Sorry for the radio silence.  I’m taking a little time off and visiting Florence for a friend’s wedding in the hills of Tuscany.  Tips for Florence welcome, otherwise more next week when I’m back. Photo Credit

StndAir is simultaneously ridiculous, and ridiculously smart.

Travel to the Hamptons and beyond this summer will be fun, easy, and accessible with StndAir, starting May 26th through October 10th, 2011. It is available for the public, as well as Standard New York and Sunset Beach hotel guests, who will be offered room package/flight deals.

StndAir is an 8 passenger Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian aircraft that will be available for charter service to any East Coast destination within a 300 mile radius of New York (Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, Hudson Valley), as well as scheduled flights during peak weekend periods between New York City, East Hampton on Long Island.

On one of my trips to Africa last year I had the distinct opportunity to visit and stay at one of the most remote and incredible places: The Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.   Perched into the side of the craters wall, it’s a treat of wilderness and luxury in one of the more remote parts of the world.  It takes a hop skip and a jump in two bush planes and a bumpy drive in an AWD vehicle to reach, but it’s worth the trip.  I recommend starting the trip as early in the daytime as possible so you can see the crater as you drive upon it, and sights like Mt. Kilomanjaro on your flight in through nearby Arusha.

The crater makes up a large part of what’s known as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which was originally formed from an exploded and then collapsed volcano.  The eruption and subsequent settling of the ground left a completely perfect wilderness refuge. The walls and steep hills that lead to the floor are some 2,000 feet tall and the crater floor itself covers more than 100 square miles.  It’s no wonder it’s home to more than 25,000 animals today.  It’s natures perfect sanctuary and a good place to see the Big Five.  Safari heaven by any measure.

Based on fossil evidence, most scientists say around this area was where man first came from some 3 million years ago.  Mind blowing to think about, but when you see it, it all kind of makes sense.

After a bumpy but pleasant ride in, the grounds of the lodge come into view.  Setup like a postcard, every window looks out upon the wildlife playground below.

After driving up, one of the first things you’re told are the ground rules.  Some basics:  The lodge is not fenced off, so lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are found all around the buildings.  Venomous snakes and scorpions are found everywhere, so keep an eye out for those.  The lodge accepts no responsibility whatsoever for injury, death, loss or damage.  Under no circumstances should a guest walk in or around the lodge at night unless accompanied by a staff member.  Oh, and you’re in a malaria area.  Welcome to Ngorongoro!

An ominous welcome to what is basically a luxury lodge, but I forgot it almost immediately after I saw where I would be staying.

The walkway to the main lodge.  Everything was perched up on stilts, and many animals were hanging out under at any given time.  Even in the middle of the night guests could hear and feel buffalo running below.

We managed to see the sun set over the crater as we were checking in.

I wondered what I would see first when we set out for the crater base first thing in the AM.

Postcard like.  Just stunning.

Inside the main lodge where we met the staff and checked in.  This would also be where we would socialize the next couple of nights.  It proved to be the perfect living room.

The living room was packed with all kinds of old world items that made me feel like I was diving into a vast history of safari and game hunting. Books, globes, trinkets.  It was a truly opulent interior– hidden behind a handful of bland huts that from a distance simply blended right in to the crater walls.

After checking in I was led to my own personal hut, situated only a 2 minute walk from the main lodge.  A king size bed, a view to die for. I felt like royalty.  It was flawlessly comfortable.

I knew this bath would come in handy after a long day tracking animals.

And the view I could see out the window from the bedroom wasn’t so bad!

Dinner was served under chandeliers each night.  I was surprised to see that they could easily substitute and create almost anything to our liking. My then wheat sensitivities were not a problem– a rice based bread was made especially for me at each meal without hesitation.  I knew they had seen it all when the next morning they were ready with options for lunch out at the crater base (which was exceptional).

The first night we met our guide who discussed our game plan for the next morning.  We were up and out early looking for the big five.  When she asked me what I wanted to see most, I said a zebra and giraffe.  Hey, I’m easy to please.  I didn’t realize that was like spotting a subway rat in NYC.  We were joined by a second spotter– a spotter in training.  He saw things from such a distance I still think he was cheating.  Hundreds of feet away he would call STOP, whip out the binoculars and show me the ears of a lion, or the tusks of a rhino camouflaged far out in the distance.

A common sighting the next day, baboons in the road!

I called them African roadblocks.  What fun (and nuisance) they could be.

Jurassic park clearly inspired by the real thing.

The sun started to come up as we made our way to our first stop. A visit to a local Massai village.

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Guest Post by David Vo

Having finished an amazing morning at the National Gallery of Victoria, my companion and I made our way to Federation Square, the long way. With a few kilometers under our belt and a hunger that demanded some sustenance, we found ourselves in one of Melbourne’s infamous laneways, standing in front of Movida Bar De Tapas. We put our names down on the list and explored the ever-changing graffiti art on the brick walls just outside the doors. Within twenty minutes we were seated at a high table.

We went though the entire tapas menu, sharing just a bite of each. The Gazpacho Andaluz really stood out for the flavor profile and creativity. The croqueta with the saltiness from the jamon and the silkiness from the egg really hit home for me. We also ordered a main course of the pork jowl. Extremely unctuous with the right amount of counter-balance from the Borlotti beans. We wrapped up with the churros and drinking chocolate plus a chocolate ganache with vanilla bean ice cream.

Next time you are in Melbourne, be sure to check out this gem of a restaurant. Make sure you bring a few friends so you can try each of the dishes. Just watch your wallet as things add up quick!

Movida Bar De Tapas
1 Hosier Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
(03) 9663 3038

I’m off to Sydney on the new Qantas A380 in a few hours. I’ll be there for 10 days– primary purpose of my trip is to speak at the Circus Festival, February 23-25th 2011. Come stop by and say hello if you’re in the area. As usual any tips, drop me a line!

I’ve been off the grid attending the World Economic Forum in Davos with The Forum of Young Global Leaders. Sorry for the lack of updates– back to scheduled programming soon! I’m live on Twitter with occasional tweets.

Vacation was great. If you haven’t been on this thing people call vacation, I highly recommend trying it. It’s worth the small disconnection from daily life for a long breath of fresh air. I feel like a new man, more relaxed, fit and even tan. Now I’m in Istanbul working for the week– poking around for awesome things to share (already found quite a bit), and speaking at the Marka Conference on Thursday and Friday. If you’re in town, come by and say hello. More soon!

Despite the high speed wifi in my villa perched 1000 feet out into the India Ocean, I wont be doing much blogging from here (or so I say now). I’ll be reviewing the two resorts I’m staying at when I’m back home in a few weeks. So far, this truly is a paradise.

I’ve spent literally months of my life in London, shacked up at every hotel known to man, but I’m rarely truly satisfied. The nicest five star places in town are usually full of fanfare and an explosion of luxury cars in front– a scene that’s fun from time to time but hard to live with for more than a couple of nights before you can’t stand the glitz.

The boutique size hotels are usually missing something when it comes to service and hospitality, unable to clench a true five star experience. They’re small and quiet, but lack a certain kind of service you’d expect in a city with some of the best hotels in the world.

Well, my whole thought process changed after I stayed at The Halkin for a week.

The Halkin Hotel is part of the Como Group the team responsible for The Metropolitan in London and Bangkok, Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos, the COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali, and few other incredible luxury destinations. Usually known for their Spa experiences– an associate of Como once told me the Shambhala Estate is a spa that just happens to have a hotel.

The Halkin is a short distance from Hyde Park, in the otherwise residential neighborhood of Belgravia. Boutique in size (just 41 guest rooms and suites) but huge in service, this place was truly special.

Simple design themes throughout the hotel, obviously influenced by the elements of Feng Shui. While most hotels spend a fortune on their public spaces, The Halkin decided to spend the money (and the space) on the guest rooms themselves.

I stayed in a couple of different room types during my stay, from a King Double (shown) all the way through to a Studio Suite (which was just perfect). Rooms are modern, simple, closet space ample and most importantly the beds were perfect for me (firmer rather than softer). Everything electronic in the room is controlled by a Crestron like system including a butler call (which I never used, but in retrospect should have, just to say hello).

Wifi is plentiful and free (if you are using an Apple be sure to tell them so they can give you an Airport for your room.)

I also managed to dine at Nahm– the first Michelin-starred Thai restaurant in Europe. And if you like Thai food like I do, it’s a must try during your stay.  Having it on call for room service was divine– and Chef David Thompson knows his food. I preferred lunch much more than dinner, as Lunch included all the good street food options and some of the staple Thai classics, as well as more seafood options (as someone who doesn’t eat pork, chicken or beef that was crucial).

If you’re considering hotels in London and want five star treatment in a boutique enviorment, this is the place. When I check out of a hotel and the front desk asks me ‘how was your stay’, I usually have some comment. An issue with something during my stay, a noisy night in the hallway, a broken some-thing-or-other. This time when the front desk of The Halkin asked me, I could honestly tell them with no question– my stay was totally great.

I was able to find good rates from the folks at Tablet, and Tablet Plus members receive a complimentary room upgrade, among other small perks.

A few weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure visit to Ksar Char-Bagh in Marrakech courtesy of my friends at Mr and Mrs Smith. Truthfully, calling it a hotel would be like calling your best friends palace a hotel. Your best friend has a palace, right?

Well, a palace it is indeed. Ksar was one of the finer experiences I’ve had in quite some time, a welcome oasis of calm from the busy, noisy and sometimes crowded Riad scene down the road in the Medina.

The hotel, or, guest palace as they call it is 14 distinct suites located in the calmer Palmeraie Gardens district about a fifteen minute ride from the center of town. A ride that you take in an original London Taxi that is– the moment that piece of work showed up I knew I was in for a treat.

Aside from the incredibly beautiful pool, which I spent plenty of time by, one of the true highlights was the full organic farm on property where the staff thoughtfully grow herbs, vegetables, wheat for fresh bread– and even make their own olive oil. Not to mention the orchard for fresh fruit that was simply exquisite.

The architecture was unusual, but really special. They spared no detail in the construction of this palace. A mix of Moroccan and modern design blending into one solid, thoughtfully laid out property. The stairs on the left wind up to the library with thousands of books, spiral staircase framed like a picture on the wall. The doors on the right lead to the billiards table.

We spent a lot of time at night lounging in this room– for drinks, for dinner, for fun, meeting other guests and laying around with the Hookah (when in Rome, right?).

Bedrooms were clean, simple, and comfortable. Not much to say about them except everything you would expect at a five star palace. Ours had it’s own roof terrace, while others have their own pools. One thing to note was even the toiletries were hand mixed, in hand blown glass bottles, with customized labels. Nothing mass produced here.

And last, but not least, we had a visit to the Hammam for a good scrub. If you haven’t had a traditional Moroccan Hammam experience before, get to it. A singing therapist literally removed a layer of skin through thoughtful movements with her hand scrubber as I lay engulfed in steam. Afterwards, I felt like the dirt and grime from the trip was a thing of the past– and I (or my skin) was at least a few years younger. Thanks Mr and Mrs Smith!

Keeping the Spearlocator up has been almost impossible. I’ve been ping-ponging around the globe for a few months now. If you follow me on Twitter you know that and hopefully enjoy reading the mini-updates. I’m settling in for 3 days (gasp) in Capri right now though– speaking at an event. I’ll have some free time while I’m here though. Anything I can’t miss? Seafood and sun, here I come.

inter // states from Samuel Cockedey on Vimeo.

One of my favorite cities shown off beautifully. Photography by Samuel Cockedy and music by Paul Frankland. Via Hypebeast

Congrats to my friends at Cool Hunting on the launch of Cool Hunting Local! If you’re visiting Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or San Francisco, check out their recommendations.

Sorry for the radio silence, work at Undercurrent has been taking up all waking hours. I’m in Switzerland right now for the week working on a special project with a certain watch brand. Any tips for Zurich must-see’s or must-do’s, please drop me a line!

If you’re in or around Toronto June 10th to June 20th, you should check this out. Looks fantastic and hilarious!

FriendsWithYou is heading to Toronto this week to bring the Wish Come True Festival to life! Commissioned by Luminato, this Disney-like theme park experience will be the largest installation to date for the FriendsWithYou artists who are well known for their fully-immersive interactive installations. With 10-days of FriendsWithYou programming and over 300K estimated attendees, June 10 – June 20th in Toronto, Ontario Canada is the place to be! In the words of FriendsWithYou artist Samuel Borkson, “We’re taking over Toronto and covering it with color and magic!