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| Altitude dining: 10 London eateries with bird's-eye views Posted: 04 Jun 2013 03:00 AM PDT These vertiginous restaurants take dining in the British capital to giddy new heights  The opening of the first restaurant in the Shard, the tallest building in the European Union as of early this year, has really upped the ante in the London altitude dining stakes. One company, Dinner in the Sky, takes the concept to perhaps its ultimate conclusion: guests are strapped into their seats around a table and hoisted 100 feet into the air by crane. There chefs prepare a meal for them in situ from a central kitchen area. But you needn't risk spilling your aperitif on to gawkers far below to enjoy elevated eating in the British capital. There are plenty of more comfortable indoor options, too. Beginning with the Obelix at the Shard, we take the measure of 10 of the best -- and most thrilling -- uppity eateries in London. 1. Oblix
On the lofty 32nd floor of the Shard, the EU's new tallest building, the restaurant is sandwiched between two other eateries, Aqua at The Shard on the 31st floor and Hutong on the 33rd, both to open later this year. Oblix, 32F, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas St., London; +44 (0)20 7268 6700; open daily 10 a.m.- midnight 2. Duck & Waffle
One floor down is its sister restaurant, Sushi Samba, which blends Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian flavours and offers the highest alfresco dining option in the capital. Duck & Waffle, 40F, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopgate, London; +44 203 640 7310; open 24 hours 3. Paramount
Spread over the 31st, 32nd and 33rd floors of the building, the restaurant provides views of between 100 and 149 meters above ground. It's an all-day establishment, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Paramount, 31-33F, Centre Point, 101-103 New Oxford St., London; +44 (0)20 7420 2900; Monday - Wednesday, 8 a.m.-1:30 a.m., Thursday - Friday, 8 a.m.-2:30 a.m., Saturday, noon -2:30 a.m., Sunday, noon-10 p.m. 4. Galvin at Windows
Well known for its sterling service, the restaurant also supports the charity Galvin's Chance, which helps disadvantaged young people get into hospitality. Gavin at Windows, 28F, 22 Park Lane, London; +44 (0)20 7208 4021; opening hours for lunch and dinner vary, click here for more details 5. Minako at the Met
Minako at the Met, 24F, Hilton London Metropole, 225 Edgware Rd., London; +44 (020) 7616 6496; open Monday to Saturday, 6-11 p.m. 6. Rhodes 24
On the 24th floor of Tower 42 is Gary Rhodes's Michelin-starred restaurant, Rhodes 24. There's also a bar on the 42nd floor, aptly named Vertigo 42, which serves Champagne and snacks. Rhodes 24, 24F, Tower 42, 25 Old Broad St., London; +44 (0)20 7877 7703; open Monday to Friday, lunch: noon -2:30 p.m. or dinner: 6-9 p.m. 7. Ming Jiang
Chinese restaurant Ming Jiang sits on the 10th floor of Royal Garden Hotel. True to its location, the restaurant looks out over Kensington Garden and Hyde Park. Ming Jiang, 10F, Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High St., London; +44 (0)20 7361 1988; open daily, noon-3 p.m., 6-10:30 p.m. (bar opens till 11 p.m. from Monday to Saturday) 8. Radio
Radio, on the 10th floor of the recently opened ME by Melia Hotel, is a rooftop restaurant serving up Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The restaurant is so named because the building used to be the home of BBC Radio. Radio, 10F, ME by Melia Hotel, 336-337 The Strand, London; +44 (0)84 5601 8980; open daily 7 a.m.-3 a.m. 9. OXO Tower
On the 8th floor of the OXO Tower is a restaurant operated by the venerable British department store Harvey Nichols. Open for 17 years, it's already one of the oldest elevated restaurants in London -- which perhaps also explains perhaps why it's at one of the lowest altitudes. OXO Tower, 8F, OXO Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, South Bank, London; +44 (0)20 7803 3888; go here to see opening hours 10. Dinner in the Sky
London-based Dinner in the Sky straps up to 22 diners around a table and hoists it 100 feet up in the air by crane. You might still want to hold on to your seat, though, as it can get windy up there. Go to Dinner in the Sky's official website for more details.      |
| Traveling to run: Asia's top destination races Posted: 03 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT Jogging through Mongolian grasslands. Sprinting past the temples of Angkor Wat. These races prove it's not always best to take things slow  Running might not be everyone's top reason for traveling, but over the coming months it could provide some of the best chances to see places you wouldn't otherwise consider. Here are Asia's best destination races of 2013 -- and why you should consider signing up. Also on CNN: World's 10 toughest endurance challenges The Genghis Khan Grassland Extreme Marathon
Where: Xiwuqi, Inner Mongolia, China When: July 6, 2013 The appeal: Just you, the occasional fellow runner and the idyllic grasslands of Inner Mongolia. It doesn't get much more Zen than that. Unless you want to spend the pre-race night in a Mongolian yurt -- which is totally possible and almost expected. After all, this event takes place in the home of Genghis Khan, with the ancient imperial city of Karakorum only a stone's throw away from Xiwuqi. The race is part of the two-day Genghis Khan Festival, which means you can take part in unique cultural and culinary events throughout the weekend. The run: The Grassland Marathon is a timed, off-road running challenge of varying distances (42.5 kilometers, 21.5 kilometers and 11.5 kilometers). Set on soft ground, green grass and rolling hills, this race provides much-needed relief for a seasoned runner's tired shins and knees. According to race organizers, "it should be impossible to get lost." Unless, of course, one of the "hundreds of sheep, goats, horses, cows, donkeys and other cattle that roam the grasslands, bump over a marking sign." We hate when that happens. Website: Genghiskhanmtbadventure.com The Bromo Marathon
Where: East Java, Indonesia When: September 1, 2013 The appeal: Want to go off the map for a weekend? We have the race for you, around an 820,000-year-old massive volcanic crater, courtesy of the inaugural Bromo Marathon in the mountains of East Java, Indonesia. A challenge for your traveling skills and physical endurance, this race will certainly be one for the travel diaries. By participating you'll not only have an adventure, you'll support local schools' efforts to improve literacy. The run: The Bromo Marathon will take place in the villages surrounding East Java's Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park on a half-road, half-dirt course. The event offers full marathon, half-marathon and 10-kilometer distances. Known for its steaming top, Mount Bromo is one of five peaks in the center of the crater. That means you'll be running around an active volcano lodged inside of a volcanic crater. Website: Bromomarathon.com Luang Prabang Half Marathon 'La Procession'
Where: Luang Prabang, Laos When: October 5, 2013 The appeal: Give, run, party. In that order. At its core, the Luang Prabang Half Marathon is about the act of charitable giving. Fitting, especially when you think about what Luang Prabang is most well-known for: the daybreak ritual in which saffron-robed, bare-footed monks collect alms in side-wielding urns from residents and tourists. When you participate in the Luang Prabang Half Marathon, your entry fee ($200) and all other funds raised will be used to support and empower marginalized youth in the local community. The race is in Luang Prabang, a small French colonial town in the mountains of northern Laos. The run: The Luang Prabang Half Marathon takes place along a seven-kilometer paved circuit and runs past many of the town's most famous and beautiful landmarks, and along the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. The event offers distances of seven kilometers, 14 kilometers and 21 kilometers. The main reason a full marathon isn't offered? According to race organizers, "as a distance, it's a little anti-social (at least in terms of dealing with the post-run pain) and a big part of organizing this race is to have a great party." Now these are the kind of people you want to run with. Website: Luangprabanghalfmarathon.com Also on CNN: Diary of an ultra-marathon in Laos Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon
When: November 17, 2013 The appeal: If you're looking for a well-established big city race in Asia, this is the one. The "World's Best City" (according to many travelers in multiple travel publications) and one of the world's most visited cities calls you to the Mighty Chao Phraya River. The run: This race gives "One Night in Bangkok" a new meaning, as more than 50,000 other runners start at 1:30 a.m. The Bangkok Marathon passes iconic Bangkok sites including the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the National Museum and across the Chao Phraya River. Runners can choose from the marathon (42 kilometers), half-marathon (21 kilometers), mini-marathon (10.5 kilometers), and micro-marathon (five kilometers). Website: Bkkmarathon.com Angkor Wat International Half Marathon
Where: Siem Reap, Cambodia When: December 1, 2013 The appeal: Running through the ancient temples of Angkor. This is the race to leave aside your personal best goals and pride, and take time to marvel at one of the world's most impressive archaeological sites. You'll take pictures, return high fives from local children and run Rocky Balboa-style through Victory Gate at the 15-kilometer mark. Race proceeds benefit Cambodian land mine victims and a local initiative to combat HIV/AIDS. The run: The Angkor Wat Half Marathon takes place inside the temple complex of Angkor, a mostly flat course lined by ancient trees that provide plenty of shade. Runners can choose from the 21-kilometer half-marathon, 10-kilometer road race or three-kilometer fun run. Don't expect fancy. Race organization is simple; local children hand out water bottles every 2.5 kilometers and kilometer markings are written on folded cardboard signs and spray painted on the road. Website: Goadventureasia.com    |
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