Archive for June 2017

[US] Newport Mansions, Gilded Age and Vanderbilts (1)

Published on 3:08 PM By rika.C.

"Any fool can make a fortune; it takes a man of brains to hold onto it," Commodore Vanderbilt

One of the things that I love to do the most when I travel, is to roam about the streets, aimlessly, and figure out which era a house, a cottage, a phenomenal church was built.

Kind of like a guessing game -- finding common patterns among all those architectural structures, lines and forms.

Newport is the perfect place for this, with mansions from the Gilded Age, colonial houses that ranged from Beaux-art, Renaissance Revival, Gothic revival to Queen Anne style, and Irish influenced "cottages".

However, there are two mansions in Newport, still erect today, to see the rise and the fall of the Vanderbilts.

The Vanderbilts
Commodore Vanderbilt, started the business of running passenger boats and steamboats, with a capital of $100 borrowed from his mother in 1810. By 1877, his wealth has reached $100m, which is more than what was held in the US Treasury. William Henry Vanderbilt, his son, took great care of the inheritance and managed to double it, in just 8 years after his father's death.

The bulk of William's inheritance was divided between two of his sons -- Cornelius Vanderbilt II and William Kissam Vanderbilt.

Cornelius V. II built the Breakers. William K. Vanderbilt built the Marble House.

The Marble House
The Marble House has the features of a Beaux-Arts architecture with flat roof, symmetrical design, arched windows or doors and a tint of classical design and forms. It was designed Richard Morris Hunt, who also designed the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The cost of the house was about $11 million, of which $7 million was spent on marble.

newport mansions, vanderbilt, the marble house

The grand dining room is covered in red marbles and 24K gold.

Study Room

Gothic Chapel

Another room for hosting guests

The room of Gloria Laura Vanderbilt, the only child of Reginald Vanderbilt. It is said that little Gloria had no say on whatsoever, and the Chinoise design of her room is totally her mother's idea. Little Gloria was also the subject of a "trial of the century" -- the battle for custody between her mother and her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (American sculptor and founder of the Whitney museum -- we will see her room later!). She is also the mother of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.

Mrs. Vanderbilt's room

A highly technologically advanced automatic water heater

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Newport Mansions, Gilded Age & Vanderbilts (2)

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[US] Newport Mansions, Gilded Age and Vanderbilts (2)

architecture

Published on 2:45 PM By rika.C.

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The Breaker
The Break had its Italian Renaissance influence and the entrance room is largely inspired by the French Opera House. When it was completed in 1895, it was considered as one of the most opulent summer "cottage" in Newport.

Porte-cochère. A covered entrance to carriages or cars from the weather.

The Breaker has one of the most advanced technologies implemented: centralized heating system and electricity. The main hall is inspired by 16th century palaces of Turin, and hence took the form of an Italian Renaissance style.

The walls are made of Caen stone, a creamy yellow type of limestone that are found in France.
The room has huge pilasters that are decorated with oak leaves and acorns, which symbolizes strength and longevity. You will be able to find these symbols throughout the house. The children are allowed to dance, ride bicycles or slide down the stairs in this hall!

Morning Room
At first historians couldn't quite understand what made the wall panels look "shimmering", and they thought it was plated with silver. In fact, this room was varnished with platinum, the most expensive metal ever. The ceiling resembles the four seasons, and the wall panels are painted with muses that represents music and poetry.

Muses

Music Room
The music room is where the Vanderbilts played the piano, and invite friends over for dance. The room is covered with gold leafs, chandeliers, and exotic oak furnitures.

Study Room
The study room used wood panels from Turkey and the side panels were made of leather. There are symbols of Dolphins throughout the room. The Vanderbilts usually read or drink tea in this room.
The fireplace was taken from the 16th century chateau d’Arnay le Duc in Burgundy, France.

Study room where they drink tea

Gertrude's Bedroom
Gertrude preferred to be a poor girl rather than the heiress of great wealth. She became an artist and a sculptor, and on the chest is one of her art piece. She is also the founder of the Whitney museum.

Mrs. Vanderbilt's room

The stairs are designed to be a little shorter than usual, for women to glide down the stairs without tripping.

17th century tapestry about Alexander the Great

The breaker was originally a wooden house and destroyed by fire, so in the re-design, Mr. Vanderbilt specifically requested the kitchen was designed on a different wing to prevent catching from fire. Tables in the kitchen are also covered in zinc, which is kind of like the modern day stainless steel.

This is the view from their Loggia, an indoor porch covered with mosaic tiles where they can sit, chill and watch the sea. The house is called "The Breaker" for a good reason -- you can see the waves crashing against the cliffs and the rocks are called breakers.

Both the Breaker and the Marble House gave us a glimpse of the upper class in the early 19th century. They may lack the noble pedigree, but the industrial revolution gave these people an enormous growth in wealth to splurge on impeccable grandeur and over-the-top designs.

To previous Newport Mansions, Gilded Age and Vanderbilts (1)

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ICELAND: The delight of Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon

Published on 12:01 PM By rika.C.

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Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is a man-made salt lake, it is actually the water output from a geothermal plant Svartsengi. The geothermal water underneath Svartsengi is richer in minerals since it's close to the sea, and sea water seeps in through the porous lava. Since the water is so rich in minerals that it is too corrosive to be used directly for heating, the geothermal water is pumped into the lava fields nearby, which forms the blue lagoon that we currently enjoy so much. The water is full of silica, minerals and bacteria, which gives it a green hue at times.

I think everyone has heard of how good the blue lagoon is, but here's something more mesmerizing about it. Besides the clay mask, the hottie staffs, the bar in the middle and all that I am about to tell you.

If there is a number one rule, I would suggest going there before your flight. It's only about 20- 30mins away from the Keflavik airport, and you will be so thankful that's the last thing that happens on your trip! You will always remember how relaxed, composed, beautiful you feel right before you leave Iceland, and that memory will stay with you forever.

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There's a nice cafe at the entrance, so feel free to re-hydrate yourself after the hot spring....or with caffeine if that's what you prefer. :)

They also give you these digital wristband that serves as your locker keys and payment card for any purchases you make when inside. Do not lose it because it costs about ISK 5000.

Make your way to get a quick shower, get dressed and then you are ready to hop into the hot spring!

The temperature of the water is quite different all around, so usually I like to stick to places that are a bit warmer than usual. There will be friendly staffs who walk inside the lagoon to serve you clay masks, but make sure you don't leave it on for more than 10mins as it starts to sting with dryness.

Another key point is to clip your hair up, or have it thoroughly moisturized before dipping into the water. The geothermal water (or aka hot spring), contains a high level of silica and salt water which can make you hair hard to manage afterwards.

Bring your sunglasses if you want to look photogenic without your makeups!

If you've got some time afterwards, I would highly suggest to walk around the hidden paths that's close to the entrance. Let the photos speak for itself.

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Mrs. B

relationship

Published on 5:19 PM By rika.C.

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I want to talk about this woman I met last year, Mrs. B.

She has the most endearing grins, and beneath her age-torn wrinkles, she masters the type of positive energy that one just wants to get close to.

She’s not your typical happy go lucky. Actually, she has had two spinal operations, and there are days when she would be in so much pain that all she could do is lie in bed.

Her mother-in-law, for many years, saw her as an outsider, and would often book lunch with her son, but with a table for two instead of three.

Yet, she never gave in. “My mother told me, you should kill people with kindness.”

And that’s what exactly she did. She was the one who goes to the old nursing home every day to care for her mother-in-law.

When her husband died, (he’s much much older than her), she continued to do so. Don’t get me wrong, she still has her standards, but she knows the exceptions.

Despite our age being 30+ years apart, I just know that something clicked between us. We’d laugh so hard together, as if we were just like two kindergarten kids.

Age makes no difference in friendship, character does.

A friend was telling me that she finds it hard to make friends in workforce, because there are all these “other” kinds of people out there.

And I told her that I believe, “every encounter has a purpose and a meaning but we just don’t get to determine whether they are fleeting or eternal”.

Even those who has harmed us and hurt us. It’s okay. I’d like to think that people are good in general, just that there are moments when they are blinded, and faltered by jealousy, greed, lust or fear.

So cherish those who are around us today, and cherish more of those who have already took their chance and departed. Now you are free, with a strong will, to become better person.

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台南甜點秘境散策

ASIA

Published on 11:21 AM By rika.C.

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每次來到台南時，都有種莫名的溫暖。

總覺得台南人，有種不屈不擾的真誠，是其他地方所看不到的。他們溫柔，慢條斯理的把每件事做好。
運將不會為了賺錢而繞路，店家更不會犧牲家庭生活而每天開張。

台北人來到台南，除了享受愜意的慢遊，轉角間總是有著出戶意料的驚喜。

純薏仁之紅豆白玉薏仁

濃郁的薏仁香，配上帶點甘苦的抹茶白玉，綜合了紅豆的甜味，是一道清爽的夏日甜品。比起軟綿綿的口感, 更喜歡這種粒粒分明又扎實的薏仁口感。使用的食器都是以木材為主（應該是衫木？），很喜歡這種溫暖的手感。

深藍咖啡廳之千層蛋糕 (Mille Crepe)

吃過Lady M 的千層蛋糕，但真的覺得很.....普通。唯一的特點應該是他在每層的薄餅都有點焦糖香，不然其實台灣有很多間的千層蛋糕的口味都很相似。深藍的千層蛋糕最推薦的是栗子跟芝麻口味，跟清爽的奶香很匹配。

懿品乳酪菓子手造所之夏威夷塔與鳳梨酥

只能說這間應該是我在台南吃到最好吃的甜點了！！！

酥而不膩的塔皮，烤的酥脆，有著焦糖香的夏威夷果豆。雖然他們家主打是乳酪系列的產品，但是我覺得他們其他的副產品都很好吃。

江水號之八寶冰

江水號雖然沒有起眼的外觀，但卻有著莫名的親切感。剉冰機是小時候懷念的墨綠手動刨冰機台，加上淳樸的綠豆，薏仁，芋頭就是個懷舊的滋味。

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ICELAND Vestrahorn mountain & Viking Cafe

Cafe

Published on 10:45 AM By rika.C.

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The Vestrahorn is a popular site for photographers, for its perpetually enigmatic scene.

In daylight it is like a lady with shining armor of sand and water, with the wet sand mirroring it majestic mountains. At night, the dunes become mystically, gently reflecting the moonlight in pure darkness.

Iceland is full of natural wonders as such, but no words can represent the sheer tranquility of this place.