It's Luxury

The Luxurious Maybach

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:44:00 +0000

Maybach Exelero at the Concours d'Elegance

Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH may be the most luxurious German automotive manufacturer. It absolutely was founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach and his son. The corporate was originally a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH and was itself called Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH till 1912.

In 1997, Mercedes-Benz presented at the Tokyo Motorshow a luxury concept automotive underneath the name Mercedes-Benz Maybach (V12, 5987 cc, 550 hp). Mercedes-Benz set to develop and market the automotive underneath the only real brand of Maybach, as parent Daimler wished an ultra-luxury marque to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley, that recently came underneath the possession of Daimler's domestic rivals BMW and Volkswagen cluster. Maybach was so revived as a complete within the early 2000s. The corporate offered varied choices for purchasers to personalise their vehicles, and provides varied equipment mixtures.

Production of the new model commenced in 2 sizes — the Maybach 57 and therefore the Maybach 62. The numbers are equal to the lengths of the vehicles in decimetres. In 2005, the new 57S was added, sporting a 6.0L V12 bi-turbo engine, manufacturing 604 bhp (450 kW) and 737 lb·ft (999 N·m) of torque, and that includes varied cosmetic touches.

To promote the new Maybach line, Mercedes-Benz has tapped public figures to act as complete ambassadors, as well as Maybach heir Ulrich Schmid-Maybach, golfer Nick Faldo and in 2006 rap music icon Jay-Z featured the restricted edition Maybach Exelero (coupe) in his ground breaking music video entitled "Lost One". The video was 1st released on December 4, 2006, Jay-Z's 37th birthday and notably options the rare concept automotive Maybach Exelero owned by diamond mogul André Action Jackson.

Initially, Daimler-Chrysler predicted annual sales of 2,000 international units with five hundredth coming back from the United States; but, such lofty sales expectations never materialized. In 2007 Mercedes bought back twenty nine US dealers, reducing the full from 71 to 42. In 2010, solely 157 Maybachs were sold worldwide, compared to 2,711 sales of equally priced Rolls-Royces.

Anyway, rapper Rick Ross has named his record label Maybach Music cluster in reference to the automotive complete, the label's emblem being a variation of the automotive brand's. Ross conjointly released one referred to as Maybach Music 2, one version of a track that has appeared in numerous variations on 3 of his albums.

Machbach price

The base value of a 2009 Maybach 57 is $344,000; the Maybach 57 S, $381,000; the Maybach 62, $394,000; the Maybach 62 S, $430,000, and therefore the Maybach Landaulet semi convertible prices simply over one million. The Maybach 57 Zeppelin is priced at €406,000 ($580,000) and therefore the 62 Zeppelin at €473,200 ($677,000).

Maybach 57 Diecast Car Model 1/43 Himalayas Grey Dark/Himalayas Grey Bright Die Cast Car by Autoart

Karl Maybach: His Engines And Automobiles

MMG Presents: Self Made, Vol. 1

Iced Out Rick Ross Maybach Pendant w/36" Franco Chain Black

The World's Most Luxurious Valentines Day Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:26:00 +0000

Alex Caroll is attempting to auction off a 20-million year old naturally sum formed horologe of Bali star Coral on February 14, Valentines Day. This could be the world's most luxurious Valentines day gift with a beginning bidding of $1 million.

The money elevated from the vendue of this rare horologe will be used for brotherly love determinations. The delivering the goods bidder can take a charity work according to his wish.

Caroll names this wondrous horologe as "The Crown Jewel of the Sea". He said that it is the largest gather up.
Unlike the Breguet clocks of which copies and replicas have already been made, this one is impossible to copy or replicate.

The creator is a veteran media vet, having been a node on over 1,400 TV SET & radio set shows and appeared in hundreds of magazines, papers and digital media mercantiles establishment and he also has contacts to the royal family.

Will Prince William get the clock for his rook and the pendent for Kate with all the gains going to their charity? It's quite possible. The worlds largest collection of rare clocks is displayed in Buckingham Palace, and both William and Kate enjoy the beach (they spent their honeymoon there).

Sources:
Pic from Luxurylaunches.com

Valentine's day gift ideas:
Valentine's Day Top Gift Ideas
Jewelry - Gifts for Every Valentine, Selections up to 70 Off
Find the Perfect Jewelry Gift
Clothing - Valentine's Day Shop
Movies - Valentine's Day - Romance Movies

CVXXMJNTAUZC

Five Things I Dreamed about Vienna

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:20:00 +0000

Vienna, known as the City of Dreams, for there was born the world's leading psychologists who likes to analyze dreams, Sigmund Freud.

So, here I will try to 'describe my own dreams', of Vienna. :)

credit: flickr

1. Leisures at green areas.

There is hardly another city in the world where you will find more green areas than in Vienna. There are so many city parks in Vienna. The Stadtpark, the Burggarten, the Volksgarten (part of the Hofburg), the Schlosspark at Schloss Belvedere (home to the Vienna Botanic Gardens), the Donaupark, the Schönbrunner Schlosspark, the Prater, the Augarten, the Rathauspark, the Lainzer Tiergarten, the Dehnepark, the Resselpark, the Votivpark, the Kurpark Oberlaa, the Auer-Welsbach-Park and the Türkenschanzpark.

My dreamed is just sitting around on one of those parks, reading a book, or listening to musics, while having some fresh air. We have not much city parks here in Indonesia. But we do have jungles. But, we won't 'sitting around reading a book' in jungles, right?!

2. Cycling around the city.

As we all know, the city of Vienna prides itself for being particularly bicycle-friendly. I will choose this recommended route:

Tulln to Klosterneuburg: Take you bike on the train from Vienna to Tulln; there, do some sightseeing in this nice little town and start your tour along the Danube. Some 20 kilometres further down, you arrive Klosterneuburg, yet another pretty place. Here I recommend to stop by for a Heurigen wine tavern and do the final 5ish kilometres to Vienna by bike or catch a train that takes you back.

3. Music and dance.

As music is one of Vienna's legacies, for that I dreamed to be able to enjoy as many works of legendary musicians there. Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and a lot more. Not to mention the opera and the balls. I dreamed to be able to witness the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra someday, and visiting one or two balls at nights.

(Want some Philharmonic Orchestra, click here: New Year's Concert 2012)

4. Luxury chocolate cakes.

It's called Sachertorte. World's most delicious chocolate cake. Or that's what they say. :(

(for you who loves cake-making, this is a great book: Austrian Desserts and Pastries: 108 Classic Recipes)

5. Cheap flights to Vienna.

Since Vienna has this rank as the best living standard in the world, of course i dreamed to exactly live at Vienna.

There are 99 cities which flights to Indonesia, and one of them is Vienna. They have cheap flights from Vienna to Indonesia, but i haven't find any cheap flights from Indonesia to Vienna. :(

Links:
Lonely Planet Austria (Country Travel Guide)

Sources:
Wikipedia: Vienna
Cycling around Vienna: Explore Vienna's Surroundings by Bike

Luxurious Residential in a New York's Tallest Building

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:44:00 +0000

One57, also known as Carnegie 57 , is a 75-story (marketed as 90-story) skyscraper currently under-construction in New York City. Upon completion in 2013, it will stand at 306 meters (1004 feet) tall, making it one of the tallest buildings in the city. The mixed use tower is developed by the Extell Development Company. The building will have 135 residential units on top of a Park Hyatt Hotel with 210 rooms.

If you are looking at buying a condominium 90-storied tower One57, then you can actually get yourself a shining new bin at the base for $200,000. There are 17 basement wire-mesh bins that are 7-feet in height that is going for $3,776 per square foot but only to the condo owners of the building. The most economical storage bin spans 30 square feet, and costs $110,000 each. The most expensive bins are two really, each 50 square feet of space with a price tag of $200,000 price tag.

Reportedly, “For the $200,000 asking price, a buyer could also rent a conventional offsite self-storage room, with sheet-metal walls rather than wire mesh, for 83 years at a typical rent of $200 a month.”

As for the 94 condos at One57 are concerned, each are priced at a record $2 billion, while 13 condos are priced in access of $42 million. There are two high-floor duplexes as well costing $98.5 million. The apartments will be made available in 2013.

LuxuryLaunches.com mentioned what else one could buy for $200,000; 1 Mercedes-Benz, 7 cruises, Elizabeth Taylor's Sapphire rings, 9 Toyota Camry, and 83 years of rent for a 50-square-foot Tuck-It-Away storage unit in Manhattan.

Source:
LuxuryLaunches.com
Wikipedia: One57

Nino's Bellissima: $1,000 Luxurious Pizza

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:17:00 +0000

A New York restaurateur has cooked up the most world's most extravagant pizza -- a $1,000 pizza comes on a creme fraiche base with four types of caviar, sliced lobster tail, salmon roe and some wasabi. Each $250 slice contains a different kind of caviar.

Nino Selimaj, said his restaurant Nino's Bellissima, which is the only one of his restaurants to offer the Luxury Pizza, needs 24 hours notice for the gourmet dish as it orders the caviar in advance.

"But where better to experiment with pizza than in New York where people love their pizza," he said.

Sources:
Reuters: Meet the $1,000 Pizza
The $1000 Pizza Pie from Nino’s Bellissima Pizza

Other Luxurious Foods:
$5000 Eclectic FleurBurger
Best Place to Eat Oysters

Trump Taj Mahal: Luxury Casino Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:49:00 +0000

A world of pleasure and excitement awaits you.

Your foray into the extravagant world of Trump-orchestrated excess begins with larger-than-life stone elephants and 70-plus minarets adorning this 51-story casino hotel. Grandeur is the defining design element, from the Austrian crystal chandelier in the center of the lobby to the Atlantic Ocean views from many of the 1,250 guest rooms. One of the largest casinos in the world, it offers every opportunity to double your money and your fun. Whether you double down in the exclusive high limit gaming salon, ante up in the smoke-free poker room (home to the U.S. Poker Championship) or simply toss a few coins into the slots, you'll relish the action at this impressive casino. When you're not striking it rich, you can relax with a spa treatment, gourmet meal or shopping spree in one of the hotel's exclusive boutiques.

The casino was officially inaugurated in 1990, with Michael Jackson performing at the ceremonies, and was built at a total cost of nearly one billion dollars.

Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel has five-star restaurants you can’t resist, from the most elegant and decadent to the fun and hip. Entertainment, lounges and nightclubs that bring New York to Atlantic City. A casino floor that pulls you in with non-stop action. retail stores with something for everyone, a must-see collection of colorful shops and eateries, all in one place on Spice Road. A spa, fitness center, indoor pool and salon for when relaxation is top priority.

If you love Trump Taj Mahal entertainment by day, just wait until you see how this place heats up after dark with the hottest Atlantic City nightlife. From laid back lounges to trendy dance clubs to must-see concerts by today’s hottest stars, the Taj offers endless ways to unwind, let loose and live it up at the end of the day.

In the book The Art of Deal, Donald Trump himself tells the minute by minute how he obtained a great deal in the New York fantastic property. Get the book here.

Sources:
TrumpTaj.com
Top 10 Casino Hotels Worldwide
Wikipedia: Trump Taj Mahal

Mariner of the Seas: Finest Luxury Cruise Ship

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:43:00 +0000

Mariner is one of the finest luxury cruise ship from the Royal Caribbean family. Although the last to make its debut in the voyager family, Mariner has kept its head high thanks to its uniqueness and the ability to offer fun and relaxation. Mariner has everything to keep you busy day and night. Casino onboard offers plenty of gambling opportunities and onboard surfing, miniature gold ad rollerblading provides the high the adventure lovers crave for. With theater, lounges and a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, it’s hard to imagine that all this is going on sea!

You choose how to cruise. This ship delivers.

A collection of experiences designed to give every guest the vacation they're looking for. That's Mariner of the Seas®—a ship built for adventure, relaxation, and everything in between. Climb a rock wall that overlooks the sea, or challenge yourself on the basketball court, ice-skating rink or mini-golf course. Achieve perfect zen, poolside or at the relaxing Vitality Spa. Liven up your nights on the Royal Promenade, with parades, dancing, and duty-free shopping deals. And bring along some friends—with spacious public areas, enhanced staterooms, and a spectacular three-story dining room, this ship has room for your whole crew.

As a second generation Voyager-class ship, the Mariner of the Seas' balconies are actually affixed outside the ship's superstructure, providing better views. All staterooms have a 2-bed configuration that can convert into a queen-sized bed. Other amenities include private bathrooms, phone, TV, minibar, hairdryer and air conditioning.

Source:
RoyalCaribbean.com
Top 10 Luxury Cruise Ships in the World
Wikipedia: MS Mariner of the Seas

Paradise in the Library Hotel Mahattan

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:18:00 +0000

I've always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.

--Jorge Louis Borges

The Library Hotel is one of Midtown Manhattan's most celebrated concept luxury boutique hotels in New York City. Fashioned from a landmark 1900 brick and terra cotta structure, this boutique treasure has been beautifully restored into a small luxury New York City hotel of the highest caliber. An oasis of modern elegance, the Library Hotel in New York and its attentive staff provide a thought provoking experience to sophisticated Midtown Manhattan leisure and business travelers with a passion for culture and individual expression. Each of the ten guestroom floors at the Library Hotel in New York City are dedicated to one of the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System: Social Sciences, Literature, Languages, History, Math & Science, General Knowledge, Technology, Philosophy, The Arts and Religion.

The Library Hotel New York is conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan on Madison Avenue and 41st Street, also known as Library Way, just steps away from the majestic New York Public Library, Bryant Park, Pierpont Morgan Library, the exquisitely renovated Grand Central Terminal, the Times Square Theater District and all that Midtown Manhattan has to offer. Designed to feel more like a private club than a Manhattan hotel, each of the Library Hotel's richly appointed luxury rooms are individually adorned with art and a collection of books that relate to the room's unique theme.

The Library Hotel New York is regarded as one of the top rated luxury boutique hotels in New York City. We are very proud that the members of TripAdvisor have selected the Library Hotel in New York as winner of Best Luxury Hotel United States.

Source:
LibraryHotel.com

Marina Bay Sands: Luxurious Hotel in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:20:00 +0000

This one is a spectacular luxury hotel in Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore.
This place is one of the most luxurious business and leisure destinations in Asia, and home to more than 2,500 beautifully decorated rooms and suites. There is also some of the finest state of the art convention and exhibition facilities, theatres and a casino to rival any in Las Vegas.

The shopping mall is one of finest in the whole of Singapore, featuring only the very best in designer names, including Gucci, Hermes, La Perla and Louis Vuitton. Here you can stroll through one of the finest and modern shopping centers with an open design and views out over the breathtaking Singapore skyline.

Developed by Las Vegas Sands, it is billed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property at S$8 billion, including cost of the prime land.

This resort is one of two winning proposals for Singapore's first Integrated Resorts, the other being the Resorts World Sentosa, which incorporates a family-friendly Universal Studios Theme Park. The two large-scale resorts were conceived to meet Singapore's economic and tourism objectives for the next decade and they will have 30-year casino licenses, exclusive for the first ten years.

Source:
Wikipedia: Marina Bay Sands
MarinaBaySands.com
Verybest.com: Marina Bay Sands - Spectacular Singapore Luxury Hotel

Vienna: The Best Living Standard in the World

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:32:00 +0000

Vienna ranks highest for qualiy of living, according to the Mercer 2011 Quality of Living Survey. Mercer evaluates local living conditions in all the 420 cities it surveys worldwide. Living conditions are analysed according to 39 factors, grouped in 10 categories: political and social environment, economic environment, socio-cultural environment, health and sanitation, schools and education, public services and transportation, recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc), consumer goods, housing, and natural environment.

European cities in general continue to have high standards of living, because they enjoy advanced and modern city infrastructures combined with high-class medical, recreational and leisure facilities.

(Slagin Parakatil, Senior Researcher at Mercer)

Lonely Planet Vienna (City Travel Guide)

There are many reasons why Vienna fares so well in such objective and subjective evaluations. Therefore, the following list is not exhaustive.

- Vienna - city of culture: numerous activities in the area of theatre, music, art exhibitions, public readings, museums and operas that cater to all tastes!
- Imperial Vienna: Imperial buildings like Hofburg, Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, the splendid buildings of the Ring Boulevard, the medieval narrow streets and the baroque squares that shape the city's image.
- A safe city with an excellent public transport network of underground trains, trams and buses
- Well-organised public services, a clean environment and excellent transport options.
- Educational facilities are efficient and available to all.
- Good price level: excellent value for money.
- Moderate and mild climate. Average summer temperatures 20°C to 30°C, average winter temperatures around 0°C.

Well, indeed, life is good in Vienna :)

Links:
Vienna. A Guide to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Source:
Mercer.com: Quality of Living Report 2011
AboutAustria.org

$5000 Eclectic FleurBurger

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:22:00 +0000

Beating all attempts to create the most decadent and expensive burger is Fleur de Lys, located at the Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Costing $5000, chef Hubert Keller dares you to indulge in this mouthwatering creation. And to prove/brag that you have indulged in a $5000 burger, a certificate of authenticity will be mailed to your home.

The FleurBurger 5000, as it is called, consists of a Wagyu beef and foie gras burger patty topped with Keller's special truffle sauce and shaved black truffles, served on a brioche truffle bun. It’s all served with a bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus, which typically goes for about $2,500 a bottle, and imported Ichendork Brunello stemware, which you are welcomed to keep.

The restaurant also boasts a luxurious and eclectic menu with items like Kushi Oysters and Diver Sea Scallops Borscht.

Hubert Keller is known best for his world-renowned restaurants, Fleur de Lys (San Francisco) Fleur by Hubert Keller (Las Vegas), and Burger Bar (San Francisco, Las Vegas, and St. Louis). Having delighted the palates of his peers, food writers, and restaurant critics alike with his imaginative, modern French cuisine, he has received numerous awards and is regarded as one of America’s most talented chefs.

Sources:
HubertKeller.com
Hauteliving.com: Top Five Most Expensive Burgers in The World
Delish.com: FleurBurger 5000

Other Luxurious Foods:
Nino's Bellissima: $1,000 Luxurious Pizza
Best Place to Eat Oysters

Le Rosey: Luxurious School For Life

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:16:00 +0000

La Rosey is the oldest private luxury boarding school in Switzerland and one of the very best and prestigious educational institutes anywhere in the world.

It is also, according to Forbes is the most expensive school in the world. As of 2011, the annual boarding and academic fees are CHF 90,000 (approximately $106,000 USD). Other services, both mandatory and optional, add up to approximately CHF 20,000 ($19,000 USD).

The school was founded by Paul-Émile Carnal in 1880. During most of the 20th century, Le Rosey was referred to as the "School of Kings", as the school has educated many notable alumni, those are the educated generations of dynastic, famously educated royalty, and monarchs, including Rothschilds, members of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt, Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia, the House of Savoy of Italy, Aga Khan IV, King Albert II of Belgium, King Baudouin I of Belgium, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Persia, and Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The future Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prince Guillaume, was also educated at the school. Famous parents of past students at Le Rosey, who often visited the Rolle and Gstaad campuses, include: Elizabeth Taylor, David Niven, Alain Manoukian, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Diana Ross, King Leopold III of Belgium, Aristotle Onassis, and Sir Winston Churchill, a Rosean's grandfather.

Institut Le Rosey's academic curriculum is designed to "provide education of breadth, depth and quality for an international student body."

The main campus is set on 28 hectares of loan close to the Lake Geneva and is divided into two quality lifestyle campuses, one for male students and one for female. There are 179 bedrooms complete with luxury en suite bathrooms and state of the art facilities throughout the school and grounds. Off campus, the Rosey boarding school owns its own private equestrian centre complete with 30 horses an indoor riding school and a dressage area. They also have a sailing centre housing three motorboats and a luxury 12m yacht. Le Rosey also uses a local 18-hole golf course with driving range, and a karting track situated nearby.

Source:
Wikipedia.com: Institut Le Rosey
Le Rosey official site
VeryBest.com: Le Rosey, The Very Best School for Life
Pic from here

Orient Express: Legendary Luxury Train

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:17:00 +0000

One of the very best ways to experience a fantastic journey across Europe and beyond is to step aboard the Orient Express, the legendary luxury train that serves a number of superb journeys.

Whether it's time for a 'once in a lifetime journey', or a shorter trip maybe for just a day or dinner to celebrate something special, life on board is thoroughly memorable, enjoyable, and comes highly recommended.

From the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and its sister trains in the UK, their portfolio now also includes special departures across the world from the high Andes in Peru to heart of South-East Asia.

Those trains are: The Royal Scotsman Scotland (overnight through heather and highlands), British Pullman England (day journeys through town and country), Eastern & Oriental Express South-East Asia (adventure in the tropics), Nothern Belle United Kingdom (day and weekend trips to spectacular UK destinations), and Hiram Bingham Peru (explore the Andes: Machu Picchu and beyond)

The train against which all other luxury trains are measured.
-Vanity Fair

However, it is not just the method of travel or the destinations that make the Orient Express such a luxurious delight, it is the comfort and some of the very best service on board the train that makes this a lifestyle experience stand alone, as one of the most memorable lifetime experiences. Travellers have their own luxury cabins, which by day are comfortable seating areas, and the food is everything you imagine the level of quality should be. The Table d’hôte is the very best of freshly brought in luxury produce as your lifestyle journey progresses. The A La Carte and 24 hr service menu is also superb and befitting of any Michelin starred restaurant in the world. It is unforgettable, simply the only way to travel in luxury.

Source:
VeryBest.com: Luxury is Not Murder
OrientExpress.com

Tanzanite: Mark Schneider's Award Winning Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Faceted Fantasy Tanzanite Ring

It's a platinum ring with an approx. 8.00ct faceted fantasy cut tanzanite, 1.70ctw of white diamonds and 1.70ctw of yellow diamonds.

Awards:
AGTA Spectrum Award 1999 – Platinum Guild International - Platinum Honors, Bridal
JCK Jewelers Choice Award 2011 – 1st Place, Tanzanite Jewelry Over $10,000

Award winning designer Mark Schneider specializes in contemporary designs. His jewelry creations are known for their simplicity and clean, fluid lines. Mark's philosophy of jewelry is to create designs as wearable art.

"I'm looking forward to becoming stronger and more prominent in my field," declares Schneider. Ultimately, he believes that creativity will save the day. In his opinion, since customers are 'looking for something special,' the survivors will be the well-run businesses with inspired designs. "You have to tell a story behind a piece so it's not just a commodity."

--Brandon Roberts, JQ

Mark Schneider's jewelers take the casting and meticulously clean, set and polish the design by hand. The final touch is a careful examination of the design's quality and integrity. No design produced, even of the same style, will ever be identical to the next - each piece a truly unique, beautiful work of art.

Mark is one of the few living designers to have a piece of jewelry on permanent display in the Smithsonian Institution Gem and Mineral Hall. He is also one of the most recognized American designers of our time.

Source:
MarkSchneiderDesign.com

Giant: Plush Road Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:21:00 +0000

Rides to go fast while insulating you from the worst pavement.

The plush category has evolved. Though these bikes still make more concessions to comfort and stability than race-influenced enthusiast bikes, the Lincoln Town Car suspension is gone as engineers build in speed while still insulating the rider from road vibrations. The Giant Defy Advanced 1 does all of this without breaking a sweat.

Bad pavement is a fact of life, and the Defy's logbook filled with comments like "good buzz absorption," and "particularly smooth." The bikes also had to climb. Just like on many group rides, this occasionally meant asking our plush bikes to keep up with the boys on race bikes. The Defy excelled here, allowing riders to respond to others' pace-making or surges. "It was the most spirited in ride quality of the bunch," said one tester from Bicycling.com. After pushing the bike to higher speeds on descents, they found great handling without any twitchiness.

Price: $3,200
Weight: 17.13 lb. (54cm)

Source:
Bicycling.com
Giant-bicycles.com

Amedei Porcelana: Organic Chocolate from Tuscany

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:25:00 +0000

Amedei Porcelana, a plain chocolate made by the Amedei candy company of Tuscany, Italy, is often called the world's most expensive chocolate. It has won various awards, including "Best bean to bar", "Best Dark Chocolate Bar", and the "Golden Bean award." Amedei is and was, at the time of these awards, a sponsor of the awarding body's parent organization.

Let’s say you’re at an art show. Does knowing the background of a certain painting make you appreciate it more? It certainly heightens the aesthetic experience. This is true for any art form, even chocolate. Imagine a piece of Amedei Porcelana is melting in your mouth. It certainly is darkly delicious. But what happens once you find out it’s made from the most expensive chocolate in the world? Suddenly it tastes just a little more luxurious, doesn’t it? This chocolate journeyed a along way from Italy, where it was carefully crafted in a family-run operation. But before it ever became a chocolate bar, it started as a rare, translucent, white Criollo bean in Venezuela. And so the story of Amedei Porcelana begins.
--Alain Gayot, TheFoodPaper.com

Besides the Porcelana, Amedei offers many other luxurious sweet and semi-sweet treats. Amedei is not only concerned with creating an exclusive, organic product, but also with assuring that farmers who grow the trees and harvest the beans are offered fair working and living conditions.

" When a maitre chocolatier succeeds in making people smile by eating chocolate, he or she has reached the goal. Tasting means being carried away by sensations".
--Cecilia Tessieri, Owner

Source:
Wikipedia
Amedei.com
TheFoodPaper.com

Coolest Car: Spyker C12 Zagato

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:51:00 +0000

A cool car is very self-satisfied, not caring about what others think. It is precisely this kind of coolness which is uniquely beautiful and magnificent. A cool car should manage magnificence in an effortless manner. One of those is this Spyker C12 Zagato.

The C12 Zagato was designed with F1 styles into its highly ornate body. The Zagato is powered by an engine with 500bhp and can go up to 650bhp with a supercharger. It is a mad house. Despite being priced at $648,000, its raw coolness quotient comes from unmatched aesthetics and power. The C12 Zagato is a cool car fit with skill, beauty, and passion. It is the car you want to take your lover or spouse out on a date with.

0-60 mph: 3.8 seconds. 500-650 horsepower. Cost: $648,000.

Source:
Supercars.org: Top 10 Coolest Car

Best Place to Eat Oysters

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:59:00 +0000

Richard Corrigan reckons Strangford Lough oysters are the world’s best.

"If I were to die tomorrow, I'd walk to Strangford, get a couple of bottles of really cold Chablis, and eat as many Strangford Lough oysters as I could. Then I'd die very happily indeed. There are very few places you can get Strangford Lough oysters now. Last time, we bought some from a company called Cuan and went to a beautiful local pub and opened them ourselves. The speed of the tidal movement, and the huge nutrient richness of the water, is what makes them so good. The only accompaniment you need is lemon juice and black pepper: you'd never ever use vinegar and shallots or Tabasco."

Cuan Oysters, Sketrick Island, Killinchy, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, 02897 541461, www.cuanoysters.com

Sources:
Guardian.co.uk: Best Foods in the World
Photograph by John Smith/Corbis, The Guardian

Other Luxurious Foods:
$5000 Eclectic FleurBurger
Nino's Bellissima: $1,000 Luxurious Pizza

Hatten Wines from Bali

noreply@blogger.com (Rina Nazrina) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:45:00 +0000

In Indonesia, there apparently has been producing wine with grapes from the original homeland. Namely Hatten Wines, located in Sanur, Bali, and has been producing wine fermentation since 1994. Gus Rai, the owner, has long struggled in the business of alcohol in wine products (coconut gin) and brem (coconut wine).

Although relatively new manufacturer, but in fact, Hatten Wines have gained world recognition in the International Wine & Spirits Competitions 2003, and continuously export their products to Europe and around the world.

Bali's tropical climate seems to have created a unique wine character that is not found elsewhere in the world. One of the grape varieties that thrive in Bali namely Alphonse-Lavallée, who grew up in Northern Bali, the area of Buleleng, Singaraja. This area is hotter climates than other areas in Bali, so the grapes grow well there.

Source:
Hattenwines.com
Narnia Rainz: Sebotol Wine dari Bali