between Dubai and Abu Dhabi through a collaboration between Atlantis, The Palm and FLYHIGH Dubai Helicopter Services, on the 25th, 26th and 27th of November. Offering a door to door experience, the fleet of VIP Agusta 109 choppers can seat up to six guests with the usual lengthy journey to and from Abu Dhabi taking a swift 30 minutes. Running every hour from 08.00AM until 02.00AM over the three days, the choppers leave Atlantis, The Palm Helipad in Dubai and arrive on the Yas Island helipad located a few hundred meters from the entrance of Yas Marina Circuit. There are also hourly return journeys available for those that want to enjoy a couple of hours in Dubai before returning to Abu Dhabi. In addition, a shuttle service by car will be connecting the helipad to the gates and entrances for an even smoother service. For a sharing helicopter prices start at 2,500 AED per person each way, whilst a luxury experience with exclusive use of the chopper costs 14,670 AED per flight each way. Soar away!
Romance is the essence of life and to add elegance to it goes on to making the experience extravagant for both. When one thinks of love, the idea of cosy comfort stands out, but so does the idea of extending ones reach further, as the sky is the limit when it comes to planning that special, romantic escape for two, one that will stay etched in memory for time to come. While the options are many and the opulence subject only to one’s demands, there are some that feature in the classic column of the romance dictionary – like that of dining together, under the stars. Bringing together two sensual experiences, that of food and stargazing, this is a romantic escape that literally takes it beyond the horizon. And this is no random picnic in the wild that we are suggesting, as what could be more luxurious than getting a five course fiesta served to you and yours at a plush, private setting under the big, wide canopy of stars in a fabulous location which could be looking out over the silent expanse of sea or the hills as you claim your own sweet piece of the starlit sky, close by. If this has already got you tempted to try, then here we are with our handpicked suggestions for some of the most stellar stargazing restaurants which take you far and beyond, starting with the one on home shores.
If you are looking for something nearer, or just a quick getaway, then you just need to head out to Bangalore which has the Taj Westend with its famous Masala Klub serving authentic fare with a twist, and where you can enjoy an exclusive dinner for two under the starlit inky blue sky. The restaurant, built in the old world style with lush green around, is the perfect choice for an open air dinner, which in this case comes along with personalized service by a private butler. From customising your meal, or choosing from the extensive a-la-carte-menu, to pairing delectable Indian dishes with the perfect bottle of wine, selected from the array of 225 modern and traditional wines on offer, or indulging further with a bottle of delicate champagne, this is one restaurant which will leave you spoilt for choice, as you indulge in a heart to heart with your better half while soaking in the beauty of the night sky, sitting by the serene poolside or on the sprawling lawns. The elegantly designed property has such a vintage charm to it, and add to that the personalised attention and special service, you will be left feeling like the royal couple out for a jaunt in the garden, with your own retinue of cooks dishing out delicacies to tickle your tastebuds. The weather in Bangalore being of the ambient sort and the hotel’s location being tucked away from the bustle of the main city, yet accessible, makes Taj Westend your preferred gateway to a romantic night out under the stars, not to forget the food which is a highlight of Masala Klub, synonymous with its signature dish, the Murg Khatta Pyaaz, served with homemade phulkas, to make you feel at home under the canopy of stars.
A private island resort, located in the heart of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the One&Only Hayman Island is the northernmost of the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of Queensland. Set against the backdrop of the Coral Sea, there are rooms, suites, villas and penthouses on different parts of the property, which allow for phenomenal views of the pristine sea, the sand and the endless horizon. The resort is a sanctuary of beauty, bliss and bespoke cuisine as one can savour flavours from different parts of the world created by internationally trained chefs, as one settles in for pool-side or beach-side dining. But what adds character to the whole piece, is the range of private dining experiences, which makes this decadent resort one of the most indulgent ones for lovebirds looking at unique, intimate occasions to celebrate love and food. While one could opt for a private gourmet picnic on the beach during the day, the glimmering pools in the Formal Garden set the stage for the inimitable ‘Under the Stars Dining’ inside cabanas resting amidst lush tropical greenery, where a specially crafted five-course Twilight Dinner is served and accompanied by the finest champagne, while one enjoys the beautiful Whitsunday sunset. Truly, a celebration for the senses, right under the stars.
The 67 villas of the Maradiva Villa Resort & Spa on the west coast of the island of Mauritius, run along the banks of Tamarin Bay and make for an idyllic refuge for those seeking a piece of heaven on earth. The pristine beach, endless sea, silent mountains are all backdrops for the haute cuisine served at the resort where gourmet dining with an air of ‘barefoot luxury’ is yours to call for. As you choose from Mauritian, Mediterranean, and Continental menus, soaking in the relaxed ambience of the Coast2Coast restaurant, facing the beach and specializing in fish dishes, there is also the chef’s special menu presented every evening. You can choose to savour the flavours while sitting in the lounges or on the terrace, or have an exclusive beach dinner, under Raj tents, arranged for. The breathtaking sunsets and the clear night skies, with the sound of waves lapping up the shores, will only enhance the beauty of the moment which will stay on in the memory.
Travelling to the States will bring you the chance to enjoy the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa’s ‘Have it All Under the Desert Stars’ experience which is one of their exclusive experiences for golf-loving and visiting couples looking to revel in some ‘me’ time and the beauty of Palm Springs, California. A stargazing meal at the Rockwood Grill, customized by the resident executive chef is also set up on the outdoor terrace with fire pits and a la cart seating, the cuisine brings alive the local, fresh produce from California’s farms and is accompanied by hand-crafted farm-to-glass cocktails, regional microwbrews and a selection of California wines.
The Desert Stars package tips over the luxe quotient as it also includes bottles of Dom Pérignon, a private safari excursion and a gourmet picnic under the stars, a personalized shopping experience and credit to Saks Fifth Avenue, and a $1,000 telescope for keeps. Wow is the word.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Royal Oak collection, Audemars Piguet has collaborated with Florentine jewellery designer Carolina Bucci to create a new feminine timepiece that’s a contemporary take on a classic design. Christened the Royal Oak Frosted Gold, the watch features an 18kt white or rose gold case measuring 37mm or 33mm. It also features an AR-coated sapphire crystal, and a sapphire display back for the 37mm version. Inside the 37mm version is a Swiss automatic Audemars-Piguet in-house caliber 3120 with 40 jewels, 21,600 vph and a power reserve of 60 hours. This movement is made more unique by the addition of a 22kt engraved rotor. The 33mm version uses the Swiss quartz caliber 2713 movement complete with 7 jewels. Both versions are water resistant to 50 meters. Carolina Bucci brings its own touch to the watch’s exterior, with the Florentine rechnique: surface treatment rooted in an ancient gold hammering technique.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi, which will feature 9,200 square meters (100,000 square feet) of gallery space, has commissioned grand works for its opening that was slated for December this year, but has been postponed to 2017. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and built at a cost of half a billion euros, The Louvre Abu Dhabi, will be a “museum city” which includes streets, waterways, and plaza with artworks displayed outside as well as inside the galleries. Penone, a member of Italy’s contemporary Arte Povera movement, has created “Germination”, a four-part installation that reveals his fascination with the use of organic materials, such as trees, to highlight the connection between man, nature and art. Among these installations is “Leaves of Light” – a bronze tree soaring towards the museum’s giant 180-meter dome with mirrors placed on its branches to reflect the “Rain of Light”. US conceptual artist Holzer has designed three engraved stone walls of texts from important historical sources from across the world. Many of France’s grand museums, including the Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay and the Palace of Versailles, will loan art to Abu Dhabi as part of a 30-year collaboration with the emirate worth one billion euros ($1.1 billion). Louvre Abu Dhabi will be the first museum to open at the Saadiyat Cultural District and will be followed by the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
After exquisite crystal ware to grace your luxe tables, Rohit Bal offers a brand new, limited edition capsule collection of home décor and apparel, created in collaboration with Good Earth. Persian Art and motifs from the Mughal era, a recurring favourite of Good Earth design, make a prominent appearance in this collection titled Husn-e-Taairaat which literally means ‘beauty of a bird’. With a year invested in its creation, the Husn-e-Taairaat collection has hand-stitched and hand-painted products resplendent in royal colours of jade, ivory and blue with 24k gold and platinum detailing. The apparels bask in the aesthetic glory of pure Habutai Silks, while the home range spreads out across a variety of materials like ceramics, bone china and glassware. The Husn-e-Tairaat collection is in fact a retrospective of Rohit Bal’s eponymous 2015 couture line that he showcased at the Amazon India Couture Week 2015. The collection is exclusively available at Good Earth’s flagship boutiques in Delhi and Mumbai.
Amazed? Well, that’s the right reaction, we suppose, when you pair something as exclusive as a Rolex with the everyday delights of the plain ol’ pizza. But a Rolex with a Domin’s Pizza logo on its face has plenty of history attached, and it goes back to the year 1977, when Domino’s Pizza founder and CEO Tom Monaghan once gave a high achieving employee the watch right off his wrist! Monaghan writes in his autobiography Pizza Tiger, “I wore a Bulova with our Domino’s logo on its face. A franchisee asked what he had to do to get that watch from me, and I told him, ‘Turn in a twenty-thousand-dollar sales week.’ He did it.” Now that’s one amazing boss to have. And he actually turned that into a tradition, by giving away Seikos to high performing employees that turned in $20,000 sales in a week. And the tradition continues to this day, in the form of the “Rolex Challenge”, but now the reward requires one to turn in $25,000 sales for four consecutive weeks, while the watches no longer carry the red, blue and white logo on their dials—they feature a metallic logo on the bracelet instead. Well, talk about alluring incentive!
Audemars Piguet’s most ambitious exhibit ever is currently taking place in the Yuz Museum, Shanghai. The luxury Swiss watch manufacturer’s exhibit takes guests on a journey through its history, where it has appointed French designer Mathieu Lehanneur to conceive a special installation. Lehanneur’s art installation creates an impressive allusion to a watch dial through a large ring made of 12 rooms where 200 historical and contemprary timepieces are exposed! In the middle of the circle stands a huge rock, created from cast replicas of those found in Audemars Piguet’s home in the Vallée de Joux. It is meant to remind the visitors of the brands origins and how far it has come from there. The exhibit, on till November 13, also has contributions from key artists such as Cheng Ran, Dan Holdsworth and Alexandre Joly as a means of displaying the brand’s commitment with the world of contemporary art. Once it has completed its time in shanghai, the exhibit will be travelling to other art capitals throughout 2017. What makes it really special is that this exhibit constitutes Audemars’ largest collection ever brought outside of its own Museum and explores a selection of horological arts and crafts that the brand has mastered over the centuries. It isn’t just a celebration of the brand, it is a celebration of the mastery of art and craftsmanship that defines an Audemars Piguet.
Minimalistic jewelry is always in fashion, and more so when its been designed by the likes of century-old American jewelry brand Harry Winston. Harry Winston’s very first HW logo collection features features 18 pieces of minimalistic diamond rings, bracelets, pendants, and earrings crafted from 18k white, yellow, and rose gold, dazzling with brilliant-cut diamonds. Available via appointment at Harry Winston boutiques across the globe, this collection isn’t just iconic but also versatile: you can mix and match it to create a matching set, use the pieces separately, or layer them with other light pieces.