Best Asparagus, Vale of Evesham

Asparagus with mushroom and garlic filled pasta, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Photo Alison Plummer.©

Just the best asparagus ever from Revills Farm Shop. I enjoyed it with delicious filled pasta and parmesan. Why the best? It was just so tender! It was also a happy surprise as I really only called in to ask for directions to the wonderful, semi-ancient Tiddesley Wood*, but naturally bought a selection of fresh produce from the shop while I was there. The asparagus certainly looked inviting but I was seriously delighted later when I tasted it.

The British asparagus season is from March to June and Vale of Evesham Asparagus has Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status under the EU protected food name scheme covering regional and traditional foods whose authenticity and origin can be guaranteed. The PGI mark is awarded if produce 'has a reputation, characteristics or qualities that are a result of the area it’s associated with'.

Find farm shops, delis, greengrocers selling asparagus around the Vale of Evesham area including:

Revills Farm Shop at Defford near Pershore, sells only PGI status Vale of Evesham Asparagus and is close to Croome Court and on the way to the fabulous Malvern Hills, home of the Morgan Motor Company (you'll see many Morgans on the roads). There's a Farmhouse Cafe for light lunches and afternoon teas with a selection of yummy cakes daily. All-day breakfast at weekends.

Ellenden Farm Shop, Harvington near Evesham. 2019 Midlands Regional Winners for the Countryside Alliance local food and drink award, offering a wide range of fresh vegetables, fruit and other delicious local produce, home-farmed meats. Merguez sausages! The inviting cafe serves breakfast, coffee, freshly-prepared dishes, afternoon tea, cakes. Close to The Valley shopping and garden centre, Golls Garden Centre and not far from Coughton Court. The Ellenden newsletter is a lovely connection to the seasons and produce news in the Vale of Evesham.

Hillers Farm Shop, cafe, gift shop and garden centre with beautiful show gardens to wander through. Near 'Roman' Alcester and not far from Ragley Hall and Coughton Court.

Castle Nurseries Farm Shop on Broadway Road off the A46.

Fruit Salad 48 High Street, Pershore, an attractive town for shopping, bakeries, foodie haunts and cafes plus the wonderful Pershore Abbey, now a parish church.

Wayside Farm Shop on the Broadway Road between Evesham and Broadway, with a teashop.

Broadway Deli in beautiful Broadway village –  the great choice as a base for exploring the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds.

The historic Fleece Inn at Bretforton is the home of the National Asparagus Festival, asparagus auctions and many events during the season. (Great range of beers and ciders.)

The Round of Gras pub is named after the traditional rounds (bunches) of asparagus in the Vale of Evesham market gardening region. April-June asparagus menu as well as fish and chips and other pub grub and carvery days – traditional roast with all the trimmings.

Asparagus is on seasonal restaurant menus and find specialist produce in the shops. Abbey Butchers, High Street, Pershore, makes an asparagus pork pie and Vale Porker sausages with black pepper and asparagus.

*Tiddesley Wood near Pershore was once a deer park owned by the Abbots of Pershore, now managed by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. In spring the new leaves are bursting into life on the trees and there are carpets of bluebells, cowslips, violets and wood anemones. Shady areas are home to greater butterfly orchids, herb Paris, dog's mercury, violet helleborines.

Tiddesley Wood, above and below. Photos Alison Plummer.©

Big shout out and thanks to fabulous friends Fiona and Neil whose FB post inspired me to go hunting for Tiddesley Wood in the first place. I am so envious of your orchid finds – native orchids in NSW, Australia, are a passion of mine but  I haven't looked at the British ones, until now. Thanks also to John and Mardy for John's birthday celebrations at the Round of Gras, so much enjoyed. 

The Farmstead at Royal Malewane opens in the Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa

Photo © The Royal Portfolio

This looks inviting! The Farmstead at Royal Malewane safari lodge is the latest addition to The Royal Portfolio with three Luxury Farm Suites and The Farmhouse – a three and a half bedroom villa offering private services. The interiors by Liz Biden, owner and Founder of The Royal Portfolio, are described as combining the contemporary style of The Silo Hotel and the capricious opulence of La Residence. Light oak, tin rooves, wrought iron and gentle hues of blue and white define the style with lively splashes of emerald and ruby. 

Photo © The Royal Portfolio

https://www.theroyalportfolio.com

Bookings:
reservations@trp.travel

The Royal Portfolio collection of hotels in South Africa is owned and run by the Biden family and includes Royal Malewane in the Greater Kruger National Park, Birkenhead House in Hermanus, La Residence in Franschhoek and The Silo Hotel in Cape Town.

Source: Press release.

      

AGNSW Packing Room Prize Winner

Through the looking glass, by Tessa MacKay©. Photo: AGNSW

The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) has announced the finalists for this year's Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, the finalists for the Young Archie competition and the Packing Room Prize winner, Perth artist Tessa MacKay.  

The winning portrait of actor David Wenham, Through the looking glass, won the approval of AGNSW head packer Brett Cuthbertson (who controls 52% of the vote) who said he ‘loved the work’ from the moment his packing room colleague Stu, brought it to his attention. “I love the reflection of the glass and that David’s in a reflective mood too. We blokes have a lot to think about these days!” Cuthbertson said.

Newcomer finalist Tessa MacKay said she was ‘thrilled’. “David's thoughtful gaze in the middle of the work is a kind of anchor. The portrait is about stepping into David's world. I like to think that his somewhat pensive eyes, lost in thought, are another kind of ‘looking glass’ that we're peering into,” MacKay said.

David Wenham said he felt privileged to sit for MacKay who he met through her husband, a writer/director. "Aware of my fondness for sitting, people watching and general day dreaming, Tess had a very clear vision of what the look, feel and purpose of the portrait should be."

Now in its 10th year, the 2019 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition is proudly presented by ANZ. 

Source: AGNSW press release.

Why Brits Love to Kew

Dale Chihuly: Summer Sun. Photo By Alison Plummer.©

"It's going to get spicy," says the ticket person as my friend takes out a year's membership of London's Kew Gardens. He means really busy but, because of the new membership status, we are able to skip the queues that have already formed on this gloriously sunny and warm Easter Monday, experiencing that giddy rush associated with an upgrade!

In the gardens it's a seriously perfect spring day. The leaves are dressing the trees in fresh spring shades of green, the tulips are showy in their splendid attire. Multiple-headed narcissi are strewn beneath showy magnolias with petals like porcelain.

i

'Flaming Parrot' tulips, above, and below with Chihuly Paintbrushes.
Photos by Alison Plummer.©

We've come to see the gardens of course, but primarily the glass installations of Chihuly: Reflections on nature as legendary American glass artist Dale Chihuly returns to Kew with glass artworks including some never seen before in the UK. In the chat about membership and the crowds expected we have not picked up the map indicating the installations, so we set off on our own route, seeing many of Kew's  features along the way including The Hive, an incredible geometric beehive, resonating with vibrations of living bees in a hive at Kew.

Problem is, there's just so much happening at Kew that each feature is a story in itself. There are ancient trees and the Tree Top Walkway, the Palm House and the Princess of Wales Conservatory. The Marianne North Gallery is dedicated to the female artist who travelled solo in the late 1800s to paint plants in their natural settings. Families with kids also adore Kew – a new Children's Garden will open in May, designed as a fun interactive space in a setting the size of 40 tennis courts.

The entire Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a UNESCO World Heritage site containing more than 50,000 plants in diverse collections in the grounds and in the famous glasshouses. The restored Temperate House, the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world, re-opened in 2018 after a five year renovation and houses over 10,000 rare and endangered plants.

The Temperate House is not only a landmark building but also a centre for study into the future of plant science and issues including climate change, drawing on more than 250 years of plant study. The Temperate House is also currently home to many of the stunning Chihuly installations including some with a marine theme. On our way there we see a field of fritillaries and more Chihuly in white, purple and blue as well as these Cattails and Copper Birch Reeds (above and right) erupting from a long grassy field of tulips.

What's fascinating to contemplate is that the exhibition will remain in place until October 2019 and so the outdoor settings will change seasonally from spring to summer planting followed by autumn colours. I think my friend will get more than her money's worth from her membership! Living on the doorstep, popping in for a look will be irresistible. As we leave after three hours there's still a queue - busy, OK spicy, indeed!

Chihuly Cattails and Copper Birch Reeds top  left and right.
Chihuly Neodymium Reeds and Turquoise Marlins, above.
Images ©AP

Ethereal White Persian Pond. Image © Alison Plummer. 

 The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, above. The Hive, below.
Images © Aison Plummer

All photos © Alison Plummer

Chihuly at Kew: Reflections on nature
 13 April – 27 October 2109
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Tickets and prices

Run Away to Sea on a World Cruise

Newsflash: Considering a world cruise? This could be your moment with the potential for possible savings if you book by the end of this month.

'Myths, Marvels & Monuments: A Cultural Mosaic' is the title of Crystal Cruises 2022 World Cruise aboard Crystal Serenity with several embarkation/disembarkation options, from 86 – 116 nights. All-inclusive fares (cruise only) begin at US$37,989 per person, with segments from US$4,769 per person, based on double occupancy. Book by April 30, 2019, to save up to US$20,000 per stateroom on this voyage as part of Crystal’s Book Now Savings program, subject to availability and terms and conditions. See the video at Crystal Serenity World Cruise.

Source: Press Release, The Brandman Agency, Sydney

The Haute-Savoie: Annecy, Talloires, a magical alpine hideaway and mouthwateringly melty cheeses in France.

Talloires, France. Photo ©Alison Plummer

Sun-drenched and sparkling one minute, moody and brooding the next, Lake Annecy is beautiful and as entertaining to watch as any film as the light cycles across it through the day. Our vantage point is high on a hill above Talloires, a gorgeous village a short drive from the historic city of Annecy and home of the Michelin-starred Auberge du Pere Bise on the waterfront. 

Lake Annecy from Talloires. Photo © Alison Plummer

Talloires is a brilliant base for hiking, biking and watersports in summer with easy access to the ski fields and resorts of Chamonix Mont Blanc in winter. The village is also only half an hour's drive or so from Geneva Airport in neighbouring Switzerland, so it's easy to fly and drive. (easyJet.)

It would be so easy to just relax and enjoy the view, but there are places to go, things to do. A walk into the village for coffee and a stroll around the picture postcard waterfront for starters, checking out the bike hire.

Basecamp Cafe and Bike Hire, Talloires. Photo © Alison Plummer

Annecy is seriously beautiful, built around canals and the Thiou River and often described as the Venice of the Alps – a twee description, but you'll soon see why. Sitting in a cafe watching the world go by is de rigueur while the shopping is delicious French boutique style.

Annecy. Photo © Alison Plummer

Local produce markets are held on Tuesdays (the best day for cheese, I'm told), Fridays and Sundays with a craft market on the final Sunday of the month. Rain stalks us on our market visit, but doesn't diminish the vibrant colours and range of local produce from the surrounding Haute- Savoie region. Cheese is a speciality of the area, made with the milk of the cows and goats that feed in the alpine meadows of the mountains and including Comte and Raclette, melty cheeses used in dishes served on both the French and Swiss sides of the Alps. Tomme (or Tome) is the generic name for a range of cheeses made from cow's, goat's or ewe's milk - here,  Tomme de Savoie is made from cow's milk from local breeds such as Abondance.

Annecy Markets, above. Photos © Alison Plummer.

Cows feeding in the alpine meadows are iconic and we meet some for ourselves on a hike to the Mont Blanc viewing area. The mighty mountain (indeed the whole area) is shrouded in mist so we are not to view it on this day – but the delightful Chalet d'en O more than makes up for this with delicious food in a rustic farm setting. Since our visit it has become simply a B&B, but it's made for romance, just the place for a hideaway weekend.

Photos © Alison Plummer

Hong Kong to Washington DC with Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000: Fly it then Bindu it.

Cathay Pacific welcomed the newest member to its fleet as the first of its 20 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft prepares to fly from Toulouse, France to the airline’s home of Hong Kong today on a blend of *biofuel. 

Eight of these aircraft will be delivered this year with the remainder to arrive by 2021. After initial rounds of regional services, starting with its first commercial flight to Taipei on 1 July 2018, the A350-1000 will launch Cathay Pacific’s new service to Washington DC on 15 September 2018, which at 8,153 miles makes it the longest on the airline’s network. This technologically-advanced aircraft will also serve Madrid, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Manchester and Zurich from the coming winter. 

Cathay Pacific Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Paul Loo said: “We already have one of the youngest long-haul fleets in the sky, and with the arrival of the A350-1000, our fleet is only going to get younger. 

“The aircraft follows the successful entry of the -900 variant which has enabled us to expand our long-haul network at a near unprecedented rate, providing our customers with a wider range of non-stop travel choices, while at the same time strengthening Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s largest international aviation hub. 

www.cathaypacific.com Source: Press Release

How to Bindu it!

Read more about Washington DC and find free travel itineraries on Bindu Trips where travel expert Candyce H Stapen says the city 'isn't always and only about politics'!

https://bindutrips.com/destination/washington-dc/

https://bindutrips.com/itinerary/washington-dc-at-its-trendiest/

https://bindutrips.com/itinerary/penn-quarter-and-chinatowns-heart/

For Hong Kong itineraries go to Beth Reiber's intuitive itineraries on Bindu Trips:

https://bindutrips.com/destination/hong-kong/

https://bindutrips.com/itinerary/hong-kong-in-two-days/

https://bindutrips.com/

Cathay Pacific and Biofuel Technology

*Achieving carbon neutral growth from 2020 is an important target for Cathay Pacific and using alternative fuels is one of its pillar initiatives. Compared to traditional jet fuel, sustainable biofuel can reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. 

Cathay Pacific is also the world’s first airline to invest in biofuel technology. In 2014 it became an equity investor in US-based Fulcrum BioEnergy Inc., which focuses on turning municipal waste into sustainable aviation fuel. In May 2018, Fulcrum broke ground on its first commercial-scale plant in Nevada. When the plant begins operations in 2020, it will produce over 10 million gallons of fuel for airlines including Cathay Pacific each year. 

Brunswick Picture House: What a Show

Feel the good vibes at this deeply divine picture house now showing film, cabaret, music and home to heaps of family fun! In Brunswick Heads (Bruns), NSW, the place has been restored by the creatives responsible for circus/cabaret acts Club Swizzle and La Soiree, which have just been on tour – La Soiree at the Aldwych Theatre in London and Club Swizzle at the Perth Fringe World Festival, WA.

The best of the both come together in the 'Cheeky Cabaret' at the Brunswick Picture House and the 2nd Birthday Special Edition features cabaret, new burlesque, circus, sideshow and vaudeville. It's easy to see why international artists are keen to appear in this special, quirky place. If you're reading my blog, I know you'll love it, too!

Check out events at https://brunswickpicturehouse.com
Images: Ken Martin

St Vincent's Hospital unveils painting by Tex Skuthorpe regarding Rheumatic Heart Disease

Tex Skuthorpe's wonderful painting is his interpretation of Rheumatic Heart Disease for St Vincent's Heart Health, unveiled  today, seen here with St Vincent's Tamra Langley. The painting will be used in communities to help gain a better understanding of the disease. See https://svhhearthealth.com.au

Six Senses Fiji opening from April 2018

©Six Senses Fiji

Located in a secluded bay on Malolo Island, Six Senses Fiji features a spectacular private golden sandy beach, 650 metres (2100 feet) long and offers all-tide swimming. A range of water sports from snorkelling to surfing on the nearby reef breaks, as well as a kid’s club called Grow With Six Senses, tennis courts and a weekly activity guide full of cultural and wellness experiences will be available. The Wellness Village at Six Senses Fiji will include a Six Senses Spa, a state-of-the-art gym, an extensive wet area with hot and cold whirlpools, an alchemy bar and an elevated treetop yoga pavilion.

Six Senses Fiji will feature 24 one-and two-bedroom pool villas all with private pools, decks and outdoor showers.  Also ten private residences of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom configurations (with another 50 scheduled to be built during phase two of the development). All residences and villas come with a guest experience maker (GEM) and private residence guests have the option of a complimentary nanny.

Sustainability is key throughout the resort which will be 100% solar, powered by the largest micro grid in Fiji using Tesla batteries.

To celebrate the opening, Six Senses Fiji is offering the 5th night free for guests who visit between April 14 to May 31, 2018. And, when booking eight nights, guests who want to completely unwind will receive their 9th and 10th nights free. Whether it’s a mini break or a well-deserved, extended getaway, the team at Six Senses Fiji promises to reward all guests with an extra day or two to lounge by the pool and beach or explore the beautiful surrounds of Malolo island.

Easy access is available from Nadi International Airport via a 35-minute private Six Senses speed boat from Denarau Marina and the option of a 10-minute helicopter. The resort also hosts two full-service marinas for guests’ private yachts.

Reservations can be made through your travel agent, direct by email at
reservations-fiji@sixsenses.com or by calling +679 6750 284.

Source: Press release.

Irish favourite black pudding on-trend in Australia

Black pudding enthusiasts sigh at the thought of these dark rounds of deliciousness, traditionally enjoyed for breakfast. The idea transports me straight back to Cork in Southwest Ireland and a truly memorable Irish breakfast devoured some years ago in the early hours – bacon, egg, potato pancake (boxty) and black pudding. The company at the time and the excitement at the forthcoming holiday in this wonderful part of Ireland added to the moment.

Both black and white pudding continue to feature in those hearty Irish breakfasts, but black pudding has gone up-market, becoming an on-trend ingredient with chefs lately, crumbled on and into a range of dishes – it goes well with mussels, for example. (I've tried it and it does.) 

So what is it? Today black pudding is made with beef, oatmeal, beef blood and spices. Clonakilty Whitepudding doesn't contain blood and is made with pork, oats, onion and spice. Both are great on the BBQ or you can try black pudding as a pizza topping. 

 “Clonakilty’s Blackpudding has a rich, deep flavour that goes hand-in-hand with its heritage. Using a secret blend of spices and steel-cut oats to give the produce its unique taste, crumby texture and distinctive flavour, the black pudding pairs beautifully with an array of fish, meat and vegetable based dishes”, says Colette Twomey, owner and MD of Clonakilty Food Co. and guardian of the secret spice recipe.

Find Clonakilty Blackpudding in Woolworths, IGA’s, grocers, deli’s and a selection of independent butchers nationwide. For industry, orders in NSW can be made online via Two Providores. For a detailed list of stockists go to: www.clonakilty.com.au  - RRP $8 Clonakilty Blackpudding 200g.

Images courtesy of Clonakilty Co.

NSW loop drive Sydney - Wagga, Wagga - Snowy Mountains - South Coast

Sunrise in the Snowy Mountains. Photo by Alison Plummer©

Leaving Sydney late on Saturday afternoon, we reach Goulburn around 7pm. The city is less than an hour from Canberra, Australia's capital in the ACT, so is a popular stopover.  Goulburn's wide main street is a real mix of old and new – this was a great Victorian rural city, its historic buildings dating from the glory days of gold and becoming a major centre of the booming wool trade.

We're not starving but can do with something to eat; the Pizza Kitchen, Auburn Street, is still open and I am beside myself when I spy anchovies on the menu in the Capricciosa, thin base. It's delicious. (Anchovies seem to have disappeared from pizza toppings!)

Next day we drive via Canberra to Wagga Wagga. Here we stay at the very comfortable Best Western Plus Charles Sturt Suites & Apartments, a couple of blocks from the main street with the Roundabout Restaurant, one of the  best in town. Many eateries are closed on Mondays but our niece is working at the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and knows we'll enjoy the Indian Tavern Tandoori, a palace of a place with reliably delicious food we remember from a previous visit - Fish Malabar, Saag Gosht.

On the way back to the Best Western we discover a quiet cafe tucked away at 10 Blake Street – we can see over the walling the enclosed courtyard of The Pot 'n' Kettle Coffee House and know this is where we'll be next morning.  We only make it for a great coffee and selections from the delicious breakfast menu which includes yummy turmeric and sage pumpkin fritters with avocado, haloumi and minted yoghurt and an avocado  brekkie with goats cheese, roast tomato, rocket and lemon; pancakes.

Enough of eating – now for the drive over the Snowy Mountains to the coast on a glorious day with intense blue skies and golden sunshine. We choose the quiet roads via Tumbarumba, Goat Ridge Road, Link Road, a switchback route with spectacular views. Breathtaking on our early autumn day. (*It's winter now and snow and ski season in the Snowy Mountains, so this is a trip to plan ahead for late spring/early summer.  Roads can be closed due to weather conditions, so check ahead.)

We join the Snowy Mountains Highway/B72, driving through undulating countryside that's quite mesmerising before dropping down to Bega (famous for its cheese) on the coast.

North now to lovely Bermagui and then Narooma for a video interview with a very special lady. No time to explore, unfortunately, and it's late to drive to Sydney so we overnight at Kiama and speed back to Sydney next day at the crack of dawn.

Choosing the route we did turned the trip into a delightful, impromptu taste of rural New South Wales. Work and travel – the best of both worlds.



Best Western Charles Sturt Suites & Apartments
Best Western Charles Sturt Suites & Apartments

Pot n' Kettle Coffee House
https://www.facebook.com/thepotnkettle/menu/

*The NSW ski season is officially from June until the first weekend of October. However there can be snowfalls from April to as late as November and even December, so always check road conditions in the Snowy Mountains.

O'Keeffe, Preston and Cossington Smith at QAG

Georgia O'Keeffe: Ram's Head, Blue Morning Glory.

O’Keeffe, Preston, Cossington Smith: Making Modernism 
Queensland Art Gallery, 11 March - 11 June 2017 

Celebrating the iconic work of American artist Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) and pioneering Australian artists Margaret Preston (1875–1963) and Grace Cossington Smith (1892–1984), the exhibition includes 90 paintings, 30 by each artist. The Georgia O’Keeffe paintings include Storm Cloud, Lake George 1923, The Black Iris 1926 and her Ram’s Head, Blue Morning Glory 1938 (above).

Grace Cossington Smith: Landscape At Pentecost.

Georgia O'Keeffe: Purple Hills Ghost Ranch.

Margaret Preston: Aboriginal Landscape.

Already shown in Melbourne, following the season at the Queensland Art Gallery the exhibition will tour to the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 1 July to 2 October 2017.

Source: QGOMA

Culinary Adventures in Italy's Puglia & Basilicata with Lyndey Milan, May 2018

Lyndey Milan with Alison Pike of Southern Visions Travel
Photo: Immacolata D'Amico

Sixty million olive trees (some more than 2000 years old, protected by UNESCO and tracked by satellite in case of theft), Pugliese pastas such as the local orrechiette, famous Burrata cheese, fava beans...! The list is long. Add fresh fish, cherries, figs and almonds and you still haven't reached the heart of the passion for local food that Australian food diva Lyndey Milan will introduce you to on a personalised tour behind the scenes and into the kitchens of one of Italy's best-kept secrets.

Puglia is the heel of the boot of Southern Italy, famous for its conical, whitewashed trulli houses.  Lyndey's name is synonymous with locally-grown produce and to travel with her on this journey will be an incredible experience for the lucky few. I was fortunate to enjoy Lyndey's inspiring, authentic tastes of Puglia, served here in Australia to promote the tour and using meticulously-sourced ingredients  such as Scamorza cheese and deliciously different local wines of Puglia. Based on this, I imagine that Lyndey will be hosting more than one trip to this region!

Scamorza cheese in Prosciutto.
Photo: Immacolata D'Amico

Figs with Ricotta.
Photo: Immacolata D'Amico

Wines of Puglia.
Photo: Immacolata D'Amico

May 1-7, 2018, land content from $4999.00 a person.
For full details contact Alison Pike, Southern Visions Travel
ali.pike@southernvisionstravel.com

Wine info:
Masseria Li Veli www.liveli.it/en
MenhirSalento www.menhirsalento.com/

Lyndey Milan www.lyndeymilan.com

Inspired: Mike Nock and Laurence Pike at SIMA

Wonderful musical journey with jazz sorcerer, pianist Mike Nock and superb drummer Laurence Pike at Sydney's SIMA Sound Lounge last night. These two speak a special language together and it was inspiring to hear/see them live again. Also great to hear the incredible Sandy Evans with Alon Ilsar and his 'airsticks'. Thanks for a few hours transported away from 'the noise of the world'. Special. 

Their recent album together is Beginning And End of Knowing.
https://fwmrecords.bandcamp.com/album/beginning-and-end-of-knowing.

Abstraction of the World collaborative: Duddell's in Hong Kong and Biennale of Sydney

 George Tjungurrayi, ‘untitled’, 2014, Acrylic on linen, 91 x 91 cm 

Image courtesy: Utopia Art Sydney 

Duddell’s x Biennale of Sydney. Abstraction of the World. Curated by Mami Kataoka.  Duddell’s Salon and Library from 20 March to 10 July, 2017.

Leading Hong Kong cultural and social destination Duddell's has announced a collaborative exhibition presented together with the 21st Biennale of Sydney (2018): Duddell’s x Biennale of Sydney. Abstraction of the World. Curated by Mami Kataoka, the Artistic Director of the Biennale’s 21st edition, the exhibition will open on 20 March at Duddell’s, and will run until 10 July, 2017.

Since ancient times, human beings have been fascinated by the structure of cosmic space and the natural phenomena of the world. Fundamental elements such as light and darkness, wind and rain, water and fire do not have fixed structures or form; therefore, they have often been depicted by different cultures and civilisations as abstract forms. Such examples can be found in East Asian belief systems and folklore, such as Taijitu, Wuxing and I Ching trigrams, as well as in various Indigenous cultures around the world. This exhibition features work by three prominent artists from the Asia Pacific region: Mit Jai Inn, George Tjungurrayi, and Haegue Yang, who through their research and repertoires, reference and explore such concepts in abstraction.

A pioneer of Thai contemporary art, Mit Jai Inn’s (b. 1960) idea of painting defies conventional boundaries, both physically and conceptually. His abstract paintings bring to mind reflections of light, the colour spectrum and the molecular structure of the universe.

George Tjungurrayi (c. 1943) creates abstract canvases derived from the distinctive painting style of the Papunya Tula Artists of the Australian Western Desert, which are often interpreted as reflections of the desert landscape. The characteristic patterns also refer to the invisible energy fields of the artist’s ancestral country and to traditional stories deeply rooted in sacred law.

Internationally renowned for her assemblages and spatial installations, Haegue Yang (b. 1971) often uses industrially manufactured materials that reference the history of modern art and allude to social, political, and personal histories. Yang’s work challenges conventional ideas of abstraction and movements within diverse art forms.

On announcing the exhibition Mami Kataoka says: “Abstraction of the World explores some of the diverse philosophies surrounding the essential elements of the universe, investigating a pursuit of meaning in abstraction that goes beyond modernist perspectives of abstract expressionism and minimal, conceptual art. It is a reflection of some of my early thinking about the 21st Biennale exhibition opening in March, 2018.”

Contributing to Hong Kong’s position as one of the world’s leading arts hubs, Duddell’s is dedicated to giving local and international contemporary artists a platform to express their creativity and practise freedom of speech through art.

“We are honoured to partner with the 21st Biennale of Sydney (2018) on this project, and excited that Mami Kataoka, a globally renowned figure in the art world, will be curating our next exhibition Duddell’s x Biennale of Sydney. Abstraction of the World. Duddell’s prides itself on presenting a programme of quality art events in collaboration with leading cultural institutions since its establishment in 2013, and this March, we are delighted to present a showcase of these artists from the Asia Pacific region,” says Alan Lo, Co-Founder, Duddell’s.

The exhibition is part of the Duddell’s Art Programme which includes a calendar of shows curated by respected forces in the international and regional art community, film screenings and discussions.

Source: Press release.

Culinary cruise on Myanmar's Ayeyarwady River

Textured egg yolk trilogy.

The Strand Cruise, which recently celebrated its first year of operation on Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River, has announced plans for its first culinary themed cruise in March 2017 with Strand’s new executive chef, Christian Martena and guest chef, Sylvain Royer, Michelin starred Chef de Cuisine of the R&B Lab Company.

Chef Christian, who is responsible for the culinary offerings of both The Strand Cruise and the newly reopened and refurbished Strand Yangon, will join passengers on a four-night voyage from Bagan to Mandalay on 13th March 2017.  Since moving to Yangon in Summer 2016, Chef Christian has been travelling around Myanmar to visit suppliers and remote farming communities to immerse himself the country’s distinctive regional cuisines and source the best produce and spices to create a unique gastronomic experience.   Christian will be joined by fellow chef, Sylvain Royer, a Bangkok-based farm-to-table fanatic who is responsible for several highly acclaimed restaurants in the region, including the Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant in Bangkok.

As well as visiting ancient capitals and fascinating temples along the river, passengers can accompany Chefs Christian & Sylvain on visits to markets to discover local ingredients such as the tealeaf, which is used to make Laphet, a traditional Myanmar salad of fermented green tea, and infuse fish recipes such as Mohinga, a fish and noodle broth from the Shan region.  They will also present some of their signature dishes pared with wines each evening, teach passengers how to shank oysters and lead a fun blind food tasting contest to discover or re-discover ingredients found in Myanmar, such as lemongrass.

The Strand’s culinary themed cruise will take place as part of the ship’s scheduled four-night cruise from Bagan to Mandalay on Monday 13th March 2017 and is a value-added experience offered at no extra cost to passengers.  Rates are from $2,694 per person sharing a Deluxe Cabin based on double occupancy.  Rates include all excursions and activities on board The Strand Cruise as described in the set itinerary, three meals during full sailing days, breakfast on day of disembarkation, soft drinks & local beer, house wine during meals, port charges, English speaking guides (alternative language guides can be provided on request subject to availability) and satellite WI-FI in all cabins and public areas.

This gourmet cruise is the second in a series of themed trips operated by The Strand Cruise through 2017 and will be repeated again in September 2017.  Its first themed cruise will be a classical music cruise departing 13th February 2017 when The Strand Cruise welcomes on board eight classical musicians, including artists from the famous Opéra de Paris and Orchestre de Paris, for an intimate four-night musical cruise over St. Valentine’s Day.  Passengers will share in the experience of hearing scores from some of history’s most famous composers, including Mozart and Puccini, echoing against a backdrop of romantic sunsets, starlit night skies and a vista of thousands of pagodas.

www.thestrandcruise.com 
www.randblab.com

Source: Press release

Seabourn Encore launched in Singapore

Seabourn, the ultra-luxury cruise line, formally introduced Seabourn Encore to the world at a festive evening ceremony in Singapore on Saturday (January 7).

International recording artist and world’s best-selling soprano Sarah Brightman presided over the naming ceremony as Godmother of the new 600-guest ship, sending a bottle of champagne smashing against the bow in a time-honoured ship christening tradition. Guests and VIPs joined Seabourn staff at the launch festivities, with local musicians and cultural acts, including lion dancers and stilt walkers, helping to send the ship off in style.

“The launch of Seabourn Encore marks the start of a new era of ultra-luxury cruising,” Seabourn President Richard Meadows said.

“Seabourn Encore marks a major step forward in terms of growth for our company. This ship is stunningly beautiful and I know guests are going to be absolutely captivated as they step aboard and see it firsthand.”

http://www.seabourn.com/

Source: Press release