Worldwide investment opportunities, best luxury brands and services, business, new ideas and trends
internationallife.tv
High Fliers Ambitious Abu Dhabi / The future of Space travel / Classic Car investment Oman Odyssey / Timeless Tuscany / Gold vs Silver / Gifts as individual as you / fashion makes food
PRESENTSWONDERROOM
A life changing experience... Live out your childhood fantasy by reserving your place on an unforgettable voyage on-board the SXC Lynx Spaceship. Experience a life changing journey and bring back memories that will last a lifetime. Reserve one of the first 100 tickets and enjoy membership of the exclusive Founder Astronaut Program with complimentary training mission and a three night stay in one of Curaçao’s prime hotels For further details visit: www.emporiumofwonders.com
Phoenix 1000 The state-of-the-art build of the Phoenix 1000 luxury submarine allows you to explore the depths of the world’s oceans in perfect comfort and safety • Spacious interior in excess of 5000 sq ft. • As luxurious as the finest motor yachts • Generous viewports • A formidable 213 ft in overall length Bespoke build. Price determined by customer specification. Guide price from: $90 million
All enquiries: PRESENTSWONDERROOM sales@emporiumofwonders.com
www.emporiumofwonders.com
Ultimate Underwater luxury
ilife contents
autumn/winter 2012/3 international investment luxury entrepreneur business
INTERNATIONAL LIFE WEALTH NETWORK
FEATURES
16/17
18/20 21 22/23 24/25
26 28/36 72/75
LIST
76/79
6
10/13
ONE MINUTE ENTREPRENEUR: Sir Martin Sweeting discusses exciting developments in space technology from the potential of ‘nanosatellites’ to the impending discovery of ‘independent life beyond earth’
AMBITIOUS ABU DHABI: Mariah Lawrence examines the Emirati’s desire to be a global player and the opportunities this presents for business FINDING YOUR NICHE: Claire Richmond reveals how solving a simple industry problem has led to a whole new business career of her own GOLD VS SILVER: Commodities expert Nik Kalsi compares the shiny stuff and concludes that two is better than one when it comes to investment CAPITAL FOR CHRISTMAS: borro explain how simple it is to raise capital for the festive season by unlocking your high value assets WINTER WINE SELECTOR: Giles Smith Walker’s studious wine selection would complement the most extravagant of feasts this season HIGH FLYING FASHION: Is there life on Mars? Yves de Contades captures fabulous creations that are absolutely out of this world DANTE UNVEILS IN ABU DHABI: Swiss maestro Dante Rubli plans to unveil his super cool interpretation of the legendary Lamborghini Miura at the Emirates Palace. International Life previews CLASSIC CAR INVESTMENT: This fascinating sector is a minefield for many, but what if you were presented with a winning formula to assess the value of your purchase? International Life takes a closer look
BEST OF LONDON: From the treasures in our galleries, eye-popping equine theatre and the glamour of Mayfair to getting our skates on and shopping for England. Why would one contemplate going anywhere else?
www.internationallife.tv
below from top: Obe-lit - light sculpture at emporiumofwonders.com Skating at the Natural History Museum, London Classic Car investment - The 1959 Porsche Spyder
GALLERY
contents
60/61 62/65 38/41
XMAS GIFT GALLERY: A dynamic and daring selection of goodies from the opulent and ostentatious to the unique and quirky - you decide INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY: Timeless Tuscany. Peter Doherty discovers property heaven from the region’s breathtaking countryside estates to the sophisticated flamboyance of Florentine living
42/43
PHILANTHROPY: What drove a BA stewardess to quit her job and call one of the poorest nations on earth ‘home?’
44/45
TRAVEL: Martin Guttridge Hewitt reveals another jewel in the Emerald isle - Castlemartyr Resort
46/51
YACHTS: 200 stunning stylish yachts on Lake Iseo, Italy, for Riva’s 170th anniversary and Carlo Riva’s 90th birthday
54/55 SECTIONS
DESIGNER WATCH & FINE JEWELLERY: We’ve gone back to basics with a designer watch selection for Xmas and still not tested the plastic when making our jewellery selection. Two words: ‘unique’ and ‘affordable’
56/57 58/59 66/71 80/81 82/83 84/85 86
PSYCHOLOGY: Cecilia d’Felice convalesces in the laidback beauty of Sestri Levante and learns to love life in the slow lane FILM: Martin Guttridge Hewitt talks to Dutch filmmaker Klaartje Quirijns about her approach to capturing the enigma that is Anton Corbijn FILM CELEBRITY: Arnie, Jean-Claude, Dakota, Sly - all the Hollywood big guns were in town and film photographer Bernd Talasch caught the lot TRAVEL: Yves de Contades finds pure escapism in Oman from the dhows on the Arabian sea to the volcanic mountains and natural beauty of the wilderness FINE DINING: Iqbal Wahhab unzips fashion’s attempt to make the crossover into food and praises the pocket smart approach of Brasserie Zedel FOOD & DRINK: Levanah Reyes-Wainwright discovers how Astronauts eat in space and the developments in space cuisine, as well as earthly pleasures and fortifying food FUTUROLOGY: International Life looks at the future of space travel and the private sector money that is driving innovation and the first passenger space flights BEAUTY: Levanah Reyes-Wainwright pulls together an intriguing and informed selection of products aimed at protecting our largest organ this winter... skin
Haute Joaillerie ColleCtion exclusively available at Chopard Boutiques
masthead International Life Wealth Network media platforms: quarterly magazine / events / website / e-newsletter / social media / video / e-commerce
Autumn/Winter 2012/3
internationallife.tv
W
e meet high fliers in abundance, from space explorers to emerging economies and bustling new businesses. We talk to some of the opinion formers and those who are determined to play their part in shaping our futures. Opportunity is global - that’s the message relayed to International Life’s Wealth Network by its clients and business associates. There now seems more than one ‘centre of the world’. The West must take this as a signal to engage with emerging ‘centres’ and foster trade to build a new type of future, using the abundance of skills and expertise they’ve built their reputations on. We look at Abu Dhabi, (International Life’s next port of call on its global events calendar) and get the inside track from those who’ve operated in the region with great success - and reveal opportunity knocking again for those with patience, will and determination. The global village is becoming smaller, not just through better communications but through the need for nations to find ways of breaking down trade barriers, to ensure inward investment and to achieve their own lofty ambitions for growth. Publishers Managing Director: Peter Doherty peter@internationallife.tv www.twitter.com/luxurybrand Managing Director: Yves de Contades yves@internationallife.tv www.twitter.com/ilifeluxury
Wealth Management specialist, Nik Kalsi compares the big two precious metals, gold and silver and discusses investment options and growth potential for both
Levanah Reyes tells us what Astronauts eat in outer space, which is so far removed from the ‘sucking paste through a tube’ routine they had to endure on earlier missions! Back on earth, she lists a number of exciting food products that form a truly ‘out of this world’ diet
Roast Restaurant supremo, Iqbal Wahhab OBE puts the trend for diversification into the restaurant business by certain fashion labels to the test with a visit to Bulgari’s new culinary incarnation
Renowned Financial journalist Maisha Frost takes a look at the emerging economy of Abu Dhabi and examines the many opportunities in store for entrepreneurs and businesses if they’re willing to do the ground work and factor in the various cultural nuances
Wine Investment specialist, Giles Smith Walker aims to take the pressure off all Christmas Masterchefs with a wonderful wine selection to complement their seasonal creations
Dr Cecilia d’Felice, Psychologist and author of ‘21 Days to a New You’ leaves ‘go faster London’ to convalesce in the tranquillity of Sestri Levante, a quiet Italian coastal region and basks in its slow pace and charming inefficiency
Editorial team Editor-in-Chief: Yves de Contades yves@internationallife.tv Editorial Director: Peter Doherty peter@internationallife.tv Martin Guttridge-Hewitt editorial@internationallife.tv Advertising Sales: 020 7558 8690 sales@internationallife.tv m 07957 246 845 m 07939 285 296 Editorial Specialists Business: Maisha Frost Investment: Nik Kalsi Wine Investment: Giles Smith Walker London/Travel: Kris Griffiths Luxury Brands/Property: Peter Doherty Travel/Yachts/Tech: Yves de Contades Film: Martin Guttridge-Hewitt Food & Drink/Travel: Iqbal Wahhab OBE Food & Drink/Scent: Levanah Reyes-Wainwright Psychology: Dr Cecilia d’Felice Arts/Travel/India: Priyadarshini Kohli Beauty: Geraldine Shaker Classic Car investment: Dietrich Hatlapa Cars: Rob Scorah Cars: Timothy Stevens Fashion Photography: Yves de Contades Fashion Stylist: Sara Darling Hair & Make-up: Jennie Lam Make up: Jutheanne Cruz Hair: Leanne White Film Photography: Bernd Talasch Front cover credits: Model: Nikita @ MandP
To subscribe or purchase the magazine visit: www.emporiumofwonders.com International Life is published quarterly by International Life Magazine Ltd., 35 Morland House, Marsham St, London SW1P 4JH. Registered Company No: 06532821. Telephone: 020 7558 8690. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. Transparencies and other material submitted for publication are sent at the owner’s risk and, while every care is taken, neither International Life Magazine Ltd, nor their agents accept any liability for loss or damage. Although International Life Magazine Ltd has endeavoured to ensure that all information inside the magazine is correct, prices and details may be subject to change. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors. Always seek independent advice before making any investment which is at your own risk. For back issues: email subscriptions@internationallife.tv for details.
www.internationallife.tv
9
Best of London
International Life brings you their usual, exciting, creative and heart-stopping selection of events, eateries and exhibitions in the capital not to mention great retail opportunities for the festive season. Raise your glass. Clink! Clink!
Equine artistry A new show is set to hit London in November. With exhilarating performances from six of the World’s best equestrian performance artists, ‘Adrenaline’ promises to be a production that will rival Cirque du Soleil. The show combines amazing acrobatics with stunt riding and special effects. What’s not to love? www.EquiCirque.com
The art of 2013 London Art Fair, the UK’s largest art fair for Modern British and contemporary art will return to the Business Design Centre, London N1, between 16 and 20 January 2013. The 25th London Art Fair will feature galleries presenting the great names of the 20th century as well as exceptional recent works from established artists and emerging talent.
Alongside the main fair Art Projects will showcase the freshest contemporary art from across the globe, featuring large-scale installations, solo shows and group displays from selected galleries whilst Photo50, this year curated by Nick Hackworth, will display a rich cross-section of contemporary photography. Tickets from £12 londonartfair.co.uk
and cat accessories brand is set to bring a little style to any four-legged residents of one of London’s chicest neighbourhoods. The boutique includes items such as quilted dog coats, cashmere pullovers, hand-stitched collars and leads, fragrance and organic treats, made to Mungo & Maud’s own recipe. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm Sundays 12-6pm 51 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AA T 020 7467 0820
Hollywood glam in Mayfair This October entrepreneur Gerry Calabrese launches Mayfair Champagne lounge ‘Baroque.’ Open for business from early October; the venue promises to offer vintage style and luxury, >>
For Cool Cats and Dogs Dog and Cat Outfitters Mungo & Maud is set to open its second standalone store at the end of October 2012. Situated at 51 Ledbury Road, just off Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill, the luxury dog
10
www.internationallife.tv/london
best of london
>> bringing classic Hollywood glamour into the 21st century. Baroque boasts one of the most extensive lists of vintage Champagne in Europe; including such rarities as Salon 1964 and Dom Perignon 1971 along with copious others and boldly declares to offer a drinking experience you just won’t find anywhere else in London. With the ambitious claim to offer the ‘best music scene in Mayfair,’ in an unmatchable atmosphere’ Baroque looks set to turn the Mayfair night-life scene on its head.
Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel “Spirit of Christmas” package This Christmas, Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel is offering its Spirit of Christmas package (from £370 per room per night). The unique festive offering begins with a bespoke candle-making course with Rachel Vosper, one of the UK’s leading chandlers. After the course, guests are invited to enjoy a Winter Warmer Cocktail at Lowndes Bar & Kitchen, the perfect tipple to warm you through before taking stroll to the Natural History Museum Ice Rink to enjoy an evening of ice-skating. 2 Nov 2012 - 6 Jan 2013
21 Lowndes St, London SW1 T 020 7823 1234 www.jumeirahlowndeshotel.com Baroque, Playboy Casino, 14 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1 T +44 (0) 2074918586 www.baroqueatplayboyclublondon.com
Caroline Groves Caroline Groves transcends the boundaries between craftmanship, fashion, art and fantasy. Picture your perfect shoe - as art, as an adornment itself of flowers, feathers or fancies, and Caroline will create it. Her customers fly in to buy not just one, but several pairs of shoes at a time. These are shoes that cost upwards of £2000 per pair. Her workshop on Jermyn Street is with London’s oldest established custom shoe makers - Foster & Son. At the first appointment she will assess and measure your feet, discuss design and present materials. At the second appointment
12
www.internationallife.tv/london
Caroline will fit a mock-up to your feet, the third and final appointment will serve as delivery of the finished shoes. Caroline Groves, care of Foster and Son 83 Jermyn St, London SW1 www.carolinegroves.com
best of london
Belgravia Christmas Sunday
and restaurants. Providing the perfect alternative to the hustle and bustle of hectic high streets, stalls will showcase a wonderful selection of Christmas gifts and those who choose to linger will be delighted by the annual Christmas lights switch-on.
No London neighbourhood evokes the magic of Christmas in quite the same way that Belgravia does and this Christmas will be no different, as the elegant Regency architecture comes alive under the twinkle of hundreds of fairy lights. The annual Belgravia Christmas Sunday will welcome visitors to shop amongst the carefully curated retailers, snap up one-of-a-kind gifts and rest weary feet in any number of stylish cafes
Sunday 2nd of December. Opening times: 12-5pm Elizabeth Street and Pimlico Road, Belgravia SW1 www.grosvenorlondon.com
National Gallery Seduced By Art: Photography Past and Present 31 October 2012 - 20 January 2013 Sainsbury Wing View Old Master painting through a new lens with the National Gallery’s first major exhibition of photography. Seduced by Art takes a provocative look at how early and contemporary photographers have made use of fine art traditions. See exceptional works by photographers including Martin Parr, Craigie Horsfield, Sam Taylor-Wood, Richard Billingham, Julia Margaret Cameron and Gustave Le Gray alongside selected paintings from the Gallery’s collection. Book now Admission £12 (£13.20 including Gift Aid); concessions. £6 seniors and concessions on Tuesdays 2.30-6pm. T 0844 248 5097 or visit www.nationalgallery.org.uk (booking fees); also available by post on in person from the Gallery. For groups of 10 people or more, T 020 7907 7059. Audio guide £4/£3.50 concessions Events Lunchtime and evening talks, masterclass and workshop. Richard Hamilton: The Late Works 10 October 2012 - 13 January 2013 Sunley Room, Admission Free This highly personal exhibition by one of Britain’s most influential artists traces an intriguing path leading to his unseen final work, Balzac (a) + (b) + (c). Up until his death, Richard Hamilton (19222011) was planning this show of recent works conceived specifically for the National Gallery. Friday Lates 6-9pm every Friday. Sponsored by Credit Suisse. Start your weekend at the National Gallery. Explore the paintings, catch an exhibition or enjoy tours, talks and events. Meet friends, relax at the bar, shop, listen to live music and have a bite to eat.
above right: National Gallery Exterior at Night © The National Gallery, London above: © Ori Gersht. Blow-Up, Untitled 5, 2007 © Courtesy of the Artist and Mummery + Schnelle, London above middle: © the Estate of Richard Hamilton right: © Richard Billingham. Hedgerow (New Forest), 2003 Southampton City Art Gallery Acc. 11/2004 © the Artist, Courtesy of the Anthony Reynolds Gallery London
www.internationallife.tv/london
13
“A TOP SPOT FOR LUNCH” - daILy teLeGraPh
“Best Breakfast In London” - the Good food GuIde and the tImes
“roast has a menu to make BrItIsh cookInG cooL and an envIronment to make It sexy” - London eatInG
A Day in the life of Roast... 7am Breakfast, and the day Begins... As the traders of Borough Market start to appear one by one, the first breakfast dishes start to roll out of the kitchen heading for the early birds eager to devour the best brekkie in town... Aromas of smoky bacon, crusty toast and fresh teas fill the air, as the restaurant quickly begins to fill. A sense of excitement begins to grow - The ‘Full Borough’ has been served no doubt – a celebration of the Great British Breakfast, with all the usual components, with a couple of special treats – Ramsay of Carluke Black pudding and Roast’s very own special recipe sausages!
12pm the lunch rush... One hundred and fifty diners are about to arrive, hungry and awaiting a feast of the most wholesome, fresh and seasonal produce our shores have to offer. Canny concoctions such as hot scotch duck eggs with pea shoots and piccalilli fill the starter list. As cries of ‘pound a punnet’ echo from the market below, guests wash down a glass of the exclusive Roast Bacchus white wine, whilst enjoying flavours such as cold poached organic salmon or our house favourite – slow roast pork belly, crispy crackling and Bramley apple sauce.
6pm dinner overlooking st paul’s cathedral... The restaurant is alive, atmosphere buzzing as dinner gets underway. Soft jazz piano can be heard from the bar, among the pouring of fancy drinks and ‘Bloody Tasty Mary’s’ for the after work sharpener. Melt in the mouth ox tongue can be seen amongst the tables, a staple of British cuisine, while others take on the 14oz Shorthorn rib eye steak. The restaurant is in its prime, people eating, drinking, smiling whilst enjoying the special sense of occasion.
iPhone and iPad users: download the free Roast app!
ROAST: The Floral Hall, Borough Market, Stoney Street, London SE1 1TL T: 0845 034 7300 | info@roast-restaurant.com | www.roast-restaurant.com
11pm service ends... As Borough Market winds to a close, the last of the restaurant guests slowly depart. Life in the restaurant is still not over...clean up and prep for tomorrow. Just another day in the busy life of Roast...
E Events
U Ci Universal
City
B R Behavioural
Research
En L In P Bu S D Co Entrepreneur
Luxury
Innovation
Property
Business
Sales
Development
Consumer
Le W M I Br O Ps F Ma Ex Leader
World
Markets
Investment
Brands
Opportunity
Psychology
Fortune
Management
Exchange
Sp C G Di A Cu H Sk Specialist
Capital
Global
Digital
International Life goes into orbit in the Business section with an interview with Sir Martin Sweeting, who boldly predicts the discovery of ‘independent life beyond earth’ within 10 years.
Arts
Currency
Handmade
Skills
T Transaction
We also focus on intelligent life on earth as we showcase Abu Dhabi and its dynamic 2030 vision and the abundance of opportunities for businesses with this emerging powerhouse. Let’s just say, ‘stop talking and start trading.’ Claire Richmond discusses the basis of any good business with Maisha Frost and that’s to find a problem or demand and originate your own ready made solution - and it’s scaleable too! Nik Kalsi discusses strategies for Gold and Silver investments, forwarding arguments for both and borro look at ways of raising quick and easy capital through your own personal gold mines... your assets.
www.internationallife.tv/business www.internationallife.tv/london
15
En Entrepreneur
one
minute entrepreneur
International Life interviews Sir Martin Sweeting OBE and GEC of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd - the world’s leading small satellite company and Head of the Surrey Space Centre - the world’s leading research centre for small, low cost space missions.
What projects is the Surrey Space Centre currently working on? MNS: The Surrey Space Centre (SSC) has around 100 academic researchers exploring future techniques for advanced small satellites and spacecraft for use in both Earth orbit and beyond. The results of the research are exploited by the Centre’s spin-off company, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) which now has over 500 staff who design, build, launch and operate satellites for international customers in Earth orbit - it has built and launched 39 satellites since 1981. There are some really exciting projects currently underway at SSC, such as: a tiny 5kg ‘nanosatellite’ the size of a beach ball that uses a Smart Phone as its ‘brain’ and will be launched in December this year; another tiny nanosatellite with a deployable ‘sail’ to demonstrate the ability to de-orbit space debris (for launch next year); micro-rovers for planetary exploration; and a modular ‘lego-construction’ space telescope using in-orbit robotic assembly. SSTL has some challenging missions under way too - a constellation of very high resolution imaging mini-satellites (1-metre on the ground); a new radar mini-satellite for imaging in all weather and day-&-night to assist in flooding disasters, monitoring deforestation and maritime surveillance; and working with partners in Germany to build all 22 of the European Galileo navigation system that will augment GPS. How do you see the future of Space exploration over the next ten years? MNS: Now that we have found large quantities of water trapped within
16
www.internationallife.tv/business
the Moon’s regolith, sustained human presence on the lunar surface has suddenly become far more realistic - as we will not have to ferry all our supplies of food, water and fuel there once we have established (robotically) the ability to produce these ‘locally’ (water + sunlight). The Moon will allow us to develop and exercise the techniques needed for expeditions to Mars: the Moon is a ‘day trip away’ whereas Mars is an 18-month round journey and the radio transmission time delay necessitates a high degree of autonomy of operations which is best checked out on the Moon first! Mars of course is not the only goal - there are other bodies in the solar system that have intriguing aspects, such as Europa, and I expect that there will be a growing synergy of manned and robotic exploration. The discovery of independent life beyond Earth (which I personally expect we will detect within the next 10 years - maybe sooner) may rejuvenate the public interest in and commitment to space exploration. With the advent of Branson’s and Space XC’s space travel offers in the next year or so what other developments can we expect in space travel in the foreseeable future? MNS: The commercial initiatives by Virgin and SpaceX are commendable and will (hopefully) reduce cost but are not going to revolutionise space travel as they are based on optimising conventional technologies; we will need a new mode of transportation. There are some promising technologies being developed, such as the UK initiative Skylon, but these require substantial
business
THE DISCOVERY OF INDEPENDENT LIFE BEYOND EARTH (WHICH I PERSONALLY EXPECT WE WILL DETECT WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS - MAYBE SOONER) MAY REJUVENATE THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN AND COMMITMENT TO SPACE EXPLORATION investments (ÂŁ1Bn) and a decade to bring to a usable state. Britain has an opportunity radically to change the way we get into space, but we have not yet demonstrated an appetite to invest in this long-term future. Will space tourism to the moon or Mars ever become a realistic possibility? MNS: It is not a big jump from having tourists on the International Space Station (ISS) to offering flights around the Moon (like Apollo-8); landing on the
Moon is considerably more expensive. Flights to Mars (and back) are far longer and the danger of exposure to radiation during the flight is a big hurdle. Is it possible, feasible and cost effective to mine nearby asteroids and planets for resources, if so when? MNS: It is certainly feasible to mine asteroids but whether it is economical is debatable. If we really run out of key elements to sustain our industrial base, then possibly it will be worth it, but if
we just want to mine a valuable element then bringing a large enough amount back to Earth to make it worth the cost of getting it is likely to flood the market and collapse the price! What companies and areas in the space industry will be interesting to follow as potential investment opportunities in the next few years? MNS: SpaceX must be a strong contender - and Reaction Engines in the UK if you want a long shot!
www.internationallife.tv/business
17
G Global
ABU DHABI
Global Ambitions
MEANS BUSINESS Abu Dhabi’s big plan for the next two decades will confirm it as an economic and cultural destination of choice and a magnet for international investment. Time, perhaps, to start rolling out the superlatives says Mariah Lawrence
A AMONG THE FLAGSHIP SCHEMES NOW PUSHING AHEAD ARE NORMAN FOSTER’S ZAYED NATIONAL MUSEUM, JEAN NOUVEL’S LOUVRE AND FRANK GEHRY’S GUGGENHEIM, FORMING PART OF A MAJOR CULTURAL AND TOURIST CENTRE ON SAADIYAT ISLAND 18
www.internationallife.tv/business
bu Dhabi’s enviable position after a prolonged period of strong economic growth is poised to get even better. A new era is underway for the capital of the United Arab Emirates as its strategic masterplan for the next two decades, Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, takes shape with the aim of turning the kingdom into a global centre for business and trade and a safe haven for investment in the Gulf region. A host of multi-billion dollar high profile projects have been given the green light by government providing welcome news for international and local construction companies. Among the flagship schemes now pushing ahead are Norman Foster’s Zayed National Museum, Jean Nouvel’s Louvre and Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim, forming part of a major cultural and tourist centre on Saadiyat Island. New terminal facilities at Abu Dhabi’s airport will increase passenger numbers to some 27m a year and form a fundamental plank in the emirate’s plan to become a hub for Africa, Asia and Australia, using national airline Etihad. A new financial and commercial centre is planned for Sowwah Island, while the first phase of a new multibillion dollar Khalifa Port has just been launched, part of an on-going upgrade to serve domestic demand and bring in more industrial business.
As well as sending a strong signal of confidence both nationally and internationally, the moves underline the desert kingdom’s intention, spelled out in its 2030 blueprint, to create a more varied economy. So far the driver of wealth has been oil - the Emirate owns some 10 per cent of the world’s crude and five per cent of its gas reserves. Now revenues will help build a more diverse and sustainable economy ensuring Abu Dhabi’s long-term prosperity and its continued deep-rooted stability. Among the engines of growth identified by government are energy, aviation and defence, construction, biotechnology, transport and logistics, tourism, healthcare, education and finance. Investment in new high growth sectors and economic clusters has been widely welcomed in the expectation it will generate jobs which in turn will boost demand for property. The huge stimulus is also designed to enlarge the enterprise base, enhance competitiveness and increase the skills of Abu Dhabi’s young people - two thirds of its nationals are under 24 years old. Despite its prodigious oil reserves Abu Dhabi is also cementing a reputation for itself in the field of green energy. It already hosts the annual World Future Energy Summit, a new wind farm has been scheduled and a
solar power plant opened at the end of August pumping 100 MW into the kingdom’s grid. Most boldest and innovative of all, however, could be the Masdar
Renewables Initiative, which will feature the zero waste and zero carbon Masdar City, a world class engineering research institute and IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency.
this image: the soon to be opened Guggenheim Abu Dhabi above right: the impressive 8 km of Corniche waterfront left: Abu Dhabi offers an abundance of leisure activity below: the Emirate hosts the F1 Grand Prix on Yas Island
business
Doing business in Abu Dhabi
above: the prestigious Emirates Palace Hotel
ABU DHABI IS BECOMING A HUB, THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO TRADE WITH AFRICA, INDIA AND THE FAR EAST
A
bu Dhabi’s renowned prosperity, stable economy and tax efficient regime have long attracted investors and overseas companies. In 2010 $2.6bn of investment poured in. Now the host of new opportunities opening up are proving an even stronger draw. It was those prospects that convinced British wealth management adviser Nik Kalsi 18 months ago that the Emirate was the place to be. “The sky line is changing every day, many more celebrities like Madonna are visiting and you can see international brands being advertised, the pace of change is very rapid,” observes Kalsi, 33, chief executive officer of Arabian Wealth Management (www.ArabianWM.com), a private company providing personal investment solutions to high net worth nationals and expatriates. Kalsi was also prompted to set up there because of the growing investment appetite for gold, silver and diamonds, his specialist areas. “Abu Dhabi is becoming a hub, the place where people go to trade with Africa, India and the Far East,” he says. “But setting up a branch office or limited liability company isn’t easy although the effort is worth it. It is essential an overseas business does the research before attempting it.” Starting a limited liability company involves local sponsorship or a partner with a 51 per cent stake in the business as well as other red tape formalities. Having UAE national stakeholders provides strong advantages. But there is an alternative - the Emirate’s freezones. “I took that route and it was much easier than I expected,” says Kalsi. The freezones allow 100 per cent foreign ownership, 100 per cent of capital and profits, zero personal or
corporate income tax, custom duties or import/export taxes. There is very little restriction on recruiting labour, the zones facilitate shared services and synergies with other firms, there’s no bureaucratic red tape and excellent infrastructure. Among the free zones Abu Dhabi airport attracts cargo, aviation, computer, telecoms and transport businesses; Abu Dhabi Media Free Zone is best for film, broadcast, digital, publishing and music ventures, while Saadiyat Island is the destination for leisure, hospitality-focussed firms. “At the start I had to adjust to the way the business is conducted,” recalls Kalsi. “The working week is Sunday to Thursday. Travelling can take up a lot of time, so always double check in advance where you are going. Even more important is doing due diligence before taking an office as rent is paid upfront for a year in advance. “Relationship-building is fundamental to the trading process. Emiratis do business with those they trust and initial meetings are always devoted to getting to know each other. Because of that the pace is slower and patience is definitely the key. Some smaller, family-owned businesses may only grant access to decision-makers once a connection with junior members has been forged.” According to Kalsi, the best of Abu Dhabi is found in its entrepreneurial spirit and prodigious talent pool, its mix of cultures, central location, and its flexible, investor friendly procedures and tax efficiency. “But,” he adds, “it is expensive as most goods have to be imported.” For more information on doing business with or in Abu Dhabi, visit www.abudhabi.ae, for help and contacts available for British firms visit www.ukti.gov.uk
Don’t: discuss political or religious subjects during a meeting, be impatient, don’t plunge immediately into business talk, don’t use your left hand to eat or gesture to another person, call businesses on a Friday unless important as it’s akin to a Sunday, cross your legs in a meeting so your shoe points at another, be the cause of someone losing face in public.
Useful local contacts:
Abu Dhabi style Do: show good manners and always be polite, ensure you have plenty of business cards printed in both Arabic and English, accept there is a hierarchy and a process that needs to be followed in order to meet the senior decisionmakers, dress conservatively in a suit for at least initial meetings, be conscious that a ‘yes’ may mean ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’.
20
www.internationallife.tv/business
Abu Dhabi Government www.abudhabi.ae Nik Kalsi Arabian Wealth Management www.ArabianWM.com nik@ArabianWM.com
B Business
FINDING TV’S EXPERTS
Tackle a problem lots of people are wrestling with, come up with a smart solution, then hey presto! Turn that into a commercial winner. Maisha Frost follows Claire Richmond’s story
S
ometimes starting a business can be that simple, especially if it is triggered by one big idea. That’s just the way it happened to Claire Richmond when she was a producer for UK prime time television and was always searching for experts to contribute to factual programmes. Others in the broadcast and print media were in the same position, Richmond knew, so she set up a new resource www.findaTVexpert.com to help deal with the problem. The database features respected specialists and professionals of all kinds from scientists and designers to artists, business leaders and doctors. Its customers are TV and radio producers, researchers and creative directors under constant pressure to meet the clamour for content, find the next ‘big thing’ and fill talking-head slots, from brief sound bites to extended commentary. “I’d been thinking about how to use my TV skills in a different way for some time,” she says recalling the light-bulb moment she had four years ago. “I was on holiday when it just came to me how I could create a business to solve a work problem I had been experiencing.” The concept was so clear it drove her business model from then on, making the start-up costs and operation comparatively straightforward. “I knew what gap in the market the website had to fill, from that flowed what functions it had to have,” she continues. “I did spend a lot of time ensuring I had comprehensive terms-of-use section. But there are a lot of good business guides around to help start ups.” The talent pool London-based Richmond draws on is big, international and composed of those keen to be considered for media work, but still
relatively new to the spotlight. This means they are not at the stage where they could get on to agents’ books, but with findaTVexpert.com also acting as a kind of celebrity incubator, that remains a possibility. By introducing the experts to the programme makers via a one-stop showcase Richmond has created a match made in heaven. “The search for the right person to fit a particular bill is often expensive and can take days, weeks, even months, depending on the format,” she explains. It is also a massive market as the expansion of digital channels continues to explode and the demand for independent expertise increases. “Factual and factual entertainment programmes attract a wider range of players than any other genre - food, wildlife, more practical ones such as taming teenagers or cleaning your house, they all need experts,” continues Richmond. “But while there are programmes that give people the chance to be spotted for their looks or because they can sing or play an instrument, there’s no equivalent for experts and no central trusted source.” Starting up an online business attracts many solo entrepreneurs because of its affordability and capacity to build scale quickly. It took £25,000 of Richmond’s own savings to get up and running and turnover is now pushing six figures, in line with her original development plan. Her insider know-how enabled her to devise the simple, realistic business model flexible enough to work with an industry that, like most others, is coping with restricted budgets. Each expert pays a £75 one-off joining fee and then £100 annual membership. Richmond deals personally
with each one, ensuring they are credible, and helping them create a searchable profile and CV that brings out their expertise for maximum impact. “Someone can be expert in more than one area, but I have built the site so all aspects can be promoted,” she says. Searching is free for companies. “It is for the programme makers to decide whom they want and on what basis,” she adds. “My job is to make it easier by saving them time and money. Of course sometimes we can help problem solve by offering someone they might not have thought of, so improving quality and content too. Collaboration is essential to the way I work.” There have been some significant successes so far for many experts who have joined. Four, for example, a doctor, an engineer, one interior designer and an architect, have found interesting and rewarding work, co-presenting or making regular appearances on series for terrestrial British TV channels. The rise of findaTVexpert.com has been welcomed too by agents, who far from finding it something that encroaches on their business, recognise it enhances it. “I am not in their business,” points out Richmond. “But I can be instrumental in finding them new clients in future. Agents all want people with previous media experience. My service helps break them in.” The site is currently undergoing a full revamp and following further interest from production companies in the US, her next plan is to go over and discuss developing the concept there. This will come easy as Richmond grew up in Latin America, went to university in the States and retains close links there. “TV is a global market place,” she says, “this the right time to exploit our potential internationally.”
www.internationallife.tv/business
21
I Investment
GOLD VS SILVER
Which is The Better Investment? The Gold & Silver Club’s Nik Kalsi sees the value in both precious metals and explains why a dual investment strategy is key
O
nce upon a time, not so long ago, Gold was shunned. By 2001, the price had fallen to below $300 an ounce, having once - back in 1980, scaled the heights of $800 an ounce. The value of Gold right now is $1,770 an ounce, that’s a staggering gain of 490 per cent in 12 years. Today most people would bite your arm off to buy gold at $300 an ounce. And then there’s Silver... During that same 12 year period, Silver moved from $4 an ounce to highs of $49, a gain of 1125% - which is more than double Gold’s return. Whilst many investors spend time deciding whether to invest in Gold or Silver, the savviest investors own both. Whereas Gold could offer the ultimate insurance and protection against uncertain economic times, Silver is a more speculative investment. I want to highlight three significant reasons why owning both Gold and Silver together can offer huge benefits. Gold/Silver Ratio: This is one of the best indicators of how far Silver prices can move compared to Gold. If you average out the price ratio between Gold and Silver throughout history, you land on a single magical proportion: 16 to 1. That implies that at $1600 per ounce of Gold, Silver should be $100 per ounce. Gold is currently trading at $1770 an ounce and silver is at $34, which projects the ratio is now 52. Silver is massively undervalued right now and that gives it much more upside potential than Gold. Practical Applications: Gold has numerous uses beyond jewellery and coins. Gold is ductile and malleable - it may in fact be the most malleable metal
22
www.internationallife.tv/business
on Earth. Gold is used in photography, medicine and electronics. However, despite Gold’s practical uses, Silver truly is the world’s most indispensable metal. It is the most electrically conductive, thermally conductive and reflective metal on Earth. Industrial and technological demand for silver is increasing. As with any market, supply and demand drives prices. The amount of Silver used for industrial purposes is forecast to rise to 665.9 million troy ounces by 2015, which would be a 36% increase from the 487 million used in 2010. Supply Factors: The global demand for Silver is far outpacing global production. To put that simply: There is a Silver shortage. The amount of available silver is far less than the amount of available Gold. This fact is often overlooked by even the most seasoned Silver investors. And it’s this lack of silver stockpiles that has become one of the most critical factors for Silver prices to appreciate in the long-term and even skyrocket into an entirely different asset class all together. In uncertain economic times, precious metals are the place to be. Investors are starting to realise that Silver is just as much of a safe haven investment as Gold and has huge upside potential. Given its status as the more practically useful, rarer and the more historically undervalued of the two, Silver would appear to be the superior investment. However, the more money one has to invest, the greater mix of Gold and Silver one should consider. Both Gold and Silver combined make a well diversified investment portfolio.
business
IN UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES, PRECIOUS METALS ARE THE PLACE TO BE. INVESTORS ARE STARTING TO REALISE THAT SILVER IS JUST AS MUCH OF A SAFE HAVEN INVESTMENT AS GOLD AND HAS HUGE UPSIDE POTENTIAL Nik Kalsi is recognised as one of the leading authorities on Gold & Silver trading and investing. He has over 10 years’ experience in private wealth management specialising in alternative investments.
www.internationallife.tv/business
23
O Opportunity
BORRO’S GUIDE TO REALISING CAPITAL FROM YOUR HIGH VALUE PERSONAL ASSETS IN TIME FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON
PERSONAL ASSET LOANS
T
hroughout the years, many of us have collected fine art, antiques, prestige cars, jewellery, luxury watches or other high value personal assets. So, why not access the money from your investments in time for Christmas and the New Year?
24
www.internationallife.tv/business
borro provides an alternative source of finance, which allows you to release the capital held in your high value personal assets. borro’s short-term loans are discreet and flexible. Money can be advanced to you within 24 hours and there are no credit checks or early redemption fees.
business
Here is borro’s Top 10 list of assets that people have raised finance against: 1. Jewellery You can get a short-term loan against rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches and other items of jewellery made from gold or platinum, with or without gemstones. Loan example: A 2ct diamond platinum ring achieved a loan of £9,000. 2. Diamonds Raise money against both diamond jewellery and loose stones. Loan example: A client raised £40,000 for business purposes against a pair of diamond ear studs totalling six carats. 3. Gemstones borro lend against a variety of precious stones including sapphires, rubies, emeralds and more. Loan example: A £4,500 loan against a 5ct sapphire ring 4. Gold With healthy current gold prices, the higher the carat and weight of your gold, the more you could receive. Loan example: £10,000 against a variety of 22ct hallmarked Indian gold. 5. Luxury watches Loans are provided against many luxury watch brands including Omega, Tag Heuer, Rolex, Ebel, Breitling, Patek Phillipe, Panerai, Audemars Piguet, Franck Muller and more. Loan example: £35,000 against a Cartier time piece. 6. Fine wine The market for fine wine has really
taken off in recent years. This has been reflected in a surge of enquiries to borrow against it. Loan example: A client recently used an unopened case of 12 bottles of Chateau Petrus, vintage 1989 to raise £15,000. 7. Fine Art From Picasso and Vetrianno to Damien Hirst and Banksy, borro has seen it all. Loan example: borro’s first £1 million loan was against a 19th century fine art collection. 8. Antiques With valuers who are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, borro provides loans against a wide range of antiques. Loan example: £32,500 against an abstract silvered bronze figure. 9. Sculpture Whether it’s made from bronze, Coade stone, Portland stone, marble, or any other type of material, borro lends against sculpture from different time periods. Loan example: A Henry Moore Sculpture raised £100,000. 10. Prestige and Classic Cars Popular cars you can borrow against include Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Ferrari. Loan example: A Lamborghini Murcielago raised £50,000.
BORRO PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF FINANCE, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO RELEASE THE CAPITAL HELD IN YOUR HIGH VALUE PERSONAL ASSETS
Please note: These images are for illustrative purposes only, and do not represent the examples given in the list. Loan amounts are dependent on a variety of factors.
www.internationallife.tv/business
25
E Etiquette
Let me
ENTERTAIN YOU For those pouring their heart and soul into preparing Christmas dinner, don’t fret as help is at hand in the form of our Wine expert Giles Smith Walker, who has conjured up a winning selection of wines to accompany your culinary creations
Giles Smith Walker: Wine Consultant The Independent Vintner See Giles’ recomendations on www.emporiumofwonders.com
26
www.internationallife.tv/food-drink
aperitif & all day tipple:
starter:
Champagne Collard Picard, Cuvée Prestige NV @ £35 a bottle Made from Grand and 1er Cru vines, a blend of 50% Chardonnay, and 25% Pinot Noir and Pinot Menuier, with 3 years ageing, like most well known houses. Perfect balance of finesse, fruitiness and persistence, you will struggle to keep your glass full and it will blossom with the classic smoked salmon starter and all Christmas nibbles.
2009 St. Aubin, 1er Cru, Les Combes, Dom. Philippe Colin (white Burgundy) @ £28.50 a bottle The combination of some of the best Chardonnay (100%) and great winemaking brings this delicious, creamy, yet zesty, fruit driven wine to the table. The 2009’s are great to sup on their own but have enough stature to cope with whatever the chef is preparing. When in doubt white Burgundy with pedigree never lets you down.
main:
evening:
2001 Sarget de Gruaud-Larose, St. Julien (2nd wine of Ch. Gruaud-Larose) Bordeaux @ £28.50 a bottle A claret with Christmas lunch is a must, whether it be turkey or a roasted sirlon of beef with all the trimmings. This cracking 2nd wine from famous 2nd Growth has all the blackcurrant, plum, spice and savoury flavours that are made for the Christmas fayre. Trust me it just works so well.
1985 Taylor Vintage Port @ £70 a bottle (Portugal) A great fortified wine not drunk enough in my opinion. Why not re-visit this wonderful experience once a year and drink the best of vintage port on its own or with the best blue cheese you can get. Instead of tucking in just as you have finished your Christmas pud, why not wait till the evening, stoke the fire and settle down. My perfect supper!
MAXIMISE THE VALUE OF YOUR ASSETS Turn your assets into a short-term loan
Let us manage your sale
At borro, we offer fast approval on loans against your assets including fine art, antiques, watches, jewellery, prestige and classic cars with no credit checks.
borro also provides consignment loans which are specially tailored for clients looking to sell personal assets at auction or through private treaty. You can release up to 70% of the estimated sale price while we manage the sale of the assets for you.
Visit borro: Chancery house, 53-64 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1QU 9am to 7pm – Monday to Friday No appointment necessary
Call: 0800 242 5156 - Visit our website: borro.com/international-life
FLIERS
High FA SHION FOR
PHOTOGRAPHY: YVES DE CONTADES
28
www.internationallife.tv/fashion
30
www.internationallife.tv/fashion
www.internationallife.tv/fashion
31
32
www.internationallife.tv/fashion
34
www.internationallife.tv/fashion
Shot 1 Freddie: Blue pull over Baartmans & Siegel Trousers - Nico Didonna Shoes - Stylist’s own Nikita: Dress - Jean-Pierre Braganza Boots - MM6 Maison Martin Margiela Bag - Alison Van Der Lande Cuff - Jaeger Belt - Bottletop Shot 2 Freddie: Pullover - Qasimi Homme Trousers - Baartmans and Siegel Belt - Bottletop Orange Watch - Converse Boots - Stylist’s own Nikita: Dress - Stella McCartney Gloves - Francesca Marotta Bracelets x2 - Thomas Sabo Silver clutch - Alison Van Der Lande Sunglasses - Finest Seven Jacket - Jan Ahlgren Shot 3 Freddie: Shirt - Pal Zileri Lab Trousers - Christophe Lemaire for Bean Pole Shoes - Billionaire Couture Sunglasses - Finest Seven Watch - Folli Follie Nikita: Dress - Andrew Majtenyi Necklaces x2 - Shimell & Madden Booties - Melissa Three bangles - Aigner Shot 4 Freddie: Waistcoat - Nico Didonna Trousers - Billionaire Couture Slip on shoes - Billionaire Couture Watch - Seiko Nikita: Jacket - Bernard Chandran Black top - Christopher Kane Silver leather trousers - Acne Watch - BCBG Maxarzria Necklace - Bernard Chandran Shoes - Bernard Chandran Shot 5 Freddie: Blue suede top Matthew Miller Green trousers - Nico Didonna Gloves - Issey Miyake Boots - Stylist’s own Pink Watch - Converse Eye patch - Tamzin Lillywhite Shot 6 Nikita: Dress - Herve Leger Shrug - Issey Miyake Shoes - Gianmarco Lorenzi Perspex cuff - Francesca Marotta
Space Shoot: High Fliers Photographer: Yves De Contades Fashion: Sara Darling Hair: Leanne White Make up: Jutheanne Cruz using Makeup Forever Fashion Assistants: Alfonso Bessy and Tawfiq Khoury
36
www.internationallife.tv/fashion
Models Nikita at M and P Freddie Abrahams at M and P Special thanks to Oliver Taylor, NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScl Vassar and the Royal Aeronautical Society London www.aerosociety.com
Shot 7 Nikita: Jacket - Fyodor Golan Dress - ZDDZ Shoes - Malene Oddershede Bach Hair band - Tamzin Lillywhite
For all other stockists please visit: www.internationallife.tv/fashion
DLONQHTLNEVNMCDQR BNL
!R TMHPTD @R XNT 4GD HBNMHB 0DQRH@ G@MCA@F HM @ 3H@LDRD GNQM A@BJ BQNBNCHKD VHSG ATQK V@KMTS CDS@HKHMF @MC FNKC OK@SDC G@QCV@QD %@BG OTQBG@RD BNLDR VHSG ODQRNM@KHRDC CDS@HKHMF BQ@ESDC AX SGD CDRHFMDQ GHLRDKE L@JHMF HS @ SQTKX HMSHL@SD FHES 0@QS NE SGD 1TDMSHM -@BJ@X #NTSTQD %CHSHNMR RDQUHBD
international property
below: Palazzo Bartolommei retains its Florentine character right page bottom: The Tuscan dream; the Villa Orsetti Estate
TIMELESS TUSCANY Peter Doherty goes house hunting in Tuscany and discovers why the Renaissance masters chose heavenly subjects and not the divine panoramas which confronted them each waking day
through the property with mood lighting and artwork, another leads you to the sumptuous bedrooms with regal four posters stamping their authority as if by birthright. The kitchen, realised in steel and exposed brick, houses all mod cons, but it’s the drawing room, the heart of the house with its prominent chimney stack and spatial arrangement that is the focus of this apartment. All paths lead to and from its beating heart. A room designed to entertain or relax in, but most of all, to draw people together. This is a labour of love, so you can see why this is a rental only offer, with short lets preferred, but it sleeps 10 and the shared cost wouldn’t harm the plastic.
S
amuel Johnson once wrote “A man who has not been to Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority.” It’s a quote that resonated when I entered the magnificence of renaissance Florence. I’m here to cast an eye across Beauchamp Estates’ portfolio of Italian properties, starting with the imperious Palazzo Bartolommei. It’s a place that has been lovingly and empathetically restored by the Marchese Anton Maria Bartolommei and implemented by the architect Ferdinando Tacca. I say that because along with its cool european aesthetic, minimalism, spacious walk throughs and abundance of space it carefully and cleverly retains a distinct authenticity and Florentine character.
38
www.internationallife.tv/property
There is almost a poetry to the ebb and flow of the rooms and the decor, an ode to its glorious past - underpinned with complementary rhythms of steel, wood, exposed brick, natural forms and of course, art. Making my way via a robust, handcrafted staircase to the upper floor of the apartment, I find a bathing area, beautifully realised with sculptural natural wood shaped to complement the space. Walking down the stairs I am confronted by a charming outside dining area which is stunning in its simplicity and retains views of the nearby church and historic rooftops. The sun kisses the tumbling assortment of Florentine fruit laid out on the table. Where one walkway takes you
Details: Rental Property 5+ bedrooms / 4.5 bathrooms Sleeps 10 Max. Balcony / Private Garage Air Conditioning / Central Heating Daily Maid Service Wireless Internet / SKY TV Storage Facilities Additional services on request from catering to tours, gym membership, car and bike hire. Rental: €7,800 per week Next I visited Borgo Albizi. It was time to bask in a bit of architectural diversity. It was extravagant, detailed, ornate, embellished but with a sense of opulence and comfort. Furnishings and artefacts dominated the space and I believe its individual style would reach out to a very particular audience. Located in the heart of Florence, this is a beautifully restored historical building with a large entrance, courtyard and private parking for two cars.
right: Borgo Albizi, flamboyant, ornate and embellished
Set on the third floor (with serviced elevator), the apartment has been completely restored maintaining all of its original features. It consists of an entrance area, large living room with fireplace, dining room and a contemporary kitchen. The master bedroom suite is complete with bathroom and walk-in wardrobes, while on the upper level, there is a small service apartment.
Importantly, the apartment has a unique roof top terrace which enjoys panoramic views of the historical city.
The Villa Orsetti Estate in Lucca Leaving Florence for the delights of Lucca and the Tuscan countryside, filled me with expectation. I have to admit this place would slot into any Tuscan dream. The Villa Orsetti Estate is a very private Tuscan oasis with a convenient proximity to Pisa Airport and close enough to local amenities. Although its grounds are bounteous it is still
together with a luxury farmhouse, a winery to be renewed, a conservatory, and the family chapel of the Orsettis recently restored by the artisans who maintain the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. The second villa, ‘Villa Mommi’, was built in the 1490s and includes a 750 sqm villa, a farmhouse, a garage and maid’s apartment, plus a cluster of other houses in the woods. It’s borders the
of some of the best extra virgin olive oil in Italy. The property generates natural mineral water from a mountain spring on the hill. Located in the village of Pieve di Compito, Villa Orsetti and Villa Mommi estate bring together a rare glimpse of Renaissance Tuscany, with a state-of-theart intelligent home in move-in condition, a frescoed villa awaiting
reassuringly secluded and features historic and listed villas, outbuildings, gardens, swimming pools with walkways into the woods and the serenity of the olive groves and countryside. The property is alive with the sound of birdsong and teems with wildlife. It covers in the region of 120 acres of blessed Tuscan countryside and comprises two villas (and adjoining outbuildings), one from the late 15th C. and the other early 18th C. The first villa, the 1,200 sqms ‘Villa Orsetti’, was built in the early 1700s and was home to Orsetti nobility. The frescoed villa is inside a walled park,
olive groves, which contain 1,800 trees. Higher up the hill, Villa Mommi features summer kitchens and massage pavilions, not to mention a superb 53foot swimming pool with a commanding view of the picturesque Lucca landscape that stretches 20 kms across the valley. La Fattoria, which is part of the Villa Orsetti compound, is the beautifully restored Estate Manager’s 480 sqm home, with 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, its own swimming pool and gardens, and a conservatory that faces the camellia trees and the original gates of the estate. The land is in the most fertile hills of Lucca, known as ‘the Compitese’, origin
restoration, and comfortable restored structures with 10 bedrooms.
Details: 3 reception 3 bedrooms 3 bathrooms Terrace / Parking Area 220 m2 Price: €2,500,000
30 mins from Pisa airport 15 mins from Lucca 45 mins from Florence 4 kms from a private airport Room for a helipad on the estate Approx 30,000 sqm of grounds Options for use Available as luxury residential property; or as a mixed residential and hotel. Or conversion into prestige offices, private clinic, sports club or wedding centre. Offers in the region of €15m
www.internationallife.tv/property
39
property
The Castello Del Nero Estate Castello Del Nero Estate is located in the idyllic Tuscan countryside of Tavernelle Val di Pesa. The terrain pans like a Merchant Ivory epic, with 360˚ sweeping panoramas, then you quickly wonder why great artists like Giotto and Michaelangelo spent their days painting in drafty churches eschewing breath-taking natural beauty in God’s backyard. Maybe they knew it could never be bettered. Taking up that worthy baton are the owners of Castello Del Nero with their vision to fully restore and integrate the estates’ 740 acres to organic agricultural production to coincide with the exclusive private sale of four (off plan) restorations of medieval
farmhouses to bespoke luxury homes. If fully realised this could be a work of art in its own right. Castello Del Nero is an authentic medieval estate in the Chianti wine region of Italy where Tuscan elegance underpins exquisite service. This exclusive, standalone private retreat encompasses vineyards, olive groves, ancient woods, two lakes and unobstructed, dramatic views of the breathtaking Tuscan countryside. Commanding a hill top position is the Castle at the heart of the Estate, now an intimate 5-star, 50 bedroom hotel and spa renowned for offering signature Tuscan hospitality to a refined clientele. To ensure the new residence owners can create their own Tuscan dream
home to their exact requirements, they will be closely involved in the design of their homes. This is an opportunity for a buyer to marry their own personal taste with authentic Tuscan characteristics to achieve a luxurious and unique home that is individual in terms of style, colour scheme and layout. The residences promise a harmonious blend of comfort and elegance with grand open spaces, vaulted ceilings, private swimming pools and landscaped gardens that sit seamlessly in the surrounding estate. Each restoration will feature the best of modern living amenities and use only the highestquality materials, while eco-friendly ‘technology’ will be employed
THE TERRAIN PANS LIKE A MERCHANT IVORY EPIC, WITH 360˚ SWEEPING PANORAMAS
The four Castello del Nero Estate Residences Sant’ Antonio Situated on the small crest of a hilltop ridge, Sant’ Antonio consists of a primary residence. Panoramic views of rolling hills and rustic vineyards are offered from anywhere on the property. The Estate has two fresh water lakes that are just steps away from Sant’ Antonio, while cypress trees line the horizon.
40
www.internationallife.tv/property
San Luigi San Luigi is a 14th C. farmhouse complete with a private guesthouse and outbuilding situated in a very private setting within the Castello Del Nero Estate. Located at the end of a country road flanked by olive trees with expansive views of the surrounding Chianti countryside. The property is not overlooked by any other home. It is set in a secluded valley surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.
Il Ferrale Set among hilly terrain with panoramic views of vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees. A variety of flora and fauna are preserved and protected in these hills: the animals include pheasants, deer and wild boar. Il Ferrale is characterised by its privacy and quiet. It can be purchased off-plan, allowing the homeowner to participate in its restoration to the level they wish.
property
throughout the design and structure. Guide price: €6,000,000 The Estate in detail Castello del Nero boasts the ideal Tuscan location with proximity to the Renaissance cities of Florence, Siena and Pisa and is 40 mins by car from Florence airport but its timeless, organic beauty make it seem a world away. The medieval castle that crowns the Estate was sensitively transformed to be the Castello del Nero Hotel and Spa in 2006, and the intimate 5-star property was selected as a member of The Leading Hotels of the World just two months after opening its doors. Integral to the authentic Tuscan atmosphere of the hotel are its
meticulously maintained frescoes, vaulted ceilings and marble fireplaces. You can trace fascinating family histories through the extensive detailing in each room with the ornate opulence of the first floor reserved for the nobility. As a resident or guest of one of the four restored homes you will enjoy exclusive access to the hotel’s tennis courts, fitness facilities, and concierge and shuttle services. The hotel’s superb gourmet restaurant, La Torre, boasts authentic Tuscan cuisine paired with fine local, Italian and world wine as well as sweeping painterly views of the Tuscan landscape. Catering for private events at the four homes on Castello del Nero Estate is also offered. What’s reassuring
is that all housekeeping services in each home are delivered to the same exacting standards as the hotel, as their staff fulfil that requirement. Estate Investment Programme • Paths and trails that will be ideal for leisurely strolls and cycle excursions • Restoration of the two lakes • Extensive planting; olive trees & vines • Re-introduction of a small number of hives to enable boutique bee-keeping • Fruit tree planting and landscaping • Organic vegetable garden created in spring 2012 supplies La Torre restaurant • Casanova, another farmhouse will be transformed into a rustic store offering the Estate’s fresh produce - lavender, honey, wine and extra virgin olive oil.
photo: Under Tuscan skies... The majestic Castello del Nero Estate
Sant’ Elisabetta The smallest of the residences, Sant’ Elisabetta is composed of the primary home and a guest house. Situated as the last property of the connecting access road it provides the property with privacy, peace and tranquility. Shaded by ancient trees and with open views of the Estate’s secluded green valley, Sant’ Elisabetta overlooks enchanting rolling countryside. Across the valley, the Estate’s two lakes are just
moments away and the tree-lined hillsides are dotted with evocative Cypress trees and winding country paths. The unwillingness to alter the exterior has contributed to a gorgeous, antique property. The main farmhouse has an open aspect of grassy hills and open spaces while generous windows offer light to the large main house. www.castellodelnero.com
Florence Office: Email: lynne@beauchamp.it Tel: +39 055 2654089 M: +39 348 3157052 www.beauchamp.it London Office: Email: sales@beauchamp.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 7499 7722 www.beauchamp.co.uk
www.internationallife.tv/property
41
Philanthropy
International Life Magazine supports Sreepur Village
Angel of Mercy What does a B.A stewardess do mid career? International Life discovers one that has spent the last 30 years running a village project that gives hope and a sense of purpose to the destitute and abandoned in one of the world’s poorest countries
M
any of us (rather lazily) choose the default option when buying Xmas cards and make our purchase from convenience stores or high street chains with little thought to the huge impact this simple decision could make to so many - the lives of the unwanted, destitute and impoverished in one of the poorest nations on earth. This is a story of a lady who made the huge decision to devote her life to the needs of others. After reading this you may just want to make a purchase that won’t even cost £10 but it may be the most significant and positive contribution you make to humanity this year. It’s been thirty years since British Airways stewardess, Pat Kerr started making visits to a children’s home in Dhaka during stopovers in Bangladesh. Driven by her desire to improve the lives of the unwanted Pat then took unpaid leave to work as a volunteer and endeavoured to learn the Bangla language. It was during this time that she discovered this little sanctuary was earmarked for closure as it was located in a development area. Thankfully assistance from fellow B.A colleagues and a documentary by Desmond Wilcox, helped raise nearly a million pounds and secured the future of the project and Sreepur Village opened in 1989. Today the Sreepur Village project accommodates more than 500 abandoned children and over 100 destitute women. This is a charity that truly appreciates hard earned donations from kind hearted contributors. Sustainability and a sense of personal responsibility are at the heart of this initiative. It
42
www.internationallife.tv/philanthropy
has developed training programs to help restore the confidence and self esteem of women so that they can earn a living and help support their children and their futures which lie beyond the perimeters of the Village. In addition the community around Sreepur has witnessed one of the first foster programs in Bangladesh. Many children have now grown up with a foster family that has been supported by the Village. What is also critical is that children are able to access basic education and develop vocational skills that will help support them as adults. To date, several thousand women and children have been aided by the project. Sreepur has its own market garden, school, fish farm and paper making business. The paper making has been developed into a successful greetings card business, employing women from the local community. British Airways ships the cards to the UK at no cost where they are sold by volunteers and all proceeds are returned to Sreepur. Another humanitarian, former B.A pilot Rob Jenkinson promotes and runs www. sreepurcards.org, which remains a vital income generator for the project. And what of Pat Kerr? Well Pat left the airline and became Overseas Director of the project, a position she still holds today. She has been instrumental in the development of programs that have helped improve and shape the lives of so many. Make a small purchase and make a big difference this Xmas. Please take two minutes to watch tinyurl.com/7478ftw To purchase your Xmas cards visit: www.sreepurcards.org For more information visit: www.sreepurvillage.org
philanthropy
Sreepur Stories Munni and Rani Munni and Rani are two sisters who are currently at Sreepur Village. They were brought to Shishu Polli Plus by their uncle on 12 August 2000 when Munni was 1 and Rani was 2. Both the sisters were in a vulnerable situation when their mother died and their father was untraceable. Their uncle took care of them, but he was poor and was unable to continue to support these two little girls. As a result he brought them to SPP for long term care. Later their father came back to the area and visited them in Shishu Polli Plus but refused to take them back to the family as he has married again and the family is very poor. Their father is a rickshaw puller, but is now old and sick and unable to work every day. Munni is now 10, studying in class 2, and Rani is 11 and studying in class 4. Rani is doing well but Munni misses her family and is not doing as well in school. When we have our weekly cleaning programme she often comes and helps Pat with whatever cleaning project she is doing and we try to give her that little bit of extra attention she needs. We are also working with the family to see if we can support them sufficiently for the girls to be able to safely return to their village and their family. Rina Rina was an abandoned child who now has an independent life. She was referred by an unknown person named as Dulal Panday on 27th November 1988 when she was around 3 years old. She has lived with us ever since, and her date of birth was recorded as 3rd December, 1984. She did well at school and passed her SSC exam in 2001 and subsequently worked as a Dental Assistant in Dhaka for two years. The Dhaka Rotary Club agreed to sponsor Rina to study at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed in Savar, and she completed her training as a physiotherapy assistant in 2007 and got a job in CRP as a Physiotherapy Assistant with a salary of Tk. 8,000 (eight thousand) per month. Now she is an independent woman living on her own and happy with her new profession. She is working in the neurology department of CRP providing treatment to patients who have suffered a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, head injury, motor neuron disease, spinal cord injury, nerve injury, other neurological conditions and complications. Rina is fond of gardening and indoor games like chase and carom. She is planning to take further training to build her career as a full physiotherapist and to serve the poor of Bangladesh. Rina is very happy with the life she has now and is grateful to her supporters, donors, teachers and well wishers whose help has made it possible for her to become a qualified and independent woman. As time goes on we hope to make opportunities available to other boys and girls who have left SPP but could progress further with some additional support.
PATT KERR MADE THE HUGE DECISION TO DEVOTE HER LIFE TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS left page, top: Cricket hero Freddie Flintoff on a visit to Sreepur Village left page, bottom: One of the Sreepur’s Xmas card designs above: Pat Kerr with the children of Sreepur Village right: Rubina making cards with the children
www.internationallife.tv/philanthropy www.internationallife.tv/property
43
travel
A jewel in the
Emerald Isle
Martin Guttridge-Hewitt gives us plenty of reasons to be cheerful with a stay at Ireland’s majestic Castlemartyr Resort.
IF THE WAY TO A MAN’S HEART IS THE STOMACH, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BED 44
www.internationallife.tv/travel
T
he late Coco Chanel, was thought to have said “I love luxury. And luxury lies not in richness and ornateness, but in the absence of vulgarity.” 41 years after her death the statement came to mind following the London Olympics 2012’s Closing Ceremony, which accentuated the problems of confusing gold for taste. In comparison, a recent trip to Ireland was a welcome reminder of what distinguished indulgence actually feels like. Set in a 220-acre estate - including woodland, lake, streams, and 18-hole golf course - there’s little question
what inspired Castlemartyr Resort. Part 18th Century manor house, part contemporary extension complete with wellness centre and full health spa, it’s all in view of formal gardens and 800-year-old Knights Templar castle ruins. History, melded with modernity, being the idea behind this child-friendly 5* member of the Emerald Experiences hotel collection. Making the 30-minute drive from Cork City, a grand piano greeted us in the old entrance to the house, with an air of relaxed dignity about everything that caught the eye. Earl and Baroness, resident Irish Setters available for guests
travel
to walk, could just be seen through the rear patio, nestled peacefully in the foreground of a vista stretching from the terrace bar, across open fields and on to a tree-lined horizon. By now today’s cities were an increasingly distant memory, and between (swift) check-in and our room the 21st Century all-but completely disappeared, save for the corridors of original, often contemporary artwork. The Knights Bar - a former ballroom complete with antique furniture, relief ceiling, log fire, and a fine selection of Irish and Scottish whisk(e)y - looks like a place iPhones should be banned, large cigars smoked, and Indochina discussed. As with the entire hotel though, it’s Wi-Fi friendly and void of nicotine by-products. If the way to a man’s heart is the stomach, something needs to be said about his relationship with the bed. Here there’s no denying the impressive proportions, with room for two, those dogs, and one of the smaller horses grazing in the paddock by the drive. Jokes aside, interiors, at a generous 500 square foot minimum, match for size, whilst solid dark woods, vanity tables, dressing areas, touch-screen controls, marble bathrooms and spacious rainforest showers continue the century
The stunning Castlemartyr Resort. Left page: aerial view, above: rear garden view, below: health Spa
spanning theme. The Junior, Grand, and Presidential Suites take this further still, wherein silk lined walls and private saunas make up the most enticing aspects of their description. All of which leaves Kevin Burke’s locally influenced menu at The Bell Tower restaurant to complete our package. It could have been the heart-wrenching beef fillet and trio of pineapple deserts (good enough to
convince someone who hates the bespiked fruit), the fresh seabass breakfast, or wonderful yogurts to follow. Clearly it was the wine list. Digressions aside, all that was served impressed, and, as with everything else, came with the discreet but efficient service one expects from a getaway destination, yet at rates less offensive to Ireland’s current economic climate. Something Ms Chanel would most likely view positively.
www.internationallife.tv/travel
45
yachts
RIVA 170TH
ANNIVERSARY International Life attended Carlo Riva’s 90th Birthday party and the 170th Anniversary of the iconic Riva speed boat brand.
R below: Riva Acquarama overleaf right page: Riva 170th anniversary parade
46
www.internationallife.tv/yachts
iva speed boats are legendary and have been coveted and owned by a host of attractive and wealthy celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot, Sean Connery, Peter Sellers, Prince Rainier of Monaco, King Hussein, the Shah of Persia, Carlo Ponti, Sophia Loren, and the King of Sweden. George Clooney was gunning one around Lake Iseo just a few weeks ago in a Japanese advertising campaign for Mercedes Benz.
The Riva story started in 1842, when Pietro Riva came from Lake Como and began building boats in Sarnico, a little northern Italian town on the shores of Lake Iseo. He was such a skilled carpenter that his boats soon became widely famous and he built a successful business. This was passed to Pietros’s third son Ernesto, also a skilled carpenter and by the 1930s, his son, Serafino, who pushed the company into racing boats which was his passion >>
A C e rta in C elt i c M agi c Irish passion fused with Swiss precision. Truly unique timepieces.
www.mcgonigle.ie McGonigle Ireland: P.O.Box 46, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland. +353 90 6485779 McGonigle Switzerland: Rue de l’Evole 42, 2000 Neuchatel, Switzerland. +41 32 723 2090
Connecting your brand with its HNW audience International Life Wealth Network endorses luxury brands and wealth services to its own HNW database and that of its partner brands. It achieves this through its successful events business which matches audience to brand through partnerships, database sharing and imaginative and engaging evenings which serve as fertile environments for business opportunities and networking. International Life Wealth Network has thus far engaged in initiatives for the following sectors; property, supercars, wealth management, commodities, art, fine wine and even space travel! Contact us to discuss potential partnerships and initiatives for your events calendar in 2013
WEALTH NETWORK
membership@ilifewealthnetwork.com ilifewealthnetwork.com 020 7558 8690
sailing
THE 63’ VIRTUS, IS THE LARGEST OPEN YACHT PRODUCED BY THE RIVA SHIPYARD, AND DEFINITELY AN EYE CATCHER. KNOWN AS THE FERRARI OF THE WATER, I WOULD EQUATE IT MORE WITH A BENTLEY WITH ITS SUBTLE LUXURIOUS STYLE AND POWER
www.internationallife.tv/yachts
49
sailing
>> In the 1950s Serafino’s son Carlo started creating pleasure boats that attracted worldwide renown for their elegance and beauty. The anniversary event saw 200 Riva speedboat owners from all over the world perform a special parade on Lake Iseo with the 90 year old Carlo Riva at the head of the procession, with horns blaring and outrageous costumes, the boats toured the lake, criss crossing wakes and leaping the waves. The whole town of Sarnico was out to watch and the media helicopter buzzed over the boats, a mere 4 metres above the choppy waters, filming the event for posterity. The recession was not easy for the yacht company, so in January 2012, the Ferretti Group which owns Riva and 7 other yacht brands, was sold to the state-owned parent of China’s biggest bulldozer-maker, Shandong Heavy Industry Group-Weichai Group. They are looking to new markets in China and India and investing in new boat models, combining fibre glass hulls with the traditional wood look.
50
www.internationallife.tv/yachts
Generally regarded as the most beautiful wooden runabout ever made the last Acquarama Special was made in 1996 and carried the number 784. The specials are in short supply and go for around $500,000. They are collectors items and many countries have a Riva members club with wealthy members who are passionate about these lovely tenders. Carlo Riva stopped making them with wooden hulls when fibre glass took over the speed boat building
industry so the mahogany versions in good nick are appreciating in value. I drove the Acquarama Special around the lake as fast as local speed limits would allow and then took out the latest Virtus which, while modern in build, power and handling, retains the same wooden decking and sophisticated look of the legend. The 63’ Virtus, is the largest open yacht produced by the Riva shipyard, and definitely an eye catcher. Known as
sailing
the Ferrari of the water, I would equate it more with a Bentley with its subtle luxurious style and power. Designed by Mauro Micheli of Officina Italiana Design, who designs all the new boats from Riva, it’s a sporty yacht that would look perfect leaping the waves along the French Riviera. The new Riva Iseo, a 27 foot runabout, is a cosmopolitan little beauty and the ideal water skiing or leisurely fishing boat. Also perfect for anyone wishing to enhance their yacht with an exclusive tender that looks fantastic pulling into port. Carlo Riva was in fantastic form at his birthday party and recounted many stories about the 1950’s and 60’s, when the Hollywood stars partied the nights away on Riva boats, as the jazz band temporised at the Cocca Hotel, opposite the hundreds of iconic and stylish mahogany tenders rolling gently under the night sky in the waters of Lago d’Iseo. www.riva-yacht.com
this shot: Helicopter hovers over Riva parade top: Carlo Riva leads the way middle: Riva Gucci
QUINTING’S ZODIAC COLLECTION
Tomorrow’s Time
Q “
uinting remains for us today our proudest accomplishment because we have succeeded, where so many others have failed, even the most famous watch-making brands.” When he talks about his Manufacture, Pascal Berclaz, Quinting’s CEO, usually starts with these words. The very least that can be said is that he has reasons to be proud because the Swiss watchmaker is still the first and only one in the world who is able to produce completely transparent or invisible watches for horology enthusiasts. The invisible watch
had been the holy grail of watchmaking for generations and merely a dream until Quinting succeeded in its creation after years of innovative technology and design using Sapphire crystal. In 2012, Quinting push the boundaries even further with its interpretation of the Zodiac signs through its exclusive fourth dimension. Celestial symbols par excellence, the collection is evidence that complete balance can be achieved. A magical balance between the very small and the very large which is capable of restoring human identity within the cosmos.
With the new Zodiac Collection, the Swiss Manufacture launches twelve different models, one for each sign (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces). As with its nowfamous Telescopium model (representing the Big Bear), diamonds, hand-crimped on the sapphires, symbolise the stars in each constellation. Thanks to the innate grace of a Quinting piece in the Zodiac Collection, a woman wearing the watch will find just the right balance and beauty, enabling her to be the master of her own destiny.
P
R T S 2
Q
G N I T
IN U Q
52
www.internationallife.tv/watches
O
P 0 6
N
O ISS
advertorial
QU
INT
ING
Q2
ST D
C6
0V
IER GE
QUINTING ZODIAC GÉMEAUX SAGITTAIRE www.internationallife.tv/watches
53
psychology
bay fables Cecilia d’Felice finds romance in the beauty, pace and lifestyle of Sestri Levante - savouring its old world values and reluctance to embrace the modern world so readily
D
opposite page: Stunning bay view, Sestri Levante images © Andrew Holt
54
www.internationallife.tv/psychology
inner at the fabulous Albergo Vis-à-Vis in Sestri Levante with panoramic views over the Ligurian sea to the North-West - Portofino, Santa Margarita and the French Riviera - and to the South-West, the Baia del Silenzio, the beach on which I live - is beyond breathtaking. It helps that the evening is warm, the air soft and enveloping and the sky an eternity of blue velvet. It helps that the service is discreetly elegant, responsive to our every need in the most characteristically charming manner of this Riviera citta. It also helps that the food is divine and the prosecco archly dry. Yet, most of all it helps that my companion - code name ‘the Wolf’ (il lupo) - for the evening is ultra-complex and molto, molto Italiano. There is a reason why Italy is so totally Wow, it is all down to the Italian sensibility and Liguria has it’s own unique psychology, different again to anything else on offer in any of it’s other fascinating former principalities. Forced into a Mediterranean exile for reasons that will become clearer, my prison has the sublime qualities of inhabiting a film directed by Fellini, with a cast of beautiful and proud personalities whose values are both intriguing and confusing in equal measure. The backdrop to this movie my movie - is a film-set of sugar-almond coloured houses, unique to this region, often intricately frescoed with tromp l’oeil cornicing and elaborated with fruit, flowers and the occasional statue. I wander daily down the cool, cobbled lanes known here as the ‘carrugio’, the impossibly narrow ancient veins that join the newer part of the town to the
penisola - formerly an island - and I wait for the director to say ‘cut.’ It is ‘incredibile’, ‘meraviglioso’, ‘perfetto’ and all the other superlatives that are the only words in Italian I seem to need to know, for these are the words I say every day in this paradise of condensed civilisation arriving at this point in time simply - or so it seems - for my delight. Sestri Levante is not merely some random Riviera scene I arrived at when ill health drove me out of my beloved London. My ancestors originated here. Historically, the Genovese were pirates, with such total command of the Ligurian sea that all maritime words in Italian come from this region. This combined with my Manx Viking blood means that I am constitutionally just as uncompromising and determined as my Ligurian cousins. Relocating, abandoning your career, friends and home is no simple undertaking. When, however, one finds oneself crippled with chronic pain and a diagnosis with the sinister word ‘incurable’ attached, the heuristic ‘adapt and survive’ springs instantly to mind. Yet survival is not enough; I had been scraping by on such scraps for too long. I wanted to really live again. Instinctively I knew that Italy would be my ticket back into a life of sublime quality, however potentially briefly. It is not just the food, although Italian food is notoriously simple, delicious and health giving, it is also the benign weather, the elegant pace of life and the suspicion of change for change’s sake that make it such a joy to call Liguria home. There are plenty of hideous ex-pat ‘sites’ where re-locators moan about the strange shopping hours, the
psychology
endless bureaucracy, the time it takes to get things done, yet these are the very reasons for loving the way of life here. It took me seven weeks to get my internet connected, requiring meetings with the building administrator, permissions from all the other residents, a special engineer who became known to us as Sant’Italo for his endless patience in finding ways to attach cables so as not to deface the beautiful façade to my five floor beachfront building. I loved every minute of it. The conversations that were had, the scratching of heads, the general goodwill and enthusiasm to get the job done despite it appearing to be impossible (I live exactly one hundred marble steps up to the top floor penthouse, with no lift and not one telephone line in my entire building) made it a fascinating sociological exercise. The legend of Sestri Levante is pure Dante. The penisola is where the beautiful Segesta resides. A mermaid of outstanding beauty, indeed the most beautiful siren of the seas, Segesta is loved by Tigullio, a triton, who wishes to capture her heart. Yet Segesta is in no
hurry to be captured. Being so beautiful and being an exemplary siren, she has many devoted admirers, so why rush to be captured by a mere triton? I see her point exactly as I dance la dolce vita surrounded by delicious ragazzi - really if one has to choose one, one has to choose them all. One night Tigullio is beside himself with jealousy and determines to seize her and take her by force in a crimine passionale. As our frustrated hero reaches out to ensnare the mesmerising mermaid Segesta, Neptune himself rises from the Baio del Silenzio and smites naughty Tigullio, freezing the unfortunate merman’s arm, thus forming the isthmus that now connects the twin bays and strangely linking Tigullio and Segesta in an eternal embrace that neither can ever leave. Twin flames, forever ignited, burning immortally while floating eternally in the Gulf of Tigullio. I digress, as one tends to do in Italy. Indeed Italy is one long digression, which is why lunch lasts from 12.30 to 4 every day because, simply, there is so much to say. Il lupo and I take a leisurely three hours over dinner at the Vis-à-Vis, a rare
sixties style hotel shaped like a cruise liner with views over the two bays that make Sestri Levante such a uniquely unusual place. Surrounded on both sides by sea, emotions run high, passions are hot and intrigue is everywhere, hence il lupo... Oh Deo! My kind of town! You can continue to read Cecilia’s blog, ‘Bay Fables’, exploring the psychology, culture and personalities of Liguria which will appear regularly in International Life online.
Key links www.sestri-levante.net www.hotelvisavis.com www.mojotic.it/ www.andersenfestival.it en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sestri_Levante Dr Cecilia d’Felice Author (21 Days to a New You, Orion) Join me at www.facebook.com/ DrCeciliadFelice
www.internationallife.tv/psychology
55
film
International Life’s Martin Guttridge-Hewitt discusses the enigmatic Anton Corbijn, subject of a very personal documentary by Dutch filmmaker Klaartje Quirijns
A
above: internationally renowned music photographer and video artist, Anton Corbijn right page: Dutch filmmaker Klaartje Quirijns
56
www.internationallife.tv/film
nton Corbijn is known the world over. An internationally renowned music photographer and video artist, his features2007’s Joy Division biopic Control and the George Clooney thriller The American- also achieved widespread acclaim. In contrast, little is understood about the man himself. That is until Klaartje Quirijns’ Anton Corbijn: Inside Out. An intimate insight into this secretive character, it’s a surprising choice of subject for the Amsterdam-born filmmaker. Her previous record includes The Brooklyn Connection, a story about a New York based Kosovan émigré building a guerrilla army, and The Dictator Hunter, which deals with the brutality of Chadian leader Hissene Habre during the 1980s. “It happened coincidentally- I never planned on making a film about Anton, and didn’t know his work well. I also didn’t know the music world- I’d only made political films before this,” says Quirijns. “Then I came to live in
London, and he asked me for advice. We worked together on an exhibition in the Netherlands, so remained friends since then. Some people were doing a film about him, and he wanted me to take a look. What I saw I didn’t think was very good. It was more like an advertisementvery superficial. So, I offered to film one conversation with him, and that became a whole film.” To some onlookers this link between the two directors, here cast as interview and interviewee, is tantamount to clouded judgement and unfair bias. But, as Quirijns recounted from her home in the UK capital, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. Corbijn has created some of the most iconic pop imagery ever renderedlending the likes of U2, Echo & The Bunnymen, Nick Cave, and Depeche Mode unforgettable and instantly recognisable visual presence. Yet he himself was far from an easy target to refocus the spotlight upon. “He was never happy, sad, or angry-
film
HIS UPBRINGING WAS VERY DIFFERENT ... A RELIGIOUS FAMILY IN WHICH NOBODY REALLY SPOKE. I GREW UP IN A MODERN FAMILY, WHERE EVERYONE WAS DIVORCED AND THERE WAS LOTS OF TALKING BUT NOT MUCH LISTENING. KLAARTJE QUIRIJNS ON ANTON CORBIJN from what I could see. I remember thinking at times ‘this is going nowhere,’ and felt like I needed something to happen, especially as my other films contained a lot of drama. Then I realised the conflict he has with himself, and the struggle he seems to have with identity. That was the most interesting thing for me- he realises personalities on camera, but has difficulty with his own. “You want someone to open up, so you prod and poke. I think that’s what happened in the end, he had all these difficult questions fired at him, which was probably really annoying. Then I also had a long conversation with him to say I needed more otherwise things weren’t going to work. That’s when he opened up like I never expected, especially at the end, where he explains how difficult he finds relationships with other human beings.” As with many documentaries, filming Inside Out was a long-winded, demanding process; following Corbijn from set to award ceremony or premiere over three years. Certainly time enough for a few lessons to be learnt then, as Quirijns explains. “Every film, every project teaches you something, especially with documentaries, where you want to get insight into another world. That could be another culture- Africa, or Kosovo for example- but in this case it was the world of music. That held many curiosities for me. Also his upbringing was very different to mine- a religious family in which nobody really spoke. I grew up in a very modern family, where everyone was divorced, and there was lots of talking but not much listening. As such I was fascinated by the effect of silence on a human being, and how images can come from that.” It’s easy to assume, after taking a look at Inside Out, that this was a two-way learning process- not least thanks to Corbijn’s aforementioned final
statement. “The main thing for him would probably have been that someone was interested in Anton as a person, that was what I imagine he took away from the experience,” she concluded, when posed with the near-impossible
question. Needless to say, with the truly fascinating film now out to buy on DVD, it should be clear to many people why he is worthy of attention, not just his celebrated creations- testament to Quirijns’ unarguably impressive vision.
www.internationallife.tv/film
57
film
PREMIÈRE
LEAGUE
The Hoff, Jean-Claude, Sly, Arnie, Hayley and Dakota assemble for the flashbulbs as International Life’s Bernd Talasch captures London’s pre-movie glamour from the packed red carpet runways
58
www.internationallife.tv/film
film
Left hand page top: Dakota Fanning at the Now Is Good premiere, Mayfair, 13th September 2012 bottom: David Hasselhoff at the Keith Lemon Movie premiere, Leicester Square, 20th August 2012 Right hand page top left: Sylvester Stallone at the Expendables 2 premiere, Leicester Square, 13th August 2012 top right: Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Expendables 2 premiere, Leicester Square, 13th August 2012 middle: Hayley Atwell at the ‘The Sweeney’ premiere, Leicester Square, 3rd September 2012 bottom: Jean Claude Van Damme at the Expendables 2 premiere, Leicester Square, 13th August 2012
www.internationallife.tv/film
59
ISS SW
M
ILI T
CH £1 99
www.emporiumofwonders.com
SW
99
AT AR EW Y CA N I LIBRE MEN’S MAR
ISS 1 MI H£ LIT TC A ARY W CALIB ION RE MEN’S IMMERS emporiumofwonders.com
Watches &
DESIGNER SW ISS M
ILIT A
RY CA LIBRE MEN’S RED STA
TCH R WA
0 £ 38
MINI ‘TALEA’ EARRINGS £145
MODICA ‘NOVA’ RING £165
LIP
11 9
VERITAS PAVÉ CROSS PENDANT £95
MA
showcase a vibrant selection of designer watches from marine and navy diver to immersion, chronographs and sports
CH M
INI L A
EG DY MARQUIS
D OL
£
LIP
60
www.emporiumofwonders.com
LIP BIG
59 TV GOLD CAMEL £1
LC D
WATCH VERSA GOLD £
99
watches & jewellery
RU D
IGE RM
H EN’S SIEGEN WATC
£2
60
RU DIG ER
emporiumofwonders.com showcase a unique collection of fine jewellery from sculptural sterling silver creations to elegant, bejewelled detailing
MEN’S SIEGEN WATCH
0 £26
& Jewellery FINE
VERITAS COFFEE BEAN PENDANT £125
MODICA PORRO BANGLE £480
HAE M
MER
MEN’S NAVY DIVER WATCH
9 £38
VERITAS BEATEN CROSS PENDANT £59
LIP L
A DY
D U C HES S E G O L D
£1 1
9
LIP TV LADY £159
LIP BIG
159 TV BLANC & TAUPE £
www.emporiumofwonders.com
61
gift gallery
exquisiteunusual rarerefinedcool magnificentsexy daringintelligent wonderfulsmart
XMASGIFTS
From the sophisticated to the quirky and unique, emporiumofwonders.com brings you a rich and diverse range of gifts where price plays second fiddle to creativity, craftsmanship, design and originality. There’s something here for everyone be they your partner, your family or friends. Some brands are iconic giants, others, the work of talented individuals who rarely get the opportunity to showcase their creativity. Order now to avoid the Xmas rush!! H free delivery on certain items
H £750
A sight to behold. Bentley eyewear handcrafted leather case for Sunglasses
H
£4,060 Bentley Silver Palladium Sunglasses
H
£30,000 Bentley Platinum Sunglasses
62
www.emporiumofwonders.com
H
£40,000 Unique. The Reactable by Mos - an electronic musical instrument with a revolutionary interface that turns music into a visual experience
H
H
£8,280 Sterling & Son, Rowing Boat Dinghy
£450 - £2000 Frame your TV. Mirror TV frames for all flatscreens, 19” - 65” and beyond!
H
£140 Veritas, Pirate Cufflinks - Black
H
£8,370 Exquisite. Bentley Eyewear Sunglasses Red Gold
H
£54 Veritas - Cut Out Crystal Cufflinks
www.emporiumofwonders.com
63
gift gallery
H
H
H
H
£75 Veritas - Silver coffee bean cufflinks
£89 Johan Eric Women’s Arhus Watch
£190 Veritas - Silver Bee Hive Pendant with translucent gold enamel and Swarovski crystals
H
£1,425 Geoffrey Parker Gold plated card deck
H
H
£280 Comic Art, Ltd edition - Grenades
H
£185 Comic Art, Limited Edition Prints - Dennis the Menace. £185 Oor Wullie sitting on a bucket. £185 Gnasher. (All on Somerset cotton paper)
H
H
£99 Lip Mach 2000 Chrono syndrome silver
64
www.emporiumofwonders.com
£69 Kienzle Men’s Klassik Watch
H
£99 Lip Square Mach Palente
H
H
£3,975 G.Parker Gentlemen’s Dressing Cases
£780 Arianna Jewelwear Necklace - Silver
H
H
£429 Régnier Semplicita Ladies Watch
H
£315 Régnier Semplicita Men’s Watch
£80 Veritas - Sterling Silver ingot cufflinks
H
H
H
H
H
H
£44 Haurex Italy Women’s Reef Watch
£600 Firouzeh - changeable earrings
£289 Swiss Military Calibre Men’s Commando
£7,000 Obe-lit - floor standing light sculpture
£55 British Museum Pewter Pen and Ink set
£239 Swiss Military Calibre Men’s Trooper
www.emporiumofwonders.com
65
travel
Fishing with
DOLPHINS International Life took an enlightening luxury tour of the Sultanate of Oman which included the rarity of fishing with some unlike companions, the renowned Spinner dolphins
O above: Spinner Dolphins play in front of the Sultan’s Palace right page, above: Pure serenity, twilight at Al Bustan Palace, Ritz Carlton right page, below: For sale, Omani ceremonial daggers
66
www.internationallife.tv/travel
man is on the south eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula facing India. It is known for its economic and social stability and has only really opened up to tourism in the last decade. There are more luxury hotels starting up in the next few years and they are in the middle of building a vast new airport in Muscat just next to the present one. The legendary Sinbad the Sailor is said to have come from Oman’s Sohar Port and the country is pure 1001 Arabian nights, with endless deserts, volcanic mountains and ancient Dhows cruising the Arabian sea. The peak season for tourism extends from October to February, as June
to September is regarded as too hot, though if you are by the sea or pool the heat is just wonderful, enveloping you like a warm blanket as you step from the air conditioned environment the Omani’s love so much. Amusingly the Omanis talk about the weather as much as the English only in reverse; they bemoan the heat and dream of cool rain. Oman has 360 days of sunshine a year; if only we could swap seasons for 6 months of the year! Muscat is the capital of Oman and was the starting place for our luxury tour. The Omani people, while appearing taciturn, are warm, kind and welcoming. They have strong views on hospitality, proffering the very best
travel
THE BABY DOLPHINS LEAPT ABOUT PLAYFULLY WHILE THE ADULTS OCCASIONALLY SHOWED THEM HOW IT WAS DONE, TWISTING AND SPINNING UP IN THE AIR ABOVE THE GLITTERING SEA BEFORE TURNING AND DIVING BACK INTO THE SILKY UNDULATING WATER home grown dates (240 different types) and deep strong aromatic coffee to all new visitors to their shop, hotel or home. They wear the Dishdash which is a traditional long tunic in grey, beige, black or white for business. Omanis pay no taxes, health care is universal for all Omani citizens and they have 8 main hospitals in Muscat. Women can start businesses, borrow to start a business, own houses and there are three women ministers in the government at present. For the petrol heads, let it be known that petrol here is 12 pence per litre. Camel racing is the big sport in Oman and a top racing camel can sell for half a million pounds. I stayed at the Al Bustan Palace, >>
www.internationallife.tv/travel
67
travel
THE COUNTRY IS PURE 1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS, WITH ENDLESS DESERTS, VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS AND ANCIENT DHOWS CRUISING THE ARABIAN SEA
68
www.internationallife.tv/travel
travel
>> A Ritz Carlton Hotel, which was originally built as a Palace by Sultan Qaboos to host the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in 1985. The lobby is a vast, magnificent Arabian Art Deco vault that takes your breath away on first entering and the service is impeccable. It has acres of lush gardens along a private beach overlooking the sea of Oman backed by the Haijar Mountains; it is the ‘jewel of the Sultanate.’ There’s even a special floor known as the ninth floor with its own lift access, reserved for heads of state, indeed Prince Charles has stayed there.
Visit the Mutrah Souq in Muscat, one of the oldest markets in the world, chock full of silver, jewellery, necklaces, old George VI coins, cashmere, silk, old sailing sextants and pocket watches. It is like Aladdin’s cave, a mix of bling, tat and real treasure. They are rightly proud of their silver work and the necklaces are works of inlaid filigreed art. Especially the traditional Omani dagger that can retail up to two thousand pounds for the most ornate. Take a set amount of money and splash out. You will have gems, spices and gifts a plenty for yourself, friends and family for
the next year. Wahiba Sands, Desert Nights Camp is 2 hours from Muscat and well worth the trip. You drive through the lava granite desert, scattered with the invincible Acacia trees that get their water from the dew, until you come to the camp nestled between towering orange sand dunes. Take the quad bikes out to watch the sunset and then follow up with a camel ride in the early morning after breakfast. Wadi Bani Khalid is about 200 km from Muscat. It is the best-known wadi of the Sharqiyah region, which is a >>
www.internationallife.tv/travel
69
travel
below: Al Bustan Palace, Ritz Carlton infinity pool opposite page, top: Wadi Bani Khalid right page, bottom: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
OMAN REALLY IS THE IDEAL PLACE FOR FAMILIES OR COUPLES WHO WANT A RELAXING LUXURY HOLIDAY IN A FASCINATING CULTURE WITH A WARM AND GENUINE WELCOME >> mountain water pool oasis surrounded by palm trees and sheer rock mountains on all sides. Swim in the pools and trek up to see the caves. I highly recommend a visit to the Dhow Factory on the river in Sur, where one can see old traditional boats made from Teak wood; the boats are stunning and the yard a vision straight out of National Geographic, as the skilled Indian craftsmen go about their centuries old art of Dhow building. Also worth a visit is the magnificent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, a tour de force in marble with huge Swarovski chandelier. I would also recommend the five star Chedi Muscat Hotel which offers the most succulent food imaginable from all corners of the globe. They even have their own master chocolatier and the range and quality on offer is mouth watering. You must try the lemon and mint mocktail, the perfect drink to dispel
jet lag and revive the mind. The hotel itself is right on a beautiful sandy beach and has just opened a new thirteensuite Balinese spa. They also have three swimming pools, including the 103-metre long pool surrounded by blazing fire lanterns, which look glorious at night. Lastly check out the Shangri La Resort which is three majestic hotels combined, designed in traditional Dhofari Arabian architecture with pools, canals and date palms everywhere. This is like an Arabian Vegas in a luxury modern style. There is so much to explore that you could stay for weeks and still find new corners to relax in every day. There is even a river with slow moving current that takes you around the hotels through the gardens in lazy comfort. Bliss. The award winning Shahrazad restaurant is dazzling, straight out of 1001 nights, serving splendid authentic Moroccan cuisine. On the last day I went off with a friend and Captain Abdullah in a fast speedboat to play with the Spinner dolphins in front of the Sultans Palace. We had barely left the port when Captain Abdullah shouted and lo and behold we were surrounded by a hundred dolphins chasing their favourite breakfast, tuna, across the glittering sea. The fishermen here actually follow the dolphins like hunters with hounds to find the tuna shoals. We watched in awe as the baby dolphins leapt about playfully while the adults occasionally showed them how it was done, twisting and spinning up in the air above the glittering sea before turning and diving back into the silky undulating water.
70
www.internationallife.tv/travel
travel
More information www.omantourism.gov.om/wps/portal/mot/ tourism/oman/home Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/AlBustan/ Default.htm The Chedi Hotel www.ghmhotels.com/en/chedi-muscat-oman/ home/#home Shangri La Resort www.shangri-la.com/muscat/barraljissahresort Oman Air www.omanair.com/wy Desert Nights Camp, luxury camp with quad biking and camel riding www.omanhotels.com/desertnightscamp/ Arabian Oryx Camp, authentic Bedouin experience in spectacular desert surroundings www.oryx-camp.com Dolphin tour Marina Bandar Al Rawdha which is 10 mins away from Al Bustan Palace, ask for Captain Abdullah.
www.internationallife.tv/travel
71
feature
DANTE International Life Wealth Network presents
in Abu Dhabi
International Life Wealth Network looks forward to Swiss Artist, Dante Rubli’s next adventure; showcasing at the prestigious surroundings of the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
L
ike many of his contemporaries, Swiss artist Dante Rubli has sought to express his artistic talents in a number of different ways. Subsequently, his artwork is both varied and interesting. Having acquired a certain notoriety in his native country for being able to complete ‘special projects’, as well
as more traditional commissions for artwork, in 2007 Dante conceived the idea of creating a sculpture of the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL, the famous ‘gullwing’. Claude Picasso, son of Pablo, allowed Dante to borrow his father’s original car to develop this idea, and with the vehicle at his disposal, as well as a copy of the original 1954 plan, >>
WITH THE SERIES FIRMLY ESTABLISHED, A FOURTH MODEL THE LAMBORGHINI MIURA - IS DUE TO BE UNVEILED AT A LAVISH... EVENT IN ABU DHABI 72
www.internationallife.tv/art
Master craftsman Dante Rubli with his stunning 1:24, gold incarnation of the legendary Lamborghini Miura
www.internationallife.tv/art
73
feature
LAMBORGHINI MIURA
THE SEVEN STAR SURROUNDINGS OF THE EMIRATES PALACE HOTEL WILL SERVE AS THE THEATRE TO A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS OF DANTE’S SCULPTURES. A NUMBER OF THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WILL ATTEND THE WORLD PREMIERE
FINISHED IN >> Dante created two limited edition sculptures as full scale, 1:1, and half scale, 1:2, interpretations of Pablo’s car, finished in white gold. Since the world premiere of the two pieces at an exclusive event in Monaco in the presence of H.S.H., Prince Albert II, Dante’s sculptures have been highly acclaimed. Indeed, such was the success of the first items that additional cars in a variety of scales have been added to form a series. The Aston Martin DB5, which was made famous in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, was produced along with the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO, the most expensive car in the world. Chris Evans, TV and radio
74
www.internationallife.tv/art
presenter, and avid Ferrari collector, is one of the classic car enthusiasts who owns this particular Dante piece. With the series firmly established, a fourth model - the Lamborghini Miura - is due to be unveiled at a lavish and highly anticipated event in Abu Dhabi. The seven star surroundings of the Emirates Palace Hotel will serve as the theatre to a series of presentations of Dante’s sculptures. A number of the wealthiest people in the world will attend the world premiere, as the allure of Dante’s artwork and the rise in the value of gold has led to the creation of new interpretations of the iconic sports cars. Dante has sought to broaden
feature
the appeal of his work to the luxury sector by adding 1:24 scale sculptures. These highly collectible new pieces are mounted on a marble plinth and supplied in a stunning piano black lacquered case. Fifty of each vehicle will
be available in silver and finished in 24 carat gold, priced at 50,000.- Swiss Francs each, while five solid 18 carat gold sculptures will also be produced, priced at 100,000.- Swiss Francs each. With such instantly recognisable
themes, and a level craftsmanship comparable to the finest jewellery, these will no doubt add to the Swiss artist’s growing reputation. www.dantedesign.ch
24 CARAT GOLD
1:24 SCALE www.internationallife.tv/art
75
feature
International Life Classic Car
INVESTMENT Dietrich Hatlapa employs financial analytical tools to classify classic cars for sound investment
above: Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, opposite page, from top left to right: 1964 Aston Martin DB5, 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta, short wheel base, by HAGI
76
www.internationallife.tv/cars
feature
T
he Historic Automobile Group International (HAGI), founded in 2007, has chosen new avenues to analyse the collectors’ market for rare classic cars. Following the motto “driven by knowledge” the approach is based on financial analysis, adjusted to the specialties of this niche collectors’ asset class. HAGI is known in the market to produce a series of indices charting the top levels of the classic car market. One major new aspect about this approach is that HAGI is an independent research house and think tank with specialist expertise in the rare classic motorcar sector and in finance. The group has created its benchmarks to track this alternative asset class accurately for the first time, using rigorous financial methodology usually associated with more traditional investments. Updated monthly on HistoricAutoGroup.com the HAGI Top Index is published monthly by the Financial Times (FT.com/reports/ wealth) in Octane magazine UK, Classic Sportscar France, Handelsblatt online and Motorklassik in Germany to name a few. The HAGI Index Group has developed their indices based on thousands of documented transactions collected from four areas: broker/dealers, marque specialists, auction results and private individuals. The indices have also been back-tested annually to 1980. The findings are compelling. They support the investment case and make this asset class fully comparable for the first time.
From the end of 2008 the HAGI Indices are updated on a monthly basis. Four indices have been published so far: The HAGI Top 50 comprising of rare models from all marques and age periods, the 1920s to the supercars of 2000. The HAGI F and HAGI P indices, which measure the market for rare Ferrari and Porsche respectively. Also published it the HAGI ex P& F Index, which contains 24 car models other than Porsche and Ferrari. Picking the Winners: The research discloses that a number of vehicle categories have been attractive for investment. Production numbers, technical attributes and ownership history, together with current condition and attractiveness, are the main parameters. The most relevant time periods are pre-war and 1950s through to the early 1990s, with an emphasis on the earlier decades. Well-known car marques like Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari and Porsche create most of the headlines in the historic-car world. As well, rare racing and road versions of automobiles made by - for example Mercedes-Benz and Maserati and more unusual marques like Voisin, Bizzarrini or Graham are highly valued by collectors. Attractive models that were produced in small numbers have the highest public profile and the strongest credentials for the most exclusive events. Rare, high quality cars are most attractive for the collector. HAGI believes they have the potential to provide stable returns going forward.
Performance examples: The HAGI Top Index, measuring the performance of 50 key collectible classic cars, advanced by 13.89% in 2011. However, another HAGI index calculation reveals a segment of the top market that has achieved amazing 21.65% growth in 2011. That’s the return offered by the HAGI Top with Ferrari and Porsche removed. (In 2011 the HAGI” F Ferrari Index advanced 10.58%, while the HAGI P Porsche Index returned more modest 4.53%, after strong growth in previous years). >>
WELL-KNOWN CAR MARQUES LIKE ASTON MARTIN, BENTLEY, FERRARI AND PORSCHE CREATE MOST OF THE HEADLINES IN THE HISTORIC-CAR WORLD www.internationallife.tv/cars
77
feature
>> For 2012, to date, the figures look even stronger with the benchmark Index, the HAGI Top 50 advancing 21.5% through August and the sector for collector’s Ferrari (as measured by the HAGI F Index) gaining a 26.4%. Dietrich Hatlapa, HAGI’s founder and former investment banker, commented: “The figures demonstrate very clearly that this is not a uniform market; performance varies from marque
photo: 1959 Porsche Spyder 718RSK by HAGI
MERCEDESBENZ AND MASERATI AND MORE UNUSUAL MARQUES LIKE VOISIN, BIZZARRINI OR GRAHAM ARE HIGHLY VALUED BY COLLECTORS 78
www.internationallife.tv/cars
to marque and from model to model. Choice and timing are key, and that’s what makes it so fascinating, applying a judgement call based on a model or marque that’s due for rotation.” In 2011 Dietrich and the HAGI team published ‘Better Than Gold, Investing in Historic Cars’, a comprehensive book that lists many of the group’s finding, e.g. the sectors’ performance since 1980 as well as introducing
feature
the indices background, their methodologies, marques and models in detail. An extensive glossary lists price relevant data as well as current index constituents, all in all demonstrating many new aspects of this sector to the expert as well as making it transparent for the novice entrant. Historic Automobile Group International (HAGI), 9/12
Hatlapa highlight six models that have performed well in this market in 2011: 1. The Ferrari 250GTL ‘Lusso‘ you could buy for £450,000 at the end of 2010 whereas at the beginning of 2012 you would have to pay £70,000 more for the same car. 2. Bentley R-type Continental Fastback by H.J.Mulliner, 1952-55 (208 produced): A nice example trading at £400,000 at the start of 2011 could now make £600,000-plus. 3. BMW 507, 1956-59: was £500,000, now £850,000 or more for best cars. 4. Jaguar XJ220: was £140,000; now £180,000-plus 5. Aston Martin DB5 saloon £275,000 - 400,000 6. Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster £600 - 700,000
Order the HAGI book “Better Than Gold, Investing in Historic Cars” follow this link: www.ypdbooks. com/business/378-better-than-goldYPD00347.html www.historicautogroup.com
www.internationallife.tv/cars
79
dining
T
he publisher of this magazine thinks I have a minor obsession with hookers because I have a tendency to mention how many I see when reviewing hotel restaurants. Well, I can confidently say that when I visited the majestically grand dining room in the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge there were none. How can I be so sure? Because apart from my table, there were no other diners. We soon found out why. But first the hotel itself. From the outside it could just be an office block. The liveried doormen looked like any other swanky hotel liveried doormen except that they couldn’t smile, let alone speak. They should spend a day at The Dorchester where they welcome you like a long lost friend. Hotel folk don’t tend to understand restaurants, so they either sub-contract them like the Mandarin Oriental across the road does so well or they see it as an add-on to their room rate driven business model. The marketing people at Bulgari appear to have chosen the latter approach and have justified their huge salaries by branding the dining space Il Ristorante. Pure genius. It’s downstairs and at the back of the hotel. It’s a sober
80
www.internationallife.tv/food-drink
Review / Il Ristorante, Bulgari Hotel Iqbal Wahhab sees fashion fall off the runway with its style over substance approach to fine dining
room partly rescued by a Busby Berkeley sweeping staircase with two people at the bottom staring at you descend as if expecting you to trip over. I hadn’t read any reviews but guessed that if they were charging up to £24 for a starter and £38 for a main course there would be something special to experience. The £24 starter was a seafood salad with plenty of expensive prawns and clams but with no zap to them. The seared monkfish was the same and the rabbit casserole was clearly of excellent provenance - it just wasn’t cooked very well. I’d hazard a guess that Bulgari spent around £100 million building this hotel. Fashion brands love sticking their names on things they don’t have an attachment with. Prada now promotes its own mobile phone, Armani sells watches. If the phone or the watch don’t shift, then hey, ho it was worth a try. But a nine figure investment on the wrong side of the road (the part that leads towards Kensington) next to a restaurant that has once again gone bust is unfortunate
FASHION BRANDS LOVE STICKING THEIR NAMES ON THINGS THEY DON’T HAVE AN ATTACHMENT WITH for them as you’d have to do something really wrong for me to wish them badly and they didn’t. They just didn’t do it as well as the Bulgari brand stands for. In the two hours that the three of us were there, Bar Boulud opposite would have probably served 200 people - also in a hotel basement. Our lunch cost £400. Bulgari fans can of course afford those prices. I just don’t think they will want to pay homage in this way. As we were leaving a couple came in. The bloke was fat, balding and middle aged and the woman was attractive and half his age. I wonder if she was a ...
dining
Review / Brasserie Zedel Wise guys Chris Corbyn and Jeremy King have people’s pockets in mind as well as their palates writes Iqbal Wahhab
M
any people over 40 in London will have fond memories of the Atlantic Bar and Grill, with its glamorous dining room and the debaucheries that used to take place in the adjacent Dick’s Bar. Just like Maxim’s in Manhattan, legends tend to fade over time and people move on. Nowadays the old Atlantic clients are frequenting places like The Wolseley and so there is a delicious irony that the Chris Corbyn and Jeremy King - the undisputed dons of glamorous London dining - have taken over the huge cavernous spaces and made two bars and restored the original glory of the art deco that was in situ when the former Regent Palace Hotel opened there nearly 100 years ago. Corbyn and King initially formed an alliance when they were waiters at Joe Allen and went on to make The Ivy and Le Caprice the institutions they are today. They don’t always get it right though. St Alban on Lower Regent Street looked like an airport terminal
lounge and they rather promptly disposed of it. After The Wolseley came the slick and impressive Delaunay in Covent Garden and months later we have Brasserie Zedel. Soon they will also be opening on the former Oriel site on Sloane Square and there are rumours of a hotel too. These guys are on a roll. Just like the legendary Danny Meyer in New York (Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe etc) one of them manages to be on the floor of each of their places whenever I visit one. Unlike the dark wood and leather grandeur they have applied to their other places, Zedel has a brighter and more colourful look. In keeping with the original purpose of the hotel, the restaurant aims to bring glamour to a wider social audience by keeping the prices as cheap as a staff canteen. You can have a soup for £2.50 and a two course menu for £8.75 - making it far and away the most affordable smart restaurant in London. These guys are clever - they know there’s a lot of penny pinching going on and aim to make this a recession-proof
A TWO COURSE MENU FOR £8.75 - MAKING IT FAR AND AWAY THE MOST AFFORDABLE SMART RESTAURANT IN LONDON product. More than that, they know that Richard Caring is opening a huge New York brasserie nearby in Covent Garden - on a site they were originally going to get but eventually lost out to him on. A clash of the titans is in the making. Corbyn and King’s other restaurants are noted more for their service, decor and celebrity count. At Zedel they will also be known for their food. Frog’s legs come with smoked garlicky parley sauce and Pissaladière, a southern French take on a pizza with sweated onions and olives was a winner. Some dishes familiar to the company stable follow here like Choucrote boiled bits of pig on pickled cabbage but there are new ones too including a must-try couscous with lamb’s liver and a Merguez style sausage. We finished with a cheese selection including an excellently kept runny Brie. In your mind the money you are saving on food frees up more to spend on wine. That’s how clever these people are.
www.internationallife.tv/food-drink
81
food & drink
world.... OUT OF THIS
Levanah Reyes-Wainwright discovers how astronauts eat in space and suggests some of the newest food products to pick up back on Earth for an out of this world diet.
PORTIONS OF NOURISHING, GOOD FOOD, WHICH ARE PERFECT FOR A QUICK WHOLESOME MEAL. SWEET CHILLI PRAWNS WITH NOODLES AND CREAMY CHICKEN & 4 VEG HOTPOT ARE ON MY SHOPPING LIST
82
www.internationallife.tv/food-drink
F
ifty years ago, astronauts used to suck their dehydrated, paste like food out of tubes. Today however, astronauts on the space shuttle eat food much like we do here on Earth. The low gravity environment means that food and drink are packaged as dehydrated powders, which are then re-hydrated when they are needed. One powdered product that you definitely need is Minvita Baobab Superfruit Powder (£14.69/250g, Holland & Barrett) from the ‘upside down’ Baobab tree in East Africa. With a health busting mix of vitamins and minerals that offer six times more vitamin C than oranges, twice as many antioxidants than Gojiberries and more iron than red meat, it’s no wonder Baobab is being hailed as the superfruit of 2012. Astronauts eat three meals a day plus periodic snacks to ensure they get the full amount of nutrients. Snacks are when most people eat something naughty, but astronauts can’t afford to do that. Sweet ‘treats’ that are guilt free AND good for you include Nutritious Delicious Chocolate Truffles (£5.99/130g, nutritiousdelicious.co.uk) which are packed with antioxidants,
omegas, magnesium and ginseng and are loved by fitness lover Nell McAndrew for their rich, creamy texture; and smooth honey flavoured Munchy Seeds (£4/180g, munchyseeds.co.uk) for ‘Mindful Munching’ because of the Vitamin E, Iron and Zinc found in seeds. Hale & Hearty’s Original Agave Syrup (£2.39, Tesco) also makes a great alternative to sugar for sweetening tea, topping pancakes or on dessert due to its naturally low GI. The results of a study conducted by the University of California in 2005 suggested that weightless space travel may suppress astronauts’ immune systems, which would explain why they can get ill so easily. If you too pick up every cough and cold out there, try CO YO (from £1.99, Selfridges), the UK’s first Coconut Milk Yoghurt. Coconut contain important antibacterial, antimicrobial and infection fighting properties and are nature’s richest source of Medium Chain Fatty Acid’s (MCFA’s), which help maintain the body’s
Minvita Baobab Superfruit Powder
Munchy Seeds - Flavoured mindful munching rich in Vitamin E, Iron and Zinc
food
immunity. Lauric Acid, which makes up around 50% of these MCFA’s is in abundance in CO YO with 8.3 grams of this wonder ingredient per 100 grams. Apart from coconut oil, the only other source of Lauric acid found in such high concentrations is in human milk! To account for all those on board, is much like accommodating for a family and with statistics from Allergy UK estimating that 45% of UK adults suffer from food intolerances, food shopping can still remain a hurdle above Earth. Free & Easy’s unique range of soups, sauces and curry pastes are free from wheat, gluten, dairy and other allergens. The Roasted Red Pepper & Birds Eye Chilli Sauce (£2.99/325g, Tesco) was rich and flavoursome with whole-wheat pasta. It takes about thirty minutes to rehydrate and heat an average meal in space, which is approximately how long we like cooking to take on Earth. Tasty Little Numbers Meal Pots (from £2.49, Sainsbury’s) are just 300 calories each
and are delicious portions of nourishing, good food, which are perfect for a quick wholesome meal. Sweet Chilli Prawns with Noodles and Creamy Chicken & 4 Veg Hotpot are on my shopping list. As for drinks, astronauts now have specially designed cups that hold their beverages instead of having to constantly drink through straws. Nutritionally boosting drinks I would highly recommend are Jax Coco (from £1.95, Harvey Nichols) for Coconut Water in it’s purest potassium rich form and also the energy-boosting juice fusion that aid’s cellular defences, Biotta Organic Powerberry drink (£6.95/500ml, UK Health Stores). From top left, clockwise: The Roasted Red Pepper & Birds Eye Chilli Sauce CO YO - UK’s first Coconut Milk Yoghurt Nutritious Delicious Chocolate Truffles - packed with antioxidants, omegas, magnesium and ginseng. Jax Coco for Coconut Water - potassium rich Tasty Little Numbers Meal Pots in various tasty flavours offers quick wholesome meal
www.internationallife.tv/food-drink
83
futurology
space travel THE FUTURE OF
Each new destination in the sky above brings the promise of new answers to some of humanity’s oldest questions: how life began on Earth, how our solar system evolved, and what changes lie in the future. Exploration missions to NEAs or Mars may help answer those questions.
S
ince the retirement of the Space Shuttles in 2011, space has been opened up to the private sector, but NASA is still committed to space exploration and is retrieving terrific information from the Mars
rover Curiosity. NASA’s Curiosity rover mission has recently found evidence that a stream once ran vigorously across the area on Mars where the rover is driving. According to NASA, the shapes of stones offer clues to the speed and distance of an ancient stream’s flow.
84
www.internationallife.tv/futurology
Orion is America’s next generation spacecraft that will take astronauts to exciting destinations never explored by humans. It will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to distant planetary bodies, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space. It can carry 4 people for up to 210 days flight. The spacecraft will launch on Exploration Flight Test-1, an un-crewed mission planned for 2014. The international Space Station is a truly global joint project as it is shared by NASA, the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Japanese JAXA, the European ESA, and the Canadian CSA and is a unique platform for scientific research. Almost 200 people from 15 countries have visited, but the orbiting complex has only had human crew members, until now. Robonaut 2 or R2 (sound familiar?) is the latest generation of the Robonaut astronaut helpers, launched to the space station aboard space shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission in February 2011. As R2 technology matures, similar robots could be sent deeper into space to test the system in more extreme thermal and radiation conditions. Someday, R2 could service communications, weather and reconnaissance satellites, which have direct benefits on Earth. There is even a wheeled version in the planning called Centaur 2. Over the next several decades, NASA will endeavour to send humans to a range of destinations beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), including cis-lunar space, near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), the Moon, and Mars and its moons.
futurology
The ultimate aim is to land a human on the surface of Mars which would enable incredible scientific discoveries. Exploring Mars is the first step to long-term, human space exploration beyond the inner solar system, driving technology innovation necessary for sustaining humans on another planet, pushing us out into the stars. Innovations created to address the challenges of space exploration often lead to new and more sophisticated technologies used both for the benefit of all and commercially. However it is in the private sector that we are seeing great new leaps in response to the enormous challenges posed by space travel. Space X is a private company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk of Paypal fame that is working with NASA and has developed the Falcon launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft. The Dragon is the first private spacecraft to successfully berth with the International Space Station. The LXCOR Lynx is being developed in the desert at the Mojave Air and Spaceport. Their aim is to make space travel affordable to private citizens so that space travel will truly take off. Their rocket has the immense advantage of being essentially a rocket powered jet plane. It can make up to 4 flights a day as it runs on liquid fuel and can take off on its own power whilst SpaceShipTwo developed by Scaled Composites (also
in the Mojave Spaceport) for Virgin Galactic has to be dropped from a plane and the engine has to be replaced between flights. Also you sit right next to the pilot in the Lynx XC which offers you an awesome panoramic view. Then there’s Eric Anderson and Peter Diamandis’ venture of mining asteroids for raw materials like iron and nickel supported by the film director James Cameron and Larry Page, founder and CEO of Google. Space exploration is the new frontier and the legendary explorers and heroes of tomorrow could be you.
All images courtesy of NASA. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov For more ways to get involved with NASA go here: www.nasa.gov/connect/index.html Get involved in space mining: www.planetaryresources.com Mojave Air and Space Port: mojaveairport.com
www.internationallife.tv/futurology
85
beauty
Beauty THE FINAL FRONTIER
Levanah Reyes-Wainwright looks at beauty designed to protect you from the most extreme environments, even Space.
A
top from left: 111Skin (From £35, Harrods, 111skin.com) Skin Ceuticals Brightening UV Defense SPF30 (£35.00, skinbrands.co.uk) Tom Ford’s Intensive Infusion Concentrate Extreme (£185, Selfridges) Nephria’s Jade Beauty Bar (£20, Nephria.com) right: Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment (£39, John Lewis, timetospa.co.uk)
86
www.internationallife.tv/beauty
s the largest organ of the body and its main protector, skin already has a difficult task. If we add common environmental stresses - UV rays, extreme temperatures, wind, pollution and free radicals - that job becomes more challenging and the cumulative effect is ageing, lacklustre skin. Top Harley Street surgeon, Dr. Yannis Alexandrides has combined his years of know-how about the skin with space scientists’ ground-breaking research to develop an effective anti-ageing skincare range 111Skin (From £35, Harrods, 111skin.com). The scientists developed a supplement NAC, which kick starts the production of the body’s most powerful antioxidant Glutathione, to protect astronauts’ organs including the skin from the accelerated ageing effects of the sun. 111Skin’s patent pending NAC Y2 formula combines NAC with key antioxidants, Vitamin C and Escin, which work together to eradicate the signs of ageing and repairs and protects the skin…whether in Space or on Earth. Discovering ingredients that limit the effect of environmental damage on skin, whether in space, high altitude or urban conditions, is now the focus for many skincare brands. Nephria’s Jade Beauty Bar, £20 at Nephria.com being launched at Harvey Nichols in September, is the world’s most luxurious Beauty Bar made with pure Jade which cleanses and reinvigorates the skin with Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, protecting the cells from free radicals, helping skin to look younger. With up to 90% of visible ageing caused by sun exposure, ensure you protect with SkinCeuticals Brightening UV Defense SPF30
(£35.00, skinbrands.co.uk) designed to provide year round UVA & UVB protection whilst correcting and preventing the appearance of pigmentation. Chanel’s Hydra Beauty Gel Crème (£50, 020 7493 3836) protects against skin damage and pollution with two star ingredients Camellia Alba PFA, the maestro of moisturisation and Blue Ginger PFA, the master of cellular self-defence. To instantly diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without the pain of injections, stock up on Freeze 24-7® Instant Targeted Wrinkle Treatment (£60, 15ml, Debenhams). The revolutionary technology releases topical muscle relaxers to penetrate the skin for a smoother complexion within minutes. For a luxurious and deeply nourishing skin treatment to revive skin’s healthy look, tone and radiance, Tom Ford’s Intensive Infusion Concentrate Extreme (£185, Selfridges) contains the most precious and concentrated form of the Tom Ford infusing complex. Finally, after 3 years in development, Elemis’ innovative new formula, Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment (£39, John Lewis, timetospa.co.uk) helps to smooth and firm the eye area, without overloading the delicate skin. The marriage of beauty and science is not new, but today’s skincare definitely has ‘out-of-thisworld’ technology.
Chatila 22 Old Bond Street, London W1 T 020 7493 9833 www.chatila.com
The Watch Gallery 129 Fulham Road, London SW3 T 020 7581 3239 www.thewatchgallery.co.uk
www.quinting-watches.com
Within moments of slipping behind the wheel of the new Continental GTC, the spirit lifts. Upon opening the roof, it soars. Nought to exhilarating in mere seconds. The powerful bonnet and muscular haunches create a sporty stance enhanced by the sculpted profile of the sharp, sweeping lines. The eye is drawn to the surface as it flows effortlessly like liquid, creating unbroken mirror-image reflections. A new world of immaculately-tailored hide upholstery and mirror-gloss wood trim await inside. Then, at just the touch of a button, the smoothest choreography sees it open to the world.
This most exhilarating open-top driving experience awaits. The turbocharged W12 FlexFuel engine poised to deliver a tidal wave of power. 567bhp and 700 Nm of torque propels you from 0-60mph in a mere 4.5 seconds. Never has there been a truer embodiment of the expression ‘the open road’. Only by experiencing it for yourself can you truly understand our designers’ new vision; a contemporary interpretation of timeless design. That’s guaranteed to make your day. Fuel economy figures for the Continental GTC in mpg (l/100km): Urban 11.1 (25.4); Extra Urban 24.9 (11.4); Combined 17.1 (16.5). CO2 Emissions (g/km): 384.
For more information call 0808 100 5200† or visit www.bentleymotors.com The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © November 2011 Bentley Motors Limited. Model shown: New Bentley Continental GTC, mrrp £149,350. Price correct at time of going to press and includes VAT at 20%. Price excludes road fund licence, registration and delivery charges. †Calls will be recorded for training purposes.