EXOTIC PLACES
INTERESTING PEOPLE
INTELLIGENT TRAVEL
The domain oF millionaiReS 24 HOURS IN MELBOURNE
BANGKOK’S 137 PILLARS
LONDON HIDEAWAYS
14
EDITOR'S NOTE
PUBLISHER Denis Fahy denis@channel1hk.com MANAGING EDITOR Nick Walton nickwalton@artemiscomms.com
W
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Isabelle Lui editorial@artemiscomms.com
photo credit: Reeve Jolliffe/ EYOS Expeditions
elcome to the last issue of JETSETTER Magazine for 2017 and what a whirlwind of a year it’s been! The editorial team and our contributors have jetted around the globe searching for the hottest emerging destinations, visiting firm favourites, and meeting with the people defining the way we
travel – and as you can imagine we’ve loved every minute of it. The winter issue is especially diverse; we visit Antarctica with EYOS Expeditions aboard the Hanse Explorer, one of the few expedition-ready superyachts. These unique vessels not only offer access to the world’s most remote corners, but also offer levels of privacy and convenience affluent travellers simply can’t achieve with conventional expedition ships visiting the White Continent. In contrast, the Solomon Islands is where time seemingly stands still; this remote South Pacific nation lives with the legacy of some of WWII’s fiercest battles, but its spectacular wreck diving, welcoming people and untouched landscapes are increasingly seducing travellers looking for their own slice of paradise. In this issue, we also look at what we consider to be the hottest new hotels, resorts and safari camps opening in the year ahead; check into breathtaking hotels in Johannesburg and Bangkok; and check out the best of Melbourne with local Scott Podmore. In our regular Lifestyle section, we slip behind the wheel of the new Range Rover Velar; sip the newest rums causing a stir in the Philippines; track down the best rose-inspired travel experiences; and take our time in Abu Dhabi’s newly opened Louvre Museum. Wherever you’re headed this season, or in the year ahead, we hope JETSETTER continues to be your source of information and inspiration.
CHIEF SUB EDITOR Philippa Walton ART DIRECTOR Don Pierre Riosa don@channel1hk.com BEIJING SALES MANAGER Louis Chu louis@channel1hk.com SALES MANAGER Fatima Cameira fatima@channel1hk.com CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE EUROPE Laurence James laurence.james@jetsetter.hk
JETSETTER is registered as a newspaper & periodical. JETSETTER is published by Channel One Communications JETSETTER is printed by Channel One Communications Suite 402-3, Hong Kong Trade Centre 161-167 Des Voeux Rd Central Hong Kong 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-5706 Valley Cottage, NY 10989 USA
Safe travels.
Tel Number (+852) 28557885
Nick Walton
Managing Editor
CONTRIBUTORS Scott Podmore is an international travel and music writer, videographer, bestselling author and managing editor of The Departure Lounge, the new travel media hub powered by the CT Connections Travel Group of brands. He is also the owner of October Grey Media, a boutique media company specialising in content provision across all platforms in print and digital, and is a contributor for travel publications across the globe. His passion for travel writing and photography has taken him on assignment to more than 30 countries. www.jetsetter.hk
www.jetsetter.hk All rights Reserved: Copyright and distribution rights are reserved exclusively for Channel One Communications, 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. Channel One does not make any guarantees to the accuracy of the information contained.
CONTENTS WINTER 2018
24
ROOM WITH A VIEW
SAFFIRE FREYCINET
38
24 HOURS
MELBOURNE: THE WORLD’S MOST LIVABLE CITY
42
BOUTIQUE & BEAUTIFUL
LONDON IN THE SPRING
44
WELLNESS
SAMUI FOR SPAOPILES
48
HOTEL INSIDER
BANGKOK’S BEST KEPT SECRET
52
HOUSES OF SPLENDOR
HOTTEST NEW HOTELS & RESORTS FOR 2018
photo credit: Victoria Racing Club
CONTENTS WINTER 2018
64
ANTARCTICA
THE DOMAIN OF MILLIONAIRES
72
SOLOMON ISLANDS
PEACE & PALM TREES
88
CHEF PROFILE
MICHAEL WHITE
90
FOOD ADVENTURES
KISS FROM A ROSE
92
RESTAURANT REVIEW
CALIFORNIA NIGHTS
112
AUTO
INSPIRED BY THE PAST, DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE
photo credit: Reeve Jolliffe/EYOS Expeditions
20
BaliSpirit Festival 2016 Bali, Indonesia April 2-8, 2018
An annual showcase of yoga, dance, and music, the BaliSpirit Festival has its roots in the core life-principles of Balinese Hinduism, known as Tri Hita Karana, which encourages festival goers to live in harmony with the gods, the earth and the people. From dawn to dusk travellers will be entertained and invigorated with mindful workshops, yoga classes, holistic healing, and Bhakti music performances – think of it as a festival packed with New Year’s resolutions. www.balispiritfestival.com
Where to Stay: The new Capella Ubud offers sublime tented accommodation on the banks of the Wos River. www.capellahotels.com
www.jetsetter.hk
22
Festivale
TasMania, aUsTRalia
February 2-4, 2018
Festivale screams summer. From the very best Tasmanian food and wine, beer, cider and spirits, to the quality arts and entertainment programme, this three-day festival is a firm local favourite. Each year on the first weekend in February, Festivale celebrates everything fabulous about Tasmanian food and drinks, al fresco style under the soaring trees of Launceston's historic (and oasis-like cool) City Park. Around 35,000 people come each year to enjoy more than 75 stalls, sideline events, cooking demonstrations, the Kids Kingdom, and fabulous music over the three days, sipping and savouring morsels from near and far around the state. www.festivale.com.au
Where to Stay: Peppers Seaport is located at the heart of Launceston’s waterfront precinct and offers stylish accommodation with water views only minutes from the Festivale events. www.peppers.com.au
Chinese New Year HonG KonG
February 6-18, 2018 Regarded as Hong Kong's largest and most colourful festival, visitors and locals alike will be caught up in the energy and atmosphere of Chinese New Year, Hong Kong style. Squeeze into temples to pray for good fortune, browse festive markets selling auspicious foods and blooms, take in the red lanterns that adorn the city or sit back and enjoy one of Hong Kong's most anticipated annual events, the International Chinese New Year Night Parade.
Where to Stay: The newly-opened Kerry Hong Kong offers luxurious guest rooms, innovative dining, and spectacular views from east Kowloon. www.shangri-la.com
Battle of the Oranges iVRea, iTalY
February 6 – 9, 2018 Go to war armed with fruit during Spain’s annual Battle of the Oranges, a unique celebration marking the defeat of a historic tyrant. Every year, nine competitive teams of almost 4,000 fight against each other with 500,000 kilograms of fresh oranges in the tiny northern city of Ivrea, recreating a historic fight that will have photographers ducking for cover. www.storicocarnevaleivrea.it
Where to Stay: Set in an ideal location for exploring the natural wonders and historic architecture of the Canavese area, Hotel Crystal Palace offers chic, stylishly furnished guest rooms designed for a relaxing holiday. www.hcrystalpalace.com
www.jetsetter.hk
The Next Big Wave An endless expanse of pristine tropical beaches, exotic culture and food, cozy living in lavish cabanas and of course splendid surfing that is recognized the world over. Just a handful of the experiences we promise at Jetwing Surf - welcome to Sri Lanka’s first eco luxury surf resort in Pottuvil Point, only 5 minutes away from the famed Arugam Bay. Call +94 11 4 709 400 or email resv.surf@jetwinghotels.com for details.
SURF POTTUVIL POINT
J E T W I N G , T H E H O M E O F S R I L A N K A N H O S P I TA L I T Y www.jetwinghotels.com
24
ROOM WITH A VIEW
www.jetsetter.hk
ROOM WITH A VIEW 25
GREETING
THE DAWN Make the most of Tasmania’s glorious summer months with a visit to the island’s acclaimed Saffire Freycinet, where the lavish Signature Suites boast refined interiors, sublime bathrooms, and captivating views across Great Oyster Bay through floor-toceiling windows. A stay in one of these unique spaces captures the lodge experience to a tee; included in the tariff is breakfast at the Palate restaurant, lunch and dinner, including beverages, complimentary minibar and Saffire lounge drinks, wifi and a US$150 (US$113) credit to be used on spas or signature experiences, which range from wine tasting to island hopping. Saffire Freycinet is a member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, a curated collection of the most luxurious and unique accommodation options Downunder.
www.jetsetter.hk
26
INTRODUCING
LUXURY IN
THE BUSH Luxury safari specialist Sanctuary Retreats has launched
its newest mobile wilderness lodge, the exclusive Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp, in Tanzania. This extraordinary new escape, which will be based in three set locations across the Serengeti, offers guests an unrivalled, front row experience of the movement of over a million wildebeest and zebra as they follow the fresh grasses across the Serengeti plains during the annual migration season. Named for the Swahili word meaning 'in the bush', Kichakani boasts just ten luxury tents, which can be packed up and moved along in a style evocative of the pioneering explorers of the 19th century, yet with all modern comforts. An elegant and contemporary take on the classic camp style, each five-star tent will offer handcrafted luggage, easy chairs, cabinets, and desks, a private ensuite with bucket shower, and a private wooden deck on which to enjoy a just-brewed cup of Tanzania's finest coffee. In addition, the new camp features a central canopied main tent with lounge and dining areas, where the culinary team prepare a range of international flavours, which can be enjoyed alongside kachumbari (traditional Tanzanian salsa), coconut beans, paprika, cinnamon and chilli from nearby Zanzibar. Daily game drives discover the Serengeti’s populations of wildebeest, zebra, and Thomson's gazelles, as well as the predators they attract, from cheetahs and lions to African wild dogs. www.sanctuaryretreats.com
www.jetsetter.hk
INTRODUCING 27
A TOUCH OF SPICE
If you’re a traveller who likes to stay in the thick of the action, Australian hotel company Spicers Retreats has opened its long-awaited Sydney property, located at the heart of one of the city’s most sought-after locales. Spicers Potts Point is set in a trio of beautifullyrennovated terrace houses dating from 1873 and boasts just 20 luxurious guest rooms steps from some of the city’s best bars and restaurants. After breakfast in the sun-kissed courtyard, guests can easily access Sydney’s acclaimed waterfront or vibrant neighbourhoods like Oxford Street, Woolloomooloo, and Double Bay before returning to their chic, residential-styled guest room, which features Bemboka linens, King Koli beds, and pieces by Sydney artist Martine Emdur. https://spicersretreats.com www.jetsetter.hk
28
INTRODUCING
LIFTING the Vail Ideal for ski-bunnies who also enjoy a few creature comforts off the runs, Hotel Talisa has re-opened in Vail after a US$60 million transformation. The first ski destination property in North America to join The Luxury Collection, the new 285-room ski-in/ski-out retreat is set to become the ultimate destination resort in Colorado. In addition to sumptuous guest rooms and suites – we rather fancy the two-bedroom Gore Creek Deluxe Suite with its standalone soak tub and fireplace – look out for a few alpine perks, ranging from inventive avant and aprèsadventure libations, including a decadent hot chocolate bar, daily champagne sabering; complimentary mini beauty sessions for those guests wanting a quick refresh after a day on the slopes; and, you’ll love this, a
dedicated
www.jetsetter.hk
S’more
Butler.
www.hoteltalisa.com
30
INSPIRE
EXPLORING THE ICE KINGDOM
If Greenland isn’t at the top of your adventure bucket list it should be, and a new safari to this frozen locale
with Natural World Safaris makes visiting easier than ever. Explore Greenland’s spectacular east coast aboard small ship M/S Freya, departing in August 2018, on a pioneering adventure that navigates towering icebergs and breath-taking ice sculptures to witness an array of Arctic wildlife. Departing from the picturesque town of Akureyri, nestled at the head of Iceland’s longest fjord, you’ll travel towards east Greenland crossing the Arctic Circle. Under the 24-hour summer sun, the sea ice surrounding east Greenland is broken up, enabling the Freya to cut through and glide around the glacier-carved fjords. Explore Scoresbysund, the largest fjord system in the world, paying a visit to the impressive Kong Oscar and Keiser Franz Josef fjords before heading to the settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit to meet the local Inuit and understand their unique way of life. There’s also time to scour the tundra in search of muskox, Arctic fox and other arctic wildlife, accompanied by expert expedition leaders. From US$10,665 per person, twin share, including transfers, nine nights’ accommodation, all meals and shore landings. www.naturalworldsafaris.com
photo credit: Keith Ladzinski
www.jetsetter.hk
32
INSPIRE
TREK THE TOKAIDO TRAIL
Travel company Walk Japan has introduced a new itinerary to its rural Japan walking tours. The Tohoku Hot Spring Snow Tour is a nine-day, eight-night guided snowshoe tour through Japan’s Tohoku region, a part of the country famed for its delicate rice varieties, its quality snow, its traditional onsen hot springs, and the Narrow Road to the Deep North poetic journey of Matsuo Basho, one of Japan’s greatest literary figures. After arriving by bullet train, guests explore the depths of rural, mountainous Tohoku by local train, bus and snowshoe. In Tohoku’s remote valleys are nestled small, close-knit communities of charming hamlets and quintessential hot spring villages where the locals warmly welcome travellers with a hospitality that has been honed over many generations by the need for communal resilience in
WINE & WINGS
the region’s harsh winter. Highlights of the tour include a descent through the incredible juhyo snow monsters, trees coated in
Como The Treasury in Perth has created an exciting
fresh powder; a climb to one of Tohoku’s greatest treasures, the
new day adventure for travelling oenophiles. The
Yamadera temple; and a visit to Sakata, a historic and elegant old
Margaret River Seaplane Adventure explores one
port town on the Sea of Japan coast. www.walkjapan.com
of Australia’s best-known wine regions and includes a two-night stay at Como The Treasury plus an exhilarating low-level coastal flight to Margaret River, where guests will be introduced to the wines that have made the region one of Australia’s most acclaimed wine belts. The tour includes a visit to two carefully selected wineries for tastings and lunch. Afterwards, guests enjoy the region’s stunning coastal scenery from the seaplane, touching down on the Swan River before returning to the Como for a tasting of local Western Australian produce at the State Buildings precinct, with a share-style menu at Petition Kitchen, designed by head chef Jesse Blake. www.comohotels.com
BEDDING DOWN IN THE SKY
In an effort to ensure the best night’s sleep on its long-haul flights, American Airlines has teamed up with sleep product gurus Casper to introduce new amenities to the airline’s long-haul routes. Passengers travelling in American Airlines’ First, Business or newly-launched Premium Economy cabins on trans-continental or trans-Pacific routes will enjoy new mattress pads, duvets, pillows, day blankets, lumbar pillows, pajamas and slippers from Casper’s award-winning engineering team, who have studied the travel environment of long-haul flights for months to better understand the challenges of inflight sleep. For example, Casper researched more than a dozen versions of the onboard pillow and tested it with a variety of fibers to find the perfect balance of support and breathability, while its new signature duvet, available exclusively on AA, is inspired by performance outerwear and features sewnthrough seams that create small, rectangular chambers for a consistent fill. In turn, the airline tested the new sleep amenities with customers on some of its longest flights, including Los Angeles to Auckland, as well as with cabin crew. The Casper products will be available on all long-haul international routes as well as several trans-continental routes. www.aa.com www.jetsetter.hk
INSPIRE 33
TO THE POLES & BEYOND
French cruise company Ponant will launch the cruising world’s first natural gas powered electric hybrid ice breaker in 2021. The newly ordered, custom-built vessel will offer guests access to the most remote polar regions, including the geographic North Pole, the Ross and Weddell
Seas, and Peter I Island. The new ship will be built by Norwegian shipyard VARD, with design by Stirling Design and icebreaker specialists Aker Arctic. Boasting just 135 staterooms, a fleet of military grade zodiacs, and chic, contemporary interiors in keeping with the line’s other vessels, the yet-to-be-named ship will be Clean Ship-certified and environmentally friendly. Ponant joins the likes of Scenic, Crystal Cruises, Hurtigruten and Aurora Expeditions in announcing exciting new custom-built vessels for the growing expedition cruise market. www.ponant.com
www.jetsetter.hk
34
INSPIRE
PICTURE PERFECT
Family-run Wild Photography Holidays has created a series of exciting new journeys for photographers of all skill levels, including the new Wild Seascapes of North Spain itinerary. This unique small-group departure, which includes personalized photographic tuition, travels the ruggedly beautiful Asturian and Galician coastlines of northern Spain in search of spectacular seascapes. The region is famous among photographers for its wild beaches, fabulous rock formations, sea stacks, arches, caves and turquoise seas, where the ever-changing light and swirling patterns of the ocean make for a photographer's dream, especially for striking long-exposures. Journey from Cudillero to Luarca and Ribadeo, with chances along the way to perfect your macro photography, capturing the springtime flowers that carpet the sea cliffs, and also the faded, 'old world' charms of the coastal villages. Eight nights, departing April 19, 2018. http://wildphotographyholidays.com
ROSEWOOD X ASTON MARTIN ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE
Luxury hotel company Rosewood has collaborated with fellow British marque Aston Martin to offer the coveted US$265,000 Aston Martin Discovery Package. Part of the hotel company’s 12 Days of Rosewood experience line up for 2018, this unique auto adventure begins with a private charter of a Single Squirrel helicopter from London to Aston Martin’s Warwichshire headquarters, where guests will be greeted by the car brand’s CEO Andy Palmer. Here luxury car lovers will be able to customize their own Aston Martin DB11 V12 coupe, choosing everything from the interior leather to the optional upgrades, before learning to tame their new steed with
SURF’S UP
Discover some of Asia’s best surf breaks with the new luxury surf safaris on offer at Sri Lanka’s Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort. Famed for its golden shores, verdant interior teeming with wildlife, spicy cuisine and local smiles, Sri Lanka has also become somewhat of a surfer’s paradise, and now Anantara Tangalle has partnered with boutique operator Tropicsurf to bring the best of the local surf scene to guests. At Anantara Tangalle’s Surf Centre by Tropicsurf, a seasoned Surf Guru is on hand year-round to guide guests through the thrills of the sport; beginners can sign up for small group lessons at beach breaks nearby the resort, while intermediate and experienced surfers can embark on a guided surf trip, seeking out the southern coast’s biggest swells. Guests will also have the chance to ride the waves using Firewire’s Kelly Slater-designed environmentally-friendly timbertec surfboards, ensuring sustainable adventure without the excess luggage charges. https://tangalle.anantara.com www.jetsetter.hk
a personalized, day-long driving lesson at the Millbrook Proving Ground. The experience also includes a champagne welcome at the Rosewood London, as well as accommodation in the Signature Suite and a Dom Pérignon farewell dinner prepared by the hotel’s culinary team. www.rosewoodhotels.com
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
EXHILARATING
OUTDOOR PURSUITS
Constance Hotels & Resorts offer a host of invigorating leisure activities, from diving to zip lining
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
A
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 Zanzibar. With a genuine passion for hospitality, it delivers memorable stays to guests through tailor-made service from dedicated staff. Guests will be spoilt for choice by the selection of sporting activities on offer, which include zip lining, golf, diving and a host of other exhilarating water sports. Keen golfers can tee off for free at one of three 18-hole golf courses: Links and Legend at Constance Belle Mare Plage and Constance Prince Maurice in Mauritius, and on Constance Lemuria’s golf course in the Seychelles. All courses are built according to USPGA specifications. Set along one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius and designer by South African golf champion Hugh Baiocchi, Legend is a championship golf course set in the heart of an indigenous forest that can be used by guests of Constance Belle Mare Plage and Constance Prince Maurice. Guests at both of these hotels can also tee off at Links, a challenging course designed by Rodney Wright and Peter Allis. Equipped with a practice fairway, it has its own golf academy staffed with qualified instructors. Equally spectacular is Lemuria, the only golf course in the Seychelles. Keen golfers staying at Constance Lemuria Seychelles, meanwhile, are sure to appreciate its stunning terraced greens and jaw-dropping 15th hole. In addition to unlimited complimentary green fees and free golf car, guests can enjoy three specialised golf massages and daily complimentary lunch at selected restaurants when booking the five-night Constance Luxury Golf Offer for two at Constance Prince Maurice, Constance Belle Mare Plage and Constance Lemuria Seychelles. With the chance to see graceful manta rays and mighty whale sharks up close, divers are also in for a treat when they book into Constance Hotels & Resorts. Don’t forget to bring a waterproof camera and capture everything from clown fish darting in and out
of the coral to sea turtles set against a backdrop of azure blue ocean. At Constance Aiyana, guests can explore one of the best dive sites in the world, Pemba, where untouched coral reefs, deep channels, clear visibility and an average water temperature of 26 degrees Celsius make for a perfect diving adventure. Set sail on a dhow, walk on the purest white coral sand on the sandbank trip or book a romantic sunset cruise aboard a Ngalawa, a traditional sailing vessel. Many keen divers come to the Seychelles to witness the migration of the whale sharks, with the best times to see these gentle giants being August or October to January. With exquisite granite reefs and local wreck sites nearby, Constance Lemuria in the Seychelles has plenty for divers to explore. The other Seychelles property, Constance Ephelia is another excellent choice for keen divers, with grey reef sharks, octopuses, eagle rays and barracudas all waiting to be discovered. Over in the Maldives, there are plenty of other great diving opportunities, with excellent visibility and very little current to worry about. Constance Halaveli gives experienced divers the chance to learn how to free dive, while Constance Moofushi is on the migration route for a number of rare ocean species including whale sharks. Over in Madagascar, Constance Tsarabanjina is the place to meet crocodile fishes, sting rays and grey and whitetip sharks amid pristine coral reefs. Beyond a plethora of great golfing and diving opportunities, Constance Hotels & Resorts offers plenty more sporting activities for guests to try. Kids and the young at heart can test their nerve with a spot of zip lining at Constance Ephelia, where guests fly above the dense foliage of the forests of Mahe. Make your family holiday extra memorable by trying out a new activity together, such as water skiing, wakeboarding or paddle boarding. Set against a backdrop of stunning surrounds, these invigorating sporting activities are just one of the many reasons why guests will adore being a guest of luxury hospitality brand Constance Hotels & Resorts. www.constancehotels.com
38
24 HOURS
THE WORLD’S
MOST LIVABLE CITY
Another year and another most livable city award suggests Melbourne truly is irresistible. But don’t worry if you can’t pack up shop and move to this Great Southern Land: even a quick dash to Melbourne opens the door to a melting pot of cultural experiences like no other place in the world, says local Scott Podmore. www.jetsetter.hk
24 HOURS 39
7am Virgin
11am its
Crown Metropol is as modern as tomorrow
international footprint into Greater China
only
and is complemented by impeccable
launching five return services per week
customer
between Hong Kong and Melbourne using
starts with a red carpet-esque vibe
an Airbus A330-200 aircraft that features
from the minute you’re greeted by the
an
business
doormen. An urban oasis blending stylish
class cabin in a 1-2-1 layout. The seat is
accommodation with contemporary luxury,
28 inches (70cm) wide and stretches out
the Metropol is set on the Yarra River and is
to an 80-inch (203cm) long flat bed so
only a stone’s throw from Flinders Station,
your chances of some sleep are greatly
the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, shopping,
enhanced before your early morning
dining, sporting and cultural precincts.
arrival. fly.virginaustralia.com
The luxe rooms from the eighth floor
extremely
recently
expanded
well-designed
service.
The
experience
up are exquisite, with The King suites
9am
featuring spa baths, plush king beds, and
Overnight flights can smack you in the
views of Port Phillip Bay. Once settled
senses, but the seven-time world’s most
in, head to the recently renovated pool
livable city offers a guaranteed magical
area (pictured below, left) on the 27th
breakfast experience at every turn. Detour
floor to help justify the guilty pleasures of
to the grungy northern suburb of Fitzroy,
breakfast. www.crownmelbourne.com.au
where a venue called Rustica Sourdough Bakery offers a breakfast journey of Willy
1pm
Wonka proportions. Expect the unexpected
There’s quirky novelty attractions galore
from the menu, including the sweet-tooth’s
in Melbourne; a 15-minute walk to the
dream
toasted
Docklands precinct leads to Dialogue in
donuts, Nutella, fresh banana, Hazelnut
the Dark (pictured below, right), a sensory
crumb, strawberry cream, Oreo and Nutella
journey in total darkness. You’ll experience
ice cream, topped off with pop rocks. If that
Melbourne in a new way, in complete
doesn’t awaken your senses, nothing will.
darkness, at the side of a blind guide. An
www.rusticasourdough.com.au
Australia-first, this social enterprise is
concoction
of
French
www.jetsetter.hk
40
24 HOURS
brought to you by Guide Dogs Australia and has been experienced by more than 10 million people across more than 40 countries. The experience also employs more than 10,000 blind or partially blind people globally. www.dialogueinthedark.com.au
3pm
7pm Allow the senses to settle with an ale or two when you take a seat at much lauded cellar bar Golden Monkey on Hardware Lane, one of Melbourne's most unique venues. With a mysterious, Old Shanghai ambiance complemented by swish décor, the venue prides itself on first-class service. Asian-inspired tea-infused
Switch the lights back on and recharge your senses with a bite
cocktails stand out most. By 8pm the place is jumping; a local
and a craft brew at Ponyfish Island, a bar set on its namesake
advises some of the hottest musicians and DJs “need to be seen”
Yarra River island, accessible from the Pedestrian Bridge
here. www.goldenmonkey.com.au
at Southbank. The island takes its name from the mythical Ponyfish said to swim in the Yarra. City slickers and hipsters unite here for a seasonal menu of bar snacks and stunning riverscapes. www.ponyfish.com.au
5.30pm
8.45pm Say hello to Melbourne’s hottest new Japanese restaurant, Kisume, which “redefines higher-end dining”, according to owner Chris Lucas. Visually this triple level treat serves up a muted palette of black, grey and buffed metals to let provocative
It would be remiss not to block out some time for a stroll through
prints from some famous photographers, such as Japan’s
Melbourne’s grunge-artsy cobbled laneways and bite-sized
Nobuyoshi Araki, steal moments of your attention. Unlike other
shopping strips in the heart of town to uncover a rare and unusual
hot restaurants in the Lucas Group stable (Chin Chin, Hawker
shop or two. Venture as far as Lonsdale Street and you’ll encounter
Hall, Kong), you can reserve a table here and there’s no pumping
Wunderkammer, a celebration of weird and wonderful scientific
music or neon lights. Take your pick of either the New York-esque
paraphernalia. For the full assault on the senses think taxidermy,
ground floor and bustling windowless basement restaurant and
scientific instruments, medical equipment, butterflies and insects,
sushi bar, or venture up to the first floor for private, kaiseki-style
and fossils. www.wunderkammer.com.au
dining at Kuro Kisumé, where The Chablis Bar is a highlight. The
www.jetsetter.hk
24 HOURS 41
food hits the spot on all levels with sashimi, sushi, and elaborate fish dishes that make your heart sing while the drinks list comprises top quality locally-made wines and beers, sitting comfortably alongside world class cocktails. www.kisume.com.au
11PM Those who prefer their watering holes hip, dark and visually overwhelming should head to the Boilermaker House, which is becoming one of Melbourne’s must-be-seen-here late-night cocktail bars. The whisky wall and extensive beer and cocktail lists means you should entrust your selection to the bar staff who never fail to disappoint with their (charmingly condescending) knowledge and crisp service. The Chocolate martini is award-winning for a good reason. www.boilermakerhouse.com.au
8.30am Built into the side of the city library is Journal Cafe in Flinders Lane, a popular breakfast venue with communal wooden tables for spreading out the weekend newspaper while you tear into a wicked bircher muesli with green apples, strawberries, yoghurt, honey and chia. Take your pick from either fresh juices or the extremely good Romcaffe coffee. www.journalcafe.com.au
www.jetsetter.hk
42
BOUTIQUE & BEAUTIFUL
If London’s on the radar in the months ahead, be sure to try some of the city’s boutique havens. Here’s some of our favourites. By Nick Walton
Covent Garden HoteL
Another breathtaking creation by Firmdale Hotels, the Covent Garden hotel is located in London’s acclaimed theatre district and has the feeling of a refined private home, complete with dignified architecture, aged wood and intimate interiors by designer Kit Kemp. Each of the 58 guest rooms and suites of this Design Hotels member boasts flatscreen televisions and Bose entertainment systems – our favourite is the Deluxe Junior Suites with their cityscape views and granite bathrooms. When you return from a day exploring the British capital, take in a movie in the hotel’s private screening room, poor yourself a drink beside the fireplace in the Tiffany’s Library, or feast on fresh local produce in the Brasserie Max. www.firmdalehotels.com www.jetsetter.hk
BOUTIQUE & BEAUTIFUL 43
Nobu Hotel Shoreditch
A newcomer to the London boutique hotel scene is the Nobu, located just off East London’s bustling Great Eastern Street. A member of Design Hotels, the hotel is the latest in the creative collaboration between Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor and director Robert De Niro, and Hollywood producer Meir Teper. Standing as a stunning juxtaposition to the red-brick buildings and warehouses that define the Shoreditch aesthetic, the hotel is presented in glass, concrete, timber, and bronze, flanked by cantilevered steel beams pointing east in homage to the hotel’s Asian roots. The Nobu’s 148 guestrooms and suites all feature art by local talent Sichi, traditional Japanese tea sets and custom-made yukata robes. Be sure to book well ahead for a table in the 240-seat subterranean restaurant, which serves Nikkei cuisine and Shoreditch-inspired libations, or perches at the ten-seat sushi bar or 18-seat Chef’s Table. www.nobuhotelshoreditch.com
The Mandrake
The Mandrake, a new independent boutique hotel from entrepreneur Rami Fustok, recently opened in London's Fitzrovia, replete with 34 stylish guest rooms and a chic restaurant from the team behind Hong Kong's Serge et le Phoque. Inspired by the medicinal properties of the Mandrake plant, the new hotel combines eclectic, vibrant interiors with carefully curated works by Francesco Clemente, Jonas Burgert, and Peter-John de Villiers; with intriguing soundscapes from French sound engineer PierreArnaud Alunni; specially designed scents from Azzi Glasser; and a 30-candle chandelier by Lara Bohinc. The result is an ambience that is intimate, distracting and intriguing at every turn. The hotel’s guest rooms, which include three luxury suites and a dramatic penthouse, are set across four floors, rising up from a striking central courtyard surrounded by hanging gardens of jasmine and passionflower. www.themandrake.com www.jetsetter.hk
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WELLNESS
SAMUI FOR SPAOPILES Wellness lovers will be flocking to Thailand’s favourite luxury holiday island, where the new Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui has unveiled its world-class Spa Village. Featuring eight luxurious double treatment salas, including three open-air Thai massage salas and one yoga sala, semi-perched over a reflection pool, the chic new wellness destination boasts a menu laced with age-old Thai spa therapies, including the signature Samui’s Coconut Heritage, which includes a coconut body scrub, a coconut flow massage and a coconut hair masque, inspired by the resort’s unique heritage as a former coconut plantation. The Songkran Shower is another authentic aspect of the region’s influence; inspired by the annual Songkran festival, this pre-treatment ritual is a wellness interpretation of the water throwing tradition and takes place on specially designed rain shower tables. The ‘shower’ is followed by a brief body cleansing using raw coconut husk pads and fragrant Thai flower gel, and a perfumed water rinse from a ceremonial bowl. www.ritzcarlton.com
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PAMPER
Finding Wellness in Phu Quoc Fusion Resort Phu Quoc, the only all-inclusive spa resort on the Vietnamese holiday island, has launched a series of multi-day Wellness Voyages designed to sooth both body and mind. The new three, five, and seven-day packages are crafted around health pillars designed to address every aspect of a person’s well-being. The first of these pillars, “fusionmind” elevates physical fitness as the first fundamental of well-being. The second “fusionsense” focuses on optimizing health from the inside out, while the last pillar “fusionsoul” helps guests deploy meditation, yoga and massage to enhance health and state-ofmind. These pillars form the core of the daily agenda, with each day beginning with an awakening yoga class or active fitness session, followed by nourishing, vitamin-dense meals, double-daily spa treatments, and resort activities, from bike rides to the village of Cua Can to prayer sessions at the Ho Quoc Pagoda. The Voyages also include accommodation in one or two-bedroom villas with private plunge pools; a wellness consultation; all nutritious meals; daily yoga, tai chi and meditation; and cooking classes for guests on five and seven-night stays. www.fusionresortphuquoc.com
A Sublime Rebirth Sublime Samana in the Dominican Republic, has created a new Mangrove Dew treatment to its existing menu at the Coconut Whispers Spa. Designed to return guests to the womb to be spiritually separated from the outside world, the new 120-minute detail-oriented, spa mega-treatment is divided into three sections to accomplish the overall goal of spiritual relaxation, stress reduction and the betterment of blood circulation. First, guests enjoy a session in the Temazcal, an ancient, dome-shaped sweat lodge used by various indigenous groups for purification purposes, to allow the heat to open the pores of the entire body. Next, guests are covered in a warm mud treatment, which is left on the body to strengthen and revitalize the elasticity of the skin. While waiting for the mud treatment to dry, guests receive a corporal massage focused on the head, hands and the soles of the feet. Finally, guests soak in a coconut milk bath, a treatment preHispanic cultures considered revitalizing and necessary to protect the body and soul from negative energies. The coconut milk is rich in vitamins C, E, K, B, and is prepared in-house. www.sublimesamana.com
Time to Count Sheep Take your sleep to the next level with the new Sleepdown treatment at Thailand’s 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Part of the Sleep by Design Therapy programme, Sleep Therapy is available to suite or residence guests, and can be conducted at either the Nitra Spa & Wellness spa or in-room. The four-part Sleep Therapy treatment calibrates and touches all the senses during a 90-minute ritual that prepares the mind and body for a deep restorative sleep; after the lights are lowed, the room’s temperature is maintained, and a specially formulated Sleep by Design aroma is sprayed, guests don a Glyph headset or Binaural beats headphones and enjoy a gentle floral foot cleansing ritual accompanied by a gentle soundtrack designed to relax the senses and slow the breathing rate. Magnesium oil is applied to the ten key pulse points of the body, followed by a five-minute Reiki treatment conducted on the seven chakra points; and a rhythmic massage that matches the guest’s breathing pattern. Guests finish with a soothing bath laced with specially curated Sleep by Design bath salts. Read more about this remarkable hotel on page 48. www.137pillarshotels.com www.jetsetter.hk
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HOTEL INSIDER
BANGKOK’S BEST KEPT SECRET One of the most innovative hotels in the Thai capital, 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok combines the timeless grace of the group’s iconic Chiang Mai property with unashamedly contemporary urban flare, discovers Nick Walton.
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HOTEL INSIDER 49
What’s the backstory?
Lovers of luxury will know that 137 Pillars is a byword for timeless colonial-esque refinement. The
acclaimed
137
Pillars
Chiang Mai property is the kind of hideaway well-heeled travellers like to keep secret from the masses. Now, the beautiful new 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok gives savvy travellers even more reason to stay mum.
What’s the style?
137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok is chic and modern but also a little eclectic – like all good hotels it can be many things to many travellers. The hotel boasts 179 ‘residences’ and 34 ‘suites’, but this is where the confusion starts. Unlike at many other hotels, the Suites are the coveted spaces here; while the Residences are great for longer-stay guests, and feature separate living rooms and kitchenettes (they actually go for less per night), the Suites start from 64sqm and offer access to private enclaves throughout the hotel.
How are the rooms?
Our Sukhothai Suite is dark, sexy, and cosy, with a flatscreen television on the wall, plush 400-thread count linens on the bed, an oversized bath in the marble bathroom, and brilliant views from the spacious day bed-lined balcony. There’s a fully-stocked maxi bar, a Bose sound system, 24-hour butler service, and an ambiance of utter indulgence. However, it’s not a suite per se as there’s no separate living space. For a true suite experience, you’ll need to go for one of the other room categories, each named for Thai dynasties, including Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin.
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HOTEL INSIDER
So, the suites come with perks?
That’s right, Suite guests have access to a private rooftop pool and sun deck that’s so mesmerising it’s worth the upgrade all by itself. The rooftop infinity pool has to be one of Asia’s most breathtaking and the four oversized day beds on the roof come with intimate pool butler service and access to an exclusive cocktail bar. In addition, Suite guests have access to the refined Leonowens Club, an exclusive lounge that serves sublime breakfasts and afternoon teas by Michelinstarred Roger van Damme by day and cocktails and canapes by night. The Club is a great spot for meetings or casual catch ups and as a first destination before heading out to bar hop Bangkok’s mixology hotspots.
What else is there to do?
There’s plenty, from a state-of-the-art fitness centre with personal trainers, including Thai kick boxing instructors; a golf simulator and putting green; another pool with pool bar and jacuzzi that’s also open to Residences guests; and a traditional London cab to whisk you off to the BTS station. For spaophiles, the Nitra Spa specialises in Wellness by Design, and offers a host of innovative treatments and rituals, including a newlylaunched sleep series.
What about dining?
The hotel offers dining at both ends of the spectrum; while Nimitr is the home of chef Nanang Prasetya Aditama’s elegant yet cutting-edge Thai gastronomy, where traditional dishes are given a modern and delectable twist – think North Atlantic langoustine with matcha soba noodles, lemongrass aspic and namprik gel – downstairs, the all-day Bangkok Trading Post is often packed with chic locals and has a brilliant menu of Asian and Western dishes, as well as al fresco seating in the hotel’s gardens. Be sure to leave time for a classic cocktail in the hotel’s speakeasy, the luxurious Jack Bain’s Bar, a cosy, gentleman’s club-styled cigar and cocktail divan filled with leather chairs and quirky art pieces (don’t miss the Asmodeus, a blend of vodka, vermouth, and house butterflypea syrup). Below, the Marble Bar, with its al fresco seating and breathtaking views, is the place to while away a warm Bangkok evening. 59/1 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Klongton-Nua, Wattana, Bangkok; +66 2079 7000; www.137pillarsbangkok.com
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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
PRIDE OF THE ORIENT
Next time you’re in the Taiwanese capital, book into Regent Taipei
L
ocated in buzzing Zhongshan, the heart of the city, the Regent Taipei is one of the most prestigious addresses in the city and is situated in one of the most convenient locations. A five-minute walk to Zhongshan MRT station, it additionally provides easy access to Taipei’s main railway station.
was inspired by the National Palace museum’s Confucius Exhibition, and offers guests the chance to learn about his teachings before enjoying a feast at Silks Palace, a Regentoperated restaurant located next to the museum.
Each of Regent Taipei’s 538 rooms are stylishly appointed, with large ceiling-height windows maximising dazzling city One of Taiwan’s top dining destinations, Regent Taipei views and verdant park vistas. Starting at 45 sqm for a recently hosted May Chao, voted Asia’s Best Female Chef deluxe room, the Regent also offers some of the city’s largest 2017 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards. At a three- hotel rooms. day pop-up event at B2 Regent Galleria, guests savoured the chef’s signature pork belly and Sichuan fried chicken Those staying in executive rooms can enjoy access to the Tai baos served in May’s chain of restaurants, as well as Pan Club, an exclusive two-storey space with dedicated rooms, Ube LB Ice Cream Bao –ube ice cream wrapped in fried suites and facilities for business guests and magnificent dough with peanuts, salted caramel and cilantro – that views of the city’s well-tended parks and gardens. was created especially for the hotel. With seven distinct dining experiences, the Regent offers some of Taipei’s most Guests looking to unwind can kick back and relax at the memorable meals, including Robin’s Teppanyaki, where Wellspring spa, where treatments include Chinese Tuina and warm stone massages. The addition of a health club dishes are presented with French finesse. with qualified trainers, sauna and rooftop heated pool makes Offering a creative and authentic way to enjoy Taipei, the Regent Taipei one of the best equipped wellness spaces in hotel also recently introduced two new Regent Academy the city. experiences to enhance tour offerings for guests: Taipei Behind the Lens and Silks Palace: The Analects Feast. If you want a grand, elegant stay when you’re next in the The former sees chief concierge and keen photographer Taiwanese capital, then look no further than Regent Taipei. Alex Lai transport guests to the historic Dadaocheng area for an instructed photography session, while the latter www.regenthotels.com/regent-taipei
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NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
from luxury safari camps To island hideaways, NICK WALTON gives his TaKe on The houses of slumber you should be checKing inTo in The year ahead. www.jetsetter.hk
NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
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Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia Opening August
Redefining the wilds of Cambodia with a few creature comforts, Shinta Mani Wild will be a new luxury camp experience that combines world class design, hospitality and conservation. Another new property for acclaimed designer Bill Bensley (who recently unveiled ten sumptuous villas at the Shinta Mani Angkor in Siem Reap), Shinta Mani Wild is located in a vital wildlife corridor between the Bokor and Kirirom national parks, and will protect this pristine corner of Cambodia in a ground-breaking partnership with Wildlife Alliance, Fauna & Flora International, The Royal University of Phnom Penh, and the Cambodian Government. The camp’s 16 100sqm custom-designed tents will be perched on a swift-moving river, which can be explored on the property’s Bensley-designed luxury expedition boats. After adventures on the water or in the rainforest, make for the Landing Zone Bar, which is located on the edge of the sanctuary’s largest waterfall, or dine at the Waterfall restaurant, which will serve local dishes with ingredients foraged from the surrounding forest.
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NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
Zuri Zanzibar, Tanzania Opening May
Located on the breathtaking northern coast of Unguja, the Tanzanian archipelago’s main island, Zuri Zanzibar boasts an idyllic setting on 300m of private beach. The Design Hotels member property will feature 55 bungalows, suites and villas, nestled in tropical gardens with uninterrupted views over the glittering turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. While six suites offer semi-private access to the beach and private jacuzzis, it’s the 500sqm Ocean Front Luxury Villa that will impress, with its private beach and pool, and three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Designed by Prague- and London-based studio Jestico & Whiles, the new resort will incorporate traditional African touches and craftsmanship, including thatched roofs and East Coast artwork, to emulate a traditional Zanzibari village. Leave time for an intimate dinner at Maischa, which specialises in dishes cooked in a traditional Josper oven; and a trip to visit the turtles of the Tambatu Marine Park. www.zurizanzibar.com
Como Uma Canggu, Bali Opening February
Baliophiles will rejoice with the opening in February of the newest Como retreat. Located on the island’s south coast, Como Uma Canggu will feature 119 rooms, suites and residences, including a breathtaking three-bedroom duplex penthouse with rooftop pool. Steps from some of Bali’s best surf breaks, the new luxury hideaway has been created by designers Koichiro Ikebuchi and Paola Navone, with landscapes by Trevor Hillier. Look out for world-class ‘new world cuisine’ packed with local produce; surfing classes from Tropicsurf; and Asian-inspired treatments in the sevensuite Como Shambhala Retreat, the resort’s signature spa. www.comohotels.com
The Datai Langkawi, Malaysia Reopening June
Located amidst Malaysia’s ancient rainforest, The Datai Langkawi, one of Asia’s grand dame resorts, will re-open this summer after an extensive multi-milliondollar renovation. Redesigned by renowned architect Didier Lefort of DL2A, the luxury resort’s guestrooms, suites and villas will undergo a complete revamp, with new additions including a Nature Centre, a beachfront fitness centre, additional spa pavilions, and a glorious new wellness enclave set within a mangrove forest. www.thedatai.com
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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
SINGAPORE STAR L The guestrooms at Conrad Centennial Singapore have recently received a stylish rejuvenation
Located in buzzing Marina Bay precinct, Conrad Centennial Singapore is one of the Lion City’s most esteemed addresses. The hotel recently teamed up with luxury hospitality designer Jaya Ibrahim to bring a stylish new look to the hotel’s guestrooms, with 487 standard rooms and 24 junior suites receiving a smart refresh. Incorporating the signature Jaya style of contemporary design with Asian touches, the redesigned rooms invigorate this five-star offering with clean lines complemented by a soft, neutral palette of fine linens and luxury finishes. The final phase of the rejuvenation works, which includes the executive lounge, will be completed by February 2018. One of the most striking features of the newly-designed rooms is how they make the most of the hotel’s stunning vistas, with jute window coverings framing the views of Marina Bay and the city. Just as the boundaries between work and play are less defined in today’s connected world, a resort-style daybed is a main feature in guestrooms – the ideal spot to catch up on emails or simply take in the city views. The longer daybeds run along the length of the window wall, and are accompanied by movable tables to transition seamlessly from work to relaxation mode. The custom-designed carpets, meanwhile, feature Peranakaninspired patterns yet still retain a contemporary design feel. Equally impressive are the spacious marble bathrooms, which
include a double vanity sink and large bathtub & separate glass shower with rainshower.
The renovated rooms additionally incorporate the latest technology. Each has a 55-inch HDTV mounted on a special feature wall completed in an elegant crushed egg shell design. A sensor to activate electricity in the room is not only convenient but also eco-friendly. To dim the room in the daytime, guests simply tug the drapes to close them automatically. Hilton Honors guests checking into the Conrad Centennial Singapore can select the exact room of their choice via the Hilton Honors app, and access their rooms with the Digital Key function all on their smart phones. Guests can also preorder their preference of bath amenities, choice of pillow from the extensive pillow menu, and even room service all prior to arrival via the Conrad Concierge option on the Hilton Honors app. With this stylish rejuvenation now in place at Conrad Centennial Singapore, the hotel now offers something truly special and fulfils the hotel’s motto: “Never just stay. Stay Inspired.” www.ConradSingapore.com
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NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
Jabali Ridge, Tanzania Opening September Offering the perfect marriage of luxury and wild landscapes, Asilia Africa’s new Jabali Ridge camp will open on a rocky kopje in southern Tanzania’s 150,000sqkm Ruaha National Park this September. Offering a spectacular wildlife encounter across an area the size of New Jersey but with very few visitors, guests will have access to large populations of African elephant, as well as lions, leopards, and buffalo living in close proximity to the camp. They’ll also have the chance to see rare sable antelopes and roan antelopes during both day and night game drives. When guests return from excursions, they can commune with nature in one of eight timber louvre-wrapped suites, with their staggering panoramic views, or in the camp’s infinity pool, which is surrounded by abundant vegetation and granite boulders. Families can book the stunning Jabali Ridge Private House, a three-bedroom stand-alone villa with its own swimming pool and game vehicles. www.asiliaafrica.com
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NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
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andBeyond Phinda Homestead, South Africa Reopening September
Emerging from the ashes of the previous homestead, which was destroyed in a fire, andBeyond Phinda Homestead is part of a 28,555-hectare conservation that boasts several world-class game lodges, each nestled within its own unique ecosystem. With interiors by designer Fox Browne, who was tasked with restoring the acclaimed original retreat, Phinda Homestead will have the feel of a contemporary private bush home, complete with raw materials, subtly retro furnishings, and locally-sourced art, including Zulu basketwork and Nguni hides. Beyond the homestead’s four spacious, minimalist guest rooms are elegantly-appointed bathrooms featuring marble basins shaped like Zulu water pots, while the villa also boasts an intimate gym and massage room, a rim-flow swimming pool, a herb garden, and a spacious deck with island bar. www.andbeyond.com
Hotel X, Toronto
Opening March Part of the Library Hotel Collection, Hotel X is the most anticipated opening for the lakeside city of Toronto. Boasting 406 rooms and the vibe of an urban resort, the new property is located on the site of the city’s historic Exhibition Place grounds and will feature luxurious guest rooms and suites; Ten x Toronto, a distinctly Canadian athletic and wellness facility with over 740sqm of indoor and outdoor activity space; a heated rooftop swimming pool; a beer garden; and leading restaurants. Almost all guest rooms and suites will feature stunning panoramas of Lake Ontario or the Toronto skyline – the duplex Presidential Suite not only boasts accommodation for six but also a two-storey living room with fireplace. The Ten x Toronto complex will offer guests access to four indoor tennis courts; a rooftop pool; squash courts; a fitness center with dedicated spaces for Hot Yoga, spinning, Pilates and group fitness classes; and a golf simulator; while the Harmony Spa by the Lake will feature ten treatment rooms including two spacious couples' suites. Look out for Mediterranean fine-dining at Petros’ and the best sports action at the Falcon SkyBar. www.hotelxtoronto.com
La Peer Hotel, Los Angeles Opening January
The newest creation of trend-savvy hotel company Kimpton, LA’s La Peer Hotel debuts next month as an elegant and intimate enclave anchored in the heart of West Hollywood’s celebrated Design District. Tucked between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, this new design-forward hotel will boast 105 rooms and suites dressed in oak herringbone (we love the Terrace King with its private patio); a rooftop deck with 360-degree city views; a pool and fitness center; more than 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining and lounge spaces; and Viale Dei Romani, a new restaurant concept created by Casey Lane, chef and owner of California’s Tasting Kitchen and New York’s Casa Apicii. www.lapeerhotel.com www.jetsetter.hk
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NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Indian Ocean Opening April
Boasting just 15 one- and two-bedroom over water villas, the Yuji Yamasaki-designed Kudadoo Maldives is set to redefine luxury in the Indian Ocean archipelago. Located in the Lhaviyani Atoll, near sister resort Hurawalhi, the new boutique resort will offer an adults-only sanctuary complete with cavernous villas in Tasmanian oak and natural stone that feature private infinity pools, freestanding soak tubs, personal iMacs, handmade furniture and round-the-clock butler service. After a day of diving with manta rays with the team from ProDivers or capturing the trade winds with the resort’s catamarans, head for the Duniye Spa, which laces its treatments with preservative and chemicalfree spa products; or feast on the best Maldivian seafood with Personal Chefs cooking in-villa or Hurawalhi’s acclaimed 5.8
Skywatch Lodge & Spa, Canada
Undersea Restaurant only minutes away. www.kudadoo.com
Opening August
Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring Northern Lights at Skywatch Lodge & Spa, a new high-end US$19 million retreat opening outside Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Designed by Yellowknife architect Simon Taylor, Skywatch will offer just 36 luxury guest suites, with each sumptuous space boasting natural fibre king-sized beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, and gas fireplaces. The lodge will be the place to watch the Northern Lights thanks to private decks and dark-sky aurora lighting. After a dip in the outdoor, heated star-lit infinity pool or trying your hand at dog sledding or ice fishing, head for a juniper-infused massage at the spa, which comprises seven opulent treatment rooms, before warming up in the cosy library, or taking a table in the signature restaurant, which will serve ‘rustic elegant cuisine’ using locally foraged ingredients. http://solsticedestinations.com
Anantara Maraú Bahia Resort, Brazil Opening July
The brand’s first foray into South America, Anantara Maraú Bahia Resort will debut this summer overlooking Brazil's Bay of Camamu and the Atlantic Ocean. Showcasing the country’s rich cultural and ethnic diversity, and boasting African, indigenous and European influences, the new resort will initially offer just 30 guest rooms, suites and bungalows. Arrive via the property’s private forest-wreathed landing strip and be transported to a lost paradise of white sandy beaches, manicured gardens and organic design lines. While the active can hit the beach for volleyball matches, ride horses on guided trips along the Carapitangui River, quad bike through the forest, or make for the modern fitness centre, those seeking relaxation might prefer a speedboat cruise to the incredible Tremembé Waterfall and its natural bathing pools; or to take a perch beside the expansive swimming pool and pool bar, the heart of the new resort. www.anantara.com www.jetsetter.hk
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NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
Wa Ale, Myanmar Opening March
The first luxury eco resort to open in Myanmar’s pristine Mergui Archipelago, Wa Ale is a breathtaking new retreat for city-weary travellers looking for the ultimate escape. Comprising 11 luxury tented beach villas and three eye-catching treetop villas, the boutique resort is nestled on one of the region’s 800 tropical islands, which have until recently only been accessible by yacht. This Robinson Crusoe-esque escape has been constructed using reclaimed and locally-sourced materials to ensure it blends with its natural environment. Set on a blissful stretch of dazzlingly whitesand beach, flanked by rocky cliffs and backed by lush evergreen jungle, the island is part of the vast Lampi Marine National Park, an ASEAN Marine Heritage site, the crystal clear, turquoise waters of which teem with wildlife, including whale sharks, dolphins, dugongs, turtles and manta rays. Guest can soak up the sun on their private patio, dine on locally-grown produce at the resort restaurant, and even visit local Moken fishing villages, with 20 percent of the resort’s profits going to the Lampi Foundation, a conservation initiative helping local communities. www.waaleresort.com www.jetsetter.hk
NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
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Four Seasons Resort Desroches, Seychelles Remote Desroches Island, a 35-minute flight from the capital Mahé (where Four Seasons has another resort), will soon welcome guests again, with its sole resort being rebranded as the new Four Seasons Resort Desroches after an extensive renovation. Offering 40 beach suites and 11 private residence villas, all with private plunge pools and direct lagoon access, the new Four Seasons will be one of the most intimate in the group. Guests will have access to a host of activities, ranging from deep sea fishing, diving and snorkelling, to hiking and cycling through the island’s forested interior in search of protected giant tortoises. Alternatively, book a treatment at the intimate six-suite spa, which offers locally-inspired wellness rituals; or indulgent in the flavours of the Indian Ocean at the retreat’s two restaurants. www.fourseasons.com
Serra Cafema, Namibia REOPENING June
Set against the towering dunes and formidable desert landscapes of Namibia, Wilderness Safaris will reopen its acclaimed Serra Cafema Camp in northwest Namibia next summer. Undoubtedly one of the most remote camps in southern Africa, Serra Cafema overlooks the Kunene River in the Hartmann's Valley and is being rebuilt at the same site. The new Serra Cafema Camp will be 100 percent solar powered and built with an extremely light eco-footprint to ensure minimal impact on its pristine desert location. At the same time the emphasis will still be on celebrating the local Himba culture, one of the last true nomadic peoples on the planet. The new camp will comprise just eight riverside villas, each designed to blend into the picturesque surroundings, and will offer a host of unique experiences, from rare opportunity to meet members of the Himba people, to fascinating nature drives or guided quad bike eco-excursion through the fragile dunes. Boating on the Kunene River in search of crocodiles and water birds will also be available, water levels permitting. www.wilderness-safaris.com
Awasi Iguazú, Argentina
Opening February
If the stunning Iguazú Falls, the iconic waterfall that stretches along the border between Brazil and Argentina, is on your bucket list, you’ll need somewhere to stay. Located on the Argentinian side, Awasi Iguazú is the region’s newest luxury eco-lodge, a stilted hideaway nestled deep within the ancient rainforest. The retreat’s 14 villas, each secreted in a canopy of cassia and tibouchina trees, feature a few creature comforts, including outdoor decks and private plunge pools, spacious living areas and interiors that reflect the rich culture of the indigenous Guarani people. Beyond, the main lodge building features stonework reminiscent of the nearby ruins of a Jesuit Missionary settlement, and houses a restaurant helmed by Argentine chef Rafael Ceraso, who employs plenty of exotic jungle ingredients in his dishes. www.awasiguazu.com www.jetsetter.hk
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NEW HOTELS FOR 2018
The Fontenay, Hamburg Opening February
The first five-star hotel to open in Germany’s historic harbourfront city in almost two decades, The Fontenay will be an urban resort in the heart of the city. Located on the banks of Lake Alster, on a plot of land purchased by shipbroker John Fontenay in 1816, the new Jan Störmer-designed hotel will be a short walk from the city’s downtown and its new Elbphilharmonie concert hall. Each of the 131 rooms and suites make the most of the hotel's stunning lakeside vistas with private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as oak parquet flooring (with timber sourced from the forests of the Fontenay Abbey in Burgundy), decorative objects by Danish design brand Georg Jensen, and original artwork by Peruvian painter Antonio Máro. Look out for a signature restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Cornelius Speinle, previously of The Fat Duck; and a rooftop full-service spa by La Mer, complete with a 20-meter horizon edge indoor/outdoor pool. www.thefontenay.de
Worth a Mention One&Only will open a new luxury retreat in the foothills of Rwanda’s Virunga volcano range later in 2018, giving guests access to the mountain gorilla communities of the Volcanoes National Park. One&Only Gorilla’s Nest’s will feature luxurious accommodation, guided gorilla tracking, and authentic African cuisine with produce sourced from the camp’s own gardens.
Capella Bangkok will open this summer in a breathtaking setting beside the Chao Phraya River. Featuring 101 guest suites and river villas, the brand’s first property in the Thai capital will boast two gourmet restaurants and a grand ballroom with river vistas. Designed by UK architectural firm Godwin Austen Johnson, it’s hoped the Al Bait will put the less-visited emirate of Sharjah
ME Dubai, UAE
Opening late 2018
firmly on the travel radar when it opens next year. Designed to sensitively reflect Arabic culture while blending harmoniously with the heritage buildings of Old Sharjah, the luxurious new
Spanish luxury lifestyle hotel brand ME by Meliá will open its first
resort, the name of which translates as ‘the house’, will boast
Middle East property when it unveils the ME Dubai in the fourth
just 53 lavish guest rooms and suites, as well as a traditional
quarter of 2018. Designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, who
hammam.
personally designed all of the interiors and exteriors, showcasing her vision of ‘interconnectedness’, ME Dubai is set to become a
Rosewood’s first luxury tent and villa encampment will open in
legacy hotel for the city. ME Dubai will take residence in the breath-
Unesco-listed Luang Prabang, Laos in early 2018. Immersed
taking, 95 metre-high Opus building, the newest architectural icon
within an ancient forest and set on the banks of a meandering
in the Dubai skyline. Situated in the heart of the upcoming Burj Khalifa district in Downtown Dubai, ME Dubai will consist of 93 rooms and suites, including an ultra-luxurious Suite ME, as well as 98 serviced apartments. In addition, the property will feature dramatic, signature furniture in the lobby, vertical café, lounges and reception area, which were either designed or personally selected by Zada Hadid. Foodies will love the new ME’s 15 restaurants, including an outpost of contemporary Japanese robatayaki restaurant ROKA. www.meliahotelsinternational.com www.jetsetter.hk
river Rosewood Luang Prabang will feature 22 luxury tents and villas. Tented suites will feature Laotian and French colonial furnishings; locally-inspired artwork; private dining areas; and wrap-around decks. The Regent Jakarta is slated to open in the Indonesian capital in late 2018, delivering an injection of style and flare to the Mangkuluhur City area. Featuring 126 guestrooms and suites, as well as 107 exclusive residences, the hotel will also offer world-class dining and a luxurious Regent Spa.
HARBOURSIDE LUXURY
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
Hotel VIC on the Harbour is a striking new landmark on the Hong Kong harbourfront
B
ased in the up and coming district of North Point on Hong Kong Island close to the buzzing shopping mecca of Causeway Bay, Hotel VIC on the Harbour is set to become one of Hong Kong’s most desirable places to stay. Set to open mid 2018, this twin tower development from Sun Hung Kai Properties boasts panoramic views over Victoria harbour and is conveniently placed near to transport links, being a two-minute walk from North Point MTR station and ferry pier. Built to the most exacting standards and boasting cuttingedge design, the hotel was bought to life through the combined star power of project architect Rocco Design alongside Hirsch Bedner Associates, who took care of guestroom interiors, and AFSO Studio, who designed other key areas of the hotel.
Each of the 671 guestrooms and suites at Hotel VIC enjoy stunning views of Victoria Harbour and the city. Guests staying in any room can upgrade to executive status to enjoy all the benefits of Club VIC on the 22nd floor of the West Tower, a spacious retreat where guests can relax and get ready for their next voyage. The adjoining boardroom is equipped with high-speed wifi and can accommodate meetings of up to 12 people. Culinary options at Hotel VIC 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. Guests who like to work out are also well catered for at Hotel VIC, with a 24-hour gym located on the rooftop. Adjoining the gym is 25m outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi – the perfect place to laze around and enjoy the spectacular harbour and skyline vistas. For the ultimate jet-lag recovery, guests can retreat to the hotel’s soothing sauna and steam rooms. What better way to end your day? www.hotelvic.com
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ANTARTICA
Forget St Barths, Monte Carlo or Ibiza Magna, the superyacht set are now looking for more extreme locales for their next vacation on the high seas. Words: Nick Walton Photos: Nick Walton & Reeve Jolliffe/EYOS Expeditions
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ANTARTICA 65
www.jetsetter.hk
66
ANTARTICA (Clockwise from top left) A zodiac excursion with Richard White (centre); a fur seal barks a greeting; the elegant lounge of the Hanse Explorer.
I
t’s that magical moment between day and night,
with leading charter companies reporting double digital growth
when the sun puts on an awe-inspiring encore while
in 2015-16. But not all charter vessels are created equal;
the inky darkness of night swallows up its stage. Far
destinations like Antarctica, the Arctic, Melanesia and North
below, another performance is being enjoyed by
Asia require specialist vessels with ice-strengthened hulls,
guests of a sleek superyacht; a pod of inquisitive
sophisticated navigation systems, and the kinds of built-in
humpback whales ring the vessel, slapping their flukes against
redundancies that will have you thanking your lucky stars if
the shimmering water and filling the air with honey-hued mist
things go awry thousands of kilometres from help.
as they prepare for their next dive. Not content with simply watching this placental performance from the decks, we bundle
We’re cruising the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the beautiful
up and take to the water in a fleet of military-grade zodiacs for
Hanse Explorer, one of the custom-built yachts used by
a mesmerising up-close-and-personal Antarctic encounter the
specialist superyacht charter gurus EYOS Expeditions. A
likes of which few have experienced.
ground-breaking charter business founded by Tim Soper and Rob McCallum, and operated by a clutch of hardy-yet-
It's an encounter that an increasing number of ultra-wealthy
passionate travellers, including experienced marine officer
travellers are seeking, as they soar over conventional
turned-CEO Ben Lyons, EYOS will take you, your friends, and
destinations like Monaco and Tahiti in their private jets, en
your superyacht (if you’re fortunate enough to have one) to
route to the world’s farthest flung corners, where a small
almost anywhere on the planet you so desire.
fleet of expedition-ready superyachts offer creature comforts and unforgettable memories in equal measure. The global
“The polar regions are clearly the ‘hot’ destination now for
superyacht charter market in growing in leaps and bounds,
expedition yachts and we’re seeing more and more yachts
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ANTARTICA 67
venturing into more distant itineraries,” says Lyons as he guides
have only been one yacht in Antarctica for charter. This season,
our zodiac. “People that travel with us on expeditions want to
we’ll be working with six private yachts, all but one of which are
see, learn and do more. They’re interested in where they’re
available for charter. In the Arctic, we see the same thing.”
going and they have a different view of what luxury and privilege mean. To them, luxury isn’t getting into the top restaurant in St
A key component in this growth is the ability to now fly over
Barths – it’s about going somewhere nobody else can get to.”
rather than battle your way through the dreaded Drake Passage - a tumultuous strait between Antarctica and South American
If you don’t count a superyacht among your most prized
that's often regarded as the most violent on the planet - landing
possessions (or don’t fancy scraping the paintwork of your
by charter flight at King George Island, on the cusp of the
palace at sea) EYOS also offers access to a myriad of
Antarctic Peninsula. Leave the mainland after breakfast and
world-class expedition-ready charter yachts, like the Hanse
you can be cruising the likes of the infamously ice-choked
Explorer, priced up to US$1 million a week. In addition to the
Antarctic Sound by lunch.
charter, EYOS supply a hand-selected team of experienced expeditionary crew and guides, offering the perfect marriage of
The Sound, our first stop, is a thrilling landscape rarely visited
luxury and logistics.
by the larger commercial vessels, which ply the west coast of the Peninsula on regular but inflexible itineraries. Among the
“The trend towards expedition yachting mirrors the explosive
towering icebergs of the Peninsula’s northeastern tip is where
growth in the expedition cruise industry,” says Lyons. “We
our agile vessel come into her own. With her navy-blue hull
see a real interest in yacht clients wanting to go beyond the
and sleek, rakish lines, the Hanse Explorer is one of EYOS’
Caribbean and Mediterranean. Seven years ago, there might
most popular charter yachts and wouldn’t look out of place in www.jetsetter.hk
68
ANTARTICA
(clockwise from left) The Hanse Explorer back dropped by the peaks of the Antarctic Peninsula; a Gentoo penguin chick at Brown Bluff; the Hanse is perfectly suited for up-close-and-personal wildlife encounters.
www.jetsetter.hk
a Mediterranean marina. But beneath the Ferrari-
the effortless grace of a luxury hotel manager, on
like aesthetics lie cutting-edge environmental
the bridge. The Hanse Explorer has an open bridge
systems, the highest rating for an ice strengthened
policy, offering guests a unique perspective on the
hull, powerful engines, and a 9,000nm cruising
challenges of Antarctic navigation. The horizon, a
range. In addition, she accommodates 12 guests in
silver line that seems to drift in and out of sight as
spacious ensuite staterooms, and boasts sublime
if in a dream, is gradually broken by great slabs of
lounges and dining rooms, open sun decks, and an
ice the size of city blocks, each emerging from the
experienced hotel crew who cater to every guest’s
morning mist like the vanguard of an approaching
whims.
horde.
A few days into our week-long adventure, I rise just
Each evening, over canapes in the saloon,
before dawn – or at least the transition between the
expedition leader Richard White, an adventure
shades of twilight that represents the birth of a new
veteran, outlines the plans for the day ahead, but
day this close to the South Pole – and join captain
there is an inherent flexibility sewn like gold threads
Jens Köthen, a perpetually cheerful German with
into the best laid plans because there’s no telling
ANTARTICA 69 what mother nature might offer. See something
wonders of the world, and we’re only too happy to
you like? Land on a beach where you just might be
take them there.”
the first human visitor. Crave new found friends? Arrange a visit to a remote scientific base. Greeted
Each day offers a new adventure, a new discovery.
by pods of orca in Niko Harbour? Launch the
In Antarctic Sound, we cruise through great sea
zodiacs! Even shy Portuguese chef Luis Galego
caves and brave ocean swells before beaching at
Pião follows the mantra “the destination comes
Brown Bluff where, in the shadows of snow dusted
first”, and the Baked Alaska be dammed.
cliffs, ranks of ice cathedrals, some blindingly white, others majestically blue, litter the bay. In Mikkelsen
“Private charters mean freedom for a select few,”
Harbour we’re welcomed by roaring fur seals,
says White, who, during one such outing, expertly
oblivious Adélie penguins, and the weathered
guides our zodiac through narrow channels
wrecks of timber long boats dating from the
between towering cliffs, Arctic terns dipping and
region’s bloody whaling history; and to the south,
darting high above. “These are people who are
in the Grandidier Channel, farther than commercial
well off and want to use their money to discover the
vessels dare to tread, we discover great sways of
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70
ANTARTICA
sea ice floes, which jostle for space with icebergs that
for us, the magic is here in Antarctica, where the
rival Notre Dame in size and intricacy. After slicing and
heavens meet the ice, and where the crowds of city
ploughing our way through the ice, the captain positions
life are a distant memory.
the bow against a tennis court-sized floe, offering us the perfect Antarctica photo op as the snow fall clears and the sun baths the shimmering landscape in gold. Although Antarctica is the most popular, many other destinations are seducing adventurous superyacht travellers. “Papua New Guinea in particular has become a key destination,” says Lyons. “There’s intact culture,
Travel Essentials Travel from Hong Kong to Punta Arenas with American Airlines, which recently added new Casper sleep amenities to its long-haul routes in Business and First Class. Business class fares from US$5,400. www.aa.com €200,000
excellent diving and WWII history. It is an anthropologist’s
Charter
dream.” He also counts the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu,
(US$236,600) ++ per week, from EYOS Expeditions. www.eyos-expeditions.com
and Indonesia’s Raja Ampat as emerging locales, but www.jetsetter.hk
the
Hanse
Explorer
from
ANTARTICA 71 (Clockwise from top left) Champagne toasts to our voyage ahead; humpacks greet the dawn; the Hanse Explorer prepares to enter the Lemaire Channel; cruising the icebergs of Antarctic Sound.
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72
SOLOMON ISLANDS
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SOLOMON ISLANDS 73
The wwii legacy of the solomon islands just might be the key to a brighter future for this remote archipelago, discovers
Nick Walton.
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74
SOLOMON ISLANDS
A
trail of shimmering bubbles in our wake, the hull of the Hirokawa
Maru
slowly
takes form as we descend, first as a faint shadow against
the
deep
blue
Pacific waters, and then, as we draw closer, as a towering darkness that threatens to suck up all the light. As my eyes adjust, the vessel’s sheer size begins to reveal itself; at 156 meters long, the Hirokawa Mari isn’t the largest of the wrecks which litter Ironbottom Sound, a strip of water between the islands of Guadalcanal, Savo and Florida where dozens of ship and aircraft wrecks remain, but it’s one of the most accessible. Caught by American dive bombers in November 1942 while unloading supplies for the occupying Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, the largest island in the Solomon archipelago, the Japanese transport ship now lies on its port side, with its bow in five meters of water and its stern reaching down 60 meters into the darkness. I’m diving on the Hirokawa with guides from Honiara’s Tulagi Dive, the Solomon Islands’ leading dive company, and a pair of experienced New Zealand underwater videographers. Wreck diving has been a major drawcard for the Solomon Islands for decades and sites like the Hirokawa are ideal for mixed groups; accessible from both boat and beach, the wreck offers divers of all skill levels a mezmerising introduction to the archipelago’s turbulent history – while I enjoy the vivid coral gardens that now cling to the Horokawa’s iron plated hull at 30 meters, and the schools of snapper, fusiliers and lionfish that now call the ship’s foredeck home, the tech divers descend deep into the interior of the doomed vessel, their light rigs tiny beacons penetrating the gloom far below. The Solomon Islands is a place where time seems to stand still. A postcard perfect South Seas paradise of over 900 islands, the Solomons lie east of Papua New Guinea and north of Vanuatu,
(Clockwise from top left) a WWII artillery piece in Honiara; a boat cruises across the Langa Langa Lagoon; a child takes a break from grinding shells for shell money.
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in some of the world’s most fertile waters. During the Second World War the islands saw some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific campaign; the defining Battle of Guadalcanal, codenamed Operation Watchtower, the 75th anniversary of which took place last August, raged among the
SOLOMON ISLANDS 75 undulating jungle-clad hills and coral-wreathed seas
luxurious Waterfront Villas, wreath a contemporary
surrounding the capital Honiara.
Malaysian street food restaurant that wouldn’t look out of place in Hong Kong or Sydney. The new hotel
After diving on the Horokawa and a nearby American
and casino is catering to a new generation of affluent
B17 bomber, its twin cannons now encrusted with
travellers looking to swap the rat race for this forgotten
coral, we clamber into the back of a flat bed truck and
South Pacific Eden.
make our way down one of the island’s few roads, through tiny villages of thatch-roofed, stilted huts, the
Such an escape can be found at Papatura Island
turquoise splendor of the South Pacific to our left, the
Retreat, located off the coast of Santa Isabel, to the
deep green of Guadalcanal’s lush interior to the right,
northwest of Guadalcanal. To get there I board a
the capital ahead.
Solomon Airlines twin otter for the 45-minute flight to a simple grass strip that once served as a bomber
While its rich and tumultuous history has drawn
base. Here I’m met by Pete Blanche, a retired builder
intrepid travellers to the Solomons since the 1970s,
from the Australian Gold Coast who, with wife Marge,
there’s much more on offer here than just ghosts of
spent two decades travelling through the Solomon
the past. The vibrant Honiara Central Markets is a
Islands before deciding to make it their home, building
timeless and fascinating corner of the town, where
Papatura Island Retreat from scratch on an idyllic
prices are haggled, and gossip swapped, a gentle
300-hectare island fringed by swaying coconut palms
sea breeze cooling stall owners dressed in brightly
and white sandy beaches.
coloured sun dresses, their ebony skin glistening in the mid-day heat. At each market stall mountains of
A blissfully simple hideaway of rustic thatch bungalows
taro, breadfruit, cassava and coconuts are stacked
connected by a risen timber boardwalk, it’s as if the
beside bags of tiny, fiery chilis, recycled beer bottles
Swiss Family Robinson opened a B&B in paradise. The
filled with natural remedies and oils, and coolers
only creature comfort in my loft-styled bungalow, which
packed with fresh coconut crabs. Down the road,
sleeps four, is an AC power point, and at night I fall
Coral Sea Resort & Casino is the town’s newest
asleep beneath a mosquito net to the serenade of the
sensation; it’s modern guest rooms, including several
lagoon’s waves, lapping just steps away.
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SOLOMON ISLANDS
While there’s plenty to do, from surfing and dolphin safaris
little hideaway the vibe of a remote family summer home.
to local village visits, Papatura is especially popular with
Beyond the bar, the retreat’s dining room serves simple,
anglers hoping to catch Spanish mackerel, giant trevally,
yet delectable local fare laced with ingredients from the
or sail fish among the swells that roll down from the
island’s own gardens; that first night, after feasting on
Philippines, or to cast for mangrove jacks or rare spot
potato cakes, coastal fern and tangerine salad, and mud
tail bass in local community-owned rivers. During one
crabs the size of dinner plates, I walk the length of the
fishing cruise, Rolly, one of the resort guides, navigates
beach back to my villa under a mezmerising canopy of
us between the islands of the local Eti Eti people, pointing
stars, sheets of amethyst lightning flickering above the
out where the best lobsters can be speared at night, and a
horizon.
rocky island where the bodies of defeated enemies would be sent during the Solomon’s head hunting past. When I
I’d admit Papatura takes a little getting used to. A world
ask if there’s still headhunting he grins a smile red with
away from a world gone mad with technology, timetables
betel nut. “Not anymore, now we’re Church of England.”
and temptation, there’s no phone access, no wifi, and what little electricity there is, is produced by solar panels.
Each night guests come together around the resort bar,
“It’s amazing what such isolation does to these guys,
hand-crafted from bamboo and island timber, for cold local
these captains of industry,” Pete tells me over breakfast
beers and tall tales of island living told by our hosts. "We
one morning. “First we encourage them to take off their
love this place,” says Marge. “We will be here until we die.”
watches and slowly they adopt to island time and island
Many guests are frequent visitors – one Australian woman
living and before you know it they’re talking about things
is in the first week of a six week stay – giving this beautiful
that have nothing to do with work!” But adapt I do, slowly
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SOLOMON ISLANDS 77
(Clockwise from top left) Fresh crayfish at Serah's Lagoon Hideaway; a bride in traditional shell money; the Solomons is famous for its warm welcome; a boat builder takes a break from his work; a betel nut stall owner day dreams in Auki.
finding myself less concerned with signal bars and more concerned with tracking down the hornbills that live in the fig trees at the end of the bay, or watching tissues of cloud cling to the towering mountains of nearby Santa Isabel. It’s over these mountains I fly again, this time bound for the island of Malaita. After touching down on another jungle strip, and weaving through the village of Auki in a dilapidated local taxi, I meet shy Serah Kei, a native of the Langa Langa Lagoon, where she has built a beautiful little resort atop a traditional coral island. My guide Chris Nemaia and I climb into Serah’s little runabout and begin the 45-minute cruise across the mirror-like lagoon waters. When a tropical squall passes over we retreat under umbrellas but Serah just smiles as the rain streams down her face, deftly navigating the tiny boat through the torrent. By the time we arrive at her immaculate little resort the sun has emerged, and we’re dry again. As simple and rustic as Papatura (sans the power points), Serah’s Lagoon Hideaway boasts a different vibe. Encircled by the waters of a lagoon, the setting is so quiet and tranquil it’s almost deafening to my city-accustomed ears. From the sun deck of my lofted bungalow, which sleeps four, fish dart through spectacular coral gardens only inches below the surface, and beyond, a trio of children in immaculate white uniforms cruise past in a traditional canoe on their way home from school. The Langa Langa Lagoon is famous for its asi, traditional man-made coral islands constructed by the lagoon’s Kwara'ae or ‘salt water people’ to evade the headhunters of Malaita. Despite Christianity arriving with missionaries in the 1960s, the rich animalism of the lagoon lingers, including the practice of shark worship; priests would call
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78
SOLOMON ISLANDS sharks to the surface, believing they were reincarnations
(From top) Rolly collects coconuts on a uninhabited island; Pete at Papatura Island Retreat.
of their ancestors, and stranded fishermen would call to the sharks for aid, offering them sacrifices upon a safe return to dry land. Another fading tradition is that of shell money and Serah guides me through the intricate process of converting four specific shell types into a currency that is used for dowries across the Solomon Islands. Langa Langa is to shell money what Antwerp is to diamonds and Serah’s collective family all contribute to the process of chipping and grinding the shells, using traditional tools to create long necklaces, their different colours representing their value. That evening, after a dinner of local crayfish and grilled scampi, I watch a bride, wrapped in shell necklaces, journeying across the lagoon to the home of her new husband. She is followed by a flotilla of canoes and runabouts packed with villagers singing and beating drums, the melody lingering over the serene waters of the lagoon with the last of the day’s light. On my way back to Auki I venture to learn more about the boat building traditions of the Lanagalanga people. Made for fishing and cargo, the hulls of boats under construction tower above the simple homes of their owners. Built by specialist building crews from heavy vassa wood, these traditional vessels are major investments on the part of the community and often take decades to finish, but are also prized throughout the Solomons.
50,000 lives, as well as 1,200 aircraft, and 49 ships, bronze plaques in the grounds of the memorial indicating the direction
Back in Honiara, I tour the battlegrounds of WWII with
of each vessel’s final resting place in Ironbottom Sound. It’s a
Stewart, a local historian, finishing at The Guadalcanal
dark chapter in the nation’s past, but its legacy, the beauty of
American Memorial, which sits atop one of the hills
these islands, and the inherent hospitality of its people, herald a
overlooking
brighter future to come.
Henderson
Field,
the
county’s
sole
international airport. The Battle of Guadalcanal claimed
Travel Essentials Fly: Qantas connects Hong Kong with Brisbane (www.qantas.com. au) with connections with Solomon Airlines on to Honiara (www. flysolomons.com). Stay: Coral Sea resort & Casino, from US$194 per night, twin share; www.coral-sea-resort.com Papatura Island Retreat, AU$1,030 (US$799) per person, twin share, for six nights, including all meals; www.papatura.com Serah’s Lagoon Hideaway, SBD500 (US$64) per person, per night, twin share; www.solomonislands-hotels.travel Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel, Honiara; US$153 per night, twin share; www.kitanomendana.com www.jetsetter.hk
80
HOTEL REVIEW
JOZIE’S GARDEN With a coveted location and the air of a chic private residence, Four Seasons The Westcliff Johannesburg is the perfect base from which to explore this fascinating city, discovers Nick Walton.
T
www.jetsetter.hk
here’s a distinctive ‘home coming’
Designed as a luxury condo complex, the property
feeling
The
started life as The Westcliff, the city’s most glamorous
Westcliff, the most luxurious enclave
accommodation, before being relaunched as a Four
in the South African capital. Hidden
Seasons in 2015 after an extensive US$56 million
behind towering walls and nestled
refurbishment. Today this unique urban resort offers
amidst lush, manicured gardens, the hotel looks
panoramic views across Johannesburg Zoo (listen
more like the chic private residential complex for the
carefully at night for the roar of the lions) from its 117
city’s power brokers it was created as than the hotel
sublime guest rooms and suites, as well as some of
it became – and therein lies one of its many charms.
the city’s best culinary experiences.
Especially
to
Four
Seasons
travellers
After a quick check-in at the intimate lobby pavilion
stopping over in the capital, the hotel spills down
I make my way up white rose-lined pathways to my
a leafy hill in the chic neighbourhood of Westcliff.
Panoramic View Premium Room, located in one
popular
with
safari-bound
HOTEL REVIEW 81
of nine ‘pavilions’, each named for a different South
complete with ranks of machines of torture and toning.
African state. The property’s residential feel extends to these elegant guest rooms, with their private balconies,
In addition to luxurious accommodation, the Four
sumptuous marble bathrooms, separate dressing
Seasons The Westcliff has made a name for itself as
rooms, fireplaces, and soaring ceilings. Interiors are
a leading dining destination, and with good reason.
timeless, with plush furniture, glorious beds, and
The hotel features three unique dining venues: View,
colourful accents taken from South African culture, from
with its dramatic interiors and elegant terrace, is the
zebra print armchairs to original art by local painters
home of fine-dining, with a focus on locally-sourced
and sculptures. I spent the wee hours of my first night
ingredients and South African wines that’s won it
at the hotel on the terrace watching a dramatic thunder
acclaim among the city’s gourmands. The Westcliff
storm unfold across the city, completely mesmerised.
Deli is a great little hideaway that serves brilliant coffee and fresh pastries, sandwiches and salads. However,
If you’ve just arrived from Asia and are keen to shake
my personal favourite (and I’m clearly not alone) is
off the cobwebs of long-haul travel, head for the
Flames, the hotel’s showpiece restaurant, which boasts
nature-inspired Spa at Four Seasons The Westcliff, a
an expansive terrace that’s the hottest table in town
completely new, custom-designed wellness enclave
for sunset cocktails, craft beers and grilled meat and
boasting nine treatment rooms and a menu of indulgent
seafood.
rituals, including some using luxury Hungarian brand Omorovicza. After your treatment make a bee-line for
To explore the city more, the Four Seasons’ concierges
the spa’s 25-metre indoor heated pool, or for the rooftop
offer a series of extraordinary experiences across the
Après Spa, the city’s only outdoor spa lounge, where
city, from spending the day with local designer Gert-
ladies of leisure worship the African sun and discuss
Johan Coetzee to a private evening concert with
ball season. If working up a sweat is more cathartic,
notable local musicians. From US$344 per night, twin
the hotel also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness centre,
share; www.fourseasons.com/johannesburg/ www.jetsetter.hk
82
INSIDER
The Time
BANDIT With years of experience working with leading jewellers, Kuan Teo founded watch brand MYKU, which specialises in minimalist watches with stone dials. He talks with Isabelle Lui about his inspiration for the inclusion of marble elements in watches and his views on current watch trends.
Where did the inspiration for using Italian Carrara marble for MYKU’s watch dials come from?
hardness, versatility, and texture, aside from its colour. We also have to consider the history of the stone and the method
Our materials are sourced from Carrara, a little city in northern
of mining before we even select the right stone. The process
Tuscany. The inspiration came from Michelangelo’s David,
of making the wafer-thin stone dials requires exemplary skills
which was carved entirely from a Carrara stone and is known
and precision. Our stone dials are cut by experienced jewellery
for its skin-like tone. The stone has a characteristic of absorbing
artisans. Every stone dial that we cut is unique and every step
light a few millimetres before being diffused to give a lustrous
of the process in which the stone is set in the timepiece is exact.
effect, which inspired us to use this remarkable stone in our
What other stone types could be used for watch dials?
beautiful timepieces.
Why did you choose to produce minimalist watches?
The main functionality of a watch is to tell time. We want to strip
There are many, thanks to Mother Nature. So far, we’ve just launched timepieces with malachite and obsidian.
created a minimalist design that can withstand the test of time.
What are your tips for watch maintenance?
We want the design to be relevant for many years to come, not
only need to clean them with a damp cloth. We chose to use
to last just a season.
quartz because it is easy to maintain as it doesn’t require users
away all the fuss that distracts that functionality. That is why we
You’re from Singapore and studied in Australia; why did you base MYKU in Hong Kong?
In everyday life, all watches should last for a long time and you
to wind the timepieces like automatic watches. You only need to change the battery every 5-10 years.
convenient, especially because it’s densely populated. This
What is the latest trend for watches?
makes it easier to find like-minded people to share your ideas
except for colours, movements, and materials. Smart watches
and passion. My business partner Francois Hurtaud, the head
are an evolution that incorporates more functions than just
designer of MYKU, has been based here for almost seven
telling time but to me a watch should not be a trend but a
years. He moved from France as he believes Hong Kong is a
product that serves its function by telling time through timeless
vibrant city that is business friendly for startups.
design.
What's the biggest challenge of using stone elements in the making of watches?
The biggest challenge is dealing with the characteristics of the
Some say that men don’t need watches today, as they have phones to tell them the time. What do you say?
stone. All precious stones, like ours, come in different colours,
watch or not. I think it’s more about personal preference than
textures and boast different characteristics. Before we decide
generalisation. Personally, I find it easier to read time on my
to use a stone, we have to consider its characteristics, like
wrist than by unlocking my phone. www.myku.co
Hong Kong is one of the key cities in the world. It’s very
www.jetsetter.hk
Watch trends haven’t evolved much over the past few decades,
It’s true. But it still depends whether the person likes to wear a
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
S
SRILANKAN AIRLINES, where modernity meets legacy
riLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the reputed oneworld airline alliance now connects you to a myriad of destinations across its global rout map via Colombo with non-stop flights five times a week from Hong Kong. The Airline has deployed all new A321neo aircraft of the route, which is equipped with the state of the art onboard comforts, larger hand luggage compartments, improved air purification and remarkably reduced engine noise levels, which facilitates the quietest of flights. Immerse yourself in a memorable onboard experience aboard SriLankan Airlines’ neo range with the traditional Sri Lankan motifs adorning the cabin interiors, and equipped with the latest Rave REMIX entertainment system, mobile connectivity, in-seat power for portable devices and Wifi throughout the flight to stay connected with the world. SriLankan Airlines made history by being the first carrier in Asia to fly an A321neo and the first ever airline to fly the aircraft to the Hong Kong International Airport. Along with the comforts of contemporary air travel comes the trademark Sri Lankan hospitality, the bespoke service and the array of delectable on-board delicacies. Sri Lanka, the island nation in the Indian Ocean is much sought after by travellers for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant wildlife and aquamarine beaches. The country also offers a wide variety of adventure sports such as whitewater rafting, cross country mountain biking and beaches suitable for surfing right through the year. From the lush green landscapes to metropolitan cityscapes, the island offers something to any type of a traveler. A traveler who looks beyond the island charms can choose from the convenient onward connections offered by SriLankan Airlines which covers a range of cities in the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, the Far East and Australia.
With over 130 flights a week to 14 destinations, SriLankan Airlines remains the international carrier that operates to the most number of Indian cities. Its coverage in India ranges from Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Madurai, Cochin, Kolkata, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai and seasonal operations to Bodh Gaya and Varanasi. Bangladesh’s Dhaka and Pakistan’s Karachi and Lahore are other notable destinations covered in SriLankan’s Indian Sub-continent operations. Re-affirming SriLankan’s position as a leader in the region, the Airline was awarded “The World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean” at World Travel Awards World Ceremony concluded in Vietnam recently. Facilitating leisure-seekers and holiday makers, SriLankan connects you to the Maldivian capital, Male, 27 times a week via Colombo. SriLankan Airlines is the first and the only Airline that connects Gan Island of the Southern Maldives to the world, with its flights four times a week. Seychelles is one other vibrant island getaway connected by SriLankan Airlines with four weekly flights. Launched in 1979, the airline's hub is located at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo providing convenient connections to its global network (including codeshare partners) of 103 destinations in 47 countries around the world. The Airline operates an all Airbus fleet including a state-of-the-art A330-300 fleet on its medium and long haul operations. Awards include World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean- World Travel Awards 2017, Asia’s Leading Cultural Airline-World Travel Awards- 2017, Asia’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean- World Travel Awards-2017, Best Full Service Airline- Asia by Future Travel Awards, APEX Award for Service Excellence, Best Airline in South Asia from Travel Trade Gazette, World’s Most Reliable Operator of Airbus A330s by Airbus Industrie, and the Etihad Global Excellence Award for Best Regional Caterer. 2521 0708 www.srilankan.com res_hkg@srilankan.com
84
TURNING LEFT
Flying the
Dream
American Airlines’ new Boeing 787 Dreamliner adds new levels of sophistication to the airline’s routes across Latin America, discovers Nick Walton on a recent flight between Dallas and Santiago. Dining The dinner service on this south-bound flight began with a well-made gin and tonic and a bowl of warm nuts (although it did take quite a while to arrive as you’ll read below). As I had snacked in the Admiral’s Club before the flight and wanted to get as much sleep as possible, I decided to just enjoy the dinner entrée, a beautifully balanced dish of cold chicken with grilled five spiced pineapple and watermelon that was accompanied by a loose-leaf salad with spicy sesame vinaigrette, and followed by a well-curated cheese plate. Had dinner service been a bit quicker or the Express Option been available I would have opted for that. I also opted to just have coffee and yogurt as breakfast was served 90 minutes out from Santiago and I had another flight to catch.
Service As the business class cabin filled up crew offered sparkling wine in
Boarding There’s nothing like that new plane feel, which was evident as we boarded the American Airlines 787-8 at Dallas/Forth Worth International's gate D33, entering the first of the aircraft’s two business class cabins, which combined boast a total of 28 business class seats. Like many new business class products, the cabin initially looked cramped, especially with the overhead bins open, but once you take a seat you realise there is intelligent design at work. The cabin quickly filled up for the nine-hour overnight flight to Santiago, Chile.
The Seat This was my first time flying American Airlines’ newest generation business class product aboard the 787-8 and only my second ever time flying backwards – the staggered 1-2-1 configuration means some seats face forward and some backwards, but AA has made it work. My seat, 6L on the port side, was clearly well constructed and thoughtfully designed; there’s a large personal monitor, wide arm rests, space for shoes under the ottoman-styled extension, slots for tablets or magazines, AC and USB ports, and two beautifully-large windows with electric ‘blinds’. Two touchscreen panels, one with buttons, control the seat position and inflight entertainment system. Already presented
plastic glasses (something I still find curious) and dinner menus. The menu featured an Express Option (perfect for our 8pm departure), and it was evident that many passengers would opt for it. Unfortunately, after takeoff, cabin crew advised that because they had not taken orders on the ground, the Express Option would not be available. Consequently, many passengers chose not to dine. Despite the hiccups, dinner service, when it did begin, an hour into the flight, was quick and efficient. Midway through the meal crew dimmed the lights and the cabin took on a cosy, infinitely relaxing ambiance that helped passengers looking to get a full night’s rest.
What We Liked The 787-8 seat may not quite offer the market-leading dimensions of its 777-300ER sibling, but it’s still an inspired piece of hardware and a sign of great things to come at American Airlines.
What We Didn’t The only niggle about the 787 seat is that there is no compartment in which to store the sizable AA headphones and their hard case. Service needs to be a bit more organised.
were a pair of American Airlines’ signature Bose headphones, a bottle of
Summary
water, and a chic amenity kit by Cole Haan.
Latin and South America is American Airlines’ turf and the world-class 787 business class product is a sure way to maintain loyalty across the
After dinner, I converted my seat into a heavenly bed, complete with
airline’s extensive network.
warm duvet and a pair of pillows. Although the seat is a tad shorter than its brethren on the 777, it still all-but-guarantees a great sleep at
American Airlines business class Dallas/Fort Worth – Santiago
38,000ft.
return from US$5,400. www.aa.com
www.jetsetter.hk
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
WONDERS OF
ARCHITECTURE & AVIATION
Etihad Airways has marked the opening of the highly-anticipated Louvre Abu Dhabi with a spectacular A380 fly-by.
H
undreds of visitors from around the world, attending the recent official public opening celebrations of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, were treated to a low-level fly-by of the Jean Nouvel-designed museum by one of Etihad Airways’ flagship Airbus A380 aircraft as part of the airline’s exclusive partnership with the institution. Sporting the airline’s Facets of Abu Dhabi livery, the aircraft chosen for the display now also features Louvre Abu Dhabi’s official logo on each of its four engines, to promote the opening of the institution. The fly-by was also captured in a series of spectacular images as well as with a short video directed by up-and-coming Emirati director Ahmed Abdulqader, shot from the flight deck of the aircraft, from within the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and from two specially equipped helicopters. As a Platinum partner, Etihad Airways will work closely with Louvre Abu Dhabi on areas of brand partnership, marketing,
social media, public and media relations, events and exhibitions, cultural exchanges, cargo support, inflight programming, and travel trade support. “Echoing the sentiments from the signing of our landmark partnership agreement with Louvre Abu Dhabi last month, Etihad Airways is today honoured to play its part in the inauguration of this hugely important universal institution,” said Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer.“ Abu Dhabi can now proudly take its place among the world’s foremost cultural destinations, and we, as the UAE’s national airline, are poised to play our part in bringing millions of guests to our home to experience this modern wonder of art and humanity first-hand.” “Louvre Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways not only bring people from around the world to Abu Dhabi, but they are both universal in nature” said His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi at the announcement of the exclusive
platinum partnership between the Louvre Abu Dhabi and E. “For the museum, this idea of universal is about understanding human connections from the beginning of time until the present through art.” Both the Etihad Airways Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 fleets feature multi awardwinning interiors influenced by Abu Dhabi’s architecture and landscape. These include ceiling designs and light projections in the boarding zones, Lobby Lounge, First Class and The Residence cabins of the A380s, and stylised sconce lighting in the Business Studios of both aircraft types - all inspired by Louvre Abu Dhabi’s spectacular dome and its ‘Rain of Light’ effect, mimicking the way sunlight streams through the fronds of palm trees in a desert oasis. Louvre Abu Dhabi officially opened last month as an iconic landmark on the city’s geographical, cultural and tourist landscape. The architectural masterpiece is one of only a few truly universal museums in the world, awe-inspiring in both its scale and design. www.etihad.com
86
TURNING LEFT
LeaDING THe PaCIFIC Sometimes small is best, especially in the case of Solomon Airlines, which ensures the archipelago’s warm welcome begins well before you even arrive, as Nick Walton discovers on a recent flight between Brisbane and Honiara.
CHECK IN/THE LOUNGE
of pan-seared salmon or grilled beef, which I thought a little
After a speedy check in process at Brisbane’s international
curious given neither were likely to come from our destination.
airport (the airline doesn’t offer online check in yet), I made
While the beef was a little overdone, the potato gratin was
my way to the Qantas Club Lounge, to which Solomon
silky and soul-soothing, especially when matched with a
Airlines’ business class passengers have access, thanks to
limited-edition beer from Solomon Breweries marking the
a codeshare relationship. This is a great space; well-lit, with
75th anniversary of the WWII-era Battle of Guadalcanal. Each
great, cheerful staff, modern shower suites, and a well-loved
business class guest was also given a keepsake bottle, which
coffee machine. My only niggle would be how very busy it was,
I thought was a nice touch. Passengers were also offered a
making finding a seat a little tricky. A little over an hour later I
range of Australian wines.
boarded the Solomon Airlines A320 from gate 75B.
THE FLIGHT
ENTERTAINMENT
The A320 doesn’t offer an in-seat inflight entertainment
As the airline’s sole A320, the Airbus is the airline’s workhorse
system, (although a movie was shown on dropdown screens)
(the 20-year-old aircraft still has labels in both English and
so be sure to pre-load your tablet or smartphone.
French), but the business class cabin, which seats 16, is spacious and elegant. Dressed in burgundy fabric and leather, the business class seats, in their 2-2 configuration, feature a
SERVICE
Service is some of the best I’ve seen in the Pacific, with cabin
four-way adjustable head rest, lumbar and recline features,
crew always happy to chat, serve another glass of wine, or
and a small drinks tray atop an arm rest between seats. The
provide a blanket. As the airline develops they will do so
cabin was two-thirds full and beaming crew quickly offered
with a great service ethos that truly makes passengers feel
glasses of juice and moist towels as they took brunch orders
welcomed.
before the three-hour flight.
DINING
SUMMARY
The perfect combination of hospitality and functionality,
As soon as we had reached cruising altitude, crew jumped
Solomon Airlines has a few lessons it could be teaching
into action with brunch service. We were offered the choice
far larger carriers. Business class Brisbane-Honiara from US$2,040 per person. www.flysolomons.com
www.jetsetter.hk
LIFESTYLE
THE RANGE ROVER VELAR INSPIRED BY THE PAST, DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE
TRAVEL TECH
DON PAPA RUM
TUMI LUGGAGE
88
CHEF PROFILE
www.jetsetter.hk
CHEF PROFILE 89
On the eve of his newest opening, at the recently relaunched luxury enclave Plaza
Why did you choose Shanghai to be What elements of the original Marea the first outpost of your iconic New will diners recognise at the new Shanghai restaurant? York restaurant Marea?
66, Nick Walton speaks with chef
Michael White about the differences and similarities of New York and Shanghai, changing dining culture, and the importance of consistency.
We have such a large Asian clientele and felt
Guests will certainly see some of the signature
the best extension of this special brand was
dishes on the menu, but we will also adapt some
first in China, and where better than Shanghai.
dishes and add some new ones to reflect local
We found just the right location; we have long
seasonal produce. Our pastas, as always, will also
admired Plaza 66 for its first-class luxury and
be in the forefront too. Guests will be welcomed in
professionalism and are happy to bring Marea to
an elegant, yet vibrant room, and will immediately
Plaza 66 and to bring a top New York restaurant
recognise the emphasis on quality and focus on
and vibe to Shanghai.
highly personalised client attention and service.
Shanghai and New York are such different cities – was it difficult to bridge that divide from a culinary perspective?
The Michelin Guide has been controversial in Asia but it is growing in recognition – are stars on the horizon for the new Marea?
Fortunately, we have extensive experience in other
The key is always to put your head down and
international locations. Marea’s menu is all about
create quality and consistency and focus on the
sourcing incredibly fresh and local ingredients
client and ensure the service is all it can be. We
to use in Italian coastal-inspired dishes, and
are investing in a great culinary and service team
Shanghai has access to such incredible product.
to ensure quality and innovation. That is the main
There is actually a lot of alignment in ingredients
job and purpose. If we then earn recognition for
and respect for freshness in Shanghai, so this
our work with Michelin and others, it would be an
will be an exciting culinary adventure, but not a
honour.
challenging one in regard to sourcing amazing comfortably.
What are some of your favourite meals in Asia?
I love eating great local street food and anything
products to work with and approaching the client
How do you see Shanghai’s culinary scene evolving?
that you cannot get in New York or elsewhere. I also love to stretch my palate with different flavours,
Shanghai is a global city that offers a wide range
especially spicy food. Given my love for dumplings,
of local cuisines as well as cuisines from different
my favorite place is Lin Long Fang’s. It is one of
corners of the world. The Shanghainese love, of
Shanghai’s best spots for soup dumplings.
course, their own culture and food, but they have
You’re an advocate for the elegance of fine dining in a global dining scene that’s increasingly casual – do you see such formality in China and will Marea maintain that timeless elegance of Italian fine dining?
embraced the western touches very much and so many Shanghainese are well travelled and increasingly enjoy food from all over the world. That is certainly a culinary scene that is evolving and will continue to evolve.
Do you see similarities between New York and Shanghai when you explore enclaves like West Nanjing Road?
Marea Shanghai will feature an updated and more modern design aesthetic, reflecting the vibrancy and lifestyle of its location, while still maintaining
The energy, intensity, and focus of the people
the subtle elegance the New York restaurant is
in Shanghai, especially around West Nanjing
known for. However, we recognise the importance
Road, is very much like the life of a New Yorker. I
of a more casual option, and will be debuting a
felt right at home.
new, and more casual dining concept, along with
a cocktail lounge, called Club W by Marea. This will add another level of dining and energy at Plaza 66 and is being developed only for the local market. In both cases the client will feel at ease and comfortable. www.plaza66.com www.jetsetter.hk
90
FOOD ADVENTURES INSIDER
www.jetsetter.hk
FOOD ADVENTURES 91
The rose has long been revered beauty, elegance, and distinctive Indulge in its unforgettable with these unique rose-infused experiences. By Isabelle Lui
N
for its aroma. scent travel
amed the Best International Bar at the 2015 Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, the Archie Rose bar and distillery in Sydney serves a delicate rose-infused cocktail named the Rose Sour. Made with the distillery’s Original Vodka, rose wine and rose syrup, which are shaken with lemon, fresh
raspberries and egg white, the concoction has a fruity and floral flavour with a clean citrus finish. If you feel like a palate explorer, also try the distillery’s Distiller's Strength gin, which is infused with rose, pear, honey, elderflower and juniper. https://archierose.com.au/bar
J A I
et east to Mexico and Baja’s Cabo San Lucas, where the Luna y Mar spa offers a 180-minute Calming Moon treatment, which helps maintain your body’s balance while soothing the skin with the use of various minerals. The indulgence starts with a nourishing rose petal and rose oil-infused salt exfoliation, followed
by a deep cleansing rose wrap, and a rejuvenating massage, and finishes with a lymphatic facial using rose crystals, which ensure you’ll leave feeling relaxed and refreshed. www.theresortatpedregal.com t Bulgaria’s Enio Bonchev, the country’s oldest rose oil distillery, pick fresh roses between mid-May to mid-Jun; learn how rose water is produced using traditional distillation methods; and visit the company’s museum and gift shop, home to Bulgarian rose and lavender essential oils. www.eniobonchev.com
n London, you can savour a luscious Rose & Violet Sundae at The Parlour in Piccadilly. Made with Fortnum and Mason’s signature handmade Rose and Violet creams, which are produced using a recipe from the 1920s, ice cream is laced with a shot of raspberry coulis, and sprinkled with crystallised violets and slices of rose petal. This elegantly-
presented dessert boasts the sweetness of English creams and the floral flavours of seasonal blooms. www.fortnumandmason.com www.jetsetter.hk
92
RESTAURANT REVIEW
CALIFORNIA
NIGHTS Delivering a touch of Californian coastal living to Hong Kong’s Soho dining precinct, Big Sur has become an instant classic, discovers Nick Walton
I
t’s surprising that, given Hong
the 14-strong tap beer menu created by local
include the zesty chicken satay salad; the
Kong’s affable climate, there isn’t
craft brew gurus Young Master, or exercising
pepper jack cheese pop overs; the herb
more al fresco dining in Soho, a
the demons of the work week with a shot
haloumi with spicy Salvadoran pickle; and the
culinary destination dominated by
of small-batch tequila and a housemade
sweet potato fries. The desserts are suitably
an ever-changing kaleidoscope of
sangrita chaser.
decadent, with the daily pie adding to Big
restaurants popular with the city’s black suit
Sur’s modern diner vibe.
brigade. The crowds that cling to the curbs
Once you plant your flag indoors, it’s time
outside spots like Chom Chom and Stauntons
to graze through American chef Conor
In fact, there really is something for everyone
certainly testify that many diners like being
Beach’s eclectic menu, which hopscotches
(the Feed Me Better BBQ set does the thinking
outside, a cold beer in hand. Fortunately, the
its way across California’s many culinary
for you), with the dinner menu complementing
precinct’s newest all-day dining venue, Woolly
influences. Kick off with the Baja Tacos with
Big Sur’s all-day offering, which ranges from
Pig Concepts’ Big Sur, captures the essence of
grilled prawns and housemade Sur-izo, little
fresh pastries and coffee during the day, to
the Golden State with blissfully unpretentious,
parcels of punchy flavour that kick the palate
delectable bar snacks to match with your
Latin-leaning, barbeque-bolstered comfort
into gear. For something more substantial
small-batch mezcal cocktails or Young Master
cuisine, a brilliant beer selection, and best of
we opt for the Big Sur Mixed BBQ Plate,
brew (the Mott Street Milkshake was an
all, tables under the stars.
which comes heaped with Santa Maria-style
absolute winner) at night.
tri-tip, pulled pork, grilled Sur-izo, Memphis Of course, getting one of those tables is the
ribs, BBQ beans, coleslaw and housemade
Whether you’re looking for happy hour or a
tricky thing. While it’s recommended you
Sichuan corn bread. The tritip was perfectly
happy stomach, Big Sur is a destination that
book ahead for a table in the bright and airy
cooked, and the ribs slipped off the bone with
evolves through the day and into the evening
main dining room, the wise will also arrive
a sigh (although that might have been my
and one that’s already forging a loyal following
early to snap up one of the unbookable glass
dining companion) and the cornbread had a
among Soho-goers who no longer want to
bar tables ranked beside Staunton Street.
delightful hint of heat, although I found the
cling to the curbs.
In accordance with Hong Kong’s curious
pulled pork a touch over seasoned.
property laws, the outdoor tables don’t come
Ground floor, 22 Staunton Street, Soho,
with restaurant service, but that shouldn’t
While the BBQ plate is going to sate every
Central, Hong Kong; +852 2529 3001;
stop you from popping inside to order from
appetite, other highlights worth exploring
www.bigsur.com.hk
www.jetsetter.hk
94
CHAMPAGNE
Maison Perrier-Jouët conjures a wild and wonderful holiday season with a new limited edition of its classic Grand Brut champagne. Presented in a special illustrated box with the theme of rewilding, reflecting the champagne house’s mission to bring the wonders of the natural world to unexpected urban settings, the new release, the first in a new collection to be unveiled each year, takes its inspiration from Miami, with an exquisite image detailing a tropical forest invading the city’s celebrated oceanfront dominating the design. An intricate décor of exotic flowers and luxuriant ferns are set against an elegant backdrop of Miami’s Art Deco architecture. The fine details of the illustration pay homage to the House's century-long love affair with art, its deep passion for nature, and its tradition for craftsmanship, while the predominant colours used reflect the signature green and gold of Maison Perrier-Jouët. www.perrier-jouet.com
CELEBRATING
THE VINE In its newest collaboration, Dom Pérignon has teamed up with acclaimed Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka to create a new bottle for its 2009 vintage. Revealing the distinctively solar character of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2009, Tokujin Yoshioka has channeled his artistic affinity to light into the designs of the Dom Pérignon x Tokujin Yoshioka Limited Edition. Inspired by the glorious sunlight that embraced the Champagne region during the birth of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2009, Tokujin Yoshioka presents an artistic tribute to the champagne of living light. Interpreting the emblematic shield of the Maison as a colourful force emerging from the dark glass of the bottle, the vibrant shield presents an iridescent, dimensional and hologramic aesthetic. Thus, the sensory experience of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2009 from the nose to the palate is enhanced in all its light, its colours and emotions. www.domperignon.com
www.jetsetter.hk
Two new champagne releases celebrate warmer months to come.
DoesPapa Know Best?
SPIRITS 95
The Philippines' Don Papa Rum is attempting to give the traditional Caribbean drops a run for their money in Asia, discovers Nick Walton.
Y
ou could be forgiven for initially thinking
Despite the murmuring of rumophiles, Don Papa has pleased
Don Papa Rum was a brand as old as the
palates across the globe, picking up a pool room’s worth of
sugarcane plantations that dot the Caribbean.
awards in the process, including Silver in Best Execution at the
With its savvy, award-winning packaging and
Los Angeles International Spirits Competition; double gold at
dark, seductive hue, sippers might never guess that the spirit
the San Francisco International Spirits Competition; and First
not only comes from the Philippines, but that it only launched
Place at the Dieline Awards, although most of its accolades
in 2012. However, Don Papa is making significant headway
were bestowed on the Don Papa ten years.
among rum lovers, both new and established, while also courting more than a little controversy in the process.
Whether you consider Don Papa a rum or not is between you and your bartender, but there’s no doubt that its vanilla-forward
Created by the Bleeding Heart Rum Company of Manila, Don
flavour profile, accented by touches of honey and candied fruit,
Papa is a small-batch, single-island spirit produced using the
has been created to reach whole new ‘rum’ audiences, in Asia
natural sugarcane of the exotically-named Philippines island
and further afield. In the words of David Marsland from Drinks
of Negros Occidental, which is famed for the fertility of its
Enthusiast “keep an eye out for the name, it seems that rums
volcanic soil. Aged for seven years (or for a decade in the
from all over the world are catching on to the palates of the
case of Don Papa 10 years) in American oak barrels in the
consumers. Who needs the Caribbean when you have the
foothills of the island’s Mt Kanlaon, the spirit is then charcoal
Philippines?”
filtered to remove any tannins and impurities, before being blended.
“We are quite pleased with the growth of Don Papa Rum and the warm reception it had received from both trade and consumers
Notice how I’m not using the word ‘rum’ all that much? That’s
alike in the markets we have entered,”” says Bleeding Heart
because while Don Papa – named for the Negros native
Rum Company founder Stephen Carroll. “We are quite excited
and Philippines revolutionary hero Dionisio Magbuelas,
that now as we enter our fifth year we are achieving a new
better known locally as ‘Papa’ Isio – has an ever-increasing
milestone with the introduction to the US market. The
fan base, this isn’t a purist’s rum, thanks to claims of added
introduction of Don Papa ten-year old further enhances the
glycerol and sugars. True rum connoisseurs may pick up on a
liquor experience.”
certain synthetic nature when they first try Don Papa, but for the majority of sippers – especially those whipping up a Dark
In the end, with rum regulations as they are, it’s all down to
n’ Stormy or the like – this is simply a rum with more of the
personal preference, but don’t be surprised if you increasingly
sweetness they’re looking for in a spirit.
see The Don gracing the shelves of your favourite cocktail bar before long. www.donpaparum.com www.jetsetter.hk
96
MINIBAR
Spirits
Communing with
Japanese whisky gurus Suntory has released tHe
CHita, a brand
new single grain whisky that reflects the misty, calm seas of the Chita
For lovers of caffeine with a kick, Conker Spirit’s CoLd
breW Coffee LiQueur is the perfect addition to any coffee cocktail. Made by the
New Zealand craft distillers Karven now produce a exceptional gin that’s made using a unique ‘gravity-flow’ process.
karven dry Gin, which
is made in small batches of just 100
Peninsula, near Nagoya. Mild enough
producers of award-winning Dorset
for those easing their way into the
Dry Gin, the new addition promises a
individually-numbered bottles, is just
world of Japanese whisky, yet complex
departure from overly sweetened coffee
the ticket for spring cocktails thanks to
enough to be engaging and intriguing,
‘flavoured’ liqueurs. Designed to bring
its blend of eight organic botanicals,
the new dram is the creation of chief
out the true dark and rich complexities
which include grapefruit, lemon myrtle,
blender Shinji Fukuyo, who aged his
of espresso, Cold Brew lets the coffee
cinnamon and native manuka flower. Half
grain whisky in wine, Spanish oak and
beans do the talking, capturing the
of the botanicals are hand foraged from
American white oak barrels to create
true taste of freshly roasted coffee in
the orchids which surround the Auckland
a spirit that’s delicate, with a clean,
a liqueur by mastering the complex
distillery. The gin contains no additives
bright finish that lingers. Ideally suited
balancing act of roasting, blending
and is produced with GMO-free grain
for premium whisky cocktails as well
and brewing. The result of a year’s
alcohol as a base, with pure artesian
as neat, the Chita single grain whisky
experimentation and 96 recipes, Conker
water sourced from a private aquifer
has created a complex, dark and fruity
nearby. Look out for classic juniper notes
of mint and honey on the palate and
brew using Brazilian and Ethiopian
followed by a burst of fresh citrus and
subtle bittersweet notes on the finish.
beans from Beanpress Coffee Co, which
touches of spice at the end.
www.whisky.suntory.com
are brewed cold so as not to extract any
www.karven.co.nz
features a bright gold hue, with touches
of the acidic, bitter elements. www.conkerspirit.co.uk www.jetsetter.hk
MINIBAR 97
From award-winning whiskies to small-batch brilliance, these are the spirits keeping us warm this winter. By Nick Walton
Drawing from the rarest and most precious stocks of the distillery,
For true rum connoisseurs, PaPÁ andrÉS 2015 aLeGria edition from Dominican
Named Whisky Advocate's 2017
Whisky of the Year, eLiJaH CraiG barreL Proof
tHe SinGLeton of GLen ord 41-year-oLd
Republic-based distillers Brugal takes
is a small batch, 12-Year-Old Bourbon
whisky, the first of the Forgotten Drop
the rum experience to a whole new
bottled straight from the barrel three
Series, represents the oldest liquid
level. With a price tag of US$1,500,
times per year, allowing the nose,
the Highlands distillery has released
this glorious spirit was created by
taste, and finish to be preserved in
since it was founded 180 years ago.
Jassil Villanueva, Brugal’s master
their simplest form. Named for the
Bottled at a cask strength of 49.9%
blender, using rum from 36 oak casks
Reverend Elijah Craig, a bourbon
ABV to help reveal its complex
– including those which once contained
pioneer who is credited with being the first distiller to age his whiskey
character, and limited to just 600
Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry,
bottles, this truly exquisite whisky
and American whiskey – all of which
in charred oak barrels, Elijah Craig
is the creation of master of malts
were part of the company’s extensive
Barrel Proof is made with local corn
Maureen Robinson, who selected old,
private reserve. Presented in a heavy
and grains which are milled and mixed
predominantly refill American oak
crystal decanter from Spanish designer
with limestone-rich Kentucky spring
casks that showcased the signature
Javier Mariscal, Papá Andrés 2015
water, before being fermented and
rich and balanced distillery character,
Alegria Edition is packed with flavour,
distilled. Look for rich oak and maple
but offered something entirely unique
from spice and touches of caramel, to
on the nose, followed by touches of
and exceptional. The result is an
hints of vanilla that linger at the finish.
heat and dry oak on the palate, and a
outstanding and rare expression with
moderately long finish laced with spice.
incredible depth. www.malts.com
www.elijahcraig.com
www.jetsetter.hk
98
TOP TABLES
SATING
THE SOUL Fans of tequila’s blue-collar brother Mezcal will love Coa, which recently opened in Hong Kong’s Noho neighbourhood. The city’s first Oaxacan-themed cocktail bar, Coa is the creation of award-winning mixologist Jay Khan, who envisioned a chic
With specialist cocktail bars and luxury burgers, Asia’s hottest tables already have all we need for a great festive season ahead. By Nick Walton
shrine to the agave spirits of Mexico. Showcasing an enviable selection of rare libations, some of which are not available anywhere else in Asia, the new bar takes its name from the traditional tool used to harvest the agave plant. Reminiscent of a traditional Oaxacan tavern, Coa is a rustic yet elegant hideaway, where the intrepid can explore a comprehensive menu of agave spirits (there’s even one distilled with iguana meat) or sip on a selection of inspired cocktails, including the signature Caffeinated Negroni, with Don Amado Rustico mezcal,
Master’s
gin,
coffee-infused
Mancino
Blanco
vermouth, and Aperol. Leave room for bar snacks like Fries with Mexican Spices, and homemade guacamole with tortilla chips. https://coa.com.hk/
Get a taste of New York at Gowings Bar & Grill this summer when guest chef Jean-Paul Lourdes descends on QT Sydney. Fresh from Nomad in New York, Lourdes will inspire the restaurant's culinary team to create delicious plates crafted in collaboration with some of Australia’s top producers and artisans, from Rangers Valley and Cape Grim beef to Palmers Island seafood and Sonoma single origin bread. The Gowings menu remains true to its heritage, whilst also drawing on Lourdes' rich gastronomic experience. Virtually everything served is hand-crafted by the team, and often incorporates the bounty of QT Sydney’s rooftop garden and bee hives. New additions to the menu include Rangers Valley 1kg New York bone steaks; roasted snapper with slipper lobster and Persian saffron; and Portuguese octopus served with chorizo. www.qthotelsandresorts.com www.jetsetter.hk
KHAO by Four Seasons has opened at the hotel group’s Chiang Mai property, delivering a culinary journey through Northern Thailand, Burma and Yunnan. KHAO finds its inspiration in Thailand’s long-standing love affair with rice, or khao; nestled amid emerald paddy fields, this new all-day dining destination is a fitting tribute to the magical grain that has nourished the Mae Rim valley and beyond for millennia. Helmed by chefs Anchalee Luadkham and Rada Phanpung, KHAO presents rare, unique and traditional dishes given a modern touch. Some of the rare dishes on the menu are impossible to find even in local restaurants. Highlights include Yam Pla Fu, a northern delicacy of crispy local catfish and tangerine; Goong Mae Narm Yang, grilled giant river prawns, procured from local hill tribes, with seaweed caviar; and Maw Din, tender pork and vegetables, slowly simmered in an earthenware pot. The menu is also laced with an abundance of fresh ingredients sourced from the Royal Project. www.fourseasons.com
TOP TABLES 99 The final concept to launch at the multi-faceted Publico complex at The Quayside, Publico Ristorante has opened its doors overlooking the Singapore River, with interiors inspired by a modern Italian church, and a menu packed with bold Italian flavours. Dressed in intricate masonry, bold geometric granite floors, and furniture by New York’s AvroKO firm, Publico Ristorante takes its inspiration from the al fresco piazzas which dot Italy’s coastline, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a leafy terrace setting the scene for the cuisine of executive chef Marco Turatti. Look out for signature dishes like Risotto “alla Milanese” with saffron, pecorino cheese and red wine reduction; and wood fired pizzas including the Baci e Ricotto, with homemade tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, smoked scamorza, shavings of pork belly, and crumbled ricotta. Match your dishes with a curated wine list that whisks diners through Italy’s greatest wine regions. www.publico.sg
Following the trend towards speakeasy cocktail bars, the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is set to welcome a new mixology concept in collaboration with iconic New York watering hole PDT (Please Don’t Tell). Regularly voted among the world’s best bars, PDT has long been a favourite of New Yorkers who enjoy its intimacy, distinctive interiors, and creative cocktails developed by renowned mixologists Jim Meehan, Jeff Bell and their talented bar team. Opening early in 2018, PDT HK will be the first permanent PDT outside New York City and will fuse interiors by Hong Kong’s Nelson Chow with signature cocktails from the Big Apple and a host of season-driven libations inspired by the Fragrant Harbour. www.mandarinoriental.com
Monegasque burger sensation Grubers has opened its first branch outside the principality. Grubers Hong Kong, located at Kowloon East’s Telford Plaza, delivers a fresh and refined take on the humble hamburger that has made the burger joint a household name in Monaco, a city state world-renowned for its sense of quality and luxury living. Grubers promises to revolutionise the way Hong Kongers view the cheeseburger; using the freshest quality produce, including French grass-fed beef, each Gruber patty is infused with selected ingredients – from Argentinian chimichurri and Mexican jalapeno peppers, to French truffles and fresh mushrooms – ensuring more evenly blended and intense flavours with less mess. Each of these delicious patties is then matched with its own signature sauce, to amplify flavours and texture in the perfect balance. More than just a burger joint, Grubers Hong Kong also features a wise choice of chilled draft beers, including Hong Kong Yau Pale Ale, as well as classic cocktails like the Aperol Spritz, the Moscow Mule, the Americano, and the Garibaldi. www.ilovegrubers.hk
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100
WISHLIST
MIGHTIER THAN THE
SWORD
Montblanc has once again turned to the history books for inspiration for its newest writing collection. Named for Hannibal Barca, considered one of the greatest military commanders of antiquity alongside Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great, the new High Artistry collection features the use of several outstanding techniques, from stone cutting and setting to granulation lacquering. Limited to just one piece worldwide and with a price of €1.5 million (US$1.18 million), the High Artistry Homage to Hannibal Barca Limited Edition 1 features a dazzling combination of white gold and diamonds contrasting a full pave of blue sapphires. The elephant trunk clip is one of the most sophisticated ever conceived by Montblanc, with all stones individually cut and set by hand. The white gold fitting stands out against the deep blue of the sapphires on the barrel, embellished with individual rows of carée cut diamonds. Celebrating his epic journey to victory, the forepart of the writing instrument is engraved with Barca's route from Carthage to Rome. The Au750 solid gold nib is decorated with a special design representing the Carthaginian deity Baal’Hammon and adorned with two brilliant-cut diamonds. www.montblanc.com
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WISHLIST 101
A STYLE
ESSENTIAL As ideal for a day in the office as it is for that next city escape, the new Small Daniella Backpack from TUMI’s Voyageur collection marries functionality and finesse. Durable yet sophisticated, this user-friendly backpack comes in luxurious pebbled leather and is meticulously appointed with gold hardware. Large enough to accommodate daily necessities thanks to two main compartments, while maintaining a petite silhouette, this chic water-resistant backpack features multifunctional interior and exterior pockets for safeguarding personal items, a top carry handle, adjustable padded straps, and optional mirrored tags. US$275; www.tumi.com
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102
WATCHES
Montblanc has also reworked its Star Legacy Collection with the launch of the Montblanc Star Legacy Rieussec
Chronograph, a reinterpretation of the Rieussec monopusher chronograph. Inspired by the extraordinary Minerva heritage that dates back to 1858, the new timepiece features a reworked silvery-white dial and the addition of a dome over the off-centered hour-circle and titanium turning discs, which gives a three-dimensional effect. Inspired by the codes of the collection, the black Arabic numerals have been slimmed down and surrounded by a precise railway minute track. The date has been placed at 6 o’clock, while the dial has been highlighted with an elegant guilloché pattern in places, azuré finishing in the centre of the hour-circle, and a filet sauté guilloché decoration that runs around the dial. Classic blued leaf-shaped hands complete the overall design.
FOR HIM
& HER
Montblanc pleases both sexes with two captivating new timepiece collections
Femininity and authenticity shine through in the newest addition to the brand’s Bohème Collection, the Montblanc Bohėme
ExoTourbillon Jewellery Motif Serpent Limited Edition 18 is presented in harmonious shades of purple. Available in a choice of 18-karat red gold or 18-karat white gold, the new model includes a dial that features intricate gem-setting, miniature gold-work and hand-painted lacquer, all on a delicate backdrop of white mother-of-pearl. The refined craftsmanship continues across the case, which boasts slightly curved faceted horns, sculpted onion crowns, and bezels set with sparkling diamonds. A closer look reveals the Bohėme design details, such as leaf-shaped hands and floral Arabic numerals that all attest to the attention to detail that goes into the creation of each and every Montblanc Bohème timepiece.
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WATCHES 103
The iconic “flight captain’s chronograph” takes off again with the Breitling Chronoliner B04, a ‘boutique only’ limited edition release. With a striking 18-karat gold case, blue dial and ceramic bezel, the new model, limited to just 250 pieces, features a Manufacture Breitling Caliber B04 endowed with an extremely functional dual timezone system. Designed to accurately measure flight times while juggling with changing timezones, the new Chronoliner B04 features a main hours hand that can be adjusted to local time by simply pulling out the crown and turning it either way in onehour increments. This can be done without losing any precision in terms of the minutes and while automatically adjusting the date in either direction. Meanwhile, the red-tipped hand keeps track of home time in 24-hour mode, thereby serving to distinguish between day and night. The ultra-hard, scratch-resistant ceramic rotating bezel displays a third timezone, also in 24-hour mode, making this unique model just the ticket for a long-haul flight around the world.
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104
GREAT OUTDOORS Staying warm is a fundamental to outdoor adventure and the new Super Chockstone Hooded Jacket from outdoor clothing gurus Mountain Hardwear will ensure the elements are kept at bay. The Super Chockstone Hooded Jacket is a redesigned 2.5-layer shell with four-way stretch, making it ideal for climbers. The jacket’s low-profile hood is designed to be worn under a helmet, while reengineered set-in sleeves and under arm gussets make reaching that next hold easier. Built with all the features of a hardshell, but with the liberation found in a softshell, the Chockstone Hooded Jacket features an abrasion-resistant, air-permeable doubleweave as well as harness and pack-compatible pockets. www.mountainhardwear.com
Clean water is another essential when you’re exploring far from home. Fortunately, Seattlebased Grayl has created a 16oz water filtration cup that gives you peace of mind and a drink in one light-weight package. Designed similar to a French Press, this revolutionary cup is made up of two vessels – press one cup into the other and out comes safe, portable drinking water, 99.9 percent free of viruses, bacteria, arsenic, lead, pesticides and protozoa. There’s no batteries, no UV lights, and you don’t have to suck or pump, just press for approximately 20 seconds and drink. There’s also no leakage, making Grayl an essential when you’re hitting the hiking trails or heading further abroad. The creation of entrepreneur Nancie Weston, Grayl uses advanced G3+ filtration technology and refillable cartridges, each good for up to 300 filtered portions, ensuring whatever resides in the local aqua doesn’t end up residing in you. US$60; www.thegrayl.com
ROuGH &
READY
Stay warm and hydrated with these new adventure essentials www.jetsetter.hk
106
TECHNOLOGY
From pint-sized headphones to state-ofthe-art SLRs, these are the perfect stocking stuffers for tech lovers. By Nick Walton For fans of wireless technology B&O Play has unveiled the Beoplay
E8, which combines industry leading sound with a seamless design. The splash and dust resistant Beoplay E8 is designed for an effortless listening experience on the move. Simply take the earphones out of the premium leather charging case, tap on the aluminium encircled touch interface and you are set up to listen to music, switch between tracks, take calls, and activate Transparency Mode and voice commands. With everything controlled by the intuitive touch interface on the earphones, you don’t have to take your smartphone out of your pocket. While the ear buds offer up to four hours of music on one charge, the pocket-friendly charging case provides two additional charges, ensuring the music never has to stop. www.beoplay.com The first action camera to feature built-in image stabilisation, the
Revl Arc takes capturing your adventures to the next level. The crowdfunded action camera uses a motorised gimble to ensure the camera lens stays level, no matter what you’re up to. Boasting a 12-megapixel image sensor made by Sony, and the ability to capture 4k video and 30 frames per second and 1080p at 120 frames a second, the camera is shock and waterproof without a housing, and If you’re looking for a compact yet powerful digital camera, Fujifilm has released the Fujifilm X-E3, the latest addition to the X Series of mirrorless cameras. Featuring an APS-C 24.4-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III sensor and the brand’s X-Processor Pro highspeed image processing engine, the X-E3 also has Bluetooth connectivity allowing it to be paired with a tablet or smartphone; a static touchscreen LCD monitor with Touch Shot and Touch AF features; and an enhanced autofocus to ensure moving subjects remain sharp. www.fujifilm.com www.jetsetter.hk
features a replaceable battery, one-button recording, and wifi and Bluetooth connectivity. https://revl.com/
TECHNOLOGY 107 Nikon’s newest full-frame game changer for true photography enthusiasts is the D850, an optimised combination of high resolution and high-speed performance. The D850’s effective pixel count of 45.7 megapixels and ISO range of 64-25,600 makes this powerful system a wildlife photographers new best friend. Capable of high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 7 fps (or 9fps with the optional battery grip), the new D850 adopts the same high-speed, high-precision 153-point AF system used by the D5 to offer greater certainty of capturing moving subjects, especially when coupled with the new backside illumination Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor and the latest image-processing engine, EXPEED 5. The D850 also takes full-frame 4K UDH video as well as 8k timelapses, making it the ultimate creative tool for photographers of all persuasions. www.nikon.com Next time you decide to venture off the beaten path, avoid the embarrassment British explorer Benedict Allen endured when he recently became lost in Papua New Guinea, with one of the savvy inReach devices from Garmin. The inReach SE+ and the inReach Explorer + are Garmin’s first devices with inReach satellite communication technology. With pole-topole coverage through the global Iridium satellite network, the two new devices offer two-way messaging and SOS alerting with the press of a button. Both models include a built-in GPS for location tracking and basic navigation, and the inReach Explorer+ adds preloaded TOPO maps, a compass, a barometric altimeter and an accelerometer. With flexible subscription packages that can be paused when you’re not on the road, travellers can send and receive text messages to any cell phone number or email address, even when out of cellular range, making the devices a smart choice for that next safari or Arctic cruise. www.garmin.com
British speaker gurus Bowers & Wilkins has launch PX, the company’s first noise cancelling wireless headphones. Boasting drive units derived from the company’s P9 Signature headphones, offering best-in-class sound quality, the new PX model responds intelligently to the wearer’s behavior – pick them up and they’ll switch on automatically and start playing. A smart suspension system allows the PX to produce the precision required for great high frequencies up to 30kHz, as well as the compliance needed for deep and dynamic bass, while the active noise cancelling function has been refined to provide optimum isolation without ‘crushing’ the music. The headphones feature the latest aptX HD Bluetooth technology, and offer full digital audio through a USB connection. www.bowers-wilkins.com www.jetsetter.hk
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE DOG IN MACAO
From breathtaking firework displays to bustling markets bursting with festive goodies, Chinese New Year is celebrated with much momentum in Macao
T
he Year of the Dog is almost upon us, and Macao is readying itself for Chinese New Year, the most momentous date of the year on the Chinese calendar. A time for friends and family to come together, this much-loved holiday is celebrated with a host of time-honoured traditions, including a family reunion dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year and the handing out of lucky money in red “Lai Si” packets.
To welcome in the coming new year, red lanterns throng the streets, while auspicious red couplets are pasted on doors to bring good luck. Many Chinese will buy new clothes prior to the new year, with red being a favourite colour. Tangerines and orange trees are also displayed in many homes and businesses as a sign of luck and wealth, and locals line up to make offerings to deities at the city’s temples to ensure their good luck for the year ahead.
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
In 2018, the first day of the Year of the Dog, or Lunar New Year’s Day, will fall on Friday 16 February. To mark this important occasion, Macao will host a Chinese New Year Parade, a Chinese Lunar New Year market, a flower market and fireworks during the Lunar New Year holiday, which takes place from 16-19 February this year.
The Ruins of St. Paul before heading to Senado Square, Lilau Square, A-Ma Temple, and Sai Van Lake Square.
As another highlight, the God of Fortune, the Gods of Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity, the 12 Chinese zodiac mascots, an entourage boy and girl as well as dragon and lion dance teams and Macao Tourism ambassadors will be around town to wish residents and visitors a happy Lunar New Year while Before the festivities begin, locals and tourists alike can distributing “Lai Si” and other souvenirs. stock up on special Chinese New Year goodies at the Lunar New Year Market held at Tap Seac square, which is Celebrate the Year of the Dog in style with a visit to Macao this February. decked out with beautiful Chinese New Year decorations, including lanterns and festive displays. There’s also the www.macaoourism.gov.mo chance to pick out some fragrant blooms – plum blossom for courage and water narcissus for good luck – and shop for festive snacks, decorations and gifts at the Macau Flower 18/02/2018 - 08:00 PM - 10:00 PM Market. Both markets will be held from 8-15 February this Route: year. Sai Van Lake Square - Macao Science Center
Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Dog
Fireworks will illuminate the sky and firecrackers will ward off evil spirits from 15-20 February on the Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen near Macau Tower, and at the Estrada Almirante Marques Esparteiro in Taipa, near the bay shore. The “Parade of Gigantic Golden Dragon” on the first day of Lunar New Year will begin in the historic district of the
24/02/2018 - 8:00 PM - 09:30 PM
Route: Rua Norte do Patane - Iao Hon Market Garden
Lunar New Year Market
Tap Seac square Macau Flower Market and traditional products 08/02/2018 - 14/02/2018 -9:00 AM - 12:00AM 15/02/2018 - 9:00AM - 2:00AM
Iao Hon 08/02/2018 - 14/02/2018 - 9:00AM - 10:00PM 15/02/2018 - 9:00AM - 12:00AM
Firecrackers and fireworks authorizes areas Macao: Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen near Macao Tower Taipa: Estrada Almirante Marques Esparteiro near Taipa bay shore 15/02/2018 - 12:00 PM - 1:00.AM 16/02/2018 -20/02/2018 - 10:00AM - 12:00AM
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
MOUTH WATERING MACAO Macao’s new status as a member city of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is set to bring new opportunities for the city
A
delicious mix of culinary influences from East and West, Macao is a melting pot of mouth watering dishes, from juicy pork chop buns to creamy Portuguese egg tarts. Given the city’s unique culture, heritage and gastronomy, it’s no surprise that the city was recently crowned a member city of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy.
stakeholders in gastronomy and those in other creative sectors to explore how food and culture can come together to diversify the economy. This will not only broaden the creative capacity in gastronomy but also enable Macao to collaborate with other UCCN members in different creative areas to experiment with synergistic initiatives, such as gastronomy and film, music, design and so on.
The designation of Macao as a member city of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is poised to bring new opportunities for the city to diversify the economy, with gastronomy as a driver to preserve Macao’s cultural identity.
In terms of exchange, the network is expected to inspire and broaden Macao’s creative capacity in gastronomy by learning from member cities’ best practices and experiences while fostering more opportunities for global cooperation with UCCN cities.
Launched in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network was created to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable development. Aligned with UCCN’s mission and objectives, Macao expects the designation to boost the sustainable development of the city in terms of inheritance, creativity and exchange.
Macao is the third city in China to join UCCN in the field of gastronomy after Chengdu and Shunde entered the network in 2010 and 2014 respectively. By becoming a member city of UCCN, Macao will be actively engaged in a series of activities conducted by Creative Cities of Gastronomy and other creative fields.
In terms of inheritance, the designation is set to endorse the global recognition of more than 400 years of culinary legacy, aiming to pique the interest of the younger generation in gastronomic culture, especially in Macanese cuisine, and providing the right conditions for traditional food culture, such as street stalls and markets, to carry on thriving.
In support of this milestone designation, Macao will organise an annual international gastronomy forum, enhance vocational training, participate in global exchange events organised by Creative Cities, and establish a management unit that comprises to implement and supervise all the projects undertaken. All initiatives will correspond to the UCCN mission of using creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development.
As for its creative impact, the designation is expected to stimulate
www.macaotourism.gov.mo
BEAUTY TRAVEL 111
A dual post-shave solution for timestrapped gents, the Eucalyptus and Agave 2-In-1 Moisturiser and Aftershave by John Masters Organics is a toner and moisturiser with antioxidation and collagen stimulating properties. Formulated with seven organic ingredients, including eucalyptus oil and guarana, which reduce bacteria on the skin and help prevent inflammation, as well as agave extract and algae, which provide sufficient hydration for firmer and younger-looking skin, this travel-size product is a daily grooming essential that keeps your skin moisturised and healthy. www.johnmasters.com
Lightweight and fast-absorbing, Tom Ford’s Oil-Free Daily Moisturiser is the ultimate skin hydration formula for every well-kept man. Ideal for use daily without having your complexion feeling or looking greasy, this hydrating and conditioning solution helps reduce redness on the face and provides skin with essential nutrients, while its soothing and nourishing butter leaves skin looking refreshed and rejuvenated all day. www.tomford.com
Start your day fresh with these travel-friendly men’s products designed to keep your complexion moisturised and healthy on the road. By Isabelle Lui
Specifically formulated for men’s skin, Kiehl’s new Age
Defender Moisturiser is a firming, anti-aging, and revitalising balm. Containing vitamin-rich linseed extract, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins, combined with caffeine and soy protein, this moisturiser helps combat signs of ageing and improves skin’s elasticity and firmness. The solution’s capryloyl salicylic acid content reduces fine lines and wrinkles on the complexion, and exfoliates dead cells for smoother and more energised skin. www.kiehls.com
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112
AUTO
INSPIRED BY THE PAST, DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE It’s been 47 years since Land Rover launched the original Range Rover. Almost half a century later, that spirit of innovation continues with the introduction of the fourth member of the Range Rover family, the Velar.
www.jetsetter.hk
AUTO 113
O
ne of the most anticipated SUVs to be
Refined for every occasion and for various terrains, the Range
launched this year, the 2018 Range Rover
Rover Velar uses unique sustainable materials and advanced
Velar has all the glamour we’ve come to
engineering to continue Land Rover’s drive to go above and
expect from the noble beast, as well as plenty
beyond. The most aerodynamically-inclined model in the
of power and a host of new features that are
lineup (which isn’t saying all that much given the brand’s
sure to impress; in fact, elegant simplicity, a visually reductive
iconic boxy lines), the Velar features new specially-designed
approach, and all-new consumer technologies have become
air channels in the rear spoiler to help reduce drag as well as
the hallmarks of the new Range Rover Velar.
the accumulation of dirt on the rear screen.
The Velar takes its name from one of the first Range Rover
Other highlights include the marque’s Terrain Response 2
prototypes, a model that dates back to the 1960s. When
system which offers all terrain progress control and additional
development engineers needed to hide the true identity of
traction when you’re heading off piste; a new Touch Pro Duo
the 26 pre-production Range Rover vehicles – which are now
infotainment system accessed through two high-definition
considered the pioneers of the luxury SUV landscape – they
10-inch touchscreens; deployable door handles; Matrix
chose the name Velar, derived from the Latin ‘velare’ meaning
Laser-LED headlights; numerous driver assistant systems
to veil or cover. The new model has already been dubbed the
including adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency
‘avant-garde’ Range Rover thanks to its enhanced refinement,
braking; and a choice of six engines, including a six-cylinder
and will fit snuggly between existing models the Evoque and
turbocharged petrol version, which produces 221kW of power
the larger Sport.
and can propel this graceful stead from zero to hero in 5.7 seconds. www.landrover.com
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114
CULTURE
LOUVRE
ABU DHABI The much-anticipated Middle East outpost of Paris’ acclaimed Louvre Museum has opened
on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island. After a decade of development, the museum, housed in a stunning building by French architect Jean Nouvel, features 12 chapters across its galleries, special exhibition spaces, and dedicated children’s museum, while also boasting an auditorium, restaurants, retail and research hubs. Wreathed by the waters of the Persian Gulf, the museum’s buildings are connected by waterfront promenades beneath the museum’s stunning dome. The Louvre Abu Dhabi has developed a rich collection of works originating from throughout human history and around the world, brought together to highlight universal themes and influences. To date, the new museum has acquired more than 600 artworks, exhibited alongside 300 works on loan from 13 leading French institutions. www.louvreabudhabi.ae
www.jetsetter.hk