The Dharma of Max
by Savas Abadsidis on 2012-05-03

Here at Preferred Escapes we are a select group of world travelers with a flair for fashion and entertaining. In that vein we offer the forth in a series of conversations with some members of our exclusive salon. Enjoy!

Modern day Renaissance Man Max Lugavere has accomplished more in his young years than some presidents. He co-founded and was  host and producer of his own TV Show: Max and Jason: Still Up on Current, the international Emmy winning television network founded by Al Gore, he's co-hosted Pangea Day, the TED Conference’s live broadcast of short films from six international cities that reaches more than 150 countries, he's a brand expert who has worked with companies including Axe, Ford, Samsung and Cartier, and he's created a  pilot for an HBO docu-series entitled Talk Nerdy To Me with executive producer, Bill Maher.  Oh, and he sings. Herein Max shares his wanderlust.

What's your favorite getaway destination?
Anywhere new and different.

Why?
Travel, says Pico Iyer, "shows us all the parts of ourselves that might otherwise grow rusty. For in traveling to a truly foreign place, we inevitably travel to moods and states of mind and hidden inward passages that we'd otherwise seldom have cause to visit." It's an interesting idea: travelling not to see the sights of foreign land, but to see, rather, foreign parts of ourselves. That's why I love it.

What's your favorite way to entertain when you're away?
Good wine, food, and live, local music. I enjoy doing the epicurean thing. Having a guide with excellent taste is key. My friend Sabine Heller made me fall in love with upstate New York where she owns a beautiful cottage; being there feels like being in the south of France.

What are your favorite activities?
I really enjoy outdoor hot tubbing with beautiful, melancholic music while looking at the stars. I'm obsessed with Ma Fleur by The Cinematic Orchestra. Also the work of Craig Armstrong (Hymn is a 1-minute piano score which is just breathtaking, I highly recommend listening to that while pondering the infinite. It's a special feeling.) I also really love eating local, healthy food, getting a great workout, and following it with a fantastic night's sleep.

What is it about the local culture that you love?
I love witnessing a new take on the human story. It changes your view of things. Henry Miller, one of my favorite writers, said it best: One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things. As a creative, a new way of looking at things can be an invaluable gift.

When traveling Max has a few essentials he always brings with him:

Be sure to checkout Max Lugavere's website here