got tons of pictures unfortunately none shown. Have everything in my word document. don't know how to move here. I sure can email the way more interesting word docx full of pictures
DH arranged to give me a good time in a fun day. He arrange for lunch at one of my favorite eat outs at Nico at Pier 38 and fine dining dinner at 3660 on the Rise after tour of Shangari-la, house full of Islamic art, designed and built as her residence by Doris Duke , the very Doris Duke who inherited of the largest chunks of it $100 million in 1925, over a billion at today's money when she was 12. by her father James Duke who simply adored her Apt. in NY left for her.
The only way to visit Shangri-la is through the only tour hosted by Honolulu Academic of Arts. They have arrangement with Shangri-la. You can't drive directly to the gated property.
Lunch at Nico's at Pier 38 (near Costco and Home Depot) filled me up with great energy physically and mentally with live Hawaiian Music. Again, it is a great place that serves no nonsense honest food. It offers the best value fresh food in town. The place is always busy. It is featured in one of the Food network's 3D episode. To me this is the most solid recommendation. I love to go there every time I passed by to get my Catch of the day. It's usually a big piece of pan seared word fish stake with very freshly made watercress or other vegi/herb aioli and I always get the green salad option of those very mix greens i.e. arugula that is so good for you and served in high end restaurant. To me, Nico's food is every bit of high end quality, and with low end price. Where can you get food like that for around $10? plus water, fresh lemon wedges, all kinds of seasoning/condiments on the counter for you to enjoy your meal with. ( I just used a 1/4 of the yummy aioli sauce and add the lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, pepper and ketch up to season the salad and fish, pretty darn healthy to me). http://www.nicospier38.com/index.html You can see the Chef owner Nicolas "Nico" Chaize is seriously into serving good quality food to people unlike some other restaurants that focus more into squeezing the most from their lousy meager food/dishes leaving you a big fat feeling of being robbed off. I love this place. DH order the Cajun Sausage. He regretted not ordering the fish, hahaha, got to listen to mama.
After the fulfilling lunch. We headed to Academics of Art and Parked across the street parking. We tour the museum a little bit seeing some of the Islamic Art collection as well as the introduction video tape about Shangri-la. And check out their lady's room. Love it. Everything including the tile work look like a good quality piece of art.
We took on the bus and on the way to Shangri-la in Black Point. Some pictures of Shangri-la from web.
I don't know what's this. looks lonely when it's built 1937? doesn't look like Shangri-la.
To bad, the red skinny posts flat roof structure does not go with the whole landscaping. If the style of structure has to be like that, it could still work with the property landscaping designed to be a transition between the house structure and the broader landscaping outside the property. One very simple solution is use different trees. those palm or coconut trees are so at odd with the house. It'd look way better with the house bigger (or at least bigger cemented area around the house) and built up with steps going up to it that mimic the steps/topos of the fountain pool. right now the pool is very interesting with depth but the house is so flat and too small in scale... I am sure it's not that that hard to do as we were told a matured tree in the middle court yard was managed to shipped from India. Imagine the cost to do that 1937. Holy Molly. That tree likes more like a shapeless big "weed" to me, hahaha.
anyone want to sneak up from the sea?
"night time sharpen, heighten each sensation" as long as you get light
my fair lady. I wonder why she convert the cool fish tank Hawaiian style dining room into the current supper stuffy blue green strip fabrics all over the wall and ceiling. I'd get to go out the lani to suck in some fresh air, hmm, the gorgeous ocean view is the best part of the whole house. Is that Doris Duke? Hot sweet Mama and, purple Mabel.
All in all here is the impression. There're lots of Islamic arts pieces built in the house. We were told she outbid Metropolitan Museum (? or other Museum) for the most valuable item in the house, one that of the glazed tile size of a door something made for worship that she cemented on the wall. who but Doris Duke is able to beat the Metropolitan Museum?!
can you imagine Doris designed each tiny tile, cut them and "jigsaw puzzled" them altogether. this is a prized showcased room. I am feeling woozy dizzy though. I learn that the art form is based on a few elements: text, geometric pattern and flora. No figures. Those medal gaud shape lights and the white exterior is lovely. The view is to die for. Outside is cool. Inside is busier than a museum not like a house to live in stuffy and dark esp. with the "help" of those "screen" blocks so much sun light and ventilation.. Not going to pass the "Feng Shui" test for sure, ha ha ha. Those said very expensive antique rugs are terribly worn out and gave a very filthy feel to me.
Looks like the Shangri-la living room similar setting and fireplace. But I don't think so based on the look of the ceiling and the windows
I don't know which property this is.
The vibe there is nothing cozy warm and welcoming. May be too much valuable antiques there so people are serious and cold. There're body guards all around. Part of the house is not open and you can't go certain area outside, no photo inside. It's not so big area inside and out you can see. I told DH, this is definitely the "Library" not the "Tiffany" in the Movie by Audrey Hepburn "Breakfast at Tiffany". For $20, I don't see myself visit the place again. Some people went there a few times. Doris Duke garden in Mainland was closed due to depletion of funding and cause lots of controversy and protesting, I wonder why.
don't know who the man is
We were giving the impression that Doris Duke was of course, no doubt, highly intelligent, artistic and adventurous. But the part that she lived a very quiet hermit kind of life made me wonder. Of course it's obvious the tour is mainly focus on Islamic art not Doris Duke.
I can never forget the story I read from one of Jackie O's biography that her womanized father spent his first honey moon night with Doris Duke, not his newlywed wife Lee. Holy Moly. I wonder how Jackie O feel years later, Doris Duke befriended her.
I also remember the story that grand entrance Doris Duke made dropping from the sky into the surfing competition in Hawaii.
And story of what a miserable unhappy her life was with so much money at hand. So I assumed she has a short life. Turn out it's nothing but.
Can a leopard change his/her spot? hmm hmm hmm
Here are some more Doris Duke story I found online:
she's one heck of an independent adventurous smart ass who lived a heck of a life all the way till she's 80 1993. She can speak 9 languages according to one article At 14, she sued her mother to stop the sale of her fathers' farm house/estate; at 22, she married her first husband, they said a playboy, James Cromwell First Husband and traveled all over the world; then she moved the mountain, more accurately, the earth to design and build the Islamic Art Shangri-la and other places some open to the public. I'd like to visit some of them. Doris Duke Garden The Doris Duke Estate
Doris Duke Studio Theater
she gave birth to a girl name Arden who died in 1 day and the childbirth led her childless then in 1988 at age 75, she adopted a 35 yo woman believing the reincarnation of her still born. After their relationship fall apart, Doris Duke got her off the will then the woman challenged and got 65mil after Duke's death. Sam Kahanamoku, the famous surfer Duke Kahanamoku's brother You imagine Duke has affair with the Hawaii Duke and his brother Sam and other people? Don't know what to think
meanwhile her first husband, the one mentioned in the tour is a playboy who also had a few female liaisons under his bell, hahaha. Her cousin claim Doris Duke want to be throw in Diamond head to feed the shark after her death. Her heath did trigger the 3 year feeding frenzy on her money (legal battle). well, that adopted woman got her 65mil, her law firm charged her 9 mil and 13 mil to do change the will!!! It's said Doris left her dog $100k.
Interesting she married another playboy but gave him tons of money and gifts. she ran over that decorator also "friend with benefit" w/ her car by accident in front of her gate. Funny the family had to sue to get $110k from her, and then later she give $1mil to the boyfriends ex-wife to get out of the way.
she donated 5 mil legal defense of Imelda Marcos they said that her father taught her that everybody is out there to get her money they said she's shrew and tight with her money she kept her money at the end unlike daughter of Woolworth (?).
with her butler. they said she's into plastic surgery. looks like so. you all know this Icon. Andy Warhol, mine, he's got some plastic surgery too?
with her butler1993, the year she died. Shouldn't go for surgery that easy at that age of 80. Well, she lived A LIFE and left a legacy and lots of things for the whole world to cherish.
To the one and only Doris Duke.
http://www.libarts.uco.edu/history/faculty/roberson/course/1493/supplements/chp24/24.%20Doris%20Duke.htm
http://www.howarth-smith.com/News/news-62.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Duke
Check out more of her goodies -- wow wow wow, I am mouth watering on the first 3 items, esp. the 19.72 carat one. hmm, how nice. Dream on.
Diamond and Pearl Estimation: $800,000-1,200,000
Art Deco, Diamond and Emerald Bracelet
Estimation: $250,000-350,000
19.72 carats Ruby Estimation: $800,000-1,200,000
Estimation: $80,000-120,000
Emerald Estimation: $300,000-400,000
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