Banzai Pipeline - Best Surfing Beaches

Banzai Pipeline is the world's most spectacular tubular wave found in the North Shore of Oahu. It is the tube that every expert surfer of shooting that when surfers compete for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, they'd patiently wait for days and weeks for the sea to curl into the world's most challenging surf reef break.

To view the waves, locals and tourists have to go to the home of the Banzai Pipeline: the Ehukai Beach Park. Ehukai Beach Park is located on Ke Nui Road off Kamehameha Highway in front of the Sunset Elementary School. Ehukai, which means "reddish tinged water" in Hawaiian, is a white sand beach is fronted by an acre of green grass and shady trees.

Because of its world-famous , the 1.2 acre Ehukai Beach Park gets hordes of visitors especially during winter months.
Spectators, journalists, and photographers crowd the beach as well to watch the surfers ride the world's most dangerous waves.
The beach's pounding waves are for experts only; inexperienced surfers and swimmers have to wait for spring and summer waves to enjoy the waves over the sandbar. Even in summer, however, the waves breaking near the shore and the rip currents are something that swimmers have to negotiate.

Services and amenities: lifeguards, restrooms, showers, parking, picnic areas and tables, phones
5 unique things about Ehukai Beach Park

• Banzai Pipeline got its name in 1961 when surfing movie producer Bruce Brown stopped at the yet-unnamed surf site up Ehukai Beach Park. Coincidentally, a pipeline was being constructed on nearby Kamehameha Highway. California surfer Mike Diffenderfer who was with Brown at the time suggested to name the wave Pipeline. The name was first used in Brown's fourth movie, Surfing Hollow Days. Since the beach that fronted the pipeline was then known as Banzai Beach, Banzai was appended to Pipeline; hence the compound name Banzai Pipeline.
• Ehukai Beach Park is the home of the world's hardest and deadliest surf break, the Banzai Pipeline. More people (surfers and even photographers) have higher statistics of death or serious injury than in any other surf spot.
• Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the world's greatest and most challenging surfing competition, is held here.
• Ehukai Beach Park covers three areas: the Ehukai Beach, Banzai, and Pipeline.
• The sub-plot of the Hollywood film "Blue Crush" starring Kate Bosworth was about shooting the Pipeline.

The Taveuni Palms

The Taveuni Palms in Fiji is an intimate retreat offering two private guest houses, a secluded sandy beach, and even a freshwater swimming pool. The island has many spectacular things to offer, such as scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and many other vacation activities.

The Taveuni Island has always been known for its unique and colorful sea life, tropical fish, and amazing varieties of soft and hard coral. The Rainbow Reef, Great White Wall, Purple Wall, and Zoo dive sites are all within easy reach of the Taveuni resort.

The Great White Wall reef offers a tunnel with two exits, one at 33 feet and another at 88 feet. When you swim through it, you'll notice a white glow that is given off by the soft corals that seem to surround you.

You'll also find two dive centers that are minutes from Taveuni Palms, which offer you dive equipment and certified diving instructors. From beginners to expert divers, you can have a lot of fun scuba diving on your beach vacation.

Rooms and suites

The two seperate beachfront villas at Taveuni Palms in Fiji come with their own staff to help make your vacation a bit more relaxing. The staff will make your dreams come true, as they offer full room support.

Each seperate villa offers a pool, two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, and a very unique indoor/outdoor bathroom. The outdoor deck is equipped with chairs so that you can spend time outside as well, taking in the surrounding views of the ocean. The spectacular sunsets will turn into tropical nights - with stunning starlit skies.

Your personal maid at the villa will provide you with daily cleaning service, laundry service, fresh flowers, and evening turn down. The maids here are very professional, making your stay at the Taveuni Palms in Fiji one you'll remember for years to come.

The resort will also provide you with your own private chef, kitchen, and bar staff who will provide your daily meals, which are included in the cost of your stay. This way, you don't have to eat out - your food will be prepared for you at the resort.

Getting to Taveuni

To get to Taveuni Palms, fly to Nadi International airport in Fiji. From there, catch a connecting flight to Taveuni Island where the Taveuni Palms staff will meet you at the airport, five minutes from the hotel.

Best interview ever.

Where did you grow up?
Oh. I’m Cuban. I lived there until I was 15 years old.

How was it to grow up there?
Well, I mean … it’s very … I mean … where did you grow up? As a kid, you’re just growing up in your home. You only know in hindsight what those experiences are like to compared to other situations.

I’m not asking if you had an exceptional childhood, just what your memories of it were.

No … no … I know …



You really have to read every word of it HERE. If only Parade's interviews were this testy and constipated...

(Thanks to Harvey Millstein, Certified Interior Decorator, for sending the link.)

Salvage fail.

Obsessed

...with Tim Lokiec. (Birthday hint. I was kidding when I said I only want a mug with a picture of a pug on it. I really don't. I want art, dammit.)

In other news, don't you think Margaret Russell should do an Elle Decor book about art and collectors? Juicy photos and (brief) stories on collecting high & low, how people arrange it, how to frame it, unusual collections, artist homes they've featured, etc etc? And print it up big-style, and blow up the photos for more detail of the walls and arrangements.

Lastly - this month's Elle Decor? I could do without Ellen P's mug, but what did you guys think of the cover? Closer in. More personal, right? Did you love it? Or did it look too InStyle? Either way, I liked the homes. I love the sunny, happy spring/summer issues. Wards off that Seattle suicide feeling.

Are you going to watch Bravo's Work of Art?

HERE. (ArtFagCity = my new favorite blog.) and HERE.

Nick Olsen is an opium-addicted Chinese hooker.

Not really, but it's fun to say!

Looky HERE, Nick's place is featured in the new Lonny mag.

If you don't read Nick's BLOG, you should. Seriously.

Bahamas - a holiday paradise

The Bahamas - a name synonymous with fine white sand beaches stretching as far as the eye can see, non-stop sunshine and crystal clear turquoise waters. Indeed, the Bahamas are rightly regarded as one of the best holiday destinations in the world, certainly one of the top holiday destinations if you are after one of the characteristics listed above.

The Bahamas are located just North East of Cuba, east of Mexico. The Caribbean Sea is South West of the Bahamas. The Bahamas consist of an archipelago formed of 700 islands in the Atlantic Ocean - a good number of these have been heavily developed on to capitalise on the tourism boom. The capital is a city called Nassau, on the island called New Providence.

The Bahamas

The climate and surroundings are so good in the Bahamas that you will often see settings from the islands popping up on screensavers and posters relating to paradise - it is not hard to see why. A trip to the Bahamas can turn into a trip of a lifetime - certainly one of the best holiday destinations anywhere on the planet if you fancy abit of relaxation time lying on idyllic beaches soaking up a bit of sun.

Cannel Bay

Get some relaxing place in the world at the beach that provided a beautiful surrounding, luxury services and gourment dining. I suggest Caneel Bay of the Caribbean as the suitable place for who want to find someplace to vacation. It is located at St. John in the Virgin Island and the area is about 5,000 acre Virgin Island National Park.

One of the attraction to this beach is Caneel Bay are included 7 secluded beaches. There are Honeymoon Beach, Caneel Beach, Little Caneel Beach, Paradise Beach, Scott Beach, Turtle Bay Beach, and the Hawk's Nest Beach. The miracle about this resort is on its own penisula and also surrounded by both Altantic Ocean and Caribban Sea.

Usually, we want the adventure activity when we going at someplace. These resort not make the visitor regret. Many activity that pro vided for example snorkeling, nature walks, hiking, sailing, kayaking in the sea, wind surfing, scuba diving, and swimming. The best thing is massage. You can get the relaxing services here. The resort also offers you a fitness center and 11 outdoor courts for tennis.

Cannel Bay can fit about 166 guest at some time. It offer 166 guest room and cottages furnished with hand crafted furniture, woven fabrics, natural wood, and native stone. The best about the room is their balconies that overlook the beaches or resort garden.

The sound from your stomach remind us to tell about the restaurant. You can dine in several restaurants and bars that range from fine dining to casual meals. The restaurants include the Turtle Bay Estate House, Beach Terrace, The Equator, Starlight Terrace, and the Caneel Bay Bar.

Cannel Bay also fetch the latest technology. For who are busy with bussines, email, chatting or getting more in formation, Cannel Bay offer one center that complete with computers, high speed internet access, printer for guest accomodation.

Best Beach Vacation Package For Your Family

You and your family want to head some place where your kids can have a lot of fun especially as summer approaches. But of course, you, as parents, should have fun too. So how can you mix both child and adult enjoyment all in one place? The answer is? Head to a beach resort.
There are adults who seem to enjoy the beach because of the facilities that are in the resort, even though children mostly enjoy the beach. You need to choose a beach vacation package that is not only pleasurable for the kids but for adults as well. The list below will help you find a good place for the whole family to enjoy.
Discounted Prices
Since you are going out as a group, you need to avail of an all inclusive vacation package where you can save more. At discounted prices, these beach vacation package deals are sold anywhere and at anytime during the year. To get the cheapest prices, you need to book far in advance or at the very last minute. Before everyone else books the best deals, you need to make the reservations first and pay in advance to get the package discount that you want to purchase. By doing so, you will not only save on your money but you will get the kind of accommodation that you and your family will surely benefit from. Waiting until the last minute will net you deep discounts also, but you have to be able to go with very short notice.

The Facilities Available
You need a beach vacation package that offers no limitations to its facilities, for the adults to enjoy. For example, you should choose a place that offers more amenities such as golf courses, casinos and other nightlife. Your kids can enjoy the beach and the pool while you enjoy playing during the afternoons or at night, if they have these types of facilities at their resort. Compared to traveling to places where there are few activities that you love to do, a beach vacation package that offers complete amenities will make your trip a lot more enjoyable.

Tips On How You Can Spot The Beach Vacation Package
Beach vacation package deals are easy to find. Some can be bought during your summer leave while others can be purchased as early as December. If you book ahead of time you'll get to save a lot more. Most of the discounted rates are offered months before the set time of departure.
You can also choose from among a wide selection of beach vacation package deals if you browse the internet. They have tours that are limited not only to your area but in other parts of the country as well. When you talk of beach vacation package deals the possibilities are almost endless. The only key to getting the best beach vacation package that you and your family dream of having is searching and booking ahead of time.
Looking for the perfect beach vacation? 

Here...

you go look at THIS while I go to Palm Springs.

I didn't have the stomach to tackle this topic...

... but HOBAC did. Read it HERE.

I knew I was in trouble when I skimmed the press release and read this:

"I wanted something elegant and gorgeous and at the same time rather masculine and raw. I guess I would describe the apartment as bohemian old-world rustic chateau with a taste of baroque."


And then this awesome comment:

What should Drucker do to make Town & Country great?

Discuss.

Big news on the magazine front:

(Thanks to my hot tipper, Harvey Millstein)


Many changes to report:

Stephen Drucker will move to Town and Country, shaking the dust off Miss Havisham.

Dara Caponigro (formerly at Domino) will revive Veranda. This is SUCH great news. Veranda is a great magazine for the "I-have-money-and-I-am-over-50" set. Hopefully Dara can make it a tad younger and sneak in some newness while reducing the number of "look at my French-inspired southern chateau" stories.

Newell Turner takes over House Beautiful. Yay, Newell.


HERE.

Best Options For Beach Wedding Shoes

Today more and more couples are choosing to have a beautiful wedding right on the beach. This is a very romantic way to celebrate a marriage. With the wind, sun, waves, and beautiful natural setting of the beach what more can a couple ask for. It is the perfect setting for a wedding.

However, one thing that the bride will want to plan for in advance is the pair of shoes that she will wear for the wedding. Finding the perfect option for beach wedding shoes can be difficult if not planned well in advance.

Brides can not just walk everywhere barefoot on their special day. Therefore, pair of water resistant, low healed shoes are needed for a beach wedding.

So What Is The Best Option For Beach Wedding Shoes?

Slip-ons are one very viable option that works for many brides. They are very simple and compliment the “go for bare” theme of a beach wedding and a very simple look. They are also very easy to add to and accessorize to your wedding colors and motif.

Having a beach wedding includes the bride having to walk around a lot of beach sand both wet and dry. With a simple pair of beach wedding shoes like slip ons it can be very easy to dust off the sand. This means that sand will not get stuck between your toes and be a nuisance to clean up.

Also beach wedding shoes that slip on allow for fast trying. So you can always choose to dip your feet in the water or if you get a little wet it won’t matter.

Beautify Your Beach Wedding Shoes

It is typically best to use plain white slip on beach wedding shoes. You do not want your wedding shoes sticking out and drawing to much attention to your feet versus your wedding dress so white is typically the best option. However if you want to use some color silver, gold, aquamarine often work well in small amounts. It is best to go slow with color and not add too much.

Another option for decorating the shoes is to add semi precious gemstones to the back strap of the shoe. You can almost always find something that will fit with the color of your wedding. For example if the dominant color of your wedding then why not try some synthetic rubies. You can even use these semi precious gemstones to make fun patterns or design motifs on the shoes.

The type of fabric is really up to you. Something traditional like satin can work well. However don’t try a leather slip-on beach wedding shoes. Leather is heavy and it will not dry very well once it gets wet.

Synthetic leathers are fine since they are waterproof and are easier to accessorize. Gems and rhinestones are easier to stitch in or glued on synthetic leathers. Slip-on beach wedding shoes made from organic materials like Abaca are getting recognition lately because of its beige, nature-like color. Abaca slip-on beach wedding shoes looks simple, and natural which works well for a beach wedding. The only setback with Abaca slip-on beach wedding shoes is that they do not dry up easily when they get wet. The solution with this is buy a pair of Abaca slip-on beach wedding shoes for use on the sandy part, and buys a pair of synthetic leather slip-on beach wedding shoes if you decide to go on partying along the shoreline.

By Chris Ryerson

La Mesa Ecopark, QC

Who would have thought that the next best thing to a nature trip can be found right at the heart of Quezon City, Philippines?

I've always heard La Mesa Ecopark on television for donations and other nature-related activities, but I haven't actually visited it yet. I've always thought it was just another one of those boring nature trips where you plant trees, get sweaty, and that's it. But how wrong I was! The La Mesa Ecopark is actually much more than that. It is a great place to spend time with your family, friends, and loved ones and have fun while being environment-friendly. It's got everything you need -- picnic sites, trekking paths, biking grounds, colorful gardens, and clean, fresh air. Plus, you'll get to take a peek at the famous La Mesa dam. =)

Please click image to enlarge

The park is free for all Quezon City residents, while an Entrance fee of Php50.00 is charge for those who aren't. It also has its own biking grounds, wall climbing area, and paintball arena. Rental of bikes also costs around Php50.00 to Php100.00 depending on the type of bicycle you'll get. And of course, there's a swimming pool nearby for those who want to get wet. All in all, it's everything you've been looking for in one great package.

La Mesa Ecopark has been a haven for photographers, a venue for pre-nuptial pictorials, and a venue for fitness and lifestyle. And it helps promote a clean and green environment! Not only are you having fun, you're doing something good for Mother Nature as well. I must say, La Mesa Ecopark is a must-try destination for one of your summer trips. It's cheap, but it's got everything you need!

For more information, you may visit their site at: http://www.lamesaecopark.com/

Good things.

1. Broken Bells.

2. Particuliere in all its dumster-y grey glory.




3. I won our Final Four pool here at home. I'm rich, bitches!

Most Romantic Holiday Destinations: Paris, France

When asked where the most romantic holiday destination in the world is, one place immediately springs to mind - Paris. No, it may not have the warm sunshine of the Caribbean or the white beaches of, well, the Caribbean but it has something much more - a certain, how do you say it...je ne c'est quoi.

There's something really romantic about the whole atmosphere of the place - the architecture, the French languare, the food - and of course all that lovely French wine doesn't go amiss either. All in all Paris is definitely one of the most romantic holiday destinations in the world - in my opinion it tops the list.

But you don't have to be in a relationship to enjoy Paris - no, anyone on their own or with friends should find Paris a great city anyway - it is the capital of France after all. There are more activities than you can shake a baguette at - all the usual ones associated with capital cities such as eating, drinking - incidentally Paris is renowned for its exquisite gastronomy - clubbing, sight seeing, relaxing, walking, shopping....you name it you can do it in Paris. Perhaps the water sports on the River Seine have not taken off in the same way as they have on the Australian Gold Coast, but on the whole you can be confident Paris offers what you are looking for.


A romantic Paris sunset

So, Paris is one of the best destinations for couples, but where are good places to go here? Well, the Eiffel Tower is an obvious choice, but for something a bit more special, try the Notre Dame Cathedral, for spectacular views of the city. As you are not as high as at the top of the Eiffel Tower, you will actually be able to see the city in detail, and appreciate its beauty while snuggling in your partners arms.

Paris is also full of beautiful gardens - the Luxembourg Gardens in particular are a great place for couples to go on a nice warm summers day. You can really unwind here and enjoy your partners company - the surroundings really are lovely. You could easily spend the whole day lazing around - just don't have anything else planned as you don't want to be rushing to leave.

I could go on for hours talking about the qualities which make Paris such a great city for couples but in many ways it is better to explore it for yourselves and find your own favourite spots. I'm sure you will agree once you visit, that Paris is one of the most romantic holiday destinations in the world - the only problem is that you may not want to leave when its time to go.

Non EU Holiday Destinations - Iceland, Europe

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Iceland is situated North West of the UK on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Capital and only city of Iceland is Reykjavic, with a population of about 120,000 it makes up well over a third of Iceland's entire population - this city is the hub of Iceland's tourism.

Iceland is geologically and volcanically active due to its situation on the Mid-Atlantic ridge - those who did GCSE Geography will know that where tectonic plates meet, volcanic activity is rife. This characteristic is one of the main draws for tourists to come to Iceland - the scenery and landscape make it one of the best holiday destinations for anyone with an interest in geography or geology - however anyone can enjoy the country's spectacular sights, from young to old.

One of the top tourist hotspots is the blue lagoon - an incredible geothermal spa. Considering the regularly freezing air temperatures that Iceland has, you may be shocked to learn that the water temperature of the blue lagoon averages at 40°C. This is becuase of a nearby geothermal power station uses an underground lava flow to heat water that turns turbines, and the hot water is then pumped out into the lagoon for bathers to swim in. The water absorbs many minerals such as sulphur as it passes through the rocks and these help give the water its distinctive blue colour, as well as having medicinal purposes - the water is siad to heal certain skin diseases.