July 09 The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong

Michelle Chaplow went on a photographic assignment to the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong on behalf of Famous Hotels of the World. The shoot took in their rooftop Felix Bar, the Japanese Imasa, the newly opened salon de Ning with its dreamy decor, the Peninsula’s scrumptious signature afternoon tea in the lobby and the iconic chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce. While on location Michelle was lucky enough to spontaneously photograph a beautiful Chinese bride in an elaborate traditional red wedding dress.

Michelle’s personal recommendation is for room 2407, which even has its own telescope and unrestricted views of Victoria Harbour right over the water to Hong Kong Island.

July 09 Chiang Mai, Thailand

If you have ever fancied being knee deep in paddy fields, Chiang Mai is just the place. Imagine water buffalos, farm workers in conical hats and fields of lotus flowers as a backdrop. The scenery is stunningly photogenic. All this is available to guests at the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel in Thailand and when Michelle hosts a photographic workshop in Thailand in 2010, the Dhara Dhevi Hotel will be one of the venues; details to be announced soon.

July 09 The Guardian, London

Michelle was commissioned by the Guardian Online to give her expert advice on romantic getaway hotels in Andalucia. As well as working as a professional photographer, Michelle Chaplow is the co-founder and director of Andalucia.com, the world’s leading portal for this region of Southern Spain. Michelle’s expert advice can be viewed here:
http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/knowledge-andalucia.jsp

July 09 Quirky travel tales, Sydney

Michelle Chaplow recommends afternoon tea at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney, where you can opt for the mystic version; a personal tea-leaf reading. Tea is served in the Globe Bar where Tjok Gde Kerthyasa, the tea master, is on hand to explain all you wanted to know about tea blending and tea etiquette. Having your tea-leaves read is great fun; clients are asked to drink the tea, turn over the cup and swirl it around on the saucer 3 times, then to sit back and let the reading begin. It is a practice that goes back centuries and Lindel Barker-Revell, a published author and authority on the art of reading tea-leaves, will carefully examine the contents of your teacup at your table, gazing under her magnifying glass to unveil your future according to the images and symbols she sees in the leaves. Great fun!