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LIFESTYLE
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Published by
b y Mu l p h aL a n d t h e ma g azi n e 20 1 0
MULPHA LAND BERHAD
(182350-H)
17, Jalan Semangat, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: 603-7957 2233 / 603-7955 1344 Fax: 603-7957 3471
In association with (19764-T)
the magazine
volume one 2010
PP14712/06/2010(025078)
refining & redefining living
the magazine
volume one 2010
Lifestyle is a bi-annual magazine from Mulpha Land Bhd., published with the primary objective of keeping all Mulpha privileged guests abreast with the latest lifestyle issues and the Group’s upcoming developments. Copies of Lifestyle can be obtained from the Mulpha International Bhd. office. For enquiries, please call (603) 7957 2233 or (603) 7955 1344 or contact Zainal Shukri at zainal@mulpha.com.my
CHAIRMAN Chung Tze Hien CEO Lai Meng GENERAL MANAGER Ronn Yong EDITOR Faridah Hanim EDITORIAL BOARD Zainal Shukri Mulpha, Malaysia Koh Boon Teng Mulpha Land, Malaysia Terence Lee Mulpha Land, Malaysia Sally Morgan Mulpha, Australia & Hayman Thomas Thang Mulpha, Vietnam Karen Evans Bimbadgen Estate, Australia Mark Jensen Sanctuary Cove, Australia Karen Edwards Norwest Land, Australia Peter Lewis The Hotel School Sydney, Australia Erin Millar Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove, Australia
ADVERTISING/SALES ENQUIRIES Zainal Shukri +603 – 7957 2233 ext 382 zainal@mulpha.com.my INTERIOR DESIGN Design Development Department Mulpha Land & Property Sdn. Bhd. PRINTING Label Plus Sdn. Bhd. CONTACTS Mulpha International Bhd. (603) 7957 2233 Mulpha Australia Limited (Australia) (61-2) 9268 5000 Mulpha Vietnam (Asian Fame Dev. Ltd.) (848) 930 4009 DISTRIBUTION Mulpha’s Lifestyle magazine is a free publication showcasing the quality of life with a controlled circulation of 2,000 copies, offered to an exclusive database through selected distribution channels. • • • •
Mulpha Group of hotels -InterContinental Sydney -Hilton Melbourne Airport -Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove -Hayman Great Barrier Reef Residents of Leisure Farm Resort & Residences, Johor Lifestyle brand owners Professionals
Mulpha International Bhd. is a diversified conglomerate and a component stock of the Bursa Malaysia Composite Index. Listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad since 1983, it has shareholders’ funds of about RM2 billion. The Group’s focus is on real estate and property-related services and financial services, with operations and investments in Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Australia. Over the years, Mulpha has leveraged on its expertise abroad to become Malaysia’s largest real estate investor and developer in Australia, owning world-class assets that include Sanctuary Cove and Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove in Queensland, InterContinental Sydney, Hilton Melbourne Airport, Norwest Business Park Sydney, The Hotel School Sydney, Bimbadgen Estate in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley and the world-renowned and award-winning Hayman Great Barrier Reef.
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Contents lifestyle with a difference volume one
sojourn
2010
after hours
02
The Golden Age of Living Well
24
An Original Broadway Classic
06
Beyond the Bayou
30
The Last Word on Bliss
10
‘Arts for Health’: A Haven of Comfort
33
A New Spirit
14
Transcend the Ordinary
38
Wow Macau
high life
18
Hayman Signature Experience
20
Create Memories that Last a Lifetime
22
Business Sense
l if e s t y l e
The Golden Age of Living Well With seniors preferring to live independently for as long as they can, a new concept of living designed solely for retirees has emerged as the next big thing.
Every evening, a group of men and women make their way down to the lobby of their apartment building in South Jersey to share an afternoon tea and play a game of cards. Their chuckles and banter rouse up the otherwise quiet premise. They could easily have been mistaken for teens, judging from their somewhat boisterous behaviour during these afternoon breaks. But these men and women are well into their 60s, and from the looks of it, enjoying life just as much as they did as teenagers. They call this place home, having lived here as neighbours with each other for more than 20 years. A University of Wisconsin professor, having noticed this trend some two and half decades ago in the United States, had termed this kind of residence as a “naturally occurring retirement community� (NORC). The apartment complex wasn’t purpose-built for the elderly, but since a large number of its residents had continued living
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The Golden Age of Living Well
there for many years, refusing to uproot themselves, it naturally evolved into a living space for those in their golden years.
maternal mortality, infectious and parasitic diseases, occupational safety measures, and improvements in nutrition and education.”
It’s a comfortable and convenient option for them – they are surrounded by the same familiar faces they grew up with, they know their way around, and they are well-acquainted with the local community.
An online report on ageing populations mentions that “in 2000, approximately 605 million people were 60 years or older. By 2050, that number is expected to be close to 2 billion. At that time, seniors will outnumber children 14 and under for the first time in
In the United States, NORCs exist all over the country. Some of these communities have the support of public and private partnerships in providing the residents with valuable social and health care services such as scheduled recreational activities and regular house-calls by medical service staff.
history.” This senior citizen population growth has a significant impact on their economic clout in general as they are regarded as powerful consumers in the market. Already, their need for better NORC programmes are being heard, and addressed, in the United States. Elsewhere, retirement villages with comprehensive facilities and services are being offered in the market to meet their specific
Some NORCs are apartment complexes that just evolved into a senior-friendly residence as their residents grew older, while others are entire neighbourhoods where residents have raised families and just never left, even after their children had left the nest.
needs.
It is a phenomenon that is not only seen in the United States but elsewhere, too, due to the large and growing elderly population. Currently, the world population stands at approximately 6.8 billion, of which those aged over 65 years constitute about 8 percent of the population. Studies of population growths have indicated that the elderly will be the fastest growing population in the world, with a United Nations report forecasting a growth of the ‘over 60-year-old’ population from 10 percent to 22 percent by 2050. This increase in seniors, according to the Administration on Aging, an agency under the United States Department of Health and Human Services, can be attributed to “advances in science, technology and medicine leading to reductions in infant and
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In Australia, for example, the Bureau of Statistics projects that the ‘over 75-year-old’ segment of the population will double in relative strength from 6 percent to 12 percent of the population in the next 50 years. The ageing population implies strong ongoing demand for retirement villages into the future.
One such company that is meeting the demands of these seniors is FKP, a leading Australian property and investment group, with a strategy of diversification and integration that has enabled it to build a comprehensive property portfolio.
Its portfolio of projects include mixed-use, land, retail, residential, industrial and commercial assets, as well as retirement villages, that have defined how hundreds of people live, work, play and invest. Mulpha Group owns a 25 percent stake in the FKP Property Group. In the retirement village sector, FKP owns and operates some 45 villages and manages a further 35 villages. These properties offer a total of more than 10,200 Independent Living Units (ILUs) and Serviced Apartments (SAs). Currently, its retirement villages are occupied by some 12,500 residents, with the strongest presence being in Queensland and South Australia. As an indication of the growing consumer power of the ageing population, FKP’s largest portfolio, with high profit delivery, comes from its investments in its retirement village development. In fact, in 2009, 70 percent of
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The Golden Age of Living Well
FKP’s profits was attributed to its retirement village portfolio alone. With a strong branding – Aveo Live Well – FKP has managed to retain its position as the largest provider of retirement villages and communities in Australia. Residents can choose from a whole range of choice in terms of retirement villages and residential options. FKP’s retirement villages are located all across Australia, in metropolitan areas, the suburbs and along coastal resorts, promising well-kept residences with facilities and amenities that ring true of its Live Well branding. Some of these properties, like the Aveo Fulham located on Henley Beach Road (South Australia), are handsome homesteads located within a historic part of town with easy access to the city, golf course and the beach. The Aveo Amity Gardens in Queensland, meanwhile, is a property set within a beautiful
landscaped garden, has its own salt water tidal lake, and is near the Nerang River with facilities such as shopping malls and medical centres. Another FKP retirement village is the one at Fernbank, just 20 kilometres from Sydney’s Central Business District. The property exudes a warm and natural village ambience and is surrounded by the natural beauty of Garigal National Park. In terms of residential options, FKP properties offer the choice of either independent units, serviced apartments or flexi units to meet the individual needs of its clients. These options differ in the range of services extended to residents. Independent units are individual private residences equipped with all the necessary conveniences to give residents the freedom to manage their daily lives on their own, while serviced apartments come with domestic services that care for the residents’ cleaning and dining needs. Those who are looking for a middle ground between these
two options can go for the flexi units where a range of services are offered on a user-pays basis. Unlike NORCs, FKP’s retirement villages are planned properties with a range of services and facilities made available to its residents. These include village bus transportation to take residents to nearby supermarkets or social outings, a 24-hour emergency call system in every unit, doctor’s consulting room, etc. Recreational and social facilities are also provided such as bowling greens, theatres, and gyms. Extra care service options – assistance with personal grooming, showering and dressing – which may be needed by individual residents are offered through a userpays care plan. Although medical, social and economic breakthroughs have advanced the lives of the average citizen, they also beg the need for new issues to be addressed, especially regarding the range of social services and support that are needed by senior citizens to live fuller, more enriching lives in their old age. The development of NORCs and retirement villages are some of the trends that have emerged to meet the needs of a growing ageing population, providing them with a safe and comfortable sanctuary in their golden years.
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l i f e s t yle
Beyond the Bayou Living green and sustainable has never been easier than with the Bayou Water Village home in Johor’s premium gated address, Leisure Farm Resort.
Homes of tomorrow have really pushed the boundaries in design and architecture in redefining the epitome of modern living. What’s considered ‘normal’ in domestic architecture before has spurred a new movement where homes have turned into retreats, matched with the ideals of a sanctuary in which the homeowner can seek refuge from the urban stresses. Mulpha International Bhd.’s Leisure Farm Resort in Gelang Patah, Johor, has been at the forefront of home design and resort living, providing homeowners an extensive array of house styles with a fascinating merger of form, function and livability. In the past, the company has launched exciting home concepts with awe-inspiring luxury homes that complement the resort’s master plan of greenery, low-density, environmental-friendly and healthy living. There were the palatial mansions with design inspirations from Colonial, Balinese, Contemporary and old American Southold themes. Later came the refined homes in five bungalow precincts: Merbok
Springs, Victoria Meadows, Palm Grove, Polo View, Bayou Bay and Bayou Grove. There were also 10 different architectural and interior design concepts, such as the innovative village homes in Garden Court; Pinggiran Bayou Village, Mediterranean-style, courtyard homes that front a meandering canal; and Pinggiran Bayou. The latter won the coveted FIABCI Prix d’Excellence 2008 Award for Best Residential Category, attesting to Mulpha’s continuous commitment in pushing the envelop of design excellence. One of the most recent launches was that of Bayou Water Village. These elegant homes perched on tranquil waters are nearing completion and set to be an award winner. The two-level, semi-detached villas and bungalows are currently priced around RM852,000 and RM1.2 million respectively. The courtyard designed home that comes complete with a private garden is priced from RM509,000 per unit.
sojourn
Beyond the Bayou
The Bayou Water Village homes also integrate an array of ‘intelligent’ green features that make them the ideal home of tomorrow.
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The Bayou Water Village homes also integrate an array of ‘intelligent’ green features that make them the ideal home of tomorrow. Naturally built with an orientation to avoid the direct effect of the setting sun, there is also a deep 10 feet overhang that provides natural shade from the onslaught of Malaysia’s tropical weather. Full floor to ceiling window glazing with deep overhang naturally diffuses lighting while providing cross ventilation for the home. The design also helps incorporate the outdoor green vista indoors, giving harmony and luxury to the living spaces.
tiered weirs act as a natural retention pond that helps improve water quality downstream and reduces the speed of surface water run off. The landscaped terracing mud and brick walls all around help reduce the need for heavy engineering during construction, minimising impact on the environment, a key attribute to all the green and sustainable projects Mulpha has undertaken. Shallow ends with water plants have also been introduced to encourage local breeding ground for fishes and water fowls, adding to the area’s natural charm.
Additionally, the homes are built using sustainable building materials, with limited use of marble. And, many of these materials are locally sourced as well. Rooms are supported with energy saving fluorescent lighting while strategic exterior lights are equipped with light sensor switches to minimise electricity wastage. Meanwhile, there’s also a rainwater collection system put in place that channels into the canal waterways as storage for landscape usage.
In further exploring the concept of green living, all building materials used for hard scape elements have been selected from natural recycled material such as rubble stones, raw concrete, clay bricks and premix. Recycled road kerbs are used for the retaining walls and foundations which require minimum maintenance. The precinct’s green features also get a boost from pockets of green lung where trees provide soothing green zones with connected trails that encourage outdoor activities by the canal in this exclusive park.
Residents will be pleased to know that even the canals have been designed with sustainability measures. The waterways with
Moving forward in creating a ‘greener’ home environment, even the fertilisers used to
sojourn
Beyond the Bayou
The landscaped terracing mud and brick walls all around help reduce the need for heavy engineering during construction, minimising impact on the environment, a key attribute to all the green and sustainable projects Mulpha has undertaken. maintain the surrounding soft scape areas are free from chemicals. Only organic fertilisers from wastes produced from horses from Bale Club and compost produced from Bale Club’s kitchen wastes are used. Weed killers and pesticides will not be used at any time to prevent contamination of the canal waters. In a departure from previous designs, Mulpha has also given Bayou Water Village homes a ‘boutique’ feel, with each precinct having its own clubhouse. The two-storey clubhouse has an infinity swimming pool, rustic brick wall with creepers, sundecks, a multi-purpose hall and lemongrass terraces hugging certain stretches of the canal, enhancing the surrounds’ natural beauty. However, residents can still choose to use the facilities of the resort’s award-winning
main clubhouse, The Bale Equestrian & Country Club, for free. Mulpha’s creative green ideas provide a benchmark for luxury and quality in which it designs its homes. Environmentally-sound ideas paired with sustainable architectural designs are the hallmark of the company’s commitment to preservation, protection and conservation in ensuring the homes of tomorrow are not just livable, but generational as well.
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lifest yle
‘Arts for Health’:
A Haven of Comfort Mulpha’s ‘Arts for Health’ programme, recently given an honourable mention at the PM-CSR Awards 2009, highlights why it is fast becoming a recognised method in dealing with psychological and emotional needs, particularly among hospitalised children.
sojourn
A Haven of Comfort
Arts therapy has long been used as an effective tool in dealing with mental health and psychological trauma. Doctors and psychologists advocate this form of therapy, especially among young children, affected by traumatic events who may find it difficult to express themselves in words. The belief that the creative process helps healing has been a welcomed prospect in the medical profession, helping young people convalesce from a wide variety of illnesses, including depression, stress and anxiety. Using the arts in therapy provides a creative outlet for pent up emotions and hurtful feelings that are otherwise too painful to express verbally or, for young children, difficult to be articulated for perhaps lack of proper communication skills. The American Art Therapy Association defines arts therapy as “the therapeutic use of artmaking within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living and by people who seek personal development”. Through creating and reflecting on art, individuals are given the opportunity to cope with symptoms, stress and traumatic experiences in a creative, stress-free environment. There have been many reports from the benefits in which arts therapy brings. Kevin Rice, a hospital outreach artist in residence for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp says, “Our hospital outreach programme uses art to help patients gain some sense of control over their own lives in the midst of a serious illness. I’ve learned never to underestimate the power of art with all the kids I’ve had the opportunity to meet.” Similarly, survivors of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina accounted how arts therapy provided them with an effective treatment, especially for children who created artwork
to express what they may not otherwise understand or be able to put into words. Young children are naturally creative and artistic. They have the innate ability to express their feelings and emotions easily through drawing or painting. Just the simple act of providing them with crayons or paint put children right at home, where they express themselves through their creations of artwork. A trained therapist is able to look at this non-verbal communication and provide a psychotherapeutic understanding of the child’s development. Therapists understand that image making is an extremely potent activity and, through their training, can use their ability in interpreting the visual and psychotherapeutic end product to encourage change and provide assistance and healing to those with whom they work. Additionally, arts therapy can also help improve mental and emotional health, increase self-awareness, cognitive abilities, reduce stress and assist in healing the emotional effects of traumatic experiences. Arts therapy can even be beneficial to children with learning disorders. Mulpha International Bhd. concedes that arts therapy is well on its way in becoming a recognised method of treatment and is stepping up to offer their support via their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. The company, through its own ‘Arts for Health’ programme, hopes to raise awareness on the plight of sick, hospitalised children, especially those suffering from terminal diseases. Through the programme, Mulpha hopes to create a temporary haven of comfort, helping to ease the children’s emotional burden while bringing cheer to their daily lives.
Through creating and reflecting on art, individuals are given the opportunity to cope with symptoms, stress and traumatic experiences in a creative, stress-free environment.
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Mulpha’s ‘Arts for Health’ programme is already in its fourth year and each year the number of participants continues to grow.
sojourn
A Haven of Comfort
additional advice provided by the hospital staff and CARES representative. This ranges from dance and drama to singing and art, and even painting and clay work. The Mulpha Angels comprises of Mulpha’s staff who unselfishly dedicate their time achieving the programme’s objectives. The group cuts across all sections of the company, comprising staff from property, human resource and administration, director’s office and corporate communication. Adopting the ‘Arts for Health’ concept from the Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, that uses drawings, writing, singing, dance and drama, among other things, with a trained therapist in a therapeutic environment, Mulpha, through its team of Mulpha Angels, hopes to provide a more profound and longlasting healing than the standard forms of treatment. The programme is also aimed at establishing relationships with the children and their family members by giving them the emotional support needed in dealing with the pain and trauma of hospitilisation. Mulpha’s ‘Arts for Health’ programme, initiated in 2006, initially had one participating hospital. It has since grown in reputation and, to date, collaborates with six hospitals involving 400 children throughout 10 programmes annually. The participating hospitals include Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM), Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (HKL), Sungai Buloh Hospital, Kajang Hospital, and Selayang Hospital. For two weeks of every month, the Mulpha Angels team runs the ‘Arts for Health’ programme in a chosen hospital working with children ranging in age from 4 to 17 years old. Headed by Shairin Jaslin Mohd. Sharif who holds a Masters degree in Counselling from HELP University College as well as the International Certificate in Montessori, the programme involves children in a myriad of activities fashioned to suit the relevant age group as well as patient’s mobility, with
In 2008, Mulpha supplemented the ‘Arts for Health’ programme with a grieving and counselling session for parents of terminally ill children and those who had suffered the loss of a child. The sessions helped those involved understand the process of grief and provide support through the pain of loss. The company also provided a makeover for the existing playroom in Hospital Kajang. With the ward’s playroom being a home away from home for many of its young residents, the much-needed facelift turns the playroom into a comforting refuge for both parents and kids.
night was held at KL Hilton on 8 March, 2010 where Mulpha’s ‘Arts for Health’ received an honourable mention. Among the evening’s esteemed guests included the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the new President and CEO of Petronas, Datuk Shamsul Azhar Abbas, and Datuk Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Mulpha’s ‘Arts for Health’ content is reviewed and analysed annually to determine its feasibility and Mulpha is now looking to expand the programme outside Klang Valley’s hospitals to further reach out to a wider focus group in other parts of the nation. Negotiations are also underway to have a long term commitment by ‘Arts for Health’ UK and Mulpha International Bhd. to run the programme feasibly. The affiliation will help Mulpha be acknowledged as the sole representative of ‘Arts for Health’ in the nation and in the future, expand this programme all across Malaysia. The company is also looking to broaden its outreach to include underprivileged, homeless and indigenous local children as well.
Mulpha’s ‘Arts for Health’ programme is already in its fourth year and each year the number of participants continues to grow. Efforts are already in place to ensure the programme reaches its goal. For all the company’s efforts, Mulpha International Bhd was nominated as one of the three finalists, alongside CIMB Group and KPJ Healthcare Bhd, in the category of Community and Social Welfare for the PM-CSR Awards 2009, an event organised by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. Awards
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Transcend the Ordinary
Transcend the Ordinary Create your own Bali retreat at Leisure Farm Resort.
The island of Bali has long been an inspiration to artists and travellers. Its sheer beauty and stunning landscape offer more than just picture-worthy sceneries. Its exoticism lies in the way the sun, ocean and hills unite to create a magical backdrop that celebrates nature. The tropical setting alludes to a lifestyle that is laidback, peaceful and to a certain extent, extremely surreal. At the heart of this magical environment is the Balinese homes and architecture, with its heady tropical indoor-outdoor living concept, that have been celebrated by interior designers and home lovers all over the world. A Bali-style home brings the beauty of the island to the house everyday – no matter if the home is in the far reaches of a temperate forest in Australia instead of the equator. The unique Balinese home creates a theme of tranquility and harmony. Its artistic endeavour has the ability to nourish the soul. It’s no wonder that more urbanites and suburbanites prefer the architectural design inspired by this magical Indonesian island. A typical layout would include generous and vast open spaces that invite retreat, playing with the lighting, atmosphere, and sensibility that define Bali. These are exactly the kinds of architectural sentiments found at Leisure Farm Resort, with its two new designs, the Legian Tropical Villa and Sanur Tropical Villa. Each is distinctive in style yet the one constant remain is the serenity of Bali, encapsulated in every core design of the home so that it becomes your own idyllic hideaway, every day of the year.
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Legian Tropical Villa This luxurious sanctuary wraps around a glistening edgeless pool. The design of the home enhances the waterfront living experience to uncharted Iimits. Bearing the hallmark of Leisure Farm homes, living spaces are seamlessly integrated by an open floor plan and innovative appointment of quality materials and finishing which also allow for ample appreciation of the outdoors from every section of the house. Paramount to the design of this luxury villa is privacy. The bedrooms line a private hallway with sweeping views of the pool and a tree-lined horizon beyond. The distinguishing feature of this unique layout is the ensuite master bedroom. Occupying an entire wing by itself, the master bedroom provides a truly private and discreet sanctuary for its occupants. With a built-up area of 5,0168 sq.ft and priced at RM3,200,000.00, Legian Tropical Villa is indeed a slice of Bali.
sojourn
Transcend the Ordinary
Sanur Tropical Villa Organised around a square courtyard and with a built-up area of 4,855 sq.ft, this fashionable villa balances practical simplicity and luxury with nature’s harmony and elements. Natural light and air interplay with enchanting water features and earthy tones in and around the house, creating a calm and soothing effect that is timeless in appeal. The seemingly basic and minimalist floor plan in actual fact belies an ingenious design effort to optimise land-usage and create an almost tangible sense of spaciousness about the house. Sundecks lead out from the master bedroom to a private pond, and from the living and dining areas to the pool, lending this villa the distinctive signature of resort living that is unmistakably Leisure Farm. Sanur Tropical Villa is priced at RM3,100,000.00 and epitomises the haven of idyllic living.
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Hayman Signature Experience Hayman, Australia’s celebrated resort in the Great Barrier Reef, has enhanced its Hayman Signature Experiences – an exclusive selection, designed to offer guests a special taste of this acclaimed destination’s beautiful island and stunning reef surrounds.
high life
Hayman Signature Experience
The previous Night Dive experience has been renamed Night Reef Discovery with snorkelling now included in addition to diving on this incredible underwater adventure.
The Chef’s Table This magnificent culinary experience, hosted each week by Hayman Executive Chef, Glenn Bacon, or a Hayman Master Chef, takes resort guests behind-the-scenes into the Main
Hayman invites guests to enjoy its exclusive Hayman Signature Experiences – The Chef’s Table, Ocean Massage and Night Reef Discovery.
Kitchen for a 6-course dinner. The Chef’s Table also includes a visit to popular Hayman Chocolate Room, amongst others.
Ocean Massage The ultimate sensorial experience is created in the most beautiful of settings. Guests will drift away to a world of total relaxation and comfort in tranquil waters surrounded by gentle tides and tropical fish in the warm Whitsunday sun.
Night Dive This amazing experience invites guests on a dive and snorkel adventure into the incredible underworld which abounds at night in the Great Barrier Reef. Hayman’s dive professionals will take guests aboard the dive and snorkel vessel, Sun Aura, to nearby Castle Rock Wall on an unforgettable adventure amid vibrant colours and nightlife. Guests will dive and snorkel amongst the reef’s creatures, which are only likely to emerge in the evenings, including crabs, shrimp and crayfish,
Hayman Tel : +61-7 4940 1838 Toll Free (in Australia) : 1800 075 175 E-mail : reservations@hayman.com.au
plus moray eels, parrot fish and dancing feather stars. Other sights to fascinate will include corals appearing fluffy as the polyps extend and retract their tentacles as they feed.
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Create Memories that Last a Lifetime
lifest yle
Hilton Melbourne Airport
Wedding Night Packages Our Wedding Night Package offers the perfect start to your new life together. Unwind after your big day in your luxurious suite. And we offer you a late check-out so that you can take all the time you need to get ready for that honeymoon flight.
Deluxe Package Includes:
• • • •
Overnight Accommodation in a King Hilton Deluxe guest room Swiss Chocolates and fresh strawberries Room service or a full buffet breakfast Late check-out until 2.00pm
All for a low cost of AUD$345.00
Junior Suite Package Includes:
• • • •
Overnight Accommodation in a Junior Suite Swiss Chocolates and fresh strawberries Room service or a full buffet breakfast Late check-out until 2.00pm
All for a low cost of AUD$385.00
Spa Suite Package Includes: • Overnight Accommodation in a Spa Suite • Swiss Chocolates and fresh strawberries • Room service or a full buffet breakfast • Late check-out until 2.00pm
All for a low cost of AUD$485.00
Contact the Hilton Melbourne Airport on +61-3 8336 2000 Room only rates are also available from AUD$246.00. Valid 1 January to 31 December 2010. Premium Club member discount applies.
Bookings : +61-3 8336 2000 Toll Free(in Australia) : 1300 445 866 E-mail : RM.melbourne-airport@hilton.com Quote : PR44WN
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lifestyle
Business Sense Enjoy InterContinental Sydney’s great business deals.
Style and history on the edge of Sydney Harbour. Positioned on the edge of the world’s most stunning harbour, InterContinental Sydney overlooks the Opera House, Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Royal Botanic Gardens. Steps away are the Central Business District, the historic Rocks area, leading shops and boutiques and some of the finest restaurants this city has to offer. This luxury five star hotel blends contemporary style with 19th century architecture and is distinguished by the façade of the 1851 Treasury Building.
high life
Business Sense
InterContinental Sydney’s 509 contemporary accommodation rooms and suites blend luxury with comfort. Beyond the guest room discover the outstanding facilities and services of the hotel including our InterContinental Sydney’s Business Sense packages that combines the elements you need to help you work more effectively with unlimited
InterContinental Sydney Tel: +61-2 9253 9000 Toll Free (in Australia): 1800 801 881
high speed Internet access and 25 percent off our Business Centre services. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, our Business Centre provides you with the facilities you need in your office away from home. You’ll also enjoy one full buffet or equivalent breakfast daily to help start your day. Business services typically include faxing, scanning, photocopying and printing. Hotel reserves the right to limit Internet use if excessive, such as downloading.
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An Original Broadway Classic Celebrated, award-winning, and sold out wherever it goes, West Side Story continues its triumphant run with the 50th Anniversary World Tour.
after hours
An Original Broadway Classic
The Broadway premiere of West Side Story at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York on 26 September, 1957, marked a decisive turning point in the history of American musical theatre: A production that proved to be as challenging as it was emotionally gripping; that didn’t merely demand from its performers the utmost expressiveness in terms of acting, dancing and singing, but that also set entirely new standards musically and dramaturgically and in the process redefined an entire genre. The birth of West Side Story was the culmination of the modern, groundbreaking musical, and yet the work is to this day unique and unrivalled by any of its successors.
A few years on the film version of this grandiose masterpiece by the original creative team – four very individual artistic geniuses, Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim – was awarded 10 Academy Awards and brought West Side Story to a mass audience. On stage it continued to be one of the most successful and best loved musicals of all time, which is once again being celebrated on Broadway in a current revival. With the dynamic new production West Side Story – The 50th Anniversary World Tour, sumptuously staged the world over. It shares the most vital
element: Jerome Robbins’ breathtaking and matchless dance vocabulary, in a choreographic recreation by Joey McKneely. West Side Story is a tale as old as the world: Two young people meet, fall in love, and vow to be faithful to each other for eternity. Their conflicting cultural backgrounds tear them apart, creating an abyss that destroys their longed-for dream of happiness and a shared future. The lovers’ fate is determined by the intolerance, ignorance and hate of two enemy camps.
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The story is as topical now as when it was created 50 years ago. The subject matter, a plea for understanding and tolerance, still mirrors a part of our social interaction, then as now. It is a piece about the lost innocence of young adults, their fears of the often incomprehensible and sometimes hostile adult world, their aspiration to create their own space, find their own language, and live according to their own rules.
after hours
An Original Broadway Classic
Next to the enthralling and deeply moving story it’s Leonard Bernstein’s immortal songs including Tonight, Maria, America or Somewhere that make West Side Story such an enduring musical phenomenon. Through its unforgotten tunes, West Side Story conjures up a flood of equally unforgettable and poignant images: The drab, fenced-off backyards in a run-down district of New York, the eerily lit nightly street scenes, or the small bridal shop in which Maria and Tony declare their undying love. The restless Jets’ rhythmic finger clicking and the whine of police sirens still in our ears, we hear the throaty laugh of leggy Puerto Rican girls rising over the city.
Youthful energy is tense and always ready – at times prowling its territory like a wild cat, at others racing round the streets like greased lightning, or flying through intoxicating, breathtaking dance routines. Mambo meets Rock’n’Roll. The piece has been reprised in countless different productions since its premiere in 1957, either in Jerome Robbins’ original version, in the legendary film version of 1961, or in one of the many adaptations that have been performed at innumerable theatres all around the world, in various languages, designs, choreographies and interpretations. It
has become a seminal milestone in the history of the modern musical. However, as none of the adaptations was ever able to reach the iconic status of the original, it is a particular challenge to present the work in an authentic way, true to its original idea, while at the same time keeping it utterly fresh. Attempts to imitate Robbins’ distinctive dance vocabulary had to fail irrevocably, unable as they were to integrate the dance into the fabric of the plot the way his choreography does, driving the narrative in equal parts to the book and the music.
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Initiator Jerome Robbins, together with his creative collaborators Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and the subsequently consulted Oscar Hammerstein protégé Stephen Sondheim, entrusted his longterm close confidante Floria Lasky with the copyright to his artistic legacy. One of the most renowned agents and most powerful and influential advocates of Broadway theatre, she and her partner, Jerold Couture, were appointed custodians of Robbins’ inheritance. In agreement with two other trustees, who together make up the so-called ‘Robbins Rights Trust’, it is still this partnership (even now, after her death) that grants the exclusive licenses to the original choreographies of Jerome Robbins’ ballets and theatre productions. The performing rights to the original production of West Side Story are subject to strict conditions regarding artistic standards. For one thing they are subject to Robbins’ exacting criteria – he personally determined who should be allowed to rehearse a piece
originally conceived by him, or even, as for example for his ballets, which company would be allowed to perform one of his choreographies. These standards are still valid today. The director and choreographer Joey McKneely was chosen to be the keeper of the unique dance vocabulary of West Side Story, and to pass it on according to its creator’s intents. With the exception of the current Broadway revival, the 50th Anniversary World Tour is the only opportunity world wide to experience the choreography in its original form. There are similarly strict regulations on the part of the creator of the music, Leonard Bernstein. His entire musical legacy, completely recorded and codified in the so-called ‘Bernstein Estate’, is held in trust and administered by the official Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc., which is based in New York City. Bernstein’s complex and still unchallenged score for West Side Story combines inspirations from American Jazz with classical and Latin-American music into one great total work of art, whose different
elements require a particular size of orchestra. In order to adequately and authentically reproduce the composition’s sound quality, the orchestra has to comprise no fewer than 26 musicians – just like when it was first performed. Led by the accomplished and brilliant musical director Donald Chan – who met the great Maestro and is intimately familiar with Bernstein’s oeuvre – a generously cast percussion group with versatile multiinstrumentalists from the US together with a classical strings section create that original, luscious, ‘typically American’ sound.
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An Original Broadway Classic
Producer Michael Brenner, whose entrepreneurial courage and vision of bringing a first-class production of West Side Story to the stage internationally won him the trust of Robbins’ and Bernstein’s collective rights managers, was hence issued with the license to the work by Music Theatre International, MTI. MTI is one of the few big collecting societies for stage authors and composers, and is the leading musical theatre publishing house specialising in performing rights for Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End Musicals. As it also administers the author’s rights for Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim, the artistic creation of all four collaborators can be combined as an entirety into one single license for an original production of West Side Story. The 50th Anniversary World Tour has the producer and impresario Michael Brenner and his international creative team managing not only to convince the American licensers,
but delighting them with their new, critically and popularly acclaimed production of West Side Story. With its vitality and energycharged freshness, this original production is celebrating a much-admired revival that – without ever lapsing into nostalgia – stays in visitors’ memories as a theatrical event of real quality. Following an extensive UK tour in 2009/10, where it was awarded two Theatregoers’ Choice Awards and nominated for the 2009 Laurence Olivier Award for best revival, this stellar original production continues its triumphant run with tour dates in France, Japan, Spain, Holland, Germany and Switzerland. Malaysia is the only South-east Asian stop in the landmark 50th Anniversary World Tour with performances in Kuala Lumpur from 12 to 24 May 2010, staged at Istana Budaya.
Malaysia is the only South-east Asian stop in the landmark 50th Anniversary World Tour with performances in Kuala Lumpur from 12 to 24 May 2010, staged at Istana Budaya.
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lifestyle
The Last Word on Bliss When it comes to nursing stresses with time-tested healing traditions, spa designer Sylvia Sipielli has the Midas touch to turn pampering into a sublime art and experience.
It’s not everyday that one studies to be a spa designer. Tell us, how did you find yourself in the business of spa design? How did you get started? Sylvia Sipielli
When I started, the industry as we know it today was just beginning. While you can find courses now, there was no such thing back then. I had been in the fitness industry for a number of years, and had also studied the healing arts (Shiatsu, Amma, the history of Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, relaxation) in Japan. In 1987 a big resort, Marriott Desert Springs, was being built in southern California. When the Director heard about my background, she convinced me that ‘spa’ was made for me. I could not believe that under one roof they offered all the therapies and activities that were important to me – fitness, nutrition, massage, etc.
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The Last Word on Bliss
You have always championed native healing treatments for your spas. When did you realise that this was the approach you wanted to take with your designs, and why? When I began, all the spas in the USA were being touted as ‘European style spas’. That was the foundation and, from a marketing perspective, very attractive. But when I had the opportunity to work in Hawaii, those concepts seemed terribly out of place. In addition to that, Hawaii has a very old healing tradition in the culture. ANARA at the Grand Hyatt Kauai was the first spa to offer indigenous treatments. It sounds so obvious now, but between getting permission and guidance from the elders, and introducing it to the guests – it was a big deal.
What are the challenges to designing a spa for the first time? The most important aspect is that you have a concept that is in sync with the desires and needs of ownership and that this is conveyed and supported architecturally and along every phase of design and operations.
Tell us about the project you’re working on now and what we can expect from it, or why you’re excited about it. Next is a new Spa Village project called Pulau Tiga, off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia. This island is blessed with natural hot mud springs. It is like finding gold for a spa developer! The focus will be on the jungle and soaking in the mud. It is a perfect ying and yang experience because a visitor can have the internal jungle experience and the rest of the day be surrounded by beautiful pristine beaches and the ocean.
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You’ve been in the business for the past 20 years. Is it still as exciting for you and if so, in what aspect? It is still exciting on many fronts – Spa is now part of the travel and health lexicon. The spa-goer has become very savvy and knowledgeable. It is also exciting to see so many young people look at spa as a viable career choice. And people, both operators and spa-goers, are starting to understand that spa is a part of health management. The experience can be luxurious, exotic, or simple. But with stress being the number one reason people visit a spa, it is here to stay.
How has the spa industry evolved since you began? What can the everyday spa-goer look forward to in the immediate future? There have been many trends and focuses throughout the years. The spa-going market has evolved as well. The evolution has progressed something like this: The healing waters of natural hot springs. This mainstay will always be popular around the world. Next comes the so-called ‘fat farms’ where guests would basically starve themselves for one to two weeks, or longer. There is also an emphasis on products from Europe. Then there is the concept of fitness incorporated in the experience. For a while in Europe, this was referred to as ‘American style spas’. Finally, the Asian influence, particularly Balinese, and the incorporation of meditation, yoga, and more spiritual and esoteric practices. Through all this, however, the number one therapy has been and continues to be massage. The basic need for the physical touch and the effects of a massage are paramount to the spa-going experience. While there are indicators that the world economy is turning around, there has never been a better time for the spa-goer to find incredible deals at world class spas. That, coupled with the fact that people are increasingly feeling stressed, make it a perfect time to invest in your health.
What are there perks to the job that would make us envious of you? Indeed! Many of the locations I must visit are absolutely beautiful and intriguing. And as part of my job, I must try the various massage, facial, and therapies.
We’re imagining your home to be a luscious retreat that embodies various aspects of the spas you’ve designed worldwide. Are we close? I hate to disappoint you and admit this, but it is a bit like the proverbial ‘cobbler’s children who need new shoes’! The focus is less on the house, and more on the environment. We live in Sedona, Arizona, USA, which is a magical place of bright blue skies and stunning red rocks. Sedona embodies a spirit that both inspires and rejuvenates me.
How do you unwind? I travel quite a bit. The unwinding process begins on the two hour drive from the airport back to Sedona. As the scenery shifts from the urban setting of Phoenix into the desert and then beyond to the bio-diverse area of Sedona, my fatigue and physical discomfort of a trip dissipates. Then as soon after arrival as possible, we pack the dogs and head out for a long hike in the mountains. It works every time.
What is your idea of a perfect spa retreat? To begin, I like to go somewhere that is a very different setting from where I live. That is one reason the Spa Villages are so refreshing. They are all unique and provide a completely new experience. Locale is one of the elements that allow the mind to truly take a break. My perfect retreat then includes daily yoga, meditation, a treatment performed with heart, lovely food, and plenty of free time to do absolutely nothing.
after hours A New Spirit
A NEW SPIRIT Autumn 2006, Paris motor show: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that work had begun on a new model series. The new car would be in production and on sale by the turn of the decade. The only other facts confirmed at that stage were that it would be smaller than the Phantom saloon and priced somewhere between ÂŁ200,000 and ÂŁ300,000 before tax. Speculation about its style and specification began almost immediately...
Once known as the 200EX/RR4, the now-named Rolls-Royce Ghost offers fans of the ultra-luxury car line-up a delicious surprise.
Little was seen of the new car, codenamed RR4, until the spring of 2008, when Rolls-Royce released the first official sketches. The styling was instantly recognisable as a Rolls-Royce, although less traditional than previous models. As sightings of secret development models on the road increased, RollsRoyce Motor Cars unveiled 200EX, the experimental forerunner to Ghost, at the Geneva motor show in March 2009. An instant hit, 200EX bore the trademark Rolls-Royce design cues but in altogether more compelling fashion. It was a clear statement of intent.
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They had found inspiration in contemporary furniture, architecture and yachts but also in the spirit of the 1930s – that sense of adventure and endeavour – which they wanted to capture in the character of this new car.
What the design team was seeking to create was a modern Rolls-Royce that achieved a new dynamism but remained true to its luxurious heritage. They had found inspiration in contemporary furniture, architecture and yachts but also in the spirit of the 1930s – that sense of adventure and endeavour – which they wanted to capture in the character of this new car. After the show, 200EX embarked on a world tour, during which further information about the forthcoming production model became available. It would be powered by a new 6.6 litre V12 unique to the marque, delivering 563 bhp with extraordinary performance figures. It would ride on an intelligent air suspension system offering peerless ride and dynamics. And it would be called Ghost. In September 2009, the new Rolls-Royce Ghost was formally launched to the world.Ghost’s flowing lines are dominated by its majestic ‘Yacht Line’ styling. Large, uninterrupted surfaces flow between finely sculpted horizontal lines that provide definition. While incorporating
classic Rolls-Royce design cues – the elevated prow, long bonnet, short front overhang, sharply raked A-pillar and elegant tail – Ghost exudes an informal aura. Contemporary touches include self-righting wheel centres and the Xenon headlamps that frame the latest evolution of the Rolls-Royce grille. Here the sides of the intake have been curved inwards and the vanes set back into the opening. The central principle of delivering simplicity out of complexity runs throughout Ghost. Everything is designed, engineered and crafted to enhance the drive and ride experience, not to complicate it. Inside Ghost, there are elegant, frosted lamps and chrome door handles, traditional violin key switches and eyeball air vents, frosted white dials and refined instrumentation. Deep-pile carpets can be complemented by optional lambswool floor mats for a truly luxurious feel.
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Willie’s Wild Chocolate A New Spirit Ride
Four-zone automatic air conditioning can be individually tailored to each passenger’s requirements, with separate controls for front and rear. Automatic air recirculation, condensation prevention and solar compensation are delivered through classic chromed eyeball vents controlled via organstop plungers. Individual lounge seating is offered as an alternative to the standard lounge configuration. This allows the addition of a massage function and also perforated leather for a cooling stream of air from the seat surface. Auxiliary rear climate control allows the passenger to regulate the temperature of the air on their side of the car, without intrusion on the other. A cool box with interior illumination and integrated champagne glasses is also available.
matched to the rest of Ghost’s interior. Enhancing the Ghost ambience is an audio system delivering an exquisite experience. 600 Watts of sound are delivered through a 10-channel amplifier and 16 speakers, including two floor-mounted subwoofers. USB and auxiliary inputs allow for the integration of external audio devices and a 12.5 GB hard drive enables storage of music files from USB or CD player sources.
Veneered picnic tables are another option, incorporating the finest leather and veneers
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With 780 Nm of torque available at just 1,500rpm, delivery of power is immediate and extremely smooth.
after hours A New Spirit
Ghost rides on a bed of air. Doublewishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension work with an intelligent, four-cornered, air-suspension system and electronic variable damping to deliver the refinement that has been associated with Rolls-Royce for more than 100 years. The new air suspension system in Ghost is so sensitive that it can detect even the smallest of changes. For example, it will sense the movement of a single rear passenger from one side of the seat to the other and compensate accordingly. A complex computer system reads multiple inputs from sensors around the car; the dampers alone make individual load calculations every 2.5 milliseconds. Ghost also has a series of complex electronic aids to keep it composed on virtually any surface. These include Anti-Roll Stabilisation, Dynamic Brake Control and Dynamic Stability Control, including Dynamic Traction Control and Cornering Brake Control. These individual technologies work together under dual Integrated Chassis Management systems, meaning that even when subjected to a vigorous test Ghost remains perfectly poised. Its handling and safety systems operate as one, imperceptibly to the driver and passengers, to maintain optimum contact with the road in any condition. Powered by a brand new, 6.6 litre twin-turbo V12 engine, unique to the model Ghost also features direct injection, producing 563bhp – enough to propel Ghost from 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and on to an electronically governed top speed of 155mph. With 780 Nm
of torque available at just 1,500rpm, delivery of power is immediate and extremely smooth. Power is transmitted through an eight-speed, shift-by-wire, automatic ZF gearbox. What this achieves is a feeling of endless, surging power, which is illustrated by the power reserve gauge on the fascia, replacing the more common rev counter. The new powertrain delivers this performance while emitting just 317g/km of CO2. Fuel consumption is 20.8 mpg / 13.6 l/100km. Safety remains paramount and the very latest technologies are used in Ghost. Side-impact beams in the front and rear doors combine with progressive rear crumple zones to absorb impacts. The Advanced Crash and Safety Management (ACSM) system takes measurements 2,000 times per second from sensors located around the vehicle. The ACSM uses this information – in conjunction with the engine and chassis management systems – to judge which safety features to deploy in which areas in the event of an accident. If necessary, ACSM will activate – among other things – seatbelt pre-tensioners and all encompassing airbags surrounding the cabin, creating a safe zone for all occupants. Ghost is the most powerful car that RollsRoyce Motor Cars has ever produced. It embodies 21st-century Rolls-Royce: More than 100 years of engineering and design excellence expressed in modern and uncompromised style.
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WoW
Macau Explore a city that blends contemporary with the sentimental.
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after hours Wow Macau!
01 Senado Square. 02 Ruins of St. Paul’s. 03 Portugese Egg Tarts. 04 Guia Fortress.
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Macau is often seen as a city between two cultures, where east meets west. There is no other place in Asia where you can find such sentiment. Macau is an island that is just 29.2 square kilometres wide yet holds a rich and colourful history, infusing the cultures and heritage of the Portuguese and Chinese. Macau comprises the Macau Peninsula, the islands of Taipa and Coloane, and the reclaimed area COTAI. It became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China since 1999 and today, the country is managed under ‘one country, two systems’ governmental administration. While Macau is often known as the ‘Oriental Las Vegas’, with its many grand and themed casinos, the island remains a favourite among visitors and day-trippers from neighbouring Hong Kong for its colonial heritage. In over 400 centuries of Portuguese rule, Macau has not only inspired architecture of
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different traditions, it has also preserved and maintained an extraordinary number of its buildings. At the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on 15th July 2005, The Historic Centre of Macau was successfully inscribed as a World Heritage Site, making it the 31st site in China to be granted this status. The Historic Centre of Macau is an urban area within the old city of Macau, spanning eight squares and includes 22 historic buildings. Among them is the ruins of St Paul’s. Lying in the heart of the old city, the great carved stone façade of St Paul’s with its grand staircase are all that remains of its gloried past. The church was built in 1602 adjoining the Jesuit College of St. Paul’s, the first Western college in the Far East where missionaries such as Matteo Ricci and Adam Schall studied Chinese before serving at the Ming Court in Beijing as astronomers and mathematicians.
Early travellers described the church as brilliantly decorated made of taipa and wood. The carved stone façade was constructed between 1620-27 by Japanese Christian exiles and local craftsmen under the direction of Italian Jesuit Carlo Spinola. After the expulsion of the Jesuits, the college was used as an army barracks then, in 1835, was destroyed in a fire. Restoration works from 1990 to 1995 converted the back of St. Paul’s into a museum. The ruins are regarded as the symbols of Macau and is one of the island’s most famous landmarks, rising in four colonnaded tiers.
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Yes!
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06 05 A traditional pedicab. 06 The Maritime Museum. 07 A typical Macau street scene.
Around the corner from the ruins is Senado Square, Macau’s main square. Together with Barra Square, Lilau Square, St. Augustine’s Square, St. Dominic’s Square, Cathedral Square, Camões Square and the Company of Jesus Square, the piazzas – part of the Historic Centre of Macau – are collectively known as the ‘Maritime’ Squares of Macau for its distinct and elegant wavy patterns featuring marine creatures, inspired by the tones and materials of Portugal. Senado Square has been a civic hub for centuries, and today is a pedestrian mall that houses an elegant fountain, shady trees, benches for people watching, elegant cafés and fashionable shops and boutiques. Senado Square also boasts a rich architectural tradition with the St. Dominic’s Church, the Holy House of Mercy, Leal Senado Building and Sam Kai Vui Kun Temple, all located within the vicinity. On the east of Macau lies the Guia Fortress and Lighthouse. Guia hill is the highest point of the Peninsula of Macau. The fortress was built in the 17th century and its original cannon platform today provides
great panoramic views of Macau and nearby islands. Rising above the old battlement is the lighthouse, built in 1864, the oldest western style lighthouse on the China coast. The area is best reached by a taxi that will take you through winding cobblestone roads and pass a subtropical park, but for the adventurous, the place can also be reached within an hour through a leisurely hike. For a history of Macau and its connection to the sea, there is, indeed, no better place than to explore the Maritime Museum at the south of the Peninsula. The area is believed to be the place where the Portuguese landed for the first time and was once called ‘A Ma Gao’ (the harbour of A-Ma), hence the name of Macau today. The Maritime Museum is a stylish building that takes the form of a sailing ship anchored in the waters of the inner harbour. Exhibits include replica boats, a section on navigational instruments, and a gallery of aquariums.
after hours Wow Macau!
From here, visitors often move to Macau Tower to get a bird’s eye view of the island. Soaring 338 metres above the city, the Macau Tower is the 10th highest freestanding tower in the world and the 8th tallest in Asia. The Tower dominates the skyline and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Macau cityscape, China, the Pearl River and even some islands of Hong Kong on a clear day. It offers a list of exciting adventure such as the World’s Highest Bungy Jump, the SkyJump, Skywalk X and Mast Climb. For a slower and more laidback pace to Macau, Taipa Island and the Coloane villages present the perfect sojourn. Previously, the only visitors to the island of Coloane were hunters in search of quails and pigeons. The area was also notorious for its sea robbers. Today, Coloane boasts of two beautiful
beaches and a stunning golf course. It’s also a place known for its leisure and entertainment where dining alfresco in a village square is the highlight of any evening. Perhaps no visit to Macau can end more beautifully than a visit to Taipa. The island used to consist of two hilly isles with a protected harbour offering anchorage for clipper ships engaged in trade with China in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, Taipa has been revived and is once again an international gateway with the opening of the Macau International Airport. It is home to many of the island’s luxury resorts and hotels yet still retains some of its colonial charm.
style offices within its pleasant narrow streets. Hanging flower baskets and old-fashioned street lamps make it an appealing place to take a stroll. End your visit by heading to Rua da Cunha (Food Street). With its numerous restaurants offering the best in Portuguese, Macanese and Chinese cuisines, this gastroadventure eloquently captures the essence of Macau in a nutshell.
Visitors often make their way to the south side of the island to Taipa Village, clustered with Chinese shophouses and Portuguese-
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volume one 2010
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refining & redefining living