Jetsetter Summer 2018

EXOTIC PLACES

INTERESTING PEOPLE

INTELLIGENT TRAVEL

THE WORLDʼS SEXIEST

NEW ZEALAND

HOTEL BARS

THE ROAD TO RURAL BLISS

INDIA

REALM OF THE SNOW LEOPARD

HAMBURG

NASHVILLE BOUTIQUE HIDEAWAYS

MALDIVES

SUMMER STYLE

A S T U N N I N G N E W L A N D M A R K O N T H E H O N G KO N G H A R B O U R F R O N T Located in the newly-fashionable district of North Point on Hong Kong Island, Hotel VIC boasts panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and direct access to a newly-created waterfront promenade. The twin-tower hotel offers 671 affordable luxury guestrooms and suites.

Dining options include a sophisticated rooftop restaurant and bar, an all-day outlet and a deli shop, complemented by diverse eateries and superb shopping the hotel’s podium floors, as well as in an adjacent mall and the vibrant surrounding area. Links to Hong Kong’s superb public transport network, including the MTR and ferries, are just steps away from the hotel.

Hotel VIC’s hospitality extends to the high-tech world of super-connectivity. In addition to complimentary lightning-fast Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel, the hotel will provide online check in/out services, all guestrooms are equipped with flat-screen televisions featuring IPTV service, while the hotel’s tailor-made smartphone app puts such services as in-room dining, table reservations, networking and multimedia entertainment at guests’ fingertips.

Hotel VIC is due to open in Summer 2018.

H OT E L V I C O N T H E H A R B O U R 1 N O RT H P O I N T E S TAT E L A N E N O RT H P O I N T H O N G KO N G

T 852 3896 9888

F 852 3896 9899

I N F O @ H OT E LV I C .CO M

VI EW FRO M S U I TE

BOOK NOW AT HOTELVIC.COM TO ENJOY THE BEST ROOM RATE

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Heighten the Senses

AT CONSTANCE

Indulge mind, body and soul at Constance Hotels & Resorts

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collection of luxury hotels in authentic destinations across the Indian Ocean, Constance Hotels & Resorts offers unique experiences in eight distinct properties across Mauritius, the Maldives, Madagascar, the Seychelles and Pemba in the archipelago of Zanzibar. With a genuine passion for hospitality, it delivers memorable stays to guests through tailor-made service from dedicated staff.

Sampling local food is the highlight of any getaway, and guests at Constance Hotels can savour a diverse range of flavours, from warming Maldivian coconut curries to sweet and sticky mango rice pudding in Mauritius. Dig into upscale versions of these time-honoured dishes from the beautiful backdrop of your Constance hotel, whether that’s barefoot on the beach or dressed to impress inside one of the stunning signature restaurants.

Many holidays lead to overindulgence but it doesn’t have to be that way: a new wellness approach at Constance Prince Maurice in Mauritius means guests can tuck into healthy, delicious meals during their stay. The hotel’s Executive Chef, Michael Scioli, has collaborated with Miss World 2003 Rosanna Davison to create a collection of seasonal menus and ‘cocktail boosters’ that incorporate ingredients such as almond milk, carrots, bananas, ginger and turmeric. The wellness menus are now available in some other hotels in Mauritius and the Seychelles, each tailored to make the most of the region’s local produce, such as a trio of tartar at Constance Ephelia Seychelles including jobfish with parsley and herbs, prawns with ginger and lime juice and tuna with soy sauce.

Constance encourages its guests to incorporate “me time” into their daily routine to maintain a healthy mind and

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

body. This includes enjoying the simple things in life, like a long, hot bath complemented by wonderful aromas and soft music at Constance Prince Maurice. Other ways to treat yourself?

Try breakfast in bed, ordering a special bottle of wine from the Blue Penny Wine Cellar and leaving your mobile phone behind to do a spot of bird watching at Constance Tsarabanjina Madagascar. Alternatively, escape the comfort zone and try something new: book a beginner’s diving course, or that first paddle board session. Doing something meaningful, such as joining the coral reef conservation team at Constance Moofushi Maldives, is a way to have fun and give something back.

A spa treatment – or two – is a frequent highlight of any holiday, and Constance Hotels & Resorts has plenty of unforgettable treatments that incorporate local ingredients such as coconut and lemongrass to great effect. Warm coconut oil helps ease muscle tension while lemongrass oil makes for an amazingly relaxing massage experience. Similarly calming is ylang ylang, one of the ingredients in the Relax Oil by Constance Belle Mare Plage. Herbs including cinnamon ginger, lemongrass and clove help boost circulation and relax muscles when used with warm oils at Constance Lemuria Seychelles.

In addition to food tourism, wellness tourism is growing fast, with more and more travellers feeling the need to pay attention to mind, body and soul as they seek the perfect work-life balance. At Constance Halaveli and Constance Lemuria, guests are encouraged to clear the mind with sunrise yoga and sunset meditation classes, and indulge the body with a massage or pedicure at U Spa by Constance. Reward the soul by finding a new passion, be that diving or golfing.

Talking about golf, Constance Hotels & Resorts offers some great places to tee off, with three distinct courses on offer: the Legend Golf Course and Links Golf Course in Mauritius and the Lemuria Golf Course in the Seychelles, the only 18-hole golf course in the archipelago.

Stay on top of your game by booking a pregame, performance or recovery massage.

Discover new passions, tastes and let yourself really unwind at Constance Hotels & Resorts, a luxury hospitality brand that offers timeless adventures and an unsurpassed level of service. www.constancehotels.com

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EDITOR'S NOTE

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nyone that’s travelled far from home knows that there’s typically one factor that can truly make a simple trip into an unforgettable experience and it’s not

business class seats or a fancy hotel – it’s people. When we return home from our adventures, it’s typically the people that we’ve met, the friendships we’ve forged, and the lives we’ve encountered and been invited to be a part of, that make the most special memories.

So, it was with Chris Nemaia, of the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, who I had the fortune of spending a week with travelling through his beautiful homeland.

Chris was my quiet, ever-smiling, camera-shy shadow; we ate fresh lobster and watched lightening punctuate the horizon, and gripped the seats of tiny planes as we

photo credit: Reeve Jolliffe/EYOS Expeditions

bucked and bounced through afternoon thermals. It was through Chris’ eyes that I, the latest in a long line of travel writers, discovered the beauty of the Solomon Islands, its culture and its people. A loving father, he

Publisher

Nick Walton

nickwalton@artemiscomms.com Managing Editor

Grace Brewer

editorial@artemiscomms.com Editorial Coordinator

Philippa Walton Chief Sub Editor

Don Pierre Riosa don@jetsetter.hk Art Director

Tammy Fong

tammy@jetsetter.hk

Travel Industry Relationship Director

Paul Lo

paul.lo@jetsetter.hk

General Manager (Shanghai)

Louis Chu

louis@jetsetter.hk

displayed infinite patience as I asked a million and

Beijing Sales Manager

one questions, translating and explaining so that I

Fatima Cameira

could in turn tell people more about the archipelago he called home. In April Chris and two colleagues from the SIVB were swept away in a flash flood on the Mataniko River; the body of Stella Lucas was found days later but Chris remains lost. This issue of JETSETTER is dedicated to his memory, and to his contribution to the travel industry; for so many, he Chris, a gentle giant that will be missed.

Denis Fahy

denis@jetsetter.hk

made a visit to the Solomon Islands the unforgettable experience we all hope for, and he will be sorely missed.

fatima@jetsetter.hk

Macau Sales Manager

Laurence James

laurence.james@jetsetter.hk Chief Representative Europe

JETSETTER is registered as a newspaper & periodical.

JETSETTER is published by Jetsetter Ltd JETSETTER is printed by Jetsetter Ltd Office A:14/F Bangkok Bank Building 28 Des Voeux Rd Central Hong Kong 288 Shimen 1st Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai 200041 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-5706 Valley Cottage, NY 10989 USA

Managing Editor

Tel +852 28557885

CONTRIBUTORS A nomad at heart, Maria Visconti prefers wide-

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open spaces, big skies and altitude. She has lived and worked in eight different countries on four different continents.

She has crossed deserts with camels in Australia, walked with orangutans in Borneo and ridden horses in Mongolia. Her newfound passion is motorbiking at altitude where the air is thin and where every rock on the road is a lesson in forbearance.

Avid traveller and foodie Grace Brewer recently left Britain for the exoticism of Hong Kong, where she enjoys exploring the city’s vibrant wet markets and hidden beaches.

www.jetsetter.hk

Media Partner

Jetsetter Magazine

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All rights Reserved: Copyright and distribution rights are reserved exclusively for Jetsetter Ltd, their partners, associates and affiliates. All materials published remain the property of the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission.

All information contained in this publication is from a reliable source. Jetsetter Ltd does not make any guarantees to the accuracy of the information contained.

CONTENTS 20

rooM wIth A vIew

SLeePing With the fiSheS

32

24 hours In

doWn By the SeaSide

42

new ZeAlAnd

the road to ruraL BLiSS

50

hIMAlAyAs

reaLm of the SnoW LeoPard

58

wInIng & dInIng

the WorLd’S SeXieSt hoteL BarS

66

AFrIcA

Where the Land moveS forever

Helena Bay, New Zealand's newest super lodge

CONTENTS 86

In the Kitchen

Lady of the Lake

90

Food Adventures

Some Like it Hot

94

Restaurant Review

Poetry on the Plate

100

Spirits

The Kentucky Prince

104

Style

Shortcut to Style

116

Technology

Wireless Intelligence

118 Luggage

Not Your Average Carry On

16

Boryeong Mud Festival

South Chung Cheong Province, South Korea July 13-22, 2018 Originally conceived as a marketing effort by a mud cosmetics brand in South Korea, this two-week festival attracts a mass of tourists and turns the quiet town of Boryeong into a lively party with colourful street parades, live music performances, dancers, jugglers and more. A diverse lineup of contests is held, where visitors smear themselves in local mud, thought to have curing and cosmetic values. Activities include mud baths, mud wrestling, painting with mud and mud massages. The most popular days of the festival typically fall on the second weekend of July. www.boryeongmudfestival.com

Where to Stay: After covering yourself from head-to-toe in mud, where else would you want to retire than Hotel Mudrin – named after the world famous Boryeong mud and “rin” meaning clean. Central to the West Coast sightseeing area, the 100-room hotel overlooks Boryeong Beach, and boasts sea views from all guestrooms. www.mudrin.com

UNITE with Tomorrowland Taipei, Taiwan July 28, 2018

UNITE, one of seven partner shows to Belgium’s infamous EDM festival Tomorrowland, takes place simultaneously in seven countries across the globe, including Taiwan. The event, held in Taipei’s Dajia Riverside Park, will build bridges between Belgium and Asia this year with a live connection from the Tomorrowland main stage along with a lineup of local and international DJs set to play during the ten-hour concert. www.tomorrowland.com

Where to Stay: Recover from a heavy night of EDM

music at Les Suites Taipei Ching-Cheng. A contemporary and tranquil getaway centrally located in the heart of Taipei, the hotel combines European sophistication and polished style with renowned Asian minimalist design across its 84 guest rooms and suites. www.suitetpe.com

Notting Hill Carnival

London, United Kingdom August 26-27, 2018

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual two-day event that has taken place on the streets of West London since the 1960s. The party is a Caribbean celebration featuring steel drums, live reggae and salsa music, Soca floats and dancers dressed in colourful carnival masquerade costumes. www.thelondonnottinghillcarnival.com

Where to Stay: Iconically British, the townhouse-styled La Suite

West hotel is positioned on tree-lined Inverness Terrace, at the edge of Hyde Park. With minimal black and white design inside, and Asian-inspired wooden shutters in each room, an unexpected touch of zen is added to your stay. www.lasuitewest.com www.jetsetter.hk

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International Balloon Fiesta Albuquerque, New Mexico October 6-14, 2018

Over 500 hot air balloons take flight each October over the desert skies during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which was established in 1972 and is the second largest hot air balloon festival worldwide. Watch the Dawn Patrol pilots take off before sunrise and fly until it is light enough to see landing sites. Alternatively, the event also runs filmmaking contests, AfterGlow fireworks, and balloon races, creating a lineup that’s more than just craning your neck skyward. www.balloonfiesta.com

Edinburgh International Festival Edinburgh, Scotland August 3-27, 2018

For three weeks in August, Scotland’s capital celebrates the world of performing arts with the Edinburgh International Festival. This year’s lineup begins with the Standard Life Aberdeen Opening Event: Five Telegrams, which consists of projected digital artworks, a new orchestral score, and live participation, reflecting on the end of the First World War. Not your thing? Visit on any day throughout the three-week event for music, dance, opera, and theatre performances. www.eif.co.uk

Where to Stay: You’ll need a good night’s sleep if

you’re to catch the hot air balloons in the early morning sky. Hotel Parq Central provides boutique guest rooms, an outdoor dining plaza, spacious park gardens, and a rooftop lounge with panoramic views of the mountains, perfect for catching the balloon Dawn Patrol if you oversleep. www.hotelparqcentral.com

Where to Stay: Tigerlily is a stylish boutique hotel set

in a preserved Georgian building in the heart of Edinburgh.

With mirrored walls, chandeliers and stylish pink design, Tigerlily houses 33 guest rooms, a buzzing cocktail bar, and contemporary restaurant. Check out the After Dark mixology menu, a great way to continue festival vibes after hours. www.tigerlilyedinburgh.co.uk

Outlook Festival Pula, Croatia September 5-7, 2018

Held in an abandoned Roman fort in northwestern Croatia, Outlook Festival is a one-of-a-kind music party, celebrating a combo of dub, reggae, grime, drum and bass, and hip-hop. International acts J Husandy, Mist, AJ Tracey, DJ Marky and Johnny Osbourne & Soul Stereo headline this year’s four-day event, which includes concerts set within a 2,000-year-old amphitheater, beach parties and boat events under the Croatian sun. www.outlookfestival.com

Where to Stay: This festival offers a campsite for revellers, but for those who want to explore the city in style, stay at Hotel Riviera in Pula’s historic centre.

Housed in an impressive neo-baroque building, this elegant hotel is within close proximity to a slew of chic bars and restaurants. www.arenaturist.com www.jetsetter.hk

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ROOM WITH A VIEW

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ROOM WITH A VIEW 21

Sleeping Fishes Luxury is more than just space and brand names – luxury is experience, and sometimes that experience takes you to places you’d never expect, including five metres under the sun-kissed waters of a Maldivian lagoon. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island launches its stunning new underwater suite in Q4, the first submerged residence in an archipelago that boasts more than its fair share of sub-aquatic spas, restaurants and clubs. Building on the success of the resort’s Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, which it opened in 2005, Muraka takes its name from the Dhivehi word for coral and offers luxurious living above and below the waves. The new twolevel suite, which caters to nine guests, features a spacious living area, two large bedrooms, a gym, bar, kitchen and butler’s quarters above the waves, as well as both east and west-facing terraces and a private infinity pool. From here, a spiral staircase descends five metres to an undersea master suite that’s home to a king-sized bedroom, an additional lounge area, and an ensuite. The lower level is cocooned within a curved acrylic dome, which allows for stunning 180-degree panoramic views of the wonders of the Indian Ocean’s intricate marine life beyond. www.conradmaldives.com

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22

INSPIRE

Explore The Ganges' Lower Reaches

Delve into the unforgettable landscapes of eastern India with a new cruise itinerary from Pandaw. Debuting in December, with additional departures until April 2019, commencing again in July, The Lower Ganges adventure sails between Kolkata and Farraka over seven nights. Offering a unique opportunity to explore the lower reaches of one of Asia’s most important waterways, the cruise aboard the 30-cabin luxurious Orient Pandaw winds its way through the lush countryside of West Bengal, with stops at some of the region's most vibrant and historic riverside settlements. You'll visit the old Danish colony of Serampore and the former French possession of Chandernagore, explore terracotta temples by cycle rickshaw, and seek enlightenment at the new International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple in Mayapur, a shrine that receives more than a million devotees each year. There’s also time to discover the art of the brass-smiths of Matiari, visit the great Hazarduari Palace, built by an English architect in 1837, and to explore Gaur, once one of India’s great cities. Priced from US$1,890 per person, twin share, including seven nights’ accommodation aboard the Orient Pandaw, local transfers, all excursions, meals, and local beer and spirits. www.pandaw.com www.jetsetter.hk

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INSPIRE

A Jetset Food Foray

Europe has long been renowned for its rich and vibrant culture, fascinating history and elevated gourmet cuisine. Discover the culinary soul of the continent with a new Michelin trail by private jet adventure through three of the region’s most diverse countries with Blue Marble Private. Begin your journey in France, where art and food combine to create a unique culinary experience, before continuing across the border into Italy to explore the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside as you forage for truffles. Onwards to Hungary, where the capital Budapest entices with stunning architecture, thermal spas and Michelin-star dining. Finally, continue north to the vineyards of Mount Tokaj in the foothills of the Zemplén mountains, with a history of winemaking which dates back to the 16th century. Highlights of the itinerary include nights at the Villa la Coste in Provence, meals at Lake Orto’s Villa Crespi and the Michelinstarred Costes restaurant, a truffle hunting adventure, and a Tokaji wine tasting at Hungary’s Tokaj-Hétszolo Estate. www.bluemarbleprivate.com

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26

INSPIRE

Seasonal Scents

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne has created a unique sensory experience for its guests in a new collaboration with local perfumery Fleurage Scent Design Studio. During the Grand Sensory Package, guests will have a unique opportunity to enjoy the traditional old-world glamour of perfume-making while creating an everlasting bespoke memory. Experienced master perfumer Emma Leah has developed the scent profile of 40 iconic areas, institutions and activities in Melbourne by using the highest quality scent ingredients, sourced locally and overseas. With fragrance notes from places such as the Paris-end of Collins Street, the famous MCG and Federation Square, guests can relive their Melbourne journey by adding drops from each destination of their visit to a “Melbourne City” base scent inspired by rain, grass, smoke and of course, coffee. Drop-by-drop, guests will develop their customised fragrance into their own signature Melbourne scent. https://melbourne.grand.hyatt.com

To the Stars

If you’ve been waiting for your chance to become an astronaut, you might not have to wait much longer. Houston-based Orion Span has announced plans to build Aurora Station, a hotel space station the size of a Gulfstream jet cabin that will accommodate four guests and two crew on 12-night stays priced from US$9.5 million per person. Would-be space travellers will need to complete a three-month-long training period before their adventure to the hotel, which orbits 320km above the earth but once there they will circle the Earth every 90 minutes, enjoying an average 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours, while working on experiments in zero gravity, and staying in contact with loved ones via highspeed wifi. The company is presently taking fully-refundable US$80,000 deposits. www.orionspan.com

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Into the Deep

Explore one of the Indian Ocean’s most breathtaking destinations from a new perspective with the launch of the DeepFlight Super Falcon 3S submarine at Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru. Constructed with the same carbon fibre composites as a 787, the Super Falcon 3S is a pioneering submarine that takes up to two guests on a captivating aquatic adventure through the Baa Atoll, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve.

During your dive to 37-metres, you’ll have a unique take on the mezmerising marine life of the Unesco-protected Baa Atoll, including shoals of tropical reef fish, turtles, sharks, pods of dolphins and even manta rays while your pilot gives insight into the ocean’s fragile ecosystems.

Running on batteries and designed with minimal electric and acoustic emissions, the Super Falcon ‘flies’ beneath the surface, ensuring passengers stay dry with a pressurised, air-conditioned cockpit with individual viewing domes. www.fourseasons.com

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INTRODUCING

CITY COUTURE

Bringing one of the world’s leading fashion brands to one of China’s most dynamic cities, Bulgari Hotel Shanghai has opened this month just minutes from the iconic Bund. Part of the Suhe Creek project, the hotel boasts stunning Pudong panoramas from its 82 Patricia Viel-designed guest rooms, which include 19 luxurious suites. Balancing the heritage architecture of the century-old Chamber of Commerce Shanghai building with the contemporary lines of a 48-floor tower created by Italian firm Antonio Citterio, the Bulgari will also feature a collection of sublime residences. Be sure to leave time for a bite at rooftop eatery Il Restorante – Niko Romito and Il Bar, as well as La Terrazza, a venue that’s sure to seduce the city’s glitterati. There’s also exquisite Cantonese fare at Bao Li Xuan, and a 2,000sqm Bulgari Spa and fitness centre. www.bulgarihotels.com

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INTRODUCING 29

QUEEN OF THE DUNES Nestled on a coastline acclaimed for its southern right whale watching, Morukuru Beach Lodge, which opens in July, is South Africa’s newest luxury beachfront enclave. Situated near the towering sand dunes of the De Hoop Nature Reserve and just down the beach from sibling property Morukuru Ocean House, the new lodge features just five luxury suites, all with Indian Ocean and dune vistas. With world-class environmental credentials, Morukuru is completely off the grid, in keeping with its remote and pristine location, with electricity produced by solar panels and water heated by pellet burners. Each day guests can embark on two included, guided activities, ranging from sandboarding on the dunes, to snorkeling, mountain biking and game drives. Be sure to leave time for captivating sunset cocktails on the beach. www.morukuru.com

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INTRODUCING

Opening before the end of the year, Joali is the newest luxury retreat to grace the white sand beaches and coral gardens of the Maldives, the Indian Ocean's favourite playground. Boasting 73 private beach and water villas as well as a clutch of sublime residences, each featuring insightful in-room libraries, cavernous bathrooms and thoughtful objects d'art, Joali features bold, inspiring designs by Autoban and Tokyo's Studio Glitt, as well as immersive art from young talents like Misha Khan. Located in the Raa Atoll, a 45-minute seaplane ride from the capital Male, the new resort caters to both couples and groups travelling together, with two world-class residences, one perched above the lagoon and the other nestled on the beach, offering three and four bedrooms respectively, as well as private infinity pools, expansive living areas, and butler service. After a day spent diving, snorkelling with manta rays, wakeboarding, or sailing on the atoll, sate your appetite with Japanese and Peruvian dishes at the Noriyoshi Muramatsu-designed Saoke restaurant; sundowners at The Mura Bar; or liquid nitrogen ice cream at The Chocolate & Ice Cream Store.

Alternatively, indulge with a comprehensive menu of massages, facials, wraps and rituals at the Joali Spa by ESPA. www.joali.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

A SWITCHED-ON STAY Hotel VIC on the Harbour will be home to the city’s first key card kiosk and a host of impressive facilities including a rooftop gym

H

otel VIC on the Harbour is set to become one of Hong Kong’s most sought-after places to stay when it opens this Summer. Based in the up-and-coming district of North Point on the eastern side of Hong Kong Island, prospective guests can book now and ensure they’re first in line to experience time-saving digital initiatives such as its key card kiosk and mobile app.

Hotel VIC is the first hotel in Hong Kong to provide a key card kiosk, which enables guests to get their room key from a kiosk by scanning a QR code sent to their phone after they check in online. After completing this straightforward scan, guests can head straight to their room and relax rather than waiting in line at reception for a room key.

Another high-tech innovation from Hotel VIC is its mobile app, which will enable guests to order room service and amenities, make restaurant reservations, chat with staff or even utilise the app as a remote control for the TV. In addition to complimentary lightning-fast wifi for unlimited devices, all guestrooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs featuring IPTV service, free use of handy smartphone with unlimited data connection in the city and free IDD to selected countries (China, Japan, South Korea, the US and the UK) and free mini bar.

Guests who like to work out are also well catered for at Hotel VIC, with a 24-hour gym

located on the rooftop. At the health club, guests can enjoy an extraordinary fitness experience with the Icaros flying machine, which combines fitness and virtual reality to create an exciting, effective workout.

Culinary options at Hotel VIC will include all-day international dining restaurant The Farmhouse, which sits atop the podium and has indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the harbour​. Serving up cuisine from around the world at its tempting buffets, this swish space also serves afternoon tea. A sophisticated rooftop bar and restaurant with an outdoor area providing panoramic views of the harbour, Cruise is the place to stop for a romantic dinner and cocktails.

The restaurants at adjoining shopping & dining complex Harbour North, which is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2018, will offer plenty of other international culinary options to guests keen to dine locally. Those who enjoy alfresco dining can seek out the spacious terrace, which will be lined with stylish restaurants, trendy cafes and chic wine bars looking onto Victoria Harbour.

Hotel VIC guests are also well-placed to explore the neighbourhood of North Point, where traditional wet markets and Michelin-recommended eateries including dim sum restaurants Tim Ho Wan and Mak Kee await. Guests can additionally enjoy the views over to Kowloon from a 400-metre long harbour front promenade

just next to Hotel VIC, which will open to the public shortly after the hotel makes its much-anticipated debut.

Hotel VIC will mark its opening this Summer with a celebratory offer, Happy Piggy Bank, where guests will be gifted with a limited edition souvenir luggage tag that doubles as a room key card. The opening room rate offer starts at HK$1,500 (excluding 10 per cent service charge). A special discount of up to 20 per cent on standard rooms and 25 per cent on rooms at Club floors and suites can be enjoyed by those who book in advance. Check out the link for more details: www.hotelvic.com/ happy-piggy-bank-offer www.hotelvic.com

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24 HOURS

down by the

SEASIDE

Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city, is shaking off its once slightly-seedy persona as the country’s major port, and embracing an architectural renaissance heralded by the opening of the new wave-shaped Elbphilharmonie concert hall. Spend a day in this North Sea stopover to see what all the fuss is about. By

Grace Brewer www.jetsetter.hk

24 HOURS 33

10 am

Make your way from Hamburg Airport to the Gastwerk Hotel, a boutique hideaway housed within a 120-year-old former power station that once powered the city’s iconic gas lamps during the 19th century. The restored industrial building offers 141 rooms, lofts and suites with natural light and soothing textures that soften the rough industrial structure. The Gastwerk Spa offers a sauna, steam bath, massages and beauty treatments, while Mangold, the in-house restaurant, serves regional and international cuisine. Consider greeting the transition from day to night at L.Bar, famed for its terrace, which overlooks the serene Altona district. www.gastwerk.com

11 am

Start off with a dose of culture along the Kunstmeile, the city’s Museum Mile, a strip of five renowned art institutions in the centre of Hamburg. These galleries and museums are sandwiched between two contrasting art institutions. At one end the Kunsthalle houses one of Europe’s largest art collections, and at the other, the Deichtorhallen exhibits contemporary art and photography by the likes of Picasso, Tracey Emin and Andy Warhol. www.kunstmeile-hamburg.de

12:30 pm

Make your way to Mutterland Delikatessen, a German café chain popular for brunch that’s a five-minute walk from the Museum Fur Kunst und Gewerbe. Using ingredients from small farms and producers in Germany, Mutterland is famous for its leisurely meals, which include organic fruit baskets, traditional apple crumble, and Pfannkuchen, German pancakes with apple and sugar. The café also sells ‘Delikatesse’ products made in Germany, including locally made marmalades, pasta, honey, soft drinks and spirits. www.mutterland.de

1 pm

Sate your sweet tooth at Chocoversum, a chocolate museum in the heart of Hamburg that offers 90-minute tours exploring the journey of the cocoa bean from the rainforest to the port of Hamburg. Create your own bar of chocolate with additional ingredients like honeycomb, Hundreds & Thousands, dried fruit or even gummy bears. www.chocoversum.de www.jetsetter.hk

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24 HOURS

3 pm

The Bahrenfeld neighbourhood in the Altona district boasts an exciting boutique shopping scene. While you’re here be sure to visit Ottenser Hauptstrasse and Bahrenfelder Strasse, two of the city’s most popular fashion streets, and check out the Zeisehallen, a refurbished 19th century propeller factory that now houses a cinema, a gallery and Restaurant Eisenstein, which is well-known for its wood-fired pizza. www.restaurant-eisenstein.de

4:30 pm

Altona Spirits distillery is the only gin distillery in Hamburg and one which produces Gin Sul, a pretty sensational, Portuguese-inspired spirit.

Visit the 100 litre copper still before crafting your own gin using a smaller scale distilling system. The distillery is also home to Gin Sul bar, which crafts cocktails and pairs gins with a variety of tonics, making this a perfect pre-dinner excursion for any gin-lover. www.gin-sul.de

6.30 pm

Now you’ve worked up an appetite, head for an early dinner at Lilienstrasse’s Barefood Deli.

Owned by famous German actor Til Schweiger, the restaurant provides a down-to-earth yet stylish ambiance. Amidst walls decorated with photographs of celebrities and friends of the Schweiger family, guests can order the homemade Tils beer, the Emma wine or a Lilli Summer Tea, all named after family members. The menu ranges from vegetarian dishes to the catch of the day or a classic burger. For dessert try the Apfelstrudel vom Strudelhorst, an elegant rendition of a German classic. www.barefooddeli.de

8 pm

Time to catch a show. With a price tag of €866 million (US$1.09 billion), Hamburg’s new Elbphilharmonie concert hall has done its part to revolutionise the www.jetsetter.hk

city’s industrial persona. The new landmark is worth visiting; from the ground you can see the harbour water and Hamburg sky reflect off 1,000 speciallymade curved window panels. Inside, at a height of 37 metres, the public viewing area allows visitors to walk the full perimeter of the building and enjoy 360-degree views. Throughout August the concert hall is showing four silent films accompanied by live orchestral music, and in September, concerts include the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. www.elbphilharmonie.de

10:30 pm

See the entangled canals of Hamburg from the 20th floor of the Empire Riverside Hotel, at cocktail bar 20UP. This skyline bar soars over 90 metres above the city and serves up views of the Elbe River, the Elbphilharmonie, and the famous harbour infrastructure. Order champagne cocktails, Caribbean creations or an after-dinner aperitif at the 20 metre-long bar, and soak up the spectacular views. www.empire-riverside.de

10 am

You can’t leave Hamburg without a beer tasting at Altes Mädchen. Here you can sample all of the beers brewed on site, along with 60 different international craft brews and seasonally-composed specialties. The brewer can recommend an appropriate beer for every dish on the menu, which extends from regional classics to a range of fresh bread products from their woodfired oven. Try the Hackpeter, a fresh steak tartar sandwich with chopped onion, pepper and mangopineapple chutney, perfectly paired with Zwickel, a Bavarian-style lager. www.altes-maedchen.com

ROAD WARRIOR 35

THE WIND CHASER International kitesurfing pro Tom Court is always willing to travel in search of the ultimate ride. He talks with Grace Brewer about his passion for the sport, and the kiteboarding destinations that keep drawing him back.

You’ve been kitesurfing since you were 11-yearsold; how did you first discover the sport?

I first saw kitesurfing when I was on holiday with my parents in Hawaii. It was definitely a case of the right place at the right time - as soon as I had seen it I knew that I had to do it. My father was a keen windsurfer at the time, so that definitely helped. He taught me, which has led to an amazing journey to some of the world's best locations.

Where is your favourite spot to kite surf?

There is nothing like a session at home. I grew up windsurfing on the Isle of Wight, a small island just off the south coast of England. The conditions on the island are world-class. However, there are some incredible places out there; Morocco, Sri Lanka and Brazil have to be all up there for different reasons. There are always new spots to explore.

What destinations are still on your bucket list?

There are always so many, but I would love to go to Zanzibar and Cape Verde, as well as some far-reaching places like Patagonia and the Cook Islands.

You’ve just hit the beach after a kiting session; where’s the best happy hour?

Your new Slice of Life Clinics are a series of exclusive seven-night kiting holidays; what do they entail?

Each trip is different and features hand-selected destinations for the best winds in that season. This year we are going to Morocco, Sri Lanka and Brazil to get a good mix of kiting conditions. The clinics include firstrate accommodation at each spot, great food, transport, and equipment rental if needed. There is also on-water tuition and video playback coaching from myself, and daily excursions to explore new spots and find the best winds in the area.

What items are always in your luggage when travelling to kite surfing destinations?

If I was to travel with just one setup it would be a full set of DICE kites, a Gambler 143 and Strapless stick.

That's the board bag I take everywhere. Along with that I always pack my laptop; working remotely is increasingly possible and I manage a video production company from the road. Sunglasses, my GoPro, flip flops, a luggage scale and my camera all feature on my standard packing list. Filming is a passion for me and I am always playing with cameras so these come with me everywhere I go.

Happy Island in the Grenadines. It’s the perfect beach bar!

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B&B NASHVILLE

Vouge Vintage

The Fairlane Hotel

From the 1920s into the 60s and 70s, downtown Nashville boomed with department stores, hotels and entertainment. Today, architecture from this era has been given a new lease of life as boutique urban hideaways, discovers

Grace Brewer

The city’s newest boutique hotel, The Fairlane offers 81 rooms and two penthouse suites decorated in a timeless and classic mid-century style. Housed in a travertine stone 1960s building that was once the city’s Fidelity Federal Savings & Loan headquarters, the hotel retains many of the original elements, including terrazzo floors, wood panelling and brass features. Rooms are complete with floor-to-ceiling windows offering beautiful views of the surrounding cityscape and Art Deco additions, including fully-stocked wet bars in the penthouses. The hotel’s mid-century-inspired restaurant, Ellington’s Mid Way Bar & Grill, opened this June and serves classic, all-American fare with old-school flair. www.fairlanehotel.com

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B&B NASHVILLE 37

Noelle

One of the new wave of boutique hotels in the city centre, Noelle recently opened in a 99-year-old building that was once home to the Noel Place hotel. The refurbishment restored many of the building’s original details, including soft pink granite walls and geometric Art Deco patterns carved into the wood ceilings. Part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio collection of independent hotels, Noelle provides 224 rooms featuring hickory hardwood floors and era-appropriate furnishings. Additional amenities include a complimentary daily ten-minute fast-tracked coffee delivery service; handwoven robes, and the hotel’s own newspaper. Be sure to visit restaurant Makeready Libations & Liberation, an American tavern serving hearty Southern dishes with a seasonal approach. www.noelle-nashville.com

Holston House

The 88-year-old James Robertson Apartments reopened in late 2017 as Hyatt’s 191-room Holston House hotel. This vintage architectural gem was designed by Mar and Holman in 1929 and boasts ornate Art Deco detailing. The hotel features six suites, including two signature 12th floor Bungalow Suites, as well as a rooftop pool, and some of Nashville’s leading food and beverage offerings, including signature restaurant Tenn, a true American eatery infused with Southern flavour and culinary tradition. Escape the eclectic city vibes and lounge poolside on the rooftop deck, or sip a craft cocktail after hours at Tenn on Top, the hotel’s rooftop bar. www.holstonhousenashville.hyatt.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

40

WELLNESS

CARESSING

THE COLD

When we think of spas we typically think of fluffy dressing gowns, soft treacle-hued light and warm, cosy treatment rooms, but a new wellness destination in Sweden takes things in an entirely different direction. The Arctic Bath Hotel & Spa spends its summers floating atop the waters of the Lule River, and its winters frozen in ice, making for an extraordinary wellness experience for lovers of both warm and cold climates, although we think it’s rather special when the snow falls. Inspired by the river’s history as a timber floating route, the Off the Map Travel-operated boutique retreat boasts six minimalist wooden cabins, each with large windows from which you might catch the Northern Lights. At the heart of the property is the circular spa and Arctic Bath, which has been designed by Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi and constructed with local materials to ensure a minimal environmental impact. Here the intrepid can indulge in a selection of contemporary spa treatments and work up a sweat in the various saunas before plunging into icy waters under star filled skies. www.offthemap.travel www.jetsetter.hk

PAMPER 41

Nature’s Nurture

Belize’s award-winning Victoria House Resort and Spa has launched a new body scrub menu just in time for summer.

Sea salt, sugar, or coffee grains are among the bases to choose from, mixed with a range of essential oils. Therapists will help guests pair their scrub with a treatment of their choice; for example, the signature relaxation massage with hot stones, local cocoa butter and essential oils is best paired with the Coco Body Polish scrub. Afterwards, rinse off amongst coconut palm trees in the outdoor rain shower. www.victoria-house.com

Wild Wellness

Gstaad’s Le Grand Bellevue has introduced an exclusive new wild wellness experience that will see guests further their fitness as they swim, cycle and run through a series of Swiss mountain pursuits, before mountainside massages and a spectacular private helicopter yoga session. Other healing activities during the four-day journey include a new Hay Sauna, Ice Fountain and infrared sauna, as well as a Himalayan salt grotto, Finnish sauna, and Laconium. www.bellevue-gstaad.ch

Aloe at Ayurah

New hair nourishment treatments have been introduced at the Ayurah Spa at Aleenta Phuket Resort. The 45-minute spa treatments each incorporate soothing and healing aloe vera, which is grown and gathered locally. The new Hair Shine Mask mixes aloe vera gel with yogurt, honey and coconut oil, locking in moisture and leaving hair smooth and shiny, whilst also promoting hair growth and reducing dandruff. Guests can also enjoy a post-treatment session in the relaxation chamber, a spell in the chromo-therapy room, or a session in the Vichy shower room, which provides a horizontal water massage. www.aleenta.com

Underwater Dream

The Underwater Dream is the newest spa treatment available at the Maldives’ first and only underwater spa, the Huvafen Spa at Huvafen Fushi. Developed by international massage expert Beata Aleksandrowicz, the signature massage immerses guests in the radiant seascape and combines sensory stimulation with unique massage techniques based on the rhythms of the body to enhance the quality of sleep. The spa is situated eight metres beneath the Indian Ocean and 100 metres out to sea at the end of a wooden promenade. It offers two underwater couples’ treatment rooms, with wide windows offering underwater views and relaxing light filtered through the water outside. www.huvafenfushi.com www.jetsetter.hk

42

NEW ZEALAND

Nick walton encounters

five very different takes on the new zealand lodge during a luxury road trip of the north island. www.jetsetter.hk

NEW ZEALAND 43

The Glasshouse stands at the tip of a private peninsula

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NEW ZEALAND

I sample four leading New Zealand lodges, each distinct from the next.

Treetops is the story of the traditional New Zealand lodge; created by passionate naturalist John Sax, and built initially as a big stag hunting lodge, today many Treetops guests would rather pick up a knife and fork than a rifle. While the property still seduces hunters from across the globe with its diverse game and stunning setting, it’s also become a culinary destination in its own right, with an innovative Chilean chef; access to world-class produce, including estate venison, quail, rabbit, wild pig and trout; and a series of unique foodie adventures that range from Estate-to-Plate safaris to Maori Food Trails.

I'm no hunter I confess, but that doesn’t stop me on my first night at the lodge from enjoying the sika (one of six deer species on the estate) loins with raspberries and indigenous kawakawa, a basil-like herb foraged from the forest, served by chef Philippe and matched with Hawkes Bay wines by Dutch manager Pieter.

G Deer at Treetops; the lodge's Great Room is a kiwi icon; exploring the native forest by mountain bike.

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etting to

Estate,

Treetops Lodge &

one of New Zealand’s original luxury lodges, takes some serious faith in one’s GPS. After a three-hour drive from Auckland, I follow the purple line on the screen intently as the route descends deeper and deeper into rural bliss, leaving the highway for a gravel track that bobs and weaves between undulating hills.

Eventually, just when I think I’ve come the wrong way, I’m greeted by a sign and a treelined laneway that beckons me just a little further.

This is the experience many visitors to New Zealand are looking for; to be removed from the rat race, to a place that’s as serene as it is bucolic; remote, but without sacrificing the creature comforts. Located on its own expansive working farm outside Rotorua, in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island, Treetops Lodge & Estate ticks all those boxes and more. It’s also the first stop on my New Zealand road trip as

Accommodation at Treetops is rustic yet inviting.

A pioneer of environmentally-managed design, the lodge offers a variety of accommodation styles, including the recently-added Lodge Wing, a fourroom enclave housed in the main lodge building that’s ideally suited for families and friends travelling together; and a clutch of secluded cottagestyle villas that each features two suites. My suite boasts custom furniture; fireplaces that keep the evening chill at bay; a king-sized bed dressed in high thread count linens; a voluminous bathroom with jacuzzi bath; and dramatic native forest views.

If you listen carefully, you’ll hear the roar of resident red stags as dawn breaks.

NEW ZEALAND 45 dressed in polished oak floors, handmade rugs, Egyptian linens and floor-to-ceiling French doors, has a distinctly residential feel about it. The refined, modern space features a full kitchen, lavish furnishings, and a patio overlooking an inviting par three.

I emerge from these comfy confines, first to tackle the golf course, which follows the sometimes-challenging terrain of a former sheep farm, before joining other guests for cocktail hour in the main lodge’s Great Room, where manager Ken McTague offers aperitifs beside a roaring fireplace.

From Treetops it’s an easy hour’s drive south through mist-wreathed farmland to the banks of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest. I trace my way around the lake, world-renowned for its trout fishing, until I reach the sleepy settlement of Kinloch and one of the country’s newest lodge sensations,

Lodge at Kinloch.

The

Another creation of John Sax, The Lodge at Kinloch marries luxury accommodation and sublime dining with a coveted new golf course by Jack Nicklaus. Modern, imposing and ambitious, The Lodge at Kinloch straddles a low range of mountains and offers a contemporary take on the New

Zealand lodge experience for golfers and non-golfers like.

New arrivals weave their way through manicured fairways as they ascend to the main lodge building; built from local schist stone and inspired by Kinloch Castle in Scotland (albeit with a very contemporary take on that timeless icon) the lodge was designed by New Zealand architect Andrew Patterson and boasts sun-kissed internal courtyards, elegantly-appointed lounges and dining rooms, and panoramic lake and links views.

I’m able to drive my hire car right to the door of my one-bedroom villa, which,

The luxurious, eclectic and tactile interiors of lodge guru Virginia Fisher are unmistakable here, and include plush banquettes, cowhide, goat skins and burnt wood floorings. Beyond, the dining room is an airy, elegant space dedicated, where possible, to organic estateto-plate cuisine prepared by executive chef Jean-Michel that ranges from grilled Karitani crayfish with Beluga lentils and star anise jus; to wild venison dusted in endemic harore and horopito.

From the mirror-like waters of Taupo I fly north to Whangarei, gateway to one of New Zealand’s most spectacular regions, Northland, to continue my road trip. Again, I’m forced to rely on my GPS as I leave the highway in my wake and descend the narrow, winding Russell Road east, towards the Pacific. So elusive is New Zealand’s newest ‘super lodge’ that I drive straight past its gates before backtracking and announcing myself to the ranks of security cameras which guard the entrance.

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NEW ZEALAND Understated and yet determinably

(Clockwise from left) Helena Bay has a awe-inspiring coastal setting; Kauri Cliffs' stunning golf course; rooms at Kauri Cliffs are elegant and homely; a private picnic at Pink Beach.

luxurious, Helena Bay, which opened in late 2016 after eight years of development and with a price tag of US$35 million, is the creation of a media-shy Russian steel billionaire, who selected the lodge’s namesake bay as his own little slice of kiwi heaven.

Located on three kilometres of pristine coastline, complete with private beaches, forested walking paths, and its own 215-hectare working farm, Helena Bay accommodates a maximum of ten guests at a time, making it the latest in a series of new properties that cater to travellers looking to book out entire estates. Each of the lodge’s ocean-facing suites feature double-height ceilings, cavernous, mosaic-lined bathrooms, Christian Fischbacher robes, Hefel of Austria linens, and private patios.

The main lodge building wreaths a 25-metre infinity pool, and includes a gym and intimate spa, lounges and libraries, and an extensive modern art collection.

As the only guest in residence I get

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the star treatment. Happy hour starts when a young kiwi waitress, who has returned home from working aboard superyachts to take up a role at the lodge, arrives, resplendent in tie and tails, and presents a perfectly made martini before inviting me to dine in an intimate book-lined snug, complete with roaring fire. Service is refined but also intuitive – I can’t see staff until I need them, which gives Helena Bay the residential feel its owner envisioned.

Of course, there’s plenty to keep you occupied between lavish meals, from farm tours with estate manager John and his trusty blue heeler, to helicopter flights, kayaking, beach picnics at the newly-opened private pavilion, and diving on the acclaimed Poor Knights Islands. There’s also a tennis court, secluded beaches on which to wander, and orchards and gardens to tour with executive chef Michele Martino, who has brought the Michelin-starred cuisine of chef Ernesto Iaccarino’s acclaimed southern Italy restaurant Don Alfonso 1890 to New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND 47

From Helena Bay I place my faith in Lady GPS once again and forge north, for one of my favourite lodges in the

country, Kauri Cliffs. One of three lodges created

by Tiger Fund founder Julian Robertson (the other two being Hawke’s Bay’s Cape Kidnappers and Queenstown’s Matakauri), Kauri Cliffs, his first, redefined New Zealand’s lodge scene; wreathing a golf course by David Harman that’s listed #39 in the world and which hugs dramatic sea cliffs, the lodge crowns a 2,630-hectare working sheep station in the Bay of Islands, certainly one of New Zealand’s most breathtakingly beautiful locales.

Despite being almost two decades old, the lodge at Kauri Cliffs seems timeless and infinitely graceful. Arriving guests are greeted by captivating sea views as they wind their way across the estate to reach the lodge which features just 22 guest suites, each of which boasts sublime interiors by Virginia Fisher, spacious bathrooms, and eastfacing balconies, and which is in turn sequestered in native forest.

I managed to hit the links as the sun begins to descend towards the Pacific, pausing on the 15th hole to soak in the panorama of rural bliss, infinite ocean, crashing waves and manicured greens. The colours of this spectacular landscape burst to life as day comes to an end, and I greet the inky night over pre-dinner drinks on the lodge’s deep-set terrace. Unlike some of the lodges, Kauri Cliffs maintains a sense of formality (so don’t forget a sports coat) which pairs perfectly with crisp, intelligent service from a United Nations staff, and the delectable cuisine of executive chef Barry Frith, which champions food miles and local producers.

For those post-round aches, Kauri Cliffs is also home to an intimate spa nestled on the cusp of an ancient Totara forest that features four treatment rooms and a range of bespoke rituals. Alternatively, take to the skies for an exhilarating

coastal helicopter flight (many guests also combine a tour with helicopter transfers from Whangarei or Auckland) or a picnic at the estate’s best kept secret, Pink Beach, a heavenly strip of white sand under a canopy of red flowering pohutukawa trees.

For the last stop on my luxury road trip of New Zealand’s North Island I scoot south to Whangarei Heads, another corner of the region that’s rarely visited by tourist throngs. My route leaves cosmopolitan Whangarei behind and traces its way around the city’s harbour before climbing over the towering headlands that shelter the port from the Pacific Ocean. www.jetsetter.hk

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NEW ZEALAND

The Glasshouse at night

The Glasshouse is the newest addition to the Ara Roa Accommodation family and offers one lucky couple about as much privacy as they could hope for. Located at the tip of a privatelyowned peninsula, The Glasshouse features staggering ocean views, a glass-encased living area and master bedroom, an expansive sun deck with wood burning fireplace, a covered al fresco dining area, and one of the most breathtaking bathrooms I've seen (if you don’t mind the occasional walk in the dark when nature calls), secluded at the end of a garden trail, complete with a shower that opens to the elements.

The Glasshouse is more than just a respite – there’s everything you need to enjoy your stay, from a fully-equipped kitchen and chef on call, to an internet-connected sound system, lavish furnishings, and high speed wifi. Fly in by helicopter or park your hire car at the front door, and disappear from the face of the earth, if only for a day or two.

Of course, there is also plenty for the active to do, from fishing, hiking and swimming from the estate’s own pier, to exploring some of Northland’s most spectacular beaches. The Glasshouse can be booked as a standalone or matched with the peninsula’s modern three-bedroom Te Whara house when travelling as a group. www.jetsetter.hk

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS Cathay Pacific connects New Zealand with Asia using its state-of-the-art Airbus A350 aircraft. www.cathaypacific.com Treetops Lodge & Estate, from US$1,390 per night, twin share; www.treetops.co.nz The Lodge at Kinloch, from US$820 per night, twin share; www.thekinlochclub.com Kauri Cliffs, from Helena Bay, from US$2,090 per night, twin share; https://helenabay.com The Glasshouse, from US$670 per night, twin share; http://araroa.nz

真生活， 从这里开始， 千禧公寓。 Good life starts with Millennium Residences@Beijing Fortune Plaza.

Apartment Enquiry Hotline: +86-10-8588-2888 Building Number 6, Fortune Plaza, 7 DongSanHuan Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, PR China Tel: +86-10-8588-2888 Fax: +86-10-8588-2889 Email: leasing@millenniumresidencesbeijing.com www.millenniumresidencesbeijing.com

50

HIMALAYAS

Realm

Of The Snow

Leopard Maria Visconti takes to two

wheels to explore the Indian Himalayas, a landscape of towering peaks, ancient monasteries and brazen snow leopards.

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HIMALAYAS 51

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HIMALAYAS

T

here is a hidden valley, at the heart of the Indian Himalayas, where Buddhist monks live in isolation, where monasteries hang off dizzying cliffs, where whitewashed villages cascade down the mountainside, and where high-altitude lakes stare unblinkingly at the sky. The Spiti Valley, in Himachal Pradesh, is a harsh, alpine desert that’s home to snow leopards and ibexes, yaks and goats.

We have reached the valley from Delhi on a Royal Enfield motorcycle, that two-wheeled icon of British design and Indian manufacturing and the classic choice for any adventurer setting off to explore the subcontinent. Our Enfield Bullet is comfortable, powerful and reliable, whether it’s on the six-lane highway out of Delhi, on the narrow, twisting mountain roads of the Spiti Valley, or

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climbing to over 4,000m altitude. I’m riding pillion with veteran rider, tour organiser and photographer Vikas Panghal on a 2,000km roundtrip journey from Delhi, researching his next group ride of the region.

After bypassing Shimla and negotiating turns carved out of the mountainside, magnificent vistas open up.

There are curtains of rock overhead, their pleats so neat you can imagine them fluttering in the breeze.

This is one of the many unique things about motorcycle riding: you’re a part of the landscape in which you’re cruising, and you can actually look up and imbibe your surrounds.

We reach Narkanda after sunset and decide over dinner to include Chitkul in our itinerary. Close to Tibet and once part of the Silk Road, Marco Polo is said to have

HIMALAYAS 53

(Clockwise from left): A little boy feeds medicine mixed with milk to sheep and goats huddled together behind Chitkul's ancient temple; Riders on the Pangi Valley on their way to Spiti; Villagers bringing back their animals before sunset at Dankhar Village

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HIMALAYAS

(Clockwise from top left) Key Monastery, at Key; Tabo's mud-brick Monastery, founded in 996CE, is the oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas; Riders enjoying the winding roads towards Spiti

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HIMALAYAS 55

passed through here and the detour is worth it.

Golden spires and slate roofs crown this ancient village, which we explore over two days. Getting here is blissful too on an excellent road flanked by pine forests so fresh and fragrant we throw our visors open to inhale it all in.

Once back on track for the Spiti Valley we aim to overnight in Pooh. Getting to the higher regions as soon as possible is our plan. The road here (being surfaced at the moment) turns hellish. We ride on bone rattling sharp stones on a very narrow and winding road. A very flat tyre greets us the following morning… no surprise here, given the previous day’s road conditions.

so pleasant we stay put at Namsay’s Guesthouse for a few days.

While the lower villages shine gold and copper with their orchards basking in the late autumn sun, higher up, the titanic clashes of tectonic plates that gave birth to the Himalayas put on the greatest rock-show on earth. Every kind of geological formation is on display here; incredible angles of rock squeezed out of mother earth’s womb tower over you, their colours ranging from stark black to pale blond.

Non-Indian travellers need a permit to proceed from this point and I get mine on the way at Reckong Peo’s Tourist Office. This could take a couple of hours or longer depending on how many foreigners are applying.

Against an almost perennially porcelain blue sky, coursing through rockscapes such as this gives you an overwhelming feeling of freedom.

When Key Monastery comes into view (via Kaza), sitting high up on its own mountain, we decide to overnight there. The monks at Key offer basic accommodation for a small fee and we’re lucky to score a corner room at the very top of the complex.

Finally, above the treeline, the silence is so intense you can actually hear it. A break by the roadside proves this; once we cut the engine the only sound is happy crunching as we eat apples purchased in Tabo, where harvest season is in full swing. Exploring Tabo’s 8th-century mud-brick monastery and strolling around the village proves

A few metres below, on a terrace, some 80 children congregate in a clamour of clanging metal plates and cups. They’ve been summoned to dinner by the blowing of a conch and sit on the ground in the open air in neat rows waiting for the cauldrons of rice and dhal to be brought out from the kitchen.

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HIMALAYAS

to do day trips to Chicham and Kibber, gateway to the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, where traditional Tibetan medicinal plants are harvested.

Call by the blowing of a conch to al fresco dinner for the youngsters of the Key Monastery; Chitkul's ancient houses are quite unique with their adobe walls and slate rooves now being replaced by tin rooves.

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From Key we cross over to the Pin Valley and aim for Mudh, following the Pin River shining silver below us. Here we hear talk of snow leopards taking livestock, even during daylight, but none materialise for us.

Dhankar, back in the Spiti Valley is nestled precariously on top of a series of eerie crags.

The ride here is on a stunning, zig-zagging tarmac road. When a full moon climbs into the sky that night, throwing a silver mantle over Dankhar’s Monastery and ancient fort, I wonder what might have driven people to settle in such inhospitable terrain. Dhankar Lake (4300m), accessible only on foot, has a layer of thin ice encrusting its surface by the time we reach it at noon the following day.

From Dankhar we start retracing our steps back to Delhi. Once in the megalopolis we drop exhausted after three weeks of adrenalin-soaked riding. Our sleep is peppered with images of a land studded with vertiginous monasteries and roaming snow leopards. Stamina and daring are required but if you allow yourself to tune in the vibe, to hear the silence, to be mindful and to be patient when setbacks occur, the heart of the Indian Himalayas will quickly reveal its treasures to you.

Travel Essentials

Fly: Jet Airways connects Hong Kong with Delhi. www.jetairways.com Ride: Find out more about Vikas Panghal’s motorbike itineraries at www.littlefrog.in Permits: The Monk Agency can help you secure the right permissions. www.themonktravels.com

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WINING & DINING

Once upon a time hotel bars were the place to see and be seen in. Today, five-star hotels are bringing sophistication back to the humble hotel bar, with dynamic designs and world-class mixology making them destinations in their own right. Here are some of our favourites. By Grace Brewer

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WINING & DINING 59

The Press Lounge Ink48 Hotel

New York

Located on 11th Avenue in Manhattan, The Press Lounge is perched on top of what may be the sexiest city in the world and guests are rewarded with unobstructed views of Manhattan and the Hudson River. Stunning views aside, the bar's impressive cocktails make it a favorite among in-the-know New Yorkers looking to impress. Sit at the long stone bar, beside the lap pool-styled water feature, or turn up the heat in one of the lounge chairs positioned around the contemporary oval chimney fire. To top it off a private rooftop garden upstairs offers a beautiful intimate venue for private parties. www.ink48.com

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WINING & DINING

Sky Overwater Observatory & Bar Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Maldives

Yào Rooftop Bar

Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse

Thailand

Newly opened, and crowning the top floor of The Surawongse, Yào is the multi-level rooftop bar of the hotel’s signature Chinese restaurant.

Featuring sophisticated Chinese-influenced décor, a contemporary menu of fine wines and innovative cocktails (they have one of the best gin collections in the City of Angels), and staggering city views from the 33rd floor, this elegant space features both indoor and outdoor seating, with the rooftop framed by manicured hedges and latticed screens. www.marriott.com

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Stargaze over twisted classic cocktails at the Maldives’ first overwater observatory.

Contemporary yet warm, with raw timber and soft lighting throughout, this bar is the ultimate place to set a romantic scene. Grab a drink from the circular wooden bar, which features LED lights overhead to imitate the night sky, before heading out to the relaxed circular al fresco seating area where you can gaze at the stars or catch dramatic Indian Ocean sunsets. Mojitos are the highlight here, with favourites including the Vanilla and Palm Mojito, and the Maldivian Mojito, made from premium coconut rum, fresh mint leaves, lime juice and coconut cream. www.kihavah-maldives.anantara.com

WINING & DINING 61

Charmaine’s

San Francisco Proper Hotel

San Francisco

High above iconic Market Street, with sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline, rooftop bar and lounge Charmaine’s opened last year at the new San Francisco Proper Hotel. Cocktails by Josh Harris and Morgan Schick of BVHospitality anchor the rooftop bar’s mixology offering, which consists of six categories including Big & Beautiful, Bright & Shaken, and High & Bubbly. Look out for signature drops like The Grass Roots, made with Don Q Añejo rum, Sacred Bond brandy, guava, mint, absinthe, lime, and black tea, best enjoyed around the dancing fire pits and sculptural tables of the terrace. www.charmainessf.com

Hot Sauce

QT Museum Wellington

New Zealand

For a bar that really brings the fire, head to Hot Sauce. Inside Wellington’s QT Museum Hotel, Hot Sauce cranks up the heat with Asianinspired dishes and creative cocktails, making it an ideal spot for a quiet nightcap... or three.

With red spotlights shining through hanging dim sum baskets, booth tables lining the room, a row of stools situated at the bar, and low armchairs positioned around thick red velvet curtains, Hot Sauce will never be short of a cosy corner for a flirty drink. From tea smoked duck baos to beef takaki, a fusion menu incorporates traditional Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai flavours, and compliments a drinks selection that includes innovative teapot cocktails - available in two flavours, Sweet and Sour – and great Kyoto Old Fashioneds, with whisky, ginger and ​sencha tea. www.qthotelsandresorts.com

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Flair Restaurant & Bar

Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

China

If you’re visiting the Pearl of the East, head to the roof of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong to find the contemporary Flair Restaurant & Bar. Designed by Japanese interior design firm Super Potato, the bar features a warm blend of rustic and contemporary decor, with wooden accents contrasting the plush red carpets. Outside, on the expansive, terraced patio, the setting is elegant and relaxed with candlelit tables and stunning views of the Bund skyline, Oriental Pearl Tower and bustling Huangpu River. A combination of Asian-fusion tapas is served alongside a sushi and raw seafood bar, and the drinks menu features over 40 types of vodka and sought-after small-distillery rums. www.ritzcarlton.com

Ozone

Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Ozone, the highest bar in the world, is located on the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. Designed by Tokyo-based interior designer Masamichi Katayama, with a modern asymmetric design and mesmerising blue lighting, the most striking aspect of this cocktail haven is the semi-outdoor drinks terrace, which showcases captivating views of Victoria Harbour. Signature cocktails include the Dragontini, made from vodka, raspberry liqueur, raspberry, yuzu, basil foam; and the Thai Spritz, with chilli-infused tequila, strawberry, prosecco and lemongrass. Spanish tapas and Japanese specialties feature on the bar menu, but the sky bar’s views are what make this a bucket list bar – just be sure to book ahead for one of the terrace’s coveted couches. www.ritzcarlton.com

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Charles H.

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

South Korea

Manhattan Bar

Hidden in the basement of the Four Seasons Seoul, Charles H. was one of the first speakeasies in South Korea.

Enter through an elaborate secret entrance into a richly patterned ornamental room that’s steeped in the romance of world travel. Bathed in golden light, this 80-seat bar reflects 1920s Art Deco design, with dark mahogany décor, leather seating, and rugged stone tables. Named after legendary American cocktail writer Charles H Baker, this basement boudoir features a menu inspired by his travels, with selections ranging from a trio of Manhattans following recipes from 1870, 1917 and 2002; to the Shanghai Breakfast, a decadent blend of Venezuelan rum, honey, black sesame, Scotch and cream. Charles H. also offers a private room for up to ten guests. www.fourseasons.com

Regent Singapore

Singapore

Recently named number one on the Asia's 50 Best Bars list and seventh in the world, Manhattan is inspired by the glamour of New York during the Art Deco era; as sophisticated a hotel bar as you’ll find anywhere, this beautiful retreat is bathed in a golden-caramel glow, reminiscent of the bar’s 200-bottle whisky collection. Displayed in a whisky glasshouse, the curated list of bottles includes a range of rare and collectable American whiskies that are as visually alluring as they taste. Not a whisky fan? Artisanal spirits and classic cocktails are also on the menu, crafted by award-winning bartender Phillip Bishcoff of Le Lion – Bar de Paris in Hamburg. www.regenthotels.com www.jetsetter.hk

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Saxony Bar

Faena Miami Beach

Florida

An intimate setting with a touch of golden-age glamour, The Saxony Bar Miami Beach is a lively late-night lounge featuring a classic menu of time-honoured cocktails and live DJ sets. Only open three days a week, this plush basement bar fills up fast with clientele just as beautiful as the décor. Try the signature Faena Spritz with Absolut Elyx vodka, Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, Aperol, rose water and hibiscus, for a taste of Miami Beach charm, and turn your date night drinks into late night drinks. www.faena.com

Blue Bar

The Berkeley

London

Jump in a black cab and drop in to Blue Bar at The Berkley for some of the most colourful cocktails in London.

A colour-code defines the cocktail menu: Green for long and fresh, Yellow for elegant with fizz, Red for rich and complex, and Blue for crisp, clean signature mixes like the Clearly Dirty Martini, made with a choice of Grey Goose vodka or Star of Bombay gin, olive vermouth, white balsamic and saline. Settle into a cosy nook to take in David Collins’ design features, which include a white onyx bar and sexy black leather crocodile-print floors. Spacious and impeccably stylish, this is a bar whose drinks and design are sure to turn heads. www.the-berkeley.co.uk

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INSIDER 65 different culture and their perceptions help me look at my work differently too.

Your career involves travelling the world for photo shoots; where was your favourite shoot location?

I am such a lucky man to have had the opportunities to travel and work with people everywhere. Picking my favourite would be like picking my favourite subject or photograph or like picking a favourite child! It seems that every new place I experience is so exciting and I’m all about new experiences.

My trip to Thailand in March was amazing; [luxury concierge service] ASA brought me to beautiful and unique places and introduced me to a great group of people. I guess that was my favourite location… until the next!

What camera do you shoot with?

I shoot primarily with a Hasselblad H4 and I love shooting with my iPhone, but I also shoot with a Canon 5D professionally.

You’ve worked with the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Harrison Ford and the Kardashians. Do you have a favourite subject?

Regular consort to the likes of Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Kardashians, photographer Timothy White now brings his work to Asia. One of American Photo’s “most important people” and international photographer of the year, White speaks with Grace Brewer about inspiration, travel and bringing his photographic skills to the region.

You grew up in the US, and your Morrison Hotel Galleries are based in New York, LA and Maui. Why did you choose to exhibit your work in Singapore?

I am inspired by the culture and am looking to expand my presence in Asia by spending more time in this area of the world, exhibiting and creating new work. I have formed a new company to exhibit, license, and publish my work throughout the Asian market.

How did your recent visit to the Yang Gallery in Singapore differ from exhibitions in the US?

The gallery style and philosophy fit perfectly with my own artistic sensibilities.

I loved the owner and staff, and the opening night was an exciting and dynamic event. The feeling of being in a new city and presenting my work to a new audience was a wonderful experience. I saw my work through the eyes of a

Each portrait experience brings a new circumstance and begins a new relationship. The three subjects you mentioned are so different and unique and also many years apart. However, I remember the details of each day as if it were yesterday. That’s the wonderful part of my job; the experiences are so rich that every day is memorable and different.

Having developing relationships with certain celebrities definitely makes for a better time and usually a better photograph because we already know each other and want to collaborate again.

Do you have lasting friendships with any particular celebs you’ve photographed?

Yes, I’ve developed long term relationships with many of my subjects, including Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, and Billy Bob Thornton to mention just a few. Having that relationship and having worked together before allows for us both to relax. The comfort level precipitates a better collaboration and usually allows me more time with my subject.

You’re an avid motorcyclist; what do you ride?

I own four motorcycles: a 1976 Triumph, a 1971 Harley Davidson FLH, a new Harley Davidson V-Rod, and a custom chopper built by a friend of mine that is very special to me. I ride every day in Los Angeles. The traffic is intense, and it allows me to move around town quicker and it’s more fun. I also do long trips around the US and ride whenever and wherever I can. www.jetsetter.hk

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Where

TheLand

Moves Forever Transcending national borders and points on a map, the Serengeti is a vast, vibrant ecosystem that comes to life with the rainy season.

Words & Photos by Nick Walton.

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A

s an evening storm rolls in over the savannah, flashes of temperamental lightning competing for attention with the freight train-like roar of heavy rain, I’m safe and dry under a thick canopy of canvas. It’s the rainy season here in Kenya, when sunsets battle towering cumulus clouds for domination of the horizon, and when a significant fraction of the year’s rain is portioned out rather violently each evening. However, in my leather-lined suite at the recently-reopened andBeyond Bateleur Camp, tucked away in the foothills of the Oloololo Escarpment on the cusp of the iconic Maasai Mara Reserve, I have everything I need to survive – there’s a wet bar stocked with fresh limes and local gin; a freshly drawn claw-footed bath steaming away, and treacle-hued light coming from discretely-positioned lamps. If it wasn’t raining fit to burst outside I don’t think the scene could be any more enchanting.

I’ve always been intrigued by this part of the world.

The Maasai Mara is one of the world’s great wildlife reserves, but it’s more than just Kenya’s pride and www.jetsetter.hk

joy, or an extension of Tanzania's, the Serengeti; it's a living, wondrously-evolving 30,000 square kilometre ecosystem that the Maasai call “the place where the land moves on forever”. It’s also an ecosystem that’s packed with life and vitality; one that follows the seasons, not national borders or labels on a map. ‘The Mara’, as it’s frequently and rather affectionally known on both sides of the border, is Africa at its most protected, its most vulnerable, and its most intriguing.

Of course, it’s also nice to explore such a wild landscape from the confines of the region’s luxury game lodges, each a little ecosystem in itself, and I’ve started my tour of three distinctive camps at one of Kenya’s favourites.

Twenty years after it was first built, Bateleur has emerged rebuilt, reimagined, chic, bold and yet timeless. The camp is a tribute to the landscape in which it dwells, but it’s also testament to how the safari experience is changing. While retaining its classic, romantic safari vibe, Fox Browne Creative,

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the camp’s original creators, were charged with building a camp that caters to a new generation of equally-intrigued adventurers; travellers who value space and privacy and authenticity. To do that the firm upcycled many of Bateleurs’s original artefacts, antiques and furnishings, supplementing those pieces with new creations by the local communities that live on the fringe of the Mara.

The effect is nothing short of mesmerising; rooms are decked out in leather, polished wood and crystal, while the sumptuous dining room and lounge, with its roaring fireplace and ornate chandeliers, opens out to an expansive terrace from which I watch hot air balloons rise into the crisp early morning air the next day.

The rainy season is a great time to visit East Africa. The Mara ecosystem - whether it's the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania or the private concessions which cling to their borders - is defined by cycles, from the great migration to the two rainy seasons, which bring life to the vast savannahs and mark the end of the calving season, ensuring spectacular wildlife sightings if you don’t mind a little mud.

It’s into the mud that I venture with my

guide Ole Kima. The rains have come a month early but our game vehicle easily fords rivers now flooded with coffee-coloured water, while above, troops of baboons leap from branch to branch in towering fig trees, raining dew drops down on the canvas canopy. As we clear the forest and emerge in the open savannahs, entering the Maasai Mara proper, the hot air balloons come into sight again, flares of flame lighting indigo skies as they struggle into the humid air.

Life is abundant on the savannah and we’re quickly greeted by elephants, Cape buffalo and endemic coke's hartebeest. A pair of black rhino encrusted with oxpeckers enjoy the cool mud but watch us carefully as we rumble by in low gear.

On a grassy hillside where scenes from Out of Africa were filmed, Kima sets up a bush breakfast, a highlight of any andBeyond safari. There’s cereal and eggs and sausages, which in turn attract a pair of shy but intrigued black-backed jackals, bashful little dog-like animals that disappear with ease among the tall grasses.

By mid-morning we’re straddling the border between Tanzania and Kenya, marked by a simple stone tablet, and spy a pride of lions in the shade of an acacia tree. It’s a brilliant experience; there isn’t another vehicle for as

(From left) An African elephant with calf in tow; a warm welcome to Klein’s Camp (credit: andBeyond)

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far as the eye can see, an increasingly rare phenomenon in a part of Africa that’s seen a monsoon surge in tourism, and the new cubs play among the tall grass and take turns to stalk each other while a pair of marsh harriers dance in the thermals high above.

The heat becomes intense by midafternoon as we make for the camp again, a wall of dark cumulus clouds slowly swallowing up the sunshine. As we cross a billiard table-flat prairie of golden grass, Kima spots a tiny shadow in a far-off tree and turns down a narrow track to investigate. The infinitelyelegant leopard watches our approach with ease, its tail curled around a narrow, shaded branch, its saucer-sized paws dangling nonchalantly beneath.

There’s a moment of thumping hearts and held breaths as we gaze up at the beautiful cat before it yawns, stretches like a gymnast on a balance beam, and deftly descends the tree, disappearing instantly into a field of honey-hued red oat shoots.

A couple of short flights the next morning and I’m across the border into Tanzania and arriving at andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp, a www.jetsetter.hk

beautiful game lodge located beside a by-water of the camp’s namesake river.

With 11 cavernous tented riverside suites, the camp offers access to the seemingly endless grasslands of the northwestern Serengeti. I’m keen to make the most of the daylight and head out almost immediately with my young guide Steve. Despite his baby face and boyish grin the Arusha native has been guiding for seven years, with most of that time spent here among the vast grasslands and granite boulders of the Western Corridor.

This part of the Serengeti has it all, from flooded forests and seasonal lakes to vast savannahs where cheetahs prowl and hyenas seek solace from the heat in hidden mud pools. Gazelles, toki and water bucks graze on the fresh young shoots of grass and in the waters that pass by the camp hippos and Nile crocodiles doze, enjoying the fullness of the river.

After an hour’s drive down dusty trails, beneath robin’s egg skies, we arrive at the swollen Grumeti River. A seasonal lake has formed and African storks glide across the mirror-like waters, racing their own reflections towards the banks.

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(Clockwise from top left) The new look andBeyond Bateleur Camp (credit: andBeyond); the biannual rains make for dramatic landscapes; a pride of lions dozes in the cool of early morning.

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A Thompson gazelle darts across our path and a tawny eagle the size of a housecat watches us from atop a dead tree trunk, its eyes defiant as storm clouds form in the skies beyond. A baby Cape Buffalo, born the night before, wobbles next to its protective mother, its umbilical cord still trailing beneath it.

We pause long enough for Steve to pour me a gin and tonic as lightning flashes and thunder ripples across the skies to the northwest and as we soak up the solitude, a trio of side-striped jackals trots past, the little canines rested and energetic for a night’s hunt as great curtains of rain begin to decend in the distance.

With first light Steve and I delve into the savannahs again and it’s not long before we discover a pride of almost a dozen lions dozing in a tangle of gardenia bushes. The cubs are transitioning from helpless little cats to would-be hunters and take turns pouncing on each other in the shadows while their mothers and aunts watch over them. The pride’s male, in contrast, sits regal and serene, some distance away, the early morning sunshine setting his yellow mane ablaze.

As the sun climbs high the temperature rises, baking the network of trails that crisscross the Serengeti and sending the animals to ground. However, the landscape remains lush, with natural streams and flooded watering holes brimming with rainwater. At times our 4x4 seems to be swimming more than driving through the swampy savannah.

Pairs of beautiful grey crown cranes emerge from the long grass to feed on waterborne insects, while nimble, caramel-coloured kestrels soar above, www.jetsetter.hk

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content enjoying the emerald green meadows brought by the rains.

My last stop is andBeyond Klein’s Camp, which is located on a private concession owned by the local Maasai community. Private concessions have different rules from the national parks and it’s a great opportunity to enjoy game drives with a difference, from offtrail exploration and walking safaris to night drives in search of the many animals that rise after dark. Perched on the flanks of an ancient mountain range, the camp offers stunning views from its ten spacious cottages and that night, after a candle lit dinner served on my cottage’s patio, I fall asleep to the resonating growls of lions in the valley far below.

occasionally hovering over the sea of yellow green grass when they see something of interest.

Climbing to dry land again we delve into the bolder-strewn landscape favoured by the big cats of the northwestern Serengeti.

We find a pride holding court atop one towering bolder, shaded by thick whistling thorns. A trio of cubs rise from their afternoon naps to peak over the cusp of their rocky retreat and watch us keenly.

Nearby elephants and ‘journeys’ of giraffe seek shade beneath ancient sausage trees laden with heavy fruit. This part of the park is relatively isolated, and we only see three other game vehicles in two days, all of which were transiting the park bound for Lake Victoria or the border crossing points.

(Clockwise from top left) A resident of the Grumeti River; a tawny eagle on the hunt; the living room at andBeyond Bateleur Camp (credit: andBeyond); a Maasai elder in homemade jewellery.

Klein’s is an old school institution but it’s also evidence of how tourism can help bolster local communities. It’s before first light the next morning when my guide Karipoi, my tracker Joseph and I mount up and clamber down the mountain’s steep rocky trail in search of game. A Bateleur eagle calls from its nest high at the top of a rocky crag, its whistle echoing off the ancient rock.

In the distance a pair of rare Egyptian vultures loop like delayed airliners

Back in the lowlands, in a field of white daisies, we discover a solitary cheetah.

Completely unperturbed by our presence, the sleek cat purrs and rolls in the newlysprouted grass, yawning away its afternoon slumber as the sun begins its decent in the west. Its keen yellow eyes watch the distant hills; it will spend the night creeping through the darkened landscape in search of a meal but for now it’s quite www.jetsetter.hk

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above the Grumeti River, where Maasai shepherds are wrapped tightly in vividly red shuka cloth against the morning chill.

A cheetah frolics among the new grass.

Despite the proximity of villages, this is also big cat territory, and before long we come across a large pride of lions, representing multiple generations. A safe distance away, regal Secretary birds with slender legs prance through the shadows of fig trees lining a narrow creek, and plump guinea fowl in polka dot skirts dart in and out of the riverside foliage. The cats are dozing in the mid-morning heat, but I can feel multiple sets of eyes watching our every move and as a cub approaches a little closer than his mother prefers, she gives a deep growl that lingers even longer than it takes for the cub to scurry back to her safety.

The northeast is also favoured by the elephants, who crush and crack their way through the landscape. Even when you can’t seem them, you can hear the elephants and see the trail of foliage destruction they leave in their wake. This destruction can cause tension with the neighbouring communities; here, on the cusp of the park, elephants roam the villages at night, eating crops and trampling anything in their way.

However, the Maasai family I visit as part of andBeyond’s Africa Fountain Community Tour seem to take the destruction – and the proximity of leopards,

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cheetah and lions – in their stride. A village elder shows me around his compound of thicket fences and mud-clad homes, a string of intrigued, bright-eyed children trailing behind me. As a life-long urbanite I’m as fascinated with the Maasai’s way of life, from the goat’s blood that’s central to their diet, to their tiny homes with palm-sized windows (“to keep out leopards” I’m told) as the children are by my hiking boots and the LCD screen on the back of my camera.

As the light begins to fade in the sky and the mountains loom on the horizon, the kids huddle around my camera and wave responses to a video I’ve taken of them singing. It’s an enchanting finish to another spectacular African adventure.

Travel Essentials Fly: Ethiopian Airlines connects Hong Kong with Nairobi via Addis Ababa. www.ethiopianairlines.com Stay: andBeyond Bateleur Tented Camp, Kenya; from US$680 per person, per night. andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti tented Camp, Tanzania; from US$740 per person, per night. andBeyond Klein’s Camp, Tanzania; from US$840 per person, per night. www.andbeyond.com

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The Gateway Apartments in Tsim Sha Tsui offer the ultimate in serviced apartment living

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onveniently situated within Harbour City, Hong Kong’s most vibrant shopping mall in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, the Gateway Apartments offer a home away from home experience in a prime city location.

Located within the city’s most vibrant shopping mall, Harbour City, home to more than 600 retailers, and within walking distance of the Star Ferry, MTR station, major five star hotels and some of Hong Kong’s most luxurious retail precincts, Residents have the whole city at their fingertips.

Featuring 256 units, this upscale residential complex offers a wide range of apartment types,

each of which are tastefully decorated in a contemporary design. Each of the apartments are decorated to a high standard and the colour scheme features elegant creams, earthy browns and black for an upscale feel.

The fully furnished serviced apartments are generously sized, with studio flats starting from 712 square feet and the three-bedroom penthouses measuring in at a roomy 2,931 square feet.

Delivering dazzling views of Hong Kong’s prestigious skyline across Victoria Harbour, the Gateway Apartments are decked out with floorto-ceiling windows in the living and dining area so Residents can enjoy unparalleled views of the

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION city and its famous skyline from the comfort of their own home.

Features and amenities in all units include a home theatre system featuring more than 100 TV channels and free high speed wireless broadband connection.

All kitchens are fully equipped with German-crafted cabinetry and the finest appliances to excite even the most serious chefs. The spacious bathrooms, meanwhile feature Kohler bathtubs and Duravit storage cabinets.

Services at the Gateway Apartments include daily housekeeping, concierge, round-the-clock security and maintenance services. Flexible contract terms from one month to 24 months are another attractive proposition from the Gateway.

To further enrich this luxury living experience, Gateway Apartments’ Residents also have access to the exclusive Pacific Club. Offering more 140,000 square feet of space, it offers a diverse range of dining options, including Bauhinia Chinese Restaurant,

Island View Buffet Restaurant, Capricci Italian restaurant, Pier 6 Grill Room, the Ramen Bar, and the Oyster and Wine bar.

The Pacific Club is home to an impressive range of recreation facilities including a 25m heated indoor swimming pool featuring floor-to-ceiling bay windows with an adjacent sun deck and Jacuzzi.

Separate spas for men and women feature saunas and steam rooms as well as a full range of spa treatments. The Club will appeal to tennis fans, as it features five newly-renovated all-weather cushioned hard courts, three outdoor and two indoor that are air conditioned for comfort. A gymnasium equipped with Technogym’s Kinesis System and Life Fitness cardio and strength circuit equipment means Residents can keep fit without worrying about gym membership.

The Club also offers supervised children’s playroom with mini sports, books, art supplies and electronic game centres. There is also a kid’s pool so members don’t have to worry about amusing the little ones.

After a hard day at work, the Pacific Club is an excellent place to leave the hustle bustle behind and regain your inner calm.

Gateway Apartments www.gatewayapartments.com.hk 2119-3000 enquiry@gatewayapartments.com.hk

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EXQUI S I T E OCEANFRONT LIVING Experience an extraordinary lifestyle at The Repulse Bay de Ricou Apartments

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verlooking the South China Sea in an exclusive location on the southside of Hong Kong Island, de Ricou Apartments at The Repulse Bay is one of the city’s most sought-after addresses.

One of the highlights of this luxurious offering is The Repulse Bay Club, 60,000 sq.ft. over three levels, which offers an impressive range of facilities including a 25-metre indoor heated swimming pool and outdoor resort pool, The Waterscape. Other sporting facilities This luxurious residential property offers unfurnished include tennis courts and a gym, from which a diverse apartments featuring three to four bedrooms, plus range of classes are offered, including Thai boxing and study, ranging from 3,300 sq.ft. to 4,955 sq.ft. (gross) in yoga. Club cafĂŠ breakers, meanwhile, is the perfect spot size. The two-bedroomed serviced apartments are sized to unwind after a busy day over coffee with friends. between 1,735 sq.ft. and 1,805 sq.ft. (gross) and stylishly decorated in a calming palette of earth tones, with an All your shopping desires are taken care of at The iPad/iPhone-supported intelligent home automation Repulse Bay Arcade, which provides residents with system controlling various devices and features. a variety of services and amenities including clinics,

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pre-schools, a gourmet supermarket, lifestyle shops, bookstores and day spas. Here you’ll also find plenty of mouth watering restaurants to choose from, including Spices for Asian classics and The Verandah for continental cuisine, which serves up a legendary afternoon tea.

Choice Awards every year since 2014 in Southside Magazine.

Just 15 minutes away from the city centre, de Ricou Apartments residents can enjoy the convenience of a shuttle bus service to and from Central and Ocean Park MTR station.

Address: 109 Repulse Bay Road Enquiry: 2292 2878 Website: www.therepulsebay.com Email: leasingtrb@peninsula.com

de Ricou Apartments has garnered much acclaim for its unique sense of style and commitment to sustainability. It was recognised at The Architecture & Design Awards (A&D Trophy Awards) in 2014 and received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, the first such development in Hong Kong to earn this international accolade for an Alteration & Additions (A&A) project. The luxury residential property has additionally been voted Best Residential Complex in the Readers’

Discover a leisurely sanctuary just minutes away from the heart of the city at de Ricou Apartments.

The Repulse Bay

• • • • • • •

Hong Kong’s first LEED Gold (A&A) certified property Best Residential Complex Southside Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards since 2014 15 minutes from Central From 1,735 sq. ft. for spacious yet private living 60,000 sq.ft. club facilities The Repulse Bay Arcade offers all the convenience of city centre living Daily shuttle bus service

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SUITE HOME HOME Enjoy urban living at Sino Suites

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ell appointed and conveniently located in vibrant districts, Sino Suites offer a range of exclusive properties across Hong Kong with excellent connectivity, modern home comforts and attentive service. A wide range of accommodation options are offered to cater to guests with differing needs, from partially or fully furnished to serviced suites with housekeeping service.

Nestled on a tranquil corner within walking distance of the heart of Wan Chai, The Hillside is the latest addition to Sino Suites’ collection of exquisite properties in the city.

Decked out in calming neutral hues, the carefully designed one-bedroom suites are the embodiment of comfort and style, some of which feature their own private balcony. To provide that home away from home feel for frequent travellers and tourists, kitchen

appliances including a refrigerator, induction cooker hob & cooker hood, microwave oven plus washer/dryer are provided. For peace of mind, there is a 24-hour security service system in place at The Hillside. A rooftop garden, meanwhile, is the ideal place to chill out after a busy day of meetings or sightseeing.

Located in Johnston Road in Wan Chai, The Johnston offers premium serviced apartments that are well placed to experience the excitement of Hong Kong.

A home at The Johnston is a step into one of the city’s most celebrated entertainment, shopping and dining venues, and a link to its rich cultural heritage.

Designed with corporate travellers in mind, this modern serviced apartment offers premium comfort with easy access to everything you need for business and pleasure.

Equally attractive is The Ventris, which features one apartment per floor to ensure exclusivity and privacy as soon as the lift door opens. Situated in the

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vibrant neighbourhood of Happy Valley, home to a host of coffee shops and alfresco dining restaurants, The Ventris has the further bonus of being located near the Happy Valley Race Course and Hong Kong Island’s shopping mecca, Causeway Bay.

The Staunton offers 57 elegantly appointed suites in Central that exude warm, urban vibes. Residents enjoy contemporary home comforts with quality appliances and amenities, in addition to impressive range of facilities including gym, terrace leisure area and business centre services.

Located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, The

Humphreys offers comfort and convenience with entertainment and dining hotspots right on the doorstep. The Humphreys offers 20 contemporary studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites, and residents can enjoy communal coffee machine, selfserviced laundry room and rooftop terrace.

The Camphora features nine floors containing 24 residential units in the format of studio units, and selected units have their own balcony, and the fifth floor houses a Clubhouse for our residents. Situated in the historic heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, The Camphora commands a coveted address in one of Hong Kong’s most vibrant retail

and commercial precincts. It is a stone’s throw from Tsim Sha Tsui Station and the prime shopping belt of Canton Road while Kowloon Park is right on your doorstep.

Encapsulating the utmost in convenience and comfort, each of these unique properties represents the pinnacle of luxury urban living in Hong Kong. www.thecamphora.com.hk www.thehillside.com.hk www.thehumphreys.com.hk www.thejohnstonsuites.com www.thestauntonsuites.com.hk www.the-ventris.com.hk

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SUPREME SERVICE

IN BEIJING

The Millennium Residences @ Beijing Fortune Plaza provide exceptional service from an unbeatable location

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ffering unforgettable stays at gateway city hotels, Millennium Hotels and Resorts are located in some of the world’s most desirable locations, including London, New York, Los Angeles and Paris. Curated to provide personal service that keeps guests coming back, brands in the Millennium Collection include Grand Millennium Hotels, Millennium Hotels and M Hotels.

Situated opposite Grand Millennium Beijing – one of the city’s sleekest and most stylish properties – Millennium Residences @ Beijing Fortune Plaza is a luxury serviced apartment in the Beijing Central Business District adjoined to the Fortune Plaza mall.

Conveniently situated close to the Central Business District, business and leisure travellers alike will appreciate the convenient location of Millennium Residences @ Beijing Fortune Plaza, at it’s within walking distance of Beijing Plaza, the World Financial Centre, Central Park and the Jintaixhao subway station.

There are 329 spacious serviced studios and apartments located from the 3rd to the 31st floor, and amenities include a gym, swimming pool, dry cleaning and laundry. The concierge and multilingual staff will ensure that guests from around the world can navigate the city with ease, and there are also well-equipped conference rooms that can host up to 80 guests for meetings and events.

Instead of going off-site to meet clients old and new, guests can meet future business partners from the comfort of the Millennium Residences @ Beijing Fortune Plaza, where three distinct meeting rooms await. The largest meeting room, Starr 1, is wonderfully elegant and adaptable. Offering 125 sqm of space, it can host meetings of up to 40 delegates and cocktails for 80 guests. Those hosting more intimate events can consider booking into Starr 2, which offers 50 sqm of space and can accommodate up to 30 guests.

Last but not least, a 20 sqm mini board room with high ceilings offers a luxurious ambience for meetings of up to 12 guests.

Book a stay at Millennium Residences @ Beijing Fortune Plaza and you’ll be well placed for business and pleasure, with an impressive range of amenities and bespoke service on hand to make your stay an extra special one.

www.millenniumhotels.com

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

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TURNING LEFT

AfricA

ASIA

With an increasingly long-haul network, Ethiopian Airlines offers a competitive business class product on its services to Hong Kong, discovers Nick Walton.

Check In/The Lounge

I had checked in for my flight in Nairobi so proceeded directly to Ethiopian’s Addis Ababa Cloud Nine Lounge, which, while very busy, was still a slice of serenity compared to the departures hall beyond.

The spacious lounge has lounge and caféstyle seating, an extensive hot and cold buffet, a serviced bar at one end, and fairly good wifi. The lounge is exclusive to passengers of the airline’s Cloud Nine business class, with additional lounges available to Star Alliance and ShebaMiles gold and silver members.

Kong. Seats are slightly angled towards the windows and convert into lie-flat beds (although not all of Ethiopian’s 787s have lie-flat seats in business). While the 22inch wide seats are modern, and feature plenty of storage, personal air nozzles and 15.4-inch monitors, they do lack privacy.

The seat extends to an ottoman when in bed mode, with ottomans varying in size across the cabin. The arm rest between paired seats features a small shared table for drinks, seat controls and a remote for the entertainment system. Behind the headrests are AC and USB ports.

was the perfect comfort dish and was matched with a glass of Flagstone Poetry Chardonnay from South Africa. I opted for cheese and a glass of Sandman port instead of desert, although crew couldn’t say where the cheese was from.

Boarding

Service

Entertainment

The boarding process was one of the most chaotic I’ve seen, but blame can’t be levelled on airport crew alone. No less than ten flights were scheduled to depart from our designated ‘gate’, which was simply a set of two elevators with a small business class corner roped off to the side. With boarding announcements very hard to comprehend, and economy passengers summoned first, throngs of pushy French and British business passengers began demanding their boarding process commence. In the end we boarded buses to the plane 40 minutes after the stated boarding time of 11.20pm, with the 787 beginning its taxi minutes after we took our seats.

The Seat

The Cloud Nine business class cabin of the 787 features 24 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, of which 80 percent are occupied for our nine-hour flight to Hong www.jetsetter.hk

Despite our hurried departure, crew offered very good, if a little reserved, service, serving glasses of Champagne Lallier, hot towels and amenity kits before takeoff, quickly followed by pre-dinner drinks and a light dinner. The amenity kit contained an eye mask, ear plugs, socks, toothpaste and brush, a hair brush and lip balm, delivered in a dopp kit-style pouch. After dinner the lights were dimmed with most passengers sleeping, and crew busying themselves in the galley.

Dining

The meal service began with a well-made gin and tonic, followed by prawns with a papaya salsa, with a summer salad on the side. A choice of braised chicken with saffron rice and sautéed vegetables; beef stew with polenta and green fried bananas; and savoury couscous with roasted seasonal vegetables followed. The chicken

An hour and a half out of Hong Kong the crew offered breakfast, but many passengers decided to make the most of the time to sleep. I opted for a cup of Ethiopian’s signature coffee, made from beans grown in the southwestern highlands. It was very good and the perfect pre-arrival beverage.

While it’s not on par with the likes of Cathay Pacific or Emirates’ systems, the inflight entertainment selection covered all the major bases, with new release movies and classic television shows on offer. The supplied over-ear headphones are a bit clunky so be sure to bring your own if noise reduction is something you value.

Summary

With new aircraft, diligent service and wholesome catering, Ethiopian offers one of the best business class experiences linking Africa with Asia.

Hong Kong - Addis Dbaba in business class from US$1,940 per person. www.ethiopianairlines.com Note: The author travelled on a fully paid business class ticket without the airline’s knowledge

LIFESTYLE

HONG KONG'S ÉCRITURE

Poetry on the PLate

FOOD ADVENTURES

Some Like it hot

cuLinary force aLLa WoLf-taSker WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

SAVVY CARRY ONS

SHORTCUT TO STYLE

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IN THE KITCHEN

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IN THE KITCHEN 87

Alla Wolf-Tasker, founder of the Lake House, has helped define Australia’s regional cuisine movement through her acclaimed restaurant, cooking school and luxury lodge in Victoria. The release of her latest book is testament to the evolution of her own culinary style, and her contribution to Australia’s vibrant gastronomic scene. By Nick Walton Where does your passion for cooking stem from?

My parents were post-WWII migrants to Australia.

After years of hardship and food rationing it was no wonder that for them the sharing of food was an ultimate way to express affection, love and hospitality. They were also both very good cooks and my favourite childhood memories inevitably revolve around either or both of them cooking something delicious for us or in preparation for guests.

How much of your Russian heritage will we find in your cooking?

It’s an interesting thing that I had rejected that heritage when I was a young cook, concentrating on the rigours of French culinary technique. However, the apple never falls far from the tree and I can now see how the ingredients and flavours of my childhood and Russian cuisine have always slipped in and out of my cooking. Smoked eel, beetroot, horseradish, wild forest mushrooms gathered locally with my mother since my youngest days; fermented products – now increasingly taken up by young cooks and consumers for their deliciousness and health-giving properties – were always such a feature of my mother’s kitchen.

These are all routinely produced or gathered and used by us for our menus at Lake House.

You’re a force behind Australia’s growing regional dining movement; what does regional dining mean to you and why should it be something travellers support?

I’m credited with kick starting or ‘trail blazing’ the idea of regional destination dining in Australia. I’d seen it as a young cook in France of course; the idea of a restaurant being able to truly immerse itself in

a region, or even perhaps influencing the food that is grown and produced in that region, was enormously attractive to me. It creates a real ‘sense of place’. Of course, at the time there were no regional destination restaurants in Australia and for very good reason.

That dream of creating a sustainable food community around us took some considerable time to achieve. It’s not exactly been an overnight success story. However, now that we have it, the support and interest from our guests is phenomenal. It’s quite clear that they are interested in understanding the provenance of their food - where it comes from and what’s been done to it during the growing process.

Guests also like knowing that we often have a direct and very close relationship with our suppliers. They are able to meet some of them at our local weekly organic market and also at the masterclasses we run at our cooking school. The questions and conversations would go on for ages – if we let them.

There is so much to know when one wants to make conscious decisions about the food we consume or feed our families.

What can you tell us about the development of your restaurant and luxury boutique hotel the Lake House? What was Daylesford like before you arrived?

It’s a long story. Even back when we started, our region was always beautiful, with wonderful forests, rivers and lakes and fertile volcanic soil, but it was economically depleted. The challenge in its resurrection has been to maintain its charm and natural beauty whilst making it more livable, to celebrate the creativity and strengths of the local community, and to find sustainable ways to share all this with visitors. I think we have succeeded.

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IN THE KITCHEN the corner and develop dishes around that produce. We often work with local growers up to a year ahead for plantings of specialty items we may be interested in. This past summer we used cucumber flowers as a key ingredient on one of our dishes. Black radishes, watermelon radishes, miniature corn, and green and purple cauliflower are other examples of special plantings.

the hotel has hosted some of australia’s leading chefs – how important is cuisine to your guests and what influence do you see your masterclasses having on the travel scene as a whole?

Good, delicious food is an essential element of enjoyable travel. Often, it’s an important reason for travellers choosing a destination. We have many guests who come to stay at Lake House because of the reputation of our restaurant, its beating heart. Our cooking school takes that desire for good food the one step further that many seasoned savvy travellers are seeking.

The various artisanal producers and high profiled chefs that are a regular part of the cooking school are often the icing on the cake for guests’ stays. For me, having some of the best chefs in Australia participate gives me a chance to catch up with my colleagues but also to exchange ideas.

Your daughter is now involved in the business – what are the most important words of wisdom you’ve passed down to her?

dining public. Interest in who is cooking what and where has never been higher.

In terms of the business, it’s probably what I always seek to instill in our team here – all 120 of them – and that is if you are lucky enough to find something you love to do, honour that by striving to be the very best you can be at it. Even when it seems that you have reached stratospheric heights in terms of accolades, never, ever rest on your laurels.

what’s your ultimate comfort dish? this July you’re launching a new I have wonderful memories of my father’s book of recipes, Three Decades delicious and very traditionally Russian cabbage what projects do you have in the works?

On - Lake House and Daylesford; rolls.

We’re a restless family I guess. Lake what are some of your favourite dishes from the collection? what are some ingredients you’re House continues to be a work in progress; there are always plans and Any discussion of a favourite dish for experimenting with at the moment? me always revolves around seasonality.

We may be foraging for wild mushrooms in Autumn and pairing them with chestnuts from an orchard down the road; slow cooking local suckling pork to pair with the first peas of spring, or creating our apple ‘sphere’ using late summer locally-harvested apples and cider – all of these are some of my favourite seasonal dishes and are included in my book

How has australia’s food culture evolved?

Australia’s food culture came from fairly humble beginnings. However, those beginnings were in many ways an advantage in that there were few culinary traditions that might serve to restrict the creativity of our chefs. The influx of migrants from all over the world has resulted in a melting pot of culinary ideas and also a global pantry of ingredients. At its best, the result is a uniquely diverse style that we can claim as our own. I also think this has been fostered by the enthusiasm and adventurous nature of the Australian www.jetsetter.hk

Seasonality once again is front and centre of what my kitchen and I may be interested in for new dishes. We know what produce is around

dreams around its continued betterment and the addition of special experiences for our guests.

Personally, I am currently engaged in the development of an Institute of Good Food and Gastronomy for Daylesford. It’s an exciting prospect and would likely operate as a foundation on a not-for-profit basis.

Then there is my scholarship fund, which assists Australia’s regenerative growers and artisanal producers to take up opportunities for learning and development.

Most exciting for us however is our recent purchase of a nearby vineyard, olive grove and farm, which will allow us to develop a collaborative farm model with local growers and will also eventually offer additional luxury accommodation for those of our guests interested in spending some time within that type of environment. It will also offer the provision of our own estate-grown wine, olive oil, fruit and vegetables and possibly more. Watch this space!

Bangkok Airways flies direct from

Hong Kong to Samui 2 flights daily with Airbus 319

Hong Kong – Samui (Daily) Samui – Hong Kong (Daily)

Bangkok Airways Hong Kong Office

Suite 912, 9th Floor, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: + 852 2300 0000 Email: hkgrrpg@bangkokair.com

PG 874 PG 806 PG 805 PG 873

09:05 16:15 10:55 17:25

11:25 18:35 15:15 21:45

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FOOD ADVENTURES

When you eat a chilli, it activates the same nerves that respond to a naked ame, but used as an ingredient in a hot sauce, spicy curry or even chocolate, these little red peppers have a lot to be celebrated. Grace Brewer uncovers four different ways to explore the avours, history and heat of the humble chilli pepper.

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FOOD ADVENTURES 91

T

he annual Ignite Chilli Festival, held on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, celebrates, as its name might suggest, all things spicy.

Attracting chilli enthusiasts from all over the world, a music and entertainment lineup joins a variety of unique stalls, from farmers offering fresh chilli peppers, to hot sauce sellers, spicy street food, kitchenware brands and much more. The festival even has a range of contributors focusing on local, handmade goods like jewellery and accessories with a chilli theme.

This year, on Saturday 17th November, the event will take place in Bulcock Street, in the heart of Caloundra. www.ignitechillifestival.com.au

H

an Ah Rum, on Hong Kong’s Hennessy Road, is a strong contender for Hong Kong’s hottest restaurant. Spicy dishes and their heat levels are marked on the menu with red chilli symbols, but you can choose your preferred heat for most dishes, including the marinated raw crab in chilli sauce, which gets its spice from gochujang, Korean fermented chilli paste; chilli powder, and honey.

To turn up the heat try the signature chilli sauce – one drop is usually enough.

T

he South Devon Chilli Farm has grown chillies since 2001 and now offers tours of the farm to chilli enthusiasts. Seed sowing can be seen between March and April, the farm’s vast collection of pot plants are on display between May and September, and the crop and show tunnel is open from July until December with around 200 types of chilli plants on display. Learn about the history of the farm and chilli varieties, including heats, uses, and where they come from during regular workshops. Afterwards, browse through the farm shop sampling chutneys, jams, sauces and dried chilli spices. In the summer months, the farm opens a chilli challenge, providing a range of fresh chillies in varying heats to test how hot you can go. www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk

T

he age-old Mirchi Galli market in Mumbai may have shrunk in size and strength over time, but for those looking to buy the hottest, freshest chillies it still manages to pack a punch. A small lane within the market, near Jumma Masjid, was once home to over 100 shops selling chillies and assorted spices. What few shops are left today have passed down through family generations and are arguably the most authentic chilli shops, selling varieties like Reshampatti, a medium-hot chilli popular with local chefs, and Picador Mirch chillies, which lack punch and are often pickled and stuffed or fried as appetisers.

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TOP TABLES

The Right Room

Seasonal Sensations at Takumi

Celebrate the season with a new summer menu at Hong Kong’s Michelin-starred Takumi by Daisuke Mori that’s laced with tantalizing Japanese ingredients. New additions to the menu at the intimate 12-seat eatery include an amuse bouche of Oscietra caviar and airy fennel cream touched with curry oil; seasonal Aori Ika bigfin reef squid, prepared mi-cuit and served with homemade pasta in a sweet Japanese sugar tomato sauce; hairtail fish breaded with sourdough and served with baby bamboo shoots and French green peas; and premium milk-fed lamb from the heart of the Pyrenees, slow cooked and paired with silky caviar d’aubergine and crispy, deep-fried razor clam beetroot ravioli. Sweet touches include a delicate melon soup with homemade basil ice cream. www.takumibymori.com

Gourmet Burgers Hit Lion City

Award-winning New York burger and milkshake sensation Black Tap has opened at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, offering hungry travellers and locals alike a spectacular menu of burgers, craft beers and iconic shakes. Helmed by Joe Isidori, who earned his Michelin star whilst executive chef at DJI, and restaurateur and nightclub developer Chris Barish, of Light, Martini Park, Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill and Gordon Ramsay Steak fame, New York’s Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer pays homage to the great American tradition of the classic burger, with the Singapore outlet the joint’s first foray in the Far East. While you might get giddy over the Instagramable CrazyShakes, leave room for classic dishes like the All-American Burger, Spicy Korean BBQ wings, the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and the awardwinning Greg Norman Burger, which features Wagyu beef topped with house buttermilk-dill, blue cheese and arugula served on a soft potato bun. All this goodness is served in a dining room themed on the classic American luncheonette, complete with piped in Old School hip hop and walls adorned with murals of urban Singapore settings. www.marinabaysands.com www.jetsetter.hk

Nestled within Hong Kong boutique hotel The Pottinger, the new Room 309 cocktail bar is a mixology haven helmed by one of Asia’s leading talents, Antonio Lai. The bartender is the creative force behind some of the city’s leading watering holes, including Origin, Quinary, Angel’s Share and VEA Restaurant & Lounge.

In his newest project Lai has created a discrete cocktail parlor that requires guests to "check in" at reception where they will receive a keycard that gains them entry to the invitation-only boudoir. Once admitted, cocktail aficionados will discover a space dressed in antique furnishings, brass accents and formal stationary reminiscent of the old-world hotels that once entertained poets, playwrights and intellectuals. Here, Lai and bar manager Hungie Fong prepare handcrafted signature and classic libations inspired by the theme of imagination. www.room309.hk

TOP TABLES 93

Let Them Eat Goose

The latest in a slew of new restaurant openings for Hong Kong’s Pirata Group, Madame Ching offers a modern take on the traditional Cantonese roast house, complete with innovative cocktails, inspired designs by Charlie & Rose, and a prime location on Wan Chai’s Star Street. Named for a feared female pirate who once sailed the South China Sea, Madame Ching’s menu is laced with the flavours of iconic Hong Kong dishes, with head chef Son Pham giving each a contemporary nudge. Enjoy a drink – perhaps the Sleepy Dragon, with coconut rum, burned orange, sweet vanilla syrup and ginger beer – on a hidden terrace lined with hanging plants before taking your place in the main dining room, with its rattan furniture and glass-fronted kitchen. Here you'll enjoy signature dishes like General Son’s Chicken, deep-fried in Chinese-style buttermilk batter and sautéed with green Sichuan peppercorns; spicy Mapo “Tofu” dip served with deep fried tofu skin as chips; the Cantonese Cuban, an intriguing take on the classic sandwich with roasted meat wedged between Chinese donut buns; and crispy pigeon cooked in an aromatic broth of Chinese white liquorice, star anise, cloves, black cardamom and sand ginger. Also look out for BBQ specials, including pork belly, roast duck, and char siu ribs. www.madameching.hk

Libation Library

Hong Kong’s newest travel-themed cocktail destination, Frank’s Library, has opened at Central speakeasy Foxglove. Hidden behind thick velvet curtains and inspired by protagonist Frank Minza’s extensive travels, the new bar is helmed by bar manager Derek Tsui, who promises some of the city’s most inspiring cocktails.

Highlights of the new menu include The Savoy Truffle, a blend of oolong house-infused gin and honey water with a cream cheese foam; the Mad Tea-Party, featuring Johnnie Walker Black Label, fresh apple juice, cold brew Earl Grey tea and caramel syrup; and The Catch of TEA, an exotic mix of Teeling small-batch whiskey, Tieguanyin tea syrup, citrus acid, and chocolate bitters, garnished with a spray of tea tincture, dehydrated lemon wheel and a tea ice block. www.foxglovehk.com

Duck ‘n’ Cover

One of Hong Kong’s favourite duck restaurants has opened a second branch, this time in Wan Chai. In a striking space designed by JJ Acuna and Bespoke Studio that bridges cultures from the east and west, the new outpost of retroluxe eatery Pinot Duck is a homage to duck, with both western and Chinese interpretations prepared in a purpose-built duck oven and served in a dining room dressed in red velvet and timber. Look out crowd pleasers like the “Eight Treasure” whole duck stuffed with dried scallop, air-dried ham, sticky rice and shitake mushroom; pan-roasted duck breast with Sichuan spice, lychee and hawthorn sauce; and delicate pan-fried duck liver with pineapple salsa. www.pinotduck.com www.jetsetter.hk

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

POETRY ON THE PLATE Hong Kong’s newest fine-dining restaurant fuses Japanese produce, French craftsmanship and a lofty city location, and the result is nothing short of enchanting, discovers Nick Walton.

T

here are pre-conceptions that any Hong Kong diner will take with them when visiting a restaurant for the first time. While Hong Kong’s dining scene is diverse and ever-changing, service is usually lax and dining rooms spaced with the bottom line rather than the diner's experience in mind. That’s what makes Écriture, the newest opening for the Le Comptoir group, so refreshing.

Guests enter an elegant, book-lined space that’s more akin to a chic penthouse or art gallery than a restaurant, although the glass-encased kitchen, with its classically-designed Molteni stove and ranks of immaculately uniformed staff led by executive chef Maxime Gilbert, is a mesmerising hint at what lies ahead.

While Écriture isn’t the city’s first restaurant to marry French technique with Japanese bounty, it could be argued that it is its most elegant. Named for a series of paintings by celebrated Korean artist Park Seo-Bo (a piece from which hangs in the private dining room), art is central to the restaurant, which is perched high above the streets of Hong Kong Island; while the décor of the dining room, with its soft organic wallpaper and symmetrically copper

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ceiling, is both soothing and intriguing, it competes for attention with the lights and colours of Central beyond, which are brought into the room through glass walls that open to the cityscape beyond and offer an ambiance that’s at once indoors and al fresco. Tables in dark timber, dressed with bespoke cutlery and handblown glasses from Champagne, are spaced far apart, adding a sense of theatre to an infinitelyrefined space.

Playing on the restaurant’s name, which means “writing”, there are three- (lunch only) five- (lunch and dinner) and sevencourse menus on offer; the latter, the Library of Flavours menu that we opt for, captures the essence of Gilbert’s gastronomic philosophy to perfection, with deceptively simplistic dishes each a symphony of flavours and textures that also allow the star ingredients, for which each dish is named, to shine through.

After some rather spectacular bread and Brittany butter we start with an amuse bouche – a crunchy potato croquette topped with Schrenckii caviar; and a delicate langoustine ‘pot sticker’ with vinegar.

The seven-course degustation menu is a great way to explore the kaleidoscope

of flavours and textures coming from the kitchen, with dishes featuring the main ingredient but often changing with seasonality and availability of produce.

There’s amaebi shrimp served with bonito jelly, pickled onion and vibrantly red beetroot chips; and slices of Hokkaido scallop and black truffle, wrapped in seaweed, deep-fried in a light beer batter, and served with celeriac puree and scallop foam. Kuro awabi, or abalone is matched with miso paste, seaweed, and zesty grapefruit; while vibrant red kinki fish, which is lovingly dissected at the table, is prepared three ways – our favourite is as fillets with a zesty yuzu-seafood puree and dried scallops in a rich red wine sauce.

There’s also milk-fed Aveyron lamb chops with miso, lamb floss and moreish morels.

While the food is insightful and memorable, what’s most endearing is the mature, intelligent service. Our waiter is no part time uni student but a full time professional and it shows – his wine recommendations and dish explanations show an informed ownership that’s a rare find even among Hong Kong’s leading finedining restaurants. It’s a subtle touch that sews together a unique culinary experience to perfection. www.lecomptoir.hk

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THE BITE

for the One of the most popular culinary destinations in Northeast Asia, Seoul tantalises global palates with a mesmerising food scene that offers more than fried chicken and beer. By

Isabelle Lui

S

trolling around the capital of South Korea, you can easily spot the pojangmacha stalls specialising in

tteokbokki, an iconic, traditional street food that dates from the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897), when it was served as part of Korean royal court cuisine. A kind of glutinous, soft rice cake cooked in a sweet red chilli sauce named gochujang, along with assorted vegetables such as green onions. Other favourite sides include carrots and onions, boiled eggs, sausage, fish cakes, ramyeon noodles, and fried seafood. Delve into Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town in Jung-gu District and look for Mabongnim Halmeoni Tteokbokki, which has served this delicious snack for over 60 years. 5, Dasan-ro 35-gil, Jung-gu; +82 2 232 8930 South Korea is known for its strong drinking culture; for visitors who have overindulged in local soju or makgeolli, Haejangguk (hangover stew) is the answer. Boasting the ability to cure a nasty ‘morning after’, Seoul-style Haejangguk is a hearty beef broth mixed with kongnamul (soybean sprout), daikon radish, napa cabbage, scallions, coagulated ox blood, and tojang bean paste. To have www.jetsetter.hk

an authentic taste of this soothing, hot soup, take a seat at Cheongjinok, one of the oldest restaurants in Jongro District. Having operated for over 75 years, this family-run restaurant is open 24 hours a day, allowing customers the chance to sober themselves whenever they feel up to it. 24 Jongno 1-ga, Jongnogu; +82 2 737 1690 If you’re a beef lover, you won’t want to miss bulgogi, which translates as ‘fire-meat’ and is one of the most popular dishes in traditional Korean cuisine. The grilled marinated beef, sometimes broiled or pancooked, is usually made with thinly sliced sirloin, rib eye or brisket, and is then soaked in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, black pepper, garlic, onions, ginger, and sugar for two to four hours to produce a rich flavour while maintaining the tenderness of the meat. Using gochujang chilli paste as the base sauce, this dish has a sweet taste with a hint of spiciness. Ramble down the Gangnam district and hit Byeokjae Galbi, a Korean beef specialist and three time winner of The Wall Street Journal’s Asia’s Best Five Restaurants, which serves a variety of traditional dishes using locally raised cows. 1-4, Yangjae-daero 71-gil, Songpa-gu; +82 2 415 5522

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MINIBAR Perhaps you’re looking for something a little unique to add to those summer cocktails? Small batch

Mother’s Ruin Sloe Gin is produced using

A SPECTRUM Of SPIRTS from heady takes on classic spirits, and small batch beauties from new distilleries, to spirits that come with their own mysteries, summer is in the air and on the bar shelves this season.

By Nick Walton

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wild berries foraged from East London, Essex and Cumbria, which are steeped in an undisclosed gin for the better part of a year.

The fruit’s tart, sour notes create a complex spirit with strong undercurrents of plum through which the botanicals of the distillery’s gin shine.

The multi-award-winning spirit is bottled at 20% ABV making it the perfect addition to classic gin cocktails or to spike a glass of chilled champagne. The smaller bottle size (500ml) also makes it a great addition to seasonal picnics and BBQs. www.mothersruin.net

For a tequila that’s begging to be mixed into classic cocktails,

Pueblo Viejo Blanco 104 Tequila is the high

proof version of one of the world’s favorite tequila brands.

Producer Casa San Matías has been distilling tequila since 1886 and with the Blanco 104 offers a headier version of the classic cocktail tequila. Made with 100 percent agave that’s roasted in brick ovens and fermented naturally, Pueblo Viejo Blanco 104 Tequila is bottled at 52% ABV, ensuring the agave notes shine through in cocktails like the Tequila Sunrise, Margarita and Paloma.

Look for touches of pepper, black tea, citrus and roasted agave with hints of chilli on the finish. www.tequilapuebloviejo.com

MINIBAR 99 A Brilliant example of the Rhum Agricole tradition that comes from a little closer to home than the French Caribbean, Chalong Bay is a 100 percent sugarcane small batch rum from Thailand that begs to be incorporated into seasonal cocktails. Made in Phuket by an innovative French couple using a 40-year-old Armagnac still, Chalong Bay is silky smooth and complex, and features notes of pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, liquorice, lychee, and toffee, as well as that fantastic herbal grassy underbelly that Agricole lovers applaud. Be sure to serve this preservative and additive-free rum tall, with plenty of fresh fruit to bring out the touches of coconut, citrus, lavender and spice. The distillery also does a great range of spirits flavoured with local botanicals, including Thai sweet basil, kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass and cinnamon. www.chalongbayrum.com

Aromatic, distinctive and herbaceous,

the new Tanqueray Lovage is not your average gin. Inspired by an original 1832 recipe by Charles Tanqueray, discovered in the brand's extensive archives, the new Tanqueray Lovage is a distinctly savory gin created with the help of drinks maestro Jason Crawley that draws on a new flavour profile from the traditional English herb garden - lovage - which would have been readily available when Charlie Tanqueray first started distilling. At once deeply herbaceous and juniperforward, this new gin features hints of earthiness and fresh celery, as well as touches of balancing citrus and lingering aroma described by Crawley as "funk." The latest in a series of bold new additions from the classic gin producer, Tanqueray Lovage is guaranteed to bring a new dimension to your favourite gin-laced drinks. www.tanqueray.com

Crafted by Master Distiller Alan Winchester, who spent 40 years

honing his craft, The Glenlivet Code is the Scotch brand’s newest

limited-edition release. Presented without cask information or tasting notes, this very special whisky, like The Glenlivet Cipher of 2016, encourages whisky lovers to build a deeper understanding of single malt and the spirits produced

by The Glenlivet. A labyrinth of flavors that will test the senses of even the most discerning whisky drinker, The Glenlivet Code is presented in a rather mysterious matte black bottle and takes its inspiration from the iconic British code breakers. Crafted from specially selected casks to produce a new, never-before-created single malt scotch whisky that offers an immersive tasting experience, whisky fans can try their hand at an online digital decoding game in anticipation of the release of nose and tasting notes at the end of the year. www.theglenlivet.com

In case you haven’t noticed, pink gin is in vogue at the

moment and The Bitter Truth Pink Gin is one of

the leading libations. Tapping into the traditions of the Royal Navy, which blended gin with bitters as a cure for sea sickness, this blissfully modern pink gin has a floral yet complex Mediterranean bouquet with juniper, lemons and warm spice on the palate.

The perfect addition to a Gin & Tonic or a gin martini, The Bitter Truth Pink Gin has a wonderfully calm mouthfeel with hints of liquorice, caraway and fennel that bring a touch of sophistication to your next gin concoction. http://the-bitter-truth.com

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SPIRITS

The Kentucky

PRINCE

Nick Walton discusses bourbon

trends and forging a family dynasty with Eddie Russell, Master Distiller at Wild Turkey.

How is Asia developing as a bourbon drinking market?

In Asia, Japan is the biggest market in terms of bourbon consumption. Looking at places like Hong Kong, the bourbon trend is being driven by cocktail and speak easy bars, as they experiment with American style classic cocktails. The Japanese trend of drinking bourbon as a ‘highball’ has also caught on and is very popular among the younger generation of whiskey drinkers.

in 2018. The Wild Turkey Master’s Keep range is a collection of rare Kentucky straight bourbon whiskies created by myself and I take great pride in their launch.

The third expression, called Wild Turkey Masters Keep Revival, is a blend of 12-15-year-old bourbons that have been further aged in Olorosso sherry casks. I personally selected the bourbons and sherry casks, and I can honestly say this is a whiskey I truly love. There are a limited number of bottles available in Asia.

Do you ever think we’ll see the same growth in What can you tell us about the little accident that caused the creation of the Forgiven expression? bourbon that we have in scotch?

Bourbon is growing at its fastest pace in my lifetime. Our industry is having a hard time keeping up with demand for bourbon.

An employee that worked for me accidentally pumped straight rye whiskey into a tank that had straight bourbon in it. It was a big mistake but had a great taste so I released it as Forgiven.

You’re part of a Wild Turkey dynasty, following in the footsteps of your father, Master Distiller How is the bourbon scene changing in the US Jimmy Russell – what words of wisdom has and abroad? your father passed down to you when it came The big difference in the cocktails that are being made.

It has changed our customer from an older man to young to making great bourbon?

Do things the right way or don’t do them at all.

men and women.

How do you approach the process of making Bourbon is a distinctly American spirit – how does Wild Turkey plan to make itself relevant limited-edition or limited-release bourbons? in Asia?

My father did them in the past and I wanted to follow that tradition. The first one [Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary edition] was for Jimmy’s 60th anniversary.

You’ve done destination-specific releases in the past, including the Australia-only release of the Master’s Keep 1894 expression – are there any plans for releases specific to Asia?

There are no plans for a destination-specific release for Asia. We have however, launching the third expression of our Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Limited Edition Series www.jetsetter.hk

In Asia, American whiskey is rapidly gaining in popularity. What distinguishes Wild Turkey from other bourbons is our history and heritage. Our Master Distiller Jimmy Russell has been with Wild Turkey for over 65 years and I have been with the brand for over 35 years. Our motto has always been ‘never compromise’.

For years, Jimmy and I have made bourbon without compromising on its quality or character. I believe it is this quality focus, backed by years of experience, that will make Wild Turkey stand out in Asia.

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BEAUTY TRAVEL

John Masters Organics Vitamin C Anti-Aging Face Serum

Sisley HydraGlobal Serum

The new serum from John Masters Organics is a natural moisturiser with an age-fighting formula. Made with at least 70 percent of organic ingredients including aloe leaf juice, sun flower seed oil and Damascan rose water, the serum helps fight the aging effects caused by UV rays. Extracts of sea algae and rosebud provide antioxidants to help pro-collagen production.

Cleanse and tone your face before massaging the serum into the skin. www.johnmasters.com.hk

Sisley’s new serum for thirsty skin boosts natural hydration, and deeply quenches dry skin by helping skin cells restore themselves. This moisturising anti-ageing product can improve the skin’s hydric balance, encouraging the circulation of water within the epidermis to transport moisture deep down.

Sisley’s new serum is the ideal product to kick-start your skin’s natural automatic hydration.

For best results, apply the serum before Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream to multiply its benefits. www.sisley-paris.com

from intense moisturising, to minimising the appearance of aging, these serums are sure to leave your skin feeling silkysmooth wherever you’re travelling this summer. By Grace Brewer Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic and Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum

This overnight serum delivers a time-released dose of retinol, synergistically combined with ferulic acid and niacinamide, to improve the appearance of wrinkles and increase the look of firmer skin. For an even and smoother-looking complexion, massage into the skin every night and follow with moisturiser. www.drdennisgross.com www.jetsetter.hk

Irén Clearing Serum

The revolutionary Irén skincare brand provides every step in an effective and pampering cleansing routine, without crowding your toiletries bag. The Clearing Serum is one of seven serums available and acts as the final product in Irén’s cleansing routine. Using Alpha Hydroxy Acids from pumpkins, this super fresh serum targets excess keratin and zooms in on dull, dead skin cells to reveal cleaner pores and a smoother face. www.irenskin.com

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STYLE Aman Resorts & Hotels has collaborated with swimwear brand Frescobol Carioca to create a line of men's swimwear to coincide with the hotel group’s 30th anniversary. Marrying Frescobol Carioca’s signature bold hues with sophisticated fabrics, the beach-focused range takes its inspiration from the unique destinations of eight Aman sanctuaries. For example, the Jiwo shorts, named after Aman’s spiritual hideaway in Borobudur, Amanjiwo, incorporates intricate batik patterns reminiscent of the magnificent temples and are available in a forest green shade inspired by the lush jungle that surrounds the hotel; while the Kora shorts are a tapestry of reds, sunflower yellow, and blues, recognising the abundance of colour present in Bhutanese textiles, with the seamless repeated pattern reflecting the meaning of Amankora’s name “circular pilgrimage”. Each pair of swim trunks features ultra-quick drying polyamide fabric, side fasteners, a real button fly, and a fitted cut in a choice of lengths www.frescobolcarioca.com.

Hit the beach in style with these new stylish men’s swimwear lines Taking its design cues from Asia’s Maritime history, the new men’s swimwear line from Māzŭ Resortwear comes in ten eye-catching styles.

Inspired by life near the water, the ten new styles tap into the brand’s Asian roots, with powerful prints in nautical tones. These include a range of iconic Sampan prints, inspired by the Sampan water taxis that once populated Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour; a range of minimalist bamboo print shorts, available in three colourways, that feature a pinstripe effect using bamboo as the pattern and celebrating an integral part of Asian maritime culture with a western approach to design; and geometric tile prints representing the shapes once used to disguise Fuzhou junk boats from approaching enemies. www. mazuresortwear.com

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106

WATCHES

Lady in

Blue

Bringing an eye-catching new hue to the Aquanaut Luce, which was launched in 2004 for ladies who want to link contemporary chic with a bold accent, the new Patek Philippe Ref. 5067 Misty Blue Aquanaut Luce in stainless steel marries a blue-grey persona with the collection’s iconic diamond-encrusted bezel. An unexpected nuance that underscores the modern, youthful design of the watch, the new timepiece’s dial reflects a casually sporty look while retaining a refined elegance that’s accentuated with applied numerals, applied hour markers, and broad baton-style hands – all in gold. The date is displayed in an aperture at 3 o’clock. The gently rounded octagonal case is inspired by the design of the Nautilus and is exquisitely polished and has satin-finished flank surfaces. www.patek.com www.jetsetter.hk

108

WATCHES

The New

OMEGA Speed master

Continuing the evolution of one of its most popular watch designs, Omega has created the new Speedmaster CK2998 Limited Edition, a sophisticated model that combines iconic lines with new innovations. The original OMEGA CK2998 was released in 1959 and, for collectors, it has since become one of the most soughtafter vintage Speedmasters in the world – it was even the first Omega in space, with astronaut Walter "Wally" Schirra wearing his own personal Speedmaster CK2998 during the 1962 “Sigma 7” mission of the Mercury programme. The new model features three subdials in black, a black polished ceramic bezel with a white enamel pulsometer scale, and a black leather strap with a white rubber interior that has been micro-perforated. The piece’s polished and brushed stainless steel case is complemented by a lightly sand-blasted silvery dial that also houses a number of exquisite features, including blackened “Alpha” hands; a chronograph seconds hand in varnished red; and hour and minute hands in Super-LumiNova for increased visibility in dark conditions. Powered by an Omega Calibre 1861 movement, only 2,998 of these collectable watches have been produced, each with a unique limited edition number on the caseback, along with the original Seahorse medallion and a “SPEEDMASTER” engraving. www.omegawatches.com

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WATCHES 109

THE

LAST LAUGH Bell & Ross has added a new timepiece to its iconic skull collection that promises to catch eyes and turn heads. First launched in 2009, the brand has added to the skull-themed collection periodically, with the latest incarnation, the BR01 Laughing Skull, the first to feature an automaton movement. A technology first developed in the 14th century, these autonomous mechanisms feature an animated display and often took the form of a Jaquemart, an animated mechanized figure of a person, fitted to a church clock tower to strike the hours on a bell. The Laughing Skull model continues this tradition, with the skull’s mandible animated during winding. To create this effect, the brand developed the BR-CAL.206, a calibre entirely produced by the manufacture that is also skull-shaped, so that the mechanism fits the case perfectly. Featuring a 46mm case, the Laughing Skull is available in three versions, an entry level model limited to 500 pieces and featuring a microblasted steel case; and two versions decorated with diamonds. www.bellross.com

www.jetsetter.hk

110

WISHLIST

Celebrating the power of imagination and the importance of transmitting ideas and values to the ones we love, Montblanc has released three special editions to its Meisterstück collection of writing instruments, inspired by the much-loved literary character of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince. The new additions include the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Doué Classique Edition, which pairs the deep blue colour of the lacquer barrel with the luminosity of a platinum-coated cap elegantly decorated with engravings of the fox pattern inspired by the Little Prince’s faithful companion. The shiny surface of the platinum is repeated on the metal cone, cap and the pen clip, which is adorned with a yellow star. The Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Doué Classique Edition is available as a ballpoint pen, a roller ball or as a fountain pen with an 18K bi-colour nib embellished with the outline of the Little Prince and the fox. www.montblanc.com

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WISHLIST 111

A FRIEND

IN FOAM Do your feet a favour next time you hit the trail with the new Nike React Element 87 sneakers. Part homage to sneakers past, including the Nike Internationalist from 1981 and the Nike Epic React, the new Element 87s have been designed using sophisticated pressure maps, with foam rivets added to a base of contoured ridges to offer ultimate stability and comfort through life’s little endeavors. Available in four colourways, the Element 87s also feature eye-catching semitranslucent TPE yarn textile uppers for a modern, deconstructed look. www.nike.com

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112

WISHLIST

Siberian splendor

Luxury jewellers Chaumet has unveiled its latest high jewellery collection, a threepart journey, the first pieces of which take their inspiration from Joseph Chaumet’s attendance at the 1914 wedding of Princess Irina, niece of Tsar Nicholas II. The first chapter of the new Promenades Impériales includes brooches, earrings, rings and a supple bracelet that bring to life a prestigious historical legacy sustained by the great clients of Russia’s imperial court. At the heart of the new collection is this transformable necklace in white and pink gold, replete with diamonds and Padparadscha sapphires. www.chaumet.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Modernist MASTER Don’t miss Marc Chagall’s illuminating exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art

One of the major artists of the 20th century, Marc Chagall’s work is instantly recognisable by its vivid colours and warm light, with the French Riviera and the Mediterranean Sea in particular inspiring his landscapes. Characterised by free and lively rhythms and emphasised by a vibrant colour palette, his work is on a par with Matisse and Picasso, with early works being influenced by cubism and constructivism.

An exhibition by the Belarus-born artist, Light and Colour in Southern France, on display at the Macao Museum of Art until 26 August, explores the powerful presence of light and colour in his work from the 1950s to the 1970s. The modernist painter settled in the South of France in the 1950s and the intensity of the light had a profound effect on him. Trips to Greece in 1952 and 1954 proved similarly inspiring, and mythical beings, mermaids, fish and radiant suns all provide a Mediterranean aura to his paintings.

The first exhibition in Macao dedicated to the renowned artist will feature a diverse selection of works that underline the importance of light and colour in his work. There are sketches for oil paintings with biblical themes, still lifes and portraits, both watercolours and gouaches, and prints of illustrations for books and designs for a stained glass window. The exhibition also includes costumes and tapestries designed by the artist as well as multi-media works based on his paintings.

This vibrant body of work demonstrates how colour, beauty and symbolism are at the core of Chagall’s art and delivers a fascinating insight into the work of an artist who is revered as one of the greats of modern painting.

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Let’s Dance

Countries from the old Silk Road have been invited to participate in The Macao International Youth Dance Festival

The Macao International Youth Dance Festival provides a platform for dance lovers from around the world to cultivate friendship, familiarise themselves with different cultures and discover a diverse range of dancing styles. The festival also provides an opportunity for locals and tourists to experience the art and culture of different regions and countries from the unique perspective of dance.

This year’s event has taken inspiration from the Chinese government’s “One Belt One Road” initiative – which focuses on promoting economic cooperation along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road – with a theme of “One Belt One Road, City that Dance.” It has invited youth dance teams from the countries and regions along the routes included in the “One Belt One Road” to create a cultural exchange platform that not only enables teams to demonstrate their skills but also introduce new dancing styles to Macao.

The festival will be held between 20-26 July, with 27 teams from Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and Oceania. In addition to 10 local teams, the regional representatives hail from Hong Kong, Sichuan and Yunnan province. There is also the opportunity to witness dance performances from Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Canada, Slovenia, Finland, Israel, Latvia, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia and Turkey.

A diverse range of events will take place over the week-long festival, including a parade, workshops, indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Along the route of the parade, street performers will interact with spectators to promote the festive atmosphere. All are welcome to watch this delightful spectacle dedicated to dance.

For more information, please visit the DSEJ website at www.dsej.gov.mo or call +853 2855 5533 Date

Time

Activity

Location

July 21 17:30-19:30 Parade performance Ruins of St. Paul's –

St. Dominic Church Square – Senado Square July 22 16:00-19:30 Outdoor Carnival 20:00-21:30 Outdoor Performance

Tap Seac Square Tap Seac Square

July 23 10:00-12:00

Art Performance Workshop

Zheng Guanying Public School

July 24 20:00-21:30 July 25 20:00-22:00 July 26 20:00-22:00

Outdoor Performance

Anim'Arte Nam Van Macao Forum Hall 1 Macao Forum Hall 1

Indoor Performance Indoor Performance

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

WHAT’S ON MACAO From fireworks to film, there are plenty of glittering events to attend in Macao this Autumn and Winter

29th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest

Macao will be alight with colourful displays this September as the city gears up to welcome the 29th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest (1, 8, 15 & 24 September and 1 October). Teams from around the world will compete to see who can make the most impressive displays in the night sky over the sea in front of the Macao Tower. These impressive shows of pyrotechnic wizardry will be accompanied by a spectacular soundtrack at this dazzling extravaganza. A photo contest, student drawing contest and trophy design contest add further excitement to the festivities. www.fireworks.macaotourism.gov.mo

Suncity Group 65th Macau Grand Prix

Some of the world’s best drivers will get behind the wheel for the Suncity Group 65th Macau Grand Prix (November 15-18) as they negotiate the long, fast straights and tough hairpins round the world-famous 3.8-mile street circuit. In collaboration with FIA there will be three world-class races: the FIA F3 World Cup, the FIA GT World Cup and the WTCR FIA World Touring Car Cup. Last year, 165 competitors in 31 countries took part, and the 2018 race looks set to attract more top competitors to one of the most demanding circuits in the world. www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo

Macao Light Festival 2018

After the fireworks show, the city will once again be alight for the Macao Light Festival 2018 (2-31 December) which sees a customised light extravaganza that transforms the city’s streets and buildings into dazzling works of art.

The theme of last year’s festival, Amor Macau, welcomed colourful installations and and 3D projections to some of the city’s best-loved locations, including Senado Square, Camoes Garden and St Anthony’s Church. Other activities included outdoor movie screenings and live performances. en.macaotourism.gov.mo

3rd International Film Festival & Awards . Macao

Aspiring filmmakers will be showcasing their work at the Macao International Film Festival & Awards . Macao (8-14 December).

Hong Kong movie star Aaron Kwok has been appointed talent ambassador of the event, which he believes offers much-needed support to directors, screenwriters and emerging filmmakers.

Chen Kaige, the only Chinese director to have been awarded the Palme d’Or for 1993’s Farewell My Concubine, will serve as Jury President of this international competition. www.iffamacao.com

116

TECHNOLOGY

the new Nuraphone wireless headphones not only play incredible sound but tailor it specifically to a user’s ears.

Not all headphones are created equal – some go for aesthetics, some for technological innovation, but few get the balance just right.

That is until the Nuraphones. These ‘smart headphones’ are not only sleek and striking but are also a purist’s dream. With a design concept dubbed “inova� that’s part in-ear and part overear, the Nuraphones split the melodic sounds to an in-ear speaker and bass sounds to an over-ear tactile driver that delivers the sound through your skin. For the first time, a user can adjust their level of immersion while enjoying the best of both worlds. This unique design ensures pitch-perfect sound as well as thumping base and brilliant noise reduction. But there’s more than meets the eye: the headphones use a patented self-learning engine, coupled with an eardrum-scanning app that monitors otoacoustic emissions, to ensure the headphones are delivering the perfect sound balance for a user’s ear canals, no matter the external environment. With a Bluetooth connection to any smart device, and a 20-hour battery time, these savvy new headphones promise a sound experience like no other. www.nuraphone.com

www.jetsetter.hk

118

LUGGAGE

G-RO Carry On

The smart G-RO carry on features tough-terrain oversized wheels, a GPS location tracker, a builtin tablet stand and a charging station with two USB ports, making this unique suitcase ideal for tech-savvy travellers. The strong ballistic nylon outer shell is durable, yet lightweight; fastens with high-quality YKK zippers; and includes an extra-long ergonomic handle. www.g-ro.com

Not Your Average

Carry On Why settle for standard hand luggage when you could invest in a stylish suit case with a split personally, discovers

Grace Brewer

Vocier F38 Leather Carry On

The ultimate luggage for business travellers, this Tuscan leather carry on trolley is specifically designed to fit two hanging suits. Made by German brand Vocier, the F38 carry on keeps your jackets intact inside a separate, removable zipped compartment. A unique pocket hidden beneath the bag’s handle also allows for easy access to your passport, phone, and anything else needed close to hand. www.vocier.com

Kame Nendo case

The Kame hybrid fabric suitcase was designed by Japanese brand Nendo as part of Fabbrica Pelletterie Milano’s creative bag collection. Named ‘tortoise’ in Japanese, the polycarbonate suitcase features a roll-up cloth lid for easier packing and unpacking in tight spaces. The 550mm cabin case also provides a small cable lock, in the event that your eyes are needed elsewhere. www. nendo.jp

Credit Ayano Yamazaki. www.jetsetter.hk

120

LIMELIGHT

2

1

2018 Metal

Yacht Golf 3

4

5

1. Mr. Mauricio Ribeiro, Ms. Min Jung Youn, Mr & Mrs Hughes 2. Players celebrate the end of the round at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club 3. Stina Urause, Lulu Hagen, Jan Ole Hagen, Maggie Hagen, Greta Hagen 4. Jeff Wang, Dr. Hwang Jong Moon 5. Ludi Lin 6. Roy Weissbach, Kolja Kukok 7. Jeff Wang 8. Marshall Hayher- CEO, Metal Title Sponsor 9. Roy Weissbach, Dr Hwang Jong Moon, Kai Einheoser, Jeff Wang, Jan Owe Hagen, Kristian Hunter 10. A DJ, mobile bars and gourmet catering led the yacht party at Deep Water Bay

www.jetsetter.hk

6

7

8

9

Hong Kong’s first Metal Yacht Golf event, presented by Hublot, recently took place at sites across the city. The concept, created by both M Yachts and Premier Live, combined a round of golf at the acclaimed Clearwater Golf & Country Club with a day spent perfecting short games with eco-friendly EcoBioBalls from the back of a fleet of luxury yachts.

On the first day 40 players participated in the round at Clearwater, one of the top 100 courses in the world, before competing in a series of beach-based challenges set against secluded coves in Sai Kung. Winners Jeff Wang and Dr Hwang won a trip to the 2018 Manuka Doctor Necker Open presented by Metal.

A charity event that night raised funds for local causes including Friends of Asia Hong Kong, Kids 4 Kids, and Film Aid Asia. The second day’s yacht party took place in Deep Water Bay and was hosted by Blockchain professionals, who discussed the ‘future of money’ and the latest cryptocurrency developments. https://yachtgolf.com

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122

CULTURE

Museum of Romanity

Opened this June, the stunning new Musée de la Romanité or Museum of Romanity adds to Nîmes’ array of beautifullypreserved Roman-era relics, which includes the Maison Carrée, with its two-tiered 2,000-year old amphitheater, and the nearby Roman aqueduct. Designed by Elizabeth de Portzamparc and dedicated to the Roman civilisation, the new museum, a three-hour train trip from Paris and less than 90 minutes from Marseille, is opposite the 2,000-yearold Arenas and represents one of France’s biggest contemporary architectural and cultural projects to open in 2018.

The museum’s permanent collection includes four spaces designed by chief heritage curator Dominique Darde, which cover the dawn of Roman culture; the Roman period; the Medieval period; and the Roman legacy. Visitors are able to delve into the Gallo Roman period through augmented reality and audiovisual technology, trace the conquest of civilisations on interactive maps, and bask in the Mediterranean sun in the museum’s 3,500sqm archeological gardens before popping in at the restaurant, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Franck Putelat. https://museedelaromanite.fr www.jetsetter.hk

真生活， 从 我这 的里 家开 ，始 ， 千 千禧 禧公 公寓 寓。 。 Good life with This is mystarts home.

Millennium Residences@Beijing Fortune Plaza.

Millennium Residences@Beijing Fortune Plaza.

Apartment Enquiry Hotline: +86-10-8588-2888 Building Number 6, Fortune Plaza, 7 DongSanHuan DongSanHuan Middle Middle Road, Road, Chaoyang ChaoyangDistrict, District,Beijing, Beijing,PR PRChina China Tel: +86-10-8588-2888 Fax: +86-10-8588-2889 Email: leasing@millenniumresidencesbeijing.com www.millenniumresidencesbeijing.com www.millenniumresidencesbeijing.com