Can I Tell You about ... Copenhagen, Denmark

STAY

The Hotel Axel Guldsmeden is located at the edge of the former red light district in Vesterbro. It's known for serving the best organic buffet breakfast in the city and for their own organic shampoo and cream products. The look of the hotel is eclectic; a fusion of Balinese teak furniture, ikat pillows and bed spreads with Persian rugs and original art on the walls.
 

EAT

Noma. Before you even book your flight, make sure you've secured a reservation at this Michelin two star restaurant. Getting a table was no easy feat but perseverance finally paid off! It was certainly worth all the trouble. The food was inventive, delicious and awe inspiring. The total experience was better than I had imagined. I walked out satiated and completely giddy! Believe the hype, it's true!
 

MUST SEE

The Statens Museum for Kunst / The Danish National Galleryhouses over 9,000 paintings and sculptures as well personal collections from past Danish kings. An art installation entitled "We the People" by Danish-Vietnamese artist Danh Vo was on exhibit. I also enjoyed viewing the fragmented full-scale replica of the Statue of Liberty. These pieces were scattered all over the world and some were placed in the Danish museum.
 

SHOP

Illums Bolighus. This is heaven on earth for any interior design aficionado. Their roster is a who's who in the world of Scandinavian design from Arne Jacobsen to Georg Jensen and Verner Panton. If you can't buy an actual chair don't fret because they sell miniature versions of these modern classics!
 

DO

Rent a bike. Copenhagen is famous for its biking culture and is has officially been deemed the first bike city in the world. The Danes are well known for their love of cycling and cities all around the world are now looking at ways to emulate this phenomenon. Last year, it was also voted the "Best City for Cyclists" and the "World's Most Livable City".
 

WHAT I LOVED MOST

The Danes believe that "only the best is good enough" and design is a way of life. This aesthetic consciousness permeates in everything from lighting, furniture, clothing to waste cans. Each store, gallery and restaurant has a restrained elegance in the way everything is presented. Nothing is superfluous and everything is carefully thought out and resolved.

Can I Tell You About ... Tulum, Mexico

STAY

The Mayan Riviera is lined with eco-chic hotels with beachfront restaurants. Playa Azul achieves both with the rustic decor and spare furnishing and is situated in the center of the Tulum beach which makes its location ideal. Our room had an open terrace with a great view of the sea. The cabanas on the beach provided ample shade, and excellent bar service, and made napping in the afternoons a required time in our schedule.
 

EAT

Believe the hype about Hartwood. Everything we ordered was delicious. The pulled pork was tender and deliciously spiced. For dessert I had their home-made sweet corn ice-cream which was just perfect for me, as it brought back fond childhood memories. To be sure of getting a table arrive before they open and line up - otherwise you risk being turned away. Another foodie favorite is El Tabano. The restaurant serves tasty and spicy traditional Mexican fare minus the long line of people.
 

MUST SEE

Get up at the crack of dawn and drive to Chichen Itza. If you get there early enough you will avoid the worst of the busloads of tourists that swarm daily to this historical site and the midday heat. The ancient city was founded around 400 AD and was one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan Peninsula. The site is huge with multiple temples, pyramids and marketplaces that give a real insight into the power and sophistication of the Mayan civilization. The massive Kukulkan Pyramid has been partially restored, allowing visitors to see how it would have looked when in use as well as the more tumbledown state in which it was found. It is deservedly one of the most iconic images associated with the Yucatan and Mexico.
 

SHOP

La Llorona is a treasure trove full of hand-embroidered fabrics, clothing and accessories sourced from all over Mexico and Guatemala. There was so much to choose from I could have stayed there for hours going through every pile of fabrics. I was in print heaven.
 

DO

Snorkeling through Dos Ojos Cenote is a fun activity to do while you're in Tulum. It is called Two Eyes because of the two large circular cenotes with cave systems underneath. On a sunny day you can clearly see the rock formations of the underwater cave. You'll need a guide and a flash light swimming through the labyrinth of tunnels while carefully avoiding stalactites, stalagmites and other snorkelers. 
 

WHAT I LOVED MOST

I love waking and sleeping to the sound of the waves and feeling the sea breeze that wafted through our balcony. Tulum is a perfect place to unwind and decompress. I can't wait to go back.

Can I Tell You About ... Beijing, China

STAY

I stayed at the Temple Hotel, a 600 year old former Tibetan Buddhist temple, that saw service as a factory after the revolution and has recently been converted into a chic boutique hotel. It was rescued from demolition by a trio of entrepreneurs who spent 3 years restoring it into an 8 bedroom gem, hidden in a traditional hutong district within walking distance of the Forbidden City. The hotel has a popular, high end, 'contemporary European' style restaurant, a description that would normally have me running for the hills, but that in this case served me a wonderful tasting menu that I can't recommend highly enough. The complex also houses a permanent light installation titled 'Gathered Sky' by James Turrell, the only one in China.

EAT

Escape the crush of people at the Summer Palace and head to the Aman at the Summer Palace. Their Chinese restaurant serves traditional Cantonese cuisine along with Peking duck, a must if you're in Beijing. The property is serene and the decor is super chic. I could almost imagine the Empress Dowager Cixi walking down the corridors with her entourage.

MUST SEE

First on my agenda was the Great Wall , a sight I missed on my first visit. I took a car to the Mutianyu section, which is a longer drive from the city but reputed to be less crowded than other locations. It was a hot and humid summer day but the sky was blue, a very rare occurrence in Beijing I was told. I braved the hour long hike up steep steps up to the highest watchtower, and was amply rewarded by the spectacular, and iconic, view of the wall snaking its way through the rolling country.

SHOP

I'm a flea-market aficionado so the Panjiayuan market was on my 'must do' list. The market is comprised of over 3000 vendors and separated into sections so if you're looking for semi-precious beads, blue and white porcelain vases, vintage books and photographs or furniture you'll find it there. I found some great curiosities among the vendors without regular stalls who had laid their blankets loaded with objects outside the designated market area. The items they were selling were disorganized and largely junk but felt more like the ˜flea market" I had come for. I bought an antique embossed brass cigarette case for 40 dollars,  a bargain for an item that will inspire the next iteration of my minaudieres.

DO

Entering the National Centre for the Performing Arts or The Giant Egg is like walking into a spaceship but instead of flying off to outer space you are going to an opera. The iconic design by French architect Paul Andreu is especially photogenic at sunset when the lights inside illuminate and reflect against the water surrounding the structure. Several photographers stand in position at the same spot just to capture the perfect moment when the building reflects the egg shape perfectly. Unfortunately the audience was so noisy it was impossible to enjoy the performance.

WHAT I LOVED MOST

I woke up early to take a leisurely stroll to Jingshan Park . This thousand year old park (formerly a private imperial garden) is a hub of activity for people of all ages playing badminton, rehearsing folk dances and practicing martial arts. The senior citizens doing their morning Tai-Chi reminded me of my Mom, who can be seen doing the same thing in New York's Chinatown at 6am every day. Not all globalization is the US exporting movies and fast food! A hike up the hill to the Wanchun Pavilion resulted in the expected magnificent views of the Forbidden City. I jostled with the locals to get the best spot for my selfie.

Can I Tell You About ... Mexico City

STAY

Las Alcobas is a chic boutique hotel situated in the posh Polanco district surrounded by designer shops, restaurants,interior design stores and nightclubs. The international design firm Yabu Pushelberg created the luxurious contemporary look of the hotel and that is enough reason in my opinion to stay here.

EAT

Contramar is the place to see and be seen in Mexico. Get there at noon and you will be able to get a table but arrive an hour later and you will have to wait another hour. From our table it looked like everbody knew everybody. The scene was social, jovial and super chic. The tuna tostadas are so popular the dish is even the password for their wifi!

MUST SEE

Museo Soumaya is the iconic museum designed by Fernando Romero showcasing the private art collection of Mexican business tycoon Carlos Slim. The entrance is free and it is even open on Mondays when most museums are closed. Do not miss the top floor that displays a large collection of Rodin sculptures. The outside structure of the museum is quite inspiring. Grab a drink at one of the bars behind it at sunset and you'll see the building glows like seashells with the sun's reflection. La Casa Azul is Frida Khalo's home where she grew up and lived with Diego Rivera. It has now been converted into a museum where you can get a glimpse of how they lived. The furniture and the gardens are well maintained but there isn't a lot of her artwork to see. Walk over to Mercado de Coyoacan and grab a spot at Tostadas Coyoacan. It's a fun convivial place that is packed with people eating their famous tostadas.

SHOP

Carmen Rion works with artisans in Chiapas to weave her traditional textiles and she transforms them into contemporary silhouettes with a nod towards current fashion trends. Her shop is conveniently located within the Downtown Hotel shopping complex.

DO

Hire a driver and go to Teotihuacan (about an hour away from Mexico City.) It is otherwise refered to as the "City of the Gods" and home to some of the largest ancient pyramids in the world. Climb up to the top of the Temple of the Moon and Temple of the Sun to see the vast area the site covers and you can almost imagine what it must have been like when the Aztecs found these ruins which were abandoned hundreds of years prior.

WHAT I LOVED MOST

Diego Rivera's incredible murals depicting the history of Mexico at the Palacio Nacional were everything I had imagined them to be. The murals swarm with symbolism, detail, emotion, and political commentary. I walked around the murals several times, and each time I saw something new and fascinating.