the greatest show on ice:
The safest place on earth?
Racing on White Turf at St. Moritz
Get ready to visit New Zealand
SINGAPORE SWING THE LION CITY PREPARES FOR A NEW DAWN
PEOPLE
PLACES
PROPERTY
PLAY
A Legendary Welcome. An Iconic Destination.
1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673 + 65 6337 1886 singapore@raffles.com www.rafflessingapore.com
Denis Fahy
denis@jetsetter-magazine.com Publisher
Helen Dalley
helen.dalley@jetsetter-magazine.com Managing Editor
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Nick Walton
Contributing Editor
Don Pierre Riosa
don@jetsetter-magazine.com Art Director
Paul Lo
paul.lo@jetsetter-magazine.com General Manager (Shanghai)
T
Robyn Tucker-Peck he year of the Ox is around the corner and while we’re still far from back to normal
extraordinarily well is New Zealand, and with most of its greatest attractions found in nature, many are here at Jetsetter we remain perpetually planning future trips there. Robyn Tucker-Peck reports optimistic for a better, more adventurous year in on attractions like the new All-Blacks experience and 2021. Whether you’ve booked a trip for the next we also cast the spotlight on the country’s best new few months or are still feeling that it’s not the right hotels and wine tours. Find out more on p82. time, we hope to provide you with some inspiration Elsewhere in the mag, we interview a couple of for future travels. intrepid sailors, Ana & John, to discover what it’s really Love a snowy story? This issue, Nick Walton reports on like to be out on the open seas during a pandemic St. Moritz’s legendary White Turf event, where a frozen for a new column, Explorer (p80). We also grill Girish lake becomes the world’s only racecourse on ice and Jhunjhnuwala, CEO of Ovolo Hotels, on his bold steeds thunder past a jetset crowd from this iconic decision to take meat off all menus for 12 months alpine setting. This year’s event may be postponed but late last year (p78). you can always plan ahead for February 2022. Find out more about this exhilarating experience first by With such little travel on the agenda of late, it’s the sheer delight of exploration we miss the most. For as turning to p34. the great author JRR Tolkien once opined, ‘still round Can the Lion City roar again? We certainly hope so. the corner, there may wait, a new road or secret gate.’ With an air bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong on the cards, we were keen to rediscover what The thought of getting out there and exploring once makes the city state such a great destination. From more is keeping us going at the moment, and we hope covid-friendly outdoor activities to the latest new to be packing our bags and making new journeys very restaurant openings, get some inspiration for your soon. next Sing trip on p58. Here’s hoping there will be much more travelling for One country that’s handled the pandemic us all in 2021 after too much time at home in 2020!
Contributing Editor
Darryl Scott
d.scott@jetsetter-magazine.com Advertising Director
Fatima Cameira
fatima@jetsetter-magazine.com Marketing Director John Murphy john@jetsetter-magazine.com Advertising Director (Thailand)
Tammy Fong
tammy@jetsetter-magazine.com Travel Industry Relationship Director
Laurence James
laurence.james@jetsetter-magazine.com Chief Representative, Europe JETSETTER is registered as a newspaper & periodical. JETSETTER is published by Jetsetter Ltd JETSETTER is printed by Jetsetter Ltd Suite A, 14/F Bangkok Bank Building, 28 Des Voeux Rd, Central, Hong Kong Level 8 Tower 2 Jing An Kerry Centre, 1515 Nanjing West Road Jing’an District Shanghai, China 200041 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-5706 Valley Cottage, NY 10989 USA
Helen Dalley
Tel +852 2885 7885
Managing Editor
CONTRIBUTORS Robyn-Tucker Peck
brings more than 30 years’ magazine experience working in London, Chicago, Hong Kong and Vancouver for magazines including Cosmopolitan, Tatler and Homes & Gardens. Her feature on New Zealand (p82) may well inspire you to book a future trip to a country that’s confidently dealt with the pandemic.
Jetsetter-Magazine.com
Denis Fahy,
Jetsetter’s publisher, has been based in Hong Kong since 1988 and established the magazine in 2009. In this issue, he reviews Southeast Asian eatery Monsoon, the second Hong Kong restaurant from celebrity chef Will Meyrick, on page 98.
Jetsetter Magazine
Jetsetter.hk
All rights reserved. Copyright and distribution rights are reserved exclusively for Jetsetter Ltd, their partners, associates and affiliates. All materials published remain the property of the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission. All information contained in this publication is from a reliable source. Jetsetter Ltd does not make any guarantees to the accuracy of the information contained.
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CONTENTS 58
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CITY GUIDE
in Hong Kong purpose-built for the era of COVID-19. We interview its founder, Simon Wilson
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The best art galleries, fine dining joints and swimming pools in a city that’s big on buzz
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Meat off the Menu
Smoke & Barrel brings old-school American barbecue to Hong Kong, says chef & co-owner Arron Rhodes
Shenzhen
FEATURE
White Turf Nick Walton reports on St. Moritz’s legendary White Turf competition, where horses race on ice in front of a jetset crowd
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FEATURE
The Lion City’s New Dawn With an air bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong on the cards, we rediscover the city-state, from heritage tours and the great outdoors to indie boutiques, eats and beats
76
INSIDER
Socially Distanced Entertainment The Grounds is the first recreational space
INSIDER
Lifelong vegetarian and CEO of Ovolo Hotels Girish Jhunjhnuwala explains why all its F&B outlets have gone meat-free for 12 months
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EXPLORER
IN THE KITCHEN
Up in Smoke
98
RESTAURANT REVIEW Playful Plates
Denis Fahy samples sumptuous southeast Asian fare at Monsoon in Hong Kong, the latest offering from celeb chef Will Meyrick
Living the Dream What’s it like sailing round the world during a pandemic? We ask a couple who are doing just that
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FEATURE
A Safe Haven From a new All-Blacks experience to exhilarating eco adventures, Robyn TuckerPeck rounds up the best of New Zealand Cover photo courtesy of the Singapore Tourism Board
ROOM WITH A VIEW
AFRICAN
BEAUTY
Check into the Hilltop Ocean View Suite at the Four Seasons Seychelles and you may never want to leave…
L
ocated on the southwest coast of Mahé, the granite-filled main island of the Seychelles renowned for its white powder beaches and dramatic rock formations, the Hilltop Ocean View Suite at the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is dreamy enough to get even the most strained of relationships back on track. Equipped with a wraparound plunge pool overlooking Petite Anse Bay, a horseshoe-shaped beach lapped by turquoise waters, the suite’s elevated position is the perfect place from which to hit the reset button. Measuring in at 168 sqm, the suite sleeps up to four depending on whether you opt for a king or queen bed set-up, while floor-toceiling glass windows in each of the bedrooms and living room terrace on the second level capitalise on those unforgettable vistas. What to do while you’re here? Hire a surfboard and hang ten in small tropical waves from this crowdfree spot, visit the Takamaka rum distillery located nearby, or spend an evening at Club Liberte, a boutique casino adjacent to the resort with private gaming rooms, bar and restaurant. fourseasons.com
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ROOM WITH A VIEW
Swim, surf or simply take in the views at the
Four Seasons Seychelles
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INTRODUCING
Bangkok-based studio P49 oversaw the design at
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok
THAI STYLINGS
C
Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok represents the brand’s first foray into Southeast Asia
Christian Develter and a bar stocked with mixes from Asia’s first premium craft-bottled cocktail brand, Laiba.
hannelling the vibrant energy of the Thai capital and featuring a distinct design narrative, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok offers easy access to the heart of the city and boasts stellar views over Lumphini Park from its location in Langsuan. Inspired by Thai history and urban chic in equal measure, Bangkok-based interior design studio P49 Design juxtaposes handwoven Thai textiles and local art against raw concrete and metallic details.
The hotel has four dining venues, each defined by a cool, casual vibe. Check into Craft for single-origin coffee and eat at Thai revolving pop-up kitchens at Stock.Room, where you can also shop for groceries. Cocktail bar Ms.Jigger’s spritz and punch trollies serve sublime mixes tableside while rooftop garden/drinking spot Bar.Yard proffers rooftop barbecue alongside tiki-influenced cocktails. Wellness a priority? The gym provides nutrition consultation and workout classes, while the amaranth spa by Harnn delivers nature-inspired spa treatments, manicures and pedicures. Guests can also take a dip in the hotel’s outdoor pool and chill out to views over Lumphini Park. kimptonmaalaibangkok.com
With 362 rooms and suites including 131 serviced residences, the most spacious accommodation is the 320 sqm Celebrity Suite, with one super king and one king bed and its own jacuzzi. All rooms feature bespoke Harnn bathroom amenities, a Vifa Helsinki sound system, robes by 20
jetsetter-magazine.com
CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE STORY Use the code JSW21 and get 10% off our wedding packages in 2021
www.hotelnikkobali-benoabeach,com
INTRODUCING
OLD SCHOOL COOL
Andaz Xiamen adds class to China’s Southeast Coast Andaz Xiamen:
a modern mansion with colonial-era details
E
nvisioned as a modern mansion that riffs on the city’s cultural ties to Southeast Asia, Andaz Xiamen adds a dash of cool to this popular seaside town along China’s southeast coast. Housed in a glass structure at the MixC mall, the hotel’s graphic tiling and stained glass windows pay tribute to colonial-era Southeast Asia and celebrate the waves of emigration from this coastal spot. The 304 guest rooms, including 20 suites with separate living rooms, feature rattan-backed armchairs, woven bamboo panelling and timbre louvres, while the arched detailing and living spaces linked
by archways echo design details found in typical local homes. There are four dining options at Andaz Xiamen including No. 101 Chinese Restaurant for Minnan and Chaozhou cuisine and Hyatt’s signature Beijing duck. Over at Andaz Lounge, meanwhile, you can sample a signature ice cream made from green mango and Fujian black tea and drop in for complimentary wine, beer and locally-inspired canapes in the evenings. Stay in shape during your stay doing laps at the outdoor heated swimming pool and working out at the 24-hour fitness centre. hyatt.com
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INTRODUCING
P
lanning a trip to Cambodia soon? Then check into the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, which is set to open its doors early this year.
A DESIGN HYBRID Hyatt opens first Hotel in Cambodia
The 247-room property is situated in the heart of the Cambodian capital’s cultural and business district, Doun Penh, and within easy walking distance of the Royal Palace, National Museum and the riverside. A stylish hybrid, parts of the hotel are housed in an old colonial building while rooms are based in a modern hotel structure. Conceived by award-winning Singaporebased SCDA Architects, the interiors reflect Cambodia’s diverse heritage, with Khmer architectural accents, French colonial influences and specially-commissioned artworks by contemporary Cambodian artist FONKi. Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh will feature five dining venues including old world speakeasy-style bar the Attic and FiveFive Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, an indoor/outdoor affair overlooking the Mekong River and the Royal Palace with nightly DJ’s spinning a sonic backdrop to sustainable seafood and stylish cocktails. The Regency Club Lounge is open for complimentary refreshments to all those in club rooms and suites, and there’s also a spa, 24-hour fitness centre and outdoor swimming pool with bar – the perfect place to chill after a day’s exploring. hyatt.com
The Attic bar is housed in the eaves of the original colonial house
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INTRODUCING
SANCTUARY FOR THE SENSES
Banyan Tree Unveils New Resort in Krabi
Banyan Tree Krabi is the
Group’s fourth resort in Thailand, following properties in Phuket, Bangkok and Samui
S
ituated on Tubkaek beach and gazing out over Krabi’s legendary limestone cliffs, Banyan Tree Krabi is the first luxury hotel to open in the southwestern Thai resort in more than a decade.
expanded to include a pair of adjoining twobedroom villas to make a capacious 1,335 sqm space. Alongside its signature Thai restaurant, Saffron, other dining must-dos include Bird’s Nest, where diners can sample Thai fusion plates from one of four private tables perched among the trees. It wouldn’t be a Banyan stay without a trip to the spa, and the rainforest-themed facility offers coconut-based treatments and a pearl powder massage. Travelling with the little ones in tow? They’ll love the kids’ club, which boasts a small waterpark. banyantree.com
Surrounded by three national parks yet just a 45-minute drive from Krabi International Airport, all accommodation at the 72-room resort is beachfront-facing, beginning with the 99 sqm Deluxe Pool Villa suite with private terrace, plunge pool and jet pool. Hoping to bring friends or fam? The Presidential Villa can be reserved as a three-bedroom unit or
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INSPIRE The Fairline
Squadron 50 embraces retro stylings
SPIRIT OF THE ORIENT Sail round Hong Kong in style aboard the new Fairline Squadron 50
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een to ride the waves in a Fairline yacht just like Marlon Brando, Ernest Hemingway and Wallace Simpson once did? Then consider investing in the Fairline Squadron 50 from British yacht builder Fairline Yachts for some fun and frolics on the South China Sea. Featuring interiors from Italian designer Alberto Mancini, the yacht revives that Riviera of the Orient feel, with walnut joinery, Italian leather furnishing and white marble detailing. Featuring a wet bar and sunbed conversion on the sun deck, the Fairline Squadron 50’s substantial interior cabin space is roomy enough for socially distanced entertaining and is perfect for weekend staycations, parties and family sea days. There are also two cabins should you want to get your head down. Available to reach a top speed of 32 knots, the luxury yacht offers an elevated flybridge where you can dine (there’s also a barbecue) or simply catch the sea breeze. The Fairline Squadron 50 is also equipped with an entertainment system so you can have your favourite tunes on while you sail to your favourite Hong Kong beaches. With a history spanning more 50 years, Fairline has a reputation for its award-winning range of yachts, which are exclusively available through Simpson Marine in Hong Kong. simpsonmarine.com; fairline.com
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INSPIRE Vistajet’s Private
World programme enables off-grid travel to private islands and estates
Vistajet’s Private World programme transports members to the best hotels, private islands, yachts and ski destinations globally
A
fter an enforced hiatus from international travel, many are willing to step on a plane again even before a COVID-19 vaccine is available – and for those who can afford it, private jet travel remains an increasingly popular option. To serve this rapidly-growing sector of the luxury travel market, Vistajet has launched Private World, offering members seamless access to some of the world’s most exclusive suites, historical estates, private retreats, yachts and slopes, from New York, Hong Kong and Los Angeles to Courchevel, the Maldives and Aspen. There’s also the option to travel off-grid, with complete buyouts for estates, islands and yachts to ensure complete privacy. The Vistajet-to-Suite initiative includes The Peninsula Hotels, Four Seasons and the Dorchester Collection, including the legendary LA bolthole Hotel Bel-Air. Looking for something more private? Vistajet-to-Island grants members access to Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, available for exclusive use with 20 rooms for up to 40 guests, and Laucala Private Island,
a former coconut plantation in the South Pacific only reachable via its own private jet air strip. VistaJet-to-Slopes programme can arrange year-round adventures in Colorado at Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection in Aspen and The Collection’s L’Empyrée 1850, a 250 sqm duplex penthouse apartment in the heart of Courchevel. If yachting’s more your thing, then check out the Vistajetto-Yacht with Camper & Nicholsons, including Ocean Emerald in Thailand designed by Lord Norman Foster, and Bella in the Bahamas, a 45m Feadship motor yacht. Dreaming of a stay in a sprawling estate? Vistajet has collaborated with the Lauren Berger Collection, which features entire private property rentals globally. Highlights include Townhouse Edward on New York’s Upper East Side, a newly renovated seven-story townhouse with 11 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, and Isola Santa Cristina, a historical private island retreat only 30 minutes from Venice. vistajet.com
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CITY GUIDE – SHENZHEN
SOUTHERN BELLE From sleek hotels to myriad cultural hotspots, Shenzhen is big on buzz. Jetsetter rounds up the best galleries, fine dining and swimming pools in this vivacious city
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CITY GUIDE – SHENZHEN
Sea World Culture & Arts Center
GALLERY TOUR
Kempinski Shenzhen
The Glasshouse, Park Hyatt Shenzhen
IN THE SWIM
FINE DINING
Admire art and the gallery buildings
Dive in and enjoy the best swimming options
Savour heavenly plates at these restaurants
The He Xiangning Art Museum (hxnart.org.cn) showcases pieces by the late artist/politician of the same name, and the work on display is faithful to the traditional Chinese style: think watercolours of misty mountains, waterfalls and plum blossom, and realistic depictions of horses, lions and tigers. There are also exhibitions showcasing the works of other Chinese and international artists.
The heated outdoor pool at Grand Hyatt Shenzhen (grandhyatt.com) is located on the terrace on the third floor, alongside a sun deck, with drink and snack service available. As with any Shenzhen swimming pool, all swimmers must wear a cap. See if you can spot the Hong Kong hills while doing your lengths.
Offering 27-degree views over the CBD from its location on the 47th floor, The Glasshouse at Park Hyatt Shenzhen (hyatt.com) is a seafood lover’s dream, with sustainable and locally-caught oysters, prawn and crab on the menu. Meat lovers, meanwhile, can select a prime cut of premium Australian beef, which is cooked over charcoal in the restaurant’s Spanish Pira ovens.
The Sea World Culture & Arts Center (designsociety.cn) is home to the V&A Gallery, and the first international art gallery from the London museum, and another main gallery. The building is designed to integrate with the surrounding park and waterfront, while a roof garden offers elevated views of the park and bay below. There is a cafe, book store and museum store inside the museum.
Museum of The futuristic-looking Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition, or MOCAPE for short (coop-himmelblau.at) is the centrepiece of Futian Cultural District. Gallery spaces serve up a heavy rotation of contemporary art and design. The much more modest We Gallery (we-gallery.com), meanwhile, showcases affordable contemporary art and champions the work of up-and-coming artists. Pay a visit and see if you can discover the next Yue Minjun, or Zheng Fanzi.
Kempinski Shenzhen (kempinski.com) houses an indoor swimming pool with a ceiling illuminated by lights to make you feel like you’re swimming under the stars. The pool is heated to between 22 and 26 degrees and measures in at 22m long – plenty of space to do those lengths. You’ll be spoilt for choice at Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai (hilton.com), which has two outdoor and one indoor pools. One of the outdoor pools has Olympic-length lanes. The indoor pool has a sundeck and floor-toceiling windows overlooking the bay. Check in for a facial or massage at ISPA following your dip. The Langham Shenzhen (langhamhotels. com) has indoor and outdoor pools, with the former featuring underwater lighting and soothing music and the latter equipped with individual areas for adults and children as well as a gazebo pool bar and a hot tub.
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At Zhuo Yue Xuan at the Four Seasons Shenzhen (fourseasons.com), standout dishes include barbecued pork with honey and steamed lotus root with glutinous rice and osmanthus.The chef’s tasting menu, meanwhile, is an eight-course affair with wok-fried Boston lobster & shallots and pan-fried Wagyu beef with mushrooms among the highlights. Sample kaiseki, sushi and sashimi at Kokoni at Raffles Shenzhen (raffles.com), which features an interactive cooking space where you can watch your dishes being prepared. Craving privacy? There are five private dining rooms, which offer stunning views over the Shenzhen skyline. Savour authentic Chiu Chow, Cantonese and Sichuan plates at Xingli at the RitzCarlton Shenzhen (ritzcarlton.com) against a backdrop of classical design. There are 19 private rooms if you want to book for a special occasion.
FEATURE – ST. MORITZ
Racing takes place on a frozen lake at St. Moritz’s annual white turf event
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FEATURE – ST. MORITZ
THE RACE AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD As winter descends on St. Moritz, the world’s glamorous prepare for White Turf, one of the most historic horse racing events on the global calendar, discovers Nick Walton 35 jetsetter-magazine.com
FEATURE – ST. MORITZ
Above: ice skating is a popular pasttime in St. Moritz; Badrutt’s Palace can transport your skis up the mountain
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FEATURE – ST. MORITZ
St. Moritz remains a luxurious leitmotif, offering global power brokers, royalty, and celebrities reason to return time and time again
F
rom the windows of the Bernina Express train, St. Moritz emerges from a snowpowdered landscape from the top down. First, it’s the chair lifts of the ski slopes that tower over the Swiss village, then it’s the town’s iconic 12th century leaning church tower. Chalets in cream and egg yolk yellow lie nestled in thick snow, and the sun catches the gleaming gold lightning rods atop Badrutt’s Palace, one of Europe’s most famous hotels. St. Moritz has long been an alpine destination content with shunning the paparazzi, the flashy new money, and the ostentatiousness you’re likely to find in the likes of Zermatt and Megeve. That’s not to say St. Moritz isn’t glamorous — quite the opposite. Its breathtaking peaks and legendary après-ski scene has seduced the wealthy of Europe for generations and the alpine village continues to be a byword for luxury from Berlin to Shanghai. However, St. Moritz offers a different, more historic, and more established take on high living. If Courchevel is a yellow Lamborghini Urus, then St. Moritz is a classic Rolls-Royce Phantom, revered and polished to a loving shine. While the skiing is brilliant, the dining worldclass, and the landscapes breathtaking in both summer and winter, it has been the village’s calendar of lavish events that has allowed St. Moritz to remain relevant, beloved, and seductive. From its hosting of the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, to its invention of snow polo, and the more curious snow cricket, St. Moritz remains a luxurious leitmotif, offering global power brokers, royalty, and celebrities reason to return time and time again, to rub shoulders on the frozen lake, and to forge alliances around the dinner table.
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A REGAL ARRIVAL I’ve travelled to St. Moritz for just such an event. White Turf has been held annually over three Sundays in February since 1907 and draws crowds to the valley’s frozen lake for an equestrian carnival quite unlike any other. A marriage of modern horse racing and traditional skijöring (more on that later), White Turf is pure St. Moritz – sure, there are VIP tents, luxury car companies sponsoring champagne brunches, and the whine of private jets as they fly down the valley on their approach to St. Moritz’s tiny airport, but at the same time there’s no overt flamboyance, no misplaced decadence, no Instagrammers shamelessly posing for selfies, no ice fountains overflowing with caviar, and no ski suits emblazoned with fashion house logos (ok, not too many). Instead, billionaires, celebrities and locals alike huddle shoulder to shoulder at the edge of the racetrack, root for their favourite horses and jockeys, and embrace the beauty of their surrounds. When you do get a flash of neon or the shimmer of metallic couture from some nouveau riche ensemble, it tends to stand out like white after Labour Day, with regulars slowly but politely shaking their heads and tightening their scarfs, lest the insecurity of all that new wealth seep in like the winter chill. The ride from the train station to Badrutt’s Palace may be short but it’s done in style thanks to the hotel’s vintage Rolls-Royce Phantom, which once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. With its rich leather seats and gleaming mahogany panelling, I’m tempted to ask the driver to take another lap around town as we draw close to the hotel, its forecourt a bustle of activity as skiers depart for the slopes and couples in fur coats and felt Tyroleans arrive for a late lunch.
FEATURE – ST. MORITZ
In many ways this esteemed hotel epitomises St. Moritz to perfection. Grand, timeless, and always a hive of activity, luxury hotel Badrutt’s Palace is perched high above the lake and offers spectacular views of the towering Engadine mountains from its guest rooms, restaurants, and baronial Le Grand Hall, part lounge, part unofficial cat walk, and always a hub of sociality and supernumerary style for the alpine town.
A CELEBRITY HIDEOUT From left:
the sprint down the icy 1,300m course; spectators gather to observe the only horseracing event on ice
Few hotels boast the palace’s rich history. Officially opened by Queen Mary of Teck in 1896, Badrutt’s Palace has welcomed more than its fair share of nobility, tycoons and political leaders – some in blissful exile. Alfred Hitchcock honeymooned here and returned 34 times, while Marlene Dietrich (who used to perform in the ballroom), Audrey Hepburn, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Arden, Noël Coward, and the Shah of Iran all enjoyed nights at the hotel, many holding court in the intimate Renaissance Bar. 38 jetsetter-magazine.com
Many of these guests would arrive in late winter for the White Turf, a rather curious but undoubtedly glamorous affair that married the majesty of horseracing with the spectacular backdrop of the Swiss Alps. In preparation for the first races I wrap up and descend to the frozen lake below, where the crowds (30,000 at this year’s event) are gathering at the course’s edge and at a tented city that’s formed on the lake’s edge. Here, amid the private jet showrooms and luxury car exhibits, the champagne and oysters are already flowing, along with mulled wine, coffee, fresh pastries, and even steaming mugs of holdrio, a combination of rosehip tea, sugar and local, soul-soothing schnapps. You
FEATURE – ST. MORITZ
would never have imagined that many in the crowd had been at Badrutt’s Renaissance Bar or at iconic Chesa Veglia, a rustic restaurant operated by the hotel that’s been welcoming celebrities since the 1930s, into the early hours. The first races are conventional horseraces, with thoroughbreds and jockeys from across the globe lured by the event’s glamour, as well as its US$385,000 purse. Not all horses are suited to run on the ice, which is checked between races for its thickness and density, while others take to the 1,300-metre sprint as if they’re running across verdant pastureland. With a thunder of hooves on ice, the first race’s horses whip by, great plumes of snow in their wake, to the joy of the crowds in their fur coats and kid skin gloves.
Next up are the harness races, with jockeys riding ski mounted buggies; the races are slower but possibly more elegant as riders and steeds trot by, all rippling muscles, glistening coats and showering snow, the towering Engadine Mountains an awe-inspiring backdrop to each race. There’s a break in the racing as noon arrives and the sun emerges to warm attendees seated at alfresco tables and serenaded by jazz bands. There is a truly elegant carnival atmosphere, one that’s blissfully inclusive despite the pedigree, and that’s what makes White Turf so unique. Whether you arrived by train or private jet, whether you’re drinking Cristal or hot chocolate, everyone comes together on the ice for the thrill of the race and the chance to witness glory.
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FEATURE – ST. MORITZ
This page from top left:
a skier walks by the town hall; a pampered pooch; Badrutt’s Palace towers above traditional Swiss chalets
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FEATURE – ST. MORITZ
KING OF THE ENGADINE However, it’s the skijöring races, a touch of proud tradition amid the celebration, that draws revellers from their tables once more. Derived from the Norwegian word for “ski driving”, skijöring involves jockeys on skis pulled by unsaddled thoroughbreds who tear down the beaten ice course at 50km/ph. The 2,700m skikjöring course is a White Turf exclusive and arguably the most popular (and definitely the most dangerous) race of the event, requiring determination, agility, courage, and stamina for both horse and jockey, who are connected to their steeds by brightly coloured ribbon strips. After a series of qualifiers, the final race takes place as the crowd roars as the winning skijörer, (in this year’s case Adrian von Gunten), wins the Grand Prix Credit Suisse race on his horse Zambeso and the overall skijoring class, and is named “King of the Engadine” in a breathtaking finale to the lake’s racing events. The festivities that have made this iconic race and its frozen lake setting so famous are only just ramping up. Some in the crowd return to the catering tents and alfresco dining tables, where celebratory champagne bottles pop and the band strikes up once again, while others begin to make their way back up to the great hall at Badrutt’s Palace, where the victorious will celebrate in truly timeless style, as they have for more than a century.
With a thunder of hooves on ice, the first race’s horses whip by, great plumes of snow in their wake, to the joy of the crowds in their fur coats and kid skin gloves
On the Ritz in St. Moritz The best places for apres-ski in the alpine resort town
A jockey rides a ski mounted buggy in the harness race
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Located in the middle of town, Hauser’s Roo Bar (hotelhauser.ch) at Hotel Hauser is one legendary apres-ski hangout you won’t want to miss. Drop by in the day to sample its home-made ice cream, or check back in the evenings for local beers, mulled wine and a warm around the firepits. Fancy a singalong? Check into the Crystal Piano-Bar at the Hotel Schweizerhof (crystalhotel.ch), an intimate, wood-panelled affair that serves a St Moritzino (vodka, Cointreau, almond syrup, lemon juice). If you’re on the look-out for amazing views, then El Paradiso is the place for you. Savour a glass of champagne from a sheepskin-covered bench on the terrace while admiring the commanding vistas over Engadine Valley (el-paradiso.ch). Craving caviar, or a fine cup of coffee or tea? Make an advance booking then pull up a stool for a sampling of any three at store/cafe Glattfelder (glattfelder.ch). If you adore whisky, then sample a wee dram or two at the Devil’s Place (waldhausam-see-ch) inside the Hotel Wauldhaus, the world’s largest whisky bar with more than 2,500 varieties to choose from. – Helen Dalley
YOUR GATEWAY TO BLISSFUL LIVING Gateway Apartments deliver a level of unrivalled contemporary luxury
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ateway Apartments offer a home away from home experience in an unrivalled city location, being conveniently situated within Harbour City, Hong Kong’s largest shopping mall. Within walking distance of the Star Ferry, Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station, major five-star hotels and a host of great dining and shopping options, Residents can explore the city with ease from one of the most desirable addresses in Hong Kong. Featuring 256 units, this upscale residential complex offers a wide range of apartment types, each embracing contemporary design. All apartments are decorated to a high standard and the colour scheme features elegant creams, earthy browns and black for a modern vibe.
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Gateway Apartments deliver unrivalled vistas of Hong Kong’s prestigious skyline across Victoria Harbour from floor-to-ceiling windows in the living and dining area. The fully furnished serviced apartments are generously sized, with studios starting from 712 square feet and the Penthouse 3 Bedrooms measuring in at 2,931 square feet. While all are wisely planned to offer an optimised and spacious layout, most units even come with a closed kitchen space with gas stoves, which is a rarity among its peers. Features and amenities in all apartments include a home theatre system featuring more than 100 TV channels and free wireless broadband connection. Situated on its own pier for an air of exclusivity and offering more than 140,000 square feet of space, the Pacific Club houses a diverse range of dining options, including Chinese restaurant Bauhinia, Italian eatery Capricci and Ramen Bar for authentic Japanese noodles. The Pacific Club is home to an impressive range of sporting facilities including a 25m heated indoor swimming pool with an adjacent sun deck and Jacuzzi. Separate spas for
men and women feature saunas and steam rooms as well as a full range of spa treatments. The Club additionally houses five all-weather cushioned hard tennis courts. A gymnasium equipped with Technogym’s Kinesis System and Life Fitness cardio and strength circuit equipment is also available in the club, with personal trainers on hand to design programmes to meet Residents’ fitness goals. Kids and adults alike, meanwhile, can learn everything from taekwondo to cookery at the club’s training classes. Services at the Gateway Apartments include daily housekeeping, concierge, round-the-clock security and maintenance services. The Club also offers a kid’s pool, supervised children’s playroom with mini sports, books, art supplies and electronic game centres. With its distinct range of services and facilities, the Gateway Apartments is your passport to pampered living.
Tel: (852) 2119 3000; www.gatewayapartments.com.hk
INTO THE
BLUE
Kanuhura Maldives Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives T +960 662 0044 sales@kanuhura.com.mv www.kanuhura.com
*Terms and conditions apply
Discover Now the exceptionnal complimentary seaplane and meal plan upgrade oer*
CASTAWAY CHIC Put a luxe spin on your Robinson Crusoe fantasies with a trip to Kanuhura Maldives
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s travel has been at a standstill for most throughout 2020, many of us were left dreaming of the Maldives, with its pristine white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and colourful coral reefs. Let the dreams become a reality by checking into Kanuhura Maldives, an award-winning resort located in the Lhaviyani atoll that’s received the Forbes Travel Guide five-star award and the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice 2019 among other prestigious accolades. Encompassing three private isles, Kanuhura itself and two deserted neighbouring islands, the resort lifts barefoot luxury to a new level from the most sublime of locations. It takes a distinctly ecofriendly approach, utilising locally-sourced materials and natural light throughout. The resort’s luxury bungalows and villas are dotted along both the sunset and sunrise side of the world-famous Kanuhura beach and boast breathtaking views of the turquoise lagoon from a private wooden deck. Grandest of all is the Sanctuary Pool Villa, a three-bedroom pad with a private pool in the middle of the veranda with bar and live cooking facilities. Thanks to its picture-perfect beaches and legendary stretch of sublime sand, Kanuhura Maldives is a popular location for a destination wedding, unforgettable honeymoon or romantic break, with sunset cruises and private castaway dinners enhancing the romance. The resort is also a superb choice for families, as children can swim or snorkel safely in crystal-clear, shallow waters, go dolphin & manta spotting or check into the K-Club, which offers daily activities for children aged 4-11 including beach football and t-shirt painting. There are six culinary experiences at the
resort, including Drift, a grill restaurant set on the resort’s own secluded island of Jehunuhara and Veli, which offers a contemporary take on Maldivian cuisine. To ensure all guests can sample the many dining delights Kanuhura Maldives has to offer, the resort has just rolled out an allinclusive meal plan experience. It wouldn’t be a trip to the Maldives without at least one spa experience, and the Kokaa Wellness Retreat & Spa at Kanuhura offers a sensory journey of relaxation. There are six single treatment rooms, two double treatment rooms and one treatment suite where guests can enjoy soothing massages, while facilities include a beauty salon, outdoor beachside yoga pavilion, airconditioned gym, sauna, steam room and cold plunge pool. While it may be difficult to leave the luxurious confines of your Kanuhura Maldives villa, there are plenty of other amenities to enjoy at the resort, including a fresh water swimming pool, two floodlit tennis courts and games room. There’s also complementary bicycles should you want to explore the island on two wheels, while sunset cruises will enable you to witness this breathtaking resort from new angles. Book a trip to Kanuhura Maldives and you’ll be making an unforgettable journey to a little piece of paradise. There couldn’t be a better time to book as the resort is currently has a Fly Into the Blue offer (booking code JETM2021), which includes a complimentary seaplane for two adults and meal plan upgrade from half board to full board or full board to all-inclusive for all guests sharing a villa. The offer applies to all new bookings of five nights of more and for travel dates until 8 January 2022 subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply
kanuhura.com sales@kanuhura.com.mv
FEATURE – SINGAPORE
THE LION CITY’S NEW DAWN
The proposed Hong Kong-Singapore air travel bubble signifies that international travel is just around the corner. From hip heritage tours to new F&B hotspots, Helen Dalley presents the best of the city-state, socially-distanced style…
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FEATURE – SINGAPORE
The Singapore skyline sees Marina Bay Sands soar over Gardens by the Bay and the river
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W
hen news of an air travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore broke late last year– a world-first, no less – both cities exhaled a collective sigh of relief at the prospect of a return to international travel. And while it may have been delayed, the bubble is still slated to go ahead in early 2021. Many Hong Kongers know Singapore well, but there are new things to discover, says Juliana Kua, Singapore Tourism Board’s chief representative and executive director, Greater China. These include a new pop-up attraction, Once Upon A Time on the Orient Express at Gardens by the Bay, and HydroDash Singapore, Singapore’s very first floating aqua park, which is located at Palawan Beach Sentosa. “We will continue to forge ahead with major tourism infrastructure and redevelopment projects, tapping into new consumer trends coming out of the pandemic such as wellness, nature and sustainable tourism,” adds Chua. With a trip to the city state hopefully on the horizon, here’s some more ideas on what to do when you find yourself in the lion city once again...
HERITAGE TOURS AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS Socialising outdoors is still favoured over gathering in crowded indoor places. With the fresh air the best place to be right now, a walking or cycling tour is a great place to start your Singapore trip. One of the most popular tour heritage tour companies is Journeys (journeys.com.sg), which offers tours including Graves, Guns and Battles around Fort Canning Hill, where the British surrendered to the invading Japanese during WWII. Here you’ll find a former military complex, the Battlebox, from the same great war; private tours can also be arranged. Dedicated to the people of mixed Chinese and Malay heritage, a Peranakan culture tour (withlocals.com) takes you to Katong to admire the colourful shophouses along Joo Chiat Road and sample the legendary rainbow cake, a smooth, steamed cake blended with pandan and coconut featuring nine vibrant layers. Prefer a two-wheeled experience? Try Let’s Go Bike Singapore (letsgobikesingapore.com): the Trials of Tan Ah Huat explore the story of the famous entrepreneur and his life in the 1920s and takes in Chinatown and the Majestic Theatre among other attractions.
Pop-up attraction Once Upon A Time Aboard the Orient Express will also be in town until June: explore an exhibition aboard the legendary loco, or relive the golden age of travel with a dining experience aboard a 1925 replica of the Anatollia dining car.
If you haven’t yet visited Gardens by the Bay (gardensbythebay.com.sg), you should – it is the number 1 attraction on TripAdvisor after all. Venture beyond the Supertrees and hit the outdoor gardens, which includes the World of Plants, where you can find how plants disperse their seeds and spy mystical mushrooms under a creepy crawly tent, and find out how insects and fungi collaborate to decompose forest remains. It’s open daily from 5am ‘til 2am so it’s easy to avoid the crowds.
While the Botanic Gardens (nparks.gov.sg) contains welltrodden paths for good reason – the National Orchid Garden contains more than 1,000 species on 2,000 hybrids – there are plenty of other outdoor options. Get to Macritchie Nature Trail & Reservoir Park for a walk around the 11km trail, where you might just spy a long-tailed macaque, monitor lizards or even a flying lemur. Feeling adventurous? Try the Treetop Walk, a 250m aerial-free standing suspension bridge that offers a bird’s eye view of the plants and animals that reside in this lofty canopy. 60
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FEATURE – SINGAPORE
INDIE BOUTIQUES AND SPECIALIST STORES
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The legendary supertrees at Gardens by the Bay; flying a kite at Youth Olympic Park near Marina Bay Sands
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Indie record store Third Man records and bookstore Books Actually, which champions local authors
It’s been a tough time for independent retailers in 2020, and there are plenty of independent stores in Singapore where you can splash the cash and support local businesses. While the Kampong Gelam district, specifically Haji Lane, is well-known for its vintage clothing stores, you’ll also find boutiques offering local labels like Nana & Bird (shop.nanaandbird.com), which stocks its own homegrown clothing line alongside many others, and Aijek (aijek.com) a local label from designer Danielle Woo: we love the cute sleeveless mini dresses and cool asymmetric jumpsuits. There’s also lifestyle stores aplenty, like Hygge (shophygge.sg); its melamine plates showcasing Singaporean delicacies make a cool souvenir. Swing (swingstore.com.sg) is a Muslim-themed retail space selling Arabic clocks, halal nail polish and hijab brooches. Try the Silver Triangle for distinctive pieces made by Laotian tribespeople and the Craft Assembly (shopcraftassembly.com) for quirky items like durian notebooks & socks and a Singapore bucketlist map. Its top 10 “to do list” includes learning Singlish from the locals and visiting offshore island Pulau Ubin.
Sales of vinyl are booming globally, and Singapore has plenty of places to sate those sonic cravings, including For the Record for everything from the Beatles to Beethoven alongside limited edition turntables. Another good bet is Mosta Records (mostarecordslp.com), an official distributor of former White Stripes’ frontman Jack White’s Third Man Records that stocks new & used vinyl. Bookworms should head to Tiong Bahru district to peruse indie bookstores like Books Actually (booksactuallyshop.com) for Singaporean-focused fiction and literature (there’s also some cool stationery if you’re on the look-out for a new notepad) or Basheer Graphic Books (basheergraphic.com) for art & design titles.
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EATS AND BEATS If there’s one thing that’s on your mind when you come to Singapore it’s finding the best place to try Hainanese chicken rice, one of the city’s most iconic plates, which was bought to the city state by Chinese immigrants and based on a Hainanese dish called Wenchang chicken. The dish is simple enough: poached chicken, oily rice with a trio of soy, garlic-infused chili and grated ginger dip, with cucumber and coriander a likely accompaniment. Concerned about animal welfare? Try Five Star Chicken Rice (fivestarchickenrice.com), which only uses free-range birds, with pungent home-made ginger and chili sauce on the side. If you want to sample a fine steamed version of this iconic chicken dish, try Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which gets the thumbs up for its juicy meat, fragrant rice, and potent chili sauce. For something more upscale, try Chatterbox restaurant at the Mandarin Orchard hotel (meritushotels.com) for Mandarin Chicken rice alongside other signatures like its lobster laksa or king prawn fried Hokkien noodles. Looking for somewhere new to go? Try 1-Atico (1-atico. sg) on the roof of Ion Orchard, which boasts three distinct offerings: Argentinian restaurant Fire for meat and fish cooked over a wood fire, Flnt for Japanese gastrobar fare and 1-Atico Ultra-Lounge for alfresco bites. Opened late last year and located inside a heritage shophouse, restaurant Euphoria (restaurant-euphoria.com) presents swish six and eight-course menus (think sea urchin, Maine lobster) by chef Jason Tan. Pop-up Canton Garden at the Fairmont Singapore (fairmont.com), which will be in residence until early 2021, includes innovative plates like the barbecued Chinese gold coin and avocado king prawns with Mandarin mayonnaise. Run Run Sushi, meanwhile, offers the first-ever sashimi noodle dish in Singapore. If you’re just looking for a drink, Intercontinental Singapore (ihg.com) has collaborated with Campari to launch a Sala Spiritello pop-up, where you can sample the Intercontinental Negroni, with a taste profile of floral notes, coffee, citrus and a hint of salt. Masterclasses and themed Negroni suites will also be on offer at the hotel. When nightclubs are allowed to open, check into 1-Atico for some alfresco dancing, Marina Bay Sands’ Marquee (there’s a three-storey slide and Ferris wheel) or Maduro (maduro.sg) for live jazz. Craft beer lovers, meanwhile, can pull up a stool at Druggists (druggists.sg), which has 23 ales on tap ranging from hoppy IPAs to seasonal fruit beers.
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Hainan chicken, Negroni pop-up bar at Intercontinental Singapore; craft beer bar Druggists
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HYATT POISED FOR SINGAPORE RECOVERY Carina Chorengel, senior vice president – commercial, Asia Pacific, talks travel in the city state in 2021
How hopeful are you that the HK-SG air travel bubble is the beginning of travel recovery process for hotels in Singapore? The announcement of the inaugural bilateral air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong was encouraging, and we continue to see green shoots of optimism in some parts of Asia such as mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. While the launch of the bubble has unfortunately been postponed due to the surge in cases in Hong Kong, we continue to monitor this constantly evolving pandemic so we can adjust our offerings while extending care to meet the needs of domestic and international guests.
What special measures have been put in place at Hyatt properties in Singapore? As part of Hyatt’s global care and cleanliness committment, we’ve implemented enhanced hygiene and safety measures at Grand Hyatt Singapore and Andaz Singapore. These include GBAC Star cleanliness and training accreditation and a performance-based cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention programme. The two hotels have also been recognised by local authorities for their rigorous hygiene and safety protocols with the SG Clean Quality Mark. Since last July, all Hyatt hotels in Asia Pacific also have at least one person trained as hygiene & wellbeing leader to ensure their hotel adheres to new operational guidance and protocols for safe and healthy hotel environments.
We are giving guests more control through contactless technology solutions via the World of Hyatt app, from enhanced online checkin to arranging for fitness equipment such as yoga mats and weights to be delivered to the room. We’re also working to roll out enhanced digital amenities through the app, enabling guests to manage preferences like scheduling housekeeping, choosing between pick-up or knock-and-go food orders, mobile key entry, and contactless check-in and checkout.
The air route between Hong Kong and Singapore was among the busiest in the Asia-Pacific region pre-COVID-19. Can it recover? With the backdrop of travel restrictions and economic uncertainty, recovery will be slow, but Hyatt is confident in our guests’ desire to be in safe environments and gather with close friends & family and business partners. Once a vaccine becomes widely available, we are optimistic that travel demand will rebound quickly and dramatically.
How have you adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic? With a focus on ‘Safety first and Wellbeing always’, we are reimagining the hotel experience with creativity and care so that our guests and colleagues feel confident and comfortable returning to our hotels. Aside from using technology to create a safe guest experience, we’ve reimagined the experience for guests staying, dining and meeting at our 63 jetsetter-magazine.com
hotels. Following a sold-out run last year, Grand Hyatt Singapore has brought back Le Petit Chef, an immersive dining adventure in the hotel’s mezza9 La Cave wine cellar featuring a 3D projection mapping performance. Limited to just eight people per seating, this exclusive dining experience has been mostly fully booked for the weekends since we relaunched it earlier this year.
Will travel ever be the same again post COVID-19? While the pandemic is ongoing and many regions are seeing a new wave of infections, we are well prepared to navigate these times and emerge in a position of strength. In the last few months, we’ve seen how swift and decisive action by local authorities and the collective effort of communities can help slow the spread of the virus. In places where case numbers decreased and restrictions eased, we’ve seen encouraging signs of recovery at our hotels and restaurants.
What’s next for Hyatt across AsiaPacific? We are continuing our expansion across Asia Pacific with entry into new destinations in China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Vietnam. Some of our new openings las year included three Park Hyatt hotels in Niseko, Suzhou and Auckland as well as Andaz Xiamen and the debut of the new UrCove brand with three hotels in Shanghai. Andaz Shenzhen Bay and Grand Hyatt Jeju, the largest Grand Hyatt hotel in Asia Pacific with 1,600 rooms, opened in December. In the pipeline for 2021 are Andaz Bali and Alila Dalit Bay in Malaysia. hyatt.com
FEATURE – SINGAPORE
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Middle Eastern restaurant Funq on Haji Lane; shophouses in Tanjong Pagar; Potato Head restaurant in Chinatown
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Alfresco get-togethers on Ann Siang Hill, Chinatown, Cantonese Opera mural on Temple Street
HIP HANGOUTS & CULTURE Where is the hippest place in Sing right now? For many, it’s Tanjong Pagar, a historic district where restored shophouses, hip cafes and cool restaurants await. For eats, try new joint Rappu (rappu.com.sg), for sushi and cocktails against a backdrop of rap music. If you’re just stopping by for a coffee or a quick bite, try Kreams Krafthouse, an autumnal themed café for hand-drip coffee and yuzu scones from Seoul on the menu. While you’re in the area, swing by the Maxwell Food Centre for herbal broths and Hokkien meat balls, and Jinrikisha station, a former rickshaw depot built in 1903. If you’re already familiar with Tanjong Pagar, try the old school charm of Dempsey Hill – once a nutmeg plantation then a British army barracks – that’s home to art galleries including RedSea (redseagallery.com) and Artitude (artitudegaleria.com) plus antique shops, like Woody Antique House (woodyantique.com) for recycled teak pieces. Hungry? Try new Portuguese restaurant Tuga for classic dishes like seafood rice topped with fresh mussels, prawns and clams, or
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SINGAPORE
INSIDER TIPS
CHEF MAX LEVY of Beats Bites & Cocktails on his preferred Sing hangouts What can people expect from BBC and what would you recommend they order? Beats Bites & Cocktails (beatsbitescocktails.com) is a contemporary lounge space focusing on an experience of small plates, wine, cocktails and upbeat playlists from DJ Shigeki. The traditional shophouse is transformed into one long bar station with the kitchen, bar and DJ all working collaboratively to provide a unique experience where the same attention to detail I have on food is also represented in the cocktail and music programmes. The ash biscuits, made from scratch using our Bertha wood, coal-fired oven and served with a honey miso foie gras, are a must-try with a glass of Lepanto P/X Sherry.
What’s your favourite place to grab a coffee and a snack in the city?
Candlenut (comodempsey.sg), the first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, where the Blue Swimmer Crab curry is a signature.
Strong and/or sweet coffee is the fuel of Singapore, and from hawker centres to third- wave roasters, I enjoy the full range. If I had to pick one, Nylon Coffee Roasters has been around a long time as they are passionate about great coffee, which they roast inhouse, as well as sourcing truly fair trade offerings. The Guatemala T’Zun-Wit’z as a Japanese-style pour over, offers bright notes of chocolate and strawberry from a 36-hour wet fermentation. It’s a short walk from Beats Bites & Cocktails.
What’s your favourite district and why? The only Chinatown in the world to have a Buddhist & Hindu temple and a mosque along a single street neatly illustrates Singapore’s eclectic mix of cultures and reflects the city’s inclusive approach. Beyond places of worship worth exploring, the city is big on the arts, too. Save some time to explore contemporary arts cluster Gillman Barracks (gillmanbarracks.com), set in a former military barracks and home to the NTU Centre of Contemporary Art. It also houses several international galleries, including Tokyo’s Mizuma and Rome’s Mucciaccia gallery. Alternatively, try the NUS Baba House (babahouse.nus.edu.sg), a traditional Peranakan pre-war terrace formerly owned by 19th century shipping tycoon Wee Bin that houses a collection of more than 2,000 Peranakan antiques and curios, including furniture, wood carvings and porcelain. Vintage lovers, meanwhiuke, will adore the retro offerings on Haji Lane, which is also home to quirky, colourful cafes.
Tanjong Pagar. There’s a good mix of traditional food hawkers and contemporary cafes, bars and restaurants there.
Favourite hawker market? Chinatown Hawker Centre. Tons of old school vendors offering traditional food, alongside really cool craft beer stalls that pair really well with the Southeast Asian palate. This is also my favourite place for duck in Singapore.
Where do you go to get away from it all? Quarantine? To get away from it all, I visit the bowling and driving range at the Orchid Country Club. I’m a 1970’s kid.
Describe Singapore in three words Crazy Rich Asians… lah
What’s one misconception about Singapore you’d like to challenge? Getting caned for chewing gum.
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FLYING IN STYLE Fly when, where and how you want with premier global aviation service company AERO LINK
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
H
ong Kong aviation expert AERO LINK, which offers private jet charter and aircraft leasing & management, has seen its business go from strength to strength during the pandemic as wealthy travellers eschewed airports and commercial flights in favour of the safety of their own chartered private jet. Servicing clients from Greater China to North America, AERO LINK offers chartered flight services in the utmost comfort and collaborates with its partners for private luxury tour promotions via its exclusive membership programme. COVID-19 has bought unprecedented economic crisis globally, with the aviation industry one of the hardest-hit industries as people were encouraged to stay at home. The private jet sector has seen sales rise exponentially during this difficult time, however. Enquiries increased by more than 50 per cent due to concerns on health and hygiene surrounding standard commercial travel, while AERO LINK’s business turnover has already quintupled in the first two quarters of 2020. Approximately 80 per cent of business has been generated by flights from North America to Asia and vice versa, which reflects the increasing demand for private jet travel globally.
Private jet travel is a convenient way to visit anywhere in the world while avoiding the stress and long queues at the airport that are often associated with commercial travel. Flying to more than 100 cities globally, AERO LINK simplifies the process by taking care of every last detail of your trip, with private flight advisors on hand to find you the most suitable aircraft to accommodate all your specific travel needs. Each customer is thoughtfully served by dedicated account managers who will help you stay informed of real-time flight information and other important travel information on air and on ground throughout your journey. AERO LINK specialises in arranging charter and travel concierge services for group travel of any size. Want to reward staff members with an incentive trip? We can help boost your company’s productivity by transforming your executive jet into a meeting room so you can brainstorm away before arriving refreshed at your destination. With a proven track record of flight management, AERO LINK can provide you with dedicated bespoke services in line with all of your expectations. www.aerolink.me
WELLNESS
WINTER WELLBEING Soothe mind and body this Winter with these new spa & wellness innovations
TUNE INTO ISLAND LIFE AT BELMOND NAPASAI In need of a spiritual uplift? Belmond Napasai has launched new experience packages that invite guests to savour the simple pleasures of island life and pay homage to the traditions of Koh Samui. Resort guests can start their day by paying respects to the island’s highly respected monk, Luang Pho Daeng, at the Wat Khunaram Temple. There’s the chance to learn the benefits of meditation and receive blessings at the temple before exploring the quirky delights of the temple’s Magic Garden, where unusual statues featuring deities and animals representing Buddhist folklore await. This cultural adventure will additionally introduce guests to Koh Samui’s tropical fruit orchards and a visit to one of the few villages in the country still able to make the famous local candy, kalamae, a sweet treat crafted from glutinous rice flour, palm sugar and coconut cream. belmond.com
Good to know: Want to learn the art of head massage? Each week, the resort offers a complimentary head massage class for two, running through theory and application before putting your own masseuse skills to the test.
CORINTHIA LONDON LAUNCHES WELLNESS CONCEPT FITSPACE The Corinthia London’s extensive spa facility, ESPA Life, is now home to a FitSpace studio, a wellness concept equipped with Technogym’s latest equipment including Artis, a range of design-led cardio, strength and functional equipment that offers a personalised training experience. From its location above the spa’s dramatic thermal floor, guests can test out their rowing prowess on Skillrow, which lays claim to being the only indoor rowing machine that boosts anaerobic power, aerobic capacity and neuromuscular functions in a single solution. Corinthia London guests and FitSpace members can access small specialist classes and private training at the facility, and are guided on the important roles that diet and lifestyle play in improving health and fitness. corinthia.com
Good to know: Spread over four floors, ESPA Life at Corinthia features 17 treatment rooms, a thermal floor, an indoor swimming pool, amphitheatre sauna and private sleep pods. 72 jetsetter-magazine.com
WELLNESS
HUVAFEN FUSHI LAUNCHES SPAQUARIUM EXPERIENCE Providing a unique cinematic window into the world of the reef by night, Huvafen Fushi’s Spaquarium experience provides a pre- or post-dinner hour of wonder from the depths of the world’s first underwater spa. Guests are invited to experience Maldivian marine life while swapping the diving gear for a glass of Champagne, canapés and petit fours as Huvafen Fushi’s resident marine biologist narrates the natural drama playing out before them. Guests can witness nocturnal predators on the hunt, bioluminescent plankton, and fluorescent corals. UV light torches and yellow filter visors illuminate the submarine scene, which sees sharks, rays, moray eels and giant trevallies chasing their prey and zooplankton feeding on phytoplankton. The Spaquarium experience also provides an opportunity to see the fruits of Huvafen Fushi’s coral propagation programme. The spa reef is home to several mature coral frames that have ‘graduated’ from the resort’s coral nurseries. Burgeoning populations of coral-associated species like damselfish are indicative of the health of the island’s reefs, and the success of the coral propagation initiative. huvafenfushi.com
SIX SENSES INVITES GUESTS TO RECONNECT
Good to know: The resort also offers guided night snorkelling trips where guests can encounter lobster, octopus and lionfish patrolling the reef.
An invite to take part in rituals, reconnection experiences and wellness days, Reconnect With Six Senses is a new programme available to guests at all of the brand’s properties. Rituals help maintain timeless links to help guests better understand, respect and appreciate ancient traditions and cultures. At properties in Cambodia, Fiji, Turkey and Bhutan, for example, guests are invited to a fire circle to release unwanted memories and negative emotions. Reconnection Experiences, meanwhile, encourage guests to rediscover their sense of adventure. At Six Senses Laamu, guests reconnect with marine life during a morning snorkel, which is followed by a science workshop, sunset and dolphin cruise and beach BBQ. There are three themed Wellness Days: Boost Your Immunity, Mind Your Brain and Love Your Heart. Boost Your Immunity includes yoga and breath work, gratefulness journaling and sleep tracking, while Mind Your Brain mixes yoga and meditation with modern science and biohacks including brain games, developmental drawings and binaural beats. Love Your Heart, meanwhile, encourages guests to let go of old baggage. Activities include a walk, spa treatment, nature hike, loving kindness meditation and fire ceremony. sixsenses.com
Good to know: Each resort will also offer a series of complementary workshops in connection with this programme, covering topics such as how to live at ease with oneself. 73 jetsetter-magazine.com
INSIDER
THE NEW NORMAL FOR SOCIALISING The Grounds is the first recreational space in Hong Kong purpose-built for the era of COVID-19. Founder Simon Wilson talks about the challenges of keeping people apart rather than bringing them together with Helen Dalley
Can you explain the concept of the Grounds? It’s been created to give Hong Kongers a space to play and be entertained safely. It offers 100 socially distanced pods, each equipped with two or four deck chairs, a table and a lamp. Sized at 2.5sqm, these picket fenced gardens have 1.5m distance between each pod. From this private space, guests can watch movies and sports events on a big screen, enjoy live music, take part in wellness classes and join in with interactive quizzes. Food and drink are placed via an app and delivered to the pod, and guests may only leave to use the bathroom or exit the venue.
Why did you set it up? I lost my job at a sports entertainment company during the pandemic and established the Grounds to give Hong Kongers something to look forward to and get excited about. At the moment, every day can feel a bit the same, as we don’t have those big events like Art Basel coming to the city. I didn’t want to let 2020 just pass us by, and the brands we’ve partnered with took a leap of faith to ride this rollercoaster with us. We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to ticket sales so far, with many events already sold out. People are thanking us and telling us this is just what they need.
What have been some of the challenges of establishing the Grounds? Much of the thinking has been counter-intuitive to how you usually operate events. We’ve had to think about how to not gather people and isolate them in their own pod. You have a deconstructed dessert – this is like a deconstructed event!
Hong Kong has many dining options and public spaces with outdoor seating options for socialising. What are you offering that’s different? It’s a considered, curated experience. We’ve created a space that offers something different every evening, whether that’s live music, quizzes or a movie, or simply somewhere to lounge with a book and a coffee. We’re open at 5pm for food and drink, so you can sit in your deckchair while someone brings dinner to your pod, and that in itself is a great attraction. People want to come in earlier and enjoy the facility, and it can be a five or six hour experience. We’re working with the Italian and Australian chambers of commerce in Hong Kong on events themed around those
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countries. The Italian event, for example, will bring Italian language cinema and Italian cuisine to Hong Kong. People miss travel, so we want to fulfil that wanderlust.
Tell us about the F&B offerings We’ve partnered with local food court BaseHall to enhance the consumer experience, with everything from tacos to laksa on offer. We’re giving local F&B operators the chance to trial new concepts like rotitori, a Japanese rotisserie chicken offering from Yardbird restaurant.
With many live music venues still closed, you are also providing a platform for local musicians… Yes, we’re collaborating with Bounce, which puts on music festivals throughout the city. We want to be a support network to those guys and give local musicians somewhere to play.
What are your plans for 2021? We hope to work with more brands and experiment with new concepts. There are already plans afoot to expand our partnership with Lululemon, which currently offers morning wellness classes at the Grounds. Whether it’s food, wine, crossfit or orienteering, we want to amplify [events] and add a layer of content. There’s a real opportunity for brands to create concepts from scratch with us.
Are there are aspirations to debut this concept anywhere else? Yes, we’d like to take this around the Greater Bay area, and other events too.
How long will The Grounds be open?
We have a street art concept we’d like to take around the region, and hope to roll that out mid to late next year.
The future is so fluid… if borders are closed, then we can give people a taste of what they are missing overseas. The format depends on what’s possible due to social distancing, so we will have to wait and see. We’re keeping a close eye on Chinese New Year.
It’s something that we’re analysing in real time, as you have to be agile in the time of COVID-19. We’re not making heaps of money, it’s more of a break even exercise. But we just wanted to do something. thegroundshk.com
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INSIDER
MEAT OFF THE MENU
Ovolo Hotels recently launched a 12-month long campaign, Year of the Veg, with all of its properties going completely vegetarian. CEO and lifelong veggie Girish Jhunjhnuwala explains the reasoning behind this bold move to Helen Dalley 78 jetsetter-magazine.com
INSIDER
What prompted the decision to make all your F&B outlets and room service vegetarian? We have been thinking about this for a while, especially seeing the success of our plantbased restaurants, Alibi in Sydney and Veda in Hong Kong. We debuted Veda last year as the only vegetarian restaurant inside a hotel in the city, and it’s been very successful since it opened. But overall our reasoning is threefold – valuing the environment and being sustainable, showcasing the variety and potential of vegetarian dining and also because we’ve been seeing a huge shift towards vegetarianism over the last couple of years. This shift embodies Ovolo’s philosophy of connecting with our customers’ demands. We want our guests and diners to nourish their bodies with meat-free meals.
What kind of feedback have you received since launching Year of the Veg – has there been any resistance to the decision? Of course, with launching something on this scale there is always that fear. However, we believe there has been a huge consumer shift to more plant-based dining. Whether that means becoming fully vegetarian or adopting a flexitarian diet, consumers are increasingly embracing vegetarian options and there is a huge market for that. So far, we have had tremendously positive feedback.
The number of vegetarians in Hong Kong is steadily increasing, and nearly a quarter of Hong Kongers identify as flexitarian. What are they looking for from a non-meat menu? I’d say they are looking for a variety of things, and we want to entice everyone from the gym goers to those who prefer something more indulgent. It’s about dishes that are simple yet
relatable – comfort food with a twist. Hong Kong is one of, if not the most, sophisticated markets in the world when it comes to food. With one of the highest restaurants per capita globally and plenty of choices, we have to make sure we tick all the boxes – indulgent, innovative and unseen yet never compromising on flavour or quality of ingredients. Vegetarian food and plant-based eating is fairly new to Hong Kong, and we are continuously experimenting to figure out what exactly the market wants to see. We have a lot of ideas, but it’s a journey that we want to enjoy and more importantly, ensuring everyone that visit us does as well.
What have been some of the challenges of putting this together and how did you overcome those? Operationally speaking, it’s been quite tough to turnaround entire kitchens into fully vegetarian, from changing our equipment to training our staff and developing entirely new different menus. It took a lot of teamwork to pull this together.
It’s been an undeniably tough year for hospitality. Are you starting to see the green shoots of recovery? It’s quite difficult to see recovery in hospitality and tourism back to the way it used to be, especially given the travel bans. What we can hope for now is the development of travel bubbles, and until that happens we are focusing on looking after the locals. Year of the Veg is expected to boost revenue given locals cannot travel and will likely spend on consumables instead.
Do you have a specific recovery plan? 79 jetsetter-magazine.com
Our plan is to keep doing what we’re doing, so that when the market recovers we are back in full force. An example is our new hotel in Bali, Mamaka by Ovolo. We opened it in mid-November to start capturing local F&B clientele and build up a reputation in Jakarta for the Indonesian market. We believe in the strength of Bali as a destination in the long run and want to ensure we are already out of the gates once border restrictions ease.
Do you think the Year of the Veg could extend beyond the initial 12 months and become a permanent fixture? We are starting with a year and then will see how customers react to it, but it’s something we hope to continue.
Do you anticipate that other hotel groups could embrace a plant-based lifestyle in the way that you have? I’d like to think that the trend of plant-based dining will catch on and more and more dining outlets, not just hotel groups, will embrace it. It’s something that I truly believe in, having been a vegetarian my entire life. I hope that any group that decides to venture into the plant-based space will do it justice.
How can they do vegetarian food well? Many people tend to think that vegetarian dining is all bland and only greens, but there is a lot that can be done with plant-based ingredients. As more restaurants discover and experiment, there is a real potential of changing the way that vegetarian dining is viewed in the world.
Do you plan to open any more hotels next year? Yes, we have another hotel opening in Melbourne’s South Yarra district early 2021. ovolohotels.com
EXPLORER
Tell us about your journey so far and how the pandemic has impacted on your travels
LIVING THE DREAM
We first set sail Summer 2017 in Lisbon and since then we’ve sailed to almost all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. When covid hit in the beginning of the year, we were in a marina in Tunisia doing maintenance work and waiting out the Winter. The impact on our plans for the year was massive as we saw Europe closing its maritime borders as did Tunisia, effectively locking us down. The Tunisian maritime border only reopened late June but before the European borders opened so we had to cross half of the Med non-stop to Turkey, the only country with open borders at the time. We got a 90-day visa and when that finished the maritime border of Turkey with Greece was still closed so we had to sail again non-stop this time to Malta. From there we sailed to Sicily and then back to Greece.
Architect couple Ana Couto and John Hoogwerf embarked on an ambitious mission to sail around the world in 2017. They talk pandemic seafaring, exploring deserted Italian isles and embracing local life with Helen Dalley
We’re still in Greece but in complete lockdown, not even able to move the yacht from anchorage to anchorage. This year’s season was very limited in terms of movement and our plans to cross the Atlantic have been delayed by around 12 months.
You’ve been living on your yacht for more than three years now. What are the highlights of your journey so far? Sailing across this sea in itself can be quite exhilarating and challenging and we’ve experienced some epic passages with magnificent sailing conditions and surprise storms that were equally memorable.
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John in Procida, Italy, and Ana with the yacht’s dog, Elly in Chenini, Tunisia
We’ve really enjoyed sailing the Italian islands between Italy, Corsica and Sardinia starting from northernmost Elba to the volcanic islands just north of Sicily, which was like discovering a best kept secret. We sailed them during Summer 2018 when the weather conditions didn’t enable us to proceed with our plan of sailing extensively in Sardinia. No-one in the international sailing community seems to pay them that much attention but that the
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John & Ana explore Birgo, Malta; sailing along the Corinth Canal in Greece
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EXPLORER
Italians love these islands very much. We spent the entire Summer surrounded exclusively by Italian yachts that sail from their marinas to these spots for the day and return to the marina at the end of the day in amazing anchorages with picture-perfect landscapes and clear waters. We had these places all to ourselves except between noon and until 5-7pm. It felt like we were not even in Europe. Croatia was also amazing, but that’s not a surprise due to its popularity with sailors. We chose to explore the not so touristy islands and obvious towns and ended up seeing very few other boats and experiencing a completely different vibe from the Italian islands. Tunisia was an amazing surprise for inland travelling – they have some of the best Roman archaeological sites that hardly anyone visits and then there’s all the film set locations for the Star Wars movies.
How do you travel differently as sailors? We travel with and in our home and tend to spend around 90 days in each country, so we need to do the normal things people do where they live, like supermarket runs and visits to the pharmacy as well as making repairs to the boat. We end up having to rediscover the basics every couple of days and we’re not on a holiday budget so we think local. We pick up a lot of cultural things and new friends as we go and tend to start understanding the history and connections between places and how they define their people and relationships with their neighbouring countries in a deeper way. We almost become expats in each of those countries without actually settling there.
How have you adapted to living on a yacht? We’ve adapted very well – our yacht is set up as much as possible like a normal home with some obvious limitations and differences. I think it would actually be more difficult to adapt back to our old land lives. We plan to sail around the world at a slow pace so unless we change our minds, this is our home. That’s the beauty of calling our yacht home – the journey never ends.
Do you think there is more of an appetite for travel given that many of us haven’t been travelling for the past year? There is definitely a visible appetite for travel and for unique travelling experiences. We have conversations with people that just want to go and experience our lifestyle. People are looking for alternatives to hotels, Airbnb stays and travelling by plane.
Argentina, South Africa, St Helena, the Ascension Islands, and then pass through the Caribbean to Bermuda, the Azores, maybe north Europe before crossing again towards Panama Canal. But there is still lots to decide – we may do the North Atlantic loop before the south. It all depends on how Covid pans out.
Tell us about the next part of your journey
What advice could you give to others thinking about embarking on a big travel adventure based on your own experiences?
We’re planning crossing the Atlantic at the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022 and do the loop of the Atlantic in the following years, basically a circumnavigation of the south Atlantic and the North Atlantic. Leaving from Lisbon, we’ll head to Madeira, the Canaries, Cape Verde, Brazil, Uruguay,
John has a saying: “Feel the fear and do it anyway”. I say: “Follow your dreams, no matter how big or small.” Planning is the key: set your goals and work hard for them. svthedream.com 81
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FEATURE – NEW ZEALAND Looking out to Lake Wanaka from Roy’s Peak in Otago, South Island
IT’S SAFER DOWN UNDER With one of the world’s best responses to the pandemic, many travellers are considering a holiday in New Zealand, says Robyn Tucker-Peck
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FEATURE – NEW ZEALAND
E
lijah Wood, who famously played the hobbit Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and was on location in more than 150 destinations across the North and South island, was, like many of the cast and crew, dazzled by the land of the long white cloud. “There’s a real purity in New Zealand. It’s a unique place because it is so far away from the rest of the world. There is a sense of isolation and also being protected,” he said The sense of remoteness and protection that Wood describes has become increasingly attractive during the pandemic, and New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 has been applauded by countries worldwide. Thanks to the country’s approach to the environment and sustainability, it’s not surprising to see their looking
after of the land extended to protecting its people. Kaitiakitanga, which means guardianship and protection in Maori, is a way of managing the environment based on the Maori view of the world we live in. In Aotearoa New Zealand, an emerging name for the country, the Maori share a special connection with the land and sea. It’s a relationship founded on care, respect and an understanding that when nature thrives, we all blossom. Those thinking of visiting New Zealand will also be reassured that the country was recently voted #2 on the list of the 10 safest countries in the world to visit (Iceland was number 1) on the Global Peace Index by the Institute for Economics & Peace, thanks to there being very little internal conflict or violence in the country.
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FEATURE – NEW ZEALAND
A SECURE COVID RESPONSE Considered to be the greatest public health emergency since the global flu pandemic a century ago, the New Zealand government acted quickly to protect the lives of New Zealanders, and it locked down early, closing the borders back in March and introducing self-isolation measures for anyone returning to the country. Believing that the ensuing economic shock would represent the largest global downturn since the Great Depression, its aim has always been to eliminate the virus. First came the public health response, and making sure there was enough beds, PPE and tests before rolling out a COVID-19 tracer app. The New Zealand government also implemented necessary legal controls to find and stamp out the virus when it emerged, using test-traceisolate as key tools. A paid support system to remunerate employers for any employees who needed to self-isolate, meanwhile, encouraged Kiwis to stick to the rules.
on a 4m screen and learn what it takes to become an All Black via a 45-minute tour. Almost one-third of New Zealand’s land is designated as national park, reserve and heritage sites to preserve the country’s ecological heritage — a panorama of ancient forests and landforms, rare birds and creatures that have survived since prehistoric times. With ecotourism at the forefront of the country’s experience, from geysers and mud pools in the north to glaciers and indigenous forests in the south, the country is working hard to promote sustainable travel. The New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment aims to see every tourism business committed to sustainability by 2025 via a set of 12 commitments including investment in sustainable practices and working towards a zero carbon economy.
The decision to close its borders and introduction of selfisolation at quarantine facilities for those still permitted to enter was key to its succefful covid response. DirectorGeneral of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, told reporters at the time: “We really want to make sure our border is watertight.”
TIME TO REBUILD During the opening of the parliament last November, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s message was one of rebuilding, asserting that New Zealand’s success in fighting the virus meant it is better positioned for recovery than many other countries. Before COVID-19, New Zealand’s largest export industry in terms of foreign exchange earnings was tourism, directly employing 8.4 per cent of New Zealand’s workforce. Rene de Monchy, interim chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, is eager to welcome back visitors when the virus is under control. “While our borders remain closed, we encourage you to keep your dream of a New Zealand holiday alive. We hope you know that when it’s deemed safe to do so, we are eagerly awaiting the day we can show international visitors some of our manaakitanga and Kiwi spirit.” He referenced “amazing new experiences” that have recently debuted, including interactive cultural heritage, tourism and education centre Manaea Footprints of Kupe in Northland, which tells the story of the first chapter of the human story in New Zealand. Another landmark opening is Auckland’s All-Blacks Experience, an interactive showcase where guests come face-to-face with a haka
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Redwoods Tree Walk, Rotorua; a Kakapo
Opposite page from left:
Fiordland National Park in the southwest; the Oparara arch on the west coast
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FEATURE – NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand was recently voted the second safest country in the world to visit after Iceland on the Global Peace Index SPOTTING RARE BREEDS Just half an hour from Auckland lie the Waitakere Ranges, a mountain range home to wild black sand surf beaches and sub-tropical rainforest, where you’ll find the mighty kauri trees, among the most ancient species in the world. Endangered birds are slowly being introduced in the Waitakere like the tui, which has a diverse range of songs and calls like a parrot, and the kokako, which appears on the reverse side of the New Zealand $50 note. Dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped southern alps, Fiordland National Park on the South Island, meanwhile, offers some of the country’s most stunning scenery, including the country’s three deepest lakes and one of its most esteemed attractions, Milford Sound, the only fiord accessible by road. It is home to Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls, which stands 151m tall; canoeing and overnight boat trips are possible. Another don’tmiss are the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the south island’s west coast – take an ice or heli-hike – while boat trips around the Tasman glacier at the bottom of Mount Cook offer the opp to iceberg spot. Some of the country’s flora and fauna are unique to New Zealand, like the yellow-eyed penguin, which breeds on the south and east coastlines of the South Island and the subantarctic Auckland Islands. Hector’s dolphin, the world’s smallest marine dolphin with a dorsal fin shaped like a Mickey Mouse ear, and Hooker’s sea lion, the world’s rarest sea lion, are only found in New Zealand waters. New Zealanders have been called Kiwis since the
nickname was given to them by Australian soldiers in the First World War after the Kiwi bird, the country’s unofficial national emblem. It’s a curious creature, as it can’t fly, has loose hair-like feathers and no tail. There are five species of Kiwis in New Zealand and due to their cultural significance to Maori and their knowledge of the bird, they are key stakeholders in Kiwi bird management. The bird is ubiquitous, and there’s even a National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua where you can hatch and name a chick and help save the national bird. In the remote islands at the bottom of New Zealand lives the world’s oddest parrot, the kakapo. British zoologist Mark Carwardine once labelled kakapo, “the world’s largest, fattest, least-able-to-fly parrot. It’s as affectionate as a dog, as playful as a kitten and it can inflate itself with air to become the size and shape of a football.” The country’s Bird of the Year competition crowned the kakapo the winner in 2020. If you want to catch a rare glimpse of this quirky bird, tours from Stewart or Mason island are possible.
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FEATURE – NEW ZEALAND
the feathers of certain birds are used in the adornment of high-born people. The most prized of all the native birds is the Kiwi, whose feathers are very fine resembling fine hair or fur rather than a traditional feather, meaning that any garment made with a feather would need many more than a regular sized feather”.
EMBRACING MAORI TRADITIONS The Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand who arrived in several waves from 1320-1350. Traditional customs still play a big part in the lives of many modern Maori and are an intrinsic part of Kiwi culture for New Zealanders. Nothing arouses the passion of Kiwis like the haka, a traditional war dance commonly performed by the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby team as they go through their pre-game challenge. Equally, nothing chills like the spine-tingling emotion upon hearing a karakia (prayer for protection). Songs, poi dances, and stories have been handed down through generations to keep alive the many traditions of the Maori culture. Visit Rotorua, widely regarded as the cultural capital of NZ, and you can learn about Maori legends, try food cooked hangi style (in a pit cooked using heated rocks) and even stay overnight in the Tamaki Maori village in a marae, a traditional Maori meeting place. Traditionally, Maori made their clothes and adornments from native plants, bird, and animals’ skins. There was a great variety of garments, including many kinds of cloaks. Clothing, adornments and even hair styles showed a lot about a person’s status, power, and prestige. Renata West, founder of Pacific Storytelling, says the feathers have great significance. “The use of feathers in Maori culture is largely due to birds being seen as a lofty and chief-like symbol, and plumes of particular birds are worn in the hair and 86 jetsetter-magazine.com
Thanks to initiatives over recent decades to revitalise Maori language, art, and culture, its importance continues to grow from strength to strength. New Zealand’s renewed love of its original language te reo Maori, the language of the indigenous Maori people, is celebrated annually during Maori Language week. “It’s important to keep the language alive not just for Māori cultural reasons but also to maintain our unique national identity,” says Maori academic professor Rawinia Higgins. For one week, all New Zealanders are encouraged to give te reo a go. Greet their whanau (family) with a cheerful kia ora (hello) or Morena! (good morning), order a kawhe (coffee) and listen to a waiata (song). The Maori music awards are also held this week, alongside workshops, lectures and book launches throughout the country to celebrate the country’s taonga, or treasure.
SPORTING PURSUITS Familiar to most people who know New Zealand is their expertise on the world stage in rugby and it being the home of extreme sports (bungy jumping anyone?) but did you know that zorbing was invented there as well? Zorbing is a surreal ride from a hilltop to the valley bottom inside a giant plastic ball. Try it at the world’s first Zorbing centre in Rotorua, where you roll down Mount Ngongotaha: the mega track is the fastest, longest and steepest. This page:
a hobbit house at Hobbinton; ziptrek ecotours in Queenstown
FEATURE – NEW ZEALAND
New Zealanders have been called Kiwis since the nickname was bestowed on them by Australian soldiers in the First World War
Harbour suite at the Park Hyatt Auckland
Sublime Kiwi Stays
Check in: five New Zealand hotels to stay in Opened late last year, Park Hyatt Auckland (hyatt.com), positioned on the waterfront, offers 195 guest rooms including 23 suites including the Chairman’s Suite, a 141 sqm corner room on the top floor of the hotel with separate powder room and furnished balcony. Boutique hotel group Naumi (naumihotels.com) has recently opened three new properties in NZ: the Central and the Dairy in Queenstown and Naumi Studio Hotel Wellington, which is situated in a landmark Edwardian building in buzzing Cuba Street and showcases the works of local artists, including a floral backdrop covered in gold leaf by Art Dep’t NZ. If heritage stays are your thing, then another good bet is Christchurch’s Otahuna Lodge (otahuna.co.nz), a Victorian-era mansion that’s New Zealand’s largest private historic residence. Renovated last Autumn, the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour (sofitel-auckland.com) features a new restaurant, bar and club lounge. Another great Auckland stay, Hotel Britomart (thehotelbritomart. com), New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star Hotel, sets the standard for sustainability with its use of responsibly sourced timber and environmentally friendly paints in an efficiently designed build that minimises excessive heat gain or loss.
Clockwise from top left:
Shotover jet, Queenstown; Rotorua Bay of Plenty; New Zealand produce at Aosta restaurant, Arrowtown
New Zealand is also a proud yachting nation, and Emirates Team New Zealand will be defending its Americas Cup title in a second generation AC75, blessed by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and christened Te Rehutai. The competition for the oldest trophy in international sport (it dates back to 1851) will be held this March in Auckland. Yachting enthusiasts can swing by the race village at the Viaduct Marina, and there’s also opportunities to watch the race from the Hauraki Gulf and Waitemata Harbour, or simply watch the competition online, as it will be streamed live on americascup.com, Youtube and Facebook. 87 jetsetter-magazine.com
FEATURE – NEW ZEALAND
Nothing arouses the passion of Kiwis like the haka, a traditional war dance commonly performed by the New Zealand All-Blacks
WINING & DINING From its iconic lamb, renowned for its tenderness and sweet flavour, to renowned vineyards in Marlborough, where three-quarters of the country’s wine is produced, quality food and drink have long been the lynchpins of New Zealand, and its fusion of quality produce and ethnic influences have enabled the Kiwi food identity to evolve. Food tourism is developing at a rapid rate with horopito (Māori pepper), pikopiko (edible fern fronds) and kawakawa (Māori bush basil) appearing on menus in many of New Zealand’s top restaurants and causing a stir with international culinary enthusiasts. Today, not only are the unique flavours of these wild plants adding extra spice to already world-renowned local produce, they are also firmly establishing a distinct New Zealand food identity. New Zealand’s famed Manuka honey from the nectar of the manuka tree is highly prized, and it’s used in everything from glazes for meat to baked goods. Auckland has a deliciously diverse dining scene, from Masu’s Japanese fine dining (try the black cod, or the crayfish spicy miso tacos) to lamb ribs, hapuka sliders and a sublime oyster bar at Depot Eatery. International demand for New Zealand wine has surged over the past decade, with the total export value now reaching a record-breaking NZ $2 billion for the 12 months to October 2020, according to New Zealand Winegrowers. “This milestone reflects the appreciation that the world has for New Zealand wine, and reinforces our international reputation for distinct, premium and sustainable wines,” says chair of New Zealand Winegrowers Clive Jones. Best tipples? See box for more details. 88 jetsetter-magazine.com
Harikoa to New Zealand wine
Sample the country’s most celebrated vintages
No trip to New Zealand is complete without a visit to one of its vineyards. Home to the first-ever Marlborough Sauvingnon Blanc, Brancott Estate (brancottestate.com) offers oak-infused vintages and a low-alcohol range, Flight. Over at Hawke’s Bay, the Te Mata Estate (temata. co.nz) produces a range of internationally renowned red and white wines, including its Gamay Noir. Established in 1851 by French missionaries, Mission Estate (missionestate. co.nz) is the country’s oldest winery and is equipped with a restaurant and farmhouse accommodation. Try its pinnacle wine, a Huchet Chardonnay, or the barrel-crafted Mission Reserve range. Based at the top of the South Island in Nelson overlooking Tasman Bay, visit Neudorf Vineyards (neudorf.co.nz) for lemony Reislings and highly regarded Pinot Noirs. At Canterbury’s Pegasus Bay (pegasusbay. com), a winery rated “Outstanding” by Robert Parker, the Chardonnay is produced using traditional Burgundian methods, being fermented in large oak puncheons and matured for a year.
FEATURE – NEW ZEALAND
Opposite page: a traditional Maori dance with a poi ball; socialising in Ponsonby, Central Auckland. This page: Hokitika Gorge on the west coast
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LIFESTYLE
ORIENTAL
OVERTURES SOUTHEAST ASIAN INNOVATION AT MONSOON
CLOSED-LOOP COCKTAILS
BESPOKE SHANGHAI TANG
BMW iX
IN THE KITCHEN
THE TASTE OF TEXAS
Serving up old-school American barbecue using slowand-low cooking techniques, Smoke & Barrel brings genuine barbecue flavours to Hong Kong, co-owner & chef Arron Rhodes tells Helen Dalley 92 jetsetter-magazine.com
IN THE KITCHEN You opened Smoke & Barrel last October. What’s it like launching a restaurant during a pandemic? Things seem to be slowly going back to normal in hospitality and we’ve been pretty busy so far, with bookings of up to 150 covers per day. We considered pushing back another year, but that’s because we were looking for the right venue. I put in a low offer to the landlord and he took it. By this point, we hadn’t started fundraising, so had to rely on investors but we managed to get the cash in place. We have a great venue with 120 seats, so it’s a big space. We saw some other restaurant groups were opening new outlets so we decided to go for it too. As Netflix started showing The American Barbecue Showdown around the same time, it’s been good timing as it’s driven a lot of interest.
What were the challenges of setting up a restaurant during a pandemic and how did you overcome those? We did wonder, ‘what if the government closes down dining completely?’ But in the end it was only shut for six or seven weeks. We’ve been allowed to meet our full dining capacity, although our license is restricted. Other than that, everything has fallen into place.
The restaurant is home to the only authentic imported wood-fired smoker in Hong Kong. Do you feel like you’ve found a niche in what is a very competitive dining market?
staff out there looking for work who really understand customer service, like cabin crew.
Yes – Hong Kong has many different types of restaurants, but smokehouse barbecue has never really taken off here. One of the first things we did when coming up with ideas for our dining concept was to ask, ‘What is the city missing?’ There’s so many burger joints, Italian and French restaurants. We also wanted to find a concept that was reasonably low price. Before opening, we were cooking 24 hours a day and sleeping in the restaurant as we worked to get the smoking just right. Our smoker produces the hallmark flavours of real Texas-style barbecue imparted by hickory wood.
Would you like to open other Smoke & Barrel outlets, or debut other different dining concepts in the future? We’re thinking of more Smoke & Barrel outlets in Hong Kong and maybe mainland China. And yes, we do also have some ideas for different dining concepts. But for the moment, we’re focused on getting Smoke & Barrel up and running. We’ve achieved a lot in short space of time – in less than a year and half, we’ve set up two restaurants.
You’ve also launched a takeaway and pickup service. How’s that going? There’s a lot of people calling for it. We signed up to Deliveroo and people will also be able to pick up [their orders] from the restaurant. We’ve also sent out samples onto junk boats to get some feedback. Barbecue food is often eaten as a takeaway out of containers, so we’re hoping we’ll get a substantial income from delivery service.
Long term, we will set up a holding company and operate all dining outlets under that. We want to be a small F&B group with five to six restaurants maximum. The thought of doing 15 to 20 restaurants is very scary! Now we have 38 staff, but getting up to 100 employees, there’s a lot of people to manage. When we open the next one, we’ll need to employ people in more operational roles, like HR and marketing.
You also own another restaurant, Kinship. What synergies are there between your two restaurants?
How do you plan to attract new diners to Smoke & Barrel in 2021?
The philosophy of how we treat customers and staff, and the style of service. We treat people as if they are friends and family coming to your home and call everyone by their first name. We have 26 staff at our new restaurant, and it’s been a lot easier to find them than with Kinship. Due to the pandemic, hotels and the aviation industry are still struggling, so there’s some great
The goal is to open for longer as much as we can. We may even introduce some eating challenges, with those who succeed getting a free dinner, or maybe their name on a plaque on the wall. Something like this would do well on Instagram, especially if we invite a couple of celebrities. smokeandbarrelhk.com 93
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FOOD ADVENTURES
CLOSED LOOP COCKTAILS Inspired by the farm-to-table movement, cocktail bars are embracing sustainability by utilising local ingredients and upcycling leftovers 94 jetsetter-magazine.com
FOOD ADVENTURES
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ith a focus on locally-sourced ingredients and upcycled food and drink, Hong Kong’s newly-opened Penicillin (penicillinbar.com) is the first in the city to champion a closed-loop model of production and is aiming to be the first “scrap-less” bar in the city. Its star cocktail is One Penicillin, One Tree (whisky, honey, lemon juice, fresh ginger): for every one of these cocktails purchased, the bar will plant a tree in the endangered Kalimantan forest. In keeping with the eco-friendly theme, the bar has partnered with Ecospirits, the world’s first low carbon, low waste spirits distribution technology. Signature bar dishes include fries infused in an ultrasonic chamber with shichimi togarashi spice and lemongrass mayo, and crispy fish tacos with cornmeal-fried snapper, red cabbage, fermented chilli and local citrus. Awarded the world’s most sustainable bar by the Sustainable Restaurant Association in 2018, Oslo’s Himkok (himkok.no) makes 80 per cent of its spirits at its micro-distillery, which is powered by renewable hydro-energy, including Norwegian tipple Aquavit alongside gin and vodka. Its cocktails are crafted using local ingredients like seaweed and buckthorn berries. Bookings for Friday-Sunday must be made at least 48 hours in advance to sample Norwegian-inspired cocktails, or Himkok’s beer, wine, kefir and mead. At Native in Singapore (tribenative.com), you’ll find cocktails made from ingredients hailing from the city-state, like mango, turmeric, cinnamon and tapioca, and it also has a range of house gins including chrysanthemum and lemongrass, which are grown in the bar’s urban garden. In a rush? Its bottled cocktails include Forager’s Garden (matcha gin, blue pea flowers, calamansi & matcha kombucha), and it works with local farmers to source the ingredients. As with Himkok, you’ll need to book – try to get a seat in the main bar for a bird’s-eye view of Native’s bartenders in action. There is no menu at Parisian bar Bisou (bar-bisou.fr). Instead, customers share their taste preferences and even their mood to create a bespoke cocktail from seasonal ingredients. All juices and syrups are made in-house and it only uses produce from France in its mixes. The cocktails are visually very appealing, with Instagram-friendly floral garnishes and surprising flourishes like peanut brittle sitting atop glasses.
Hong Kong’s Penicillin hopes to be the first ‘scrap-less’ bar in the city by upcycling leftover ingredients
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TOP TABLES LOFTY EATS INSIDE THE NAGOYA TV TOWER Since 1954 the 180-metre tall Nagoya TV Tower, designed by the same architect behind Tokyo Tower, Tachu Naito, has been a symbol of this Japanese city. Late last year, the iconic building was reimagined as a 15-rooom boutique hotel with several attractive dining options. Grandest of all is Lily, which offers exquisitely plated lunches and dinners utilising produce from the local region. Glycine puts a modern spin on local specialities and produce with a seasonal set dinner menu offering soup, fish and meat courses. Want to go for a more alfresco, casual dining experience within this Nagoya landmark? Check into Farm& for coffee, craft beers and sake. thetowerhotel.jp
SAMPLE KYUSHU-STYLE EATS AT SUSHI HAKUCHO
WINTER DINING Looking for somewhere new to eat this Winter? Here’s some new top tables in Hong Kong, Hobart and Nagoya to enliven the tastebuds…
BELLA! FIAMMA OPENS AT PEAK GALLERIA Marrying innovative family-style cuisine with the culinary musings of Michelinstarred chef Enrico Bartolini, Fiamma has opened at Peak Galleria. The culinary team is led by head chef Paolo Olivieri, a graduate of renowned Rome culinary school the Etoile Academy, who taps into his extensive experience leading kitchens in Dubai and London. Following Italy’s tradition of season-driven antipasti dishes, Fiamma presents starters including burrata cheese, roasted octopus with an arrabbiata sauce and Fassona Piedmontese beef tartare with Parmigiano Reggiano fondue and quail egg yolk topped with shaved black truffle. Pasta dishes and mains include pork and beef tortellini with Parmigiano Reggiano fondue; linguine with cooked half-lobster; fresh tagliolini with bottarga topped with sea urchin and seared Mediterranean seabass. fiamma.com.hk
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Kyushu-style omakase restaurant Sushi Hakucho opened in Tsim Sha Tsui this November, the newest member of the Bird Kingdom Group, where guests are invited to discover the finest, freshest sushi from Kyushu made by veteran sushi master Harada Makoto. Kyushu is famed for its environmental protection efforts, and the restaurant exclusively sources all seafood from the island. In accordance with omakase tradition, tasting menus are entirely dependent on seasonality of ingredients. Chef Makoto’s specialty sushi includes fresh and sweet squid, ika and quail egg yolk sushi, ika and urchin sushi, and snakehead fish sushi, a prized seasonal eel higher in fat with strong flavour. Also on the menu is Kyushu’s Kumamoto A5 Wagyu, famed as the only free-grazing cattle in Japan and rich in healthy monounsaturated fat. facebook.com/sushihakuchohk
TOP TABLES A NEW CULINARY LANDMARK FOR HOBART AT THE TASMAN Renowned chef Massimo Mele will head up the kitchen as culinary director at a new restaurant in the heart of Hobart. A native Tasmanian with both international status and homegrown Italian roots, Massimo will bring his signature Italian warmth with a local Tasmanian twist to Parliament Square when the restaurant opens early this year inside the new Tasman hotel. Born in Tasmania and raised in Naples, Massimo’s passion for food was born out of being surrounded by incredible Italian produce from a young age and he’s passionate about championing local ingredients. He started out at Donovan’s Restaurant in St Kilda, then returning to Tasmania to open Mud Bar in Launceston. From here Massimo travelled the globe to hone his craft before joining Hugo’s Group and La Scala on Jersey back in Australia. The yet-to-be-named restaurant will be located within the landmark Parliament Square project. This heritage redevelopment is situated in the most buzzing part of the city, connecting Murray Street with Salamanca Place. The restaurant will open when The Tasman officially opens its doors in 2021, offering a new cultural centre for Tasmania’s capital city. marriott.com
PRIVATE DINING IN WONG CHUK HANG Looking for somewhere to host a knock-out dinner with friends and fam now that the pandemic is (hopefully) coming to an end? Then head out to Wong Chuk Hang to the Factory, an event space/ kitchen with 5,000 square feet of space and walls covered with cool artworks. The creation of The Butchers Club founder Jonathan Glover, the space can host anything from intimate dinners a deux to 80 diners for a sit-down meal. Chef Brandon Tomkinson, who trained under Gordon Ramsay, helms the kitchen here, and his signature dish is a “carpet bag” tenderloin stuffed with oysters and wrapped in bacon. Other mains include chicken & foie gras galantine with fig jam and tomato bruschetta and a golden-crusted beef wellington. thefactoryhk.com
INNOVATIVE FLAVOURS ERUPT AT ETNA Tin Hau’s new dining hotspot, Etna, serves up healthy Asian and Mediterranean plates prepared by chef Rene Michelena, former chef de cuisine at iconic two Michelin-starred restaurant Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago who’s also done stints at Lily+Bloom and the Continental at Pacific Place. Get your tastebuds dancing with starters like warm asparagus & lentils topped with goat cheese or tuna carpaccio with smoked artichoke before digging into mains including crispy soft shell crab fettucine with Gochujang syrup or saffron risotto with Robiola cheese. The dessert menu is headlined by the Etna Tiramisu, a deconstructed version of the classic Italian pud, with espresso chiffon, mascarpone mousse and cayenne pepper-infused chocolate ganache. Bar snacks include stuffed crab frittata crostini, crispy calamari and rock shrimps and boneless seven-spice chicken wings with yuzu gremolata. Keen to eat or drink outside? The outdoor terrace can seat up to 50 while the balcony caters for a further 20 guests. etna.hk 97 jetsetter-magazine.com
RESTAURANT REVIEW
ORIENTAL FLAVOUR
Monsoon presents inventive and inspiring takes on classic Southeast Asian dishes, says Denis Fahy
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ali-based Scottish born chef Will Meyrick – renowned for piquant plates like Thai dry-fried minced chicken with yellow curry at his first Hong Kong restaurant Mama San – has opened his second eatery in the city, Monsoon. Situated at Elements and decked out with colonial-era décor like rattan chairs and lampshades, it serves up a modern expression of Southeast Asia’s much-loved street food dishes. The restaurant takes its name from the monsoon rains that Southeast Asia is renowned for, and the menu features a diverse selection of dishes from the region, from comforting bowls of tom yum soup to Indonesian Wagyu beef rendang braised in traditional spices. Meyrick is renowned for his creative take on Asian cuisine and is the driving force behind some of Bali’s most coveted restaurants, including flagship fine dining restaurant Sarong. Unable to make it to Hong Kong due to travel restrictions during the pandemic, the chef set up Monsoon remotely, regularly liaising with the Monsoon culinary team, which is headed up by his trusted head chef from Bali, Gede Budiana. The chef tasked with recreating Meyrick’s innovative takes on Southeast Asian classics was part of the opening team at Sarong, which made it on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Since opening back in August, Monsoon has not only been welcoming in well-heeled
shoppers to one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive malls but has also built up a hard core of regular diners keen to sample vibrant signature dishes like royal beef salad of brisket and grilled barramundi marinated with jungle curry and wrapped in banana leaf. In a real Monsoon the environment gets naturally purified, filling the air with refreshing ions. Monsoon does exactly that, providing an informal yet sophisticated restaurant environment, from striking floral murals to wooden umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. I start the evening with a betel gin and tonic, the flavours heightened by this South Asian staple renowned for its distinctive herby bitterness. It’s deliciously more-ish but try to go easy and savour the flavours: gin and betel are proven to stimulate gastric juices, especially, it seems, when combined with fresh prawn crackers to nibble on. Appetite suitably stimulated, my palate is rewarded with fresh rice paper rolls and perfectly crispy soft shell crab with a divine yellow bean sauce on the side. Keen to sample a good selection of the menu, I order a solid selection of plates, including a pad thai, surely the litmus taste test for any Southeast Asian-influenced restaurant. Monsoon’s take on this Thai classic, loaded with tasty fresh prawns with chewy rice noodles and crunchy bean sprouts & garlic chives, easily passes the test. From the wok98 jetsetter-magazine.com
fried section of the menu, chicken chili jam similarly delights with a sizzling bonanza of surprising tastes, the fragrant Thai basil juxtaposed against crunchy cashew. I mop up the delicious flavours with some garlic and cumin bread, a staple of the restaurant’s sides menu. Similarly, the Singaporean chicken laksa noodles with Hokkien meen are enormously good and are given the edge with a blast of fresh coconut. As I work my way through the dishes, it becomes increasingly clear that Meyrick has put together a well thought out menu with selections for palates suited to different levels of spice. Dishes like the seafood tom yum and peppercorn snapper feature a two-chili icon warning, but most of the menu is without a two, or even one, chili icon. Leave some room for Meyrick’s playful dessert selection, which includes a Kampung snicker made with peanut butter parfait, butterscotch and chocolate-coated peanut, and a refreshing lemongrass panna cotta with cucumber lime jelly and lemon basil sorbet. While you should make it to Monsoon’s cosy and inviting space at Elements, the restaurant is mindful of the stop-start nature of the hospitality industry at the moment. As such, it has launched Monsoon at Home, online cooking demonstrations available on the restaurant’s social media channels, so you can nail these great dishes from the comfort and safety of your own kitchen. monsoonoriental.com.hk
SPIRITS
COGNAC MEETS CRAFT
Architect Frank Gehry’s striking decanters mark 150 years of Hennessy X.O Frank Gehry has
reinterpreted the iconic Hennessy X.O bottle
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conic US architect Frank Gehry has created two limited edition decanters to commemorate X.O’s 150th anniversary, the Hennessy X.O x Frank Gehry Masterpiece and the Hennessy X.O x Frank Gehry Limited Edition. For the Masterpiece decanter, Gehry enveloped the Hennessy X.O bottle in a crinkled sleeve of 24 carat gold-dipped bronze, evoking the movement of water as it reflects light. The bottle is encased by a fractured glass glorifier, which further amplifies the inspiration of water and light, while a luminous brass and gold fusil reflects the Hennessy cellar master’s ritual to extract the extra old cognac. The decanter, glorifier and fusil are packaged in a compressed cardboard case
that pays tribute to the corrugated cardboard furniture Gehry designed in the 1970s and is imprinted with the architect’s signature. For the Hennessy X.O x Frank Gehry Limited Edition, Gehry transformed the iconic X.O bottle into a golden carafe that again pays tribute to the reflection of light. The carafe is housed in a giftbox with a transparent glass front that echoes the movement of the Charente river near the Hennessy maison. Want to get your hands on one of these collector’s items? Move fast as there are only 150 numbered Masterpiece decanters and 1,500 Limited Edition decanters available worldwide. hennessy.com
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WATCHES Patek’s latest addition to its family of pilot watches is aimed at men and women
UP IN THE AIR
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Patek Philippe extends its range of pilot watches
nspired by the manufacture’s aviator’s watches from the 1930s, the latest addition to Patek Philippe’s family of pilot-style watches is the Ref.7234G-001 Calatrava Pilot Travel Time. Slimmed down in diameter from the original 42mm to 37.5mm, the watch is suitable for male and female wrists. One of the watch’s most striking features is its blue dial, the legibility optimised with applied numerals in white gold and a skeletonised white gold hour hand for home time. The self-winding calibre 324 S C FUS, meanwhile, stands out with its easily operable Travel Time display of a second time zone. The
actuation of one of the two pushers in the left-hand case flank moves the local time hour hand forward or backward in one-hour steps without affecting the precise rate of the watch. As long as the owner of the watch remains at home, both hour hands are superposed and look like one hand. In keeping with the aviation theme, the Ref. 7234G001 is worn on a navy blue calfskin strap that resembles a vintage pilot’s seatbelt. The strap is secured with a white-gold clevis prong buckle reminiscent of the harnesses that enabled pilots to keep their survival kits readily deployable in emergencies. patek.com
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REGENT
WATCHES
ART DECO APPEAL Patek Philippe has launched two new versions of its popular Twenty~4 timepiece
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watch conceived for every hour of the day, Patek launched the Twenty~4 back in 1999 and it immediately attracted attention for its art-deco-inspired cuff design, featuring a cambered rectangular case that followed the contours of a woman’s wrist. The manufacture has revisited the Twenty~4 collection to deliver a fresh interpretation of the original cuff-style quartz model with two new versions in which the Roman numerals are replaced with applied Arabic numerals in gold while trapeze-shaped gold markers replace the diamond markers. Featuring a blue sunburst dial and grey sunburst dial, these Twenty~4 references exude contemporary style. The white-gold applied numerals and hour markers and white-gold batonstyle hands on both watches have a luminous coating while the fine grooved rays of the sunburst emanating from the dial’s centre lend a refined touch. The distinctive shape of the two-tier rectangular case is underlined by two rows of 18 Top Wesselton Pure diamonds (approximately 0.42 carat) while Patek’s iconic Calatrava Cross embellishes the crown. We can’t decide which dial we prefer, can you? patek.com
Patek’s
Twenty-4 gets a contemporary update
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WATCHES
BESPOKE SPARKLE
Audemars Piguet releases a limited edition piece exclusive to the Hong Kong market
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ooking for a collector’s piece? Audemars Piguet has released a special edition of its Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph limited to just 10 pieces. Housed inside a 26.3mm 18-carat white gold case and featuring baguettecut diamonds on the bezel, the watch has an an elegant light blue Grande Tapisserie dial with blue counters and dark blue external zone. White gold applied hour-markers and hands with luminescent coating, meanwhile, make the face easily eligible day and night. Powered by the selfwinding calibre 2385, this limited edition piece features glareproof sapphire crystal and a screw-locked crown and is water resistant to 50m With a minimum guaranteed power reserve of 40 hours, the 18-carat white gold bracelet features the iconic AP folding clasp. audemarspiguet.com
This special edition of the Royal Oak
Selfwinding Chronograph is limited to just 10 pieces
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WATCHES
NAVAL TRIBUTE Bremont’s Broadsword Bronze takes inspiration from its WW2-era watches
Approved by Her Majesty’s Armed Forces:
Bremont’s Broadsword Bronze
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ritish watch brand Bremont received a boost last year after it became the sole luxury watch producer permitted to use the signs, symbols and heraldic badges of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. It has extended its armed forces collection with the Bremont Broadsword, which was designed as a contemporary take on the Dirty Dozen, a series of robust timepieces commissioned for the British army during World War Two. The use of bronze is a nod to the material’s importance in naval engineering due to its high corrosion
resistance to salt water. The watch case is made of CuSn8 bronze, a solid solution strengthened copper alloy with 8 per cent tin, further adding to its strength and resistance to corrosion. As a ‘living’ metal, each model will develop its own unique patina over time, meaning no two watches will ever look the same. The Bremont Broadsword is available in three dial and strap variations: slate, tobacco and sotek, a military green/teal shade, with a sub-seconds hand at six o’clock. The new model houses the chronometer rated BE-95-2AV movement inside its two-piece 40mm case and features a screw-in case back stamped with the badges of all three services. bremont.com
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WISHLIST
Privileged pooch owners will adore this diamond-encrusted dog whistle
DIAMOND DOGS This diamond-encrusted dog whistle from Acme is the ultimate dog owner’s accessory
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Inventors of the world’s first dog whistle, Acme – favoured by everyone from dog trainer Ben Randall to Queen Elizabeth II – has launched the most expensive dog whistle available to commemorate its 150th anniversary. Each unique in design, the first example created includes 470 individual diamonds all set by hand, a painstaking process that took more than 150 man-hours to complete. The most adorned dog whistle ever created is the result of a collaboration between the UK whistle maker and a specialist team of jewellers from Birmingham’s jewellery quarter. “We wanted to create something really special, but this has surpassed even our wildest dreams,” says Acme’s head of sales and marketing Ben McFarlane. The sound and tone of every whistle it produces is carefully calibrated, so owners will have the confidence that their dog will respond in exactly the same way as it’s been trained, he adds. Made to order, the cost of the whistle will be priced on application with the highest specification reaching hundreds of thousands of pounds. As each whistle is tailor-made, no two will be the same, each with its own elaborate and detailed design and the opportunity to add a combination of clear and coloured precious stones. Pawesome or what? acmewhistles.co.uk
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LUGGAGE
PACK YOUR BAGS The Outlierman’s weekender garment bag adds cool to your carry-on
A stylish number: the Outlierman’s weekender garment bag
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ith overseas travel becoming more of a distinct possibility, and the chance to drive somewhere beyond the office, now might be the time to recalibrate your luggage options. One company that’s caught our eye recently is The Outlierman, a gentleman’s accessory brand inspired by driving whose range includes ties festooned with classic Bentleys and leather document bags presented in British racing green. Get ready for some adventures with the Outlierman’s weekender garment bag which, like all the brand’s pieces, is handmade in Italy. With a zipper that runs around its entire perimeter, it can be fully opened and laid out flat to expose the interior pockets and the garment case is equipped with two detachable hangers. The inner lining features Outlierman’s Roads pattern, which pays tribute to the stylings of legendary classic cars. The full grain leather bag is available in several colour tones, including lava grey/black, British green/tan, black/red and, most daringly, yellow/black. theoutlierman.com
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TECH
THE SPEED OF SOUND The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport McLaren Edition earphones are rugged and dependable
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ngineered from the ground up to deliver punchy performances from a compact package, the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport McLaren Edition earphones represent a collaboration between the premium German audio brand and the British F1 motor racing team. ​ The T5 II True Wireless Sport dynamic driver speaker combines high output, neutral sound and deep bass extension to enhance clarity and boost audio quality across the entire frequency spectrum, while the transparency mode means you can access the sounds of the outside world at the touch of a button. Fed up of headphones that keep falling out of your ears? There are six pairs of patented, colour-coded oval ear tips in multiple sizes so you can choose your perfect fit, plus three pairs of snug-fit ear wings to keep them in place. The watertight case not only charges your earphones but also keeps them dry and clean when not in use. The earphones provide eight hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 24 additional hours with the charging case, which is compatible with any wireless charging pad. klipsch.com 108 jetsetter-magazine.com
There are six pairs of ear tips so you can choose your perfect fit
STYLE
A TWIST ON TANG
Create a distinct look for Chinese New Year with Shanghai Tang’s new personalisation service
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ired of wearing the same old qi pao or Tang jacket for Chinese New Year celebrations, or indeed any time you want to throw on some Chinese evening wear? Then it’s worth taking a look at Shanghai Tang’s new Twist and Tang p ersonalisation service specially designed for their qipaos and Tang jackets, a bespoke gift for you or that special someone in your life. Get some style ideas for Chinese New Year with
Inject a bit of personality into a red qi pao, or add some cool detail to a brown Tang jacket cuff by mixing and matching your choice of embroidered tape and frog button styles, with 10 embroidered tapes and 10 handmade frog buttons to choose from. Experiment with different combinations before picking out your own bespoke look to usher in the Year of the Ox. shanghaitang.com
Shanghai Tang
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BEAUTY TRAVEL
A SENSORY JOURNEY Aesop’s Sensory Chronicles gift kits aim to restore body and mind with access to complimentary literature
L Feed your skin and access free short stories with Aesop’s seasonal gift kits
ooking for a beauty kit that will do more than boost your skin? Aesop’s Sensory Chronicles invites you on a voyage of the mind via a series of complimentary literary works. Each of the kits are bestowed with wonderful names like Metaphysical Voyager, which features lucent facial concentrate and parsley seed antioxidant facial hydrating cream. Scan the QR code on the kit’s sleeve to read or listen to short stories by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis. The Ardent Nomad, meanwhile, features a cleanser, toner and serum from its popular parsley seed skin care range alongside the writings of intrepid Swiss traveller and diarist, Isabelle Eberhardt. A citrus-infused duo (Resurrection Aromatique hand wash, rind concentrate body balm) the Chance Companion’s literary giveaway is a story of love and desire that starts with a chance encounter on a train by Katherine Mansfield, along with other stories by the celebrated New Zealander. A quartet of hand and body care, the Lore Collector (geranium leaf body cleanser, geranium leaf body balm, Resurrection Aromatique hand wash & hand balm) features tales from Greek-Irish writer Lafcadio Hearn on the side. Finally, there’s the Seasoned Wayfarer, a trio of aromatic essentials for the home (Istros aromatique room spray, Post-Poo drops and Resurrection Aromatique hand wash) and stories from Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore. aesop.com
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TEE OFF
GOLF GOES INDOORS Practise your swing in the heart of Hong Kong at The Upper Loft
K The Golfzon
simulator has an adjustable swing platform
een to improve your game and enjoy the comfort of playing indoors without time or weather constrictions? Then check into indoor golf club the Upper Loft in Central, where you can squeeze in an hour’s golf during your lunch break, or hit the green in the morning and still manage to grab a drink or lunch in the afternoon. For those without golf club memberships, the Upper Loft means you can still keep on top of your game. And there’s plenty to test your skills, too. Featuring Golfzon simulators with more than 200 internationally renowned golf courses, you can pop over to Pebble Beach or St Andrews any time of the day or the week. There’s also driving range bays with motion sensors and cameras to track each stroke and review your moves. Playing indoors means you have the benefit of a constant environment, too, with no need to worry about dodging a sudden rain storm or having the wilting heat sapping your energy before you reach the 18th hole.
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Don’t want others to watch as you attempt to bring that swing into line? The Upper Loft can also give you extra privacy, with five VIP rooms for customers to play in a group or practice, or have a golf lesson. Yup, there is a Golf Academy if you need it, and all coaches are PGA certified. By making good use of the simulators and working with its professional coaches, you can bring down that handicap at the Upper Loft. theupperloft.com
AUTO An all-electric SAV: the BMW iX
TRULY ELECTRIFYING Meet the BMW iX, an all-electric, five-passenger SAV
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et to compete with the Tesla Model X and Audi e-Tron when it launches later in 2021, the BMW iX harnesses the latest innovations in electrification, automated driving and connectivity fitting of the group’s new technology flagship. The fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology certainly delivers on the efficiency front. The power unit, manufactured sustainably without use of critical raw materials, has a maximum output of more than 370 kW/500 hp – enough to power it from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under five seconds. The new charging technology of the BMW iX enables DC fast charging at up to 200kW, going from 10 to 80 per cent of its full capacity in under 40 minutes. Within ten minutes, enough energy can be fed into the battery to increase the car’s range by more than 120 kilometres (75 miles).
Possessing more powerful sensor technology than the newest vehicles in BMW’s current line-up and 5G-capable, the BMW iX’s new technology toolkit has been developed to process 20 times the data volume of previous models. Drivers can additionally expect improved automated driving and parking functions, the car manufacturer says. Newly developed seats with integral head restraints and a panoramic glass roof immerse all five seats of the BMW 114 jetsetter-magazine.com
iX cabin in an inviting lounge-like ambience. The displays and controls, meanwhile, are all stripped down to the essentials for an uncluttered look, and speakers are integrated out of sight. Capitalising on the benefits provided by the all-electric drive system, the underbody section, the wheels and the rear end gives the BMW iX optimised aerodynamics for a positive effect on the performance of this electrically powered SAV. bmwgroup.com
CULTURE
Berlin’s cultural scene has received a big boost with the Humboldt Forum’s debut
A GERMAN GIANT
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The Humboldt Forum has opened in the newly-reconstructed Berlin Palace
he largest cultural development in Europe and the most ambitious in Germany this century, the Humboldt Forum opened its doors this December as the pandemic continued to rage across Europe. Developed over the last decade and poised to open in stages throughout 2021, it will unify the arts & sciences in a contemporary dialogue and incorporate two existing museums, the Ethnological Museum of Berlin and the Museum of Asian Art.
will zoom in on socio-political topics reflecting the Forum’s three core themes: colonialism, the Humbdolt brothers themselves, and the history & architecture of the site, which dates back to the Middle Ages. This year’s event highlights include the Berlin Global exhibition (opens 16 January 2021), which will examine the relationship between the German capital and the world via a diverse range of topics including revolution, fashion, war and free space. One of the show’s highlights is a mural, Thinking the World, by New York-based urban artists How and Nosm. The Humboldt Forum’s first major exhibition, Terrible Beauty. Elephant – Human – Ivory (13 May-24 October 2021), meanwhile, will explore the sociological impact of hunting elephants for their tusks. humboldtforum.org
Inspired by Alexander and Wilhelm von Humboldt, arguably Germany’s greatest thinkers on education, culture, science & nature, the Forum has partnered with the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Cultural Projects Berlin, City Museum Berlin and Humboldt University to guide the museum’s content. The programmes
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