Food•Sports•Travel
Investment banker turned philanthropist and adventure seeker Morgan Parker roared out of Hong Kong on his trusty, “unstoppable” BMW F800GS motorcycle on 1 March 2011. His first stop was in Guangdong Province, where he met members of GECKO, who are developing China’s youth into ambassadors for the environment. Following that, he rode into Vietnam to …
Continue reading "Morgan Parker Enters Final Leg of His Epic Wheel2Wheel Journey"
Altogether I spent three nights in Shanghai, followed by another two at a suburban resort about one hour's drive out of the city. Before I continue with my adventures, however, I would like to share with you some of the comments I have been receiving from readers. They come from Shanghai itself, Hong Kong, and the …
At the height of Empire, the Shanghai Club took pride of place along the Bund, not far from the old headquarters of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the most imposing stone edifice along the prestigious waterfront strip. Constructed by the British, it was an "old boys' club" (as the British would say), and the most …
Continue reading "The Long Bar at the Shanghai Club Reopens"
Following a three year restoration project, the Peace Hotel in Shanghai reopened on 28 July 2011 as the Fairmont Peace Hotel. Built in the late 1920s, the grande dame of Shanghai originally opened in 1929. It was known as the Cathay Hotel until 1950, when it was renamed the Peace Hotel. Following the Communist conquest of …
Continue reading "Hotel Review: the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai"
Michael Taylor toured the Peace Hotel during his first visit to Shanghai several years ago - but he didn't actually stay there. He visted its public areas, and the place was dripping with what he thinks of as "shabby chic". Michael had dinner at the Peace Hotel's Chinese restaurant with friends he met on the trip. Then …
My piece on taking a windsurfing lesson at the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa in Phuket seems to have attracted a lot of reader interest. Some readers shared their own experiences taking lessons in water sports - not only windsurfing, but also conventional surfing and waterskiing. And one mentioned that she was so inspired …
My three posts on Thai kick boxing seem to have attracted quite a bit of interest. A sampling of some of the comments I've received follows. My shins hurt watching you kick his pad in your video. Ouch!! H. in Palo Alto, California (via Facebook) Accidental Travel Writer Responds: Actually, the trainer is so skillful …
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As Michael Taylor soon discovers, guests staying at the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa in Phuket, Thailand, are spoiled for choice when it comes to F&B outlets. There are fully six restaurants, but this doesn't augur well for his desire not to gain weight on his eight day stay in Phuket. Can he avoid …
Continue reading "Phuket Challenge: Where, Pray Tell, Shall I Have Lunch?"
First yoga on a terrace. Then an all you can eat buffet breakfast. My first meal of the day on my third full day in Phuket was followed by my first ever wind surfing lesson on the beach at Siray Bay. When I arrived on the beach, I was a bit surprised to find that only …
Continue reading "Phuket Challenge: Learning How to Windsurf – Not as Easy as It Looks!"
The next stop on my Phuket Challenge was the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket, a destination resort that opened in August 2010. It is Thailand's first Westin resort, but not its first Westin hotel. I stayed at a Westin hotel in Bangkok last year. The Westin is located on Siray Island, which is …
Continue reading "Phuket Challenge: the Westin at Siray Bay in Phuket"