Four Seasons Chiang Mai Style......

You all know that I am nuts for great style......

It would be impossible to share all the photos I took on property because  I never put my camera down.... it was a visual feast. I could go on for weeks but promise I won't.........Editing all the photos and deciding what to share was chore enough, one shot was more beautiful than the other....a simple statue or the endless gaze through the rice paddies. Over the next few days I will finish up with the Celedon Factory (I loved the dinnerware here), a Silk Factory, and a visit to one of the local antique dealer before I head back to Hong Kong. The trip is winding down and I need time to process all that I have seen.

The photo above are the local resident water buffalo. Every morning they are brought to the lobby before they head out to spend the day on a glorious patch of land beyond the rice paddies....it looks like a movie set to see them off in the distance.   I want what the farmer is wearing....great look!

The reception area....... simple and beautiful

Enter...

You don't know which way to look

the detail....

All I want to do is take a photo

a view of the rice paddies

the gardens seem to go on forever

Treasures everywhere

The spa....

Clean crisp white and objects of interest everywhere...

Serene, Peaceful, Meditative

glorious local art.......

the doors....need I say more

They sense I am on overload....I am offered fresh ginger tea and honey, my new favorite!

 now my family is worried,  I want to rip out my marble floor and go for the stones...

Time to head back to the pool and watch the sunset.....

The pool...

grab a seat....

a drink...

and watch an amazing sunset....

It is time for me to rest my weary eyes!

Sag Awards and Kate Hudson

I am not wild about white....but  this is fabulous.  Perfect........jewelry, hair, smile....

How timeless is this?.

Searching for Trends......

Photos: Frazer Harrison/Kevin Winter/Getty/Just Jarad

I am still searching the Golden Globes for that perfect new trend or fashion statement and I came across stylish 18 year old Willa Holland. She was not attending the GG's but was at a premiere of Legion in Los Angeles. A fabulous black dress, simple diamond pendant, and the surprise...great purple boots....




The best part is her mother, Darnell De Palma Baldi, was her stylist! Great job MOM!

Riding an Elephant....cross one off my bucket list

There is always a list of things that you would like to do before you die. Riding an elephant, although not in my top 50, was always something that I thought would be very cool. Well I did it......and it was cool!
It was not bareback, God only knows how exciting that would have been, but I have to admit hanging on to that little bucket of a seat was enough of a challenge. I think that is why massages are so plentiful in Thailand.....you need one after holding on for your dear life. Thoughts of falling out of the seat and having to tell everyone swirled in my head......great motivation.

So the adventure starts out with watching the elephants take a bath.....interesting until I see them performing bodily functions in the water with everyone in the river. I am now glad I opted for the half day expierence minus the elephant bathing.....although the tour guide (who was not phased) assured me it was just fiber. OMG!

Now we have a few tricks......a little instrument playing, moving logs, playing soccer, and then they are going to paint....YEAH RIGHT. Well to my amazement they painted abstract and realistic......

The trainer stands to the side and holds the elephants ear.

progress....

more progress

I am becoming a real believer....

The only thing he didn't do was sign it ......unbelievable!

A few other pieces of art done by a fellow artistic elephants

This was my favorite.... From my inside sources, the trainer pulls on the elephant's ear directing

 his trunk  that is holding the paint brush. I'll  have to try that.

Our last stop, a visit to the elephant nursery...... the baby was busy eating bananas but here is a pregnant elephant. This bit of information was filed in the back of my brain, an elephant is pregnant for 2 years......she was really big, 2 years??????

I just had to take a photo of this beautiful little girl who lived within the elephant camp with her family!

Another great day!

Monday Morning Music....Disco Baby!

Great Disco memories Felix.... I have a secret longing to be a disco queen!
Don't tell!

Review of Four Seaons Thai Cooking School in Chiang Mai

Cooking School here we come,  today will be Spicy Salads.

Most impressive... Designed by the award-winning Bensley Design Studios in Bangkok, the Resort's lanna-style cooking facility celebrates northern architecture and traditional design.  It is so good looking I would be happy just sitting and being part of the decor. Very peaceful......wishing my kitchen at home had the same feeling, I would never leave it!

Prior to the start of the class we make an offering to the "Cooking Spirit" , it promotes success...keep reading to see if it really works.

Pots of fresh herbs ready for picking on the school terrace.....

Everything set and ready to go!

Our world renowned chef getting ready to give us our first lesson!

Our first dish is Yum Nua (Spicy Beef Salad)

Sirlion beef, tomato, white onion, cucumber and spicy sauce....check out the chili made into a flower and the tomato rosette....not bad for a first timer! 

Dragon fruit as a bowl .... Larb Muang Moo (Northern Spicy Pork Salad)  minced pork, garlic, northern chilli powder, fish sauce, shallots, spring onion, Thai coriander, and mint.

This was my favorite Yum Som-O Kai (Pomelo Salad with Chicken). Pomelo, which is similar to a grapefruit but larger, chicken breast, cashew nuts, dried shrimp, grated coconut, and sweet chili sauce. Notice we garnished with the baby bananas!

Som Tam Goong Sod (Green Papya Salad with Prawns) Birds eye chili, garlic, green beans, dried shrimp, cashew nuts, fish sauce, palm sugar, lime juice, tamarind juice, green papaya, cherry tomatoes, and prawns.

We passed! On to the feast!

It was a great meal!