Thursday, April 28, 2011

Vacations like a pro.

After quite sometime off the blog, I return.
Since I've recently started my internship I've had little time to share something new on my blog, but I've finally found some time and will to do so.
I was browsing some hotels for a vacation soon and came across this ones. Even though I do not have enough currency to spend more than 3 minutes in any of them without having to starve for a month they still look pretty neat. Personal favorites, the New York Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo.

The Penthouse Suite, The Martinez Hotel, Cannes
Nightly Rate: $18,000



"This is the biggest, most expensive, and the only terraced penthouse suite on the Cote d’Azur. Both of the two suites has a jacuzzi, plasma screen televisions, DVD library, kitchen, open bar, private butler on call 24/7 (ditto for a limousine), and an option to join both suites into one big apartment. The luxury has no limit here – the design is kept in the Art Deco style, with streamlined furniture, silk curtains and teak parquet floors.
The wraparound terrace is 2,000 square feet with the views of the Lerins Islands as well as the entire Bay of Cannes and can comfortably hold 100 people. One Saudi sheik liked the suite so much he wanted to rent it for five years. The hotel said no. What else can you say? Tres magnifique!"


Ritz-Carlton Suite, Ritz-Carlton Moscow
Nightly Rate: $18.200













The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Ritz-Carlton Suite will give you the most beautiful views of the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Christ the Savior Cathedral. The furnishings are in a Classic Russian Imperial style. The 2,500 square-foot suite comes with a spacious living room, dining area, library, office room and boardroom, grand piano, and heated floor.
You will get to enjoy five meals a day and their very own KGB-approved autonomous energy supply system and secure telecommunications array.


Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Nightly Rate: $19.000









The two-story, 8,400-square-foot suite features views over the Arabian sea, marble flooring, a rotating four-poster bed in the master bedroom, dining area, and a private cinema and elevator between the split-level rooms.
The marble bath comes fully stocked with full-sized products from Hermes. Guests are met by a chauffeur driven Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (or, for a bit extra, by a helicopter). A personal butler stands 24/7 at the ready to fulfill every wish. The Royal Suite is the last word in luxury with a marble and gold staircase, leopard print tufted carpets and Versace linens.
What you can also enjoy is a submarine ride to an underwater restaurant complete with shark-infested aquarium.


Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt, Vendôme, Paris
Nightly Rate: $20.000










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This pricey suite is located on the 5th floor and takes 200-sq.-meters. A 60-sq.-meter balcony is overlooking the Rue de la Paix, with an outstanding view of the Vendôme column. The Imperial Suite has high ceilings, a dining room, kitchenette, bar, and a mansard roof. It also includes in-suite spa with whirlpool bath, steam room shower and a built-in massage table. Also included are high-speed Internet access and a computer with flat screen monitor, multi-line telephones, and a separate work area to help you enjoy the work process.


The Bridge Suite, The Atlantis, Bahamas
Nightly Rate: $22.000










The Bridge Suite is located on top of a bridge that connects the two Royal Towers buildings, so it overlooks the entire resort and marina. An 800 square foot balcony and 12-foot high ceilings throughout with full length windows allow you to enjoy a 360 view of the water, lagoons and pools in Paradise Island. We can make a guess that most of the price is paid for the location of the suite. Forbes reports the suite has hosted guests including Oprah, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, and Bill Gates.
The suite has 10 rooms that are decorated in black, red and gold (including a 22-karat gold chandelier in the dining room). The living room is a 1,250-square-foot room with grand piano and twin entertainment centers. The master bedroom has a sitting area, his-and-hers closets so large that you can park your car there, and hand-painted linens. The kitchen also has its own entrance, so a permanent staff of seven, including a butler and a cook can access the rooms without bothering you


Presidential Suite, Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
Nightly Rate: $25.000













The suite is located on the 53rd floor above Tokyo with spectacular views that include the Imperial Palace outer gardens and Roppongi Hills.
In the suite’s 3300 sq ft you get pure luxury with a stunning four poster bed in the master bedroom, personal concierge, connected living room/dining room, an oversized marble bathroom with Sony BRAVIA 20 inch flat screen television, and access to indoor pool and fitness studio.


Villa La Capula Suite, Westin Excelsior, Rome
Nightly Rate: $29.000









The suite is located on the fifth and sixth floor underneath the cupola of the hotel which was made famous by Fellini’s movies. It covers 6,099 square feet and has an additional 1,808 square feet of balconies and terraces. While it only has two bedrooms, five more can be joined to it. The entire suite was just remodeled in 1998 for a cost of around $7 million. So now you will have all things Roman and excessive – a cupola, a Pompeii-style Jacuzzi pool, frescoes (the painted horizons on the frescoes were designed to match perfectly with the real Roman one), stained glass windows, and almost 2,000 feet of balcony space including a sun deck overlooking the Via Veneto district.
The downstairs also has a private kitchen, and the dining room features an antique Murano glass chandelier, a private wine cabinet with over 150 wines to choose from and a study/library covered in hand-carved wood. And what really makes this suite over the top is a private cinema with Dolby surround sound.


Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel, New York
Nightly Rate: $34.000











The $50 million Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons in NY was designed by legendary architect I.M. Pei, Peter Marino and hotel owner Ty Warner.
The nine-room suite has walls inlaid with mother of pearl, gold and platinum-woven fabrics. The suite is located on the 52nd floor of New York’s tallest hotel with floor-to-ceiling bay windows offering a breathtaking 360 degree view of the City. If that is not relaxing enough you can enjoy a waterfall in the Zen Room, play the grand piano in the library or soak in a tub overlooking Central Park. Full spa treatments, a personal trainer and a 24/7 butler are all included, and if you still find a will to leave, you can choose to be chauffeured in a Rolls Royce or Maybach, and you’re always guaranteed a table at the hotel’s renowned L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon restaurant.


Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas
Nightly Rate: $40.000













If anyone knows how to vacation in Las Vegas, that will be Hugh Hefner. Even though he is known as a homebody he has spent a few nights away from the mansion at the Sky Villa. The suite itself was built to model the original playboy mansion; it also incorporates elements derived from a vintage Playboy magazine article about the ultimate bachelor pad. The suite cost roughly $10 million to build but the high-rollers can rent it for a small $40,000 a night. Everything screams S-E-X-Y at the Sky Villa. The two-story 9,000 square foot Villa includes a glass elevator, a rotating bed set beneath a mirrored ceiling, and a glass wall Jacuzzi that extends out over the hotel and offers amazing Strip views, around-the-clock butler service, massage and spa rooms, work-out room and poker table, fireplace, three bedrooms, and pop-up plasma TVs.
Sorry, Bunnies not included.


Royal Penthouse Suite, President Wilson Hotel, Geneva
Nightly Rate: $53.000














The Imperial Suite, which is actually an entire top floor of the hotel, is reached via a private elevator and has four bedrooms, six bathrooms with mosaic marble floor, a cocktail lounge and a terrace with a dramatic view through the bulletproof windows over the city, Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc — all of which overlook Lake Geneva. The suite is decorated in a contemporary style, with marble and hardwood floors. The living room has a billiards table, a library and a cocktail lounge with a view of the water fountain, and can accommodate 40 people. The dining room seats 26 people around an oval mahogany table.
The hotel’s staff reassures guests that the security in the Imperial Suite is among the best in the world, ideal for celebrities or traveling heads of state who visit the United Nations headquarters next door at the Palais Wilson.


http://www.dirjournal.com/info/10-most-expensive-hotel-rooms-in-the-world/

Thursday, March 24, 2011

What to wear today?

Hello my fellow followers, today we discuss about clothing, take your pick of some of the most expensive wearable clothes around.


Satya Paul Design Studio necktie – $220,000
The Satya Paul Design Studio, a company with roots in the early stages of India’s fashion industry, displayed the most expensive necktie in the world at a fashion show aptly titled “Cultural Ties” in Mumbai on October 29th, 2003. Tied around the neck of bollywood film star Salman Khan, this unique tie is made of pure silk with a pattern in 150 grams of gold. It’s also adorned with 271 diamonds weighing 77 carats weighing 77 carats total.


Antique Levi’s jeans – $60,000
Levi Strauss Company bid $46,532 to buy a pair of their own brand of jeans back on the popular auction site eBay. However, the most expensive jeans were an average pair of 501 jeans manufactured in the 1880s and purchased by a Japanese collector in 2005 for $60,000.


Eton 80th anniversary dress shirt – over $45,000
Swedish shirt-making company Eton, celebrating their 80th birthday, created this shirt out of the finest Egyptian cotton. Of course, it couldn’t be the most expensive shirt in the world without a few diamonds. Both the studs and the cufflinks are encrusted with diamonds—white diamonds on the cufflinks and colored diamonds on the studs.



Berluti Rapiécés Reprisés – $1,830
These shoes, inspired by Andy Warhol, are notable for the patched appearance traditionally reserved for clothing. Because Warhol requested a visible patch only on his right shoe, each set includes an additional left shoe that remains unpatched.

“Cosby” sweaters – $5,000
When playing Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984-1992), Bill Cosby most often wore shirts with loud, geometric, swirling and/or patchwork patterns. This habit gave rise to the term “Cosby sweater,” used to describe similar sweaters. In 2008, Hello Friend and the Ennis William Cosby foundation put three of those famous sweaters up for auction on eBay.

In all this hideous crap the only thing I'd actually buy if I had the money would be the Eton 80th anniversary dress shirt, because it looks really classy.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Beef like a pro.

I'm back, after some away days due to a lot of work at college finally rounded up some time to make a new post. This time we talk about meat, and not just any meat, a REAL steak.





Kobe beef refers to cuts of beef from the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyu cattle, raised according to strict tradition in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The meat is generally considered to be a delicacy, renowned for its flavour, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture. Kobe beef can be prepared as steak, sukiyaki, shabu shabu, sashimi, teppanyaki and more.
This little pieces of heaven price depend on the grade of the meat, of which the best rank is A5 that can cost up to $1,500.00 for a 10 oz beef (around 0.280kg).
With an interesting story and a unique way and highly controled way of being breed kobe beef is probably the most expensive meat in existance.



History -
The Wagyu cattle that produce this highly prized meat were introduced into Japan in the second century as work animals, used in rice cultivation. As beef consumption became more prominent in society, farmers began hiring workers to massage the animals' backsides to improve meat quality. The mountainous topography of the islands of Japan resulted in small regions of isolated breeding, yielding herds that developed and maintained qualities in their meat that differ significantly from all other breeds of cattle. Herd isolation and distinctive feeding techniques which resulted from the limited land availability have led to distinguishing features that make the meat both superior in marbling and in the ratios of unsaturated versus saturated fats.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Kopi luwak, a coffee that doesn't taste like ass.

Kopi luwak, is something I'd really like to try.
It can cost up to $600 per pound. Apart from that it's just gourmet coffee made in an unique way, and if you forget about how it's done it probably tastes really great.

 
Here's the little fellow that produces ("digests") this wonder:


"Kopi luwak, or civet coffee, is one of the world's most expensive and low-production coffee. It is made from the beans of coffee berries which have been eaten by the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and other related civets, then passed through its digestive tract. A civet eats the berries for their fleshy pulp. In its stomach, proteolytic enzymes seep into the beans, making shorter peptides and more free amino acids. Passing through a civet's intestines the beans are then defecated, keeping their shape. After gathering, thorough washing, sun drying, light roasting and brewing, these beans yield an aromatic coffee with much less bitterness, widely noted as the most expensive coffee in the world.
Kopi luwak is produced mainly on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Sulawesi in the Indonesian Archipelago, and also in the Philippines (where the product is called motit coffee in the Cordillera and kape alamid in Tagalog areas) and also in East Timor (where it is called kafé-laku). Weasel coffee is a loose English translation of its name cà phê Chồn in Vietnam, where popular, chemically simulated versions are also produced."

source: wikipedia.com

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Cars suitable for a bank robber.

Good evening friends, today I present you with a list of the top 10 most expensive cars. Some dream machines on wheels for those who have money to throw around.

Buggati Veyron

With a price tag of $1,700,000, the Bugatti Veyron holds the distinction of being the most expensive car available on the market today. The Bugatti Veyron also claims the spot for the second fastest car in the world, right behind the SSC Ultimate Aero, with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, it is the fastest accelerating car and can go 0-60 in 2.6 seconds.

Lamborghini Reventon


The Lamborghini Reventon retails for $1,600,000. This version of the Lamborghini packs a lot of power and is the company’s most expensive model. It can reach 60 mph in 3.3 seconds with a top speed of 211 mph. The car has a slick jet-inspired design and is rare: only 20 are manufactured each year.

McLaren F1

When the McLaren was first built in 1994, it held the distinction of being the most expensive car in the world. It has now dropped to third place with a price tag of $970,000. The McLaren F1 has a top speed of 240 mph and can hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

Ferrari Enzo

The Ferrari Enzo is the most popular and most known super car ever built. It retails for $670,000 and has a top speed of 217 mph. It can go from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds. There were only 400 units produced and the Ferrari Enzo often sells for $1,000,000 at auction.

Pagani Zonda C12 F

The Pagani Zonda C12 F is produced by a small and independent company located in Italy where ten of these cars are manufactured per year. The Pagani Zonda C21 F retails for $667,321. It is the fifth fastest car in the world with a top speed of 215 mph+ and can go from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

SSC Ultimate Aero

The SSC Ultimate Aero carries a price tag of $654,400 and can claim the title as the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 257 mph+ and is the fastest street legal car on the market. It can go from 0-60 in 2.7 seconds, just 0.1 behind the Bugatti Veyron.

Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

The first American supercar, the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo can be had for $555,000. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ making it the third fastest car in the world. It can go from 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds. For those who wish to cruise American-style, this is the car for you.

Koenisgsegg CCX

The Koenisgsegg CCX retails for $545,568. This Swedish made car is trying hard to claim the title of fastest car in the world and is currently the forth fastest with a top speed of 245 mph+. Look out SSC Ultimate Aero, you may soon be dethroned.

Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster

This beautiful baby costs $495,000. The Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster is the fastest car with an automatic transmission in the world and is able to reach speeds of 206 mph+. It can hit sixty in 3.8 seconds. The powerful engine results in outstanding style and performances.

Porsche Carrera GT

The Porsche Carrera GT retails for $440,000. It is a supercar with dynamic stability control and a top speed of 205 mph+. It can reach 0 to sixty in 3.9 seconds. This car applied the calibers of a racing car that offers a truly unique driving experience and a great feeling on the road.

Yours truly would gladly accept any offer of the above.

Information credited to:  smashinglists.com

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

New face.


OK guys after some attempts and with some help I've finally managed to change the blog aspect to something more flashy and good looking, tell me what you think.

And on the picture the worlds most expensive chocolate bar. That has to be some tasty chocolate.

A Castle for a King.

Who never dreamed of owning a castle? I most certainly do, although it is not for every wallet, and us common man can do no more than dream about it, at least until we win the lottery and receive that millionaire prize.
So until that happens, I present you with 12 really good looking Castles that are for sale. My personal favorite is Dark Island, Alexandria in New York and Western Cus in France.
Which ones are your favorites?



Capri, Italy
$38 million
The panoramic view of the Faraglioni di Capri is the real selling point for the 10,000-plus square foot Villa Castiglione. Resting on some 300,000 square feet of Italian soil, the seven-bedroom, five-bathroom villa houses two kitchens, a sizable gallery and a swimming pool. The Capri getaway is accessible for jet-setting types, thanks to its helicopter access.
Listed with Raphael T. Harris Jr. at World Real Estate.


Dark Island, Alexandria, New York
$22 million
Secret passageways abound in this early 20th century castle near the Canadian border. It was originally built for the president of the Singer Sewing Machine Co., Frederick G. Bourne, by renowned architect Ernest Flagg. The five-story, 28-room castle, aptly named Singer Castle, has stone spiral staircases, copper gutters and a castle dungeon. Uniquely situated on one of the St. Lawrence Seaway's Thousand Islands, the property offers two boathouses, a beach and a sizable squash court.
Listed with Rene Palsenbarg at Sotheby's International Realty Canada.


Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy
$12.7 million
Despite a massive restoration, Italy's Castello Scotti maintains its original 12th century splendor. In addition to the castle's courtyard and outer façade, the inner rooms offer frescoes, paneled ceilings and hand-made terracotta and wooden floors. The 30-room castle totals more than 23,000 square feet; the property also includes two minor round towers, which house apartments, a swimming pool and manicured garden.
Listed with Casaitalia International - Luxury Italian Properties.


Loire Valley, France
$11.6 million
Originally built some 500 years ago, the majestic castle was once home to the French royal family. Towers and turrets were added when the property was rebuilt in the early 19th century. Today, the fully furnished castle offers 17,000 square feet of living space, complete with a gothic chapel, grand reception hall and hallway of stained glass. The 100-plus acres of grounds includes several outbuildings, a 22-acre lake and an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.
Listed with Thierry Journiac of Terracognita Estate Solutions.


Longniddry, Scotland
$9.4 million
In the late 18th Century, an Edinburgh writer by the name of William Mackenzie acquired the Longniddry property, once home to the Earls of Winton, and commissioned distinguished architect Robert Adam to demolish what remained. In its place, Adam built a stone castle. Several centuries later, the castle, called Seton Castle, retains the period detail, with astragal windows, ceiling plasterwork and unique chimneypieces. The four-story principal house and the combined east and west wings total 9,000 square feet. The 14 acres of grounds includes wide lawns, stables and a helicopter pad.
Listed with Savills Edinburgh.


Montclair, N.J.
$8.2 million
Hardly your typical New Jersey home--or a classic location for a castle--this 9,100-square-foot Medieval-style estate was originally built in 1902. More than a century later, the 30-room castle maintains many of its original architectural details, including stained glass panels and windows. Resting on close to 11 acres atop a ridge of the Watchung Mountains, the property offers unobstructed views of the New York City skyline. Having served as professional office space since the mid-1980s, the castle--along with its 6,100-square-foot carriage house--is seeking a new owner.
Listed with Sharon Wanat at Schweppe Burgdorff ERA.


Western Cus, France
$7.4 million
Restored in the purest architectural tradition, the 18-bedroom castle, dubbed Castle Tarn-et-Garonne, is fit for a king. The property, which features terraces, balconies and an old water tower, includes a four-room caretaker house and a three-room guest house. What's more, the grounds also host former stables, farm buildings and a vast reception room prime for a wedding.
Listed with Immovite.


Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria
$3.8 million
Flanked by Austria's Tyrolean Alps, this medieval country castle, Castle Matzen, dates back to the mid-13th century. Resting on a large rock formation, the 20,000-square-foot building includes a six-story tower and some 60 rooms. Similarly impressive is the list of prior owners and visitors, including former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt, who visited at the turn of the last century as a hunting companion to the then-owner.
Listed with RE/MAX Immobilien Holzkirchen.


Béziers, France
$2.9 million
Somewhere between the vineyards of the Languedoc and the Mediterranean coast lies a Renaissance-inspired French chateau. Built in the late 19th century, the four-story castle maintains its old world charm with French ceilings, vast fireplaces and an impressive stone staircase. Situated on seven-plus acres of enclosed parkland, the property offers a swimming pool, green house, stables and a host of outbuildings.
Listed with Anciennes Demeures--Sotheby's International Realty.


Sandpoint, Idaho
$2.25 million
It may be new, but it was built to last. Nestled in the mountains of Northern Idaho is a three-bedroom, four-bathroom castle, complete with the towers, turrets and drawbridge. The structure, which was built in 1999, is named Kataryna, after the owner's daughter, who was born there in early 2000. The castle is constructed of more than 40,000 stones and has double walls of split rock and concrete. The fairytale abode, which occupies a half acre, also offers panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille and the ski slopes of Schweitzer Mountain from its mountaintop location.
Listed with CastleMagic.


Durban, South Africa
About $1.3 million
Among roaming impala and guinea fowl sits Stratford Castle. Step inside to enjoy the stained glass, velvet curtains and exposed stone walls. In addition to its historic elegance, the grounds offer a pool, sauna, gardens and vast rooftop entertaining space. And lest that weren't enough to keep one entertained, the magical home also overlooks a lake and golf course.
Listed with Castles-for-sale.com.


Isle of Harris, Scotland
Offers over $1.1 million
Scotland's Ardvourlie Castle rests on the shores of Loch Seaforth. Since it was built in 1862, Ardvourlie Castle has served many purposes and many owners, including a former Earl of Dunmore and aeroplane maker Thomas Sopwith. Today, the 13-acre property has an eight-bedroom, five-bathroom home, magnificent gardens and a host of breathtaking views.
Listed with Savills Edinburgh.

Information credited to: Forbes.com