VENTURE TRAVEL MAR - APRIL 2014

LOSE YOURSELF AUCKLAND | DUBAI | KANTO

MARCH|APRIL 2015 Vol. 6 | No. 2 IDR 55.000 | S$8.00

Be Naturally Beautiful “Being happy, healthy and beautiful is easy with Éternel Concept’s lifestyle treatments.”

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Publisher (TA)

AND JUST LIKE THAT… I enjoy the idea of being the first to arrive, it may be unconventional thinking since there is a belief about being fashionably late and not give the impression of being too eager. I admit that there is selfish bastard in me that does not care about anybody else, at least for 30 minutes a day, in those minutes, I get to pretend in my subconscious world about anything that is possible. I am the owner of a restaurant, or a spy in the middle of a rendezvous with a mysterious benefactor

or better yet, a nefarious villain.

I get to enjoy exploring the sick (or blissful) labyrinth of my mind and work my way to the confines of the day’s reality. I enjoy observing the daily drudge of people outside the window and write a story about them in my head while I take a sip from the ridiculously small cup of the bitter espresso that I have no idea why I ordered.

I’d like to think that there are others like me and you can call this guilty pleasure rather senseless, but I like it because it only takes a few minutes, half an hour at most and then, just like that…I come face to face with the truth, life snaps back into play.

Traveling can be like that; it can bring you to places that inspire your imagination.

That moment that takes your breath away because no matter how many times you have seen a photograph or watched a movie or even heard the stories from your friends, nothing compares to actually stand in the presence of the grandeur and the majestic.

In this issue, we will bring you (as we were brought) the experience of traveling to Auckland with one of Indonesia’s top action stars, Joe Taslim and from the land of the Maori, we will bring you a glimpse of the city of Dubai, the host of Expo 2020. Finally the region of Kanto comes into focus as we journey into the cities of Yokohama and the prefectures of Shinagawa and Hakone.

From touring Auckland with Joe Taslim to spending a night under the Arabian sky to eating the blackened eggs of Owakudani and even braving the Snowstorm ‘Marcus’ in Boston (Personal Journey) this issue is very personal to us and we hope you will enjoy it.

Happy Travels, Richmond Blando

Publisher

Managing Editor

Art Director

Photographer

Richmond Blando

Jed V. Doble

Kyle Gregorio

Juke Bachtiar

Dennie Ramon

Administration

Distribution

Boedy Astuti

Mukti Pelupessy

PT. NUSA BINTANG LESTARI Jl. Gunawarman no. 16 • Kebayoran Baru South Jakarta • Indonesia Tel: +62 21 2905 3959 www.thefoodiemag.com

LOSE YOURSELF AUCKLAND | DUBAI | KANTO

MARCH|APRIL 2015 Vol. 6 | No. 2 IDR 55.000 | S$8.00

PHOTOGRAPH DENNIE RAMON LOCATION AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

4 | March 2015

VENTURE Travel Magazine is published by Bold Prints Publishing. Jalan Gunawarman No. 16, Jakarta, Indonesia. VENTURE Travel Magazine and its logo are registered trademarks of Bold Prints Publishing.

COPYRIGHT 2015. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject all editorial and advertising material. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or copied without the explicit written consent of the Publisher. Neither the Publisher, editors and their employees and agents can be held liable for any error and omission, nor any action taken based on the views expressed or information provided within this publication. All rights reserved.

ISSN: 2087-1953.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUCKLAND

DUBAI

KANTO

This is a land of idyllic islands and rolling green hills. Forever young - this is 100% pure Auckland - the home of hospitality, world class wines and superb cuisine. Experience the relaxed friendly pace of life, chat to the locals and make yourself at home in this fascinating city of 1.3 million people.

The words ‘first, tallest, deepest, most expensive, lavish, outlandish’ could have been created for this city. Where else would you find a seven-star hotel, visit a series of 200 man-made islands in the shape of the countries of the world, or climb the world’s tallest building?

The Kanto region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses the destinations of Yokohama, Hakone and Shinagawa. It is the most highly developed, urbanized, and industrialized part of Japan.

Tokyo and Yokohama form a single industrial area with a concentration of various industry along Tokyo Bay.

12 The Taslim Family Holiday

34 Arabian Adventure

56 Demystifying Japan

16 A Journey of a Foodie

40 Dubai: Ski Anyone?

58 Yokohama: Cosmopolitan

20 Waiheke Island

44 Shopping: Souk or not to

64 Hakone: Weekend

24 Auckland Adventure

48 Living in Luxury

68 Shinagawa: Walk this Way

28 Concierge

52 Concierge

72 Concierge

76

78

80

PERSONAL JOURNEY

Winter time in Boston.

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Souk

GEAR GUIDE

Samsung travel tech.

and then some

Wanderlust

STAYCATION

Boutique Art Hotel in Bandung.

FLYING HIGH

WELCOME TO THE CLUB STORY KYLE GREGORIO

As tribute to Garuda Indonesia’s continuous effort to expand and improve its products and services, Skytrax has awarded the airline, “Five Star Airline” status.

G

aruda Indonesia recently received the “Five Star Airlines” status from Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted and was accepted

by M. Arif Wibowo, President Director of Garuda Indonesia.

The Minister of Transportation, Ignatius Jonan, also attended the awards ceremony at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta.

Earlier, on December 11, 2014, Skytrax, through their website, officially announced that Garuda Indonesia has met the requirements as a “Five Star Airlines”.

Skytrax is an independent flight-rating agency based in London, England.

This award has been achieved through various improvements implemented consistently by Garuda Indonesia to transform from an airline that was not recognized in the aviation industry’s radar to one of the world’s best airlines. From more than 200 airlines in the world, only seven airlines have attained this prestigious status: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Qatar Airways, Asiana Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Hainan Airlines and now, Garuda Indonesia.

On the same occasion, the Minister

cesc_assawin/ Shutterstock

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FLYING HIGH

of Transportation, Ignatius Jonan, said that Garuda Indonesia’s achievement is remarkable because it has not only raised the name of Garuda Indonesia as an airline, but has also given the nation of Indonesia pride in the eyes of the international community. “This achievement is something extraordinary.

I believe that the contributions of Garuda for Indonesia is the result of hard work, sincerity and consistency of management and all employees of Garuda Indonesia in providing the best service to all customers so that they are finally crowned as a Five Star Airline” added Jonan.

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted revealed that the title of a five star airline is the result of the transformation undertaken

by Garuda Indonesia in terms of standards and quality of service. “This achievement also reflects the hard work of the airline in recent years, and today we are proud to announce that they have met the standards of a five-star airline.” Said Plaisted.

“Consistency is presented in an airline’s products and services. It is an important part of the assessment of a five-star airline, and the fleet operated by Garuda Indonesia currently offers Business class that is equipped with a seat that can recline to 180 degrees (flat-bed seating) and Economy class seats spaced up to 32-34 inches. Passengers can also feel the First Class and Business Class service with five-star service standards through a new

www.garuda-indonesia.com

B777-300ER fleet,” added Plaisted.

Garuda Indonesia has also been named as the “Best Airline in Asia and Australasia” (“Best in Region: Asia and Australasia”) for two consecutive years (2013 and 2014) by the “Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX)”.

Since joining as a member of the

SkyTeam global alliance in March 2014, Garuda Indonesia, together with 19 other members of SkyTeam flies to 1,052 destinations in 177 countries, with a total reaching 16.323 flights every day.

In addition, the customers can also take advantage of Garuda Indonesia’s 516 members of SkyTeam lounges worldwide.

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VENTURE

Mar 2015

AUCKLAND Introduction This is a land of idyllic islands and rolling green hills. Forever young - this is 100% pure Auckland - the home of hospitality, world class wines and superb cuisine. Experience the relaxed friendly pace of life, chat to the locals and make yourself at home in this fascinating city of 1.3 million people.

12 The Taslim Family Holiday Discover the hidden gems of Auckland with Tourism Ambassador of New Zealand, Joe Taslim with his wife, Julie and their three kids.

16 A Journey of a Foodie Any foodie will be surprised to know that Auckland is, in fact, a foodie destination with its local food waiting to be discovered.

20 Waiheke Island Waiheke is a haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves and beaches, all just a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland.

24 Auckland Adventure Know what you can do in this exciting city playground of outdoor activities to suit all fitness and adrenaline levels.

28 Concierge What you and your family can do while in Auckland.

AUCKLAND

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AUCKLAND

THE TASLIMS

FAMILY HOLIDAY STORY JED DOBLE PHOTOGRAPHS DENNIE RAMON

“I thought Auckland would just be another big city, similar to some of the cities I have visited before. As it turns out, this city has many hidden gems and the best way to enjoy is to bring your family.”

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After being named Tourism Ambassador of New Zealand, Joe Taslim had the opportunity to travel with his wife, Julie and their three kids to Auckland recently, and what fun they all had. Traveling with three young kids can always be daunting, but Joe and Julie had a great time with the kids. “As a father, I always seek holiday destinations that would provide my kids a good fun time, but also a place where they can actually learn something new and unique.

Auckland was the best place as the city provided us with massive options of diverse experiences such as foods, nature, extreme sports and other things on our bucket lists. If you are the type of person who loves outdoor activities, you can try bush walking in Waiheke Island before stepping into a luxurious experience like sailing around the Waitemata Harbour.

We also met so many friendly and helpful local people that added color to our journey and made us feel welcome and want to stay longer.”

Joe tells us that the family loved everything about Auckland. They enjoyed their ferry ride from Auckland Ferry Terminal, heading to Rangitoto Island. Once there, they took the 4WD road train ride in Rangitoto where they passed through rugged lava crops and 13 | March 2015

AUCKLAND

01

On the Rangitoto Island 4WD.

02 Family photos on the tallest peak of Rangitoto Island.

03 Joe receives a Hongi - Maori greeting.

04 A Powhiri - Maori Welcoming Ceremony for the Taslims in Rotorua.

01

native bush. Then it was a walk up to the summit, along a wooden boardwalk, once on top, the view was amazing.

From up there, they could see the while view of Auckland city and the islands surrounds. After Rangitoto and a full day of activities, they returned to Auckland and drove for 20 minutes to Mission Bay, where they enjoyed some ice cream while spending quality time together. “I was surprised that a big city like Auckland actually had a compact size and was jam packed with great activities for us

to all do in one day. We could actually spend time in doing different activities in different places without spending hours traveling to the next destination.

Joe further tells us that the highlight of their trip was a visit to a Maori village in Rotorua, which is a three hour drive away. “The most unforgettable moment of our trip was when we visited Te Puia, a Maori village in Rotorua. We were welcomed with a traditional ceremony called the Powhiri. The Powhiri is a Maori welcoming ceremony involving speeches, dancing, singing and finally the hongi.

Maori warriors advanced cautiously towards us with ceremonial weapons and perform threatening gestures and grimaces, calling out battle screams and generally giving an impression of being ready to explode into violence against us or other visitors at any moment. But the guide told me that behind those frightening faces, historically, this has roots in both showing off the martial arts prowess of the iwi’s warriors as well as testing the steadfastness of the visitors.

After that, they handed me the rautapu, a leave or carved effigy, that lead warrior placed on the ground before me as a symbolic offering of peace. This showed me the rich and strong cultural elements that I have never experienced before that really brought life to my journey. It was a really different experience!”

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AUCKLAND I ask Joe if he had any tips for families traveling to Auckland, since after this holiday, he may be a big expert now.

He says that when he travels with his kids, safety and comfort are the two most important things for him. He continues that he is never worried when he travels to New Zealand. “New Zealand is one of the safest counties in the world. It does not even have poisonous animals such as snakes, spiders or other dangerous animals, that might put my family in danger. New Zealand also has very strict regulations when one travels with children. Every infant and small child is required to be seated in a special child car seat to ensure their safety. This shows how much New Zealand cares about safety.” Joe continues: “My only advice for my friends who want to travel to New Zealand is to spend more time to explore different places. Everyone who has travelled to New Zealand always wants to come back to discover more and they never feel that they have enough experiencing the country. The immersive natural beauty and fresh atmosphere really captivated me and my family. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your camera, as the natural wonders are just too good to be missed!”

Another exciting aspect of Auckland is the food. One can easily find many different eateries ranging from a fancy

restaurant serving some of the world’s best wines, cafes serving finger foods and markets with unique produce.

Food in Auckland is also famous for its fresh ingredients that become a key to creating tasty dishes. “I had a chance to enjoy an Italian dinner nearby Auckland Waterfront with many ships and boats passing by. The kids loved it as well, as they could play around the harbor with the friendly sea eagles. A notable thing about the food are the large portions, which we don’t usually find in Indonesia.

We really wanted to finish the full set menu from appetizers to desserts but then we felt full already in the middle of our main course. But we still couldn’t resist to stop.”

Auckland turned out to be a wonderful destination for Joe Taslim and his family. A city full of exciting things to do, with stunning natural wonders as the backdrop, and amazingly friendly people along the way.

Find more New Zealand experiences on www.newzealand.com 03

04

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AUCKLAND

01

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AUCKLAND

A JOURNEY OF A

FOODIE STORY JED DOBLE PHOTOGRAPHS JED DOBLE AND DENNIE RAMON

On my visit to Auckland, I specifically asked to experience the finest food the city had to offer to experience the best local food.

A

uckland is such a picturesque city.

Everywhere you look is postcard perfect. The exciting part about the city too is that just a few minutes drive out, you are already in the midst of the beautiful countryside. Thus on a fine afternoon, we zipped out for a picnic by the beach.

I met John Panoho who operates Navigation Tours that conducts personalized indigenous food tours throughout the Auckland region. John took me to the Arataki Visitor Centre that is the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, which has more than 16,000 hectares of native rainforest and coastline. Here John gave me a brief introduction to the Maori culture and showed me some interesting indigenous plants which are often used in Maori cooking. The visitor’s center is the beginning of some 250 km of walking and tramping tracks that provide access to beaches, breathtaking views, and spectacular rocky outcrops.

We later continued onto Piha Beach.

Piha is one of the most popular beaches on Auckland’s West Coast. It has a vast stretch of dramatic, black sand that gives a wonderful feeling of isolation and of being uncrowded. The wild surf at Piha Beach draws seasoned surfers and it’s also a great swimming spot in summer.

It was cold that day, so I was not going into the water. So onto the picnic! We found a nice shaded spot under a tree and John laid out his red tartan blanket. John quickly shucked some Fresh Diamond clams from Cloudy Bay and doused them with his homemade vinaigrette. John then quickly started his smoker to prepare

some smoked king salmon and chicken drumsticks. He also had a fresh rocket salad with garnished this with some fresh fig which he harvested from their backyard. Together with some fresh bread and bagels, plus craft beers and a chilled Chardonnay, a perfect beach picnic!

The following day was my date with Elle Armon-Jones of The Big Foody.

According to Elle, ‘Nothing introduces you to a country like its food and wine.

And that is exactly what The Big Foody Tours are all about.’ Started in 2007, by Elle who is a passionate foodie, the tours are all about showing off New Zealand and Auckland through your taste buds. As a city surrounded by water and amongst

rich fertile soil and temperate climate, Auckland produces some of the finest fresh produce in the world along with superb wine region and dedicated artisans create a city with a wealth of epicurean delights. My day with Elle bring brought us to the Matakana Saturday Farmers’ Market, a buffalo cheese producer and an olive oil producer.

Just 40 minutes north of Auckland lies the picturesque Matakana wine region, the home of over 30 boutique vineyards, olive groves, restaurants

01

Matakana Market.

02 A picnic on Piha Beach.

02

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AUCKLAND and the famous Matakana Village and Farmers’ Market. The Saturday Matakana Farmers’ Market is a must visit when traveling North. It is a showcase of artisans, growers and farmers in the Matakana region who have a passion for what they do and produce. Choose from luscious fresh produce like fruit, vegetables, delicious artisan baking, cheese, Italian sausages, organic chocolate, flowers, fine wines, olive oil and the all important freshly brewed morning coffee with locally roasted beans. Nestled on the banks of the picturesque Matakana River, I’m told that the market has grown substantially in the past few years. With the friendly vibe together with live musical accompaniment, the Farmers’ Market is a unique experience everyone loves.

After the market, Elle took me to the farms of the Whangaripo Buffalo Cheese Company. This was the highlight of my day! I love cheese and a visit to a cheese factory was just heavenly. I met Phil Armstrong and his wife Annie who run Whangaripo Buffalo Cheese Co. I had a face-to-face encounter with their buffalo, which I am told are a mix breed of Australian and Asian water buffalo. They also welcomed me to their farmhouse, where I meet their sons and Annie’s parents. The next part of my visit was just divine. Annie laid out a complete spread of their cheeses together with some fruit and sausages. Heavenly!

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AUCKLAND Last stop of the day was The Olive Place. Here they have an olive grove and produce their own olive oil. The lovely Margie Legh welcomed us to their home and took us on a quick tour of the property and olive oil factory. I discover that their Virtuo Olive Oil is award winning and couldn’t wait to sample some. Meanwhile, Elle had taken over Margie’s kitchen to whip up lunch.

I wondered how I could have lunch, after all the food I had eaten at the market and our various stops, but I was able to.

Simple home cooked lamb chops and salad, how could I resist.

During my next trip, Elle took me to Clevedon suburb in Southern Auckland to visit The Curious Croppers. In my head, I said to myself, okay, it’s a tomato farm!

Hmmmm! We meet Anthony and Angela Tringham and their kids Max and Olivia, The Curious Croppers. Anthony was already a tomato grower when Angela met him but three years ago, they expanded their range and started selling at the Clevedon Farmers Market. That’s when people started talking about their amazing tomatoes. Their philosophy in growing their tomatoes is simple. Like grapes, they grow their tomatoes in harsher than normal conditions and restrict the yield; lesser yield creates a more intense flavor.

They then pick as ripe as possible, they

can do this because they have a small gap between harvesting and selling. Anthony tells us that the fruit that their consumers receive have been picked in the last 24 hours.

The Curious Croppers farm also adheres to organic growing techniques and only very rarely will use a pesticide.

A new planting cycle will start with a sterilized greenhouse. They control the insects by hanging yellow sticky traps for every plant. These are yellow plastic sheets covered in non-toxic glue, they have discovered that insects can’t resist yellow, so they are attracted by the color, fly towards the sticky traps and get stuck.

In all, the few days I spent in Auckland just solidified the fact that the city is a foodie destination. The beautiful scenery together with the great abundance of fresh produce, food artisans and excellent winemakers make a perfect setting for a foodie holiday.

01

Matakana Market.

02 Cheese spread from Whangaripo Buffalo Cheese Co. 03 Phil Armstrong and their herd of buffalo.

04 Anthony and Angela Tringham of Curious Croppers.

05 Tomato tasting.

06 Elle Armon-Jones of The Big Foody.

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AUCKLAND

WAIHEKE

ISLAND STORY JED DOBLE

Auckland, a unique urban oasis that combines big city sophistication with an outstanding natural playground, is a mecca for foodies in search for creative cuisine, using the best and freshest produce and also a haven for oenophiles.

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AUCKLAND

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AUCKLAND

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reathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches and outstanding food and wine, what else could one ask for.

With so many experiences so close by, it is easy to hop from one adventure to another.

We take a day trip to Waiheke Island (Maori for cascading waters), a unique island settlement very close to Auckland.

It is 19 kms from the city and is a quick 35-minute ferry ride away. The island is scenic and beautiful and is a quick getaway you can do from Auckland. It is linked to the mainland by high-speed commuter ferries and helicopter flights.

Waiheke is generally regarded as a tourist destination. Well known wineries such as Cable Bay, Mudbrick and Stonyridge Vineyard call the island home. Many casual cafes and restaurants plus a wide assortment of accommodations make the island an attractive holiday option.

Its beautiful beaches entice visitors to lie around and have fun. There are also many island trails, which are good for cycling or running.

The climate on the island is generally mild and somewhat cooler than Auckland, making it a suitable place to grow grapes, hence the number of award-winning wineries on the island. It is home to a dedicated group of winegrowers who have successfully used the maritime climate and ancient soil structures to grow classical grape varieties to produce

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red and white wines. Bordeaux-wine type grapes are popular, together with Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc varieties. The islandís terroir is also suitable for the Syrah variety and many wine makers have won awards for these.

MUDBRICK

Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant is a beautiful restaurant on Waiheke Island, just 35 minutes from the central city in Auckland.

The first plantings at Mudbrick were in 1992 by Nick and Robyn Jones, who

still own and operate the property today.

Planted area is now on two distinctively different sites: the Mudbrick Vineyard at Church Bay and Shepherds Point Vineyard at Onetangi.

Their winery restaurant has a wonderful ambience, and has been described as ìone of the most romantic places on earthî. Their chefs have won international acclaim showcasing the best NZ ingredients.

Relax and enjoy a lunch, dinner or wine tasting in our beautiful vineyard by the sea.

AUCKLAND STONYRIDGE

Stonyridge Vineyard was conceived and operated with the sole intention of making world-class Bordeaux-style red wine. This classic Cabernet-dominant blend is named Larose as a tribute to the rose, the most aromatic, colorful, intense, and beautiful of all flowers.

The vineyard site was chosen specifically to produce this style of wine.

The gentle north-facing slopes of the vineyard are sheltered from the cold southwesterly winds by the ridge that gives the vineyard its name. Summer temperatures regularly reach over 30∞C with the highest temperature being 36∞C. Combined with north-facing rows and excellent viticulture, the grapes achieve perfect ripeness in normal years.

Typical yields at Stonyridge are as low as 20 hectoliters/hectare (2 tonnes/ acre). The grapes are handpicked and immediately taken to the winery, where they are crushed, de-stemmed, and pumped into stainless-steel fermentation tanks. A warm fermentation is followed by a two-week maceration before being basket-pressed. Malolactic fermentation is completed in barrel in the warmed chai (barrel cellar). The wine is 100% oak-aged in French and American barriques for over a year, racked regularly, rarely fined, and never filtered.

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AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND

ADVENTURE STORY JED DOBLE

Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, but is much more than just the country’s commercial hub. Because of its warmer climate, than other New Zealand cities, it has become an exciting playground of outdoor activities to suit all fitness and adrenaline levels, all within close proximity of one another.

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AUCKLAND

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AUCKLAND

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uckland’s diverse landscape provides countless opportunities to get immersed in nature and enjoy quality time with your family and loved ones. Light treks around the dramatic West Coast of Auckland weave through lush native bush plunge down cliffs to meet the black sand beaches, and to the North of Auckland, gentle hills dotted with farmland and vineyards roll towards the stunning golden sand coastline.

Having visited Auckland a few times, I even surprise myself by how adventurous I have become because of the many spectacular adventure activities on offer. Here we rundown several activities one can take-up when visiting Auckland.

AUCKLAND SEA PLANES SCENIC FLIGHT

Begin your journey with a one-ofa-kind adventure by hopping onto a Havilland Beaver Floatplane with a capacity of up to 6 adults and head out to one of the harbour’s breath-taking island destinations. This scenic flight will give you 360 degree views over the mesmerizing Hauraki Gulf’s islands and volcanoes. Alternatively, take a 20 minute Rangitoto Circuit Scenic Flight or a 2 hour Island Hopping tour to experience the remote beauty of Great Barrier Island..

Once you’ve tried the water-landing, you can tick this unforgettable experience off your bucket list.

SKYDIVE AUCKLAND

This in not for the faint of heart. It’s time to get your heart pumping with one of the

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most popular adrenaline sport activities in New Zealand. Skydive Auckland offers you the experience of a lifetime - freefalling at 200kmph over breath taking views of Auckland’s city, coastline and beyond.

As a beginner, you may choose from the many available heights of 9,000, 13,000 & 16,500 feet. The latter is currently the highest available skydive jump in the North Island of New Zealand. Skydive Auckland is strongly committed in providing a safe, friendly and enjoyable skydiving experience, so you need not worry about your safety. Located less than an hour’s drive from Auckland Airport and the central city, it also provides free pick-up and dropoff services from the Auckland Sky Tower.

SNOWPLANET – SKI AND SNOWBOARD

Ever imagine experiencing snow in the middle of Auckland city? Snowplanet is the answer. Located in Silverdale, in North Auckland, Snowplanet offers indoor skiing and snowboarding year round, over 8,000m2 of real snow, including a beginner’s area and a terrain park. For those of you travelling with kids, you might want to try to skidding down the slope in a rubber tube.

Snowplanet also provides a full range of rental equipment, clothing and a fullyqualified instructor team to get you up to speed or improve your technique. It’s time to hit the snow!

AUCKLAND

SKYWALK THE EDGE AND SKYJUMP – SKY TOWER

Love a good view? Auckland’s Skywalk is a narrow platform running the perimeter of the Sky Tower – 192m above the Central Business District! Despite the fact that you are in a very secure harness, the lack of hand rails makes you feel as though there is nothing but thin air between you and the buildings192 metres below you.

You will also enjoy the spectacular 360 degree panoramic views of Auckland, its harbour, hills, and the islands beyond. If you are brave enough to look down, you will have a perfect bird’s eye view of the city far below. The knowledgeable guides will point out Auckland’s attractions, tell stories about the city and challenge you to daredevil tricks. At the end of your journey, you’ll be hanging over the edge and feeling as though you were standing on top of the world. Now, will you take on the challenge to SkyWalk around The Edge?

For those who not only live on the edge, but want to jump off, the SkyJump is an incredible adrenaline rush in the heart of Auckland. New Zealand’s highest jump and only Base Jump by wire.

Plummet 192 metres off the Sky Tower at 85 km an hour! Completely safe and utterly unforgettable. I did it and it was

a cinch! Of course, I tried to be calm and collected. But once your feet are at the edge and you are given a countdown to jump, there is no turning back. The jump was fun and exciting, but a truly stunning view of the city.

HAURAKI GULF KAYAKING – AUCKLAND SEA KAYAKS

One of the best ways to see Auckland is from the water – and why not do so off your own steam with a sea kayaking adventure. Auckland’s exceptional

AUCKLAND SEA PLANES 11 Brigham Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 7am-6pm, 7 days www.aucklandseaplanes.com

SNOWPLANET 91 Small Road, Silverdale, Auckland 10am-10pm 7 days a week www.snowplanet.co.nz

SKYDIVE AUCKLAND 72 Green Road, Helensville, Auckland 8am-8pm 7 days a week www.skydiveauckland.com

SKYWALK Auckland Sky Tower, Corner Federal and Victoria Street, Auckland City www.skywalk.co.nz

coastline and picture-perfect Hauraki Gulf make it a sea kayaker’s paradise waiting to be discovered. For beginners, try The Motukorea Classic ½ day kayak exploration for a culturally informative and fun paddle around the Waitamata Harbour. For those who are more advanced, you may try the 2 day island hopping kayak tour, which will take you far away from the crowds of the city and make you fall in love with nature all over again. More time on the water, more time to relax, more time to explore!

Auckland offers a unique holiday experiences where people, culture, and landscape come together to create an unforgettable adventure for you and your family. Get ready to fall in love with the city’s beauty while at the same time challenging your inner adventurer!

Find more New Zealand experiences on www.newzealand.com.

AUCKLAND SEA KAYAKS www.aucklandseakayaks.co.nz

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AUCKLAND

CONCIERGE

STUNNING NATURAL PLAYGROUND

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herever you go in Auckland, you’ll find something special – it’s a whole region waiting to be explored. The city center’s worldclass shopping, restaurants, bars and galleries are encircled by wine regions, stunning beaches, pristine rainforest and the magnificent Hauraki Gulf.

AUCKLAND ON THE WATER

Auckland sprawls over a narrow isthmus between the sparkling waters of the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours. It’s no surprise that one in three Auckland households own a boat. The reason is the Hauraki Gulf - Tikapa Moana, a brilliant maritime playground right on the city’s doorstep.

The gulf is also the destination for fishing, sailing, dolphin and whale watching, cruising, kite surfing, kayaking and surfing.

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Dolphin and Whale Watching Be spellbound by the spectacle of Dolphin and Whale watching playing in the water from the safety of your boat.

Kite surfing Auckland has an abundance of great kite surfing locations for getting out on the water.

Sailing Experience the thrill of America’s Cup Match racing or take a leisurely harbor cruise - there’s no shortage of options.

Surfing Auckland is spoilt for choice when it comes to surfing, with two coasts, island breaks and several northern beaches. Most surfers frequent the western beaches with Piha being the most popular and wellknown surf beach. Other popular surfing spots include Bethells Beach, Karekare, Great Barrier and Muriwai.

TOP FAMILY ACTIVITIES IN AUCKLAND Adorable Penguins at Kelly Tarlton’s One of the all-time favorite family activities in Auckland, Kelly Tarlton’s offers all the fun of an aquarium and has a brilliant Antarctic section too. As well as all the normal tank-style exhibits that you’d expect at an aquarium, Kelly Tarlton’s also boasts being the first underwater tunnel experience in the world with an opportunity for the kids to come face to face with turtles, octopus and sharks.

The best part of the experience for kids is the opportunity to see King Penguins in a realistic snow filled enclosure from the Antarctic ride experience.

A Trip into the ‘Jungle’ with the Rain Forest Express If you don’t mind a little bit of a drive,

AUCKLAND the Rain Forest express is about 40-45 minutes North of Auckland. It’s a cool little train that takes you through native New Zealand forest to look outs as well as through a tunnel with glowworms.

Well worth a trip, if you’ve got older one’s – it’ll help them to understand New Zealand’s relationship with our native forests.

Take the Ferry to Devonport for Ice Cream An option that doesn’t cost the earth is taking a trip on the Fullers Ferry over to Devonport, where I’m sure the kids will revel in the chance for a play on the beach and an ice-cream. There’s also a great little chocolate factory there too – well worth a visit!

Whale & Dolphin Safari I’d recommend the Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari for families with older children, just because you are out at sea for a good 4hrs+. But if it is something that your kids would be in to, then it’s a brilliant trip – with dolphins & whales viewed on most trips.

Fun at Treasure Island Adventure Mini-Golf Located just near the airport, Treasure Island Mini-Golf is the perfect activity when waiting to leave Auckland Airport with a brilliant pirate theme, kids love the interfamily competition!

Maricar Gacutan

29 | February 2015

Culinary Escape: Eat Manila Join us as we discover the sights, sounds and Flavors of Manila Visit Intamuros with the incomparable CARLOS CELDRAN A day trip to Tagaytay and visit TAAL VOLCANO Experience a culinary heritage tour in PAMAPANGA

April 9 - 12, 2015 For more details please call VENTURE TRAVEL MAGAZINE: T: +62 290 53959 E: venture@venturetravelmag.com

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VENTURE

Mar 2015

DUBAI Introduction The words ‘first, tallest, deepest, most expensive, lavish, outlandish’ could have been created for this city. Where else would you find a seven-star hotel, visit a series of 200 man-made islands in the shape of the countries of the world, or climb the world’s tallest building?

34 Arabian Adventure A variety of adrenaline soaring activities – Dubai’s outdoors offer a new adventure everyday.

40 Dubai: Ski Anyone?

The novelty of skiing indoors in the middle of the desert is something that has never been thought of possible a decade ago.

44 Shopping: Souk or not to

Souk Exotic souks are evocative of Arabian yore while the colossal malls oozes modernity while offering a variety of products.

48 Living in Luxury Symbolic of the new Middle East – vivacious and futuristic- the spectacular luxury hotels found in Dubai inspires awe at every level.

52 Concierge What you and your family can do while in Auckland.

DUBAI

ARABIAN

ADVENTURE STORY JED DOBLE

The influx of tourists to Dubai has paved the way for many interesting activities and adventures one can do when visiting the city.

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DUBAI

Alexandr Vlassyuk/ Shutterstock

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DUBAI

I

have never been much of an adventure traveler. It would be safe to say that my trips are often soft adventure, wherein I see the sights with my eyes and my palate. But my recent visit to Dubai has opened me up to my inner adrenaline junkie.

DESERT SAFARI

The mysterious desert is the ideal venue for a magical and memorable evening.

Leave behind the skyscrapers and malls of Dubai for a desert safari. Trained safari guides driving 4x4 vehicles lead the thrilling journey. Be ready for a rough and tumble drive over the sand dunes through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve - deep into the heart of the desert.

As we drove into the conservation, I got my first glimpse of the desert. It was gorgeous. The sand dunes were bright and shifted with the wind. It was everything I expected and more.

I egged on our driver to speed up as we went up the sand dunes and felt my stomach sink as we crashed down. It was like riding a roller coaster!

After the 4x4 ride, we are brought to a traditional Bedouin-style camp where we experience a feast under the stars includes a Middle Eastern selection of grilled meats, fresh salads, delectable sweets and hand-picked beverages. The evening was capped by a fun belly dance number.

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DUBAI SKYDIVING

Unlike me, a lot out there are adrenaline junkies. When you visit Dubai, cross out skydiving from your bucket list! Some may call it insane, but to others, it is an adventure activity of a lifetime. Imagine your racing heartbeat, as the strong gust of wind blows through your face as you shoot down at 210 kph.

Skydive Dubai, the world’s premier skydiving location, strategically located near the luxurious manmade island, The Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Marina.

With these beautiful and breathtaking views Skydive Dubai has always been the people’s number one choice for skydiving.

The journey started when H.E Nasser El Neyadi obtained one helicopter, a wind tunnel and started training. Then in 2010, with the honourable blessings of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Crown Prince of Dubai, the first international parachuting championship was held in the Palm Drop zone in Dubai. Soon after the name Skydive Dubai was launched by H.E Nasser Al Neyadi.

Skydive Dubai offers a unique experience the moment you walk in. With a drop zone 260,000m drop zone area and a runway area of 60m x 700m consisting of ¾ water and ¼ land and a gear store with all the necessities and more. Also for those who feel that they would rather watch then jump, they can enjoy a cup of coffee or a snack and the sea breeze whilst watching the skydivers land at the Skydive Dubai Cafe. Sky dive is a one stop destination for all skydivers, skydiving enthusiasts and visitors.

Skydive Dubai operates with the highest safety standards under the regulations of the International Air Sport Federation (FAI). The success of Skydive Dubai is partially due to the talented and dedicated staff that has averaged over 7,000 jumps and with over 10 years experience all of whom are fully accredited by the USPA (United States Parachuting Association) internationally and EAA ( Emirates Aviation Association) nationally.

FALCONRY

Falconry has been practiced in the UAE for many centuries and is an important part of the country’s cultural heritage. It was an integral part of desert life, originally, falcons were used for hunting, to supplement the Bedouin diet with some meat, such as hare or houbara.

Mehdi Photos/ Shutterstock

Rasti Sedlak/ Shutterstock

CAMEL RIDE

Various camel riding activities include learning about the history of the camel, getting to taste camel milk and the camel ride itself. Once perched safely in the saddle, experienced camel handlers will lead your trusty camel out into the desert to watch the sunrise or the sunset over Dubai.

Camels are known as the ships of the desert- they will carry you safely across the desert and back again.

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DUBAI SANDBOARDING

Talking about adrenaline junkies, Dubai offers other thrilling one-of-a-kind activities. One of these is sandboarding.

Slide down huge sand dunes at 75 kph or slice through waves of sands at break neck speeds, sand boarding is a fast and furious activity!

Sandboarding is a board sport similar to snowboarding. It is a recreational activity that takes place on sand dunes rather than snow-covered mountains. This boardsport has adherents throughout the world, most prevalently in desert areas or coastal areas with beach dunes. This novel sport has taken Dubai by (sand) storm.

It involves riding across or down a dune while standing with both feet strapped to a board, though some sandboarders use a board without bindings. It is less popular than snowboarding, partly because it is very difficult to build a mechanised ski lift on a sand dune, and so participants generally must walk back up to the top.

38 | March 2015

Alternatively, they may ride a dune buggy or all-terrain vehicle back to the top of the dune. On the other hand, dunes are normally available year-round as opposed to ski resorts, which are usually seasonal.

Many of the tour operators offer this

activity already, so it will not be difficult to find one. It may be included in a half day or full day desert safari trip. Or if you are keen, a dedicated sand boarding session.

Tours include equipment and training. The sand dunes are yours for the taking.

DUBAI WIND SURFING

365 days of steady winds and sun makes Dubai perfect for wind surfing. Whether you are a beginner, have done it before or an experienced windsurfer, you will be thrilled by the wind and the waves.

Watercooled, a five-star water sports center opened its doors to water sports enthusiasts at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa recently. The center offers stat-of-the-art facilities managed by a team of highly qualified RYA accredited instructors.

They offer Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced courses, using top windsurf brands like Tushingham and Starboard, so that clients are never compromised with either performance or style. They have equipment for all levels from beginner to more advanced.

Wind surfing boards for beginners and experienced sailors as well as junior-sized boards can be easily rented from several of the emirate’s beachside hotels and resorts.

DIVE

At the Atlantis, The Palm Dubai’s Lost Chambers Aquarium, guests have the unique opportunity to feed and swim amongst the amazing creatures that call the Ambassador Lagoon home. The lagoon is the largest open air aquarium in the Middle East and Africa, and is home to 65,000 marine animals of all shapes and sizes.

Dive into a truly unique adventure.

Explore the ancient ruins of Atlantis and discover all the wild and wonderful species that inhabit the lagoon.

Always wanted to experience Scuba diving? Atlantis Dive Discovery is designed specifically for non-certified divers. Learn the basics of scuba diving and plunge in to experience the

exhilaration of swimming amongst stunning marine animals in a safe and comfortable environment.

For certified and the more experienced divers, delight in the rare experience of diving alongside incredible sea creatures and marvel at the artifacts the ancient Atlanteans left behind in the single tank dive.

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DUBAI

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DUBAI

DUBAI

SKI ANYONE? STORY RICHMOND BLANDO

Skiing in the desert? Where else but in Dubai. It is a faux winter wonderland built right into the gargantuan Mall of the Emirates

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DUBAI

D

uring a dinner conversation with friends the topic of winter adventures came up and my friends threw in the places where they learned to ski. Some went to Niseko in Japan, Aspen in Colorado, St. Moritz in Switzerland and then they turned to me, I smiled mischievously and said “I learned during the summer… in DUBAI.” Silence. Followed by laughter, disbelief and “WHAT?” That story never gets old since I get the same reaction most of the time.

I had the genius idea (I mean that in the most sarcastic of tones) of spending a few days of my summer vacation in Dubai. The lure of the childhood stories of Arabian Nights was still strong and I was

going to indulge for three days.

But there was a snag… Murphy’s law always comes into play.

The list of what I wanted to do, which were to see the Burj Khalifa, shop in the Souks and have an Arabian Adventure were done in a day and a half, which left me with a lot of time on my hands.

I spent a good portion of the morning

swimming by the beach, but the 36°C temperature was getting a bit unbearable, since it was only 10 am.

And where do Asians (Indonesians in particular) go to get cooled down? Where else, but the malls. I rushed into the Mall of the Emirates and wandered aimlessly for half an hour until I chanced upon a signage that screamed “SKI DUBAI.”

01

01. Having lunch in front of Ski Dubai.

02. Ski Dubai--is an indoor ski resort with 22,500 square meters of indoor ski area.

03. Floor-to-ceiling windows to peek at the activity inside the resort.

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02

Ritu Manoj Jethani/ Shutterstock

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DUBAI I was a bit taken aback about the oddity of it all, but at the same time the kid in me was had his jaw dropped in amazement in seeing something like this and that it would be in a country with deserts. With over 240,000 square feet of skiing, high ceiling and includes a snow park the resort does pack a punch with the limited space. There are slopes for all levels (the longest run is a quarter of a mile long), a snow park have toboggans and a bobsled, a giant snowball you can roll down a hill in, an indoor zipline, and multiple lifts. Not bad for an attraction inside a mall.

I didn’t think I was lucky at first, but after reading a few blogs and reviews over the internet later on, I was really fortunate that my spur of the moment decision to buy a ticket and sign up for a discovery lesson was blessed by an act of God, as most of the netizens commented on how they all needed to book in advance to experience it. Since I was flying solo, I was able to sign-in since there was a gap in a group (of 25), telling them I was travel writer might have helped lubricate the deal a little bit.

I had to buy my own gloves, about 10 AED, hats or beanies were also available but I opted to take the macho route (or cheapskate, depending on who’s asking) and opted out. They provided jackets and pants, they looked and smelled (yes, I smelled them) clean. If I came in well prepared, I would have brought a long sleeved shirt, but as I trusted my tolerance for the cold, I decided to accept the stupidity of the moment and go for it. A pair of disposable socks is provided with your boots but these are short and very thin and they wouldn’t fill in the gaps around your feet unless you tighten the boots, which can be a bit painful, fortunately, the socks I wore that day were thick sports socks. You will get to change in the locker room but remember to empty back your borrowed jacket if you decided

to keep some money or a camera with you.

Now comes the hard gear. I took my time in trying out the boots, taking the time the to answer the staff as they asked questions about my weight and height.

After I got all my gear, I stepped into the snow and the temperature dropped to 20°C, I moved towards the chairlift and made my way up.

Finally, the moment of truth, I pictured myself slicing through the snow, swooshing right and left, bending my knees for speed and twisting my body to turn and stop… I am about to SKI! That didn’t happen the way I pictured it. I will not go into the detail of the lesson since it was a bit embarrassing to

say that more than 50% of the beginner group were kids.

PROLOGUE

Some would consider this a waste (of time and money), I consider myself lucky in experiencing the novelty of it all. But if you’re not skiiing or snowboarding, the snow park has the toboggan, a small cave for exploring, the zorbing, and bobsled, and a bridge you can walk on to see views.

The regular penguin encounter is actually the same price as the snow park entrance. Dubai is the only place in the world where visitors can actually touch and hug real penguins.

01

If you’re planning to go to see the Penguins:

• The penguin encounters may fill up so buy your tickets online to reserve your spot!

• Unlike the other resort visit options, the penguin encounters actually include a glove in the ticket price.

• The snow penguins are available all day between 12pm and 9pm.

• If you don’t want to physically enter the park, you can still see it from inside the mall – there are giant floor-to-ceiling windows that allow mall goers to peek at the activity inside the resort from the first and second floors of the mall.

• Although you get jackets and pants to wear with your admission ticket, it is still cold inside so dress warmly if you’re there.

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DUBAI

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DUBAI

LIVING IN

LUXURY STORY JED DOBLE

Dubai is in a mad dash to open new hotel rooms to accommodate the many tourists visiting the emirate.

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DUBAI

L

ive large in Dubai. Here, everything is taller, bigger and wider. Hotels are no exception. Dubai has the most luxurious hotels rooms available. Here are our choices of the most deluxe and wellappointed hotels.

THE ADDRESS DOWNTOWN DUBAI

The Address Downtown Dubai, is one of the city’s premier five star hotels with a new invigorating and innovative vibe.

Dubai’s social scene happens around downtown, hence you are in the middle of all the action. The hotel has stylish rooms, a unique choice of modern outlets, ideal for everything from a social cup of coffee to a fabulous weekend brunch, exquisite dinners and the best late night venues.

Whether travelling to Dubai on business or leisure, The Address Downtown is the premier all around destination in this vibrant and energetic city. The hotel’s spacious and bright rooms offer a dynamic sense of style and

a striking design that appeals to all tastes across the international travel market.

Standing an impressive 63 storeys high, with spectacular views of Burj Khalifa, The Old Town and Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard complete the very unique guest experience. The Address Downtown Dubai has nine highly individual accommodation styles, to satisfy the exclusive preferences of their guests. Each of the 196 immaculately laid out and spacious rooms, including 25 suites, is naturally bright and replete with unexpected thoughtful luxuries. .

ATLANTIS THE PALM DUBAI

With spectacular views of the azure Arabian Sea, or the iconic Palm Island and magnificent Dubai skyline, a stay at the Atlantis The Palm Dubai is a one of a kind experience. It is a perfect choice for any family holiday to Dubai. Their signature suites are for the discerning individual who expects the very best. Each suite offers a truly distinctive take on luxury and opulence.

Their Underwater Suites are the perfect romantic hideaway with breathtaking views of the ancient ruins of the mythical lost city of Atlantis. Wake up to a school of fish or a manta visiting your window, such an amazing experience. The 924 square meter Royal Bridge Suite is truly palatial and is the biggest suite in Dubai.

The private elevator, team of butlers and chefs, three sumptuous bedrooms with ensuites, a majalis, lounge and a 16 seat dining room make it the ultimate in exclusivity, privacy and pure luxury. To cap it off, you wake up to unobstructed views of the Arabian Gulf and The Palm.

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DUBAI MADINAT JUMEIRAH

Set across its own private beach, Madinat Jumeirah resort is an authentic recreation of ancient Arabia, capturing the natural beauty of the region. Madinat Jumeirah features two grand boutique hotels, Al Qasr and Mina A’ Salam, 29 traditional summer houses in Dar Al Masyaf, 7 Malakiya Villas, over 40 restaurants and bars, conference and banqueting facilities including two grand ballrooms, a 1000-seat amphitheatre and the region’s only dedicated entertainment centre and multi-purpose venue, Madinat Arena. The facilities are interconnected by 3 kilometres of waterways and landscaped gardens.

The resort also provides extensive leisure and health facilities including Talise Spa and Talise Fitness, as well as Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a traditional retail and dining experience showcasing the best of Arabia.

JUMEIRAH ZABEEL SARAY

Inspired by the imperial palaces of the Ottoman era, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray is a five-star luxury hotel that does absolutely everything in superb style. From its exclusive location on the west crescent of the iconic Palm Jumeirah to the truly

spectacular lobby entrance, every detail inspires awe and delight.

The resort is made up of 379 elegant guest rooms, with 26 lavish suites and 38 Royal Residences offering stunning ocean views. Lose yourself in the outdoor infinity pool overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Discover a whole new way of

dining at the magnificent Music Hall.

And explore a world of treatments at the palatial Talise Ottoman Spa, home to 42 treatment rooms, eight hydrotherapy rooms, steam rooms, saunas, snow rooms and three Turkish hammams. However you spend your time here, every moment is a pleasure.

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DUBAI

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DUBAI

SHOPPING

SOUK OR NOT TO SOUK STORY RICHMOND BLANDO

Dubai is a dream destination for shoppers, with its huge modern malls and traditional Arabic souks offering everything from electrical appliances to hand-woven carpets.

T

his appealing combination of old and new, in the heart of the Middle East, isn’t without a few pitfalls.

To ensure your spending spree goes without a hitch try to keep these tips in mind.

TIME YOUR TRIP

Dubai is also a favorite destination for residents of other Middle East countries, who regularly jet over on weekends.

Weekends fall on Friday and Saturday, and on these days, the malls are jampacked. If you’re not keen on fighting your way through eager throngs, plan your expeditions midweek.

Fridays are weekly days of rest and prayer, and many smaller shops won’t open until the afternoon – if at all.

RELIGIOUS OCCASIONS

The UAE is an Islamic country, and several special days on the Muslim calendar impact shopping hours.

Ramadan will mean independent outlets and mall food courts close until after sunset, but Dubai’s myriad of hotels will all have at least one operational outlet, screened off, for non-Muslim guests.

The Ramadan Night Market during the last 10 days of Ramadan to Eid is held at the Dubai World Trade Center, which offers apparel, gifting, electronics, jewelry and other household items.

THE DRESS CODE

Contrary to some misconceptions of the UAE, the vast majority of locals here are tolerant and very accepting of different attitudes and beliefs. That being said, please respect their cultural and religious sensitivities by simply dressing modestly when in public areas such as malls and restaurants, with shoulders and knees covered for women, and no bear chests or short shorts for men.

Offended or even just concerned citizens have been known to approach inappropriately attired shoppers and ask them to go and change. Oh, public displays of affection, drunkenness or overt rudeness will also not be tolerated; these could land you with more than a simple caution.

HAGGLING

You cannot haggle in malls, period. The old souks’ owners, on the other hand, expect you to barter over the price of your gold, spices or textiles. The shop

owner’s first offer is simply an opening for negotiations.

GETTING AROUND

Dubai is not particularly a pedestrian city.

The various shopping areas are quite far apart and walking between them simply isn’t an option. Fortunately, taxis are easy to come by and are affordable (some drivers are crazy though). Tipping isn’t essential, but is recommended when you encounter good service.

There’s also the Dubai Metro, a monorail that runs through the center of town. There are stations at several of the big malls – including Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, BurJuman and Deira City Centre.

Dubai hosts 2 shopping festivals a year, during which malls offer massive discounts, raffles and entertainment. Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) runs for a month from the first week of January and the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), runs from the first week of August through the start of September.

But be warned, around midday, the mercury can soar past 48 degrees Celsius. Anyone hoping to explore the city’s outdoor attractions or souks may wish to avoid the scorching July to September season.

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DUBAI

PLACES TO SHOP IN DUBAI

From gold to electronics, designer labels and luxury items, the emirate is packed with huge shopping malls built side-byside with older souks, where small shop owners sell everything from spices to clothing to carpets and rugs.

01

Aquarium in Dubai Mall - world’s largest shopping mall.

02 Egyptian themed WAFI mall in Dubai.

03 Palmyra pavilion

04 The biggest gold

at Global Village in

ring in Deira

Dubai.

Gold Souq weighs 63.85kg.

01

Dubai Shopping Mall Even with the multitude of malls available in Dubai, the Dubai Mall still provides one of the most complete shopping experiences. Not just a mall, this minicity is home to over a thousand stores, a spectacular four-storey indoor waterfall, a huge aquarium, an Olympic size ski-rink and a staggering number of food outlets.

Wafi Mall Do not bypass or take this mall lightly as this quiet mall has some lovely regional boutique stores apart from some of the more famous ones like Chanel and Givenchy. The Souk Khan Murjan, located in the basement of the mall has an eclectic collection of beautiful lamps and artifacts from the Arab region. The mall is also home to the Wafi Gourmet, Dubai’s best known gourmet deli counter packed with local fare including pickles, pepper, cheeses and olives.

02 Philip Lange/ Shutterstock

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DUBAI

04 Ritu Manoj Jethani/ Shutterstock

03

Deira Gold Souk From 22 karat Indian extravaganza to 18 karat Italian pieces to diamond encrusted ornaments to strings of pearls glint and glare from the window displays is one of the reasons why Dubai has been known as the ‘City of Gold’.

Leave plenty of time when visiting these souks as you will need to hop from shop to shop to see the variety available and to get the cheapest rates. Oh, don’t hesitate to haggle a bit.

Global Village Located off the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (previously known as the Emirates Road), the Global Village has carnival-like atmosphere that attracts visitors from late November through to the end of February. Each pavilion showcases artifacts and items from their country. If you wait for the last week of the event, it is possible that you could get heavy discounts on some items.

Bur Dubai’s IT Dubai is a tax-free country, electronics are much cheaper here than in other parts of the world. Make sure to ask for an international warranty and to check

Laborant/ Shutterstock

voltage requirements if you are planning on taking anything back to your home country.

Karama Shopping Center Not a luxury shopper? Well there is a place for you in this city also. If you are on the day of your souvenir or oleh-oleh shopping, the Karama Shopping Center are much more reasonable than those available at more expensive malls. The shopping center is bustling with shops

that sell imitation watches, knock off designer clothing and handicrafts and souvenirs from the region.

BARGAINING TIP:

Since most shops sell the same items, tell them that you saw the same item at another shop for a better price and you will possibly get a good deal.

Most gold shops will charge a fee for purchases made with a credit card.

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DUBAI

CONCIERGE

THE BEST THE CITY HAS TO OFFER

D

ubai is a cosmopolitan oasis, a futuristic cityscape that towers over the Arabian Desert. Dubai is home to the world’s largest dancing fountain; tallest building (Burj Khalifa); only 7-star hotel (the Burj al-Arab); largest artificial islands (the Palm Islands); and largest natural flower garden (the Miracle Garden). There are so many things to do in this magical Arabian land that it takes a minimum of three days to enjoy what it has to offer you.

DUBAI FOUNTAINS

Set on the 30-acre Burj Khalifa Lake, the fountain shoots water jets as high as 500 ft (150 meters), equivalent to that of a 50-storey building. The fountain is 900 ft (275 meters) long and has five circles of varying sizes and two central arcs. It has been designed by California-based WET, the creators of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.

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DUBAI AQUAVENTURE WATERPARK

Get the adrenaline pumping with record breaking rides and slides, get up close and personal with sharks and rays or kick back and relax on 700 meters of pristine private beach or in the new exclusive reserved seating areas. Come and get your thrills, spills and divine relaxation at Aquaventure Waterpark.

slava296/ Shutterstock

Laborant/ Shutterstock

DUBAI GOLF

Dubai Golf, a leisure subsidiary owned by wasl Asset Management Group, with its world-class golf courses and luxurious clubhouses, harbours some of the most spectacular locations for golf, events and entertainment in the region. It manages the two leading golf clubs in DubaiEmirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Dubai Golf manages an online tee time booking system for its 3 golf courses as well as servicing a central reservations office that books golf at all the UAE golf courses.

It also provides a wide range of market leading golf and leisure related services including fine dining restaurants, golf academies, recreation amenities and residential developments.

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VENTURE

Mar 2015

KANTO Introduction The Kanto region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses the destinations of Yokohama, Hakone and Shinagawa. It is the most highly developed, urbanized, and industrialized part of Japan.

Tokyo and Yokohama form a single industrial complex with a concentration of light and heavy industry along Tokyo Bay.

56 Demystifying Japan A crash course in the names that divide the Japanese geography.

58 Yokohama: Cosmopolitan and then some

Journey into the cosmopolitan city of Yokohama, this gateway city provided foreigners a first-hand view of the Japanese culture and vice versa.

64 Hakone: Weekend Wanderlust

Considered as one of the favorite getaway destinations of many residents of the city.

68 Shinagawa: Walk this Way Many sees this as part of Tokyo, but it only takes a few minutes or a few steps to feel the different vibe. From the local pride and culture all the way to its rich history.

72 Concierge Take a glimpse of Japan’s culture. One cannot ignore the undeniable fact, that Japan is what it is because of their people.

KANTO

DEMYSTIFYING

JAPAN STORY RICHMOND BLANDO

“Anatomy is to physiology as geography is to history; it describes the theatre of events.”

- Jean Fernel (French Physician, 1497 - 1558)

A

fter a few years of going traveling into Japan, I somewhat accepted the terminologies of the territories and never questioned it. Ordinarily my general knowledge of countries’ geography were as simple as: Country-State-City-CountyVillage/Town and some may vary with the use of “Region” (in place of State) or “Province” (in place of County).

Japan is somewhat different and yet the same.

The country is made up of 8 regions and 47 prefectures. But they (the Japanese) don’t actually use the word “prefecture”, they have a set of 4 words that is used to describe these “states.”

Most of the prefectures use the word: 県 or Ken like: 県

Ken

Prefecture

埼玉県

Saitama-ken

Saitama Prefecture

千葉県

Chiba-ken

Chiba Prefecture

神奈川県

Kanagawa-ken

Kanagawa Prefecture

And so on (with 43 prefectures)…

2 prefectures uses the word 府 – “fu” 府

Fu

Prefecture

大阪府

Osaka-fu

Osaka Prefecture

京都府

Kyoto-fu

Kyoto Prefecture

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1 prefecture uses 道 – do 道

Do

Prefecture

北海道

Hokkaido

Hokkaido Prefecture

Finally, 1 prefecture uses 都 – to (metropolis) 都

To

Prefecture

東京都

Tokyo-to

Tokyo Metropolis

When the Portuguese came to Japan in the 1500’s, they used the word “prefeitura”, which translates easily into the language of any country with, a history connected to the Roman Empire. Its original sense in Portuguese, however, was closer to “municipality” than “province”.

Under the current Local Autonomy Law, each prefecture is subdivided into cities and districts and each district into towns and villages. For example, Hokkaido has 14 sub prefectures that act as branch offices of the prefecture. Tokyo, the capital, is a merged city-prefecture; it has features of both cities and prefectures.

So, to recap the way the Japanese geopolitics is arranged is as follows: The Country – Region – Prefectures - Sub-prefectures There are 8 regions, which are: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu (incl. Okinawa) In the following feature, the region we will be focusing on the region of Kanto, which loosely translated means “East of the Border”.

KANTO

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YOKOHAMA

COSMOPOLITAN AND THEN SOME STORY RICHMOND BLANDO

The Yokohama locals, referred to as “Hamakko” in Japanese, has been very cheerful at enjoying life and willing to adopt whatever is good.

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T

he idea of dedicating a single day to it is absurd, but Yokohama is so easily accessible from Tokyo that it actually makes for an excellent short excursion.

It is a mere 25 minutes from the Tokyo station by using the JR Tokaido Line.

Although it seems like to exist under the shadow of Tokyo, Yokohama has an identity of its own, largely to its status as Japan’s first International port.

In the 1850’s, several treaties were signed that allowed foreigners to settle down here… and only here. The result was that Yokohama blossomed into Japan’s most cosmopolitan city. There came in strong populations of Americans, Chinese and Brits and they brought with them innovations and learning that the country had previously shunned.

Our first stop was the Cup Noodle Museum; it is about a ten-minute walk from the busy Sakuragicho Station. As we walked through the halls I could see that it was more than a museum for freeze dried noodles. It was about inventor Momofuku Ando’s vision and persistence. His pillars of creative thinking, the metaphorical pillars of the museum, could be applied to any of life’s pursuits.

Before the tour ended we got to make our very own cup noodles, from broth

01

02

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02

01

Historical Red Brick Warehouse at Yokohama city.

02 Instant noodles from around the world at the Cup Noodle Museum.

03. Hara Model Railway Museum opens to the public a massive collection of models trains, said to be the largest in the world.

04. Hara Model Railway Museum is made and possessed by Nobutaro Hara.

to toppings and even cup design (using colored markers and our creativity of course).

After that interesting visit, my constant meanderings in search for lunch led me to the Red Brick Warehouse, a huge building filled with shops and restaurants. The selection was vast and diverse. There was even a small shop that made tacos! (I cannot stress enough how hard it is to find Mexican food here.)

Though, it is one of the most famous shopping areas in Yokohama. It has a confusing layout to any newcomer, however the bespoke items from local designers made me realize that a few hours have passed in the utter disarray of fascination and passing discoveries.

The next stop was The Hara Railway

Museum, a Japanese friend told me about this and said that this was a model railway museum. I was not enthused at first, but I have learned to keep my objections on hold.

Mr. Hara, who was the collector, had spent a lifetime building it and then donated to the people of Yokohama. I was so quickly absorbed at the details

of his collection and then spent a good hour inspecting his gigantic train set complete with mountains, tunnels, trees, figures, stations - you name it. There was also another smaller set but with smaller model modern trains whizzing by. Every piece was made meticulously with a lot of details. It was addictive seeing them go around.

Cup Noodle Museum

The Hara Railway Museum

2-3-4 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama 231-0001 Japan Telephone: 045-345-0918 Museum hours: 0:00-18:00 Admission: ¥500 (tax included) Tip: It gets packed in the weekend so be sure to reserve a spot in the “Noodle Laboratory.”

Operating hours: 11 am to 6 pm

(last entry at 5:30 pm) Entrance fees: ¥1,000

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01

The last stop for the day was viewing watching the sunset from the Osanbashi Pier. I am not in any design or architectural profession but even I see the brilliance of this structure.

The Osanbashi Pier was reconstructed in 1989, roughly 100 years from its original construction, and in 2002, the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal was completed. The main characteristic is that there’s hardly a straight line in the whole structure, which is meant to flow naturally like a wave. The deck is made from a disease and insect resistant, durable wood from Brazil. It made perfect sense to use it for a pier as its properties make it almost invulnerable to water, sea or rain, wind and waves typical of the coast.

On the second day, I spent a few hours getting closer to nature… well, almost.

If you have ever been to the Newport mansions in the east coast of the States, the Yamate Diplomatic Houses has a somewhat similar feel, though in a much smaller scale. They are alike in a way because the houses are preserved and used to belong to the elite of the society during the mid 19th century.

Westerners coming to Yokohama in the 1860’s preferred to living on the hill of Yamate. Yamate’s scenery has changed in the last 100 years. However, the area still retains the exotic atmosphere of the old good days. Houses built and owned by westerners on Yamate hill are called “Yokan” in Japanese.

In the spirit of getting close to nature, we decided to do something even the whole family would enjoy, which is the Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise.

It is a theme park and a giant 62 | March 2015

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aquarium, with over 500 different varieties of fish and with more than 100,000 sea creatures in all. There is an immense three-story aquarium filled with thousands of tropical and fresh water fish.

Complete with your amusement park rides, a 30-minute show with dolphin, seals and other sea mammals. Last but not least, the Furreal Lagoon lets you interact and touch the dolphins, whales, walruses, seals, and penguins! It was an incredible experience.

The last item on our itinerary before I head back to Tokyo seemed like a little throwaway stop: Sankei-en Garden.

Hara Sankei, a businessman who made a fortune with the Japanese silk trade, opened the vast classical Japan garden covering over 18,000 square miles.

The garden was smaller as compared to the other I have visited before, and the summer sun made it a humid yet pleasant visit. Some very picturesque ponds and bridges and old summer houses, all of which merit a trip in their own right, but 01. Since its opening, the Osanbashi Pier has served as the Pacific Ocean gateway for Japan.

02. The Osanbashi Pier was constructed near the

05

then at the very end, part of our group swung by a thatched farmhouse that’s something like 250 years old, relocated from a more northerly part of Japan. The whole place kitted out with tatami and work supplies for making bean paste and raising silkworms, all of which looked very authentic and well cared for as the house.

The garden is famous seasonal viewing

spots of plum and cherry blossoms, azaleas, and autumn leaves.

Yokohama has more to offer than your normal city, from architectural wonders to antique finds to nature walks and incredible shopping experiences. With so many attractions and treats to indulge in, take the time to plan your visit so you can get the full Yokohama experience.

Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

Sankei-en Garden

original docks in 1894.

03. Yamate Diplomatic Houses was originally built in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, as a diplomat’s residence in 1910.

04. The Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is one of the most visited amusement parks in Japan and houses quite an impressive aquarium.

05. Sankei-en garden is a traditional and typical Japanese-style garden.

Admission:

Prices may vary from ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 Opening Hours: Times may vary but usually from 8 am to 930 pm

Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00 Address: 58-1, Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-0824 Tel: 045-621-0634 Ticket Price: ¥500

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HAKONE

WEEKEND WANDERLUST STORY RICHMOND BLANDO

Previously in Venture…

In the previous issue, I wrote about my trip to Hakone, which included the old checkpoint in Sekisho and seeing the pirate ship Kaizokusen. But it would be an injustice to say that this is the only thing Hakone has to offer.

H

akone is about 1-hour trip from Tokyo, it is one of the most popular retreats for people in Tokyo. Hakone features Hot Springs (Onsen), natural beauty, museums, temples, historic sites and potentially scenic views of Mt Fuji (emphasis on “potential”). Hakone is located in the western, more mountainous part of the Kanagawa Prefecture.

On our last trip in Japan we ventured (no pun intended) out of Tokyo and headed for the hills, the Hakone National Park to be exact. Just for fun, we made use of every mass land transportation method known to man. We also made a reservation at a traditional ryokan, Hakone Hotel Kowakien, and the day before leaving, I sat down to the considerable task of figuring out the directions: 1. Depart for Yumoto by Express Romancecar train 2. Ride the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise (Kaizokusen) 3. Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani Station 4. Hakone Ropeway to Sounzan station 5. Cable Car to Goura Station 6. Hakone Tozan Railway to Owakudani 7. Move to Hotel by bus

From there we went to the shore of Lake Ashi, a large lake formed by volcanic explosion 3000 years ago. Today, Lake Ashi, with Mount Fuji in the background is the symbol of Hakone.

The best views of the lake in combination with Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from Moto-Hakone, from the Hakone Detached Palace Garden and from the sightseeing boats cruising the lake. Note however, that clouds and poor visibility often block the view of Mount Fuji, and you have to consider yourself lucky if you

get a clear view of the mountain. Visibility tends to be better during the colder seasons of the year than in summer and in the early morning and late evening hours.

Other popular ways to explore Lake Ashi are by riding on the lake in a boat or even a pirate ship as I mentioned in the previous issue.

01. Mountain Fuji and Lake Ashi or Ashinoko with Hakone temple and sightseeing cruise boat.

02. Tozan Railway in Spring.

02

After arriving in Yumoto, we had lunch and proceeded to walk to the Sekisho, the old checkpoint of Edo period.

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KANTO Though there are a large number of individual steps, the road to Hakone is firmly established. We would step off one train or ropeway or cable car directly onto the next.

Getting there, as the saying goes, is half the fun. But in Hakone’s case, it might be more like 70%. At one point along the ropeway, as you’re cresting the hill before Owakudani Station, Mount Fuji suddenly appears, impossibly large on the horizon. Its profile is among the most famous in the world, and the view from our suspended car was unforgettable.

As we reached the area of Owakudani, or Great Boiling Valley, I learned that it came by another name: O-jigoku, or Great Hell. I know understood why.

The map said I was only 100 kilometers out of Tokyo, in Hakone in the Kanagawa Prefecture. Though, I think their slogan of “Welcome to Hell” is a little more accurate as I could feel my eyes starting to water from rotten sulfuric gases as I hiked closer to the place where they boiled the eggs.

Once I arrived at the Ropeway station, the sight, sound and smell becomes evident as I hear the hiss of the volcanic Mount Kamiyama, the trails of sulfur fumes fill the air, while cracks in the earth release vents of steam to complete the hellish picture.

01. Owakudani, which means the “Great Boiling valley,”is a volcanic crater or caldera located on the northern side of Mount Kamiyama which is itself part of the larger Hakone volcano.

02. Kuro-tamago.

01

02

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03. Worker is boiling eggs in volcanic water at Owakudani valley.

04. Hakone ropeway cable car ride up a mountain to Owakudani.

KANTO There was another reason to visit this great boiling valley. It’s a reason that draws thousands of Japanese visitors every year -- the chance to buy and eat kuro-tamago, or black eggs. Kuro-tamago are chicken eggs that have been boiled in the bubbling pools inside the crater at Owakudani. When they go in they look like any other egg. The presence of sulfur and iron in the volcanic water, however, turns the eggshells black as they cook.

The eggs have more going for them than simply their color. Legend has it that eating one of these eggs will prolong your life by seven years. I wondered if I gained 14 years since I ate 2 eggs.

03

03

Other Hakone Attractions

When planning a trip to Hakone, take note of the seasons.

Spring Attractions: This is by far the most visited season and the lure of the Cherry Blossom is at the center. Try to time your visit for late March (see the Japan Tourism Website for the Cherry Blossom forecast). By May you can enjoy Azaleas in many colors in the Horai-en gardens.

Summer Attractions: The Hakone Tozan hydrangea trains mark early summer with more than 10,000 hydrangeas blooming along the tracks. You can also catch the Lake Ashi Festival and Daimonji-Yaki bonfire held in July and August.

Autumn Attractions: When the breezes start to feel cool across the Hakone Mountains, ears of grass grow and they turn to fields of gold. There are so many locations

to enjoy the autumn leaves such as temples, shrines, parks and ropeway routes.

Winter Attractions: Winter sets the stage with its clear, crisp air making Mt. Fuji look its best. If you are a shutterbug or an aficionado of the painted canvas, this is the best time as long as you can stand the cold.

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SHINAGAWA

WALK THIS WAY STORY RICHMOND BLANDO

“There comes . . . a longing never to travel again except on foot.”

- Wendell Berry, Remembering

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Sean Pavone/ Shutterstock

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01

S

hinagawa is often referred to in English as a city but it actually is one of the 23 wards of the Metropolis of Tokyo.

Shinagawa has been catering to travelers since the Edo Period (1603-1867), when it was the first stop on the main road linking Tokyo with Kyoto, in short.

It is located in the Southeast part of Tokyo and evident to that claim even to this day, the Shinagawa Station is one of the city’s busiest stations. Its convenience as a transportation hub has attracted many hotels, offices, restaurants and shops to the area.

When I visited Shinagawa a few months ago I came to appreciate it from a local’s perspective, in which, if you ask me, is a more fascinating way to view the city.

Appreciate the History

Shinagawa played a key role after the construction of Tokaido in the 1600s.

Tokaido is the route that connected Edo (old Tokyo) and Kyoto. It was one the 53 post towns along the way after departing from Nihonbashi. As gift giving is so inculcated in the Japanese culture, Shinagawa provided not only food and lodging, but also shops for the travelers to buy gifts (souvenir buying) to give to their 70 | March 2015

02

families or intended hosts in Tokyo.

Even though, the city of Tokyo expanded and absorbed Shinagawa, the former Tokaido road with a few minor shrines, temples and sites of interest have been retained.

The Best Way to enjoy Shinagawa

Take the leisurely walk. Shinagawa has a variety of alluring attractions. From the shimmering bay to the bustling shops and museums and of course the sweet smell of the mixed array of sweet and

savory dishes that makes you crave like never before. Relax and enjoy strolling here and there in the nostalgic town of Shinagawa-shuku.

If you will start from the station, keep in mind that there are two exits: the west or “Takanawa” side is mainly residential, the east side or “Konan” side ranges from commercial to industrial, although many new modern residential apartments, so be sure to exit the station on the correct side for your destination.

KANTO Things to see

Sengaku-ji Temple. A temple most famous as the resting place of the 47 Ronin, a famous group of samurai who banded together to avenge their unfairly slain master, a story that is well known throughout Japan. The story is told in Chushingura, the best-known of all Kabuki plays. History aside, quite honestly, the temple isn’t much to look at, but the small museum has artifacts from the event and after, including wooden statues of all the ronin, the banner that the ronin posted during their raid, original letters, and the receipt that the priests wrote out for the head.

The Hara Museum is a modern art gallery located in a residential area southwest of Shinagawa Station. The museum itself was once a residence, but was donated by the businessman Hara Kunizo. Many engaging examples of contemporary art are exhibited, and there is also a small restaurant and gift shop.

Depending on the seasons, Ikedayama Park is a visual treat with various seasonal flowers that can be seen in this fabulous Japanese garden mansion where a Feudal Lord once lived. You can enjoy the different flowers in accordance to these months: Mid February to mid March - Plum End of February to March - Camellia Mid April to mid May - Azalea End of May to mid June - Iris June to mid July - Hydrangea

03

Stop and Shop… and indulge

The Togoshi Ginza Shopping Strip is a long strip stretching over 1200 meters from east to west and there are over 400 stores. In a world dominated by malls, department stores and mass-produced 04 01. Sengaku-ji temple is famous for its graveyard where the “47 Ronin” (also known as Akoroshi, the “masterless samurai from Ako”) are buried.

02. Shinagawa Waterfront.

03. Ikedayama Park is full of beautiful views constructed from the former suburban residence of the Okayama Ikeda feudal clan.

04. The Togoshi Ginza Shopping District is one of the longest shopping districts in the Kanto region.

This is only one of the companies that have a fleet for Yakatabune: Duration: 2.5 hours (approx.)

Departure: Daily (6:00pm or 7:00pm) Meal: Japanese “Kaiseki” Style Dinner + Drinks

experiences, these streets were lined with merchants and it was where the locals did their shopping. As you walk along you can experience the daily lives of the local people. You can find a variety of stores and restaurant.

This tradition continued until fairly recently where mom and pop stores are being forced out of business by national chains. These streets had green grocers, butchers, Sake and rice sellers, well made local crafts, restaurants and street

Remarks: • Minimum 2 Passengers: • Week Day Charters from as few as 20 people also available • Dinner drinks include unlimited beer, soft drinks, Japanese sake and whisky • Alcoholic drinks are only for the customers of 20 years and over

vendors selling delicious cheap food.

Togoshi Ginza is all Tokyo in its simple goodness, an everyman’s Ginza so to speak. However, what Togoshi Ginza is most famous for is its food. It’s a haven for delicious delectable and cheap local street food.

For a more unique experience, don’t miss a chance to book dinner at the Yakatabune, which is a Japanese cruising houseboat. You can enjoy the wonderful night view of Tokyo from the boat while enjoying sushi and tempura in the romantic Tokyo sky and even sing songs to your significant other in the Karaoke.

There you have it, if you find yourself overwhelmed by the Metropolis and all its glitter, take a step back, get to the Shinagawa station and enjoy a more historical and laid back side of Tokyo in the Town of Shinagawa.

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CONCIERGE

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW

J

apan has long been known for the quirky if not the bizarre. With over the top TV programs, oddball technology, a nonchalant attitude that other western influenced culture deem against the norm. Here are a few Japanese customs and practices can completely baffle any foreigners who happen to be traveling through or even living in Japan.

NOVELTY FOOD

Kit Kat, for example, has so many different varieties of their standard chocolate bar, leading to the brand becoming incredibly popular. Flavors include soy sauce, royal tea, corn, strawberry cheesecake and even wasabi.

TIPPING

In Japan, tipping is almost non-existent.

Waiters, hotel workers, taxi drivers and others do not expect to be tipped at all. In fact, many will consider it rude for you to attempt to give them extra cash, as they believe that should be part of the price you’re paying.

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KANTO SUSHI ETIQUETTE

NO JANITORS IN SCHOOL

Instead of employing someone to clean up other people’s trash, the schools teach students to clean up after themselves. The idea is that all of this teaches a sense of responsibility and of working together — learning to be selfless rather than selfish.

ADULT ADOPTION

If the owner of a family business doesn’t have a son to keep the family name alive, a suitable heir will be found and adopted into the family, this practice is called mukoyoshi. An incredible 98% of all adoptions in Japan involve adults aged 20 to 30, the vast majority of these being men. One example is the Zengoro Hoshi hotel, which the Guinness World Records list as the oldest family run business in the world at 1,300 years old. That’s 46 generations.

CAPTAIN’S CHAIR TOILETS

Toilets have a lot of options in Japan.

They still have the “squat” versions, but typical of Japanese mall and high-end locations the toilets will have a high-tech control panel that you can fiddle with, from water pressure, temperature and even the volume of piped in music from the establishment, I say fiddle because the instructions are all in Japanese.

DOUBLE TOOTH

Unlike the majority of the world, the youth of Japan are spending considerable sums of money on attaining uneven or “snaggle” teeth. It is known as “yaeba”, which translates as “double tooth,” and is one of the country’s most recent odd fashion trends.This procedure to produce such an appearance for cosmetic purposes is gaining popularity among Japanese females.

SLEEPING ON THE JOB

While this may get you fired in any job, this action, which is known as inemuri, is completely acceptable in Japan. The custom dictates that if you’re sleeping at work it means you’ve been working so hard you haven’t been able to get enough sleep at home. This leads employers to believe that the employee is incredibly dedicated to their job. The practice has such positive connotations attached that some people even pretend to be asleep to gain favor.

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PERSONAL JOURNEY

BOSTON

INTO THE BLIZZARD STORY RICHMOND BLANDO

“Enough snow to fill Gillette Stadium 90 times? That’s a lot of snow.”

– Anonymous Tweet (Feb 5, 2015)

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O

ne would think that after reading this tweet, it would make more sense to postpone a trip. But as my dad would always tell me, you weigh in the pros and cons and assess if the risk is worth taking or not.

Let me give the backstory: last summer I made a trip with the family to Boston to visit Harvard and let the kids get an inspiration of what the type of campus they can go to after high school. I would be too proud to admit it, but envy of their youth became a hidden sentiment and if there was a lamp I can rub and a genie that would grant me a wish, I would have wished for a glimpse of what life would be like if I went to Harvard.

Well, half the year passed by and on the week after 2015 came in, I got an email inviting me to take a one-week course for Leadership and Management in February that would take place in Harvard Business School. I was rather flabbergasted at the idea and didn’t know what to make of it, but after a few emails in response and inquiries from other members of the organization, the following week (Jan 10,2015) I gave my approval and booked a flight the following week for February 6 – 14, 2015.

The news of severe snowstorm in Boston was all over the news on Feb 2, 2015; I called to see if I can cancel the flight and the course, no refund could be given at such short notice.

So as I mentioned earlier, I weighed in the pros and cons: brave the storm and possibly get frostbite or lose a lot of money because of the ‘no cancelation policy’ and lose the chance to go to Harvard even for just a week and forfeit the opportunity to meet such influential people from all over the world.

It really was a no brainer.

I will say this, as an Asian, born and bred, the fascination of snow is inculcated in my DNA, and I got over that on the first day. Someone once said “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear” to which I responded by bringing heavy duty winter clothing, all to which had very effective results through the great inconvenience of walking like a penguin and doubting if Alzheimer’s have set in since I keep forgetting either my glove or hat at every restaurant or convenience store, needless to stay, I am not used to wearing all those layers.

During the course of my stay in Boston, I spent my first few days revisiting a familiar place, The Harvard Square. It was different the 2nd time around for two reasons, the snow and the absence of the kids; it was not better, just different.

I went inside the campus and looked

PERSONAL JOURNEY closely at the buildings. The University comprises a unique and diverse collection of historic buildings representing three hundred years of architectural styles.

I went to find the statue of John Harvard which is known to be the “Statue of Three Lies,” since the sculptor Daniel Chester French had no way of knowing Harvard’s features, so he used a student as a model—the first lie. The second lie is that Harvard founded the school—he was a major contributor, not a founder. The last lie is that the school was founded in 1638; the actual date was 1636.

When the classes ensued in the Harvard Business School which was in the other side of Charles River, I had very little opportunities to explore further the Square or the city, so I made sure that I had two extra days after the program ended to stay in Downtown Boston.

Here is a summary of what went down: 1. Temperature dropped to -15°C (that’s without the wind chill) 2. I walked for 2 minutes before going into every store I would pass by to warm up for 5 minutes.

3. I did get to see Fenway Park, the Trade Center and even got to walk around Newbury St, all of which I did in one day. That’s all the cold I could take.

4. I stayed inside the warmth of my hotel room the next day.

I do appreciate the fact that I became a Harvard Alumni (not really) and lived to tell the tale of the Snowstorm of 2015.

I wished I had known the city of Boston a lot more affectionately, so I end this travel tale with the utmost respect for the people of Boston and what they had to endure this February, but having said that, I also feel with a great degree of newfound honesty… I had never been more excited to go home in all my years of traveling. ‘Nuff Said.

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GEAR GUIDE

FOR TRAVELLERS

BY

SAMSUNG STORY KYLE GREGORIO

The avid traveller understands the essence of lightweight gear. As much as possible, they try to bring the lightest equipment whilst not sacrificing the quality. Their footwear is lightweight and durable; their clothing is feather light but keeps you warm in the coldest weather and backpacks that looks like the whole dresser is in them but can easily be carried on one shoulder strap. The electronics and gadgets they bring are no exception to this rule. Here, we talk about portable devices your can bring with you in your upcoming travels.

SAMSUNG GALAXY K ZOOM

Need a device that has it all? The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom can replace your phone, tablet and camera during your travels. This device really comes in handy to bloggers on the go where the K Zoom can really shine. Got a dish that is worth mentioning in your blog or any social media platform? Whip out your K Zoom, snap a shot and upload it right away. Its optical zoom brings out the best out of the object you are taking a photo of.

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GEAR GUIDE SAMSUNG GEAR S

Ever drive and receive an email notification only to divert your attention to your phone and then find out that it was just junk mai? Well, with the Samsung Gear S, you can receive calls, emails and SMS without reaching out for your phone. Simply link it to your phone and your phone is mirrored to your watch. This is Samsung’s sixth smart watch in a little over a year, but it has one big difference: it gets its own cell service and data. It even has its own nano SIM-card slot. It’s a watch that’s also a phone. The Gear S looks like a little smartphone that’s been melded around a wristband. It has a huge, curved screen, chromed edges, and even has a little home button below the display.

SAMSUNG NX3000

Are most professional cameras too bulky and heavy for you? The Samsung NX3000 camera is compact and lightweight but packs a heavy punch. The Samsung NX3000 is a new entry-level mirror less compact system camera. It employs the same 20.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as all the other NXseries cameras, which is around 1.5x physically larger than the Micro Four Thirds system. The NX3000 offers built-in Wi-Fi, with an array of options available. Users can email their images, upload them directly to Facebook, Picasa, Photobucket and YouTube, or instantly copy them to a home PC via Auto Backup.

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STAYCATION

BREEZE ART & BOUTIQUE HOTEL Designed with perfection and finesse, Breeze Art & Boutique Hotel is more than just a place to stay at on your short trip to Bandung.

STORY RIAN FARISA PHOTOGRAPHS DENNIE RAMON

T

he emergence of hotels, starred or boutique, has become the highlight of Bandung’s rapid development in tourism for the past ten years.

Now, the city becomes a popular short vacation destination for weekenders and that leaves us all with the ultimate question regarding what is the best course of action in such a short period and the best place to stay at.

Apparently nowadays, people often consider retreating to the countryside up on the northern part of the city as a good alternative. Some fresh air, great spots to visit for naturalists, and without losing the opportunity to have good food in-between are the charms everyone is hoping for when visiting Lembang, Maribaya, to as far as Mount Tangkubanperahu. Even the area around Lembang Fault has specific attractions waiting to be discovered by the weekend escapists.

That is exactly why Breeze Art & Boutique Hotel serves perfectly as a starting point for the uphill explorers.

Located inside the pristine neighborhood of Pondok Hijau Permai, it is situated conveniently right before the doorway to Lembang through the Cihideung region but still quite nearby to the main toll road and the city itself. It is practically a win-win solution for the urbanites who 80 | February 2015

STAYCATION might still have a wish to scour the city for oleh-oleh.

Designed by Asia’s premier architect, Mr. Tan Tjiang Ay, Breeze may seem very straightforward but it’s all about perfection in every angle and its utilization of every corner. Mr. Tan Tjiang Ay’s finesse in modular architecture leaves no room for excesses and thus earned him the status as “reductionist” instead of mere minimalistic. As a result, Breeze is a work of magic.

Mr Tan’s brilliance can be matched evenly by the hotel owner’s flair in interior design and the use of art to elevate the esthetic aspects as well as creating a showcase of his collections.

While commissioning the work for prominent ceramist F. Widyanto and painters like I Wayan Karja to fill in the gaps, Breeze is also well-equipped with superior quality furniture that suits well with the overall appearance of the hotel, inside and out.

With utmost attention given to service and maintenance, every part of the hotel was immaculate. For a 12 roomer hotel like this, Breeze offers not just as its romantic atmosphere, breezy airflow in every corner that you’re passing through, and its art collection, but most of all, an ensured comfort for its guests.

Further appreciation for art can also be experienced by the guests by having a small visit to “Griya Batik” on the lobby level, made as a memorial for Indonesia’s batik genius, Mr. Go Tik Swan Panembahan Hardjonagoro. Here, you can shop the beautiful yet intricately painted batik worth its weight in gold.

Additionally, The House of Poetry Without Words is also a must-visit for anyone who stays here. This culture house showcases extraordinary paintings by the maestro Srihadi Soedarsono and other Asian artworks made of porcelains, woodwork, and stone sculptures. Some even dated from hundreds of years ago and carefully collected since three decades ago.

Breeze Art & Boutique Hotel is also not short of good offerings from the kitchen. Breakfast is made freshly upon request and comprises of intelligent creations rarely found in bijou hotels. In addition to that, the hotel provides the high tea time on every afternoon and personal transport by order.

For this scale, Breeze transcends itself to a higher level where other boutique or starred hotels would be envious. For a very friendly rate, Breeze opens its door with such a warm welcome to meet you on your romantic cruise around Bandung as well as a suitable place for work/ holiday with your professional colleagues.

Now, it’s your turn to visit.

BREEZE ART & BOUTIQUE HOTEL | Jalan Pondok Hijau Permai, Block I No.11, Bandung T: +62 22 820 27488, 820 27489 | www.breezebandung.com

81 | February 2015

WILD ABOUT TRAVEL

WILD ABOUT

TRAVEL In this issue our theme is Lose Yourself, featuring Auckland, Dubai and Kanto.

Check out the amazing feeds of these amazing netizens.

01

02

1. Sunrise

2. Welcome

3. Marina Reflections

Kiwi

82 | March 2015

US Army

Lynda

WILD ABOUT TRAVEL This is our monthly column featuring a curated gallery of talented Travel Instagrammers.

Follow us @venturetravelmagazine and tag #wildaboutravel and get a chance to be featured in our magazine and social media feeds.

03

83 | March 2015

WILD ABOUT TRAVEL

01

02

1. OffRoad outside Dubai

Bashar Alaeddin

2. Mine, Mine, Mine, Dubai

daniyal62

3. Naki Zumo (Crying Baby Sumo) at Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa

4. YOKOHAMA China Town

84 | March 2015

Guilhem Vellut Takashi. M

WILD ABOUT TRAVEL

03

04

85 | March 2015

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86 | February 2015

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