Design Destinations Magazine Summer 2018

SUMMER 2018

KENYA

WILDLIFE AND WARRIORS

EXPLORING JAIPUR INDIA

BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO

BY AMALIA HERNANDEZ

CASA PALOPÓ Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

PIMALAI RESORT

KOH LANTA’S SECRET SANCTUARY

LETTER FROM OUR EDITOR

DESIGN DESTINATIONS SUMMER 2018

We are celebrating five years since our first issue of Design Destinations was launched. What was started as a way to promote our partners in a non-commercial way has become a platform to showcase not only our partners, but the places that we love and the things that we enjoy. Our contributors are amazing and by sharing their work with us, they assist in making every issue of this magazine great.

In this issue we are featuring two new luxury destination experiences - The Pimalai Resort & Spa on the island of Lanta in Thailand and Casa Palopó in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Both destinations are beautiful, serene and are sure to provide a memorable experience for your guests.

We are featuring beautiful photography from Henry Wu, who presents the Jaipur with his stunning images of this amazing destination. We are also proud to feature David Lazar, who provided images of Kenya for the article Kenya, Wildlife and Warriors.

In our “American Legends” section, we feature one of my all time favorite actors - the incomparable Jack Nicholson who has graced the screen in films like Chinatown, The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoos's Nest and so many more.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and as always we’d love to hear from you.

Go and Explore the World!

Franz Buchhalter

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CONTRIBUTORS

DAVID LAZAR,

is a travel photographer from Brisbane, Australia, who captures moments of life, culture and beauty through photography. He is drawn to locations that have a rich cultural background steeped in tradition, and is especially interested in portrait photography.

David is a contributor to photography, travel and inflight magazines, as well as newspapers, books and journals such as National Geographic, Asian Geographic and The Lonely Planet. In 2014 he was awarded Best Culture Photographer by Garuda Airways.

He was the 2012 Smithsonian Photography Contest winner in the travel category. In 2015, the inspirational book “Who Will I Become” was released by the Growing Leaders Foundation, showcasing David’s photography from Trinidad and Tobago. He has recently published a coffee table book of his work from Myanmar entitled “Myanmar: A Luminous Journey” which is now available for purchase worldwide.

Kenya - Wildlife & Warriors page 6

HENRY WU, founder of This Life of Travel, is a portrait, travel, and lifestyle photographer based in San Francisco. He considers the world his personal oyster and loves to have his cake and eat it too.

From navigating insane rush hour traffic in Hanoi via motorbike to watching Caribbean baby turtles hatch under the full moon, Henry loves to capture the moment with his lens and to convey the emotion of the moment to the viewer.

Henry enjoys documenting interesting and not-yetexplored topics as well as tackling new angles on well trodden topics. Feel free to contact him for any cool, fun, or interesting freelance photography projects! www.thislifeoftravel.com

Exploring Jaipur - India page 26

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WHAT’S INSIDE

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KENYA

WILDLIFE AND WARRIORS

Photos by David Lazar

Text by Franz E Buchhalter

Kenya is synonymous with scenic landscapes and wildlife preserves. Many visitors come to Kenya for the opportunity to see the “Big Five� and for the chance to meet the Massai people who are likely the best known local tribe due to their proximity to the game parks.

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The Maasai is a unique and popular tribe due to their long preserved culture. The tribe has jealously clung to their traditions despite the influence of education, civilization and western cultural. Sometimes referred to as the world’s last great warrior cultures, this tradition remains of great importance to the Maasai which is instilled from the time a boy is born. From boyhood to adulthood, young Maasai boys are educated to learn the

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responsibilities of being a man and a warrior. The primary role of a warrior is protection of their animals from any predators, to build shelter, and to provide safety to their families. The Maasai tribe has a deep relationship with their cattle.

They are guided by a strong belief that they were created for them and that they have the responsibility to protect them..

This relationship has led them to lead a nomadic life following, weather patterns over the vast land in search of food and water for their cattle.

The Big Five game animals are the lion, leopard, rhinoceros (both black and white species), elephant, and Cape buffalo. The term �Big Five� is credited to the big-game hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot who are also possibly the most fascinating of all wild animals. The Big Five term was eventually adopted by operators of tours for marketing purposes.

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While once popular amongst big game hunters, The Big Five have become major targets for wildlife conservationists in recent years. The African lion, African leopard and African bush elephant are all classified as vulnerable. The southern white rhinoceros is classified as near threatened while the black rhinoceros is classified as critically endangered, so hunting them is greatly restricted, especially for the latter.

CASA PALOPÓ Set on one of the world’s most beautiful lakes.

Photo: Al Argueta

DESIGN DESTINATIONS SUMMER 2018

Secluded in the highlands of Guatemala, and nestled on one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, you will find Casa Palopó, a retreat of elegance, history and tradition. Casa Palopó was originally built as a private home, and later turned into a boutique hotel, offering guests a peaceful and beautifully unexpected ambiance with views of one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Lake Atitlán sits in the highlands of Guatemala and is surrounded by twelve charming indigenous villages, each named after an apostle. Casa Palopó, a Relais & Chateaux property, features fifteen deluxe rooms and suites and a magnificent three - bedroom Villa, all with amazing views of the lake and three majestic volcanoes. Each accommodation is elegantly decorated with hand woven textiles depicting the Mayan culture. The rooms serve as frames for original art work

by Guatemalan artists, giving the guests a wonderful sense of place. Every piece of furniture has been carefully selected from local artisans to represent the locale.

Villa Palopó,is the ultimate in luxury at Casa Palopó. The threebedroom villa offers an intimate setting including a private infinity pool with unobstructed views of the lake.

Dining at Casa Palopó on the open terrace “6.8 Palopo” will provide guests with a world-class culinary experience that blends local favors and ingredients creating a menu sure to delight everyone in an elegant and rustic atmosphere surrounded by nature and beautiful scenery. For a more romantic evening setting, guests can dine in the interior of the restaurant decorated with soft lighting, hanging colorful candelabras and delicate linens.

Casa Palopó is about a three hour drive from the Capital City of Guatemala and the drive takes guests through a series of colorful villages and panoramic views of the Guatemala highlands. Guatemala’s weather is as desirable as the scenery, with an average of 70 degrees year round, and is the ideal place to reconnect and to experience something different and amazing.

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS SUMMER 2018

EXPLORING JAIPUR INDIA Known as the Pink City, due to the dominant color scheme of its buildings, Jaipur is located in northern India in the state of Rajasthan. Part of the Golden Triangle tourist circuit along with Delhi and Agra, it is also home of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Janitor Mantar and the Amer Fort.

Jaipur attracts many visitors for its unique architecture, exotic bazaars and the famous chaotic energy of urban India. The central attraction is the City Palace, a complex of gardens, courtyards and buildings in the city center.

Every building within the walled historic centre is painted a terra-cotta “pink� color and there are few exceptions to this uniformly color scheme. The city originally was painted pink by the Maharaja Sawi Ram Singh to impress Prince Albert during his 1876 visit to India. Today, the color pink is enforced under local laws.

Photos: Henry Wu

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Founded in 1952 as a small ballet company by Amalia Hernandez, a dancer and choreographer, the ballet gained attention by the Mexican Government, who in 1958 asked Hernandez to take the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico on an international tour. In the 1960’s, Hernández and the Ballet Folklórico de México developed the choreography for 40 ballets, some of which used over 70 folk dancers in a single piece. Today the ballet delights visitors by taking them through a journey of musical pieces that reflect the various genres of Mexico. Many of the ensemble’s pieces reflect the traditions and historic periods of the Mexican culture. Delicate movements, beautiful, and colorful costumes are brought to life by popular dances The traditions of folkloric dance techniques are highlighted in dances like the Tapatio, Zapateado, and the Deer Dance. The Ballet can be enjoyed at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City where the Ballet performs weekly.

Photo courtesy: Ballet de Mexico De Amalia V.B. Hernandez

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS SUMMER 2018

BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO

BY AMALIA HERNANDEZ

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AMALIA HERNANDEZ

Mexican choreographer extraordinaire, and Founder of Ballet Folkórico de México, Amalia Hernández changed the scene of dance around the world thanks to her vibrant, colorful and powerful performances emphasizing the artistic and cultural value of Mexico. Amalia Hernández was born on September 19, 1917 in Mexico City. After several years as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer at the Mexican Academy of Dance, she decided to start a small dance ensemble. This group, first known as “Ballet Moderno de México,” gained popularity due to the imaginative choreographies created by Hernández. In 1959, with her newfound and wide popularity in the country, the Tourism Board of Mexico asked Hernández and her dance company to participate in the Pan American Games of Chicago, Illinois. The group performed choreographies such as Los Hijos del Sol, Sones Antiguos de Michoacan, el Cupidito, and Fiesta Veracruzana among others. This was the first time the Ballet Folklórico de México performed outside Mexico. In 1961, Ballet Folklórico de México won first place at the Paris Festival of Nations, competing against renowned institutions including Russiaʼs Moiseyev Dance Company. Soon after Ballet Folklórico de México was given a permanent residence in Mexico Cityʼs Palace of Fine Arts by President Adolfo Lopez Mateos. In 2017 the company celebrated its 65th anniversary and the 100th birthday of Amalia Hernández. With multiple international tours and 3 weekly performances at El Palacio de Bellas Artes, El Ballet Folklórico de México has performed for more than 22 million people since its creation in 1952.

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AMALIA HERNANDEZ

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AMALIA VB HERNANDEZ

Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, Academia de La Danza Amalia Hernández Ballet de Mexico de Amalia V.B. Hernández USA, and México en Movimiento. Training with contemporary legends Alvin Nikolai, Hania Holm, Katherine Dunham and Alvin Ailey, facilitated Basantaʼs more than 20-year career as a principal and soloist with Ballet Folklórico de México. She has been recognized around the world for her interpretation of her motherʼs works, Los Maya, Sones Antiguos de Michoacan, and her portrayal of La Juana Gallo from The Mexican Revolution. Through Ms. Basantaʼs contemporary work with México en Movimiento, she has captured the rich history and essence of Mexico, past and present, with a vocabulary of movement that speaks to a sophisticated and international audience.

Basanta has collaborated and created works for La Sinfónica de Mineria and La Sinfónica Naciónal de México. Her most recent ballets include La Mulata de Córdoba, Maria, Lara y Sus Mujeres, Homenaje a Hidalgo, De la Caña a Carnaval, Mexico Ayer y Hoy and Fandango en Rojo, and she was recently inducted to The Board of Trustees for Dance USA. Her unique approach to combining history, folklore and contemporary movement, parallels the rapidly changing demographic and image of America today.

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS SUMMER 2018

Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernandez Artistic Director

PIMALAI RESORT & SPA Koh Lanta’s Secret Sanctuary

DESIGN DESTINATIONS SUMMER 2018

Located in the tranquil island of Lanta on the southern part of Thailand, you will find the magnificent resort of Pimalai, a beautiful and amazing retreat nestled in lush tropical surroundings. The 121 deluxe rooms, suites and villas resort offers its guests the opportunity to experience world renowned Thai hospitality while enjoying luxurious accommodations. The resort features ocean views, and beachfront deluxe accommodations that include one, two and three bedroom villas, all with private pools and unobstructed views of the ocean; three world-class restaurants; a spa that puts you in touch with nature while you enjoy a classic Thai treatment.

Each luxury room, suite and villa boasts ample living space, both indoors and out. Enjoy the sunsets and sunrises from the privacy of your oceanfront deck, dine under the stars or simply refresh yourself in the private swimming pool of your villa.

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Pimalai Resort & Spa’s three restaurants offer guests delightful international cuisine, and they can enjoy the many flavors of Thailand’s traditional delights in three distinctive atmospheres.

Choose from an array of delicacies from across Thailand at the beachfront restaurant.

Enjoy world famous cuisine and exotic fruit and juices or experience a refreshing cocktail in this idyllic setting before and after a day in the sun.

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Begin your evening in an elegant setting with a glass of wine while the sunset takes over the evening in the Seven Seas restaurant. The chef’s creations, highlighting local catches and signature dishes will delight you as you end another amazing day.

Experience the riches of Koh Lanta in luxurious style. Set sail on a private boat, dive untouched reefs, or explore a deserted island. Immerse yourself in cultural sensations both on our island and further ashore. The five-star PADI Dive Center offers an unrivaled reputation for highest quality personal service, and experienced dive guides well versed in the area to make your dive experience truly memorable.

Koh Lanta offers many alternative options for day excursions, from a shopping tour in a local market to a ride in one of the intuitive three wheel motorcycles called Tuk-Tuk or a tour of the nearby Krabi. Koh Lanta is known for its lush and tropical setting and for the many beautiful beaches.

The underwater is spectacular with whale shark and manta ray sightings, vibrant reefs, abundant marine life and easy access to some of the region’s most famous dive sites. There’s a range of sites accessible from Koh Lanta to suit all levels. There are wall dives, pinnacle dives, wrecks and lagoons, and deeper open ocean sites for the experienced divers.

Learn to cook your favorite Thai dishes, experience the exotic herbs and spices that make Thai cuisine one of the world’s culinary delights!!

At Pimalai Resort & Spa the cooking class is a must. Let the chef guide you through the herb garden as you select the ingredients needed to prepare the famous tum yun goon soup or the pad thai noodles. The experience is amazing and a great opportunity to increase your menu to impress your friends when you return home.

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MICHELADA A SUMMER DRINK

Michelada—pronounced mee-cha-lah-dah— and loosely translates as “my cold one” is a Mexican drink prepared with beer, lime juice, and assorted sauces, spices, and peppers. It is served in a chilled, salt-rimmed glass. There are numerous variations of this beverage throughout Latin America. The variations depend in part on the beer. A lighter example would be made with a lighter beer and a stronger version with a Pilsener type of beer.

But the ingredients used in the preparation can also alter the flavor. A Michelada is a refreshing drink and very popular with Latin Food. In Mexico its ideal when eating tacos and in EL Salvador when eating the traditional Pupusas a corn based tortilla filled with cheese and covered with a coleslaw and sauce. No matter what your preference in beer is, try this tasty, cold drink and make the Michelada your summer drink.

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E IP

INGREDIENTS 6 oz. Clamato® Picante ½ teaspoon smoked paprika ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 2 limes, juiced 12 oz. light beer 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce 2 jalapeños (1 in slices) Freshly cracked black pepper Tajín® Ice

INSTRUCTIONS Run lime across rim of mug.

Dip mug in Tajín to coat evenly.

Add ice and jalapeño slices (to taste).

Add the remaining ingredients, except Clamato and beer, and stir.

Fill with Clamato and beer.

Garnish with jalapeño.

Servings: 1

Recipe courtesy of Clamato

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JACK NICHOLSON An American Legend

Actor, director and screenwriter and a three-time Academy Award winner and twelve-time nominee.

Mr. Nicholson made his film debut in the 1958 movie The Cry Baby and his big break came with Easy Rider in 1969 which earned him his first Oscar nomination. He earned fame with subsequent films like Five Easy Pieces (1970), Chinatown (1974) and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest in 1975 which earned him his first Oscar for Best Actor. He is most notable for his performance in The Shining directed

by Stanley Kubrick’s from an adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. He has made many films including Terms of Endearment (1983 and second Oscar), The Departed (2006) and Something’s Gotta Give (2003). His long standing career has been recognized with numerous awards including seven Golden Globes and the Kennedy Center Honor in 2001.

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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

PREVIOUS ISSUES

DESIGN DESTINATIONS BUCHHALTER INTERNATIONAL GROUP MAGAZINE

MARCH 2014

SUMMER 2014

ALTAGRACIA A New Luxury Destination in Costa Rica CARTAGENA Colorful, Romantic and Vibrant IMPROVE YOUR HOTEL’S DATING LIFE 5 Tips From an Expert CHARREADAS Through the Eyes of an Artist

THE PERFECT WEDDING In The Perfect Setting LA ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA Steeped in History and Tradition

IMANTA RESORT IN PERFECT BALANCE WITH NATURE

DORADO BEACH REDEFINING LUXURY

BUENOS AIRES A City That Never Sleeps

OLIVIER DEBOISE

A TASTE OF MONTEREY

DORADO BEACH A Golfer’s Paradise

CELEBRATING HARMONY OF TASTE AND LOCALE

SPA BOTANICO DESIGNED TO INSPIRE

THE ART OF WEAVING in Latin America SILVIA TCHERASSI Style, Elegance & Design WILLIAM D. TALBERT III A Candid interview with the CEO of the Greater Miami CVB

TRAVELING WITH TEENS and Finding Time for Fun

MARK GIMENEZ A Candid Conversation with the bestselling author

For previous issues, please visit our website www.buchhalterinternationalgroup.com

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Design Destinations Magazine is a quarterly publication produced by Buchhalter International Group

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