Our original plan was to go for a safari in Namibia and Botswana, but this was not the right season to go there. So instead, following a tropical proposal in Fiji and an intimate wedding in Bali, we felt that a laidback luxury honeymoon in the Maldives would be the perfect add-on to our picture-perfect love story. The honeymoon in Africa will have to wait.

It’s a bit of a cliché for a honeymoon location but for good reason. It really is a piece of paradise which will leave you speechless and make you feel you’re living out your dreams.
Upon arrival at the airport, the tone was given.

We chose to stay on the tiny Maldivian private coral island of Velassaru which is conveniently located in the South Male Atoll, just a 25-minute scenic speedboat ride from Male airport.

Seven sun-filled days at an uber-luxe resort in the Maldives? Yes, please!
We stayed at the stunning Velassaru Water Suite for a quintessential Maldives experience (there is only one such room in the whole resort!).

270 sqm of pure indulgence, rising above the turquoise lagoon waters, right at the end of the jetty isolated behind a private gate. Quiet and peaceful. The perfect luxury hideaway.

With uninterrupted views of the ocean and beyond, the Velassaru Water Suite combines natural elegance with bright contemporary and chic style.
The living room… with glass floor which offers a view of the marine life beneath our feet (our own live natural aquarium!).

A huge bathroom with oversized bathtub and an indoor rain shower… boasting amazing sea views.

A spacious sun-lounging deck area…with our own infinity pool, which blends naturally into the horizon.

We loved waking up bright and early. But how could we not? Imagine waking up to something as beautiful as this…

then walking right off your private deck for a swim in the endless turquoise ocean.

Stingrays, reef sharks and colourful tropical fish and coral reefs, right on your doorstep – literally.

We spent the week lazing around, listening to the gentle waves.

We enjoyed a massage in an overwater bungalow, dined barefoot on the beach, watched glorious sunrises and sunsets, sipped delicious mojitos under starry sky.

Powdery-white beaches. Sparkling-blue ocean. Vivid greens palm trees. Barefoot luxury at its best.

Vows with a view: a dream wedding story

by ozawapi · Mar 1, 2014

Once in a while in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairytale.

I know… it may sound like a cliché but these few words sum up my love life. Seriously. Not that I am one of those girls who had imagined my wedding over and over again in my head since I was very little! Just a million times since Simon popped the question one year ago :0)

Simon and I embarked on our love journey in 2004. From the very first day, our life together has been full of extraordinary adventures. Eight years, five continents and more than 20 countries later, Simon proposed on a secluded island in Fiji. Lucky girl!

We wanted to get married where the sea meets the sky, in the seclusion of a magnificent cliff-top venue, overlooking the vivid azure water of the Indian ocean. We quickly decided that Uluwatu, on Bali’s southern peninsula, was our little piece of paradise.

We visited many different venues but upon entering Semara Luxury Villas Resort Uluwatu, we immediately fell in love with the place.

You be the judge…

Yes, that’s exactly what we had in mine too… Breathtaking!

Perched high above the Indian ocean, with the caresses of tropical sea breezes, and the gentle sound of the waves, Semara was definitely the perfect backdrop for our dream wedding.

Guests flew thousands of miles to come celebrate in style with us so we decided to host a 3-day wedding celebration to spend as much time as possible with our friends and family.

The adventure began with an Indonesian Sunset Tapas dinner at Single Fin Terrace.

The next day we embarked on a love journey through Semara resort, with the wedding ceremony at villa Pawana, followed by a sunset cocktail at villa Jamadara and finally the reception dinner & party at villa Ambar.

The third day we recovered from the wedding with a garden brunch and a lazy pool party in villa Tamarama before ending the day with a gorgeous sunset barbeque and movie night barefoot on the beach.

Salty kisses and sandy toes, mojitos, sun, more mojitos, more sun… and picture-perfect romance under the stars!

Three days of magic and love, when dreams literally come true.

And they lived happily ever after…

Wedding details:

Wedding Venue: Semara Luxury Villas Resort Uluwatu
Wedding Organizer: One & Only Bali Weddings
Branding & collaterals: mOOnshot digital
Photographer: Pixeldust Images
Wedding Gowns & Bridesmaid Gowns: Phangsanny
Wedding Suit: Brioni, by Uomo Group
Make-up Artist: Yeanne
Decoration: Bloomz
Catering: M&M Catering
Wedding Cake: Ixora
Wedding Ring: Tiffany and Co
Souvenir: Republic Of Soap (bonbonniere)

The 7 sins of Las Vegas

by ozawapi · May 1, 2011

We visited Las Vegas during a road trip through South West USA. With all its twinkling lights and celebrated excesses, Las Vegas is certainly one of those cities that you have to see once in your life. To say it’s brash, opulent and fun is an understatement.
There’s nowhere else like it, really.
Where else in the world can you enjoy a ride in a Venetian gondola, pass by the Eiffel Tower, get a taste of the New York skyline, come nose to nose with the Egyptian Sphinx, get a feel of the Medieval era, wander through ancient Roman temples, and walk through a lush tropical forest, all in one day?
Made famous for its gambling and other guilty pleasures, Las Vegas is often referred to as Sin City.

So let’s reveal the 7 deadly sins of this bustling city…

1. Greed: casinos and gambling

No doubt, Las Vegas truly lives up to its reputation of “entertainment capital of the world”. There are countless casinos to be explored along the Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard). And each and every casino is a labyrinth of endless slot machines and table games. Casinos are so big, we got lost in it several times trying to find our way out. Oh, and casinos in Las Vegas are open 24 hours a day!

It’s amazing how in Las Vegas everything is designed to make you lose all sense of time and space.
Sure, gambling is undoubtedly Las Vegas’ trademark and the reason why many people travel here. But let’s put the record straight: Las Vegas can be fun, even if you’re not gambling (much). Set a gambling budget and stick to it. It’s also fun to just stroll around and watch all these people loosing their money.

And don’t forget to take advantage of free drinks while gambling!

2. Gluttony: unlimited food and alcohol

One of the safest bets in Las Vegas is to find great places to eat.

Filled with renowned restaurants, all-you-can-eat buffets and fast food chains, Las Vegas is certainly a great dining destination.

When wandering the Strip, you’ll also see lots of people drinking cocktails. Nowhere else in the United States can people legally walk down the street and enjoy alcohol in public places.

More surprising: everybody is sipping drinks from over-sized and tacky plastic glasses. We know it’s cheesy, but we had to get one of those giants.
3. Laziness: spa, sunbathing and pool

Las Vegas isn’t just about partying. No holiday in Las Vegas would be complete without being pampered in some wonderful spas or spending time sunbathing by the pool of your hotel. Don’t forget the suncream though! Las Vegas is located in the middle of the desert, so temperatures can rise pretty high during the day.

4. Pride:

If you are planning to book an hotel out of the Strip, think twice! The Strip, is the beating heart of the city. Simply browsing around the hotels’ premises can take several days. From the twirling and dancing fountains of the Bellagio to the beauty of the Caesar Palace and the enchantment of the Venetian, hotels themselves are proper attractions offering everything from entertainment, shopping and of course, gambling.

We’d highly recommend seeing a show like Cirque Du Soleil. We went to see KÀ at the MGM Grand and it was awe-inspiring. Moving stage, burning arrows, mind-blowing stunts and acrobatics. You have to see it to believe it!

Sorry, we don’t have any picture to illustrate this theatrical event as photography was not permitted during the show.

5. Wrath: endless walk and painful blisters

Do not think that you can wear your sexy stilettos or brand new leather loafers all night out along the Strip. Or say hello to painful blisters. Las Vegas is bigger than it looks. Don’t get fooled by this Vegas illusion where you think that everything is close by. Expect to do much, much walking. So bring a pair of comfy runners or flip-flops that you can fit in your bag.
6. Lust: showgirls, strip bars and drive-thru wedding chapels

It’s hard to walk along the Strip without being called out by people handing out flyers and business cards advertising “escort services”. Flyers can be found everywhere, covering most of the newspaper boxes and often carelessly littering the ground. A girl half naked, a telephone number and some basic instructions on how to get a girl ordered straight to your room.

In Las Vegas, you can enjoy just about any kind of wedding you want, from a high end traditional chapel in your resort to a unique Las Vegas drive thru wedding. Imagine getting married like you would buy a Big Mac…oh but with Elvis as witness! How romantic (or not) is that!

7. Envy: shopping, shopping, shopping

Feeling envious is no fun, right!? So shop till you drop in Las Vegas shoppers paradise. Las Vegas is a stylish blend of shopping destinations, for all budgets. From discount clothes to upscale designers, from free-standing shopping malls and inexpensive factory outlets to high-end malls within hotel resorts. Las Vegas has it all!
Even just window shopping is still fun in Las Vegas.

Enjoy a city break in New York

by ozawapi · Mar 23, 2011

Ah New York… We love this city, its modern skyscrapers, iconic yellow cabs, famous Statue of Liberty, organised blocks…

Arriving in New York, there is a sort of “déjà vu” feeling. If you watch American TV shows, you have probably seen most of New York’s popular sights. But discovering them on site remains an amazing experience! A simple stroll through the bustling streets is enough to make you realize that the Big Apple is a lot more than just a cinema decor.

So what can you do there?

Our New York favorite spots:

Times Square

We know this may sound cliché but a trip to “The City That Never Sleeps” wouldn’t be complete without a visit to spectacular Times Square. New York’s heartbeat, Times Square is brash and packed with many restaurants, theatres, cinemas, hotels, street vendors, and much more. With all its illuminated billboards, giant screens and flashy lights, Times Square is simply fascinating.

We found a great deal to stay at the Hilton on Times Square using Travelocity. The hotel was nicely located to observe the city waking up in the morning and lighting up at night.

Central Park

Escape from the concrete jungle and stroll through Manhattan’s “lung” in Central Park. As you enter the park, you’ll be surprised how quiet it actually is. Central Park is really what you want to make of it. Jog, walk hand-in-hand with your loved one, skate, … or just relax in this peaceful 340 ha oasis in the middle of the vibrant city.

Empire State Building

Made from 60,000 tons of steel, the Empire State Building is is one of the world’s most recognizable skyscrapers (even King Kong climbed it, do you remember?). So like any respectful tourist, we had to go and visit it.

Aboard express elevators, we reached the observatory deck on the 86th floor in just a few seconds. And we have to say that the panoramic view from the top was a truly memorable experience.

Statue of Liberty

We first spent some time in Battery Park, entertained by eccentric street performers. We then took the ferry to Liberty Island to see the impressive Statue of Liberty. Did you know that the monument was shipped from France to New York divided in more than 300 pieces and only re-assembled and completed on site over a year later?

Standing more than 93 metres above New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty has become a symbol of freedom and democracy. The ferry journey is an integral part of the visit. We braved the wind and stood on the open deck long enough to take great pictures of the entire statue.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge connects Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn, over the East River. We took the subway to Brooklyn (Simon was proud to demonstrate his skills to read any map). We went there in late afternoon so that we could enjoy both day and night panoramas.

For our picture-perfect view of the bridge, we headed to the Brooklyn Promenade Park along the East River. As the sun romantically begins to fall, you can see all the twinkling lights coming to life… Magic!

Wall Street

Known around the world as the home of stock trading industry, Wall Street is the heart of New York’s financial district. It was quite nice to walk around the narrow streets on a business day as it was full of high-powered financial leaders in a hurry and gave us a more authentic feeling of the area.

Of course, we did not miss the opportunity to take a photo with the local celebrity: the Charging Bull Statue. Be prepared to be patient if you want to take pictures of the statue without the crowd of tourists around.

Madison Square Park & the Flatiron

Madison Square Park is a rather small family-friendly park. Nestled among some of the city’s historic skyscrapers, this park offers some great views of the Flatiron building.

You have probably seen this iron shape skyscraper somewhere… The Flatiron building was indeed featured as the fictional office for the Daily Bugle newspaper in the Spiderman movies. So of course, we really wanted to see it.

For our full length picture of this New York’s landmark, we went to the crossroads of 23rd Street, 5th Avenue (the place for high end shopping) and Broadway.

Chinatown

The overcrowded streets of sprawling Chinatown are worth spending a couple of hours wandering around. Chinatown is packed with hundreds of little shops selling everything from exotic fruit and poultry, to knickknacks and dodgy stuff not always easily identified!You easily forget you are in America.

For a true feeling of Chinatown, stroll in Columbus Park. It is a major recreational facility filled with people doing Tai Chi or playing table games.

Little Italy

To be honest, Little Italy was a lot smaller than the lively Italian quarter we were expecting after reading our travel guide. Little Italy has literally been swallowed up by the ever-expanding Chinatown. Nowadays, it is really just a few nostalgic streets. But still it was nice to walk around. But be cautious if you decide to eat here…Lots of the restaurants have nothing Italian but the name.

Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center is a complex of well matched commercial buildings. We also spotted some journalists recording a TV show in the NBC studios and spent some time around the famous ice skating rink.

We could talk about New York for hours but we thought we would instead give you a nice sample of what we enjoyed during our 5 day trip. Just enough to build your interest. So if you haven’t been in New York yet, start planning your trip right away… You will love it!

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So let’s reveal the 7 deadly sins of this bustling city…