Hassan Hajjaj

Qasr Al Sarab

Ahlan wa sahlan,

The Liwa Desert in Abu Dhabi's Empty Quarter has now a magical new Desert Hotel.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Hotel by Anantara, which is loosely translated by as Palace of The Mirage, it has all that a hotel in the desert should offer, adventures by Camel , mountain bikes or traditional guided walks, the vistas must be spectacular. They also offer Archery Lessons, tennis and for those who just want to relax there is a pool or if you are really lucky at your Private Villa with a Butler to help you make decisions. Let us not forget The Hammam Spa where there are Royal Rituals to try out. My favourite would be a Bedouin dinner in the middle of the  Liwa Desert at Sunset.

This has inspired me to do a Desert Hotel Series, I love the colours and the magic that desert feeds to you.

I included for the first time a piece of music , but can't seem to upload the video. Hope the link works.

Enjoy xo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3lWwBslWqg&feature=share

http://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/anantara-qasr-al-sarab

All photos via Qasr Al Sarab Hotel.

Fortuny Splendor

Photo via Fortuny

Photo of Mariano Fortuny by Fortuny

Photo by Ars Regia

Photo via Fortuny Blog of Showroom

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo of Pallazzo Fortuny

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Architectural Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo of Melagrana Marmalade via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via Architectual Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo via Ars Regia

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Architectural Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo of Pope Urban VIII and  Fortuny Melagrano via Fortuny Blog

Photo Via Kips Bay

Photo via Architectual Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo of Cardinal Guilio Mazzarino via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo of Fortuny Dress in Box via Metropolitan Museum of Art

Photo via Architectural Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo of Fortuny Delphos Dress via Fortuny

Photo via Ars Regia

The brilliant, enigmatic Mariano Fortuny was born into a family of renowned artists in Granada, Spain, in 1871. 

He entered the fashion industry in 1907, with the introduction of one of his most notable achievements, the Delphos gown, inspired largely by Greek sculpture.

He was truly a Renaissance man who made his own photographic paper, bound his own books, and designed his own lamps and furniture.  He created one of the first dimmer switches, invented a boat propeller, and made his own paints, dyes, brushes and machinery.

To Read and see more of this mans incredible talent look at the great Fortuny website,

The New collection by L'Objet will be intoduced  at Bergdorf and Goodman and Neiman Marcus from September.

http://www.fortuny.com/

Visions of Sebastiao Salgado

The Nomadic Nenets Yamal Peninsula Siberia 2011

The Nomadic Nenets Crossing the Ob river to enter the Arctic Circle, Yamal Peninsula Siberia 2011

The Nenets : What made us survive all these hundreds of thousands of years is our spirituality; our link to the land. 

The Nomadic Nenets Family Yamal Peninsula Siberia 2011

The Reindeer of the Nenets Yamal Peninsula Siberia 2011

Oil Wells Greater Burhan Kuwait 1991

Oil Wells Greater Burhan Kuwait 1991

Oil Wells Greater Burhan Kuwait 1991

Dinka Man covered in Ashes which sterilises the skin against insects and parasites Sudan 2006

Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Omo Valley Ethiopia 2007

The Anavilhanas covering 1000sq km if Amaziona Rio Negro Brazil 

Two Mursi women, Omo Valley Ethiopia 2007

Yacare Caimans in the Patanal State of Mato Grosso Brazil 2011

A Yali man in the Jayawijaya mountains of Irian Jaya, West Papua 2012

The Mentawai Siberut Island Indonesia 2008

Zo'e Tribeswomen, State of Para Brazil 2009

Church Gate Station, Western Railroad Line, Bombay India

Coal Mines Dhanbad Bihar India 1989

Macaroni Penguins in Zavodovski Island, The Sandwich Islands 2009

Miner Standing up for himself Serra Pelada Gold Mine Brazil 1986

Figure Eight Serra Pelada Gold Mine Brazil 1986

Ladder Serra Pelada Gold Mine Brazil 1986

Arizona

Upper Xingu Kamayuva Shamans Brazil 2005

Namibia 2005

The Mentawai Siberut Island Indonesia 2008

Elephant Seal Calves on South Georgia, Barren Island on the South Atlantic 

Sebastiao reading his Sumo size book Genesis by Taschen

Genesis Exhibition at the London Natural History Museum 

  The look in the eyes of the Seals, the brutality of the life of the miners, the intoxicating beauty of our natural world The Patanal, The Okavongo Delta, the dunes of Namibia and the incredible lives of the tribes from Siberia to Java Indonesia that live the same way for thousands of years. God do I live in a bubble in London. 

These images just stir so many emotions in me, amazement, respect, sadness, anger, love but mostly awareness thanks to the courageous and humanitarian "photo-god" Sebastiao Salgado. 

The love and sensitivity this man has for this planet has been recorded in many photo essays and books ,some of the images I choose are from  "Workers"  on labour all over the world , "Migrations" on the displacement of people due to famine and war and now Sumo sized Genesis is "  My Love Letter to the Planet" a project that took Sebastiao into a journey of 9 years and over 30 journeys of trekking, canoeing, ballooning and travelling to the ends of the earth to visually connect us back into our planet, its tribes and its beauty that is still here.  

" We need to recover our instincts, to learn more about nature"

 " I wanted to give others the opportunity to see the nature of a pristine planet " 

I wish I could make these pictures bigger as you can only skim the surface of their power here. Luckily the Natural History Museum in London is showing a retrospective of Genesis until the 8th of September 2013. 

Otherwise you can get The Collectors Edition of the Sumo sized Genesis designed and edited by Salgados wife Lelia Wanick Salgado published by Taschen and also a custom made bookstand designed Legendary Japanese Architect Tadao Ando.  

There is more information on the websites below of other work and books. A lot to read and learn. 

Thank you for bringing us back the wonders of that still exists in our world. May they always be here for generations to come..

Genesis Exhibition at the London Natural History Museum

Amazonasimages

Taschen

Baitil Aman, Lamu Island, Kenya. Photo Sandy B

Cordoba, Spain (by etoma)

I Loewe You

Clockwise: Founder, Enrique Loewe Roessberg (1844-1929); Enrique Loewe Hilton (1879-1934), charmed high society to Loewe; Enrique Loewe Knappe (1912) pioneered international expansion; Enrique Loewe Lynch (1941) launched ready-to- wear in the 60’s, and created the Loewe Foundation, 1988.

Most people when they see the name Espagana , they think of Flamenco, bullfights, passion, paella, sangria, tortilla and Ibiza.

Let us not forget the incredible history of this country that brought these worldwide famous painters like Velazquez, Picasso, Goya and Dali and the legendary story of Don Quixote de la Mancha written by Miguel de Cervantes to name a few of the top of my head. The other well known Spanish expertise comes from craftsmanship and leather.

This is where the House of Loewe (lo-ay-ve) comes in, in 1846 a leather goods workshop was created  by  a group pf craftsmen on the year of two royal marriages, that of Her Majesty Isabel II of Bourbon to the Duke of Cadiz and that of Princess Maria Luisa Fernanda to the Duke of Montpensier. In 1872 Enrique Loewe Roessberg, a German craftsman specializing in leather working arrived in Madrid and decided to join forces with the these craftsmen and established the Loewe brand. With the precision and technique of Enrique Loewe and the creativity, leather and sensuality of Spain the house of Loewe rose in popularity becoming the Official Supplier to the Spanish Royal Crown in 1905. Famous stars such as Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Maria Callas and Ernest Hemingway would all purchase from the Gran Via store in Madrid.

Loewe started expanding all over Spain and in 1963 opened its first boutique in London's New Bond Street. Loewe then branched out into the Fashion Industry, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani and Laura Biagiotti were behind the first Women's Ready to Wear Collections. From there they created perfumes, Men's ready to wear and opened shops all over the world, in 1988 the Loewe Foundation was created including the Annual International Poetry Prize . In 1996 on the 150th Anniversary of the House of Loewe  LVMH took over the ownership of the brand, now with by Stuart Vevers as the Artistic Director of the brand.

What wonderful history this brand has, and if you ever get a chance to pass by their store go and view their collection "Clothing as Light as Air, as Soft as Silk", the leather is so so soft you can't believe it , the quality is just perfection.

Ole! xo

All photos via,

www.loewe.com

Research via,

www.wikipedia.org

Nadia Comaneci's Perfect 10.

A Fine Ride

I am no cyclist, barely know how to ride a bike but I appreciate beautiful design. If I had to ride a bike it would be one of these, my favourite is the Black and Copper Plated Madison Street, so elegant . Wish there was a little more info on the people behind this well crafted line of bicycles.

See Detroit is not all about cars and music. xo

All Images and where to order via,

www.detroitbicyclecompany.com

Nour El Nil

Nour El Nil " Light of The Nile" , just the name on its own makes you want to run and book one of these beautifully decorated Dahabiyas , which were historically built to carry Royal families . I was doing research on Nile Cruises for the perfect boat for a private party and stumbled upon this gem of a fleet.

Nour El Nil has a choice of 4 Dahabiyas, Meroe , Malouka , El Nil and Assouan. They are similarly decorated but are of different sizes and cabins. You sail at a slow pace lounging on one of those elegantly stripped cushioned beds on the upper deck watching the Nile unfold before you, visiting the magnificent temples and docking on beaches for a swim.

Am sure with the renowned Egyptian Hospitality a trip with Nour El Nil would never be forgotten.Enjoy exploring their site , as they say in Egypt Inshallah (god willing) you will be soon voyaging on the splendor of the Nile.

NB. The owner of Nour al Nil is an accomplished writer whose wonderfully titled book "A Winter on The Nile: Florence Nightingale, Gustave Flaubert and The Temptations of Egypt" Would be a great companion on your journey or at home.

All pictures via www.nourelnil.com

Read All About It

I love books, it would be so wonderful to have my own library but with a built in database that curates your books according to the choices you put in and of course then delivers them to you onto your coffee table with a butler to make you drinks.

Back to reality, I have selected a variety of choices all of them which intrigue me for different reasons, some for its images others for their design aspects, others to learn something and some are from my favorite Authors. There are so many to choose from so am sure I will do several of these postings.

All books are available at the following sellers,

www.amazon.com

www.rizzoliusa.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

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