Sport & Leisure
St. Regis International Cup, MINT Polo in the Park to kick off
St. Regis International Cup, MINT Polo in the Park to kick off
It's that time of year again in the northern hemisphere – the mercury is rising, the days are stretching out and school kids are getting antsy. Summer is on its way, bringing the start of the polo season with it. Sporting fans and social spectators alike can look forward to several lively months of well-dressed, well-played matches on pitches across the UK, beginning with two prestigious events in and near London, The St. Regis International Cup and MINT Polo in the Park.
Four Seasons tented camp in Thailand offers jungle workouts
Four Seasons tented camp in Thailand offers jungle workouts
We're sure you hit the hotel gym as often as you possibly can on the road (time and restaurant reservations permitting), but what is a health-conscious traveller to do when that hotel is in the middle of the jungle, sans fitness equipment? Of course, pachyderm riding and jungle trekking have their benefits, but they're rather poor substitutes for a heart-thumping, muscle-grinding exercise session.
If you're headed to the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, though, it's no longer an issue. The luxury outpost, situated on northern Thailand's Ruak River just west of Laos and south of Burma, recently inaugurated a daily 'Jungle Gym' workout experience. For those willing to lace up their running shoes before the breakfast bell tolls, it'll be a rigorous but rewarding course.
Villingili Resort opens Maldives' first 9-hole golf course
Villingili Resort opens Maldives' first 9-hole golf course
Diving, snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing. When you're on a tropical island the size of your neighbourhood park, most of the fun is going to involve H2O. But that's not necessarily the case anymore at Shangri La's Villingili Resort in the Maldives, as they recently debuted a nine-hole, 7.5-hectare golf course – the biggest course in the island country.
Honma introduces colourful clubs for original golfers
Honma introduces colourful clubs for original golfers
In sports like golf, where it's every man for himself, things are more about the individual. You choose where to play, when to play, with whom to play and what to wear while playing. You choose your own equipment, too, with your personal preferences in mind. It's the tailor-made suit of sports.
Now, Japanese golf club specialists Honma are making the game even more customisable with a new line of spirited clubs that let players express themselves in technicolour. With 13 hues available for drivers, fairway woods and hybrid woods, to be mix-and-matched with 11 shaft colours, Honma is bringing more play into the game and putting an end to any confusion over whose club is whose.
Voiles de Saint Barth a rising star on the yachting calendar
Voiles de Saint Barth a rising star on the yachting calendar
On April 7th, the Voiles de Saint Barth successfully ended its third edition after a week of spirited competition and a race that had sailors navigating around the small island. A mix of other courses rounded out the regatta program, attended by a competitive group of amateurs and family racers. With 65 entries – among them America's Cuppers, round-the-world ocean racers, private yacht owners and a duffle bag-wielding group of sailors from the ranks of Olympic athletes – the participants celebrated the end of the Caribbean winter season, honing their practical sailing skills on the growing circuit of Caribbean regattas.
The Voiles de Saint Barth regatta may be considered the 'little sister', not yet having reached the reputation of the St. Barth’s Bucket that has taken place every March for 17 editions. Whereas the St. Barth's Bucket is an institutional happening, kicking off the Caribbean sailing fun and well known for its socialising and holiday character rather than competitive sailing credentials, the Voiles de Saint Barth is about competition and winning the class. Those who succeeded received a limited edition Richard Mille watch – only 100 in existence – with a titanium case, yellow crown and yellow numbers on the turning bezel. With a prize like that, these keen sailors had an appetite for bringing the race home.
Italia Veloce bicycles: Handcrafted and historical
Italia Veloce bicycles: Handcrafted and historical
In the handmade-crazed world of luxury, it's not unusual to come across custom products that, for all their vintage aesthetics, lack a certain heart – they look the part, but there's no character. In the case of the bicycles by Italia Veloce, however, that certainly does not hold true.
Three old school friends rummaging around at a disused bicycle shop, and the stirring of childhood memories therein, lit a spark of new vision for their old passion of cycling. To them, their course of action was obvious: re-open the shop. The rest is history.
Handcrafted using methods passed down through generations, Italia Veloce bikes draw inspiration from cultural and historical references, with each of their four bike models utilising parts from throughout the decades. The top of the range, Magnifica, even offers the special option of using a vintage crankset from a collection dated between the 1950s and 1970s. Such exclusive part options, using pieces purchased from parts dealers the world over, allow for a greater degree of exclusivity.
But the components don't have to be old to look the part; the Ribelle model, for example (pictured at top), features a frame oxidised with a special method that gives it a worn look, accentuating the characteristic vintage appearance and encouraging everyday use, with knocks and scrapes exalting the story of the bike.
Top Five: Pools With A View
Unwinding by the pool with a novel or slowly gliding through bright, turquoise waters in a fabulous designer swimsuit is the ultimate holiday metaphor – the one image that signifies leisure and anchors a resort or hotel in our fantasies as an idyllic location. But what if the view from this little patch of paradise is -– pinch me, I’m dreaming – particularly spectacular as well? Some of our favourites around the world prove that a great pool is more than a place to cool off; it can be the lap of luxury, too.
The Crown Metropol in Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last decade: a city defined by its Victorian architecture, labyrinthine laneways and hole-in-the-wall cafés has transformed with the last decade’s big city skyline. It is only fitting that this elegant city has a sky-high pool with resplendent views, giving guests the chance to reign supreme over the urban environs spread out before them as they enjoy a languid swim. The spatial intelligence of gloriously triple-height ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass opens up the space, creating the impression you are free floating in the clouds. The sheer scale and height adds penthouse grandeur to the hushed quiet of the pool’s relaxation deck setting, with the bells and whistles of the cutting edge Isika spa, hair salon, gym and nail bar as an über-pampering second act.
Visit the Crown Metropol website
CURRENT TOP TEN STORIES
- Home & Property The Queen Of Carpet Design ...
- Travel: Destinations Centurion Challenge: Kilimanjaro ...
- Fashion Paris Spring Fashion Trends 2012 ...
- Fashion Milan Spring Fashion Trends 2012 ...
- Yachting Calling Niklas Zennström - Part I ...
- Fashion London Spring Fashion Trends 2012 ...
- Fashion New York Spring Fashion Trends ...
- Gourmet A Taste Of Berlin ...
- Design The Design DNA of Jacob Jensen ...
- Travel: Destinations Weekend Guide: New York ...
