Sinanation

Sorry Santa, but these were all to good to keep private.

And we call it Chateau Melange. The Part 2 to A day at Kutman Vineyards

Time to filter the grapes and rest the wine a few more weeks…

I am going through so many engagement parties and weddings this month that it is almost impossible not to think of honeymoon packages. If I were to choose a location, I would pick somewhere that is really out of the way. A place that I would be too lazy to go again with my wife-to-be. A place that is secluded, yet close to an urban city. A place that is warm year-round with almost no rain showers and windy storms.  Temperature never below 28 C degrees. A total surprise to the bride.

Assuming a hefty budget, lots of energy and a preferable winter wedding in Istanbul, here is my take on the honeymoon (sorry it is no longer a surprise).

5 nights in Sydney, Australia
Flight: Connect in Abu Dhabi. Total flight time approx. 21 hours.
Hotel: Establishment Hotel

Restaurants: Tetsuya’s Restaurant, Sushi E.

Convertible car rented. Coastal drive to Mission Beach. Total drive time approx. 31 hours.
Spend 1 night in Sunshine Coast to rest.
Hotel: The Sebel Maroochydore

1 night in Rockhampton to rest.
Hotel:  The Criterion Hotel Motel
1 night in Townsville to rest.
Hotel: Aquarius on the Beach

Car checked in. Direct Helicopter transfer to Bedarra.
5 nights in Bedarra Island Resort, Australia
Reef diving, Australian wine tasting, spa and fishing a definite must

P.S.: I leave the planning of the trip back home to you!

You:
have enough wealth to pamper you like a spoiled baby
are famous all around the world
live in a mansion full of baby doll girls
have been married multiple times
already have children that bare your name
are 84

Are you serious?

What can I say. Congrats to you and the 24-year-old Crystal (if that’s her real name).

Think twice before opening the gifts. Ha ha haha hahahaha

Happy Holidays from DANIELS on Vimeo.

It all started in New York with Yasmin‘s obsession for tasteless coffee from Le Pain Qutidien on Union Square. Whenever she dragged me there I would irritate her with this nickname I picked for her cup of coffee. Her Cappuccino was definitely a Kakachino.

Months have gone by. We both left New York, but Kakachino is still stuck in my mind. And now I don’t use it only for tasteless coffee, but for anything that I could relate it to.

• An Italian way of saying “restroom break”: I will be back after a quick Kakachino
• A unique way of saying “I hate your soup/drink”:  Oow this sure is a Kakachino
• Confirming that something you think that is bad is actually bad: Kakachino?

Do you dare add Kakachino to your own vocabulary list?

Bumped into this on Vimeo. Captured in Florida. Simply amazing.

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

On a lightly pressed warm wrap, you would pour in a scoop of snowy white steamed rice (of course without cilantro) and then toss chunks of spicy beef tenderloin accompanied by chilled sour cream, chopped lettuce and a splash of cheese ready to melt away.

You would tuck all that mouth-watering Mexican into a toddler shaped burrito and wrap it with your special sparkling aluminum foil.

Yes Chipotle. I miss you a lot. These cold winter lunch hours and my empty stomach are longing for you.

The night of 21 December 2010 marks the time when the Earth will line up in between the Sun and the Moon one last time before the new year.

Viewers in America, parts of Europe and the Eastern side of Asia will be able to observe the eclipse with naked eye. When the clock hits 2.41 E.T. the Earth will block the rays coming off the Sun, slowly turning the Moon’s color from white to orange and then to deep red. Turkey won’t be so lucky as it will already be morning for us here when the whole thing starts.

Keep in min that tomorrow also happens to be the day of solstice (the first day of winter for the Northern Hemisphere and the first days of summer for the Southern). The last time these two great events happened together was 372 years ago.

I say drink a few espressos and stay up late to observe.

One of the most precious and a rather bitter celebration between the mother and the daughter before the wedding is the night of henna. Reserved only for the women, this night is organized as a farewell to the daughter who will soon be leaving her maternal home to take care of her own.

Covered in red velvet and lace, the soon-to-be-wife walks to her throne followed by her army of single girlfriends. Yüksek Yüksek Tepelere, a song based on the story of a homesick married girl who lives far away from her parents, flows into the room with each step, filling the bright eyes with tears. The path is lit with candles.

The mother opens her daughter’s veil and spreads the warm henna in her palms. She then ties the hands with red ribbons, making way for the groom’s mother as she tries to re-open them with gold Liras. Heavy with emotion and bitter with farewell, the night continues with unlimited belly dancing until the moment when the groom and his gang raids the party.

Tears turn into laughter and fear of loneliness turn into the joy of security.