Now travel asia magazine issue 33 # july august 2015

in this issue

July/August 2015

The taste of

asia

Unless destination that traveler drink deep of, but food can refill happiness of travel also.

NOW Travel Asia bring you to open new experience of fine dining that you will never feel before. In this issue we compile executive luxury restaurants in Asia and Best 20 Chefs in Asia. Moreover we are update new restaurants and new hotels in the most popular city in Asia as follows Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau than after travel in the city move to the natural in China, Huangguoshu The great wate of China. Do not miss! The interview of people in business of China, leader of tourism industry.

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CONTENTS July/August 2015

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MBI Award 2014

News events and updates of luxury travel industries around Asia

The most Influential Brand Award Ceremony in Hospitality Industry, 2014 is Successfully Held

24 Now Travel Asia Awards 2015 This highlightof-the-year event is what everyone is waiting for. Be on our nominee list within the 15 categories of awards

28 COVER STORY Choose the best chefs and luxury restaurants all over Asia. Let’s travel to the great water of china.

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Best 20 Chefs in Asia History and experience of all 20 Chefs that have high skill cooking in Asia and got rewards from famous institutions Fine dining experience The fine dining restaurant that offering unique items that patrons would not find at any other restaurant.

Expert’s Pick Compile gimmick of luxury restaurants in Asia and present the other side that never know before

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CONTENTS July/August 2015

105 73 Thailand gourmet paradise Thai food is ranked in the world’s top 5 cuisines and the country is rich with diversity of ingredients that fit variety of cuisines

94 Exploration of Asia One of the wonders is Huangguoshu Waterfall, the world’s 3rd largest waterfall and Asia’s largest waterfall, which is also our destination

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Grand China Edition Discovery and update China in this year, talk with 4 influence people in tourism industry

106 People in business of China People in business of China Let’s talk with the most influence people in business of China

114 city update Explore Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau

NOW TRAVEL ASIA HEAD OFFICE OWNER NOW TRAVEL ASIA CO., LTD PUBLISHER KENNETH S.WONG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KANAPOT SITTHIWONG ASSISTANT TO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WORAPAN CHAIPISIT ADMINISTRATION MANAGER WARAPORN OPASPUN CREATIVE DIRECTOR KETSARAPORN INTHANA GRAPHIC DESIGNER NIPIT SRISAMROUJ KAMONCHANOK KUNKAEW EDITORIAL SUPERVISOR THANAPORN SIANGJAM WRITER KANPITCHA WANDEE CONTRIBUTING WRITER VACHAPON THISADEERUK MARKETING EXECUTIVE ARTHIT PHOLPO SUVIMON WONGSINGKAN NOW TRAVEL ASIA GRAND CHINA OFFICE VICE PRESIDENT GRAND CHINA JACK XIA SECRETARY TO THE VICE PRESIDENT MEGAN JIANG DEVELOPMENT MANAGER SOPHIA ZHAI CONSULTANT RAKY ZANG OFFICAL MEDIA PARTNERS QIAO YI / CEO OF MEaDIN.COM TIGER YANG / CO-FOUNDER OF PINCHAIN MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS THAILAND ASIA BOOKS, BOOKS KINOKUNIYA, PENBOON SINGAPORE PENSING DISTRIBUTION PTE LTD (SINGAPORE) HONG KONG FAR EAST MEDIA (HK) LTD. SOUTH KOREA TPING TRAVEL JAPAN ICHIGO ASIA INC.

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Editor’s NOTE

JW Marriott. Dongdaemun Square Seoul, Korea

“Good food indulges one’s happiness”;

with the quote in mind, this edition of NOW Travel Asia embarked on the quest to find to fine dining restaurants across Asia. We have compiled a list of highly acclaimed restaurants in popular destinations, including Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Myanmar, and South Korea, because we know that any travel experience is not completed without a memorable meal!

Learn different perspectives of 20 master chefs, most with Michelin-star recognition, from world-renowned restaurants in Asia. Explore what makes each of them unique, see their obsession in high standard, and discover how their creations take the heart of gourmands.

We take a closer look at fine dining scene in Thailand. Thai food may be one of the top 5 most popular cuisines, but the country also hosts a long list of world-class international restaurants, and we have a list of recommended restaurants selected for their exceptional food, popularity, atmosphere and design, presentation, creativity, and services.

Catch up with the success of Top of Hospitality Industry enterprises that deservedly received "The Most Influential Brand Award 2014: MBI" by Meadin.com and People.cn, and learn the perspective of 4 leaders of China’s travel industry. Last but not least, if you are interested in a holiday in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau, be sure not to miss our Grand China Edition.

Just let our list of remarkable restaurants be the guide to your ultimate fine dining paradise!

Kanapot Sitthiwong Editor-in-Cheif editor@nowtravelasia.com

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July/August 2015 Cover: The House on Sathorn, Bangkok, Thailand

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Show time A Remarkable Best Dining Experience

SWEET TAPAS ARE IN FASHION AT THE KITCHEN TABLE Some Fashions Come and Go. Some Fashions Come to the Table and Go Down a Treat with all Who Love Fine Pâtisserie. Bangkok – 30 June 2015 – The Kitchen Table, a signature restaurant at W Bangkok presents a new menu of tapas-style desserts – “Sweet Tapas are in Fashion” created by the hotel’s pâtissier, Chef Nicolas Descriaux. This signature collection is great for sharing and typifies The Kitchen Table’s approach both to culinary art and having a good time. The chef has succeeded with his five imaginative and intriguing creations: Valrhona Chocolate Stones with

Glass Bubbles; Red Bean and Black Sesame Daifuku; Lamington Pop (Chocolate, Coconut, Blueberry), Tonka Bean Mug Cake with Caramelized Sorbet, and Crazy and Bold Macaroons.

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Show time Silversea 2016 Asia Silver Shadow Cruises to include Hotel,Transfer, Complimentary Silver Shore Select Excursions and Wifi.

Hong Kong – 26 June, 2015 From the rainforests of Borneo to neon-lit Tokyo, the Far East offers intriguing ports, exotic cultures and breathtaking scenery that guests of Silversea may now conveniently explore, with all-inclusive package amenities offered on all Silver Shadow Asia cruises in 2016, which include Complimentary Silver Shore Select excursions, Complimentary WiFi, Two-night, pre-cruise hotel stay and transfer. The all-inclusive packages are available for new bookings made on or after 24 June 2015 and include for example, a 7-day voyage to the fabled lands of Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, sailing roundtrip from Singapore on 6 February 2016.

Book Once Earn Twice on Chatrium Point Plus+ At Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon July 2015, Yangon – Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon offers double point rewards for Chatrium Point Plus+ on every stay. Earn double points from July 1 to November 30, 2015 when you book any room right at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon

Colour Your Summer with Fruits at Marco Polo Hotels - Hong Kong Hong Kong, July 2015 Beat the summer heat with luscious fruits!

From now until 31 August 2015, Marco Polo Hongkong, Gateway and Prince Hotels are pleased to introduce the new Fruity Summer-inspired menus. Enjoy the freshest seasonal fruits including mouthwatering mangoes, cold and crisp watermelons and fresh strawberries during buffet periods to keep you cool all summer long.

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Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel has added the “extra” to celebrate this summer by presenting an alluring Mövenpick summer menu showcasing the quintessential Banana split and Classic ice-cream sandwich amongst many others. Satisfy that sweet craving with a multitude of 17 Mövenpick ice-cream flavours at the Pop-up store located at the Lobby of Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel.

on hotel’s website. Make your next stay and event extra rewarding with Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon.

Earn double reward points on every US$ 2 spent on Chatrium for any stays at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon from the 1st of July, 2015 to the 30th of November, 2015. Book your stay at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon to claim a reward twice as fast! Earn Chatrium Point Plus+ Double Points when you reserve your stay at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon through website www.chatrium.com only.

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New Pairing Menu Combines Food From The Heart With Our W Cocktail Culture Bangkok – 7 July 2015 – W Bangkok’s Director of Culinary, Chef Thaneth Naovarat, better known as Chef Keng, along with expert mixologist, Jack, have teamed up to design a special menu combining W’s sophisticated Cocktail Culture with Chef Keng’s Food from the Heart concept.

“Food from the Heart matched with our W Cocktail Culture” pairing menu, available July to September at The Kitchen Table restaurant, exemplifies the creativity and imagination that makes food and cocktails at W Bangkok so extraordinary.

Among the menu’s many highlights are amuse bouche of Pan-fried Duck Liver with Malibu Jam, Crispy Coconut and Burnt Brioche paired with Summer Crush (Aperol, Ruby Red Grapefruit and Lemon). Among two main course choices is Grilled

Australian Lamb Cutlets with Amaretto Pumpkin Risotto, Glazed Seasonal Vegetables and Pickled Morel, the dish paired with JW Gone Wild (JW Gold Label, Port Wine, Limoncello, Grand Marnier and Silvermoon Tea).

Vana Nava Hua Hin Voted among Top 10 Thailand Best Tourist Attractions 2015 Hua Hin - Thailand: Within just a half year of opening, Vana Nava Hua Hin water park, led by General Manager Mike Fijas (center, holding certificate), management and staff recently celebrated their great success in achieving recognition among the Top 10 Thailand Best Tourist Attractions 2015, voted by Chinese visitors to Thailand. The campaign and ceremony was organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in co-operation with King Power International Co., Ltd. and the largest Chinese online media, SINA Corporation Co., Ltd., in Shanghai.

12 Chefs, 7 Michelin Stars Line Up For so Amazing Chefs 2015 The Michelin stars are aligning for a gastronomic spectacular at Sofitel So Bangkok, with the urban design hotel confirmed to gather 12 renowned chefs from around the world for the 4th So Amazing Chefs 2015 taking takes place from Tuesday 6th to Sunday 11th October 2015. As in previous years, the So Amazing Chefs program is packed with a series of dinners and cooking classes, with the event highlight – the Culinary Showdown competition and gala dinner– taking place on Friday 9th October with proceeds going towards the CCF Foundation under The Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. New additions this year include the introduction of special weekend brunches and an after-party which will feature guest DJ Chef Ferry van Houten on the decks.

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Thai AirAsia X Introduces “Lotte World Adventure” Bangkok, 2 July 2015 – “Thai AirAsia X”, Thailand’s first low-fare, long haul carrier, has joined hands with Lotte World Adventure, one of Seoul’s largest indoor theme parks, and Airport Limousine, provider of shuttle services from Incheon Airport to central Seoul. Passengers can purchase entry tickets and shuttle passes through Thai AirAsia X’s Sky Ticket service starting this 1 July 2015.

Thai AirAsia X passengers can now purchase a shuttle pass that will take them from Incheon Airport to central Seoul, to either Myeong Dong Station or Cheongnyangni Station. Moreover, passengers traveling to Thailand can transfer from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok and its vicinities (select locations) in convenience with personal limousine service provided by Phrapirap Co. Ltd. www.airasia.com

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TWG Tea A Remarkable Best Dining Experience

After the success of its first 2 TWG Tea Salon & Boutique at The Emporium and Siam Paragon luxury malls, TWG Tea is expanding its fine tradition and modern elegance to a new luxury address – EmQuartier shopping complex.

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panning across 300 m2, the newest TWG Tea Salon & Boutique at EmQuartier sets out to share the passion in tea and become the standard reference for tea lovers with over 450 of the most exquisite tea harvests from premium plantations around the world, including TWG Tea’s exclusive blends such as the signature Haute Couture Tea collection. It caters to those who crave for refined tea drinking culture in opulent oriental setting with warm polished wood furniture, endless row of TWG Tea’s signature yellow tea tins, and TWG Tea’s exclusive fine bone china. Setting its sister branches

apart are the “Terrace” where tea drinking is accompanied by serene view of world class top brand name shops, and the “Balcony” where you can just relax and watch Bangkok’s bustling scene goes by.

TWG Tea Salad

Taking your elegant afternoon tea ritual to another level are the tea infused menus at TWG Tea Salon & Boutique. Savour creative menus that smoothly complement your favourite tea blend. Start off with a light TWG Tea Salad with foie gras, smoked salmon, marinated shrimp, and 1837 Green Tea infused vinaigrette, follow by the signature Wagyu Burger with Emmental cheese, horseradish mayonnaise, homemade bun, and matchstick potatoes. Whether dessert is your thing or not, the signature Mango Crumble served with Vanilla Bourbon Tea infused coconut cream and Alfonso Tea ice-cream is a truly delightful treat.

TWG Tea Salon & Boutique at The EmQuartier M Floor, Helix Quartier Tel: 0 2003 6070 Open Daily 10 am. – 10 pm.

Wagyu Burger

Mango Crumble

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mbi award 2014

George Qiao, CEO of Hangzhou East Sunnet Science and Technology Co.,Ltd Geoge Qiao, CEO of Hangzhou East Sunnet Science and Technology Co.,Ltd has made opening speech. He points out that “AS one of the biggest flow inlets offline, hotel cluster will perform greater commercial value, start to rise public data platform by itself or develop with third-party one day. Meadin Brand Index (MBI) is exactly the beginning of data in hospitality industry.

The Most Influential Brand Award Ceremony in Hospitality Industry, 2014 is Successfully Held

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eadin.com is the biggest hospitality online info platform which provides acknowledges news, social events, hotel information and trends for China Hotel Industry.

Meadin Brand Index (MBI) is released exclusively by Meadin.com, providing index data that reflect the brands (including relative brands of hotels and supplies) influence for a period of time. MBI includes two parts which cover hotel brands and supplier brands. The index for hotel brands mainly analyzes brand influence from four dimensions: Public Sentiment Index, Media Index, Search Index and Operation Index.

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After three years of develop and perfection, MBI has been widely known to the industry and provided sophisticated data for the brand construction of the hotel.

On June 30th, 2015, “The Most Influential Brand Award Ceremony in Hospitality Industry, 2014” by Meadin. com and People.cn is held at New World Hotel Beijing. More than 60 hotel brand executives, 10 founders of supplier brands and 40 mainstream media executives attend the Award Ceremony, Finally, the biggest highlight of the award ceremony – the opening of “The Most Influential Brand Award Ceremony in Hospitality Industry, 2014” is officially launched. TOP3 of The Most Potential Hotel Brands, TOP10 of The Most influential International Upscale Hotel

Brands, Top 10 of the Most Influential Chinese Upscale Hotel Brands, Top 10 of the Most Influential Boutique Hotel Brands, Top 10 of the Most Influential Mid-scale Hotel Brands, Top 10 of the Most Influential Economy Hotel Brands and TOP4 of The Most Popular Supplier Brands are revealed respectively, which leads the ceremony to climax.

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NOW Travel Asia Awards 2015

2015, NOW Travel Asia Awards are continually exclusive access to luxury hotels, resorts, the Hotel Groups and included any other related areas of the travel industry through readers voted at www.nowtravelasiaawards. com. Winners will be announced and presented with their recognition at the NOW Travel Asia Awards Gala Ceremony. The final outcome will be based upon votes per category on a highest scores and TOP 5 ranking basis.

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Asia’s Top Leisure Hotels

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, UAE Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai Pudong, China Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad, India Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong Amantaka, Luang Prabang, Laos Conrad, Macau Empire Hotel and Country Club, Brunei Darussalam Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund, Shanghai, China Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, Mumbai, India The Mulia, Nusa Dua, Sawangan, Indonesia Raffles Jakarta - Jakarta, Indonesia

Asia’s Top Heritage Hotels

Alsisar Mahal - Heritage Hotel, India PARK HYATT SAIGON, Vietnam Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam The Siam, Bangkok, Thailand Eastern & Oriental, Penang, Malaysia Raffles Singapore The Strand, Yangon, Myanmar Hotel Majapahit, Surabaya, Indonesia The Imperial, New Delhi Settha Palace Hotel Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok The Shilla Seoul, South Korea Imperial Palace Hotel Seoul, South Korea

Asia’s Top Business Hotels

Sofitel Wanda Beijing, China Jing an shangri-la hotel, west shanghai, China The St. Regis Osaka - Osaka, Japan Langham Place Beijing Capital Airport - Beijing, China The St. Regis Tianjin - Tianjin, Heping District, China Oriental Residence, Bangkok Kerry Hotel, Beijing, China Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India Park Hyatt Seoul, South Korea The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore G Tower Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore The Peninsula Hong Kong Sofitel So Bangkok, Thailand JW Marriott dongdaemun square seoul, South Korea Marina Mandarin Singapore by Meritus, Singapore

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Asia’s Top Design Hotels

Upper House, Hong Kong Macalister Mansion, Penang, Malaysia Hotel Icon, Hong Kong Mira Moon, Hong Kong W Taipei, Taiwan Naumi Hotel, Singapore ALILA JAKARTA, Indonesia The Capitol Hotel Tokyu - Tokyo , Japan Devi Garh, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India The PARKROYAL on Pickering, Singapore The Oberoi Gurgaon, Gurgaon, India Hotel Eclat Beijing, Beijing, China Park Hyatt Siem Reap, Cambodia J Plus Boutique, Hong Kong The Opposite House, Hong Kong MUSE CITY HOTEL WENHUAGONG, Fuzhou, China Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund, Shanghai, China Dream Hotel Bangkok, Thailand Sofitel So Bangkok, Thailand X2 River Kwai, Kanjanaburi, Thailand

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Asia’s Top Emerging Hotels

Waldorf astoria dubai palm jumeirah, UAE ajman saray a luxury collection hotel & resort, UAE Shangri-la Hotel Doha, Qatar W Beijing, China Hilton Qingdao Golden, China St. regis Chengdu, China Sofitel So Singapore, Singapore Le Meridien suvarnabhumi, Thailand Andaz Toyko, Japan Sheration Nanching, China Ritz-Carton Kyoto, Japan Le Meridien mahabaleshwar resort, India Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road, Bangkok Cheval blanc randheli, Maldives The Chedi Club Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi, Vitetnam

Asia’s Top Spa Hotels & Resorts

Asia’s Top Villas resort

Banyan Tree Lang Co, Vietnam InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort Ritz Carlton Bali, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia Naladhu Resort, Maldives Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta Krabi, Thailand

Asia’s Top family hotels

Festive hotel resorts world sentosa, Singapore Shangri-la’s rasa sentosa resort& spa, Singapore Mandarin oriental Sanya, China The Peninsula Shanghai, China Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, Cambodia Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa, Malaysia Golden Sands Resort by Shangri-La, Malaysia Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach, Thailand

Asia’s Best Fine Dining Restaurants

Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali, Indonesia W Retreat and Spa Bali Seminyak, Indonesia Fusion Maia Da Nang, Vietnam Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort, China The Westin Ubud Resort and Spa, Indonesia Banyan Tree Club and Spa Seoul, South Korea Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia Sofitel Guangzhou, China

Nahm, Thailand Gaggan, Thailand L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Thailand Amber, Hong Kong Jaan, Singapore Acqua, Phuket Vida Rica, Macau Mix, Thailand Lanshu Chen, Taiwan

Asia’s Top Wellness Spa

Asia’s Best Chefs

So Spa, Sofitel guangzhou, China Banyan Tree Spa, Banyan Tree Samui, Thailand So SPA with L’Occitane at Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra, Cambodia AWAY Spa at W Singapore - Sentosa Cove, Singapore Six Senses Spa at MGM Macau Bodhi Spa at Conrad Macao Quan Spa at The Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel, Kong Kong ESPA at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore Banyan Tree Spa Chongqing Beibei, China LUXSA Spa at Hansar Samui, Thailand The Shillim Spa at Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa, India Pure romance: Oazia Spa Villas Bali, Indonesia Big splurge: Armani/Spa, Tokyo Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand Hot spring spa: Villa 32, Beitou, Taiwan Green T House Beijing, China Crown Spa Resort Hainan, China

Asia’s Top Beach Hotels

Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Male, Maldives RIMBA Jimbaran Bali - Bali , Indonesia Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, Boracay Island, Philippines St. Regis Bali Resort, Denpasar, Indonesia Six Senses Hideaway at Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam Amankila Bali, Indonesia Six Senses, Con Dao Island, Vietnam Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia Oberoi Lombok, north Lombok, Indonesia Song Saa Private Island Resort, Cambodia Cocoa Island by COMO, Maldives Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta Krabi, Thailand

Narisavis, Japan Gaggan, Bangkok Vicky Lau, Hong Kong Alessandro Frau, Thailand Andre Chiang, Singapore Seiji Yamamoto, Japan Tetsuya Wakuda, Singapore

Asia’s Top Entertainment Complexes Galaxy Macau, Macau Sands Macao, Macau Asiatique The Riverfront, Thailand The Venetian Macao, Macau Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

cover story

The taste of

asia Best 20 chefs in asia / fine dining experience

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Believe that Asia is largest canteen of the world, Asia cuisines showing the cultrue and history of the original dish. Moreover, the taste is identity and healthy. We proud to present premium restaurant that serve high quality of food and cook by skillfully chef in Asia, together with trick and tips that you should not miss!

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best

20 Chefs in asia

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Vicky Lau

Tate Dining Room and Bar Hong Kong

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riginally, Vicky Lau walked the path of a graphic designer until she truly discovered her passion in food after enrolling at the legendary Le Cordon Bleu in Bangkok. The career switch soon earned her immense reputation as she honed her skill at the Mitchelin-starred Cépage in Hong Kong and later before launching her own one Michelin-starred Tate Dining Room and Bar in 2012.

Having recently been voted Asia’s Best Female Chef 2015, her food tells “Edible Stories” by pushing boundaries with taste, visual artistry and scent, pulling all the senses together with culinary technics and conceptual plating.

Vicky Lau is the young chef that get the Michelin-Starred Tate Dining Room restaurant in Hong Kong. Lau received the price on March 9th 2015 at the reward ceremony in Singapore.

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Tate Dining Room and Bar Hong Kong

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Michelin Star is a hallmark of fine dining quality and restaurants around the world. At first the Michelin tire company launched its first giudbook to support road tripping in France after that stared sending out staff of anonymous restaurant reviewers to try restaurant.

Yoshihiro Narisawa JAPAN

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hef Yoshihiro Narisawa breaks the mould of traditional Japanese cuisine and takes it to the new playing field. As a young man, he blazed through Mitchelin starred restaurants in Switzerland, France, and Italy under the guidance of iconic chefs like Paul Bocuse, Joël Robuchon, and Ezio Santin. Now back in Japan, Narisawa’s shaping a new landscape of Japan’s fine dining scene with the combination of Japanese elegance and the best of European, particularly French. While Narisawa draws heavily on French culinary tradition, his cuisine embraces both his identity and the identity of Japanese cuisine with focus on seasonal, unique Japanese products. The result has not only earned him international reputation, but it has pushed Japanese cuisine into the next evolution!

Japanese Cuisine has influenced by China around 300 B.C., Japanese learned to cultivate rice, use chopsticks and consumption of soy sauce but Japanese has adopted and refined them to create its own unique cooking style and eating habits.

Vindex Tengker Indonesia

Fatih Tutak The House on Sathorn, Bangkok THAILAND

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orn in Istanbul and bagan his professional chef career in some of the top restaurants in Istanbul’s luxury hotel and restaurant industry, chef Fatih felt the need to travel abroad to further expand his culinary horizon. The journey took him across f rom Denmark, to Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong, with a strong portfolio, including Chef De Cuisine at InterContinenetal Hotels Group Beijing and Executive Sous Chef at Marina Bay Sands. Inspired by his journey, chef Fatih combines the finest seasonal ingredients from Asia with the perfect balance of technique and art. Each of Fatih’s signature dish is a portrait of his experience and you are welcomed to join the journey at The House on Sathorn, Bangkok.

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s the head judge of MasterChef Indonesia and Executive Chef at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, Vindex Tengker is one of the most well-known celebrity chefs in Indonesia. Vindex began his career as a specialist chef in Indonesian cuisine at the “Amandari Resort” in Bali, then left the resort island in the search of new influences in Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia and Berlin where he broadened his culinary technique and discovered new ingredients.Vindex’s cuisine showcases the rich Indonesian culinary history in a more refined way. Each dish strives to reveal the essence of an ingredient and unveil the unpretentious character of a spice or herb like lemon grass, turmeric, ginger, tamarind and kaffir lime leaves.

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Tetsuya Wakuda Waku Ghin Singapore

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he Japanese-born Australian is the mastermind behind the award-winning Waku Ghin at Marina Bay Sands.

He worked his way up from a kitchenhand position to a chef, accumulating his culinary skill and technique along the way, before opening his first restaurant, Tetsuya’s. Since the relocation in 2000, Tetsuya’s has consistently been voted by the culinary world’s top food critics and chefs as one of S.Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants! Although Wakuda refrains from using the word “fusion”, his food combines Japanese and French elements where presentation is just as important as taste. He’s also the first internationally based chef to be named one of Japan’s Masters of Cuisine, and the first person outside of Japan to be appointed as Sake Ambassador, making his sake selection the best in the world!

In Marina Bay Sand has a around 44 restaurants. Bay Sushi distinguish from other Japanese-oriented sushi restaurants in the region by its contemporary roll and sushi concept, the interior design fashioned with the theme of modern luxury and inspired by the famous bays in the world, as well as the innovative dishes created by skillfully chefs.

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best

20 Chefs in asia

Alessandro Frau Acqua, Phuket THAILAND

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rowing up in Sardinia, Italy, chef Alessandro Frau was surrounded by the vibrant colours and flavours of Mediteranean since he was little. His passion drove him around the world, including England, France, Mexico, Sweden, Finland, and Thailand, in the pursue of culinary technique and knowledge.

After spending some time as Executive Chef at Sheraton Grand Laguna, he opened “Acqua” which becomes the stage for him to freely express his delightful creativities!

Alessandro’s cuisine is a refined collection of his experience in the countries he visited, the people he met, perfumes and scents, ingredients, objects, shapes and even emotions, resulting in an exceptional modern Italian cuisine that does not neglect tradition and regional specialties.

Michael Wong

Prince Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

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hef Michael Wong spends most of his time in the kitchen since he was a boy. With over 26 years of professional cooking, the head chef of Tai Zi Heen, Prince Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur’s signature Chinese restaurant, he brings authentic Cantonese food into the realm of contemporary cuisine with dishes that emphasize original flavours with a modern twist. And as a halal restaurant, the restrictions force Michael to constantly push the boundaries of his creative mind.

Contrasting fresh ingredients, expect explosive flavour of Szechuan pepper infused with a combination of herbs and spices such as star aniseed and cinnamon.

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Shuzo Kishida

Alex Au

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Restaurant Quintessence Japan

Ivan Li

Family Li Imperial Cuisine CHINA

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ooking runs in the blood of Li family as Ivan Li is the descendant of Li Shunqing who headed the imperial kitchen during the Qing dynasty.

Inheriting the time-honored recipes and cooking methods that his family has preserved for four generations, Li has revived and brought China’s imperial cuisine to the 21st century, showcasing the finest natural ingredients and flavours with a focus on harmony and purity of taste. Chef Li’s famous Family Li Imperial Cuisine has reached far beyond China with branches in Melbourne, Tokyo, Taipei, and Paris!

Young chinese consumption: As income increase the young generation becomes the main group of consumers.

The young generation spends less time cooking than their parents and instead turns to restaurants and convenience foods. So, many local company are researching how to make chinese food more convenient for young chinese generation.

ith the right guidance, it’s amazing how far passion can take you.

Chef Shuzo Kishida has extensive portfolio ranging from fine French cuisines in Japan to Michelin starred French restaurants in France, but his career rocketed when Pascal Barbot took him under his wing and invited him to his astonishing, 3 Michelin starred Astrance in Paris.Expect obsessive attention to detail at his ambitious modern French restaurant, Restaurant Quintessence. Surely, the cooking techniques are French, but Kishida several Japanese touches to the experience. Essentially, every dish follows the culinary flow of 3 critical processes hold dearly by the Kishida – “Respect the product”, “Pursuing cokking process”, and “Attention to detail in seasoning process”.

Pak Loh Chiu Chow Malaysia hef Alex Au is the prodigy child of the famous Pak Loh Chiu Chow restaurant.

He has been with the restaurant, where he was guided by the legendary Master Chef Chan Tung, for over 16 years. Alex truly spread his wings and rapidly gained international recognition when when he and his team won the prestigious HAPA Platinum Award for “Most Authentic Asian Cuisine Restaurant”.

At Pak Loh Chiu Chow, Kuala Lumpur, Alex presents authentic Chinese cuisine in a refreshing new way. He is known for his signature dish such as Chiu Chow Oyster Omelet and Slow-Braised Goose.

And while preserving the deep flavours of Chinese cooking, he always experiment on how far he can push it further.

Cambodia

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hist he remains humble, Luu Meng is respected and admired as Cambodia’s top chef.

Raised in a family of chefs, he broadened his skills at a hotel school in Thailand and went on to sharpen his art in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. He launched two of Phnom Penh’s most stylish and innovative restaurants, Topaz and Malis, with the idea of reviving Khmer cuisine, rejuvenating traditional taste, and making minor alterations to improve the taste for the modern palate.

With the belief that Khmer cuisine deserves a place at the same table as French, Italian, Chinese and Thai haute cuisines, Luu’s “Living Cambodian Cuisine” focuses on the best of local ingredients with the finished results resembling a master class in the Kingdom’s cuisine.

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Lanshu Chen Le Moût Taiwan

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hef Lanshu Chen left Taiwan to explore her culinary passion at Le Cordon Bleu Paris before perfecting her French cooking skills at Ferrandi School of Culinary Arts.

Upon graduating, she embarked on professional journey her career under the guidance of some of France’s most internationally celebrated chefs, including Pierre Hermé and at Michelin-starred Les Ambassadeurs in Hotel de Crillon with chef Jean-François Piège and chef Jérôme Chaucesse.At Le Moût, chef Chen introduces her style of authentic French cuisine that employs delicate cross-cultural fusion flavours and textures. Local ingredients are combined with luxury imported produces using artisanal French culinary technique. Constantly pushing boundaries and showing how passion and dedication can create flawless culinary practices, chef Chen was named Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2014 and her Le Moût restaurant has consistently been on the forefront of French fine dining in Asia.

Gaggan Anand

Gaggan Restaurant BANGKOK

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hef Gaggan Anand revolutionized how Indian cuisine is perceived. His progressive Indian cuisine takes classic Indian dishes and reinterprets them with modernity and flair in a bid to bridge the gap between eastern and western cuisine. As a young boy, music and cooking were his world and he was determined to pursue his passion even though he was mocked from the idea of becoming a chef.

In 2010, Anand was the first Indian chef to undertake an internship with Ferran Adrià’s research team at the famed Michelin 3-star restaurant El Bulli in Spain.

There, he mastered contemporary cooking technique, how to innovate, and how to break a cuisine and reconstruct the recipe into a culinary fantasy.

Seiji Yamamoto Nihon Ryori RyuGin Japan

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hef Seiji Yamamoto is heralded as one of Asia’s finest chefs, representing Japan multiple times at major international culinary events such as Madrid Fusion and French Omnivore Food Festival. At his 3 Mitchelin star Nihon Ryori Ryugin, the obsession in fine native Japanese ingredients and the art of kaiseki present themselves elegantly on every dish. It’s not about transforming and mixing ingredients, it’s about sharing the richness of Japan and letting the natural ingredient shine by gently help them up onto their dishes.

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Gaggan Restaurant, Bangkok, Thailand

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best

20 Chefs

Ryan Clift Tippling Club Singapore

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aving worked alongside world’s most celebrated chefs including Marco-Pierre White, Pete Gordon, Emmanuel Renaut, Shannon Bennett, and Raymond Capaldi, chef Ryan Clift landed in Singapore with a new challenge - taking modern food and cocktail pairing to a new level.

Serving playful and experimental dishes, Tippling Club is the playground for Ryan and his team to push the envelope of ingredients and textures.

Don’t be alerted if wine list isn’t the star here. The menus can perfectly be paired with cocktails, which the team spends just as much time developing as they do the food!

in asia

Le Cordon Bleu is education institutions specific providing the highest level culinary a hospitality instruction.

Many famous chef around the world were graduated from here.

Now, Le Cordon Bleu has students over 70 nationalities.

Tony Lu

Fu1088, Shanghai CHINA

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fter years of mastering Cantonese cuisine, chef Tony Lu was ultimately drawn to the cuisine from his birthplace. He is now famed as the ambassador of Shanghainese cuisine as he delivers the best flavours in Shanghainese cooking while adding touches of 21st century to the style and presentation. Much of the food is designed to be shared, and traditional Shanghai seafood delicacies are the chef’s specialities. Abalone and sea cucumber are consistently the people’s favourites, but keep an eye out for exclusive seasonal ingredients such as Lu’s renowned hairy crab dishes.

Hidemi Sugino

Hidemi Sugino, Tokyo Japan

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n 1991, Hidemi Sugino stirred up the pastry world when he won the prestigious La Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie – the international pastisserie grand prix! His self-titled pastry shop, Hidemi Sugino, is the most popular pastry shop in Tokyo with haute pastry fans of all ages flocking to his shop for a taste of his highly-acclaimed desserts.

Perfection is the key to Hidemi Sugino’s success. Everything has to be precise, artistic, and meticulously constructed to the point that there is only a limited number of each cake per day!

Sugino’s specialty mousse-baked cakes contain comparatively small amounts of gelatin and sugar for a pillow-light texture that is considered to be the ultimate reference point for the genre.

Janice Wong Singapore

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iscovered her passion in Melbourne, honed her skills at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, and refined her expertise in New York, Janice Wong took Singapore’s dessert scene by storm when she founded 2am:dessertbar. Dissatisfied with how desserts are often underappreciated, Janice is determined to test the limits of dessert making. Keep an open mind for her boundless modernist creations that intriguingly blurs the lines between sweet and savoury!

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Andre Chiang Restaurant Andre Singapore

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hef André Chiang has always been surrounded by food since he was little. He worked at his mother’s Chinese restaurant in Tokyo until he went on to expand his culinary horizon in France under the guidance of France’s most celebrated masterchefs such as Pierre Gagnaire, Joel Robuchon and Alain Ducasse.

Infusing Mediterranean touch, French technique, and the best seasonal ingredients, chef Chiang delivers a cuisine that is sophisticated, filled with emotion, elegant, yet simple, and most importantly, cooked from the heart.

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best

20 Chefs in asia

Julien Royer Jaan Singapore

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aving worked alongside a number of world celebrated chefs, including Michel Bras and Bernard Andrieux, Chef Julian Royer now helms the kitchen at one of Singapore’s finest French restaurants, JAAN. His culinary style is all about showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients through simple and well-presented dishes that reflect both culinary tradition and creativity, which consistently earned JAAN numerous awards since he moved in.

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The taste of

asia

fine dining

experience

Many people choose fine dining restaurants for a special occaion, so the food must not dissapoint in either selection or quality. There do not need to feature a huge menu, but it should be interesting, offering unique items that pattrons would not find at any other restaurant.

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Reserve Table Online Easy of reserve table in restaurant, you can reserve via website and email of restaurant or application reservation such as “Opentable” new app for online reservation and read all restaurant review from dimers around the world.

Table Maners

After sitting, place the napkin on lap. Place the knife in right hand fork in left when cutting food. Do not place any bones or other garbage on the table. If there is a bone, place it on the side of plate. Engage in conversation during the meal. Do not only eat. It is customary to tip 15% of the bill and place money for tip on the

table.

L’effervescence Japan

In the right hand, nothing can go wrong with French technique and quality ingredient! Trained under world renowned Michel Bras and Heston Blumenthal, chef/owner Shinobu Namae demonstrates his world-class cuisine at his slick restaurant in Tokyo, L’effervescence. The 2-Michelin-starred restaurant infuses Namae’s unique flair into beautiful dishes that marry classical European techniques with seasonal ingredients, with strong emphasis on Japanese ingredients.

Though highly skilled, you can sense

the playfulness in the dishes like a reinvented pie that features eel, paprika, and red miso.

Influences of Heston’s The Fat Duck can be seen as L’Effervescence has developed a reputation for show-stopping desserts where science and chemistry comes into play.

Since the menu changes seasonally, you’ll be surprised with every visit.

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Bencotto, mandarin oriental Taipei Taiwan

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At Bencotto, Michelin-starred chef Mario Cittadini shows how traditional home-cooked Italian can be fine dining! The Tony Chi designed interior exudes rustic elegance with dark hardwood floor, seducing red leather table, plush seats, and lots of glass walls. The magic, however, begins in the open kitchen where fresh seasonal ingredients are prepared from scratch and meticulously turned into authentic Italian fare. For the truly memorable experience, the exclusive Chef’s Table provides the front row seat to see the secrets for creating signature dishes such as Boston lobster spezzatino with fregula sarda and lobster consomme, and Maialino In Porchetta (Italian suckling pig).

Tippling Club Singapore

For chef Ryan Clift, fine dining doesn’t have to be all reserved and uptight, and his recently relocated Tippling Club is the proof! Under semi-casual, semi-intimate setting, Tippling Club is known for its fun, modern gastronomy, boasting Ryan’s playfulness and creativity. Although the restaurant has an extensive wine list, it continues to pair its award-winning cuisine with thoughtfully crafted cocktails, pushing the extremes of ingredients and textures to create an ever-evolving dining experience. Tippling Club is consistently on the list of internationally recognized best restaurant awards, including 45th best bar in the world by The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2013, and the Restaurant of the Year at the Singapore World Gourmet Series Awards of Excellence 2013.

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Vogue Lounge Bangkok

Opened in late 2014, VOGUE Lounge has been generating serious buzz among Bangkok foodies. Housed on the top floor of the MahaNakhon CUBE, an upscale retail and restaurant hub in the heart of Bangkok, the interior takes inspiration from iconic black & white photographs from VOGUE archives, reflecting the timeless luxury and glamour of the legendary brand. Working with Executive Chef Cyril Cocconi and master mixologiest, Hideyuki Saito, the world renowned Chef Vincent Thierry delivers his expertise in complex flavours and elaborate presentation in bite-sized servings, and breaks the barrier to fine dining by offering an elegant and sophisticated, yet casual environment to enjoy his beautiful dishes.

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Narisawa JAPAN

Consistently ranked on top of the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurant list, NARISAWA offers a sophisticated fine dining experience that a lot of critics described as “poetic”.

Each dish is reserved and thoughtful without being austere, just like a piece of a beautiful, well-constructed haiku. With distinct French bedrock and the focus on seasonal Japanese

ingredients, owner/chef Yoshihiro Narisawa is the firm believer in sustainability and elegantly presents his unique theme of “The harmony of Sustainability and Gastronomy”.

Expect the menu to be named simply as “Soil” soup or “Water” salad, but be ready for a profound journey of taste, texture, and scent.

Just like the food, the focus in the best of Japanese products is reflected in the beverage menu as well. With pinot noir from Nagano, riesling lion from Iwate, aged Bordeaux-style blends from Yamagata and beyond, NARISAWA is one of the best place to develop an appreciation of Japanese winemaking!

Jungsik

Nestled in a quiet alley in the trendy Gangnam district, Jung Sik leads Korean fine dining restaurant industry with its cutting-edge modern Korean cuisine. Despite its fame, the humble restaurant remains classy and minimalist to set a stage for its elegant and unpretentious food. Chef Jung Sik Yim, an alumnus of Culinary

Institute of America, captures the essence of traditional Korean cuisine and reinvents them with a modern, molecular touch. The restaurant does not pretend to be sophisticated.

Instead of complex French terms and western delicacies like foie gras, Jung Sik’s menu comprises of simple names such as Octopus with ssam-

Seoul

Five Stars Restaurant in Dubai

Zango is located at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, with breath-taking views overlooking the stunning landscaped gardens and the Arabian Gulf. Decorated in deep rich natural textures and warm tones. Make a dish

by Celebrity Chef Richard Sandoval is widely revered across the UAE for setting up Toro Toro.

jang and tomato, Crispy Snapper with sesame leaf and potato, and Pork jowl with ginger-soy. Just don’t let the simplicity deceive you because, beside beautiful presentation, each dish packs the flavour and texture that perfectly highlight the quality of the ingredients.

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Fu He Hui china

Fu He Hui has the same townhouse feel as its world-renowned older siblings, Fu1039, Fu1088, and Fu1015 restaurants, but it departs from Fu's trademark quaint colonial villa aesthetic and welcomes a more elegant modern design with polished black granite floor and natural wood tones of the furniture.

Design isn’t the only difference between Fu He Hui and its siblings.

Fu He Hui embraces a strictly vegetarian Chinese cuisine that focus on celebrating native Asian ingredients like taro and lotus seed, as well as variety of beans and fruits. Infusing the pure taste of ingredients with the lightest touch of salt, each dish is an exquisite refinement of the ingredients’ essences. You won’t look at vegetarian dishes the same way again after visiting Fu He Hui!

Les Amis Singapore

Founded in 1994, Les Amis has since become the flagship restaurant of Les Amis Group amidst the group’s collection of fine dining restaurants such as Aoki and La Strada. The interior reflect Tan Kay Ngee’s, a well-known local architect, classical yet contemporary approach, exuding sophistication and elegance.

As a protégé of the legendary chef Joël Robuchon, chef Sebastian Lepinoy incorporates classical French technique with touches of Asian aesthetic. The aim here is simple; deliver the ultimate fine dining experience through meticulous attention to detail and dedication to source the finest ingredients. Les Amis features one of the largest cellars in Southeast Asia.

With over 2,000 individual labels, there’s no wonder why the wine list has won multiple awards consistently.

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JAAN

Singapore Perched on the 70th floor of Swissotel at Equinox Complex, JAAN is a feast on the palates and the eyes. Derived from the word “Bowl� in ancient Sanskrit, the intimately designed restaurant stands at the pinnacle of Modern French cuisine in Singapore.

The menus are built around fresh seasonal ingredients and refined French cooking technique artistically performed by a team of talented chefs. The result is a creative and innovative dishes that excite the senses, and at the same time honour seasonality, origins, and the passion of the producers who raise or grow the world’s best ingredients.

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The taste of

asia

expert’s

pick

There are more than 10,000 restaurants around the world, different restaurant has different feature. So we anthologise gimmicks of 5 stars restaurant through this column that you never know before.

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Pearls & Caviar Restaurant Abu Dhabi

Formerly the Pearls & Caviar, P&C by Sergi Arola is the 2 Michelin-starred chef’s 14th restaurant but the first step into the Middle East. Situated in the iconic Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, P&C by Sergi Arola evokes opulence and indulgence with classy black and white tones complemented by a touch of glittering lights and picturesque views of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The new restaurant brings Arola’s Spanish tapas sharing concept to the opulent city, serving paellas and patatas among other traditional Spanish favourites with an Arola twist. While he won’t be at the helm on a daily basis, Arola is intimately involved in the creation of each dish to imprint his style and highest standard on them.

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Wasabi

Mumbai, India Wasabi is Japanese restaurant at The Taj Maahal hotel in Mumbui that serve high quality menu from Japan everyday with good atmosphere and elegant decoration. If you book table in advance you will get a window seat view of the magnificent Gateway of India.

THE EIGHT, Grand Lisboa Macau

The first and only one restaurant that got Michelin star award restaurant in Macau. An intimate Chinese restaurant with a delightfully lavish interior, The Eight offers exquisite Cantonese and Huaiyang cuisine and invites you to experience classic Chinese dining with an elegant and creative touch.

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MEZLAI, Emirates Palace, Dubai

The first Emirate restaurant in UAE, Mezlai's traditional atmosphere.

Combining luxury and tradition in a contemporary and unique design.

Do not forget to reserve outdoor terrace, as this intimate environment to the luxurious views of the Arabian Gulf before you and Emirate Palace behind you.

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MEZLAI, Emirates Palace, Dubai

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Caprice Hong Kong

The restaurants that have received Michelin stars, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Offer menu of contemporary French cuisine made from produce flown in daily from France and the finest French wines as well as other European and New World wines from renowned vineyards. If you want to try special menu you have to reserve for 5 days because there are only 12 seats for guests.

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The Bridge Bar & Bistro Thailand

Set on the bank of Kwai Noi River, The Bridge Bar & Bistro invites you into a cozy and welcoming space designed to be a communal living room for all guests. The restaurant’s interior is inspired by vintage railway station with touches of contemporary accent. Under the “unpretentious luxury” concept, The Bridge Bar & Bistro evokes a relaxing ambience and encourages guests to just hangout on the outdoor terrace with a glass of wine or Champaign, chill by the bar, or enjoy a simple rustic Thai and Western cuisines in the glass-enclosed indoor while watching the sun set over the river and letting time flows by.

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Peter Dining The Peninsula Tokyo Japan

Take the discreet private elevator to the 24th floor of The Peninsula Tokyo and you shall find one of Tokyo’s most stylish restaurants. Named simply as “Peter” in honour of The Peninsula COO, Peter Borer, the restaurant offers the ultimate backdrop for a business lunch and dinner or a place to unwind over a glass of cocktail and stellar views of Tokyo's Imperial Palace Gardens and Hibiya Park. The sexy interior highlights dark purple hues with glittering silver trees, and crystal chandeliers. Boasting delicious grilled fare, Peter’s menu features premium cuts of meat and fresh seafood including imported U.S. grain-fed ribeye and Australian grain-fed tenderloin, and local cuts such as Omi tenderloin and Yonezawa ribeye, as well as pork chops, veal chops, Tasmanian salmon, and scallops. The dishes are served with your choice of sauce, from Japanese Ponzu, Ancho Tomato Chili Salsa, to the classic Rosemary Mint and Red Wine sauces.

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MIX Restaurant & Bar Korat Thailand

Undeniable that MIX Restaurant and Bar is the most famous restaurant and get many rewards guarantee.

Now Mix restaurant had expand many branches to other provices and abord, Mix Restaurant and Bar Korat is one of them. Modern Oriental style decorate attract customers come and enjoy meal together. On the second floor, inspired decorating from movie “Alice in the wonderland” can support more than 200 customers.

Mix restaurant is the one that has own food style “Modern Thai-Europe Cuisine” create a unique dish and manu featuring over 250 items. The cuisine can be Thai, Chinese, European, International, or all and none at the same time.

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MIX Restaurant & Bar Yangon, Myanmar Another branch of the famous restaurant now “MIX Restaurant and Bar� that decorate with Modern Oriental Style and located on Tawwin road, Victory Hospita, Yangon. In this branch has special manu for customers in Myanmar that can not order in other branch, Shrimp fried with XO sauce and Myanmar Razor with garlic. In addition, Mix presents diners with a choice of over 80 cocktails (25 of which are mind-boggling molecular cocktails) and 500 labels of wines and beers from a United Nations of countries around the world.

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Thailand gourmet paradise

Top restaurants you should not miss!

Travelers around the world don’t just visit Thailand for its natural and cultural attractions. Food is another seducing reason why the land of smile is loved by everyone who has visited it. With variety of herbs and spices growing on this fertile land, Thailand is known as a gourmet paradise for its wide range of food, from street food to royal and international cuisines, making it not only the best place to enjoy Thai dishes, but also the city to experience the finest international dining.

Thailand is home to luxury 5 star restaurants, each helmed by a master chef both Thai and international. Our list of “not to miss� restaurants will satisfy the foodie in you whether you are a local or a traveler planning a memorable visit to Thailand.

Classical Perfection l Gaggan Bangkok Housed in a colonial style building, Gaggan has recently moved up to tenth place in the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2015, and ranked first for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Since Chef Gaggan Anand refrains from using the word “molecular gastronomy”, Gaggan offers an unexpected taste of “progressive” Indian cuisine that reinvents classic Indian dishes with modern flair and creativity.

The menus are inspired by fresh seasonal produce, diversity of Indian cuisines, and the chef’s childhood street food memories, resulting playfully named dishes like Beauty and the Beast – young potatoes stuffed with sun-dried figs – and Green with Envy – green peppercorn chicken kebabs combined with coriander foam.

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Classical Perfection l Fireplace Grill, InterContinental Bangkok Fireplace Grill has been impressing discerning diners for over 40 years and it’s never outdated! The setting remains classic and sophisticated with understated dark wood, natural mahogany and orange tones, and a range of masculine touches.

The modern open kitchen plays the center stage in the middle of the restaurant and adds excitement to anticipation with occasional bursts of flames as you watch the talented Chef Sebastian Reischer and his team create the perfect dish for you.

Needless to say, grill is the specialty here and the ‘must-have’ signature dish is the award-winning ‘Duet of Tajima Wagyu’ – grilled Master Kobe sirloin and 24 hour slowly braised short rib served with foei gras, fried onions, Kenya bean and baby carrot.

Alternatively, Challan duck with confit duck cigar, chick pea puree and crispy skin is a great choice if beef isn’t your first preference. On the surf side, Pan seared snow fish with lobster ravioli, thermidor sauce, and green asparagus, and Roasted salmon fillet with scallops, white asparagus, and saffron emsion.

Both amazingly exemplify fresh quality ingredients cooked to perfection. Complementing the exquisite dishes is a wide range of New and Old World vintages from premier winemaking regions. And to wrap up, a stunning dining experience, Crêpe Suzette prepared by your table makes a visual and tasty treat!

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Sky High l Red Sky, Centara Grand Bangkok Red Sky is one of Bangkok’s best dining spots in Bangkok in term of location and elevation. The rooftop bistro sits on the rooftop of Centara Grand Hotel in the heart of Bangkok’s finest shopping district. Whether you dine in air-conditioned indoor or in the spectacular outdoor, you’ll be surrounded by the impressive 360-degree vistas on 55th floor.

Take your time soaking in the dramatic setting and breathtaking views, play a little game of identifying surrounding buildings, and enjoy the sunset if you arrive early in the evening.

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The stunning scenery might be ‘the’ attraction, but the views seem to play the background role as Chef Hugo Coudurier’s delightful dishes arrive at the table. Only the finest ingredients are sourced from around the world to crate refined seasonal menus, including Chef’s signature truffle-infused Wagyu Beef Tenderloin Rossini and Verrigni Spaghetti with Nova Scotia Lobster. Accompanying these great dishes is an extensive selection of wine from both new and old worlds to ensure an enchanting experience for any diner longing for an impressive evening.

Great food, Breathtaking Show l Sala Rim Naam, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok Sala Rim Naam, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok’s signature restaurant, sits on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, just opposite the hotel. Housed in a Lanna style pavilion, the name “Sala Rim Naam” literally means the “Pavilion by the river” and it offers the setting for a cultivated evening of fine dining, dazzling entertainment and charming riverside scenery. Choose to dine al fresco and enjoy lively panoramic scenery of Chao Phraya River, or head to the richly decorated indoor and witness one of the best traditional performances in Bangkok.

Experience a wide range of Thai cuisines, including royal Thai cuisine and unique cuisines from across the country. Although some dishes may be toned down for foreign palates, they are well balanced and retains their distinct flavours we all love.

Enjoy the world’s favourite Tom Yam Goong and Mussamun Nuea, or try something more exotic like Lon Poo Talay (sea crab meat cooked in coconut milk) and Yaam Som-O (Hearbed pomelo salad). Be sure to reserve a table near the stage for a unique classical Thai dance, performed before your table every night.

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Hi-So Experience l Park Society, Sofitel So Bangkok Rooftop dining seems to be the new trendy lifestyle of Bangkoknians, but with a number of restaurants popping up on top of skyscrapers around Bangkok, only a few reach the level of quality and sophistication of Park Society at Sofitel So Bangkok.

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Perched on the 29th floor, Park Society offers fine French gastronomic dining over Bangkok’s skyline and lush green Lumpini Park. Although a full length glass wall allow you to gaze the dazzling views from the elegant interiors of the dining room, you would want to reserve a table on the breezy outdoor terrace if it’s a fine evening.

Park Society takes fine dining experience to elevated levels with its superb cuisine by the culinary team under the direction of award-wining Chef Paul Smart. The menu here depends on the availability of the freshest ingredient. If it’s not fresh or the quality is below par, it won’t be on the menu! And set on the 30th floor just above Park Society is HI-SO, offering exclusive moonlit cabanas with a glittering city view where guests are served either dinner or drinks by personalized butlers – a perfect setting for intimate moments

Chinese Delight l Fei Ya, Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Fei Ya blends the line between old and new with its sleek red dining room where authentic Northern Chinese specialties are served in a trendy downtown Bangkok restaurant setting.

Some might say fine Chinese restaurants are the same, and yes Fei Ya serves Peking Duck and Char Siu Pork (BBQ Pork), but you’ll surely be surprised to experience how unique they are.

Duck plays the center stage here.

They are slow-roasted over lychee wood, which gives a subtle fruity scent to their lean and crispy mahogany skin. Your Peking Duck order is carved and served right by your table alongside classic ingredients like pancakes, cucumber, spring onion, and Fei Ya’s special sauce, as well as non-classics like garlic and prickled lychee which goes surprisingly well with the crispy duck skin. While you

savour the delicious skin, the meat can be prepared in your preferable choice, including fried rice to go with your other dishes, mouthwatering soup, and stir-fried with garlic and pepper. Equally intriguing is Fei Ya’s exceptionally tender Char Siu Pork and a superb selection of live seafood, as well as the Lemon grass jelly dessert, that will satisfy even the most sophisticated diner.

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Redefining Classics l Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, Siam Kempinski Hotel As the sister restaurant of Kiin Kiin, one of the two Michelin starred Thai restaurant in the whole world, Sra Bua delivers extraordinary Thai cuisine that goes beyond your wildest expectation.

Of course the ambience is extremely cozy and warming with focus on hardwood, but the real highlight is the play on molecular gastronomy. Sra Bua takes you on a culinary journey through Thailand with a modern in-

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terpretation of classical dishes. You’ll find classical Thai ingredients paired with western flairs like pan fried foei gras with ginger and plum wine, or scallop with tamarind and lemongrass. However, forget everything you know about Thai dishes because surprises are in store at every corner.

A curry might come with the texture and temperature of an icecream, and your favourite Tom Kha Soup might come frozen, but no matter how they are presented or how unexpected the texture is, they never lose their authentic Thai flavours. For example, despite being served as snowflakes, Tom Kha broth amazingly contains all the right flavours and tanginess at the right proportion. Add in Kempinski service and flair, and you are in for a memorable dining experience.

Laid-back Dining l The Kitchen Table, W Hotel Bangkok Being the signature restaurant of the sexy W Hotel Bangkok, The Kitchen Table is expected to deliver classy contemporary design alongside extraordinary dining experience.

The interior design illustrates the spirit of W brand with a blend of attractive contemporary design and artistic design elements that refers to local Thai cultural heritage. The interior sports an amber color décor inside the laid-back, high-ceiling dining room fitted out with variety of seating options, including the communal “kitchen table” , black leather booths, high bar stools at the open kitchen counter top, and smaller wooden tables for 2 or 4 diners.

In the kitchen, Chef Thaneth Naovarat (Keng) prepares an extensive selection of both International and local Thai dishes with strong focus on honest flavours that combine the best of global cookery with Thai culinary traditions. Wellexecuted dishes feature fresh seasonal produce, with memorable dishes like Pedro Ximenex braised wagyu beef cheek, Grilled Western Australian Lamb Cutlets with sweetbreads ravioli and pea puree, and Lamb shank Massaman. It’s the east meets west and raw plays with cooked experience!

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Artistic Dining

l The Dining Room, The House on Sathorn – W Hotel Bangkok Housed in a historic colonial mansion built during the reign of King Rama V in 1889, The Dining Room features a charming setting that expresses its rich history through architecture, décor, and elements of a royal wardrobe. The original colonial architecture, colour palette, and fresco motifs were accurately restored by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand to revive its glorious past, with a hint of contemporary flair by famous international designers.

The Dining Room’s open kitchen is where the magic begins. Chef Fatih’s creative “New Asian Cuisine” tells an inspiring journey around the world.

Every signature dish has a story behind it and it connects diners with the chef’s travel experience. First, feast your eyes on the elegant presentation of “Hunting the Duck”.

It’s art of a plate! The dish is inspired

by Chef Fatih’s wild duck hunting experience in Northern Europe. Wild duck breast is slowly cooked in duck fat and charcoal grilled to give it the tenderness and aroma. What seems like blood and gunpowder is actually cleverly composited pomegranate sauce, fermented onion, and burnt onion ash. Another surprising fare is “Pier 9” which is inspired by Chef Fatih’s Phuket vacation. Perfectly grilled extra-large prawn is accompanied by well-crafted Mimolette cheese sauce and Kobocha pumpkin purée, but the surprise is hidden in the prawn head.

When the prawn is being prepared, the head is emptied and the meat from the head is mixed with fresh Thai herbs to give an oriental flavour before stuffing it back inside the head.

Last but never least, the Japanese inspired “Early Morning at Tsukiji Market” recalls the experience at Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market where people bid for the best tuna. Simple, yet sophisticated taste of marinated Hon Maguro (Bluefin Tuna) is enhanced with fresh wasabi, avocado paste, grilled seaweed powder, and shiso flower. Enjoy the flavourful visual, scent, and taste experience as Chef Fatih takes you on a journey around the world through his eyes.

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Harmony of tastes l Touka, Bandara Suite Silom, Bangkok Occupying the street-front space of Bandara Suite Silom on the bustling Saladaeng Soi 1, Touka has become a popular spot for an after work relaxation over Japanese Yakiniku delicacies and quality sake. The Izakaya style restaurant is stylishly decked out to evoke a laid back, yet crisp and clean atmosphere of a modern Japanese gastropub where a team of Japanese and Thai chefs skillfully prepares the delicious fare.

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Specializing in Yakiniku and Nabe (grilled meat and hotpot), the restaurant offers a range of authentic Yakitori (griller skewer) menus made from the best ingredients sourced locally, as well as imported from Japan. The menus are crafted to blend perfectly well with beverages and assorted sake for the perfect harmony of tastes. Just loosen up, unwind, and enjoy the food, drinks, and join the conversations in a lively atmosphere of Touka!

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Authentic Italian l Loop Italian Restaurant Terrace and Bar, Bangkok

Set on the 8th floor adjacent to Pathumwan Princess Hotel’s salt water swimming pool, Loop is an ideal location to sip a glass of wine and enjoy delectable Italian menus.

The restaurant features a cozy al fresco setting surrounded by a cool tropical breeze and feels far removed from the constant bustle of the sweltering streets below. Or head indoors for an intimate dining room with mahogany tables and white linen table cloths. Loop is trendy, yet relaxed and comfortable, serving “Authentic Italian Menu” where quality ingredients play the lead role. A la carte menu boasts highlights such as Maine Lobster, Sea bass, and the signature Loop Pizza made with the freshest ingredients and dough.

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l Acqua Phuket Dressed in stylish black & white tone on the hilltop overlooking Kalim Bay, Acqua is one of Phuket’s finest restaurants which are hugely popular with both locals and visitors.

The modern Italian restaurant is the conception of the Sardinian-born, and Thailand’s Iron Chef winner, chef Alessandro Frau’s perfect dining experience. Just like the décor, the inventive menu is sexy and modern in both flavour and presentation. Fresh seasonal ingredients are flown in from the best producers around the world to create an array of chef Frau’s culinary delights. Complementing the dishes is a wide selection of handpicked wines from around the world with knowledgeable staffs that are always happy to advise the best wine to pair with your choice of food.

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Regardless of how you would define a fine dining restaurant, each restaurant we have selected for our list all stands out in every way, from the exquisite taste, creativity, and atmosphere. These top restaurants reflect the obsession in high standard and the dedication to serve only the best possible dish. If you consider yourself a foodie, it’d be disastrous to miss these exceptional restaurants!

Tourism Authority of Thailand Headquarters 1600 New Phetchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Phone: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4544-48 Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419 www.tourismthailand.org Tourism Authority of Thailand (Shanghai Office) 27th Floor, Room 2703, CH Finance Centre Building, 288 Nanjing Road (West), Huang Pu District Shanghai 200003, China Tel: (86 21) 33 66 3409 Fax: (86 21) 33 66 3408 E-mail address: tatshi@tat.or.th

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exploration of asia

Huangguoshu The Great Water of China Photography & Story by Indy Traveler

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China might be known for its panda, Great Wall of China, quality tea leaves, chopsticks, Forbidden City, the Confucius, and its population. But behind the bamboo curtain are some of the most wondrous nature wonders that will amaze every eye. One of the wonders is Huangguoshu Waterfall, the world’s 3rd largest waterfall and Asia’s largest waterfall, which is also our destination.

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Natural of Tianxing Bride, walk pass gorge and take a deep breath with fresh air.

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that Guiyang’s stir-fried bitter melon and pork belly menus are very similar to traditional Okinawa food.

And that raised our curiosity as to who invented it first. One thing in common between Guiyang and Okinawa is the mild to hot weather which is perfect for having this unique food.

A unique ingredient in almost all dishes in Guiyang is “Mala” or Sichuan pepper. The spice adds a strong scent and spiciness to the food, and can sometimes temporarily numb your tongue. The stir-fried pork with dried chili and mala was my favourite, and the more I ate, the more delicious it got!

If you think you don’t need a raincoat when traveling to Huangguoshu Waterfall outside the rainy season, you are wrong!

The spray from the waterfall can get you wet just like heavy rain.

Keep the raincoat on throughout the trip around the waterfall, but don’t panic if you forgot yours, because you can buy one for 10 Yuan (or 5 Yuan if you like to bargain).

Guiyang food, all dishes are strong test. They believe that more spicy more strong.

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uangguoshu Waterfall is located in Guizhou Province in Southwestern China. If you are familiar with Kunming, Guilin, and Nanjing, you’ll easily find Huangguoshu on the map. Traveling there, on the other hand, needs a little detour.

You’ll have to fly to Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou, and catch a bus to Huangguoshu. Surrounded by limestone mountains and lush forest, Guiyang is an important tourist destination in Southern China with the average temperature around 15 oC. The journey to Huangguoshu Waterfall began early in the morning as we board a bus from Guiyang.

Although the town is just 128 km away, day trips aren’t the best plan to explore Huangguoshu. Plan for at least a night at Kaili as there are a number of 3-4 star hotels conveniently located at the entrance of the national park.

Even though it was a Saturday, we were quite surprised to see so many local tourists. The national park is a famous weekend vacation for locals and

you don’t even need your own car to enjoy the park.

After a little wait, we boarded the park’s transfer bus which dropped us at the first attraction, the Thundering Waterfall. Thundering Waterfall is a sister branch of its famous sibling. The little sister is just 1 km north of Huangguoshu Waterfall, and although it’s just 21 meters high, but it’s impressively 105 meters wide! For a second, we were stunned by the formidable roar of the waterfall and the amazement took over as we search for the best spot to take photos.

Half an hour later, we jumped on the transfer bus and headed to “Tianxing Bridge”. The scenic zone is famous for quirky, yet beautiful limestone pillars, caves, and gorges. A stop here is a little adventure. Stepping stones were conveniently placed for tourists to cross a beautiful emerald pond and the trail is full of colourful nature wonders.

Time flies and it was already time for lunch! The park’s restaurant prepared us a sumptuous lunch set with at least 10 dishes per table! Looking at the dishes, we immediately realized that Southern Chinese people love their chili! More than half of the dishes on the table, from stir-fried vegetable, chicken, pork, tofu, etc, had dried chili! We also learnt

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With a full stomach, we finally arrived at Huangguoshu Waterfall’s entrance. The path led us to a cliff where we had 2 options to go forward; an escalator leading to the lower path, or an upper path along the cliff. We chose the upper path because we felt we would get a better vantage point from higher elevation. Our guide excitingly told us that the sound of Huangguoshu Waterfall can be heard 5 km away and as we approach the waterfall, the roar of the waterfall got louder and louder! The path was slippery and wet from the constant spray which caused everyone to quickly tuck their cameras away in their bags. Fortunately, my camera is waterproof! The majestic 77.8 meters high and 101 meters Huangguoshu Waterfall gradually revealed itself when we reached the first scenic point. Located directly opposite the waterfall, this is the best spot to witness the grandeur and beauty of the waterfall, but also the wettest and impossible to take a clean picture! Luckily, a little further along the path is a better spot to put set up a tripod and start a photo spree. It’s a spectacular scene of magnificent cotton-like water curtain flowing down towards the rocks down below and breaks into refreshing mist.

From the scenic point opposite the waterfall, the path looped around and took us behind the water curtain. Huangguoshu Waterfall is one of a few waterfalls that have a path behind them. It was an exciting and amazing moment to be able to walk through a small cave and ended up behind China’s largest waterfall! It was just stunning to experience the endless water curtain splashing down towards the earth, the constant roar that drowned every noise we made, and the non-stop spray that made all of us looked like we had just been swimming in

full cloth. The path continued on along the cliff and back to where we had to make a path choice. The escalator took us back up to the entrance and our journey at Huangguoshu Waterfall is concluded where we began. ​ With wet clothes and satisfied heart, we rode a bus back to our hotel while wondered how wonderful nature is and how powerless we are against the force of nature.

While in Guiyang, don’t get to bed too early! Go out to explore the night scene and try some of the best local charcoal grilled skewers.

A wide range of meat and vegetable, including chicken, pork, beef, and seafood, are available for just 1-5 Yuan per skewer. The best part is the sauce which

has the famous “Mala”!

Traveler’s Guide When to go All year long, but keep in mind that rainy season starts from May to October.

How to go HNA Capital Airlines flies directly from Suvannabhumi Airport, Bangkok, to Guiyang with 2.4 hours flight time. Guiyang is also conveniently accessible by plane from major cities in China, including Guangzhou, Guilin, Kunming, Chengdu, and Beijing.

In addition to airplanes, train is another convenient way to get to Guiyang. Just catch a regular train or a high-speed train on Yunnan-Guizhou Railway line or Zhuzhou-Liupanshui II Track Railway line.

Where to stay We recommend Forest City Wanyi Hotel in Guiyang (book through www.agoda.com). In Kaili, we recommend Jai Jun Hotel (book through www.chinahotelbooking.com) as it’s conveniently located at the entrance of Huangguoshu National Park.

More info Contact Spirit of the World (http://sprtour.com) or Himalayan Center (Tel. 0-2553-0996-7, www.himalaicenter.com)

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Grand china edition

In this issue 106 People in business of China 114 Singapore 118 Hong Kong 112 Macau

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PEOPLE IN BUSINESS OF CHINA

刘晨军 先生

温德姆酒店集团大中华区总裁兼董事总经理

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Mr. Leo Liu

President & Managing Director, Greater China Wyndham Hotel Group

eo Liu joined Wyndham Hotel Group in December 2013 as senior vice president and managing director, China. China market holds the lion share of properties in Asia Pacific Region and is the biggest outside of the North America market. To continue the leading position in China, he held two high-profile events last year, one in Shanghai, one in Beijing, not only to bring them TRYP

by Wyndham brand into China, but also to raise brand awareness for the group. The two events generated the biggest PR buzz in the region’s history and were definitely the talk-of-the-town events within the hotel industry in China.

Wyndham Hotel Group has over 7,670 properties and 667,000 rooms globally. And one of the key to success lies on the diverse portfolio of brands, from economy and midscale to upper-upscale, resort and extended-stay. Also, he focus on proactively growing our brands by ensuring that he place the right hotels in the right markets with the right ownership. Put another way, he try to operate primarily in markets where he know his hotel brands and owners will be successful.

As the world’s leading hospitality company, he is in the people business, so be it a corporate level or property level, he offer a wide variety of training. Especially for staffs who welcome guests every day, he need to ensure they have all the supports they can get, so he provide new owners and general managers with proprietary service culture training as well as sales training.

Company culture is the cornerstone to team management too, at Wyndham Hotel Group; he have a ‘Count on Me’ culture that encourages staffs to be responsive, respectful from corporate to property level. “China continues to be a region that’s vital to Wyndham Hotel Group’s growth, we are about to reach the 1,000th milestone later this year, and we hope to see our 2,000 properties in the next 2-3 years. With a development strategy in mind, we are planning to bring more of our iconic brands into China, for example the 12-time award-winning brand Microtel Inns & Suites by Wyndham” Leo ‘s opinion about the direction of Wyndham in the future in his own view.

He focuses on proactively growing his brands by ensuring that he places the right hotels in the right markets with the right ownership. In another way, he try to operate primarily in markets where he know his hotel brands and owners will be successful.

Editor’s view “ They held two high-profile events last year, one in Shanghai, one in Beijing, not only to bring their TRYP by Wyndham brand into China, but also raise brand awareness for the group.” http://www.whghotels.cn

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PEOPLE IN BUSINESS OF CHINA

钟强 先生

携程旅行网大住宿事业部副总经理兼海外酒店业务部总经理

Mr. John Zhong

Deputy General Manager of Accommodation Business Unit & General Manager of Overseas Hotel Department.

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trip.com is the leader of OTA (Online Travel Agency), which had only 20-odd employees as part of its international hotel contracting team located outside China around the same time last year, has now expanded to seven offices in six countries in Asia – Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

Zhong explained that a key OTA differentiate is Ctrip’s “Chinese Preferred Hotel” program for its patrons. Selected “Chinese Preferred hotel” standards include free WiFi, Chinese style breakfast, Chinese translation service guide and in-room electric kettle, which are the most expected hotel facilities and services of Chinese outbound travelers. In 2015, the Chinese travelers to Thailand shows rapid growth.

According to Ctrip data, sale volume YOY (Year over Year) growth rate exceeds 200%, and Thailand ranks No. 1 hot destination country. Customers also can quickly and easily booked those hotels to ensure their comfortable stay experiences. “I believe it is really a triple win situation. Ctrip, customer and the hotel all benefit from the program.” Said John Zhong.

Mr.John Zhong(L.) with Mr.Matt Qian(R.) Thailand Market Manager-Int. Hotel Dept. Accommodation Business

A key OTA differentiate is Ctrip’s “Chinese Preferred Hotel” program for its patrons. Selected “Chinese Preferred hotel” standards include free WiFi, Chinese style breakfast, Chinese translation service guide and in-room electric kettle, which are the most expected hotel facilities and services of Chinese outbound travelers.

http://www.ctrip.com/

Editor’s view “ Undeniable that Ctrip is one stop service of tourism industry, travellers can plan their trip in China via www.ctrip.com Ctrip make traveling in China to be easier and Thai language also available on website” Mr.John Zhong(L.) with Mr.Jack Xia(R.) Vice President Grand China of Now Travel Asia

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PEOPLE IN BUSINESS OF CHINA

华德明 先生

柏栎酒店集团中国区首席执行官

Mr. Harry Hua,

Chief Executive Officer Paxton Vacances Hotels & Resorts Greater China,

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e is very glad and proud to share his brand. Paxton Vacances Resorts & Hotels in China inherits European service essence, and also integrates the management culture of regional market. His key success of the brand under his management is he strive to achieve the highest standard of excellance and create to his guest an incomparable experience, while ensuring financial return to their owners. He mentions to asia's tourism maket in the future “Tourism is becoming one of largest and fastest growing industries. Over these year, its growth has show a consistent year to year increase.

Asia tourism market is no longer only about sightseeing, there has been a shift from sightseeing to long-lasting tourism products based onlrisure, which requires longer stays and greater spending.”

He strive to achieve the highest standard of excellance and create to his guest an incomparable experience, while ensuring financial return to their owners.

Editor’s view “ Paxton Vacances Hotels & Resorts Greater China inherits European service essence, and also integrates the management culture of regional market.” http://www.paxtonvacances.com/zh-cn/

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PEOPLE IN BUSINESS OF CHINA

王怡人 女士

花间堂酒店及度假村副总裁

Ms. Rose Wang

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Vice President Blossom Hill Hotels and Resorts Group.

lossom hill committed to dissemination of Chinese style happiness philosophy, which is the happiness of home. So the unique point of blossom hill is the service, they provide old friend style service, entertaining, hosting friend who come to visit their “home”. Other unique point of Blossom Hill is every design of the hotel is based on Chinese traditional house, with yard, living room even the resorts they have following standrad also.

In addition, she has opinion about Asia’s tourism market in the future that “ we know China has the most population in the world, as we see now the money consume is number one in the world now and continue increasing. Also the economic crises other world will make the travel market relied on chinese consumption. As the increasing of the income, but also to spend more for travelling this year, the spending concept of young generation is different, they are willing to spend for enjoying of life. It will still be increasing coming year, especially the convenience of getting visa going to stimulate the outbound tourism.”

The unique point of blossom hill is the service, they provide old friend style service, entertaining, hosting friend who come to visit their “home”.

Editor’s view “Blossom Hill Hotels & Resorts got the award of Best Popular Boutique Hotels & Resorts Brand 2014 from Meadin.com and People.cn held at New World Hotel Beijing.” http://www.blossomhillinn.com/

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Singapore Explorer

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Buzzing Restaurants of 2015 French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, you name it and Singapore will serve the best of it! But in addition to the usual favourites, Spanish cuisine is stirring up the fine dining scene with its vibrant style, and of course, flavours! Occupying cutting-edge glass dome of The Fullerton Pavilion in Marina Bay, Catalunya promises lively Spanish vibe in a setting that fused a vibrant bar and lounge with a sophisticated dining space that serves both the tapas menu as well as traditional Spanish dishes. Unlike other fancy fine dining restaurants, a lot of Catalunya’s menus are designed to be shared in a more festive and casual feel. At the bar, award winning mixologist Dario Nocentini shakes up an impressive list of cocktails, some are classics with modern twists and some are entirely a novelty.

Cherry Blossom Macarons Hashida Sushi

You don’t need to leave Marina Bay for the next two restaurants on our list. Located in Marina Bay Sands, CUT by Wolfgang Puck is the third highly acclaimed steakhouse by the master chef and restauranteur after the success in USA. Combining the classic and fine dining, the restaurant is a modern revamp of American Steakhouses. It raises the bar for steakhouses and will rewrite your definition of a great steak. Here you’ll find the finest range of beef, from Australian Angus, Wagyu selections from across the USA, Australia and Japan, and true Japanese A5 Kobe Beef from Hyogo Prefecture, all perfectly grilled over hardwood and charcoal. Beside juicy thick-cut beef, lamb chops, duck breasts, pork chobs, Maine lobsters, Norwegian salmons, and fresh seafood are also on the menu, but it would just be wrong if you go to CUT and not have its world-renowned steak!

You don’t have to be in the F&B industry to know Gordon Ramsay.

And with the recently opened Bread Street Kitchen at Marina Bay Sands, it’s a chance to get to know the celebrity chef better. Set in an industrial warehouse-designed setting that combines vintage and modern decor, the restaurant and bar takes after its successful sister, Bread Street Kitchen London. In the kitchen, well-seasoned Chef Sabrina Stillhart and her team serve simple “British European” menus with global and local touches while ensuring dishes are of the highest quality and of impeccable freshness. Expect British’s favourites like Fish & Chips and Shepherd Pie, as well as local influenced menu like Tamarind spiced chicken wings.

Back in the city, the famous Orchard Road is lined with high-end boutiques, hotels, and restaurants.

Hashida Sushi stands out as the

buzzing sushi restaurant and the successor of Hashida Sushi in Tokyo.

While Master Sushi Chef, Tokio Hashida, leads the famous Tokyo sushi restaurant, his son, apprentice, and an graduate the renowned L’Ecole Tsuji Tokyo, Kenjiro “Hatch” Hashida, helms one of Singapore’s most sought after Edomae Sushi.

Sushi may look simple but there’s much more than meet the eyes.

Hashida Sushi perfectly matches over 30 sauce blends to different ingredients, giving delicate and unique aromas, flavors and aftertastes designed to complement each and every dish served. The sushi rice is specially selected white-hulled rice from Japan which marries harmoniously with the fishes and sauce. Needless to say that the fishes are extremely fresh, expertly prepared, and include delicacies such as fugu shirako.

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Mandarin Oriental Singapore

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ocated in the heart of Marina Bay, Mandarin Oriental Singapore boasts an excellent base to explore the city-state. First off, it’s opposite the Esplanade – Theatres On the Bay, sits right next to Marina Square Shopping Mall, and allows easy access to Singapore’s financial district and SuntecSingapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The harbor-front setting also means the hotel offers breathtaking views of Marina Bay, city skyline, as well as the iconic Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands.

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Head into the lobby and the wow begins. The 18-storey tall lobby is designed by John Portman, an American neofuturistic architect known for his works on multi-storied interior atrium. Interiors are tastefully appointed with polished wood panels and hundreds of Pan-Asian art that reflect Singapore's multicultural heritage. The rooms and suites seamlessly combine subtle Oriental touches with luxurious contemporary comforts where Asian accessories and motifs complement silk accents, warm wooden furniture and floor-toceiling windows with stunning views.

But what makes Mandarin Oriental Singapore stands out is its impeccable service that is always intuitive, thoughtful, and discreet – truly at the pinnacle of professionalism.

MövenpickHeritage Hotel Sentosa

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our ultimate leisure vacation starts the moment you set foot at Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa. The hotel features 2 distinct wings – a modern contemporary wing and the heritage wing – on Sentosa Island, Singapore’s premier resort island. Restored from a former British barrack build in 1940s, the heritage wing still has the original colonial architectural elements kept intact in both the public spaces and its 62 Heritage Suite, some of which overlook the iconic Merlion. On the other hand, the contemporary wing provides the same elegance but with a more modern vibe in its 129 rooms and suites, including Onsen Suites with private outdoor hot tub and retractable canopy, and the duplex Penthouse Suite with private rooftop garden and infinity pool.

Having strategically located in the heart of the island, Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa puts you within a walking distance, or a very short drive, to the island’s main attractions such as Resorts World Casino, Universal Studios, Underwater World, and the long stretch of white sandy beaches! Getting in and out is also a piece of cake as the hotel is just opposite Imbiah station on the Sentosa Express monorail which connects you to Habourfront MRT station and Singapore’s CBD, as well as Changi Airport.

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Hong Kong Explorer

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One-ofa-kind Located on the east side of the famous Tsim Sha Tsui district, Hotel ICON takes a new look at luxury hospitality and build a strong foundation from the group up.

Everything from what meets the eyes to every intangible detail are well thought of to offer personalized services and celebrate Hong Kong’s finest.

he hotel’s iconic architecture is designed by ROCCO Yim, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent design architects and the creative mind behind International Finance Centre, Hong Kong Station and Guangdong Museum, while the interior successfully blended both Asian and Western influences to create a sleek minimalist look that represents the combined efforts of Hong Kong’s most creative talents. Among them are renowned local and international designers, including Sir Terence Conran and William Lim. Instead of typical flower arrangement, the gleaming white marble of the soaring lobby is put against the visually striking vertical garden designed by eminent French botanist, Patrick Blanc. Throughout the hotel are pieces of art enough to fill a gallery.

These arts are curated by Freeman Lau to reflect Hong Kong’s colourful identity.

Differentiating Hotel ICON from a long list of 5 star hotels in Hong Kong, the hotel is wholly owned by Hong Kong Polytechnic University and serves as a teaching and research hotel as well.

As such, it embodies the passion and determination of future generation of Hong Kong’s hospitality industry. This “learning environment” not only made sure the basics are done flawlessly, but also inspires new ideas for the ever-evolving business!

Hotel ICON’s 262 stylish rooms and suites exude class and offer breathtaking views of the city as well as postcard perfect panorama of Victoria Harbour, with its famous nightly light show. The rooms might not be the largest in town, but they are designed to impress. Cozy wood furnishings, spacious bathrooms with deep soaking bathtubs and separate walk-in rain showers are harmonized alongside with revolutionary technology and luxury amenities. If space is your requirement, you can always upgrade to the Club Suite 65 and Club Suite 80, but if exclusivity is on your mind, Designer Suite by Vivienne Tam is the final answer.

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Vivienne Tam, a world renowned fashion designer and a graduate of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, personally curated the exclusive suite to exude her signature brand of “China chic”. Inspired by her New York apartment, the high ceiling suite depicts a similar minimalist, yet stylish aesthetic with curvaceous red “Ploum” sofa by the Bouroullec brothers, a Japanese cherry wood table, a porcelain plaque personally selected from the Tam’s New York apartment, and Tam-designed portrait of Opera Girl made of Swarovski crystals.

Hotel ICON offers 3 restaurants that range from casual to fine dining.

Enjoy a casual meal and selections of feather-light cupcakes at Green on the hotel’s ground floor, or head up to the second floor for international delights at The Market. The buffet style restaurant is inspired by the busy fresh markets in Asia and Europe with lively ambience and wide range of fresh produce. For a more formal fine dining, Above & Beyond on the 28th floor serves exquisitely prepared dim-sum and refined Cantonese cuisine with generous Victoria Harbour views!

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Restaurants & Bars

With sophisticated locals and millions of travelers arriving in Hong Kong every year, the city never lack stylish restaurants that redefined fine dining.

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irst up, we head to the top floor of Landmark luxury shopping complex for SEVVA. The rooftop penthouse location means breathtaking 360 degree views of Hong Kong, including Victoria Harbour and Kowloon skyline.

Intertwining essences of traditional Chinese culture with fine European touch, SEVVA is the interpretation of Bonnie Gokson’s definition of the “DNA” of Hong Kong. The menu is inspired by the cultural diversity of Hong Kong which blends Chinese regional kitchens with influences from the colonial days. The variety of dishes include ‘Double Take’ Wagyu

and fun space where the elevated open kitchen plays center stage.

Michelin-starred Chef Orrico is known for his innovative cross-cultural fusion dishes, so expect a comforting French dishes and tapas with a modern Asian twist such as Brittany oysters with Ponzu marinade, irresistible Mini Veal Burger with mushroom puree, and Teriyaki Scottish salmon with spicy greens. Complementing the dishes are Orrico’s handpicked winelist with a focus on more esoteric and rare labels from the south of France. The bar also serves variety of cocktails and mocktails, including the signature Upper made with passionfruit, mint leaves, grapefruit juice and soda.

Tenderloin, Wagyu Beef Cheek & Ox Tongue Pot Pie, and Lobster & Seafood Crackle Rice, as well as SAVVA’s vegetarian menu. Beside savoury menus, SAVVA also boasts a colourful cake corner, Ms. B’s Sweets, with a selection of exquisite cakes, and the Taste Bar, a room dedicated to its signature cocktails, fine wines and selections of “Small Plates” tapas style dishes.

Just like all world-class dining destinations, French cuisine is always one of the ‘must-go’ restaurants, and Pierre at Mandarin Oriental is at pinnacle of Hong Kong’s fine dining scene. The 2 Michelin starred restaurant is named after one of the most celebrated chefs in the world, Chef Pierre Gagnaire. Pierre provides an intimate setting with well-spaced tables, simple, yet elegant décor, and a front row seat for stunning Victoria Harbour views from 25th floor. With

Chef Jean Denis Le Bras, Gagnaire’s protégé, at the helm, expect modern interpretations of classic French dishes that truly earned the restaurant its reputation and Michelin stars. Chef Le Bras works closely with Chef Gagnaire to innovate seasonal dishes that are exquisitely presented while showcasing the best of French gastronomy.

If you prefer a more casual atmosphere, but the same level of culinary sophistication, Philippe Orrico, another protégé of Chef Pierre Gagnaire, hosts a vibrant restaurant on the trendy streets of Sheung Wan. Upper Modern Bistro exudes fresh, light, and modern ambience with smooth grey and occasional orange tone. The interior, including the overlapping egg-shaped pedals adorning high ceiling, was designed by Tim Shepard of Three Wise Monkeys to reflect a calming

Nearby in the same Sheung Wan district, Aberdeen Street Social offers an equally intriguing spot to socialize and unwind over delicious food and refreshing drinks.

The establishment is the collaboration between Michelin-star Chef Jason Atherton and entrepreneur Yenn Wong, founder of the JIA Group, following the success of Aberdeen Street Social in London, Singapore, and Shanghai. Occupying the prime location at PMQ, the ground floor of the duplex restaurant features a casual bar and bistro with outdoor dining on its front patio which spills out to landscaped gardens while the upper floor houses a contemporary restaurant with a sophisticated, yet welcoming atmosphere, private room, and outdoor terrace overlooking the garden below. The fare represents Chef Atherton’s take on simple modern British. If you are unsure what to get, the bespoke 8-course Tasting menu is a great introduction to Chef Atherton’s unique style and flavour.

With these 4 exceptional restaurants, we barely cover what Hong Kong’s fine dining scene has in its pocket.

And since food is something you have to personally experience, it’s time to clear your schedule and discover the taste of Hong Kong.

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Macau

Luxury of Being Yourself Conrad Macao

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Dominating the top luxury hotel scene in China, Conrad Macao welcomes you into Asia’s most exciting destination. The grand hotel sets itself magnificently in the 39-floor tower overlooking the famous Cotai Strip, Macao’s prominent leisure, shopping and entertainment district.

Surrounded by cultural sites, grand casinos and high-end boutiques, Conrad Macao is within an easy access to everything Macao has to offer, but you might find yourself spending all day exploring the hotel’s award-winning restaurants and signature Bodhi Spa instead.

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onrad Macao boasts 636 spacious deluxe rooms, including 206 luxury suites, each with thoughtful details such as digital entertainment systems, iPad docks, Nespresso machines, and spainfluenced ‘his and hers’ amenities.

To get the most of out of your stay, the hotel’s “Luxury of Being Yourself” package let you enjoy the luxury Deluxe Room with a choice of a

complimentary breakfast for 2 or an upgrade to the sumptuous Deluxe Suite. The package also include extra privileges such as a complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, access to the Pool Deck, Health Club, and a complimentary shuttle service from major arrival hubs, all for just HKD2,498++ per night!

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Conrad Macao

Travel Bear Facebook Campaign Since Conrad Macao Bear was introduced in April 2012, the collection has become collectors’ items.

The signature gold bear with Conrad Macao ribbon is given to all guests staying at the hotel as a token of appreciation and a reminder of their exciting Macao experience.

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To celebrate the summer, Conrad Macao invites you to share your happy holiday moments with the hotel’s cute little ambassador and be in to win a magnificent two-night stay in the Presidential Suite including breakfast valued at MOP62,000. Just take the petit friend on your vacation, take a creative photo shot of it at any world famous landmark, and upload the moment to your Facebook timeline with #TravelBear and tag Conrad Macao Cotai Central Facebook Page. The campaign starts from 25th July – 27th August, 2015, and the photos will be judged for their creativity along with the number of shares and likes it receives on Facebook.

In addition to the signature gold bear, other exclusive Conrad Macao Bear collection is also eligible for the campaign.

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/ConradMacao

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asia’s airline update

Boutique Lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport

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Boutique Lounge at Samui Airport

The uniqueness of each airport complements Bangkok Airways' boutique characteristics. Bangkok Airways' owns and operates three boutique airport Samui, Sukhothai, and Trat. Each airport's unique architecture was designed to blend in with the natural and cultural surroundings of each of Thailand's three provinces.

Samui Airport's open-air, thatched terminal buildings blend seamlessly with the tropical gardens and coconut groves of Koh Samui. Sukhothai Airport, situated among the calm rice paddies, reflects traditional Thai architecture. Finally, Trat Airport highlights the essence of the province's surrounding natural environment.

Boutique Lounge at Chiang Mai Airport

Boutique Lounges All Passengers Welcome!

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Because you are VIP so, Bangkok Airways have BOUTIQUE LOUNGES for you.

All passengers may enjoy courtesy corner where passengers can treat themselves to multitude of free snacks and various choices of hot or cold drink.

Passengers can also enjoy free internet access from one of several computer booths while a kid's corner located within the lounge area will satisfy the needs of young children. Boutique Lounges is a signature of Bangkok Airways, also available at Suvarnabhumi, Samui, Chiang mai, Phuket, Krabi, Sukhothai and Trat.

www.bangkokair.com