Tuesday 20 September 2011

Honeymoon in Udaipur!

Must start by saying sorry but there will be about 30 pictures! But couldn't choose they were all important!

We went away on a delayed honeymoon on Saturday morning, this is one trip where we really treated ourselves.

We went to Udaipur and stayed in the Lake Palace Hotel, a 250 year old palace built as the Maharaja's pleasure palace and more recently known as Octopussy's lair in the Bond Movie and it definitely lived up to expectations! It was magical, romantic and wonderful! We both recommend it the fullest!

So we arrived at Udaipur airport at about 1pm, where a 1948 vintage car ( Stephen's treat ) was waiting to take us to the lake, where we then had a boat waiting to take us out to our palace. When we walked in through the doors there where rose petals coming down over us, just magical!

They took us to our pretty room that looks out over the City Palace where the Maharaja lives (the king )
In the evening we had a boat tour around on the lake and it took us to Jagmandir, which is another palace on the lake, we stayed there for a few minutes and enjoyed the views and then went back to our palace for some entertainment, drinks and dinner. Dinner was lovely and we stayed far longer than the rest of the tourists, just enjoying some wine and lovely Indian food!

On the Sunday we went out exploring the city and went with a guide to the City Palace, then on our own to see a great old car museum and the monsoon palace which was on top of a mountain with amazing views!
That evening we had a private romantic meal prepared for us on the terrace, we had a table set up with the best view, candles everywhere, roses and our own butler. It was the most romantic evening we have ever  had!! And I think it will take a few years ( a life time ) to get it again. Everything was absolutely perfect! The food, the wine, the surroundings and the music that was being played! We ended the evening on the rooftop having a cup of tea and Stephen a cognac, we had the whole roof to ourselves.

The Monday we spent relaxing, a nice long breakfast, a massage, relaxing by the pool a pedicure ( my treat ), then lunch and at 3pm it was time to head back home.

It was the best weekend I have had in my life! And if there is only one place you can visit in India, go here!
Stephen in his car

our driver

the car

Us with our hotel in the background

On our way.

lunch in the marble pillared restaurant

The flute player sat on the balcony.

The City Palace from our Palace

On our boat tour looking back at our Palace.





Entertainment in the evening, lasted longer than it needed but  was cute.

City palace tour.

One of the very ornamental temples.

Our room over looking the City Palace.

Lady cutting the grass by hand with only a stick to help her.

Up on the mountain looking down on the city and the hotel.

One night I had a lovely rose bath.

Stephen and the noisy cricket!

Drinks at the terrace.

Stephen's Martini Shaken not Stirred 

The courtyard

Our special meal with the roses and candles


One of my favourite photo's of the trip!


Sunday 11 September 2011

Vogue Fashion Night!

Yesterday we dressed us for Vogue Fashion Night! It was at the DFL Emporium out in Visant Kunj.

We dressed up in our finest outfits, me in my Little Black Dress, jewellery from Florence and my new Louboutins. Stephen dressed up in Jeans, cool T-shirt and his suit jacket, very smart! We definitely looked the part.

In this mall there are only very expensive shops, like Dior, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Cartier etc.
So we started off walking around some of the shops, and they all served drinks and snacks. So we started in Jimmy Choo, I tried on pretty shoes and Stephen drank the fruity Martinis! We kept mingling and ended up in Paul Smith on the second floor. They offered Johnny Walker Gold Label cocktails so we thought we should try something on, Stephen found a jacket he liked and they actually had his size in their jeans so he tried them on and I sat and sipped on the drinks, chatted away to the sales girl (who did a very good job serving us more and more drinks) she admired my shoes and said that a Louboutin shop was about to open in the mall soon. A few drinks later Stephen ended up buying one pair of jeans and a velvet black jacket, he looked so smart!  Of course the arms and legs were too long so the tailor had to come and measure him and we collect them later on in the week
I was caught up in the moment and wanted him to buy the shirt and the bow tie he was trying on as well, but he said it was too much, see below picture!

We then went to see if any bollywood stars has appeared, there was already Designers from the Indian shops and paparazzi everywhere. We got our picture taken a few times. Will have a look in all the Indian papers next week!
We went on our adventure to get free drinks and spot celebrities. We were in DKNY then Cartier, they where very fascinated with my jewellery and asked if they where from Bvlgari, no I said they are from the Ponte Veccio Florence, Stephen said I should have lied!
We then went into some more shops and ended up in Gucci, they had champagne! So we mingled a little bit and I found some lovely high heels, unfortunately they didn't have my size, but I found some great leather boots that they did have in my size ( only £1000 ) , so while Stephen sipped his champagne I tried on the boots and chitchatted to the sales lady who whispered in my ear how she liked my shoes better! And a few girls around us looked at them and oohed and aahed about how nice they were!

Later on we meet up with a few friends and had dinner.
Today Sunday we haven't done much at all, but Saturday night was the best night here so far! So much fun!

A little thing about my Louboutins as they have been getting a lot of attention from everywhere!
We bought them in a market in Hong Kong for £40 i haggled down form £70, so guessing they are fakes!
But they must be great fakes if they fool everyone like they have! Even sales girls in Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Paul Smith!!

So no little sister in Sweden Stephen did not spoil me THAT much, only emerald ear rings, lovely hotel etc etc!! :)
So so nice! 
Me in my talked about outfit! 
Today's quote:
Stephen: All the girls were jealous of you yesterday.
Me: Was it because of the shoes?
Stephen: No because you were with me!!

Monday 5 September 2011

Hong Kong weekend!

I love Hong Kong!
This has been the best long weekend in a long time!
The hotel was fabulous and we had a great time exploring!

On Thursday we went around the markets and bartered away! We ended up with a few bags and wallets.

On Friday it was my birthday so at midnight we had my cake and then we slept in! Stephen never sleeps in but that day he woke me up at 12!! So getting up early to do some sightseeing flew out the window. But we  were up and out by 1pm, we took the train over to the Lantau and then the cable car up to the top of a mountain where there is a huge buddha. It was really cool. We went in to a tour to understand Buddhas life, we thought it was gonna be very interesting and it was... interesting!  it was a cartoon show of 15min and so tacky! haha we got super surprised!
In the evening we dressed up and went on a little boat cruise to see the "amazing" light show that plays from the buildings across the water. It was a really nice little cruise across the water, but I didn't see much light! We had a drink on there and then we went for dinner at a veggie restaurant. Everything was vegetarian and there was a lot of tofu to choose from! Not the best food in the world especially for Stephen the non-vegetarian, but made us laugh.

On the Saturday we went on a tour to Hong Kong island with a guide. It was nice, we went up to the top o Victoria Peak and saw the pretty view over the harbour, then on to Aberdeen harbour and had a little boat trip to see where all the fishermen still lived. They live with their wives,dogs, chickens and children on houseboats on the water. It got really crowded. We then headed to a jewellery factory with a 2 minute tour of the factory and about 40min in the shop. Stephen bought me some lovely emerald earrings, beautiful.
We went to one of the markets and then had some lunch.
The evening we spent in a beautiful Italian restaurant called Isola, which was a strange name for an Italian as it is a ski resort in France close to Nice that we used to go to. We had wine, ate lovely food and talked and laughed the evening away!
On Sunday we had a very relaxed day, had some lunch at the 76th floor where the pool is and just enjoyed our last day.
At about 5 we took the train over to the airport, checked in and looked for our gate. Stephen being Stephen made us miss our shuttle train by being too busy staring at some boobs walking past! Lucky there was an other one in a few minutes.
We had a nice flight home and was back in India by 10.
Lovely lovely weekend!
Busy busy street!!

shopping in HK is great!! So many amazing shops!

Fresh fish, too fresh I think.

Hope you don't walk past this door when the fire alarm goes off!

First evening and time for some Chinese food.

Birthday cake in bed!

Cable car to giant Buddha

There it is!



250 steps to go!


Birthday boat cruise.

fisherman at work.


at 76th floor walking out to the pool.



At the bar choosing girly cocktails!


Thursday 1 September 2011

Birthday weekend in HonKong starts with a Bang!

So we are in Hong Kong celebrating my birthday!
We are staying at the W Hotel, amazing!!! Best hotel I have ever been to!

We had a relaxing day, done some shopping and tonight we are off for some lovely chinese food!

Here are some pictures for now!

business class on the way here!

Upgraded to a marvelous suite when we got here!

On the 33rd floor, bathroom view of the harbour.

"our" living room.


birthday cake, a day to early:)

Lifts.

View from sitting in my bath.

Geeky husband reading guide books.

Birthday treat!! Christian Louboutin!