Jplus 2015 11 01 lores

Vol. 2 No. 50 I NOVEMber 1 - 7, 2015

SHINING AND RADIANT

JPLUS ON GUERLAIN SKIN CARE

WATCHES AND WONDERS

MARKING TIME IN HONG KONG

ON THE CATWALK

JAKARTA FASHION WEEK RETURNS

AFGANOLOGY AFGANSYAH REZA TALKS UP DUETS, MAKING MOVIES AND MORE

Editor's note

Check List

WISE WORDS It’s been a busy week at JPlus, as our writers, stylists, make-up artists and staff photographer have flit about Jakarta arranging photo shoots and interviews for the five issues slated for November.

So we’re particularly pleased to present to you our recently completed cover story for the singer Afgansyah Reza, penned by our new contributor Handewi Pramesti, with photos from Arief Suhardiman.

I am always amazed by the generosity and honesty evinced by those we interview for JPlus, given that the process is typically rushed and conversations are made while applying make-up and waiting for the light to change while stalking the perfect shot.

Despite such hectic conditions, Afgan spoke with moving honesty about his personal experience with bullying.

I was impressed with the advice the singer offered to those in a similar plight: “Whatever happens to you – for any struggle you face in life - don’t lose hope, because life is about experience. You won’t know what will come in your life. So keep the faith.”

Wise words from a talented young man.

Meanwhile, Sudibyo M.Wiradji, our deputy editor from The Jakarta Post’s supplements division, has filed a report from Hong Kong on Watches&Wonders – which rightfully bills itself as the world’s premiere exhibition of haute horlogerie, or luxury timepieces.

I loved Sudibyo’s description of one singular watch displayed at the show that came with a staggering price tag of US$10 million dollars.

Although such a purchase would require the staff at the JPlus haute horlogerie desk to scrimp and save until the eventual heat death of the universe, it’s a pleasure to know that such things of beauty and craftsmanship exist in a contemporary global society that rarely respects makers.

In any event, I’m still dreaming of the exquisitely delicious martabak kelapa served to me by the Chinese-Padang chef who will be on our cover next week. I might just have to make another trip to his restaurant before Monday returns.

Enjoy the weekend!

Chris Razukas jplus@thejakartapost.com

mark my words

Riding

the rails THE JOYS AND PITFALLS OF A JOUrney BY TRAIN Words by Theodora Hurustiati

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Jakarta’s fashion moment

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Exploring Waikiki

COUTURE CITY

Wanderlust

JPlus Team Editor Christian Razukas Art Director Budhi Hartono Graphic Designer Hengky Wijaya Marketing & Advertising Sales & Marketing Director Ady P. Pamungkas

ady.pamungkas@thejakartapost.com

Marketing Executive Deasy Rasjid

deasy@thejakartapost.com

“Naik kereta api, tuut, tuut, tuut! Siapa hendak turut? Ke Bandung Surabaya...”

Remember the song taught and sung in Indonesian kindergarten? I do – and I remember my first train experience.

I was about 8 and my mom took me and my sister from Pasar Minggu to Bogor to see the Botanical Gardens. It was a big event. I didn’t care about the destination.

All I was excited about was the ride.

Fast forward a few decades later and I still enjoy traveling by train. In Europe where I live, cities are well connected by rail, making it easy to explore neighboring countries.

I just spent four hours on a train from Udine to Milan to go see the Indonesian Pavilion at the World Expo – and to try some of the rendang on offer.

There was also my week-long railroad oddysey: Udine-Salzburg-Vienna-PragueVienna (again)-Budapest-Vienna (why not)-Udine.

Railways are a less stressful way to travel. On a train, I don’t need to arrive an hour early to go through the horrible security controls at airports - and I don’t have to undergo the anxiety of rearranging and weighing my suitcase several times to make sure it’s no more than 23 kilograms.

The extra room to stretch my legs and breathe is also a plus - not to mention the

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typically gorgeous changing scenery that I wouldn’t have otherwise have seen.

While long hours on the rails are challenging, I’m often on the run. I relish the in-between time on the train to catch up with friends and family (albet through my smartphone) or, even better, to just sit still for a few hours and do absolutely nothing!

Given the nature of a rail journey, people are usually more relaxed – sometimes too relaxed. I’ve begun to classify my fellow travelers and want to share with you a few tips.

Bookworms. You’re lucky if you have one of these people next to you. They are the best travel companions, making no noise or movement as they flip the pages of their paperback or electronic books.

Tech Nerds. Easily spotted by their sleek silver Macbook Air laptops and white Apple earbuds. Come in several varities, distinguished by dress: Engineering, IT, music or creative industries or wannabes.

Hope if they pump up the volume that at least it is a beat that you enjoy.

Drama Queens and Kings. Warning: eagerly craving your attention. Quick to tell you of their tragedies and how inconsiderate people are. When (or if ) they realize that you can’t care less, the drama royals frequently produce smartphones that they use to call some other hapless victim to listen to their problem. Avoid.

Masters of the Universe. Beware the businessmen and women for who time is money that must be materialized, it even if it is during a 15-minute trip. After tucking away their branded briefcases and coats, they pull out iPhones and order Siri, the phone’s virtual assistant, to dial their secretaries. Put your earplugs in. These would-be Gordon Gekkos also harangue people at length on the phone.

Chatterboxes. Mostly women between 35 and 75. You’d think that they’d prefer to stay home and knit shawls! (Note: I think I might belong to this category.) This can be either pleasant or annoying, depending on which of the above categories you belong to. Don’t worry; we’re experienced enough rail riders to tell, just from a quick glance and a simple smile whether you’re a good candidate for a chat.

When we travel alone, we usually can’t resist to conversing with you. The weather, the destination and, in my case, my origins would generally be the starting topics.

If we travel in groups though, we might forget that we’re not in our living rooms!

Bear with us and eavesdrop – you might pick up a handy tip or two.

Mark My Words shifts its focus between food, fashion, parenting and travel each week. Next week, Willy Wilson has some model talk from Jakarta Fashion Week.

@JPlusSunday JPlusSunday

SundayJplus jakplus.com

ON THE COVER Afgansyah Reza Photographer Arief Suhardiman Stylist Daisy Karina Wardrobe Embellishment bronze shade denim jacket, shirt and outerwear by ISIS; two-tone jogger pants by CRNVL Location Meradelima Restaurant; Senopati, South Jakarta

talk of the town ROMANIAN PAINTERS MARK JOURNEY at Kunstkring Menteng, Central Jakarta

An exhibition of Romanian painters Victoria Dragomirescu and Sanda Butiu was recently presented by the Romanian embassy at Tugu Kunstkring Paleis.

Romanian ambassador Valerica Epure said the exhibition was held to mark 65 years of bilateral relations between Romania and Indonesia.

The Bucharest-born artists, both members of the Romanian Fine Arts Society and Romanian Plastic Arts Union, have had exhibitions across the globe.

Tugu Kunstkring Paleis is a 101-year-old building serving culinary and dining temptations, as well as presenting exhibitions, performing arts and cultural related events.

DJARUM PROMOTES BETAWI MARTIAL ARTS Jakarta Art Building, Central Jakarta

The Djarum Culture Appreciation foundation recently joined hands with Abang None Theater Jakarta to promote Betawi culture.

The focus of the event, held at the Jakarta Art Building on Oct. 24, was a Betawi-based martial arts performance. The theater group used a dramatic play to raise awareness of this Betawi tradition.

Actors in this play collaborated with three of the biggest schools of Betawi martial arts: Sabeni Tenabang, Harimau Belut Putih and Pusaka Jakarta.

The play itself, titled “Jawara,” was nine months in the making. It tells the story of Asni, who gets accused of robbing Babah Yong’s house.

The story is designed to inspire audiences with a sense of love for the nation’s cultural heritage.

Opening Night of Nicoline Patricia

Sudirman, Central Jakarta Fine arts lovers in the capital recently got the chance to enjoy a gathering that celebrated the opening of a new photo exhibition by Nicoline Patricia for GIA Jakarta.

The opening night, held on Oct. 28 at GIA Jakarta at the Sampoerna Strategic Square in the Sudirman Central Business District, was an exclusive event that featured special performances by Italian soloist and pianist Mauro Goia and by DJ Hudi.

Guests got to enjoy a four-course set menu paired with GH Mumm champagne together with a list of hosts that included Amalia Wirjono, Ady Pamungkas and Timotius Hansen.

The exhibition will run until Nov. 28 at GIA Jakarta.

PARK LANE GETS GREEN AWARD Jl. Casablanca, South Jakarta

As far as green hotels in the nation go, The Park Lane Hotel Jakarta ranks with the best when it comes to preserving the environment.

The hotel was recently recognized for its eco-friendly programs – covering the areas of energy, waste, water and safety management – with a spot in the Tourism Ministry’s list of the Top 10 Best Green Hotels in Indonesia.

It was one of the 46 hotels that participated in the Tourism Ministry’s Green Hotel Awards 2015, which took place in October. Others in the top 10 include the Manado Golf and Convention Center Hotel and the Singgasana Hotel Surabaya.

According to Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, the concept of green hotels is important to help the archipelago compete internationally, as they hold high value in the eyes of consumers.

LINDBERG MAKES RI DEBUT

Sudirman, Central Jakarta Premium eyewear manufacturer Lindberg was part of a list of Danish business delegates that visited Indonesia to introduce their products to consumers throughout the archipelago.

This Oct. 22 visit saw the company accompanying Danish Queen Margrethe II and her husband, Prince Henrik, to Indonesia as they showed off the best in Denmark’s design and lifestyle products.

Lindberg earned a spot in the list of delegates thanks to its global reputation.

To date, it has won over 70 awards for its designs.

Members of the Danish royal family themselves are known fans of the Lindberg brand.

Its frames encompass 18-carat solid gold, platinum, buffalo horn, musk, and ox horn, inlaid with diamonds and mammoth tusk.

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good living

Pin up for

a faux bob

WORDS ANN/STRAITS TIMES The 38-year-old actress, who gained recognition for her role in the television drama Scandal, walked the red carpet at the Emmys last month with a faux bob.

Washington, whose hair originally falls slightly below her collarbone, presents the perfect option for those who want to experiment with a short bob, but are unwilling to cut their hair.

She has tucked in her longer tresses at the nape of her neck to give the illusion of a shorter style.

The textured look, along with the side part, makes the style suitable for most face shapes.

How to style the look: 1. Apply a heat-protecting spray to freshly washed hair.

2. Use a pair of medium-sized heated tongs to curl hair.

3. Apply a curl enhancer to shape and define curls.

4. Tease the hair slightly with a boar bristle brush to create more volume at the top of the head and around the ears.

5. Divide the hair into easy-to- manage sections - about 4cm wide. Loosely pin or tie up the sections yet to be used.

6. Roll each section around a finger and pin the rolled portion at the base of your head with a bobby pin.

7. Finish off with a curl-enhancing spray.

Shining & radiant Saving your skin (literally) from Jakarta WORDS Fedina S. Sundaryani

What do you think about when you hear the name “Guerlain”? To most, the word exudes a sense of sophistication and luxury that other brands cannot claim. Then again, established in 1828, the French firm is one of the oldest perfume houses in the world.

Although perfume was its first product, Guerlain, after the launch of a jar of multicolored powder pearls called Meteorites in 1987, is now also known for helping women everywhere achieve natural-looking, glowing skin.

This summer, Guerlain launched two new products – and Galeries Lafayette recently convened a seminar as part of its October Beauty Month to show users how to use the products to get baby-soft, luminous skin in the harsh atmosphere of Jakarta.

Here’s what JPlus found out.

Guerlain Meteorites Oxygen Care Guerlain Training Manager Reni Kamil said that the moisturizer and radiance booster – the first such Meteorites offering

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– was made “to counter [skin] dullness, which often occurs in Jakarta due to aggressive sun rays, smoke, indoor air-conditioning and even infrared lights that can lead to skin lacking oxygen.”

Reni continues. “Meteorites Oxygen Care helps to speed up the spread of oxygen through your skin.”

The 30-ml product comes as a fluid gelcream with a light purple iridescence that is indiscernible once blended into the skin.

Light in texture and easily absorbed, the product is meant to blur surface imperfections and dispense moisture to create a healthier and fresher-looking texture.

As with other products in the line, the Guerlain Meteorites Oxygen Care has the light fragrance of violets, which is pleasant but may be bothersome for those who are sensitive.

Although presented as a moisturizer formulated for intense hydration, Guerlain Meteorites Oxygen Care will not suit those with extremely dry skin. It’s better layered over another, more hydrating moisturizer.

Due to the product’s iridescence, it may also feel a little strange to apply it at night - even though Guerlain recommends applying the moisturizer twice a day daily.

However, where Guerlain Meteorites

PHOTOS AFP, Guerlain

Oxygen Care excels is as a makeup primer.

The effect made by the white pearly polymers is extremely subtle - but has a noticeable lightreflecting effect on the skin.

If you’re going for a more natural look, then you can wear it alone, without any makeup, and have everyone ask you what you’ve done to your skin.

But if you’re into the extremely Photoshopped look, then this moisturizer may be your answer, as well - especially layered under a dewy foundation.

Guerlain Meteorites Rainbow Pearls (Summer 2015) Opening up the packaging and taking a peek at the product is like receiving a piece of your favorite candy on a horrible day — you won’t be able to stop smiling afterwards.

Stored in a dainty white and gold plasticlined metal tin, the pearls come in an array of bright colors: champagne and pearlescent white balls to illuminate; while the yellow, green and pink balls are there to even out skin tone with their color-correcting powers.

Although they may look a little scary and glittery in the pot, the pearls create a beautiful glowing, satin finish that does not look metallic when swirled together and brushed over the skin to set makeup and minimize pores.

Guerlain Meteorites Oxygen Care (Rp. 895,000) and Guerlain Meteorites Rainbow Pearls (Rp. 785,000) are available at Galeries Lafayette Jakarta.

Makeup artist Fey Firmansyah said at the beauty seminar that although the pearls were an illuminating product, those with oily skin should not be scared of using it.

“If you want a ‘glowy’ or shiny effect, then you have to prioritize application on some parts of your face, not all of it. If you use too much, then it can end up like you’ve just come back from a run,” Fey said, adding that the pearls should be applied on the high points of the face: the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid’s bow.

He also said that the pearls could also be used to cover up some makeup mistakes. “If you wear a little too much blush then you can use the Guerlain Meteorites Rainbow Pearls to blend it out so that it’s not so harsh and bright.”

Verdict If you’re looking to ditch matte, flat skin in exchange for glowing, youthful skin but are scared that you’ll overdue the dew, then these two products are perfect for you.

Unlike other products on the market, Guerlain Meteorites Oxygen Care and Guerlain Meteorites Rainbow Pearls offer subtle highlights suitable for all ages.

Note though that the Guerlain Meteorites Oxygen does not provide as much moisture as advertised, and should be treated more like a primer layered over your regular moisturizer.

style Counsel

Bright Young Things FOUR TALENTS THAT CAPTURED OUR ATTENTION AT 2016 JAKARTA FASHION WEEK. Words Willy Wilson

Photos Courtesy of Jakarta Fashion Week / Dennie Ramon

N

o matter how packed the Jakarta Fashion Week calendar gets, there is always a room for a few new names. From an independent designer focusing on the burgeoning Muslim market to well-known Instagram stars, here are four names you want to learn quickly.

I.K.Y.K With a market value of US$266 billion, the Islamic fashion industry is fashion’s fastest-growing yet most underrated segment.

Many argue that the specific codes of dressing that governs Muslimwear often limits design creativity, but Anandia Marina defies such a stereotype.

Since launching her brand I.K.Y.K. (I Know You Know) in 2011, Anandia has been consistently using an unorthodox approach to design for what is widely considered the most restricting mode of wardrobe for women. Her SS 2016 collection, entitled Poetic Warrior, is case in point. Imbued with Japanese references, the collection offers a refreshing combination of short-sleeved jackets, palazzo pants with string accents and gingham outwear over crisp white shirts. She plays with Judo belts and raw materials in earthy colors to give a military oomph.

If you’re one of her 15,000 Instagram followers, you would know that Anandia is committed to challenging forms and concept - hence, the multi-layered runway ensembles. But her true genius lies in her ability to transform her cerebral inspirations into unique yet wearable clothing, often with utilitarian edge.

Sold at bobobobo.com, distoko.com, The Goods Dept (Jakarta) and HGL House (Bandung) ETU Known to her 68,000 Instagram followers for versatile separate pieces - blazers, pants, culottes and shirts - Restu Anggraini’s men’s-wearinfluenced past collections were, frankly speaking, blah. But it was her 2016 Spring Summer collection shown at Jakarta Fashion Week that elevated her work to the level of high fashion - thanks to the immaculate tailoring and construction.

Unlike as in the past, her recent collection is both conceptually and technically mature. She has successfully combined the essence of feminine and masculine sartorial codes (which is tricky), all the while maintaining the integrity of Islamic clothing.

The collection features impressive tailoring and construction techniques, rendering each look with a sophistication that makes her designs reliable and functional as well as luxurious.

From an elongated vest with oversized lapels to a sleek turban, each item is contemporary and polished.

Pleated origami techniques on jacket chests and shoulders further highlights a technical expertise that we have never seen from her before. And as if to emphasize the masculine feel of the collection, she named it “The Rationalist”. We covet the navy pants and geometric overcoat and long vest rendered in navy and salmon pink.

Sold at restuanggraini.com

ByVelvet How understated is too understated? That is perhaps the question that most minimalist designers ask themselves. In the case of Byvelvet, there’s no limit.

Unembellished clothing is the essence of ByVelvet’s spring collection, fittingly named Solitude.

If you’re familiar with Shopatvelvet, the brand’s more affordable and popular line, you would be able to appreciate the amplified elegance in ByVelvet’s latest collection.

Otherwise, you might find the collection unremarkable other than the fact that it conforms to the two trends emerged in 2016 JFW: knotted fabric belt and pleat accents.

But that’s exactly the kind of modesty that designer Randy W. Sastra and Yessi Kusumo intended for the collection.

The duo made it a mission to develop an aesthetic that exudes confidence in its simplicity, modernity in its quietness.

In their defense, we haven’t seen such a polished execution on such a familiar silhouette. After all, isn’t it this hyper modesty that makes the young designers so easy to like?

Sold at www.fashionvalet.com, The Goods Dept (Jakarta), Widely Project (Bandung) and HappyGo-Lucky (Bandung)

Sean & Sheila Fashion is not a topic where Indonesia and Malaysia could see eye to eye. But Malaysia’s Sean Loh and Indonesia’s Sheila Agatha have become two of the most talked-about designers in Southeast Asia since launching their eponymous brand in 2012.

The collection, Klimt, is named after the Austrian whose regular use of gold leaf in paintings defined the nouveau genre. This is perhaps fitting, considering many pieces from the collection have a shimmering surface that look like a painting of Klimt’s.

Sean and Sheila’s overall aesthetic, however, leans more towards Japan, favoring the use of modern tailoring, traditional silhouettes and handmade fabrics.

You would probably agree with us on this if you looked at their past collections in their website. It is this Japanese design sensibility that infuses a certain level of refinement in whatever they do, be it a shortand-suit combo (for men) and bomber jacket (for women), worn over a wrap kimono top and silk blouses, as seen in their 2016 Spring Summer collection.

This collection is arguably hipper than their previous efforts, not the least because of the playful but beautiful dragonfly embroidery on the jacket, dresses and suits.

This also seems to be their most commercial collection yet.

Sold at Galeries Lafayette (Jakarta), Raffles Privato (Singapore) and bobobobo.com

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cover Story

Skyrocketing

Afghan STARTING WITH A SONG RECORDED IN A KARAOKE ROOM, AFGANSYAH REZA BECAME A SUPERSTAR. WORDS Handewi Pramesti PHOTOS Arief Suhardiman

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A

fgansyah Reza finishes a press conference at Meradelima Restaurant in South Jakarta.

He was appearing with the singer Rossa, an erstwhile JPlus cover star.

The pair recently received an award from Anugerah Planet Muzik (APM), which recognizes artists who sing in Malay or Indonesian, for their collaboration on the duet “Kamu Yang Ku Tunggu”, or “You Are the One I’m Waiting For”.

“I am very proud to have won this award. Receiving an honor from foreign country is a bonus for hard work,” Afgan said. “Rossa is my best friend and it was her idea to make a duet. She is a great singer and she’s been singing for 20 years.”

The 26-year-old describes his first experience singing on stage with Rossa as awkward. “We couldn’t even look at each other’s eyes when we did our first performance, “Afgan said. “It has been a process and now we can act on stage comfortably.”

Overcoming awkwardness and difficulties is a theme when looking at the rise of Afgan.

POINTS OF ORIGIN Speaking in an interview to JPlus, he related the start of his love affair with music.

“I was ten when I listened to the song titled ‘Andai Aku Bisa’ [I Wish I Could] sung by Chrisye and written by Bebi Romeo,” he said. “Everything about that song is good. I started to dream of becoming a singer ever since then - and the song is something I’ve been afraid to cover, as it is too beautiful and too magical for me.”

cover Story

It was the worst 3 years in my life, and I didn’t let them hear me sing. But music gave me a path in order for me to recover from the scars I have. I’ve made my peace, but the scars stay.

Music is what gave him strength when in junior high school, he relates.

“I was bullied by my friends and my teacher then,” Afgan said. “Many people take the victims of bullying for granted, but the truth is that it causes pain and mental illness, such as being depressed or even suicide.

“It was the worst 3 years in my life, and I didn’t let them hear me sing. But music gave me a path in order for me to recover from the scars I have. I’ve made my peace, but the scars stay,” Afgan said.

He remained silent until he was in high school, until, together with friends, Afgan made some recordings at a karaoke room.

The first song he sang was “Ordinary People” by John Legend - and his peers were surprised, Afgan said.

“You can find me on YouTube singing that song.”

He says. “It brought me to where I am now. The owner of the karaoke parlor liked my voice and he offered me a contract to make 2 albums. ‘Ordinary People’ is the easiest song for me to cover until now.”

Pop stardom Afgan released Confession No.1, the first of his four albums, in 2008, along with hit songs such as “Klise” (Cliché), “Sadis” (Sadist) and “Tanpa Batas Waktu” (No Time Limit).

Another song, “Terima Kasih Cinta” (Thank You Love), earned him an award as best solo male vocalist at the 2009 Anugerah Musik Indonesia awards.

Afgan says he performs about a half dozen gigs a month in addition to concerts, such as a recentperformance at the Plenary Hall of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Malaysia, where he was the first Indonesian male singer to perform at the venue.

“I feel honored, especially because John Legend had a performance also there, right before mine,” Afgan said. “Tickets were sold out and, importantly, I had a chance to meet my idol Sheila Madjid there. I personally asked her to collaborate with me.”

Afgan was referring to one of Malaysia’s top

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cover Story singers - who also happens to be his fan.

“My team and hers are now communicating to each other to make this project happen,” Afgan said. “I hope it can happen for my latest album. We are in the process of creating a song for the project.”

his next steps. “I just want to make the best music as possible. Now I am kind of confused whether I go back to school or focus on music. The next album should be very, very great because I have a lot of energy right now.”

NEW DIRECTIONS

SOUNDING A NEW NOTE

Afgan, who has a degree in economics from Monash University Sunway in Malaysia, refuses to be typecast, and is also pursuing his dream as a film director and script writer.

“I had an opportunity to direct and write a short film, and I brought the issue of bullying into it,” he says. “The title is Gila & Jiwa [Crazy and Soul] and I was so excited to have Ria Irawan as my mentor.”

The film is an omnibus project of five filmmakers:nRia, a senior actress; Afgan; the comedian Aming Sugandhi; the singer Julia Perez and Sir Dandy musician Ade Firza Paloh.

Afgan describes the project as one that taught him how to be a leader. “One character in my movie was bullied and suffered from schizophrenia and panic attacks. Every time the symptom arises, it transports the person to his own fantasy, which is in music.”

These days, he’s not exactly sure of

Afgan says he has plans to write some English-language songs for the world market. “I want to bring the name of Indonesia to the international forum,” he said. “I also want to collaborate with musicians from abroad and record an album overseas. I dream of staying abroad and make an album there.”

Growing as an artist, Afgan said that he realized that he had another talent, for songwriting. “In the past, I didn’t realize it because I was too shy to sing my own songs. Now I am ready and I feel very confident to do it.”

Looking back, Afgan said that after his first album was released, he felt more confident and bore no grudges against his bulliers.

“I finally made peace with the experience. I shouldn’t think about it anymore. And now I’ve become a singer - and I am very proud of myself,” Afgan explained.

I just want to make the best music as possible. Now I am kind of confused whether I go back to school or focus on music

AT EASE When I watch Empire, I can forget about anything. That show makes me a procrastinator. I can spend a whole day watching that show.

Your next ambition I want to make a musical. I will make my own songs and lyrics, write the screenplay and act.

Who would you like to be?

I wish I were a person I living in the 70s or 80s. I’m fascinated about life in those eras. Things must have been very difficult then. I wonder how my parents complete their studies without the Internet. They had to look for reference books and read. There was no such thing as Wikipedia then. We are spoiled by technology.

On shyness and ‘snobbery’ People sometimes misunderstand me. In a crowd, I tend to be silent and it is often interpreted as being a snob - but I’m not. I just happen to be a shy guy. I respect people and I try to be humble. I prefer to enjoy the silence and myself.

As a child I was protected by my parents, so I wasn’t spoiled or bad as a kid. I never fell from the rooftop, for example.

Musical instrument I play piano a little bit, but I create songs and lyrics with my voice. I can’t create a song with the piano - my voice is my own instrument.

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at your LEISURE

Bread

Is a Discipline Master Baker Franck Heuzé wants Indonesians to slow down and smell the bread WORDS CHRISTIAN RAZUKAS

Photos Christian Razukas, Courtesy Paul

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Morbi placerat facilisis orci, eget semper elit consectetur ut. Duis scelerisque condimentum erat, et tincidunt orci porttitor non. Proin

Rice off the menu ASIA’S HUNGER FOR BREAD AND PASTRIES IS BOOSTING DEMAND FOR WHEAT WORDS AND PHOTOS Reuters Asia is losing some of its appetite for rice in favor of wheat, a trend that is nowhere more pronounced than South Korea where bread and pastries have become a new staple.

From working mothers, who find toast more convenient to prepare for breakfast, to city dwellers flocking to new eateries for baguettes, South Koreans are at the forefront of an Asia-wide trend that has seen wheat demand climb at nearly twice the rate of rice consumption since 2008.

And while Asia is largely self-sufficient in rice, demand for bread and noodles

from Mumbai to Manila has made Asia the largest and fastest growing market for wheat imports, shipping in more than 40 million tons annually for the past five years or 25 percent of world imports.

South Koreans spent an estimated 6.36 trillion won ($5.37 billion) last year on bread, sandwiches, bagels and pastries, according to SPC Group, owner of the Paris Croissant and Paris Baguette chains, which has even opened two stores in the French capital Paris as part of global expansion.

“Housewives are increasingly having bread and coffee for brunch late morning

instead of rice and kimchi,” said Kang Byung-Oh, a business professor at ChungAng University, referring to the spicy local side dish.

SPC Group, which runs Asia’s biggest bread making plant and has about 5,000 bakeries in South Korea, said the local bread market has grown at an average of 15 percent per year since 2005.

Rising wheat

consumption has been focused on large cities where an emerging middle class is exposed to a proliferation of convenience foods from pizzas to sandwiches.

Along with record pizza sales and noodle consumption, demand for cakes and pastries is also increasing.

“It’s a symbol of lifestyle, consumers pair them (cakes and pastries) with coffee and chatting, and hanging out with friends,” said Linda Li, senior research analyst at Mintel China.

JPlus

November 1, 2015

9

wanderLUST

on the road in spain A month without technology on the Camino trail WORDS E.J. TÁMARA PHOTOS AP

W

e are so used to technology that i wondered if i could live without it. But I did it, disconnecting during a month on the Saint James Way, an ancient pilgrimage route in Spain. The journey along the 470-mile (760-kilometer) trail allowed me to experience nature, lifted my spirits and reminded me how it feels to live without cellphones or other tech tools.

The Saint James Way, or El Camino de Santiago, as it is called in Spanish, is a series of routes that converge at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in northwest Spain. The cathedral is believed to house the remains of the apostle St. James.

Tens of thousands of people walk the routes annually, some as a spiritual quest, others for recreation or tourism.

I decided to do El Camino Frances, the most popular route. I left my personal and

business cellphones home, but encountered a logistical challenge on my very first night, when I arrived in Madrid without a hotel reservation. I couldn’t get one using a public phone, so I had to use a public computer to get a room. I wondered if I’d ever be able to disconnect.

I planned to hike with a friend, and we met at the airport as agreed. Two days later, we began hiking from St. Jean Pied de Port, on the border of France and Spain.

The first days were the hardest. I felt something missing from my hands. I am used to constantly reading emails and news on my phone, so I was anxious. In restaurants, I could not get used to not having my phone on the table. Everyone else connected to the Internet and I felt ignored. I’d go to the restroom or check my backpack.

As days went by, I felt more comfortable without my phone. But my friend was using

his, and kept telling me about comments posted on social media. We thought each one of us would be better off on his own, so we went our separate ways.

At the hostels for pilgrims, called albergues, the noise of hikers getting ready to leave would wake me in the mornings instead of my phone alarm. Some pilgrims sent me Facebook friend requests, handing me their phones so I could accept them which I did, then handed their devices back.

But I couldn’t resist using others’ phones to occasionally take photos of stone houses, bell towers and sunflowers along the route. I also could not refuse others’ requests to take pictures of me.

Most albergues did not have TVs, so

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avoiding them was not a problem. When I did see TVs or computers, I ignored them.

But I missed the easy access to information. I couldn’t check reviews of the albergues. I had to ask other travelers and locals everything: What time is it? Is it going to rain?

At times, I felt a bit afraid. In downtown Leon, I was locked out of the albergue for more than three hours overnight. Other times I walked long stretches without anyone in sight. In case of emergency I only had a whistle and trekking poles.

It took me eight days on the trail to stop thinking about my job. Most of all, I missed connecting with friends and family on social media. At one point I used Facebook to see if a pair of friends would accompany me on the final stretch. But in the end, I arrived in Santiago on my own, leaving my backpack behind so I could run the last 20 kilometers.

I did find the harmony I was looking for,

walking several hours a day without knowing the time, meditating about my life while opening my heart and making new friends. And some of the lessons I learned were not about technology, but just about living a simpler, happier life. For instance, now I know that I can live with only three changes of clothes.

And one night in Melide, a group of women made me laugh so hard that my stomach hurt, and all my sadness went away. Listening to bells toll, looking endlessly at the green horizon, and soaking my feet in fountains also helped me connect with the roots of my Spanish ancestors.

I’m online again and using cellphones, but I think I have more patience and I face difficult situations more calmly than I did before. I have even adopted the nickname my Spaniard friends gave me, Edu. The real challenge to keep living as I did in El Camino is not so much technology, as it turns out, but loving others, living a simple life and speaking from the heart.

wanderLUST

Island time

HONOLULU OFFERS RAIN FORESTS, SNORKELING AND RICH HISTORY Words AUDREY McAVOY Photos AP

H

onolulu is a bustling metropolis with great restaurants just minutes from rain forest hiking trails and snorkeling spots. The state of Hawaii’s capital, located on the island of Oahu, is also an excellent place to learn about World War II as well as Hawaiian history and culture.

WHAT’S NEW Fans of surfing will want to see a new Bishop Museum exhibit on Duke Kahanamoku —bishopmuseum.org — said to be the father of the ancient sport’s modern incarnation. The Honolulu-born waterman won five Olympic swimming medals in the 1910s and 1920s and popularized surfing while traveling the world. The display, up through Feb. 28, includes his surfboard and ukulele as well as photos and film.

Riding on a new protected bike lane on King Street is a nice way to enjoy a less touristy part of Honolulu. You can rent a bike at The Bike Shop on King Street, bikeshophawaii.com. (A reservation will guarantee you a bike, but walk-ins are welcome.) Shortly before the lane begins at the South King/Alapai intersection, you’ll find Iolani Palace, home of Hawaii’s last reigning queen until US -backed businessmen deposed the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. Heading east toward the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a good place to stop for beer is the gastropub Pint and Jigger —pintandjigger.com. Next door are excellent Japanese udon noodles at Jimbo. Farther down a vegan restaurant called Peace Cafe is so delicious meatlovers are among its regular customers, peacecafehawaii.com. Shortly after the path ends is Da Spot, which serves smoothies as well as tasty, reasonably priced Mediterranean and North African food, daspot.net.

CLASSIC ATTRACTIONS The USS Arizona, a battleship that sank in the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, tops many lists for places to visit on Oahu. A boat will take you from the National Park Service’s visitor center to the white memorial that sits atop the vessel’s submerged hull. The remains of nearly 1,000 Arizona sailors and Marines killed in the attack are entombed in the ship. A museum and video at the visitor center tells about those on board and the history of World War II. A few elderly survivors of the attack are sometimes around to meet visitors.

The nature preserve at Hanauma Bay offers white sands fronting aquamarine waters packed with coral and tropical fish. It’s a good spot for snorkeling or just enjoying the sun. Admission is US$7.50 (free for Hawaii residents and children 12 and under).

A hike inside one of Honolulu’s most recognizable symbols — the jewel-shaped volcanic crater called Diamond Head — provides dramatic views of Waikiki, Oahu’s green mountains and blue ocean. Much of the 1.6-mile path to the crater’s rim is made of stairs. The trail is hot, so bring water and use sunscreen. Admission is $1 for pedestrians and $5 per car.

Across town, the trail to Manoa Falls takes you through a lush forest to a waterfall at the back of a verdant valley. The hike is less than a mile and good for families.

TIPS Save time: Go to recreation. gov to reserve tickets for the boat to the USS Arizona Memorial up to two months in advance. Walk-in visitors may get tickets on a first-come, firstserved basis; reserving ahead guarantees a seat and helps you plan your day. Tickets are free, but those reserving online must pay a $1.50 per ticket processing fee.

Save money: Honolulu can be pricey, but there’s lots to enjoy for nothing. Beaches are free and open to the public, for example. Just bring a towel and picnic lunch. The Royal Hawaiian Center shopping complex near Waikiki’s hotels offers free live Hawaiian music and hula Tuesday through Saturday nights.

During the day, it has free lessons in ukulele, lei making, hula dancing and lauhala weaving.

HANGING OUT Explore the quiet end of Waikiki by strolling down Kalakaua Avenue to the Waikiki Aquarium, one of the few places in the world where you can see fish from the most remote atolls in the Hawaiian archipelago. A 4,000-gallon display tank has species abundant in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands but rarely found around Oahu, Maui and the other islands where most people live. The aquarium also has two Hawaiian monk seals, an endangered species.

Next door, you’ll be able to peek at the ruins of a now-closed saltwater swimming pool that was built to honor the 101 people from Hawaii killed in World War I and the 10,000 others from the islands who served in the conflict. Duke Kahanamoku opened the pool with the first ceremonial swim in 1927. The Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium has since fallen into disrepair and is the subject of a long-running debate over whether it should be demolished or restored to its former glory.

Across the street is the vast expanse of Kapiolani Park, which initially hosted horse races when it opened in 1877. Take a bag lunch to eat on the grass or at one of the picnic tables scattered under shady trees. If you prefer being served, try the Hau Tree Lanai restaurant at the nearby New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. It’s a great place to watch the sun set while you savor fresh ahi sashimi or sauteed mahimahi.

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November 1, 2015 11

a la mode

Luxury

timepieces BRIMMING WITH BEAUTY WORDS Sudibyo M. Wiradji

A

thing of beauty is a joy forever, as Keats reminds us.

Such sentiments abounded as dozens of luxury timepieces were presented by the world’s top watchmakers at the Watches&Wonders (WW) -- Haute Horlogerie Exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Organized by Foundation De La Haute Horlogerie; the third iteration of the fair, held from Sept. 30 to Oct.3, featured 12 leading fine watch maisons, 10 of which were owned by Swiss luxury group, Richmont.

The consumer-oriented event also had an educational

element, as the exhibitors displayed their latest collections and watch novelties, organized tours and offered lectures on luxury watches for collectors.

The exclusive timepieces on view pleased collectors.

Fan-shaped and diamond-studded timepieces competed with those featuring hand-engraved moons, stars, birds, swans and lions.

There were also gorgeous watches that were inseparable from bracelets, with straps embellished by a sea of jewels and diamonds.

with a captivating traditional horological complication showing the phases of the moon.

“The piece provides an entirely different measure of time,” Menant says. “It not only tells the time as such, but also indicates various phases of the moon. A subtly complex mechanism enables it to display the lunar cycle.”

Award-winning Chinese actress Carina Lau, who stepped into Piaget booth at the exhibition, is among those known to have worn the watch.

Piaget and design

Poetic Complication

Exhibitors acknowledged how form has become one of the most crucial elements watchmaking.

“We work a lot on the design,” Piaget watch production manager Marc Menant said during an interview in the mansion’s romantic booth, boasting a roof studded with sparkling decorations resembling a starry firmament. “We are not talking about watches anymore. We are talking about a piece of art.”

He pointed to a Limelight Stella collection inside a nearby glass case. Intended for women, the timepiece is equipped

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Combining aesthetic exploration and technical mastery is a specialty of watchmaker Van Cleef & Arpels.

At the fair, Van Cleef & Arpels showcased new timepieces from its Poetic Complication collection, including one depicting a bird of paradise for each cycle of the sun and moon (Oiseaux de Paradis).

Van Cleef & Arpels boasts that its timepiece goes beyond aesthetic and technical aspects; interpreting time with poetic flair. “This poetic interpretation - a true brand signature - is translated visually by the delicacy of an original design that

a la mode

Roger Dubois

tells a story,” the maker said in a statement.

In the series, numerals and date are invisible, as the watches instead feature stunning drawings of bird of paradises with sparkling trains of feathers.

The Lady Arpels Jour Nuit Oiseaux de Paradis comes in a 38 mm white gold case.

Its bezel is set with diamonds. The watch is completed with a navy blue alligator strap and a white gold pin buckle set with diamonds.

Diamonds are forever

Other models with aesthetic appeal are those released by Cartier. Cartier’s latest collection includes the Cle de Cartier Flying Tourbillion watch, graced with a rhodiumfinish white gold set with 478 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 3.56 carats.

IWC Schauffhausen

IWC Shaffhausen highlighted its latest collection including its Portofino HandWound Day & Date, a beautiful watch that features a sophisticated new development.

For the collection, the watchmakers combined a large date with a day display and created an aesthetically pleasing timepiece that is also enormously beneficial in practice, according to ICW CEO George Kern.

“At IWC Schauffhausen, one of our aims is to have always been to make watches that combine functionality with elegant, clear-cut design,” he says.

The event also featured relatively young high-end watchmakers, including the 20-year-old Roger Dubois.

At the event, Roger Dubois’ booth was transformed into a dark space mimicking the giant mechanical insides of a skeleton watch.

The Geneva-based Swiss maison showcased its collections, with the new Excalibur Spider Pocket Time Instrument standing out.

Beauty can be seen in technology, which, according to one watch expert, lies behind the outrageous exteriors, interiors and ideas driving luxury watches - because there is some seriously good looking movement architecture, especially in terms of skeletonization.

Roger Dubois’ Velvet lured top Korean actress Kim Hee-Seon, who toured the booth. She wore the maison’s iconic white gold-crafted Velvet High Jewelry timepiece, which articulated glamour and elegance.

The maison’s CEO, Jean-March Pontroue, said that Roger Dubois, which has been at the forefront of contemporary fine watchmaking since 1995, is targeting young people.

“Boldness and extravaganza are the brand’s signatures - and determination its driving force,” Pontroue said.

Spectacular execution in terms of a Roger Dubois’ watch’s mechanism, design and exclusivity are what make the timepieces different from mass products, he says.

Montblanc chronometers

Other high-end brands also displayed their beautiful side. Montblanc, for instance, released its Montblanc Heritage Chronometer Dual Time Vasco Da Gama Limited Edition 238.

The watch plays tribute to the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama. The Southern Cross constellation at the 12 o’clock position is one of the references to this great explorer.

Highlights of this watch include a dual time zone display.

Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin stole the show when it came to beauty associated with heritage-linked-mechanical innovations and excellence.

The timepiece manufacturer held a gala dinner in conjunction with its 260th anniversary at the Sky100 Observatory Deck at the Hong Kong International Commerce Center.

Vacheron’s long tradition of watch craftsmanship was showcased through a display of the “intestines” of a watch, or its mechanism, on a glass wall leading to the tables.

An elegantly looking timepiece on a thick glass box caught the eyes of the well-dressed guests, but no picture taking was allowed.

Vacheron boasted that the timepiece was the most complicated watch in the world.

“An extraordinary custom-made creation uniting legacy, passion and savoir-faire in perfect harmony,” according to the company CEO Charlie Torres.

Torres said that the US$10 million Reference 57260 was made using classic principles of watchmaking and 21st–century thinking resulting in an entirely original creation.

Watch enthusiasts at Vacheron’s packed booth were captivated by the impressive look of the all-new Heures Creatives collection,

especially the Heure Discrete, a Decoinfluenced design based on a pendant watch from 1919.

The gem-set jewelry watch is shaped like a fan, with dial that can be revealed as the sections of the fan peeled back.

While showcasing the beauty of their long and rich tradition of watchmaking, Germanbased manufacture A. Lange & Söhne and Swiss-based manufacture Jaeger LeCoultre continued with their innovations, with new collections making debuts.

A. Lange & Söhne

A. Lange & Söhne, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary, for instance, launched new collections, including the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph.

The timepiece is a special white-gold chronograph featuring blue numerals and a pulsometer scale.

The rhodium-gold hands for the hours and minutes and the blued steel for the chronograph sweep seconds, minute-counter and subsidiary second hands reflect the color combination of the dial.

Jaeger LeCoultre

Jaeger LeCoultre introduced its Geophysic True Second and Universal Time models, which also lured watch enthusiasts.

“The universal time serves the need for travelers who needs to know the time of cities around the world,” said a spokesman for the brand in watch presentation.

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November 1, 2015 13

at your LEISURE

Welcomed by

a Goddess

SACRED DINING AT LORO DJONGGRANG WORDS Kevindra.P.Soemantri

A

s a person of Javanese descent, I am familiar with the dongeng, or folktale, of King Bandung Bondowoso and the beautiful Rara Djonggrang, who is considered a goddess.

The romantic tragedy is famously represented at one of the nation’s most beautiful temples, Prambanan in Central Java.

Their story, which might date to the Majapahit Kingdom, is the inspiration behind the Tugu Group’s Loro Djonggrang restaurant on Jl. Teuku Tjik Ditiro amid the leafy elite neighborhood of Menteng in South Jakarta.

How often when you visit a restaurant are welcomed by a goddess? Only Loro Djonggrang does this.

Well, the faint-hearted (or needlessly superstitious) might hesitate to dine here - or perhaps they might mumble prayers as they eat, hoping to avoid the notice of the spirits said to reside in the restaurant’s collection of antiquities.

However, for a true gourmand and a child of beauty – as well as for those who understand and embrace the grace of our land’s wondrous creations, Loro Djonggrang will satisfy your soul with its culinary delicacies as well as with its vast collection of rare art, collected with patience by the owner for more than 25 years.

The establishment has won numerous awards from regional organizations and has been frequently recommended by international media, such as Conde Nast Traveller magazine, for its outstanding dishes and surreal Indonesian dining experience.

This was my third visit to Loro

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Djonggrang, which without any doubt, stands as one of the finest “senior” restaurants in the city.

Only a few restaurants have the power to bring diners back year after year. The experience afforded by Loro Djonggrang is like no other, especially today, when people’s attention turns to a full dining-out experience.

Yes, the restaurant is dimly lit. However, the combination of candles and incense gives diners a calming sensation, as when you ready to ease yourself into a tropical Ayuverdan massage.

Your spirit grows curious to explore more of this restaurant, from its thematic chambers to its fit-for-king menu choices.

I was ready to sample the restaurant’s new menu, a grilled spicy tuna rice wrapped in banana leaf said to be inspired by the tale of Hayam Wuruk.

Once again, it’s not Loro Djonggrang if the food does not amaze you. The plate for just this single dish covered half the table, with the wooden dish taking the form of a ship.

The taste of the nasi bakar (grilled rice) itself was subtle and smoother than regular nasi bakar, which is typically more oily.

The dish was more intense in its seasoning and depth, offering the burnt aroma of banana leaves—an appropriate and more elegant version than traditionally offered by other versions.

As I enjoyed each bite of the nasi bakar— as well as a bowl of earthy, fragrant, spicy empal gentong—my eyes traveled over all the corners of the dining room.

The old Shanghai/Peranakan-style dining room was exquisite. Meanwhile, the

Soekarno Room, decked out in a patriotic red and white, featuref a huge picture of the nation’s founding president gracefully hanging from the wall.

I cannot believe that Loro Djoggrang was built without the help of a formal interior designer.

The decor is based on the intuition and creativity of owner Anhar Setjadibratathe, who has developed similarly elaborate properties for his properties in the Tugu Group across Indonesia.

Back at my table, zinc – and a hint of sourness and tangy flavor from freshly squeezed lime on top of the rice - brought me to my meal.

Given the restaurant’s mythical/sacred atmosphere and dining experience, this restaurant is like no other.

Celebrities from around the world have visited the restaurant, which offers a great background for high-end photography for haute-couture magazines also.

When I finished my meal, the manager

gave me a tour of the restaurant, bringing me to the La Bihzha bar, which at the time was full of hipsters.

It evokes the main hall of a Persian or Mongol grand house, featuring prominently a mural of ancient merchant in the sand.

I then entered the Lara Djonggrang room.

As I took my first steps inside, an intense feeling of sacredness and calm filled me from head to toe.

An immense statue of Rara Djonggrang, lit in red by a streaming, stood guarding the room and diners from evil influences.

Meanwhile, silhouettes of wayang shadow puppets evoked the essence of Javanese culture.

If you are bored with endless new restaurants in Jakarta, Lara Djonggrang is a perfect oasis for you to add some romance your soul with delectable meals inspired by the glory of the Majaphit Kingdom.

Thank you, Hayam Wuruk - and thank you Loro Djonggrang.

Loro Djonggrang Jl. Teuku Cik Ditiro No. 4 Menteng, Central Jakarta 10350 Telp.: +0213153252

tasteBUD

beans of

death

A special Halloween treat WORDS AND PHOTOS THEODORA HURUSTIATI

I

n Italy where I live, we have not celebrated Halloween until recently, thanks to an influx of American movies and television shows. While the event is as alien to Italy as it is to Indonesia, I think that if I were still I kid I would jump at the chance to dress up, knock on my neighbor’s door and ask for sweets and candies.

As a Roman Catholic country, however, Italy does observe All Saints’ Day, on Nov. 1 and 2 – and in this case the holiday does involve sweets. The treats take the form of little morsels of ground almonds and sugar called the fave dei morti beans of death. It likely takes its name from its shape, which resembles a fave – or broad bean.

This version of the tiny cookies come in three colors, representing three stages of existence: White for birth, rose for life and brown for death. In Italy, they’re typically flavored with three different liquors, rosolio (from roses) or maraschino (from cherries), alchermes (spiced red liquor) and rum, which I omit.

serves Makes ±450 grams 200 g blanched almond flour 200 g confectioner’s sugar 1 (±35 g) egg white 1 tablespoon water ±25 g caster sugar For vanilla fave ¼ vanilla bean For rose fave Few drops rose water Few dots red food coloring For chocolate fave 10 g cocoa powder

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Combine almond flour, confectioners’ sugar and lightly beaten egg white until the mixture is crumbly.

Add water and work until everything comes together.

Divide dough in three equal parts.

For the vanilla fave: scrape vanilla seeds and add to one part of the dough. Knead until the seeds are well distributed.

For the rose fave: Add a couple of dots of red food coloring and few drops (about ¼ teaspoon) of rose water into another one third of the dough. Knead until the color is evenly pink.

For the chocolate fave: include cocoa powder to the last batch of the dough. Knead until it becomes uniformly brown.

Dust the kitchen counter lightly with caster sugar. Roll all three dough into long cigars, about as thick as your thumb. Cut into

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1-cm cubes.

Transfer onto an oven tray lined with parchment paper or silicon baking mat. Make sure the fave don’t stick to one another.

Bake at 90°C for about 1.5 to 2 hours until the crust of each fave is hard to the touch but the center is still slightly soft. Don’t increase the oven temperature to save time! Higher temperature will cause them to color and become golden.

Cool and store in an airtight jar.

Jakarta-born chef Theodora Hurustiati, a 13-year resident of Udine, Italy, was the runner-up in the TV cooking program La Scuola – Cucina di Classe (The School: Classy Cooking) in 2011.

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November 1, 2015 15

trendDIAL

ARMANI CODE SPECIAL BLEND

After the previous 2004 Armani Code, Giorgio Armani launched its Armani Code Special Blend for men.

Designed for those who seek excellence and masculinity, the blend is made from two unique tonic beans, offering a fragrance that is a combination of almond and smoked tobacco fused with a woody sensuality. While the scent’s uncomplicated elegance is suitable for matching a nonchalant style, it is also a statement of authenticity and edgy finesse. Armani Code Special Blend comes in 75 and 125ml Eau de Toilette and will be available online.

The PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

FERARRI AUCTION

Calling all Ferrari collectors! Known as the exchange for the ultra-rarest models of the sports car, the upcoming RM auction will give collectors a chance to bid on a 1953 250 Europa by Vignale. This singular make was shipped to New York and put on display at the World Motor Show at Madison Square Garden in 1954 and won the 2015 Cavilling Classic award. Ferrari built only 22 of the 250 Europa, of which 18 were bodied by Pinin Farina and only four by Vignale, making them the most desirable of the series. The vehicle remains flamboyant and dramatic, with a two-tone color scheme and elegant arrangement of lights, vents and chrome trim. Check out rmsothebys.com for more.

From the flamboyant to the dramatic

GIVENCHY EYEWEAR

ACE&JIG GEOMETRICAL COLLISION

Making textiles is a long delicate process especially when it includes natural elements. Using yarn dye and woven fabric, Cary Vaughan and Jenna Wilson of ace&jig are set to release a geometrical inspired Spring Collection. Taking a cue from old Welsh blankets and woven and Japanese boro quilts, these timeless garments are ideal for your vintagehoarding soul. Featuring bright and bold color tones and fabricated with Japanese-style cutting, ace&jig’s Spring pieces reflect a modern femininity unlike anything else. Catch these dazzling collisions on aceandjig.com.

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Get set for a range of sophisticated eyewear looks from Givenchy! This architecture inspired series features various urbane optical frames and sunglasses in pitch black, nude, natural brown and soft white colorways.

Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci groups the series as young and edgy RAVE, avant-garde STYLE, refined Givenchy look ICON and the iconic “star” detailing STAR. This is the perfect eyewear to hide your eyes from the sun as this Spring/Summer series offers mirrored, shaded and flash lenses. Grab this lavish series at Givenchy boutiques or high-end optical shops in January.

MINIBREW

Check out the world’s first all-inone brewing machine, the MiniBrew, which aims to help you conjure up your own small batch brews through a streamlined process. Using MiniBrew’s software, you can easily replicate your favorite recipe via iOS. The machine will boil and cool the wort and automatically transfer it to the yeast unit for fermentation. Just wait a few hours and voila! Sip your personalized beer, five liters at a time. Pre-order from Indiegogo and check minibrew.io for more information. +Banyubening Prieta