Putting the MIA in Miami

Well, who knew that I would love Miami?

It's been four days of conference by day and tropical living at night, minus a quick sneak to the beach for some desperately needed swimming & soaking up the sun.

Staying with Olivia, Fran and her son Elijah was great: no sirens, no shouting on the street, no beeping from kneeling buses, just birds, water over rocks and rustling palm fronds. I was born in the tropics and every time I'm somewhere tropical my happiness escalates 100-fold and I would be stupid not to live somewhere warm at some stage in my life. This may mean Jus and I end up in friggin Queensland, god forbid.

I thought Miami would be full of the elderly with their pastel cardigans wrapped over their shoulders and their white sneakers immaculate. I saw a few of those but perhaps their ride-ons aren't allowed out of their gated communities.

It was mostly exotic Latinos and South Americans and people from the Caribbean (Caribbeanians?). Lots of white shirts, tanned skin, short dresses and Spanish, Portugese, French, Dutch and patois. Rich Argentinians up for the weekend, sunburnt British tourists and Americans from elsewhere who have blown into town. It is a transient place that doesn't feel very American: the flavours from its southern neighbours have given it an interesting edge.

The gals took me to South Beach on Saturday night, the epicentre of the Miami party scene. We started at the Gansevoort Hotel where we watched a fashion parade of up and coming local designers. The beautiful people were out in force, sipping champagne and eyeing off the Botox Cosmetica sponsorship booth (OK, so it does feel somewhat American). The parade was outside in the gorgeous landscaped grounds of the hotel, overlooking the beach. It was stunning and the people watching was great. I was relieved to be have borrowed some strappy heels from Olivia but wished I had packed a more nighttimey dress: it's hard to pack for a girls night out in the tropics when you're wearing ugg boots and can't remember radiant heat that doesn't emanate from a metal box in the corner of a room.

When the parade was over we walked to the Setai, a hotel with a divine outdoor lobby that is a range of placid pools, daybeds and tropical plants flowing down to the beach. We had chili cocktails care of a few guys who came to chat (what can you do?) . Actually their story was funny: they had booked a penthouse suite for a bachelor's party but the bachelor had cancelled at the last minute and didn't show, so they were all sifting around trying to decide how to salvage the evenining.

We left them to their devices after a drink and headed to the Delano (by way of an Italian restaurant that was literally full of men. we were the only women there and didn't end up paying for our sambucca or our dessert. Olivia knows how to pick 'em!), another hotel on the beach. This place was out of control: Alice in Wonderland oversized chairs, an all-white marble sushi bar cranking out sashimi and sake to the blare of r'n'b and hiphop, cast iron table & chairs in the shallow end of the infinity pool where two shoeless 50+ guys wearing sunglasses held court, dancing in the lobby, and a constant bevy of beauties and himbos trying to get past the velvet rope. We plonked on yet more daybeds by the pool and just watched the passing parade before a quick shimmy on the dancefloor and on home to bed.

Water deliciously warm at the beach and crystal clear. I just floated and watched the clouds. Lots of condo towers and construction going on along the coast, with a Trump Tower for good measure. The odd cruise ship drifting past on the horizon. Very relaxing.

Caught up with my half-brother, Cedric, and his girlfriend, Ria, last night. We all went to an Ethiopian restaurant for dinner and drank honey wine, which was delicious. Lots of curries that you eat with pancakey bread, with your hands. Discovered Cedric has a real sweet tooth like dad. We then went to Lincoln Rd, a pedestrian mall lined with restaurants, bars and unusual boutiques that was crammed with families and tourists. We got some icecream and sat outside to soak up the atmosphere.

Now a few more hours of the conference and I'm heading back to New York. Justin returns tomorrow!