Entertainment Archives - Amora Escapes

The Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay Understands that People Make A Place

Julian Berry — Sun, 21 May 2023 03:30:53 +0000

True hospitality can’t be bought. Not exactly. You can go to the most expensive hotel, the most glamorous, the most exclusive, the most spectacular property in the world and it can still feel underwhelming and uninspiring. As of late, there is a huge emphasis and an entire vocabulary dedicated to the value of experiences and travel, especially in high-end travel.

And this is valid. Watching schools of candy-floss-colored fish swim by on a snorkelling expedition, or hiking up to the top of a craggy mountain, or flipping slender crepes in a frying pan with a world-class chef, these are the kinds of experiences that can make a trip soar, but at the heart of this, it’s really people who make a trip and a destination stand out.

The Four Seasons brand has always been known for its exemplary service, creating teams who are warm and welcoming but also authentic and approachable. It’s a combination that is easier said than done.

And the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay gets it right on what can only be described as down to the molecular level. Much of the staff has worked at the property since it opened in June 1993. And at the hotel’s sister property in Sayan, Randy Shimabuku, the longtime general manager, made such an impression on a vacationing guest—Barack Obama—that the two spent an entire day together.

Taman Wantilan at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay.

Haloed in white sand beaches, Bali is home to more than 20,000 temples, earning its nickname “the island of a thousand temples,” or “the island of the gods.” To this end, Jimbaran Bay, has its own resort temple, where guests can take guided tours with the resort priest, Aji Ngurah, or visit the nearby Goa Gong cave temple for a water purification ritual.

Four Seasons Resorts Bali at Jimbaran Bay at dusk.

On arrival, guests will find 147 villas, laid out like a traditional Balinese village. The rooms are large and discrete, folding into the surrounding gardens and trees. Once here, be active—via paddleboards, kayaks and the on-site fitness center—or simply reset, courtesy of the resort’s 2,000 square metre Healing Village Spa.

With 10 spa suites, delivering a panoply of top-to-toe treatments, this new haven includes everything from traditional massages to facials and scrubs to more unexpected energy rebalancing treatments influenced by age-old Balinese wisdom.

Spiritual healing is second nature here, from the medicinal properties of indigenous herbs to complex body work. And treatments like the Celestial Light Ritual build on this. Using the vibrations of gemstones, chromotherapy lighting, and resonant singing bowls, guests have their body, mind and emotions lulled into balance. And it is just the kind of intuitive treatment the hotel does best.

A view from the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay.

It’s not hard to simply stay put at the resort. Meals are flavorful and diverse. There’s the open-air Taman Wantilan, serving a breakfast that seems to tour every cuisine around the world, until 11.00am. Poolside Alu serves tasty bites, like poke bowls and made-to-order chocolate-dipped ice creams.

An aerial view of the Four Seasons Resort Bali Jimbaran Bay.

Sundara at the hotel’s beach club, offers a boozy tapas-style weekend brunch that ripples with flavor; but the standout is Jala, the atmospheric seafood restaurant that wafts scents of satay and lemongrass through the property every evening. The jumble of tastes, from the sizzling garlic to the sweet soy sauce is a memory to be retained.

The location, too, does not go unnoticed. Curved beachfront and powered white sand, outlines the resort, which despite its calm and secluded feel, is only 20 minutes from the airport. Denpasar International Airport has become a global hub, manoeuvring sleek aircrafts from around the world along its runways.

And leading that fleet is Singapore Airlines, the world’s most awarded airline. In 2023, the brand was hailed as among “the 50 most admired companies in the world” by Fortune magazine, and named Airline of the Year at the annual Airline Industry Awards.

Four Seasons Resort Bali At Jimbaran Bay.

Ease and convenience are second nature, regardless of the class. Even in Economy, headrests are adjustable, the comfortable footrest bar is built in. Every seat has a USB charger, and the touch-screen entertainment systems rival the choice available at most traveller’s homes.

Business class seats fold down into soft beds. Or, blink from inside one of the new suites—available on the airlines Airbus A380s—and you could easily mistake it for a tightly packed hotel room.

Travel pulls us from our day-to-day, gives us something to hold on to, as well as to talk about and learn from. But when it’s really done right, it gives us something to dream about.

Source: FORBES

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Find Rides, Holiday Festivities, & More At SkyPark At Santa’s Village This Season

Rick Casey — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 12:01:21 +0000

The majority of people picture beaches, palm trees, and never-ending sunlight when they envision a California Christmas vacation. That is occasionally accurate. Thus, the redwoods, wineries, snowy mountains, and temperate but brisk December also provide some of the greatest locations to celebrate Christmas in California. Vacationers will see 83-foot (25.29-meter) Christmas trees, dancing sugar plums, life-sized gingerbread houses, and all the roasted chestnuts and mulled wine vacationers could possibly want, in addition to numerous sparkling light shows with the most elaborate decorations. Christmas in California is definitely unique! The jolly holiday may be spent in a variety of lovely locations. It all depends on what vacationers are seeking: mountain or beach, cities with a lot of celebrations, or quaint little towns. At the magnificent amusement park, SkyPark, it is always Christmas. However, as the year draws to a close, Santa’s Village becomes even more festive, especially if vacationers are fortunate enough to have received some recent mountain snowfall. Additionally, rides, holiday festivities, and more are waiting for them.

Put Yourself In The Christmas Mood

Mid-November, vacationers can visit Santa’s Village in SkyPark to enjoy ice skating, holiday treats, cookie decorating and crafting with Santa’s Elves at Silver Bells Arena, touring Santa’s post office and workshop, having a brunch with Santa, and tea with Mrs. Claus. This year-round adventure paradise becomes a Christmas fantasy around the holidays. A Lake Arrowhead Christmas tradition is Santa’s Village at SkyPark, and with good cause. Locals will tell vacationers that the holidays would not be complete without a cup of hot chocolate at the North Pole.

Date: Between November 17, 2022, and January 8, 2023
Opening schedule: The park is open all year long from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Holiday ticket cost: $69 per adult and $59 per child and senior

Book Your Favorite Christmas Activities

Spend Some Time In Santa’s House

Vacationers can visit Santa at his cabin at the North Pole, where there is always a fire to keep them warm and where the memories endure a lifetime! They can write a heartfelt message of gratitude for the presents they got the previous year or check Santa’s postal box to send him their wish list. Additionally, they may feel the cold North Pole just outside Santa’s house door and see how it glows with the shining Northern lights. Santa’s Village at SkyPark is identified by this experience as a component of the fantastic North Pole. For the purpose of bringing Christmas cheer year-round to all the girls and boys of Southern California, a little portion of this unique polar location was transferred here.

Go Ice Skating At Silver Bells Arena, SkyPark

During the winter, the park’s Silver Bells Arena is transformed into a lovely skating pond. The entire family may hire skates from SkyPark and establish a brand-new Christmas custom. There is a good reason why ice skating is mentioned in so many Christmas songs. It is one of the finest ways to create enchanted holiday memories, especially at a lovely, upscale rink surrounded by pine trees. On some evenings, vacationers may even go night skating, offering themselves a breathtaking view of the stars as they dance across the ice. If a skater needs aid or advice, Adventure Elves are always willing to help. Ice skaters should take notice that while rental skates are offered, wearing thick socks is advised for maximum comfort. Skates are welcome to be brought by visitors.

Attend The Following Christmas Entertainment At Santa’s Village

Get Bewitched By The Wacko Show

The Wacko Show is a magic performance for parents and children of all ages. There will be both laughter and astonishment and enthusiasm. Watching this show accomplishes amazing feats using common things. Several volunteers will have the power to create magical moments. Mony, a cunning fox puppet who is Wacko’s special guest, will appear on the show. Wacko is a member of the famed Magic Castle in Los Angeles and the winner of Los Angeles’ Best Family Entertainer.

Watch SkyPark Puppet Theater

The happiest puppets on the Californian mountain invite vacationers to the Sky Pavilion to watch their performance, An Elf’s Life for Me. Spectators can join Astrid, Dori, Floki the Yeti, Ingrid, Nori, and Santa Claus as they share three jolly tales about the most wonderful time of the year. This holiday puppet play is appropriate for both young and young-at-heart audiences.

Sing And Dance On Christmas Carols At Kids Imagine A Nation

A joyful, interactive presentation with lots of humor and all vacationers’ favorite Christmas tunes is called Kids Imagine Nation. People are invited to come to sing and dance with Aaron, Beatz, and Rachel as they win their hearts. The three may be seen on their well-liked children’s web series, where they set out to use music and creativity to aid their neighbors when they are not playing at Santa’s Village. Source : The Travel

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Atul Khosla, COO of LIV Golf, quits Saudi-backed league

Billy Day — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 11:53:20 +0000

Atul Khosla, the veteran sports executive who was to guide LIV Golf into the franchise model on which it has staked its viability, has resigned from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund-funded business in a challenge to the PGA Tour. Khosla’s exit, just over a year after LIV announced his appointment as COO, comes as the startup struggles to gain traction and, according to confidential information reported by the New York Times this week is far from hitting the benchmarks. that would be success. LIV did not immediately comment on Friday, days after players and agents were privately told Khosla intended to step down. Khosla is not the first senior official to leave LIV this year, and the outfit has faced open questions about the future of its commissioner, Greg Norman, a two-time British Open winner and outspoken critic of the PGA Tour’s design. . But as a departure from Norman threatened to rob LIV of one of the most familiar and proven voices in men’s golf, Khosla was increasingly seen as LIV’s most essential leader in charting the way forward. and was deeply proud of his work. At the same time, suspicions about the true extent of his power swirled in the weeks leading up to his departure from LIV. In a recent court filing, the PGA Tour accused the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as the wealth fund is officially known, of playing an outsized role in managing a deal that attracted a handful of the world’s best players, including Dustin Johnson. , Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith. But even with the defections of these players and a few others from the PGA Tour, LIV hasn’t secured the television and sponsorship deals that are a cornerstone of top-level professional sports. Such deals were seen by consultants McKinsey & Company, in an analysis prepared privately for Saudi officials last year, as critical to the new league’s prospects for success. Additionally, LIV fell short of other milestones identified by McKinsey as crucial to achieving even “co-existence” with the PGA Tour, including signing most of the world’s top 12 golfers and facing to a “null/moderate response” from the golf establishment. LIV, however, insisted that it remains on track as it moves towards a system in which its teams will act as franchises. In a statement to The Times last week, Jonathan Grella, a spokesperson for LIV, said he “has made it clear on multiple occasions that our stakeholders take a long-term approach to our business model.” “Despite the many obstacles put in our way by the PGA Tour, we are thrilled with the success of our year of beta testing,” Grella said. “And we are confident that over the next few seasons the remaining elements of our business model will materialize as planned. Our business plan is built on the path to profitability. We have a nice long runway and we’re taking off. A week later, news of Khosla’s departure became public. Source : Nouvelles Du Jour

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LIV Golf COO Atul Khosla leaves breakaway tour after one season | Golf News

Garrett Townsend — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 11:44:44 +0000

LIV Golf will begin a 14-tournament season in February LIV Golf chief operating officer Atul Khosla has resigned after the Saudi-backed separatist business’ first season. Khosla’s departure comes just over a year after he was appointed after serving as chief corporate development and chief brand officer with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Greg Norman, Commissioner of LIV, said in a statement to The New York Times : “At the end of LIV’s successful inaugural season, Atul Khosla has decided to move on. “We respect AK and his personal decision.” LIV’s introduction has been divisive in the sport over the past year, drawing criticism for his Saudi investment given the country’s human rights abuses.

Tiger Woods has praised Rory McIlroy for voicing his support for the PGA Tour amid controversy surrounding the LIV Golf Tour. Tiger Woods has praised Rory McIlroy for voicing his support for the PGA Tour amid controversy surrounding the LIV Golf Tour. The tour has meanwhile attracted a number of top players from across other tours, including Open champion Cameron Smith, with lucrative prize money and a shorter team format over the course of a truncated season. The PGA notably issued indefinite suspensions to players who made the switch, while the Ryder Cup future of LIV participants also remains uncertain. Rory McIlroy has been among the leading voices against LIV and recently called for Norman’s removal as commissioner so they can reach a resolution with the PGA. LIV will begin a 14-tournament, $405 million prize pool season in February, having recently added three championship venues in the United States to its schedule for next year. Tiger and Charlie Woods both follow the Ritz-Carlton GC course as they play in the PNC Pro-Am Championship. Tiger and Charlie Woods both follow the Ritz-Carlton GC course as they play in the PNC Pro-Am Championship. The Gallery Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona (March 17-19), Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa Oklahoma (May 12-14) and The Greenbrier in the Allgheny Mountains (August 4-5), West Virginia , will host LIV Golf League events. in 2023. “LIV Golf’s expansion into new US markets adds to the growing excitement for the league’s launch in 2023,” Norman said. “More fans across the country and around the world will experience the energy of LIV Golf and the innovative competition that has reinvigorated the sport, and these championship courses will contribute to the transformative season ahead for players, fans and the game. of golf.” The events will likely feature Smith, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia, all of whom are part of the LIV Tour. Source : Nouvelles du Monde

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A LIV Golf boss resigns!

Billy Day — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:02:25 +0000

The news was confirmed by LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman in a statement on Friday, days after players and agents were privately briefed on Khosla’s decision. “At the end of LIV’s successful inaugural season, Atul Khosla decided to move on. We respect AK and his personal decision. No explanation was provided. It is the second departure of a key player this year from the circuit financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) since Sean Bratches resigned earlier in the year to join F1, Khosla had been hired by LIV Golf in December 2021. He previously held a senior position with the Tampa Bay American football team playing in the NFL.

Chess

Observers felt that Khosla should be considered the “thinking head” of LIV. A character of the utmost importance for the future of the rebel circuit. In an interview this fall, Khosla explained that he was “optimistic” about LIV Golf obtaining points. For the moment the committee of the Official World Golf Ranking has not given an answer. Responsible for finding an agreement with a broadcaster Khosla had still not managed to agree with a TV channel in the United States for 2023.

Disenchantment

It would seem that most major American networks refuse to engage with LIV Golf, at least for the moment. This is also the case for advertisers. And the arrival of new players is slow to be confirmed. These relative failures would explain the hasty departure of Atul Khosla. Even if the LIV Golf has managed to sign great champions in the course of 2022, such as Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia or the fifty-year-old Phil Mickelson, there is still a lot missing. top 20 players in the world and some show little or no interest. Source : Golf Planète

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Hefei Launches China’s First Home Swap Platform to Spur Property Deals

Dave Howard Edwards — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 11:59:14 +0000

(Yicai Global) Dec. 9 — The Chinese city of Hefei in eastern Anhui province has launched the country’s first exchange platform for pre-owned homes to promote transactions and better meet people’s housing needs.

The Hefei Housing Security and Real Estate Administration launched the new swap service yesterday. Unlike the standard resale process, the property price is not shown on the platform. Instead, property owners contact each other through the site to negotiate prices before signing swap contracts.

Seventy-eight houses have already been put up for sale on the platform, and each has a verification code to ensure the authenticity of the property rights, Yicai Global learned today. The service is free but users still need to pay taxes in accordance with the local policies for housing transactions.

The platform can help to shorten the distance between where people live and work, giving them a more convenient life by exchanging homes, Hefei’s housing administration said.

The platform can also help residents with their housing improvement needs, reduce transaction costs and boost the second-hand home market, Yan Yuejin, research director of E-House China Research and Development Institute’s think tank, told Securities Times.

Source : YicaiGlobal

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