Jplus 2016 03 27 lores

Vol. 3 No. 19 I March 27 - April 2 , 2016

MUMBAI CONFIDENTIAL A JPLUS TRAVEL GUIDE AT YOUR LEISURE a taste of MELBOURNE MARK MY WORDS POSTCARDS FROM FAR AWAY

GLIMPSES OF INDIA

Taking the road less traveled

Editor's note

Check List

IN THE NARROW SPACE THIS MONTH’S TRAVEL issue of JPlus takes us to India. Quite coincidentally, I’ve been reading a book of selected letters penned by the Bengali author Rabindranath Tagore.

One letter in particular made be recall what the Nobel laureate wrote in another of his works: “God, the Great Giver, can open the whole universe to our gaze in the narrow space of a single land.”

Our contributor Erza S.T. returned from India with tales of five destinations that lay off the beaten track.

While a trip of several thousand kilometers can’t be considered narrow, he’s certainly increased my longing to experience the

magnificence of that nation.

Erza’s story (p6-9) makes it clear that there are travel writers and then there are writers who travel–it’s a clever turn of phrase that comes from Paul Theroux in his novel A Dead Hand: A Crime in Calcutta (which, again coincidentally, I’m currently listening to as an audiobook).

There’s no better exemplar of a writer who travels than the Delhi-based Mayank Austen Soofi.

I learned of Mayank’s writings after The Guardian named his Delhi Walla guides as some of the world’s quirkiest travel books.

Quirky is not the right word. As our story

from Sondang Grace Sirait (p10) makes clear, Mayank is not about bucket lists or Instagramable moments.

Reading his books or his blog makes you want to dash to Delhi and create for yourself a moment as delicious as the ones he’s discovered for himself in the megalopolis.

These writers who travel are showing us a way to experience life–and that’s what makes their works special.

Enjoy the weekend and Happy Easter, for those who observe.

A Postcard from the heart Of sweet notes and holiday feelings Words Avi Basuki

Up until a while ago, I used to send postcards–first to my parents, then to my daughter’s adopted grandparents.

Only one friend of mine still sent me postcards. However, suddenly, he, too, stopped. Mailing things from Europe to Asia has become too expensive of late. I’ve stopped, as well.

My friend recently staged an exhibition about the missives he received from me: Stones, songs, postcards. It made me think hard about how I missed sending and receiving postcards.

In the era of email and instant-messaging programs, who needs them? You can send snapshots in just a few seconds with almost no effort at all.

Or you can post your photos on social media and people will quickly know that you’re a jetsetter, a traveler, a food fanatic or just a simple selfie maniac.

No one writes letters anymore–not if you can send messages in a flash through What’s App or email or Facebook. Simple and fast.

These digital photos mean there are no more surprises when you press the shutter.

The image is captured and reviewed in a second–and just as likely forgotten in the next.

I don’t have postcards pinned to my refrigerator with magnets any more. I don’t even look at my old photos: I’m too lazy to go through my hard drive, let alone remember in which folder I left my Sardinian trip photos. I can go search online for any place I need to see or want to remember.

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cover focus Meet the Delhi Walla

Chris Razukas jplus@thejakartapost.com

mark my words

The only things arriving by snail mail are those that can’t be sent via Ethernet– although that may change once we work out teleportation. (Be sure to hang on to your nose, though, just in case it gets lost when you’re re-materialized).

Life has become a bit easier, and we’ve become a bit lazier. The trip to the shop to choose a yellowing postcard and the effort to get a stamp from the post office next door in a foreign country has become too difficult.

It’s just not as easy as taking a selfie of your feet with a nice panorama in the background.

Yet don’t you remember the feeling of receiving a postcard from a faraway land?

Reading the sweet note from the sender, enjoying the happy vibe of the writing and savoring the holiday feeling that arose whenever you re-read it over the weeks to come?

“Did you receive my postcard?” Your friend would later ask you. “Yes, of course.

Looks amazing!”

And you might engage in a normal human conversation about what the card meant at the moment your friend wrote it.

My friend once sent me a postcard depicting a little corner under a tree by the lake at his favorite summer getaway. There was his jacket hanging over a branch and a book on a picnic blanket under the tree.

When looking at it, I remembered how I wanted to be there immediately, to see the place and what he was doing. I also wondered what other stories had happened under that tree.

My friend might have sent that same

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postcard to dozens of other people–but only I have a solid copy in my hand. I can hold on to it and no one else would know. It’s personal and private.

I’m old school. It seems that few care about privacy these days. Some even make their unborn children Facebook accounts, depriving them of their right to privacy before they can decide.

So why am I complaining? In this last era before teleportation or transporters become available, sacrificing privacy is the price that we pay for rapid communication.

But I can’t quite shake off my “mommode” or “early-onset grumpiness”. I’m worried that I won’t be able to give as much of a “feeling” experience to my child in the digital fire-and-forget millennium.

People have forgotten to stop for a nanosecond and look at the fiery color of the sunset–in real time, not through the screen of a smartphone camera app.

We’ve also forgotten how to pause and say thank God, what a glorious evening–or how to close our eyes and savor the warmth of the natural "sunsetgasm" that struck us for just one moment.

I want my daughter to engage with those she loves. I want to go with her to the shop while we’re on vacation to find some postcards. She can write her messages in her own handwriting, add a stamp and drop it in the mailbox. That’s not too much to ask for, is it?

Mark My Words shifts focus between fashion, food, parenting, technology and travel each week.

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At your lesiure With the kings of coffee

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 Faisal Ahmad

faisal@thejakartapost.com

@JPlusSunday

SundayJplus

thejakartapost.com/jplus

On the cover

A woman from the untouchable caste poses in Jaipur, India.

Photographer Erza ST

Where to go, what to do MUSIC

ARt

I Am Hardwell on tour in Jakarta

Alila art class and exhibits

When: April 2 Where: Carnaval Beach, Ancol iamhardwell.com, @IsmayaLive

When: Until April 29 (art exhibit), until March 29 (art classes) Where: Alila Manggis, Bali

Award-winning Dutch DJ Hardwell is bringing his beats to Jakarta come April 2. The city will become the latest stop in his “I AM HARDWELL–UNITED WE ARE” world tour for his debut album, which was released in 2015. The event, set to be held at Carnaval Beach in Ancol, is being organized by concert promoter Ismaya Live. Audiences are in for a spectacular experience that hundreds of thousands of people around the world in sold-out venues have witnessed and enjoyed. Pre-sale tickets have already sold out, though general admission tickets are still available for purchase, as are VIP ones.

Over at Alila Manggis in Bali, art enthusiasts can enjoy a month-long line-up of sophisticated artwork, photographs and sculptures masterminded by world-class talents throughout the resort grounds.

The resort is being fully transformed into a playground where the artists take inspiration from the exotic nature of East Bali in crafting their masterpieces for your appreciation.

This “Bali Bridges” art exhibit will run until April 29. It includes the participation of names such as James Wilkins, Silvana Sutanto, Michael Daube and Laila Azra.

A number of private art classes can also be arranged until March 29. Among them is an oceanside art class with Daube, during which you can learn watercolor and paste drawing tips.

talk of the town SOPHIE MARCEAU AT GALERIES LAFAYETTE Pacific Place Jakarta, South Jakarta

The renowned French actress Sophie Marceau recently visited Galeries Lafayette at Pacific Place Jakarta to greet fans and launch her collection of ballerina shoes.

The limited edition flats, made in collaboration with Maison Villebois, comprise 13 designs and combine the César-winning star’s taste for fashion, passion for dance and love of Paris.

“I dedicate this chic collection to all women who want to dance their lives as an actual lady,” Marceau said.

Guests at this special March 20 event included France’s ambassador to Indonesia, Corinne Breuzé; and the managing director of Villebois, Pierre Rebeyrole.

YOUNG ARTISTS HONE SKILLS AT PSBK

HOTEL BOROBUDUR CELEBRATES FESTIVE 42ND ANNIVERSARY

Grand Indonesia, Central Jakarta

Hotel Borobudur, Central Jakarta

The Bagong Kussudiardja Foundation is working with the Djarum Culture Foundation on a scholarship program aimed at helping talented young artists maximize their potential.

Eight selected youths have been given use of the Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja (PSBK) learning and working spaces in Yogyakarta until November to sharpen their artistic skills.

The program aims to teach these young people about the role of art and artists in the development of society.

At the end of this 10-month-long training, the students will be given the opportunity to show their works at Galeri Indonesia Kaya in Central Jakarta.

Hotel Borobudur, which got its start in 1963 as a luxurious 220-room accommodation in Jakarta, held a festive party on March 23 to mark the 42nd anniversary of its reopening as a 695-room hotel in 1974.

On display during the event was a replica of the hotel crafted from sugar dough and surrounded by 1,000 macaroons and 1,000 cupcakes of various flavors to symbolize the longevity of the Borobudur over 42 years.

To mark the anniversary, the hotel donated money raised from generous guests between March 1 and 23 to the Rumah Anak Aryo foundation, which cares for children with cancer.

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tech TREATS

Projections from a tablet

LENOVO BRINGS OUT THE YOGA TAB 3 TO HELP YOU MAKE PERFECT PRESENTATIONS, ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME Perfect for the busy salesman needing to make presentations at a moment’s notice, Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro is a powerful 10.1-inch tablet computer with a built-in DLP projector and a sturdy construction.

The projector has 50-lumen output and can easily project an image of up to 178 centimeters on any wall or ceiling.

The Yoga Tab 3 Pro is powered by Intel Atom x5-Z8500 processor running at 2.24 GHz. It has 2 gigabytes working memory or RAM and 32 GB internal storage, which can be expanded with a micro-SD card up to 128 GB. The tablet uses the Android 5.1 operating system.

The model sent for testing had neither mobile Internet connection nor a SIM slot. It did however support a Wi-Fi connection of 802.11 ac–the fastest Wi-Fi protocol–and I had no problem connecting it to my Linksys WRT1200AC. The tablet has a durable metal chassis with a fauxleather finish at the back, making it comfortable to hold. As part of its durable design, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is also splashproof and has IP21 certification to prove it.

The tablet has an high-resolution IPS panel display of

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16:10 ratio with 2,560x1,600-pixel resolution, making it good for viewing HD photos and watching HD video clips.

Movies sound impressive, too, thanks to the four integrated front-facing JBL speakers and Dolby Atmos sound technology that delivers loud, clear and dynamic audio without the need for headphones.

To enjoy big-screen HD movies, just turn on the tablet’s projector and show the movie on your wall or ceiling. You’ll find the projector button on one side of the tablet’s hinge.

Best of all, the projector has an automatic keystone correction function that can make the projected image rectangular instead of trapezoid-shaped.The tablet can be used in four modes: Hold, tilt, stand and hang. The hold mode involves clasping the hinge in your hand and using the tablet in vertical orientation. When you extend the stand and place the tablet on it, it’s perfect for presentations or watching movies. When you place the tablet on the table on its back cover with the hinge pointing outwards, it foes

into tilt mode.

The projector, which is built into the hinge, can be rotated to project the picture forward to the wall or rotated to the front to project the picture to the ceiling.

The Yoga Tab 3 Pro has good performance. During the test, I could run various applications smoothly and games played without hiccups. Movie clips and YouTube clips played smoothly too.

Yoga Tab 3 Pro uses AnyPen technology that allows you to use any conductive object, such as a stylus pen, for taking notes and sketching.

The tablet also comes with a useful Sketchpad and boasts two cameras: a 13-megapixel main camera and 5 MP front-facing camera, both of good quality for a mobile device.

Since the projector eats up power, the Yoga Tab 3 Pro has a large capacity battery of 10,200 mAh. One full charge allows the tablet to be used for up to 18 hours.

Photos via lenovo via ANN/The nation

WORDS Paisal Chuenprasaeng, ANN/The Nation

a la MODE

7 Watches that Geeks

Will Freak for in 2016 WE’VE SEEN DOZENS OF INTERESTING WATCHES AT BASELWORLD. THESE ARE THE ONES THE FANBOYS WILL LOVE WORDS Chris Rovzar, bloomberg

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he annual Baselworld trade show is for international luxury watch brands to show off the timepieces they are going to sell in the coming year. It’s a chance for buyers, private clients, social media stars, and journalists to sort through thousands of pieces with wildly different materials, complications, and mechanics and decide which are worth trumpeting or selling.

This year, many brands are showcasing a lower price point of watches to contend with changing global financial conditions. There is also a fair number of super-expensive timepieces the delight major collectors who chase the limited editions put out by high-end brands.Here are seven watches I’m pretty sure watch nerds will be rushing to buy this coming year.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Fellow journalists were practically drooling to touch this new Daytona Rolex upon its debut; it’s always a big deal to Rolex fans when there is a new model of a beloved classic. The last new Daytona was released way back in 2000, and while this stays true to those roots (and the famous 1965 Paul Newman Daytona) with its black sub-dials and bezel, there are enough new updates to please fans. There’s a new material on the bezel, Cerachrom, with is a Rolex proprietary material that is extra scratch- and UV-resistant.

The numbers around the bezel also read in a different direction (in a circle, rather than all horizontal). It has a 72-hour power reserve and self-winding 4130 movement, and it will set you back US$12,200.

Bremont Regatta OTUSA

Photos brands via bloomberg

The “OT” in the name of this watch stands for Oracle Team, the America’s Cup sailing squad that Bremont sponsors—which explains the regatta countdown complication at 12 o’clock on the face.

The bezel is coated in luminescent paint, which creates a dramatic look at night, and each of the 235 units created will actually have a chunk of carbon fiber from an America’s Cup-winning boat embedded in the crown. It will retail for $6,895.

MB&F HMX Black Badger There will only be 18 pieces of this watch made by the mad geniuses at MB&F, six in each of three color stylings. It’s an update of 2015’s HMX watch, which was inspired by the twin-engine format of a supercar. But in this version, designer James Thompson (also known as Black Badger) lent a specially designed luminescent paint, which is more powerful, longer lasting, and brighter than any other lume on the market.

It will retail for $50,000.

Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph The ref. 5930 is a totally new movement from Patek, and its first-ever worldtimer chronograph. Inspired by a watch from the 1940s that is currently in the Patek Philippe Museum, this piece is also the thinnest and smallest worldtimer chronograph on the market. It has a 50-hour power reserve, 38 jewels, and a diameter of 33 mm. It will retail for $73,000.

Zenith El Primero Skeleton Tourbillon In general this year, Zenith is aiming to lower the prices of its watches 12 percent to deal with currency inconsistencies around the globe. It looks like the sweet spot will fall somewhere below $10,000. But that doesn’t mean it has given up on pricier baubles—it is making 150 of the El Primero Skeleton Tourbillon, which is a skeletonized version of its popular El Primero. The 45-mm watch will be sold starting in November for $46,000.

Tag Heuer Monza

Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Master Chronograph

Every year Tag Heuer releases a new watch inspired by a vintage piece in its museum. This year, it came up with the Monza, a 42-mm chronograph with a black titanium case. It was modeled after a watch made 40 years ago, also called the Monza, after the Formula 1 track in Italy where in 1975 Niki Lauda solidified his World Championship win. In 1976, Jack Heuer gave the watch to the Ferrari F1 team, which is why you’ll note this version has the old Heuer logo (without the Tag). It will be made in a limited edition and cost $5,200.

The Speedmaster Master Chronograph from Omega is getting a moonphase indicator this year, and Omega (with its well-known space history) went all out with it. The face of the Moon is mother of pearl, but it is decorated according to photographs of the Moon provided by NASA–and if you look at it closely with a loupe, you can see the company has added Neil Armstrong’s famous first footprint from the Apollo 11 mission. The watch will start at $7,140 and go up in price depending on colors and materials.

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THE HEART OF

INDIA

FROM THE EXQUISITE TO THE ANTEDILUVIAN, ACROSS FIVE BEAUTIFUL CITIES WORDS AND PHOTOS BY ERZA S.T.

I

n December, I realized a lifelong dream to visit India, thanks to a wedding invitation. While the nation is rightfully famous for the Taj Mahal, there are a host of destinations to be found on subcontinent’s roads less traveled. Here’s an account of my experiences at five destinations during my trip. All were special to me and each had its own original story. However, for you to truly understand India, a visit is simply a must.

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New Delhi

Enchanting Lodi Gardens As the capital of India, New Delhi is a big city that can be compared to the likes of Bangkok or Jakarta: It’s a metropolis that’s dense, polluted and simply huge.

The sound of traffic is a daily melody in Delhi, heard everywhere in the city– except in Lodi Gardens (below).

As a park spread over 90 acres in the heart of the city, the gardens offer a serene escape. It’s no surprise that the place is a hot spot for morning walkers as well as yoga enthusiasts.

Nevertheless, Lodi Gardens is more than just a green space. It is a beautiful area that takes its name from the Lodi dynasty, which ruled the Muslim Dehli sultanate in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Inside are several tombs under domes

that date as far back as the 15th century.

They are the final resting places of the Lodi sultans and luminaries, such as Sikandar Lodi.

The tombs are also thought to be the earliest structures with full domes of any building in Delhi.

It’s easy to fall in love with the garden and its beautiful monuments, especially if you are a design aficionado. They offer a good example of the combination of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.

Only a few monuments from the Lodi dynasty still exist. A visit gives you a glimpse of historic and ancient India, as well as an opportunity to enjoy being outdoors in New Delhi in a place where the air is noticeably better than in other parts of the city.

Abhaneri

The antediluvian stepwell of Chand Baori There are many great things to be found when traveling by car in India, such as the ancient stepwell (left) in the village of Abhaneri, located between Agra and Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, about 220 kilometers from Delhi.

Now you might wonder what’s so interesting. Well, to start, the stepwell was built in 800 by a local potentate named Chanda.

Comprising about 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories and set in a dazzling geometrical pattern, the stepwell is beautifully decorated with exquisite carvings, especially on the resting pavilion for the royals.

The design of this stepwell to collect water is brilliant: Set approximately 30 meters underground, the stepwell is about five degrees cooler at its bottom, which aids condensation.

It also offered people a gathering place during periods of intense heat and is a testament to the great ancient designs of India’s Hindu kingdoms.

Bonus: Chand Baori featured prominently in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Night Rises.

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Agra

The Ghost City of Fatehpur Sikri Once upon a time in the 16th century, the Mughal emperor Akbar built for his empire a new capital, about 35 kilometers miles from Agra (site of the Taj Mahal, left), in what would become the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in contemporary India.

For 15 years, the emperor, together with his architects Tuhir Das and Dhruv Chawla, built the capital using Indian and Persian design principles.

A series of royal palaces, harems, courthouses, mosques and private homes were erected and given the name Fatehpur Sikri, which means “Victorious City” (below).

However, shortly after its completion in 1585, the imperial complex was abandoned because the water system could not support its population.

The site has remains untouched for over 400 years, leaving Fatehpur Sikir a stunning ghost city that keeps the splendor of Mughal design intact. Time doesn’t exist in here. Everything sits in beautiful silence, as if for eternity.

Sariska Reserve

Breakfast of a Lifetime at Bhangarh Fort If you’re a child of the 1980s, you’ll remember the story of Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli, the abandoned “man cub” raised by wolves and immortalized by Disney for a global audience in the Jungle Book.

Interested in having breakfast amid enchanted ruins that are reminiscent of Kipling’s book? If your answer is yes, then visit Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, about 80 kilometers from Jaipur.

As a unique service, the Amanbagh resort where I stayed, offers guests a unique experience: An early-morning breakfast at the fort.

Built in the 17th century by Raja Bhagwant Das, Bhangarh Fort was once a great city.

It still offers stunning natural views. From the entrance, we could still see the remains of the fort, including its walls, gateways, markets, havelis, a royal palace, chhatris and even tombs. Many of the exquisite temples in this fort are still in use.

The hotel’s guide will take you to see the picturesque ruins before escorting you to one of the temples. There you’ll experience a mini set-up for breakfast, complete with pillows to relax.

The remarkable surroundings, suns­­hine and birds chirping in these magnificent surroundings made for the breakfast of a lifetime.

Take note: There’s a warning advising people not to stay after dark. Bhangarh Fort is thought to be the most haunted place in India.

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Desuri Tehsil

The Spectacular Jain Temple of Ranakpur India is a nation of many cultures and religions, such as Jainism, an ancient belief that prescribes non-violence and counsels people to conquer their inner passions to gain the omniscience of the Jina, or conqueror.

To understand Jainism was one reason I traveled to India, so I visited Ranakpur temple, in Deshuri Tehsil, in the Pali district of Rajasthan and on the way to Jodphur from Udaipur. It’s about 300 kilometers from Jaipur.

Built in the 15th century, the edifice is famous for the 1,444 marble pillars, all carved in exquisite detail, that support the temple. Each is carved differently; no two are the same.

The temple itself is done in the Maru-Gurjara architectural style of Western India. It shows the deep understanding and refined skills of the Rajasthani craftsmen of bygone era. It was without a doubt one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited.

A note on guides For about a month prior to my departure for New Delhi, I started to plan what to see and where to go while on my trip.

Given my time frame (two weeks) and the size of the country, I decided to limit my visit to Agra and Rajashtan, as well as Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur.

Even this planned itinerary proved quite challenging to research, despite the help of the Internet.

Fortunately, a friend recommended a professional tour agency, Paradise Holidays India (paradiseholidays.com).

In contrast to my normal travel behavior, which means that I rarely use professional guides; I went with the pros-and was glad I did.

Traveling to India would have been be quite a hassle, if I didn’t know the “whos” and “hows”, especially since not everyone there can speak English well.

Paradise Holidays provided English-speaking drivers, experienced guides and great itineraries featuring great hidden places–as well as the best rates for amazing hotels.

I was persuaded to explore India by car, instead of by (unreliable) train. Again, my guides were proven right, as I got to visit many off-thebeaten-track destinations.

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the

Delhi Walla IN THE REALM OF STORYTELLING Words Sondang Grace Sirait

This page and opposite feature Mayank's pictures, printed on hand-woven khadi muslin fabric by a Venetian designer.

T

he keeper of Delhi’s soul he’s not. But through his lens and writing, Mayank Austen Soofi has vividly and meticulously chronicled the stories of those in the sprawling metropolis, as seen on his popular blog, The Delhi Walla.

The morning we caught up on a video call, Mayank had just returned from one month in Europe, where his itinerary included an exhibition of his pictures printed on hand-woven khadi muslin fabric by a Venetian designer.

Visibly jetlagged, he was nevertheless excited to be in Delhi again. “I was at the Qatari airport where I saw some beautiful things, took a picture and posted it. Someone saw it on Facebook and commented, ‘Oh, you’re coming back to your city’. I thought about it and said, “No, it’s not like I’m coming back. I think I never ‘come back’. I’m just ‘coming to’,” says Mayank.

To the persistently foggy and over-crowded city, he had come again. It’s the same place that hosted several empires of ancient India and, for almost 200 years, the

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Mughal empire, before serving as the capital and seat of government of India since the early 20th century.

Even after publishing four compelling guidebooks on New Delhi and Nobody Can Love You More, a novel on life in the city’s red light district; the prolific writer insists he isn’t just about that one metropolis.

“I’m a writer and I live in Delhi, so I’m writing about people and places in Delhi. I’m fascinated by Delhi .

Maybe something keeps me from living from New York City,” Mayank says, laughing.

Through his eyes, readers get a glimpse of raw life in the city–from love-smitten couples on the busy Delhi Metro to proud mothers cooking up a storm in their kitchens. Not too long ago, he started asking readers to submit their self-written obituaries in 200 words. In a sentimental way, it’s his way of bringing out the best and the most peculiar of his fellow Delhiites, which perhaps would be a less futile effort than attempting to describe the city in a single, uniformed character.

“As a writer, one is so lucky to be in Delhi, because it’s a very complicated city. It’s the world’s most polluted city.

It’s like living in Baghdad, where everything terrible is happening. For a writer or photographer, it’s happening here,” he says. “Delhi is capital of a third-world country, a country full of disparities, so Delhi is full of disparities.

You walk from one neighborhood to another and it’s like walking from one world to another world.”

Among his favorite subjects are street vendors, many of who he has gotten to know over the years. Through their poignant struggles, Mayank will tell you, one will get to see Delhi as a city that’s both hard and soft.

Mayank is by no means a native. Born in Nainital, Uttarakhand state, he followed his engineer father to many places in India.

Although he never attended college, Mayank possesses a lifelong passion for reading and writing.

“Stupidly enough, I didn’t realize that one has to study and graduate to go through the logical progression in life to find choices. I just thought that I needed to stand on my own feet and do something.”

His life in Delhi began at the age of 25 as a hotel waiter.

It didn’t take long for the long hours and low wages to take their toll.

“You’re going there and spending your days and nights there. So I would take the bus and go to this place called Rangpuri, behind the Radisson Hotel, near Indira Gandhi International Airport, where all the backpackers stayed. There were lovely cafes […] nice, sincere cafes where they weren’t trying to be hip or play

Mayank: The Delhi Walla

loud music. I just found it a very nice escape from my life.

There would be secondhand bookshops and I would buy or read and be transported to another world.”

Soon enough, an idea hatched. With a backdrop of backstreets and the bazaars near the shrine of the Muslim Sufi Saint Nizamuddin Auliya, Mayank began his blog back in 2007.

His first posting was titled “How I got drunk and lost my virginity at Nizamuddin Dargah”, divulging on trance music at Delhi’s most famous Sufi shrine.

“As Ustad Meraj, the senior qawwal, leads the singers into sufi love songs, the mood goes electric. More exciting than ticketed concerts, you sit right alongside the singers and watch their eyes popping out, arms slicing the air, and

Photos via mayank austen soofi

Talking with

cover focus faces dissolving into momentary madness. Beware, you too could end up possessed in a feverish frenzy of longing and sensuousness. This is an incredible out-of-the-body experience,” Mayank wrote.

More incredible experiences were to follow, each more intriguing, in and beyond Delhi.

In his world, there’s beauty in every human being in every city. What he does best is to transport every adventure into the realm of storytelling by way of relating to others. Without such connection, he says, it would be utterly torturous. “Paris is a very important city to me because I really love Marcel Proust. When I first went there, it was so stunning, but it was very difficult to relate to it, because everything was so

beautiful,” he says.

“Then I took the Paris metro and it was run down, just like any other city, and there were people looking poor, playing games or video games, and you sense that these are not people who are thinking about the rules.

They were just going to their boring jobs. I wanted to relate to them. I wanted to feel like a Parisian-tense, tired, like those people, just feeling normal. It’s very important wherever I go to just find places where I feel intimate and comfortable. It could be a book shop or cafe, a garden, and then I will write about it.”

Delhi, Paris, Venice or New York–for the writer in Mayank, it seems the city matters less and less as his journey carries forward.

Mumbai Confidential WORDS Sondang Grace Sirait

In this city of contradictions, one can expect the best–and worst–of everything. On the streets of Mumbai, starry eyed Bollywood dreamers and gangsters rub shoulders with executives and disenchanted artists–all part of the charm possessed by Mumbai, proudly called home by some 21 million. JPlus catches up with Mumbaikars Saumya Roy, a social entrepreneur, and Hetal Sheth, an event organizer, on the best their hometown has to offer.

See

Must-dos?

HS: Head to Colaba to see the Gateway of India, drink tea at the Sea Lounge restaurant at the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, walk on Colaba Causeway to see some beautiful heritage structures and haggle with street vendors selling knick-knacks. Stop for lunch at Leopold Café or Indigo Deli. Walk along Malabar Hill, which was one of the first inhabited areas in Mumbai. Visit one of the oldest Jain temples, the leafy hilly lanes where many government officials have bungalows. Walk to the hanging garden, the Dhobi Ghat open air laundromat and then make your way over to Ban Ganga, a village within the city surrounding a sacred water tank and visit the more than 30 small temples within a small area. Don’t forget to check out the happenings in Bandra, a suburb of West Mumbai full of restaurants, bars and expats. Visit the various gaothans [urban villages] like Chuim Village where you feel like time has stopped.

Best way to enjoy the city?

SR: Ride around the city in an open topped bus.

HS: Through its food. Mumbai is a cultural melting pot that manifests itself in various regional cuisines.

Public transportation–yay or nay?

SR: Yay. It’s safe, cheap and gives you a complete experience of this city and its people—from the fisherwomen ferrying their catch in local trains to khakiclad bus conductors in double decker buses and cab drivers full of the most amazing Bombay stories.

Best way to experience Bollywood?

SR: The sea-facing gorgeous promenades in Bandra house Bollywood’s biggest stars. You can enjoy the breeze, get a selfie outside their homes, possibly catch some shooting going on and maybe meet a minor Bollywood celebrity at one of the open-air cafes.

EAT

Local faves?

SR: Bombay Duck is actually a local fish. It’s a quintessential Bombay sight to see it drying on the city’s shores. Crisply fried, it is one of the greatest treats in a city known for its seafood.

If you had only one meal in Mumbai?

SR: Thakkar Bhojanalay for unlimited portions of traditional Indian food or Bombay Canteen for its modern and fun take on Indian staples.

HS: A meal at Swati restaurant for dahi batata puri, pankhi and baked masala khichdi washed down with sugarcane juice or ending with a hand-churned ice cream or a kala khatta gola [Indian snow cone].

Secret Your favorite place?

SR: Worli Sea Face, Marine Drive or The Carter Road Sea Face. The breeze washes away the stress of the city, the ocean swallows the most beautiful sunsets and induces the reflection you yearn for in the midst of this hyperkinetic city.

HS: National Center for the Performing Arts, which has a cluster of five auditoriums and where there’s always something cool playing.

Where to shop like a local?

HS: Colaba Causeway is great for trinkets, clothes, handicrafts, fake sunglasses and antiques. Linking Road in Khar and Bandra boasts Indian moccasins and crystal and rhinestone studded slippers and heels that go with the over-the-top Indian wedding outfits and bling. Bandra has several brand knockoff stores and also local designer stores.

Bargaining–yay or nay?

HS: Yay on the streets and certain stores in Colaba, but probably never lower than 10 to 30 percent. Nay at other fixed-price stores.

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cover FOCUS

Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur, India WORDS Erza S.T. BACKGROUND The last palace of a maharaja built in India, Umaid Bhawan was designed by Henry Vaughan Lanchester in the beaux arts style and completed in 1943. It was commissioned

by Maharaja Umaid Singh Jee to give work to Jodhpur’s people during a long period of drought and famine. It's also the home of incumbent Maharaja Gaj Singh Jee, who has given over part of the palace to the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces to run as a hotel.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS You’re not entering a hotel, but a subcontinental Buckingham Palace. Lines of pillars and a

symmetrical layout centered on a grand lounge with a spectacular dome leave one in awe. It's neo-classical opulence meets art deco and lavish gilded gold bric-a-brac, large mirrors and ancestral paintings are commonplace. Class and hospitality merge with ease.

THE VIEW Nestled on the top of Chittar Hill, the highest vantage point in Jodhpur; Umaid Bhawan Palace has a direct view of the mesmerizing Blue City and the majestic Mehrangarh Fort.

ROOM RUNDOWN Sixty-four suites in six categories. Historical

suites, where royal visitors once resided, are 102 square meters and done in gorgeous art deco.

Suites have private sit outs that have amazing views of well-manicured lawns and courtyards.

Modern amenities include a pillow menu as well as unique bath menu.

EAT On offer are a bar, a gorgeous alfresco restaurant and Risala fine dining. Adorned with royal and martial portraits, Risala serves excellent Indian fusions with fresh local ingredients.

TAKE FIVE Go to Jiva Spa for signature treatments borrowed from royal traditions and ancient Indian spiritual remedies. Enjoy the sparkling indoor subterranean Zodiac Pool, beautifully decorated and depicting the 12 zodiacs in serene dimly light.

VERDICT Perfect for honeymooners or those who enjoys the finer things in life–and definitely for the well heeled. However, those that stay will find the experience more than worth it.

Highlights Staying in a real palace, where you can be royal for a day.

Rooms 64 rooms and suites done in art deco style.

Price From US$352 Contact Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur 342 006 Rajasthan, India Tel: +91 291 251 0101 tajhotels.com ✓ Free wi-fi ✓ Fine-dining restaurant ✓ Bar ✓ Spa and fitness center ✓ Champagne heritage walk ✓ Billiards room ✓ Indoor and outdoor pools

Taj Lake Palace Udaipur, India

Highlight Experiencing a luxurious royal retreat while cared for by welltrained palace butlers.

BACKGROUND Voted the world’s most romantic hotel. Built in 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II of Udaipur as a winter palace–and for his moonlight picnics with the ladies of the court’s private chambers. Converted into Udaipur’s first luxury hotel in the 1950s and run by Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces since 1971. While famous for hosting Queen Elizabeth II, Vivien Leigh and Jacqueline Kennedy; Taj Lake Palace made its global bow after appearing in the James Bond film Octopussy.

LOCATION Apparently floating on Lake Pichola, Taj Lake Palace stands on natural foundations that span four acres.

Located in the heart of Udaipur and juxtaposed against the stunning City Palace, the hotel can only be accessed by boat.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Palace is done in white marble, with beautiful courtyards lined with columns, pillared terraces, fountains and gardens. Exotic rooms feature carved arches, paintings, crystal, stained glass, gilt molding, mirrors and inlaid stones of pink and green lotus leaves. A perfect ménage a trois of the exotic, romantic and serene.

INSIDE Sixty-six and 17 suites, including the 161-squaremeter Shambhu Prakash presidential suite.

Opulent Indian design echoes the 18th century and is elevated by modern comforts. Perfect craftsmanship and high curved arches meet myriad colors in murals, with floral motifs or stained glass as accents. Rooms have stunning views of the lake and the city.

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EAT On offer are fine dining at Neel Kamal and delicious kebabs at Amrit Sagar. Complete bar serves excellent single malts. I fell in love with informal all-day dining at Jharokha, perched on a balcony that overlooks the serene lake. For the romantic, book a table at the Bhairo rooftop restaurant.

TAKE FIVE The sunset dinner experience on Gangaur–a 150-year-old boat used by the maharanas. A oneof-a-kind experience.

VIEW While Taj Lake Palace screams romance to the sky, singles can also have a stellar experience. A fantastic place to hide from the world in a palace of pleasure.

Rooms 66 rooms and 17 suites are lavish and modern, done in 18th-century Indian style Price From US$651 Contact Taj Lake Palace Post Box No. 5, Udaipur Rajasthan – 313001 India Tel: +91 0294 242 8800 tajhotels.com ✓ Free wi-fi ✓ Fine-dining restaurant ✓ Rooftop restaurant ✓ Bar ✓ Spa ✓ Heritage walk ✓ Gangaur experience

Photos via TAJ HOTELS

WORDS Erza S.T.

at your leisure

T

A

cuppa excellence ST. ALi in Setiabudi

WORDS and Photos TAMA SALIM

ST. ALi

Setiabudi 2 Building, 1A Floor Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 62 Opening Hours 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (kitchen closes at 4 p.m.)

he smell of freshly roasted coffee beans, now cannibalized by established beverage franchises to lure the crowds, has its memory preserved across the Australian city of Melbourne by its scattered espresso vendors, who also offer great food and quality produce to elevate the whole experience.

It is no wonder that Indonesians who have fallen in love with Melbourne’s legendary scene have tried to recreate a similar sense of excellence and convivial vibe when serving your morning cuppa on home soil.

To be sure, Jakarta has had its fair share of Melbourne-esque cafes—Monolog Quality Coffee Co. and 1/15 Coffee come to mind. However, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then local aficionados have taken the concept up a notch, wooing the gods of the Melbourne’s ST. ALi specialty coffee brand into setting up shop in Kuningan, just a few steps away from the Australian embassy.

After a first expansion outside its native land to London in 2011, ST. ALi has opened in Jakarta a 65seat transplant of its well-known South Melbourne operation, teaming up with Jakarta’s coffee heroes from Common Grounds Roasters, another respectable outfit taking cues from Down Under.

What started as a chance meeting at the 2013 World Barista Championships in Melbourne and a brief stint at the helm of Common Grounds has flourished into a solid partnership that led to ST. ALi’s first flagship in Asia, according to Lachlan Ward, general manager of the ST. ALi Group.

“We got on really well and we really saw eye to eye on a whole bunch of stuff. We knew from as early as those days that we could work with these guys going forward,” Ward said.

Already a few weeks old, ST. ALi in Setiabudi is a talk of the town, with foreign and local fans making the pilgrimage to see worldrenowned baristas Matt Perger

and Ben Morrow hone their skills on a shiny new silver La Marzocco espresso machine.

Black coffees will be served to the 7 a.m. crowd using the fruity Sterling Blend, a 60 percent Colombian/40 percent Guatemalan mix; while white varieties, such as lattes and cappuccinos, make use of ST. ALi’s mellow Orthodox Blend, a 60 percent Colombian/40 percent Brazilian mix that carries hints of chocolate and spice.

Also on offer is a rotating selection of single-origin beans brewed manually over a wood-and-metal brew bar that’s the centerpiece of the indoor seating space.

The Colombian El Llanito pour-over coffee I had was crisp and fruity with subtle undertones of dark chocolate, yet managed a clean finish–the hallmark of the ST. ALi flavor profile.

In the kitchen, ST. ALi executive chef Mark Richardson was flown in to ensure that customers were served the same high-quality food found in Melbourne, simplified to make use of local produce.

Fans will immediately recognize popular items like My Mexican Cousin, a dish of bready corn fritters served with poached eggs that’s ready to burst with runny abandon, decorated with greens and sprinkled with sweet corn and cucumber salsa–along with a dose of kasundi, the fiery Indian version of thick tomato sauce.

Burgers are elevated into (un)godly creations with a towering version called The Daddy: Stacks of homemade pork, an inch-thick chili-and-fennel sausage patty, streaky bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs held together with a brioche bun lathered in secret ST. ALi brown sauce that tastes a little like barbecue and sweet tomato chutney. No sides needed.

Lighter items like scones are gems in the rough; baked daily and served with a small pot of ST. ALi strawberry jam and sweetened single cream on the side, while flaky scones would go well with prim high-tea enthusiasts amid the brunch crowd of garden-variety hipsters.

With coffee and food in the spotlight, the cafe’s outfit does well not to distract with its decor, opting for an industrial blend of light wooden panels, concrete walls, brass, metal and subdued neon lighting.

The future looks brighter for local caffeine junkies, with ST. ALi planning to open a massive 300-seater beach cafe in Bali early next year and mulling the chance to bring in sister brand Sensory Lab to Jakarta sometime after.

The crew promises to turn the Kuningan hub into a venerable coffee institution, with workshops and classes in the pipeline. “We’re about sharing and making sure that [our partners are] working to the standards that we’ve set up for ourselves,” Lachlan said. “Jakarta is the first opportunity for us to share what we do and what we love with a new bunch of people.”

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March 27, 2016 13

in the Spirit

Why an Italian Spritz Is Actually the Perfect Cocktail

Safe Passage

In a new book, this classic aperitivo isn’t so much a drink as a way of life

The Safe Passage is a delicious variation on the spritz, briny with Castelvetrano olive juice.

Makes 1 drink

WORDS Tejal Rao, bloomberg

hour culture. In Venice, they found that friends bar-hopping for rounds of classic Venetian spritzes and snacks was still the norm, while in Milan, modern, ritual-bending cocktails were often served right alongside the Negroni Sbagliato—the city’s classic of Campari loosened up with vermouth and prosecco.

The book includes 40-odd drink recipes (plus some for bar snacks), many from American bartenders who dig the tradition. The spritz is by nature not a very complicated thing to put together, though a few of the recipes might ask you to make a syrup in advance or to hunt down an esoteric bottle of Italian bitters.

First, Baiocchi and Pariseau guide readers much farther back than the 1980s, deep into the history of the drink, starting around 400 BCE, when the Greeks and Romans were drinking wine diluted with fresh water,

Excerpted from Spritz, Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail

seawater, and even snow.

The spritz’s other important defining ingredients–the bubbles and the bitterness–came a bit later in the story, and now a classic spritz is an easily hackable formula of wine, soda water, something bitter, and a little citrus. Take the delightful Venetian spritz, the very first recipe in the book. You build it in a rocks glass with 2 ounces of a bitter liqueur such as Aperol, 3 to 4 ounces of prosecco, and 2 ounces of soda water.

Garnish with an olive and orange wheel, and you’re done.

Once you’ve mastered that basic spritz, Baiocchi and Pariseau have plenty of other fresh suggestions, including this particularly delicious one that’s savory with Castelvetrano olive brine. It might look as potent as a dirty martini, but here’s the beauty of the fizzy, lowalcohol, and pleasingly bitter spritz: It’s a much softer way to land at the end of your work day.

1 ounce Amaro Nardini ¼ ounce Aperol ¼ ounce fresh lemon juice ¼ ounce Castelvetrano olive brine 2½ ounces prosecco 2 Castelvetrano olives, on a toothpick for garnish Add all the ingredients except for the prosecco to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass and top with cold prosecco. Garnish with olives.

Photos via bloomberg

Y

es, spritz champions Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau know that plenty of Americans still associate the light, fizzy drink with its 1980s suburban incarnation, the white wine spritzer.

But in their new book, Spritz, Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, the authors make an excellent case for the chic, Italian-style cocktail–bubbly, low in alcohol, and with an edge of bitterness, it’s ideal for sipping in the golden hour before dinner.

Baiocchi is the editor of the drink site Punch, which publishes some of the most thorough and exciting writing on the subject, and Pariseau is the site’s former deputy editor. Together, the authors took a road trip through Italy in a Fiat 500, getting the measure of regional spritz styles and adopting the leisurely spirit that drives Italian happy-

Buy These Rare Whiskies Before They’re Gone THE FOUR HIGH-END BOTTLES TO GET IN 2016– AS DELICIOUS AS THEY ARE HARD TO FIND

The only matter of debate around the 16-year-old A.H. Hirsch (US$3,000; +18187615373) is whether it’s the greatest bourbon ever or merely world-class.

The silky-smooth, oaky spirit was distilled in 1974 via copper pot stills at the now-defunct Michter’s Distillery in Pennsylvania.

It’s almost extinct except on the secondary market, so if you find a bottle, get it.

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50-Year Old Bowmore Bowmore The last 200 bottles of 50-year-old Bowmore ($27,000) are hitting the market this year. Distilled in December 1961, it’s a smoky single-malt Scotch that’s been maturing for more than half a century in hogshead casks on the shores of Loch Indaal, inside Islay’s oldest distillery.

20-Year-Old Yoichi Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. Ltd. If you want the peaty quality of Scotch without the bourbon burn, the 20-year-old Yoichi (US$1,200; dekanta.com) is the most treasured whisky in the vaults of Nikka, founded in 1934 by the father of Japanese whisky, Masataka Taketsuru. Its synthesis of single malts gives off a rich, malty flavor, while its delicate finish has notes of caramel and campfire.

Yamazaki Sherry Cask Yamazaki Distillery Instead of charred white oak, the Yamazaki Sherry Cask ($300; +12126747500) has been aged in Spanish sherry casks, including rare strains 25 years old, giving it the taste of spicy sun-dried tomatoes. Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible named the 2013 version as 2015’s best, so expect high demand; only 5,000 bottles will be released. +Christopher Ross, Bloomberg

Photos via bloomberg

16-Year-Old A.H. Hirsch Hirsch Distillers

tasteBUD

Changing seasons, changing spirits A RECIPE FOR EASTER PICNIC SALADS Words and photos Theodora Hurustiati

I

n Italy, Easter marks the beginning of spring, when fruit trees blossom and the temperatures get warmer.

After months of rain and snow; people can’t wait to get out and enjoy the first tepid days of the year, which here usually begin around Pasquetta, or Little Easter, the first Monday after the holiday.

The event, of course, has its traditional foods, prepared in the morning for a scampagnata, or picnic in the countryside with friends. The change in weather and mood is typically reflected in the contents of our picnic baskets, which are packed with light foods prepared using fresh spring herbs, as well as with colorful, portable salads that

make a meal on their own–as in the case of this week’s two recipes.

While Panzanella or Caprese salads are best prepared in the summer, when basil is really fragrant and tomatoes are plump and sweet; they’re so effortless that Italians start to make them as soon as days are warmer.

Panzanella

Caprese

Panzanella is an eco-friendly recipe, prepared without cooking and using only a little water to wash the vegetables. Its hero ingredient is day-old bread that otherwise would’ve been thrown away, given to the neighbors’ hens or transformed into bread crumbs. It’s typically consumed in the central regions of Italy, with slight differences from one area to another. The most popular is this Tuscan version.

Serves 3 100g day-old rustic bread ½ glass water 1 tablespoon vinegar 100g cherry tomatoes 100g tomatoes

1 large cucumber ¼ red onion 1 small bunch fresh basil Extra virgin olive oil Salt

This easy salad comes from Capri Island –hence the name. You don’t have to know how to cook to prepare it. Use dried oregano if fresh basil is scarce. This salad is often served also as finger food, sate style, using cherry tomatoes and bocconcini-tiny bites of mozzarella.

Serves 2

• Mix water with vinegar in bowl. Cut bread into 3-cm cubes and soak in water for a few minutes, until moist, not wet.

Soak time will depend on type of bread: The drier and harder, the longer it will take.

• Chop cucumber into roughly same size as bread, cherry tomatoes into halves and tomatoes into eight wedges. Peel and slice red onion into fine strips. Place all in a salad bowl.

• Include bread and basil leaves, previously torn into small pieces by hand.

• Season with salt and generous drizzle of oil. Toss delicately to combine and distribute dressing evenly.

• Cover bowl with cling film and chill for two hours before serving to develop flavor.

• Serve cold, but not straight out of fridge.

2 (100-125g each) fresh mozzarella cheeses 3 medium ripe tomatoes Few fresh basil leaves Extra virgin olive oil Salt, preferably coarse

• Cut tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese into 0.5-cm rounds or 3-cm cubes, whichever suits you. Arrange slices alternately on a plate.

• Tear basil leaves into small pieces–as many as you like–and distribute over tomato and cheese.

• Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with a touch of olive oil.

• Serve cold, accompanied by bread.

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).

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March 27, 2016 15

trend DIAL TOM FORD’s SOLEIL COLLECTION

NIKELAB X RICARDO TISCI

Exercise has never been so stylish! Check out NikeLab’s collaboration with Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci as part of their “Summer of Sport” line. Nikelab provides high-performance Dri-Fit and Flyknit to enhance your training, while Tisci offers his design vision. Two planned capsule collections will feature an initial line of black-and-white pieces and a playful series inspired by the Rio Olympics. So now you’ve got some reasons to improve your summer sportswear collection, especially for those who need to kick-start their New Year’s resolutions!

Just in time for the change in seasons, Tom Ford is launching several exciting beauty products as part of its Soleil beauty collection. Inspired by the lavish lifestyles of private islands, where summer is forever; the line-up includes a Soleil contouring compact, bronzing powder, ultrarich lip color, “MoistureCore” lip color as well as Soleil Blanc shimmering body oil. Tom Ford also launched its Private Blend Soleil Blanc, an Oriental floral fragrance based with amber, floral and solar notes, suitable for men and women.

Fluid

motion JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER

CHANEL ‘THE MONSIEUR’

Chanel has debuted its inaugural men’s watch, the Monsieur, at Baselworld 2016.

Consisting of 170 components, this is the only watch in Chanel’s portfolio with in-house movement. The Monsieur, which took five years to develop, displays hours in Arabic numerals within an octagonal window as a nod to the architecture of Chanel’s spiritual home, Place Vendôme, and the iconic Chanel No.5 perfume bottle stopper. The case back offers a handsome complex contrast to the timepiece’s elegant silvered opaline dial. The timepiece will be available in June in white gold or beige gold with a run set at an exclusive 150 pieces.

ZAHA HADID JEWELRY COLLECTION

YOHJI YAMAMOTO SUNGLASSES

Check out these cool frames from Yohji Yamamoto’s Spring/ Summer 2016 series. Inspired by the fluid motion of a pencil on paper, the designer has translated movement into eyewear. Frames mimic how a pencil traces the outline of a shape, while signature round lenses have been inserted into the center of the frames. Pieces represent Yamamoto’s exploration of round-eye shape paralleled with a deconstruction of traditional forms. These marble-looking pieces are made by hand in France and feature distinctive acetates and fine metal finishes that look alluringly unique!

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Architect Zaha Hadid has unveiled her first jewelry collaboration, with Georg Jense. The result is a collection of five rings and three cuff bangles.

Hadid took inspiration from her own architecture, referencing the undulating buildings of the Wangjing Soho Complex in Beijing. Crafted in sterling silver and sterling-silver-plated black rhodium set with black diamonds, each piece reflects natural light and shade and offers dramatic architectural lines. Georg Jensen was inspired to reimagine how the jewelry might be worn and shows us twisting silver pieces that evoke simplicity as well as mathematical precision. Starting at US$500 and $2500 at Jensen’s boutiques. +Banyubening Prieta