lunes, 10 de octubre de 2011

Nightlife in Bangkok | Vagarumbeando

Bangkok's Sky Bar is certainly one of the most talked about chic places to visit while in Thailand. The city can be a delinquent's paradise, street foodie's tweetup heaven and a place for a carnage setting in a hollywood blockbuster. This city has a great nightlife, music vibe and most importantly charismatic people. If you come to Bangkok you must visit the Sky Bar suspended high up on the 63rd of The Dome at State Tower (1055 Silom Road). The spectacular and dramatic views of the city are not to be missed. Most recently, it was made famous by the Hollywood blockbuster Hangover 2 and it's 360 degree shot from the bar. We highly recommend you try the Hemingway Daiquiri served chill and please no flash photos!

viernes, 19 de agosto de 2011

Lima Photo 2011 | Restaurantes y Espectáculos

By Andrés Corredor - Director Ejecutivo de Vagarumbeando

Nuestro tiempo en Lima fue muy corto, demasiado corto dirían algunos de nuestros amigos y colaboradores durante nuestra visita a Lima Photo 2011. Afortunadamente, logramos comer muy bien y tuvimos grandes experiencias. La gastronomía peruana ha ido evolucionando durante los últimos años. Desde nuestra ultima visita hace un año cuando visitamos La Mar, han abierto varios restaurantes muy reconocidos, los cuales han impulsando cada vez mas el turismo gastronómico. Los limeños se han despertado y aprovechado este gran interés cultural para llevar su auténtico sabor a todo el mundo. Hoy en día no solo es posible encontrar salsas de rocoto molido y ají de gallina en lugares como Greenwich, Connecticut sino que existe una campaña de Marca País donde los nuevos embajadores del Peru son los chefs Gaston Acurio, Javier Wong y artistas como Gonzalo Torres, Carlos Alcántara, Gian Marco Zignago quienes le muestran a los habitantes de Peru, Nebraska una ciudad norteamericana con un poco mas de 500 habitantes lo que significa ser peruano y las riquezas de su país.

Esto ha convertido a Lima en el epicentro de la cocina peruana y una de las ciudades con mayor inspiración en el ámbito gastronómico. Entre los restaurantes que conocimos se destacan el Restaurante Panchita de Gaston Acurio, Chez Wong del legendario chef Javier Wong y Restaurante Rafael

de Rafael Osterling.

El Restaurante Panchita, (Calle Dos de Mayo 298, Miraflores) ofrece una gran variedad de anticuchos. Entre los mas admirables están el anticucho de corazón y el anticucho de pez espada. Ambos con una preparación impecable y a la vez resaltando al máximo el sabor de los platos típicos caseros. Para aquellos 'foodies' que quieran probar el mejor ceviche y leche de tigre tienen que conocer Chez Wong (Enrique León García 114, Santa Catalina). El inconfundible maestro Javier Wong no tiene carta y solo abre su cocina de 1 a 4 PM de lunes a sabado. Es preferible ir con una mente abierta y esperar grandes sorpresas, ya que la creatividad de este chef a la hora de seleccionar los ingredientes y de aconsejar es impresionante. Por ultimo, vale la pena conocer el Restaurante Rafael (San Martin 300, Miraflores) del multifacético chef Rafael Osterling. Para mi gusto este personaje y amigo de Vagarumbeando es uno de los mas estupendos chefs de cocina de autor en América Latina. En Bogotá tiene dos restaurantes La Despensa y Rafael y acaba de abrir las puertas a su segundo restaurante en Lima llamado El Mercado (Hipolito Unanue 203, Miraflores).

Para nosotros Lima siempre tendrá una gran capacidad para impresionar.

sábado, 30 de julio de 2011

Lujuria libre de pecado | La tienda de objetos eroticos más exclusiva de Bogotá

Llega a Bogotá una tienda exclusiva para el romance con mucha estrategia y mercadeo. Lujuria (Calle 82 No. 11-75 L3-215) es una tienda para los cinco sentidos. Esta tienda ubicada en El Retiro Centro Comercial tiene un espació de accesorios de lujo intimo de diseño Sueco como la marca Lelo. También tiene un interesante blog con artículos y recomendaciones para sus inquietudes y preguntas. Entre su estrategia de mercadeo esta la tienda online para clientes. Les deseamos muchos exitos!

domingo, 24 de julio de 2011

Restaurante El Son de Los Grillos | Bogotá

El Restaurante El Son de Los Grillos ubicado en la zona conocida como La Candelaria es uno de los restaurantes más antiguos de la capital. Con su decoración al mejor estilo de una casa de Te del siglo XIV parece que lo habitaran algunos de los criollos más influyentes del Virreinato. Recomendamos aprovechar su ambiente, musica y selección de vinos.

domingo, 27 de marzo de 2011

36 Hours in Villa de Leyva | Vagarumbeando Tours

By Andrés Corredor - Executive Director of Vagarumbeando

As enthusiastic as we always are to share our unique experiences and perspectives on worldwide art, design and entertainment for an international audience hungry for a fresh outlook, we have decided to combine our first travel report with the launch of our latest concept called Vagarumbeando Tours. Because we know that quitting your job is not easy, we want to offer exclusive and yet unapologetic tours of our favorite destinations. We have been passively fielding requests from many Vagarumberos interested in traveling to many of the same destinations that have inspired us in the past and that have produced some of our favorite stories. With this in mind, we have created a new brand in tourism called festourism (festivals + tourism) some of the very best in tours for Vagarumberos willing to travel together with a group of friends to an emotionally charged destination. So after reading this, keep us in mind for your next get-a-away!

In Villa de Leyva, one of the best preserved colonial towns in Colombia, we found the perfect destination for our first Vagarumbeando Tour. This beautiful colonial town with cobblestone streets, rooted in gastronomy and with plenty of outdoor alternatives attracts many tourists and foodies including the work-hard-play-harder Vagarumberos from Bogotá that come here on the weekends. As we discovered, it also attracts people from all over the world including Chile, France and Japan. From Bogotá to Villa de Leyva it can take approximately 3 hours by car. With so much to offer, it is hard to lay out a single road map of the activities that one should do in Villa de Leyva. However, we have highlighted a few of the best options for you to consider.

But one thing is for certain, if you are interested in visiting, you should keep in mind that part of the fun is to have someone with our expertise and insight to come along and offer you the best alternatives. As we like to say Be True, Be You.


Friday

8 p.m.

1) PLAZA MAYOR
After making a stop to pick-up one of our very own Vagarumberas in Tunja about 40 km from our destination we arrived in Villa de Leyva around 8 pm. We were considering dropping our bags but decided instead to take a walk around the the main plaza, called Plaza Mayor. Many traditional tours immediately look for a hotel to check-in. Not us Vagarumberos! Our first point of interest was the Plaza Mayor where we decided to get a drink in order to appreciate the magnitude of the square, it’s gorgeous and unique lighting and of course the stunning view of the Church. Our favorite choice to start the evening was La Cava de don Fernando. For many devotees this is like a second home. La Cava de don Fernando offers great music and an upbeat atmosphere. This hole-in-the-wall bar on the corner of the Plaza Mayor overflows with partygoers from all over the world.

Saturday

1 p.m.

2) DELICIOUS COSTILLITAS DE CORDERO
Scoring a seat during a holiday or long weekend at El Tomatino Gourmet (Circuito 1. Casona La Guaca) can be very difficult. Luckily we were able to predict this from our last visit and called ahead to reserve a table for our group. Led by Don Humberto, a bon vivant who moved to Villa de Leyva to start his culinary workshop of ancestral dishes with contemporary techniques and an exclusive Mediterranean flavor, El Tomantino has become one of the greatest contributions to the gastronomy of the region. It is best to experience the taste of a creative cook by ordering the Lomo a la Griega, which consists of medallions of beef in a delicious natural tomato sauce, with mushrooms and a portion of fresh home made spaguetti. Another must have not on the menu are the Costillitas de Cordero, this was the cook’s recommendation and yes it was well worth it. It consists of a good size portion of baby lamb ribs that are cooked in an brick oven and served with salted potatoes, salad and a bowl of spaguetti.

4 p.m.

3) DEEP BLUE IN HORSEBACK
Pozos Azules is a beautiful natural place a few kilometers outside from the main road that unites Villa de Leyva with Santa Sofía. What the locals told us, is that many years ago in this location the natives used to plant potatoes and onions and that they used to dig deep holes in order to supply the irrigation on this arid land. The few remaining deep holes today have sulfur deposits, which give out a crystal blue color that stands out against the magnificent landscape. This contrast makes for a magical experience on horseback.

6 p.m.

4) EL MIRADOR HOTEL PLAZA MAYOR
After returning from our excursion at Pozos Azules, we settled at the famous Hotel Plaza Mayor (Carrera 10 # 12 - 31). The rustic architecture of this majestic place with a zen-like environment is the perfect place for an afternoon drink. What many travelers don’t know is that here you can find one of the best panoramic views of the entire plaza. Don’t forget to head to the mirador for a birds eye view. Afterwards, have a drink at the bar and listen to some great music. At the Hotel Plaza Mayor we received the best service of the entire trip. Leydi and Liliana, are the dynamic duo at the bar that serve up great cocktails while entertaining you with stories of locals and western philosophy. Both were soon added to our Best of Villa de Leyva.

9 p.m.

5) ORGANIC GASTRONOMY
We generally get the impression talking to people, that the best restaurants are far from the main plazas. In the case of Savia Tienda Restaurante (Centro Comercial Casa Quintero, local 20) the proximity to the main square is of no concern. For lovers of great seafood this is your place. The traditions of owner-chef Olga Lucía Cortés combined with her attention to detail made our experience very unique. Cortés’ design, kitchen, menus, organic flavors and the way the whole offering was delivered were unflawed. Savia is certainly one of the hidden jewels discovered by Vagarumbeando. The dishes to have are the pasta con mariscos, sopa de patacón, and the sorbete de papaya.

Sunday

10 a.m.

6) ONE AND HALF BLOCKS AWAY
You can find one and a half blocks away from the plaza a very interesting B&B called Posada de los Angeles (Cra 10 no.13-94) with a garden in the back and the most requested brunch for under $10. The kitchen is run by four old wise ladies each having a specific role. Without a doubt, the specialty of Posada de los Angeles are the eggs. Try the desayuno especial, it comes with artisan bread, natural orange juice, and a casserole with fresh eggs from that day seasoned with local spices. These ladies have mastered the art of good simple food with slow cooking techniques. I ventured into the kitchen to get a closer look at the installations but was escorted out by the matriarch telling me that the recipes are a trademark secret. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the breakfast very much.

11 a.m.

7) ALTO TURMEQUÉ
Tejo is a traditional sport in Colombia and the modern version of the ancient sport called “Turmeque”. The ancient sport was played over 500 years ago by the indigenous groups that lived in the region. It is played by throwing a metal plate or disc weighing about 2 kg at a target so as to make it strike the “mechas” or gunpowder in the middle of the target. When you hit the target the mechas explode and you win. Throwing metal discs and hearing the explosion of the gunpowder as you hit your target is underestimated fun. This proved to be a great past-time perfect for our friends and Vagarumberos.

2 p.m.

8) MON AMIE
Remy Villers is the jovial chef and owner of Chez Remy (Casa Juan de Castellanos). It is here that we validate why Villa de Leyva’s gastronomical offerings are a result of the great people that have moved here bringing the best from everywhere. Viller’s was born in Bologne and perfected his love for cooking in Dijon, France. His menu is atypical of this region and his love for Colombia is amazing. When you come to Chez Remy don’t leave until you order the classic French onion soup. It is the best onion soup you will ever have! Other great dishes are his tarte tatín and crepes of which I recommend the Crepe Suzette.

PLAN YOUR TRIP TO VILLA DE LEYVA

When you are planning a trip to Villa de Leyva, don’t hesitate to contact Vagarumbeando for more insider details.

To learn more about upcoming Vagarumbeando Tours, send us an email to info@vagarumbeando.com

domingo, 13 de marzo de 2011

Vagarumbeando | Nuevo Album de Lulacruza


Para compartir:
“Un lindo aterrizaje en medio de la naturaleza musical.” Vagarumbeando

Lulacruza acaba de lanzar su nuevo disco EP llamado Circular Tejido. Editado digitalmente en Japón por Nature Bliss, y por Uji Music en el resto del mundo este nuevo album parece encontrar la alquimia perfecta y estrechamente relacionada con la naturaleza de América Latina.

Este nuevo EP incluye colaboraciones con algunos músicos como: Marië Abe (Japón), Soema Montenegro (Argentina), Claudia Cuentas (Peru), Emo Suarez (Argentina), Evan Fraser (USA), Ramiro Flores (Argentina), y Manu Schaller (Argentina).

El dúo argento-colombiano de folk electroníco compuesto por Alejandra Ortiz y Luis Maurette lanzo su mas reciente album en la capital de Colombia. Alejandra canta y toca el cuatro, shruti box, tar y kalimba. Luis complementa con secuencias y procesamiento electrónico, así como percusión, charango y flautas. La banda amplifica sonidos con instrumentos autóctonos con un estilo conceptual de los zumbidos y sonidos llevando acabo un lindo aterrizaje en medio de la naturaleza musical.

Como su pagina lo indica, Lulacruza tras conocerse estudiando en Berklee College of Music en el 2003 en Boston, EEUU, Lulacruza ha editado tres discos: Do Pretty! (2006), Soloina (2008) y Canta EP -Lulacruza remixed (2009). Han tocado en mas de 25 ciudades en 5 países y su música ha sido incluida en documentales Colombianos, Argentinos y Mexicanos, y en compilados en Italia, EEUU, Argentina y Venezuela. En el 2007, fueron Today’s Top Tune in Morning Becomes Eclectic KCRW 89.9. En el 2008 Artistas en Residencia en el Red Poppy Art House. San Francisco, CA; y recibieron premios para performancia multimedia de Zellerbach Family Foundation y de William & Flora Hewlett Foundation. En el 2009, Soloina fue incluido en el prestigioso catálogo del Club del Disco catalogue en Argentina.

La banda estara de gira en Colombia los proximos dos meses documentando la diversidad cultural y recolectando sonidos de la flora y fauna en distintas regiones del país.