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Sabah, Malaysia Auckland, New Zealand Kyushu, Japan
CHENGDU CALLING
Sichuan’s Capital is China at its laidback best Official Magazine for
MATTA Fair 16–18.3.2012
Vol. 4 Issue. 5 SGD6 / RM12 / THB195 / RP75,000
LONDON Prepares For The Olympics Wandering The Streets Of TOKYO
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Two Nights Stay at InterContinental Hotel Singapore!
CONTENTS
ON THE COVER: CHENGDU, CHINA
NEW ZEALAND
NEW ZEALAND
ER CITY REPORT
Set Sail
Adventures abound in New Zealand’s City of Sails, Auckland
A
words JOYCE HUANG
58
images KIERAN SCOTT
fter visiting Auckland, a few things about the city stick to mind. The first thing is the amazing sight of a harbour packed with yachts. Auckland earned its moniker “City of Sails” as its harbours are often dotted with hundreds of yachts. The city has more yachts per capita than any other city in the world: about one in three Auckland households owns a boat. The second most distinct feature about the city is its population diversity. While the majority of Aucklanders claim European descent, a substantial Maori, Pacific Islander and Asian communities exist as well. Ethnic groups from all corners of the world have a presence in Auckland, making it by far the country’s most cosmopolitan city. But what strikes me the most about Auckland is the quality of life. Auckland, though New Zealand’s largest and most populous urban area, is regularly ranked among the best and most livable cities in the world and its people seem to have mastered the art of leading a balanced life. Where else can you find a cosmopolitan and dynamic city within half an hour of scenic, idyllic beaches, sprawling vineyards, majestic volcanoes, lush rainforests and a dozen enchanted holiday islands? Though it might not have the immediate charm of capital city Wellington, Auckland’s beauty grows on you: everywhere you go, you’ll discover something different, exciting and incredibly accessible.
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DESTINATIONS
34 48 58 66
COVER FEATURE: CHENGDU
CHINA
Chengdu Calling
If you are looking for a holiday filled with gastronomy treats, an abundance of nature’s glories and gorgeous ancient sites – then let this capital of Sichuan wow you
CHENGDU CALLING
ASIA: TOKYO
There Will Be Sushi
If you are looking for a holiday filled with gastronomy treats, an abundance of nature’s glories and gorgeous ancient sites – then let this capital of Sichuan wow you
Take a lesson in Japanese culture by walking through the different districts of Tokyo and discovering the many personalities of this mega metropolis
words and photography NATALIE JOY LEE
CITY REPORTER: AUCKLAND
Set Sail
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Adventures abound in New Zealand’s City of Sails, Auckland INTERNATIONAL: LONDON
There’s No Place Like Home From Stratford City to Victoria Park, venerated Wembley Stadium and all the way out to Dorney Lake, London is being reinvigorated and reshaped for a global audience, all with the aim of making the world feel at home
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Krabi, Thailand http://www.tourismthailand.org/sg http://www.facebook.com/tat.sg
CONTENTS 24
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REGULARS
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Calendar Jot these exciting events into your vacation schedule C
22 78 84 91 94
Directions
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CM
MY
WEEKEND
Moon, River And Me
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A unique blend of sincerity, simplicity and spectacular sights. What’s there not to love about Sabah?
CMY
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ON THE ROAD
A Diamond In The Rough A heaving city cradled by the very best of mother nature, Kyushu is a perfect mix of organic, urban and paradise 30
FREQUENT FLYER
Take a Look Around Whether it’s being burgled in Budapest or living like a hobo in Waterloo Station, Daniel Lim reveals how a big tub of Nutella is all you really need LUXE STAYS
104 106
Castle In The Sky The Banyan Tree Ringha, located in the Tibetan highlands, gives farmstay a brilliant luxurious twist
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Eat, drink, shop and sleep at some of our favourite destinations
Subscription Subscribe to escape! and win a fabulous gift JOURNAL
Visit Japan Travel Mart 2011 Japan’s economic revitalisation sees optimistic prospects for inbound tourism
108
PARTING SHOT
Medan, Indonesia
There’s nothing like travelling through a postcard.
trip, Whether setting off on a once in a lifetime camping window watching the ever-changing landscape roll by from thely beautiful of an outback train, or navigating a car up a stunningfor a lifetime. coastline –your Aussie journeys will be remembered discover, And with such a large variety of environments to re never going cities to get lost in and friendly locals to meet, you’It’s no wonder to find yourself short of amazing stories to share. ographs. people leave Australia with so much more than phottralia. And no wonder people say, there’s nothing like Aus 310 Best Of Australia Journeys packages start from A$ Visit ww w.australia.com for details.
EDITOR’S NOTE
photography DARREN WONG
1/2012 JAPAN
Tourism Trends International tourism is expected to reach the one billion mark in 2012, according to a report by the World Tourism Organization, following a year in which the figure hit an all time high of 980 million. One of the highest growths was experienced by the UK, and with the Olympics heading to London in the middle of the year, this trend is set to continue. In this issue, we find out London has been prepping itself for the Olympics (p66). With the limelight about to fall on the historic
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city, London is out to show that its glory is not restricted to its past. China too posted excellent results on the back of aggressive selfmarketing. We visit Chengdu (p34), the capital of Sichuan, to see what the fuss is about. For Singaporeans and Malaysians, Japan remains a top destination. We travel to two very different parts of Japan, walking through the streets of Tokyo (p48) and driving through unspoilt Kyushu (p84), immersing in Japanese culture along the way.
DEREK RODRIGUEZ Editor derek@regentmedia.sg
PUBLISHER
Cecilia Woo
EDITORIAL
Editor Derek Rodriguez Senior Writer Joyce Huang Writer Darren Wong, Natalie Lee Junior Writer Louis Law Contributors Sheena Chen, Shawn Parker, Maria Visconti
ART WEB SALES
Art Director Cally Han Graphic Designer Joanna Cheng Web Content Designer Victor Toh Singapore Senior Business Managers Marie Yeo, Joanna Teh Business Manager Alice Ng Malaysia Sales & Marketing Director Jessly Pak Senior Business Manager Wendy Fong
MARKETING DISTRIBUTION FINANCE PRODUCTION CUSTOMER SERVICE
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRIBUTORS
FOR ENQUIRIES
Senior Marketing Manager Tasmin Chua Marketing Executive Lim Kai Yan Circulation Executive Emrys Phua Finance Manager Julie Khong Production Executive Jovin Low Singapore Customer Service Executive Beth Kwok Malaysia Customer Service Executive NorShima Hong Kong/Macau Mariam Wong mariam.wang@publicitas.com Japan Tsuyuki tsuyuki@mcijapan.com Thailand Hemant N Sonney hemant@sonneymedia.com Singapore Singapore Press Holdings Limited Malaysia MPH Distributors Sdn Bhd Hong Kong Times Publishing (HK) Ltd Indonesia PT Java Books Indonesia Thailand Asia Books Co., Ltd Philippines Asia/Pacific Circulation Exponents, Inc. Editorial escape@regentmedia.sg Distribution & Subscription subscription@regentmedia.sg Marketing marketing@regentmedia.sg Advertising Sales sales@regentmedia.sg Hotline 65/6543-3681(Singapore)/ 603/7954-8989(Malaysia) REGENT MEDIA PTE LTD 20 Bedok South, Singapore 469277 Tel: 65/6543-3681 Fax: 65/6543-3719 E-mail: escape@regentmedia.sg www.escape.sg REGENT MEDIA SDN BHD B-3-21, Section 8, Business Center Jalan Sungai Jernih 1, 8 Avenue 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: 603/7954-8989 Fax: 603/7954-8979
escape! MICA (P) 017/02/2011, ISSN 0219-8967, PPS1694/07/2012(022779), is published bi-monthly by Regent Media Pte Ltd. No part of this publication is to be reproduced, stored, transmitted, digitally or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher. The information contained herein is accurate at time of printing. Changes may have occurred since this magazine went to print. Regent Media Pte Ltd and its editors will not be held liable for any damages, loss, injury or inconvenience, arising in connection with the contents of the magazine. Regent Media Pte Ltd will not accept responsibility for unsolicited contributions. Printer: KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd (197801823M)
escape! is distributed in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines.
Member of Magazine Publishers Association, Singapore
Member of International Federation of the Periodical Press, UK
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND US BOOKSTORES Singapore
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CONTRIBUTORS MARIA VISCONTI has lived and worked in seven different countries spanning four different continents. She has visited 70 other countries from where she draws inspiration for her writing. Armed with her notebook and camera, she feels at home wherever her suitcase lands. Based in Sydney and mesmerised by Asia, she is a regular contributor to travel pages the world over.
Originally from Toronto, Canada, SHAWN PARKER currently splits time between San Francisco and Seoul, which he called home for more than two years. Shawn is a screenwriter (film credits include Wireless and I Hate Dating), author (Night Has Fallen was released in 2008) and travels extensively on assignment as a photojournalist. He was nominated for a 2011 PATA Award in Destination Journalism.
After cutting her journalistic teeth at a food magazine for the past two years, SHEENA CHEN is now hungry to amuse people through her travel tales. From surfing in Sydney, wreck-diving off Krabi, cooking for strangers in Shanghai and speeding through London in a convertible; to shooting Magnum 350s in Gold Coast, trotting down the Irish countryside on horseback, coasting through Prague on a Segway and getting chased in NYC – these are just some adventures waiting to be told. When she’s not caught up in wanderlust, Sheena enjoys a good game of scrabble, watching soppy movies and honing a new trick. She is currently learning to juggle.
CURRENCY CONVERTER US (USD)
SINGAPORE (SGD)
MALAYSIA (RM)
EUROPE (EURO)
USD1
–
1.30
3.10
0.75
1,154
SGD1
0.76
–
2.45
0.57
RM1
0.31
0.40
–
PHILIPPINES (PHP)
CAMBODIA (KHR)
43.78
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SOUTH KOREA HONG KONG (HKD) (WON)
AUSTRALIA (AUD)
THAILAND (THB)
7.79
1.01
31.33
898.23
5.97
0.78
24.00
0.23
361.12
2.43
0.32
9.79
CHINA (CNY)
INDIA (INR)
INDONESIA (IDR)
MYANMAR (MMK)
JAPAN (YEN)
VIETNAM (VND)
4,032
6.38
51.97
9,154
6.41
77.69
21,005.00
USD1
33.54
3,089.79
4.89
39.82
7,023.29
4.91
59.55
16,099.82
SGD1
13.69
1,260.57
1.99
16.26
2,865.04
2.00
24.30
6,573.05
RM1
THIS MONTH, ESCAPE! GOES TO: TOKYO, Japan Have your every greed satisfied and desire fulfilled in decadent Tokyo KYUSHU, Japan Wander majestic castles and breathtaking suspension bridges in Japan’s third largest Island
LONDON, England This is one Olympic city determined to prove its weight in solid gold CHENGDU, China Sichuan’s resilient capital is a gastronomic wonder guaranteed to delight every palate
SABAH, Malaysia Innocence, simplicity and its remarkably beautiful people makes Borneo truly amazing AUCKLAND, New Zealand Let the ‘City of Sails’ show you a side of New Zealand you never knew existed
Where are you going with SilkAir this month?
Chengdu Chongqing Kunming Xiamen
Kathmandu
Shenzhen
Chiang Mai Yangon
Hyderabad Bangalore Coimbatore Kochi Thiruvananthapuram
- Hyderabad Flight details: Daily flights departing Singapore Pls refer to the following link for reference: http://www.silkair.com/mbe/en_UK/content/ destinations/in_hyderabad_orientate.jsp
Da Nang Siem Reap
Chennai
Cebu
Phnom Penh
Phuket Penang Medan
Langkawi Kuala Lumpur Singapore
Davao Kota Kinabalu Kuching
Pekanbaru
Manado
Balikpapan
Palembang Solo
- Kochi Flight details: Daily flights departing Singapore
Surabaya Lombok
- Thiruvananthapuram Flight details:Thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays departing Singapore - Coimbatore Flight details: Thrice weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Singapore
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DIRECTIONS
ÊUÊ ,ÊUÊ* 9ÊUÊ /ÊUÊ- "*ÊUÊ-/ 9ÊUÊ 7-Ê
1 ]Ê Ten kilometres away from the Gateway of India, a distinguished monument of Mumbai, is Elephanta Island – an island thickly wooded with palm, mango and tamarind trees – discovered by the Portuguese in the 17th century. The explorers were bewildered by a monolithic basalt sculpture of an elephant planted near the embarkation point, thus naming the island Elephanta. Hidden within the wood is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Elephanta Caves is a network of rock-cut cave-temples, boasting some of the most impressive stone-carved sculptures in India, many representing the major Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Here, find quiet respite and experience peace and serenity so rarely found in the city. words DARREN WONG
image CORBIS
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CALENDAR
3
rd to 4th
CHINGAY SINGAPORE: The annual parade will display a dazzling collection of floats accompanied by multi-cultural local and international performances. For the first time in the history of Chingay, floats will be paraded along a 360-metre waterway, creating wave after wave of stunning visuals and auditory treat. Expect bright dragon and phoenix floats, LED hip-hop dragon dance, Chinese classical dance, samba dance and exhilarating bicycle stunts. www.chingay.org.sg
FEBRUARY 3
3
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CHIANG MAI FLOWER FESTIVAL CHIANG MAI: Be dazzled by
WINTERLUDE OTTAWA AND GATINEAU:
RIO CARNIVAL RIO DE JANEIRO: One of
LOSAR TIBET: Losar is a celebration of
Expect great winter activities this month as the two cities celebrate with ice skating, ice sculpture competitions, Winterman Marathon, Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival and many more. Also, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out winter wines and beers tastings, especially in this cold weather.
the most colourful parades in the world, the Rio Carnival is a wild four-day celebration where people dance, sing and party all day and night. Join in the samba parade or sit back and watch street band performances, popular dances or the gay costume ball in Rio Scala on the last day.
www.canadascapital.gc.ca
www.rio-carnival.net
Tibetan new year, which lasts up to 15 days. The festival is a good mix of sacred and secular practices that consists of prayers, ceremonies, hanging prayer flags, folk dancing and partying. Monastries are elaborately decorated and you might even get a chance to see Dalai Lama make offerings to the high dharma protectors.
rd to 5th
colourful displays of flowers, as yellow and white chrysanthemums, the Dasak Rose and many more flowers can be found throughout the city. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out the flower festival parade that lines up along Charoen Muang Road, together with tribal folks in their colourful costumes.
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rd to 20th
th to 21st
nd
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HOLI FESTIVAL MUMBAI: During this celebration
MOSIAC MUSIC FESTIVAL SINGAPORE: Held at the
BALI SPIRIT FESTIVAL BALI: A festival of yoga, dance,
of spring, expect splashes of coloured water and powder by revellers on the street, accompanied by jubilant dances and music. In the evening, bonfires are lit and people gather around for rounds of dancing. A quieter side of this festival sees celebrants offering sweets and gifts to each other.
Esplanade, Mosiac Music Festival brings audiences to the far corners of the music world, through performances by celebrated artists such as Stacey Kent from the US, Vicente Amigo from Spain and John Butler Trio from Australia.
music, meditation and healing is perfect for yoga enthusiasts. Located at the Purnati Centre for the Arts in Batuan, this festival will bring together celebrated musicians, yogis and dancers from all over for spiritual and physical nourishments.
CAPE TOWN INTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;L JAZZ FESTIVAL CAPE TOWN: Head down to Cape Town for two days of music fiesta with top international jazz performers and its finest local talents. Multi grammy award-winner vocalist James Ingram and internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Dave Koz will also grace the stage.
www.mosaicmusicfestival.com
www.balispiritfestival.com
www.capetownjazzfest.com
th
th to 18th
th to 1st April
th to 31st
MARCH 1
st to 14th
temple confess their sins and pray for world peace and rich harvest in a ritual called Shuni-e. During Otaimatsu, Japanese priests would run to and fro along corridors of Nigatsu-do waving huge pine torches, as a protection from evil. The highlight of the event is performed on the morning of the 13th, where healing water is drawn in front of the temple and offered to Buddhist deities.
WORDS BY DARREN WONG
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images 123RF; BALI SPIRIT FESTIVAL; JNTO; PASSION CHINGAY CLUB; THE ESPLANADE PTE LTD; WIKI
OMIZUTORI NARA: See priests at Todai-ji
DIRECTIONS PLAY
LUXURY ON THE STRAITS words DEREK RODRIGUEZ
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YTL Hotelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Straits to Luxury Experience is the latest five day, four night programme in this prestigious collection, available to March only. Set sail onboard a Princess yacht and embark on a voyage of boutique-luxury from the private island of Pangkor Laut, on the Straits of Malacca to the diverse attractions of Phuket, set along the clear waters of the Andaman
Sea. Luxuriate in overnight excursions, exotic cuisine and award-winning resorts nestled amidst locations of outstanding natural beauty. The luxurious 85 foot Princess yacht accommodates up to six people with two double ensuite rooms and two twin ensuite rooms, making it ideally suited for couples and small groups. A professional
crew and a personal chef are appointed to cater to the whim of every guest throughout the journey. Guests can book this luxuriously exclusive one-way cruise for US$45,000. If they wish to extend the experience, they can also arrange a return journey on YTL Hotelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Princess yacht back to Pangkor Laut. www.ytlhotels.com
MARATHON IN THE GOLDEN CITY The Jet Airways 2012 Fun Run Series kicks off in the spectacular desert town of Jaisalmer in the State of Rajasthan in India at the end of March. This series is part of Jet Airways’ initiative to showcase the fascinating sights and sounds of India by staging it in various exotic locations around India. Besides the Fun Run, the 8D/7N itinerary also includes sight-seeing tours and a camel ride in the Thar Desert within full
view of the Fort. Measuring 15km long, the route allows runners to stop at/pass by key scenic spots. On the designated race day on 1 April, participants will run from the Poonam Stadium to the Amar Sagar Village poised on the edge of the beautiful Amar Sagar Lake adjacent to the 17th century Amar Singh Palace, before coursing along the Camel Trail and ending back at the Poonam Stadium. runevents.jetairways.com
WOMADELAIDE RETURNS WOMADelaide (World of Music, Arts & Dance) began in 1992 and has gone on to become one of Australia’s favourite festivals. Held in Adelaide’s Botanic Park from 9-12 March, the 2012 event will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the event. The program features performances and workshops on seven stages
by the world’s best musicians, dancers and DJ’s, alongside street theatre artists and visual artists, the popular Taste the World cooking program, Artists in Conversations sessions and an All-Star Gala finale, plus around 100 food, crafts and display stalls and a KidZone. www.womadelaide.com.au
CULTURAL TOUR
TRAVEL BY MOUSE
Culture @ Village is an exclusive package that allows guests to experience trishaw rides at Albert Court Village Hotel. Guests who book this package are entitled to a complimentary trishaw tour around the vibrant enclaves of Rochor, Little India, Bugis and Dhoby Ghaut district in Singapore. Ride along distinctive local iconic landmarks such as the Mustafa Centre, Sungai Road Thieves’ Market, Sri Veeramakailamman Temple and hidden gems along Arab Street that presents you a unique side of Singapore!
3RD Planet takes users further than ever before allowing them to virtually step into their desired location, delivering an unprecedented virtual travel experience to a global audience from the comfort of their home. With interactive 3D CGI scenes incorporating genuine sounds to replicate the environment, 3RD Planet serves as an experiential educational tool for all ages, as well as a consolidated source of information for those planning trips. Users will be able to navigate streets, explore buildings and gather information about some of the world’s most iconic locations.
For more information and online reservations, visit www.stayvillage. com and www.fareasthospitality.com
www.3rdplanet.com
TAIWAN PACKAGES UNVEILED Encouraging Singaporeans that there is no better time to visit Taiwan, TransAsia Airways which just recently launched its Singapore - Taipei route has announced two great value packages designed to show travellers the best of what the country has to offer. Priced at NT$19,800 (US$660) per person, the six-day Taiwan Recreation Tour invites travellers to explore up to six cities including Taipei, Tainan, Hualien, Nantou, Taitung and
Chiayi and immerse themselves in local scenery, culture and farm life. The package is specially designed for family holidays as many fun activities are prepared to keep the little ones occupied. The second package extends to an eight-day/six-city tour and is priced at NT$24,800 (US$828) per person with the same benefits and inclusions. To book the travel package, contact Goldsun International Travel & Tours at Tel: +886 2 2181 0688 or email James@legendtravel.com.tw
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DIRECTIONS SHOP
FOR THE VICTORS words DARREN WONG
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Bringing New York chic to the tropics is the new Spectra Collection from Victorinox, a series of lightweight, durable and functional luggage. This collection boasts superior maneuverability and unparalleled stability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an eight-wheel construction, together with a dual-trolley handle
system. Adjustable to three different positions, the handle accommodates various heights, and a comfort grip ensures even weight distribution and dampens vibration. Spectra Collection comes with the Swiss Tracker Bag Tracking Program that is essential for tracking lost baggage. The
Access Lock Combination Recovery Program allows users to register their lock combination on victorinox.com and recover it if it is ever forgotten. Available at The Planet Traveller stores, Takashimaya, Robinsons Centrepoint, Tangs Orchard, Isetan Scotts and BHG Bugis.
OUTBACK GLAMOUR Timberland introduces a new retail concept to its recent relaunch of the flagship store in Vivocity, Singapore. Known as ‘box within a box’, it brings the essence of the great outdoors into the confined space of the outlet by transporting wilderness into the store – freestanding timber structure, walls lined with illuminated landscape backgrounds that change according to seasons. The new spring/summer collection offers great jackets and shoes designed for a stylish retreat. Mixing rugged heritage silhouettes with trendy sporty designs, this collection features eco-friendly apparels with style and durability. Check out the wharf coat and the Front Country shoes, which is as timeless as it is fashionable. Available at Centrepoint, Vivocity, Raffles City and Marina Bay Sands.
BUSINESS CHIC
OPTICAL REFINEMENT
SNAP IT GOOD
SUNSHINE ARMOUR
Plantronics M155 is a small, sleek, and light bluetooth headset that comes with voice-guided pairing with iPhone and Android smart phones, as well as voice recognition that enables answering and ignoring calls completely hands-free.
From fashion to technology, Optics Munich brings together the most technically advanced Carl Zeiss optical testing equipment as well as stocking up trendy eyewear such as Bottega Veneta, Dior and Chopard.
Available at Apple Stores, Challenger, Harvey Norman and other authorised retailers.
Optics Munich is located at Scotts Square, Singapore.
The Ricoh GR Digital IV introduces a hybrid AF system with improved speed and accuracy, and its refinements to the optical filter ensures higher image quality. It also comes with a high-brightness three inch LCD monitor that automatically adjusts the luminance to match that of the subject.
Sunplay Super Block SPF130 provides a more powerful and long lasting protection against UVA and UVB. Its formula contains highly active anti-aging ingredients such as Antileukine 6 which contains golden algae and marine extracts. Available at all leading pharmacies.
Available at all authorised retailers.
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DIRECTIONS STAY
words DARREN WONG
INTERCONTINENTAL SAMUI BAAN TALING NGAM RESORT, KOH SAMUI, THAILAND The highly anticipated InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort opens its doors to the public in February. Situated on the former site of Baan Taling Ngam Resort, this stunning 22-acre property boasts
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79 luxurious guest residences, seven stunning swimming pools, a private beach, unique two-bedroom villas and an expansive spa. Visit Air Bar, an ultra lounge bar offering 360-degree views
of the Gulf of Thailand and a unique menu of cocktails from Joseph Boroski of Sip Slowly New York. 295 MOO 3, Taling Ngam Beach, Suratthani, Koh Samui, Thailand, Tel: +66 07 742 9100 www. ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental
DIRECTIONS STAY
ANGSANA BALACLAVA, MAURITIUS Nestled on the white sandy beach and calm lagoon of Turtle Bay, this resort is just 15 minutes away from the capital of Port Louis in the northwest area of the island. Its 51 suites and one villa emulate a Mauritius village with its thatched roofs and the use of local artistry that include wrought iron entrance gates. The 18 garden suites, 21 spa suites and 10 exclusive beachfront suites offer privacy, ultimate comfort and unrivalled views. Indulge in Asian and Ayurvedic spa treatments at Angsana Spa, which houses nine treatment rooms, a yoga pavilion and a restorative vitality pool. Baie aux Tortues, Balaclava, Mauritius. Tel: +23 0 204 1888 www.angsana.com/en/balaclava Equatorial Ad.pdf
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DIRECTIONS STAY SEMARA LUXURY VILLA RESORT ULUWATU, BALI, INDONESIA Perched atop Bukit Peninsula limestone cliffs and overlooking the Indian Ocean, this A-Lister luxurious retreat in Bali offers an exclusive haven of privacy – seven individually designed villas with 30 metres of cliff frontage and a private infinity pool. This property also boasts a helipad, private beach, two tennis courts, putting green, gym and spa. Private tuition can be arranged with a golf pro or a tennis coach for those who wish
to sharpen their skills. Now to 31 March, the resort is offering low rates for five-bedroom villas and guest suites, which also includes complimentary transfers, personal butler, personal chef, daily breakfast and other luxury extras. Jalan Pantai Selatan Gau, Banjar Wijaya Kusuma, Ungasan 80362, Bali, Indonesia. Tel: 62 361 8482111 www.semarauluwatu.com
CROWNE PLAZA SEMARANG, INDONESIA Strategically located in Semarang’s central business district, the first Crowne Plaza hotel in Central Java has easy access to government and regional corporate offices, major banks and popular shopping malls, and is just a 15-minute drive from Ahmad Yani Airport. All 270 rooms and suites are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, from docking stations
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL TOKYO, JAPAN Set in the vast garden of Chinzan-so in Mejiro, Tokyo, Four Seasons Hotel aims to rebrand its concept from “branded” to “authentic, and from “standardised” to “unique”. Escape into the lush green and immerse in an authentic Japanese accommodation, while enjoying spectacular views of Tokyo skyline or Chinzan-so gardens. Four Seasons Hotel pampers its guests with world-class spa facilities, a breathtaking pool, and stunning Japanese gardens that ensure a zen-like experience. The hotel also sports traditional Japanese hot spring baths, whose mineral water is shipped in on a regular basis. 10-8, Sekiguchi 2-chome, Bunkyo-ku, 112-8667 Tokyo. Tel: 81 3 3943 2222 www.preview.fourseasons.com/ tokyo
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to wired and wireless internet access. The hotel also features the largest pillar-less ballroom, complete with a wedding chapel and gallery. Other facilities include a business centre, a fully-equipped health club, an outdoor pool and a suana. Jl Pemuda 118, Semarang, Indonesia. Tel: 62 024 8657 9111 www.ichotelsgroup.com
DIRECTIONS STAY MASION SOUVANNAPHOUM, LAOS The recently refurbishment of Masion Souvannaphoum, a property of Banyan Tree Group, reveals a fresh outlook of its rooms, gardens, spa and public areas. This resort boasts an exquisite mix of contemporary and Laotian-style rooms, a lounge by the poolside that caters French, Laotian and Indo-Chinese cuisines, and the signature Angsana Spa with massage treatments such as Ibuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret and Thai Herbal Glower. Set in the charming town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO world heritage site, it is
accessible to various attractions like Pak Ou Cave, Kuang Si Waterfall, and a vibrant night market. As a spiritual centre for Buddhists, Luang Prabang is home to a monastic community where about 1,000 monks reside. See temples adorned with gold-covered walls and doors, and watch the saffron-robed monks chant ancient sutras at dawn. Rue Chao Fa Ngum, Banthatluang, PO Box 741, Luang Prabang, Laos Tel: 856 71 254 609 www.angsana.com/en/maison_ souvannaphoum
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DIRECTIONS EAT
THE PRINCIPAL, HONG KONG words JOYCE HUANG
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Located in the heart of Star Street Precinct, a quirky enclave of culture, creativity and the arts in Hong Kong, The Principal is the latest creation of the famous Press Room Group. Head Chef
Jonay Armas hails from the Canary Islands and influences from both Spanish and African cuisine can be detected in his dishes such as foie terrine with figs, ginger crumble, Pedro Ximenez and kumquat,
as well as lamb shoulder slow cooked, braised and seared with a touch of argan oil â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a highly prized oil from Morocco. 9 Star Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Tel: 852 2563 3444
A TASTE OF HOI AN AT THE GARDEN From 8 to 12 February, The Garden restaurant at The Sentosa Resort & Spa plays host to Vietnamese chef, Ms Trinh Diem Vy. A third generation chef in her family, Ms Vy grew up in and around her parents’ and grandparents’ restaurant and noodle shop. Today she owns three restaurants, a bakery and patisserie and a popular cooking school in her native city Hoi An – all internationallyrenowned food establishments – and has also published her own cookbook Taste Vietnam, The Morning Glory Cookbook. In April this year, Ms Vy will be opening a new cooking school in Hoi An, which will be a full-fledged culinary institution.
SHOP & DINE LONDON + TOURIST TASTECARD Shop & Dine London, a cooperative tourism programme that provides privileges and special offers at select shopping centres, retailers and restaurants located in and around London, has introduced a new package that includes the Tourist
As an ardent proponent of authentic flavours and whose cooking showcases a delicate balance of textures and tastes that are fresh and attractive, Ms Vy seems a natural choice as a guest of The Garden, where its “conscious dining” concept encourages diners to maintain a healthy relationship with food. For five days, guests at The Garden will not only be able to sample Ms Vy’s signature dishes, but also pick up the art of Vietnamese cooking through hands-on cooking classes. For information on events and cooking classes, visit www. thegarden.sg 2 Bukit Manis Road, Sentosa, Singapore. Tel: 65 6275 0331; www.thesentosa.com
Tastecard. This personalised card is valid for a two-week time period at over 5,000 restaurants in the UK – including Marco Pierre White’s MARCO, Butler’s and Grieg’s Grill – to receive either 50 percent off a bill or two meals for the price of one. For more information and to purchase the package, visit www. shopanddinelondon.com
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DIRECTIONS NEWS
PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE EXPANSION words JOYCE HUANG
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Plaza Premium Lounge, a ‘pay-in lounge’ open to all airport users regardless of airline or class of travel found in 17 international airports, recently strengthened their presence in Malaysia with
the newly opened lounge in Langkawi International Airport. This all-in-one lounge offers a wide range of food in buffet style, beverages, free Wi-Fi, international TV channels, periodicals and
shower facilities. New lounges at Kota Kinabalu and Kuching International Airports will be opening soon, further expanding Plaza Premium Lounge’s Malaysia network. www.plaza-network.com
ASIANA AIRLINES AWARDED Member of the Star Alliance and one of the two major South Korean airlines, Asiana Airlines’ consistent and quality services have won them recognition yet again within the airline and hospitality industry. Asiana was awarded 2011 Airline of the Year by business travel
magazine Global Traveler. This makes Asiana the world’s first airline to win the Airline of the Year title from three major awards for three consecutive years – the 2009 Air Transport World, 2010 Skytrax and 2011 Global Traveler. www.flyasiana.com
FINNAIR’S DESIGN HERITAGE As Helsinki gears up for its tenure a World Design Capital in 2012, Finnair, understanding that they’ll be the first experience of Finnish design for visitors on their initial flights into Helsinki, has refreshed its cabin
personnel’s uniforms to express a uniquely fresh and Nordic identity. The new uniforms are designed by renowned clothing, jewellery and home designer Ritva-Liisa Pohjalainen. www.finnair.com
NEW SERVICES FOR SILKAIR SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, will be launching two new services in the months to come. Beginning on 26 March, SilkAir’s four-times-weekly service to Darwin will mark the
carrier’s first destination in Australia. Meanwhile, flights into Wuhan, SilkAir’s seventh destination in China, will begin on 24 April and will be operated thrice weekly. www.silkair.com
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CHINA
CHENGDU CALLING
If you are looking for a holiday filled with gastronomy treats, an abundance of nature’s glories and gorgeous ancient sites – then let this capital of Sichuan wow you words and photography NATALIE JOY LEE
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Minjiang waters thundering through the Baopingkou Water Inlet and towards the Chengdu Plains
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was curious. It was a balmy Tuesday afternoon and we were touring the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, one of Chengdu’s – and possibly China’s – greatest feat of human engineering and scientific advancement in ancient times. Walking to the restaurant for a late lunch, we passed by a group of Sichuanese chatting and enjoying a game of mahjong at the pavilions, and thought nothing unusual of it – till I finally emerged two hours later, and noted with slight alarm that the same crowd was still there, chatting merrily and puffing away on their rolled-up cigarette sticks. As my guide later explained, Chengdu is well-known for its laidback lifestyle. Still, what about work, and even more, the supposed aftermath of the 8.0 magnitude quake that shook Chengdu in May 2008?
RIVER OF LIFE
Striking Sichuan province in southwest China, the earthquake ravaged its capital Chengdu, killing at least 10,000 people in the country’s worst natural disaster in three decades. Four years on, the city and its people seem to have recovered well – a sentiment echoed by the swell of tourists around me, all scrambling to have a good view of this UNESCO certified cultural site since 2000 – the famed Dujiangyan Irrigation System. History records that back in 256BC, the Chengdu Plain could not be used for agricultural development, due to the Yulei Mountain, which blocked water supply from the nearby Minijiang River. Li Bing – governor of the Shu Prefecture (present Sichuan province) during the Qin Dynasty
– thus gave orders to construct an irrigation system on said river. The key was not to build a dam; it was to alter the course of the river without attempting to stop it. This decision proved to be strenuous: cutting across mountainous platforms and digging river canals to reduce flooding – all these done entirely before the invention of explosives and metal tools. So how did they do it? With slight awe, I listened of how project workers would burn wood to heat the rock and its surrounding earth, before adding cold water to allow rapid cooling – thus weakening and causing cracks in the rocks after repeated attempts. Consisting of three main parts, the central Yuzui Water-Dividing Dyke located mid-stream works like this: during low-water or drought seasons, 60 percent of the Minijiang waters are automatically led into the inner river for irrigation, while 40 percent is pushed towards the outer river. The reverse is true during flooding seasons – ensuring a constant water supply whilst getting permanent protection from flooding. Li Bing and men also thought of the silt that naturally occurs in river waters, building the Feishayan Spillway for discharging sand; and the Baopingkou Water Inlet, a bottleneck channel cut through Yulei Mountain for controlling the volume of inflowing waters. Without the use of a dam, Li Bing’s sophisticated water diversion hub had managed – and still does now – to automatically irrigate, control flooding, while facilitating shipping routes as well. Walking past other attractions like the Dragon Subduing Temple, Erwang Temple,
Lidui Park and Lingyan Temple, we made our way to the final pit stop, the Anlan Bridge. A note of caution: this is definitely not a walk for the faint hearted! Swinging precariously from left to right, I held onto the 2,000-year-old bridge’s steel and reinforced concrete body for my dear life, inching forward to the centre for what my guide promised – a panoramic view of Dujiangyan area’s entire layout. Watching the waters gush forward with life and vitality, I thought of Li Bing who had begun constructing the system with the precise purpose of benefitting its people, a welcome oasis of supply and also protector from floods. Little did he know that 2,000 years later, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System would once again demonstrate its worth and awe the world – by emerging from the 2008 earthquake unscathed save for some cracks, remaining fully functional even as its surrounding complexes collapsed. Hobbling off, I couldn’t help but feel that Dujiangyan had truly gone beyond its call of duty – the sole standing structure after the quake, and more importantly, a symbol of hope despite what had fallen. OPPOSITE PAGE 1. Crossing the 261metre long Anlan Bridge 2. Take a picture with street performers who’ll obligingly pose for a nominal fee of CNY10 3. The Yuzui Water-Diving Dyke that has prevented floods and irrigated the Chengdu Plains for thousands of years
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FACE OF PEACE
“Tilt your face more to the left, angle your ear next to his ear, no, somebody’s head is blocking – ah perfect!” Getting my picture taken next to Buddha was not as easy as I thought. Especially if it’s the Giant Buddha of Leshan (!"# $), located east of Leshan City and about a two-hour ride from Chengdu. Affectionately called Dafo in Chinese, it’s exactly what its name claims – the statue is the largest Buddha in the world at a staggering 71 metres, with shoulders measuring 28 metres wide, each eyebrow stretching 5.5 metres across, and his smallest toenail capable of accommodating a full-grown adult seated down. Said to be the brainchild of a Chinese monk named Haitong who lived in the 8th century; he had hoped that the presence of the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels traversing the area. The project was colossal – Dafo would take 90 years to complete, workers carving the entire statue 38 escape!
out of the Xiluo Peak of Mount Lingyun. Eventually, Haitong’s plan worked, though not entirely for its supernatural reasoning, but also due to the enormous amount of rubble deposited in the river from the carvings, thus altering currents and calming the waters. Despite hidden drainage passages in his hair, collar, chest and back of his ears to prevent erosion, plus regular maintenance works over its 1,200 year history, Dafo still looked pretty mossy to me. Nonetheless, devout Buddhist followers and photography fans visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site faithfully, many offering silent prayers as they bow before the seated Maitreya Buddha. Photo opportunities are aplenty; either at a terrace next to his ear, or down a winding stairway to the mountain bottom where his feet are. Don’t be surprised if you see people taking eons just to get their photo angle right – whether it’s smoothing Dafo’s hair or touching his ears – for these are supposed ways for longevity and good luck.
OPPOSITE PAGE The Giant Buddha of Leshan 1. Gentle reminder: visitors with heart problems, high-blood pressure and cerebral thrombosis are advised against the steep climb down 2. This way down a spiraling stairway to Dafo’s feet
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Don’t be surprised if you see people taking eons just to get their photo angle right – whether it’s smoothing Dafo’s hair or touching his ears – for these are supposed ways for longevity and good luck.
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CHINA TEMPLES ON A MOUNT
Directly opposite the Giant Buddha is the beautiful Mount Emei (%&"), where even its name speaks of its extraordinary beauty. Meaning ‘delicate eyebrow’, Mount Emei derives its name from its two peaks – Wanfo (Ten Thousand Buddha) Summit and Golden Summit, which put together resembles the delicate eyebrows of a Chinese beauty. A UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Leshan scenic area, Mount Emei carries with it an utmost religious significance, since this is where China’s first Buddhist temple was built atop the Golden Summit, the religion brought forth via the Silk Road from India in the 1st century AD. Over 2,000 years have passed, during which numerous more temples, cultural relics, religious paintings and tablet inscriptions have accumulated, and Mount Emei subsequently earning its name as one of China’s four holy Buddhist mountains. Leaving Emei Shan town, our bus plied the seven kilometre journey towards the base of Mount Emei where Baoguo Temple ( '()) gracefully sits, billowing wisps of incense steadily rising through the cool early November air. Built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the site was previously named Huizong Hall, which symbolises the combination of three religions: Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Later, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) ordered for a name change to Baoguo Temple, which literally translated means ‘dedication to one’s country’, since the Buddhist doctrine believes this to be the foremost calling of a believer. Pushing through the throng of chattering tourists, I learnt that Baoguo Temple is a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhist followers, and the ‘must-go’ temple to visit should tourists not wish to take the five kilometres hike to the top of Mount Emei (about 10 hours on foot). As the largest temple on Mount Emei, the complex is divided into four ascending temple halls each separated by a flight of steps. I made my way up to the first hall, and watched as devotees quietly kneeled before the serene-looking Buddha statues, hands clasped together, sending private prayers up toward the heavens. Most will make their way steadily up towards the topmost hall, but Baoguo’s main hall is at the second tier, where the huge Buddha Sakyamuni sits impressively on his lotus throne, flanked by Buddha’s eighteen disciples in the two side rooms. As we prepared to leave, something else caught my eye: The Wishing Wall.
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Completely crammed from one end to the other with wooden plaques hanging on red strings, I smile as I read the various wishes: “Prosperity to those who love me and the ones I love”, “I wish for good health for my mother [and] financial improvement for my sister Amanda”. I turned to leave, silently praying for these wishes to come true. Spirits recharged, we head up towards Wannian Temple (*+)) located at the mountain’s midsection. “Thank God for the invention of cable cars” was all I thought, as we piled into the carriages which would take us on a seven-minute panoramic ride through the mountainous region, and to the solitary stairway that would lead to the temple grounds. Only that it wasn’t just any stairway – it was a 223-step stairway. Calculating my risks for a muscle sprain, I took a deep breath, and started climbing. Reaching the top turned out to be less exhausting than I thought, though it should be warned that since there are no railings, visitors should climb with care, especially on foggy or rainy days. Groups of wild monkeys have also made Mount Emei home, and since the
primates can get aggressive, these areas are marked clearly with warning signs, with canes sold along the way to fend off any attacking monkeys. We head directly to the temple’s main attraction – a 7.85 metre statue of Bodhissattva Puxian (also known as Samantabhadra) riding on a six-tusked white elephant weighing a staggering 62 tonnes. Housed in the temple’s Dome Hall, the bronze statue was built in honour of Mount Emei’s patron saint, silently glistening in its golden glory, and truly a sight to behold. 1. Take the cablecars, or go through this entrance for a scenic walk up to Wannian Temple. 2. Make a wish at Baoguo Temple’s Wishing Wall. 3. The 223-step stairway towards Wannian Temple. 4. Bodhissattva Puxian sitting reverently in the Dome Hall.
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CHINA WHAT’S SPICY IS HOT
Considering the fact that I had done more climbing on this trip than I had in years combined, I was glad to finally sit down for lunch – especially since meals are a grand affair here, typically going over 10 dishes. This custom is upped several notches for guests; one time, I actually lost count of the number of plates served onto my increasingly uncluttered table – the final number came up to a whopping 22 dishes! You can’t say you’ve been to Chengdu, if you haven’t had a shot at Sichuan cuisine, or specifically, a dish that has Sichuan peppers in it. An important flavouring in local fare and for getting rid of fishy smells, these peppercorns give Sichuan food its distinctive spicy flavour, a real kick if you are a fan of hot stuff. Popular dishes include the famous Sichuan mala hotpot and mapo tofu (silky tofu fried with pork in thick hot sauce). If hot is not your thing, do be wary of the tiny balls of peppercorns! It’s fine if you swallow them whole, but if you do bite into them accidentally, then you can expect a tongue-numbing sensation for the next five minutes! As the birthplace of one of China’s four major cooking styles, Chengdu is also bursting with food options galore, earning its reputation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy – Asia’s first and only city to be awarded with this honour. More than just spices, Sichuan cuisine is also sour, sweet and salty; using a good mix of soy sauce, vinegar, fermented soy beans and hot pickled mustard greens. Across all my meals, poultry and beef made regular appearances more than seafood, including signature dishes such as ginko in stewed chicken (,-./), twice-cooked pork (0 12), and kung pao chicken (34/5). Any visitor to China should also be warned that your host might serve up other ‘delicacies’ as well – such as rabbit, venison and pig’s ears. To really know what’s yummy when overseas, I swear by street eats. Heading to the Jinli Ancient Street in the evening, beautiful red lanterns on the eaves of ancient buildings greeted me as I walked past old-world stores selling calligraphies and embroidery. But it was the craftsmen who truly wowed me: one had the amazing skill of using a caramel sauce-like liquid to spin beautiful motifs that would harden upon exposure to air, creating edible ‘lollipops’ in a matter of seconds. The other vendor displayed his intricately-carved puppets made from buffalo skin, even gamely switching on his lamp to do a little shadow play performance right on the spot!
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Finally, I turned the corner, and gasped – an entire alleyway dedicated to Sichuan food and snacks laid before me, every makeshift table set up outside filled. Thankfully, numerous cafes and bars have also set up shop here, including a very oriental-looking Starbucks at the street entrance.
PRETTY PICTURE PERFECT
Moving away from crowded touristthronging spots, the photography buff in me was just about ready for someplace where I could capture quiet moments of locals in their daily living environments – and our next stop provided just that. Located in Hongya County, LiuJiang Old Town(6789) looks somewhat like a beautiful oil painting: just think traditional Chinese garden-styled residences, gently flowing brooks, quaint teahouses and gorgeous mountain scenery stretching for miles and miles. Before China’s Liberation in 1949, the town was dominated mainly by
a few wealthy households, of which Zeng Jia Yuan (Zeng’s Family Garden /:;<) is the best-preserved, and the only one open to visitors now. Dating back to 1927, the site took ten years to build, and understandably so. The Zengs allocated specific pavilions for tea and chess sessions, a courtyard for hosting seasonal performances, and another one for their sleeping quarters. But to get an idea of exactly how big this place is, simply double everything above – because even the maidservants enjoyed the same, albeit smaller living areas! Fast forward to the present, LiuJiang Old Town now has a population of about 4,000, with a soothingly relaxed pace of life, and where commercialisation has thankfully not completely seeped in yet. It’s common to see friendly locals standing by their doors smiling invitingly as we walked past with cameras in tow, laughing kids and adults challenging obstacles at the town’s water play area, wizened old men bent over their game of chess at a teahouse, or housewives washing clothes along the river’s ‘domino-looking’ bridge – made simply by lining paving stones across one end to the other. It was peacefully quiet except for the odd wandering chicken pecking the ground for food. I watched as an elderly man carrying a baby that looked to be his grandson gingerly made his way across the bridge. Not far off, the shouts of a photographer rang in the still crisp air, as a couple happily followed his directions and posed obligingly in their wedding finest. Yes, like Dujiangyan that stands like a solid rock of hope, like the couple eagerly anticipating their bright future ahead, and like the grandfather cradling the newborn – so is Chengdu, back on its feet and beckoning for the world to come. 1. Completed work of art: the writer’s edible lollipop 2. Chengdu’s Jinli Ancient Street comes alive after dusk 3. Crossing the domino-like bridge at LiuJiang Old Town 4. Tuck into delicious local fare or take a tea break at one of the pretty teahouses 5. Vendors serve up spicy tofu and more local snacks at Jinli Ancient Street 6. Light and tasty, ginko in stewed chicken is one of Chengdu’s must-try dishes
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FACT BOX - Chengdu
CHINA
Never sip Baijiu or Chinese hard liquor. Instead, down in a gulp, keep mouth closed and avoid mixing with other spirits or soft drinks. GETTING THERE Singapore Airlines, China Eastern, SilkAir, Hong Kong Airlines and Cathay Pacific all fly direct from Singapore to Chengdu’s Shuangliu International Airport. AirAsia X flies direct from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu.
GETTING AROUND
journey to most sightseeing spots, be it inside the city or rural areas. There are also special sight-seeing buses No. 901 and No. 902 that will take visitors on specific itineraries of various tourist attractions. If you are travelling in groups, minibuses are also available for hire.
Chengdu’s public buses
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TEMPLE ETIQUETTE UBowing Put your palms together and bow about 45 degrees. For a deeper impression, kneel and either make three small bows, or with palms facing upwards, bow all the way with forehead touching the ground thrice. UIncense Typically three sticks of incense. Hold the end portion of incense sticks between palms, and place against your forehead. UOfferings Fresh fruits and flowers are laid upon altars in appreciation for Buddha’s teachings and protection, these offerings most prevalent during Chinese New Year’s Eve.
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Mild and humid all year round, Chengdu generally experiences warm winters and cool summers due to its site elevation of about 1,600 feet on the western portion of the Sichuan Basin. January is the coolest month averaging 5 ºC, while July is the hottest season, where temperatures can hit 30 ºC. words and phrases.
CURRENCY
VISA
1 CNY = S$0.21/RM0.49
Whether on leisure or business trips, Singapore citizens do not need a visa to enter China if they do not stay longer than 15 days.
TIME ZONE GMT +8hrs
CALLING CODE To call into Chengdu, dial +86 28 before the number.
LANGUAGE
GUANDU FAMOUS TOWN !"#$%& Just an hour’s flight away is picturesque Kunming, capital city of Yunnan province. Drop by this century-year-old town, resplendent with ancient temples, traditional teahouses, towering pagodas and young Shaolin disciples diligently practising their kungfu against the backdrop of the Guandu Shaolin Temple. Unlike other tourist-thronged towns, this is the perfect spot to spend a lazy afternoon, relishing gorgeous architecture, the Dian culture of ancient Yunnan, and delicious local snacks.
Sichuanese is a dialect of Mandarin, and the main language spoken in Chengdu. English is not widely used, but some locals and majority of staff at hotels, restaurants and tourism spots are able to understand and converse with common English
Special Feature
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Special Feature
MAGICAL QINGHAI
The province of sublime landscapes and captivating history is set to impress
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amed after Qinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake, Qinghai is a land of amazing sceneries, cultures, and wildlife. At 3,000 metres above sea level, Qinghai consists of large grasslands, as well as formidable mountains that might take more than mere courage to conquer. Bordering Gansu, Xinjiang, Sichuan and Tibet, Qinghai is a potpourri of different cultures with a healthy mix of Chinese and Tibetan influences. Linked by a railway between Qinghai and Mongolia since 2006, and an airport opened in Yushu County in 2009, Qinghai is relatively accessible and travelling around should not be too much of a hassle. Travellers to this part of China praise its clear blue sky, low white clouds, crisp fresh air and picturesque grasslands.
QINGHAIHU NATIONAL PARK Located at the northeast part of the province, this national park boasts the largest inland saltwater lake in China. Some have described the lake as pure as a child’s heart, and as beautiful as an elegant lady. The lake offers year-round pleasure for viewing, from a coat of green spread over its surrounding grasslands and mountains, to snow-blanketed mountains and shimmering frozen lake, which might intrigue fishing enthusiasts
to come for winter fishing. Next to the 5,694 square kilometre lake is Bird Island, home to more than 100,000 migratory birds, from bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, swans, to wild ducks, and is a paradise for birds’ watchers. Be enchanted by the sweet singing of birds within the dense forest, and enjoy the mild climate and peace of the area.
AMNE MACHIN Amne Machin is an eastern extension of the Kunlun Mountains. Its ridge has caused one of the great bends of the Yellow River, where it flows along the south-western side of the Amne Machin Range, then turns 180 degrees at the borders of Gansu and Sichuan. Its height of 6,282 metres is ideal for climbing from June to August, and trekkers get to enjoy visual pleasures of high grassland, glacial lakes, dense forest and mountain valleys along the way. Although the area is covered in snow in winter, the scenery changes when summer arrives – green mountains dotted
with flowers, sheep, yaks and Tibetan nomads.
KUMBUM MONASTERY A Buddhist monastery set in a narrow valley near to the village of Lusar, Kumbum Monastery is a repository of Tibetan culture and art. It houses numerous sculptures, statues and religious artefacts, and is home to about 300 monks. It is a good retreat from the bustling city of Xining, as the route to Kumbum Monastery is surrounded by stunning hills.
JYEKUNDO HORSE FESTIVAL Held every 25 July, this festival brims with horse racing, shows of horsemanship, a plant-burning rite to worship the god, traditional dances, singing and other activities. Besides the grand celebration of such traditional cultures, visitors can also take the chance to explore the surroundings, such as the market, monastery, as well as the source of the Yellow River and traditional artists villages.
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JAPAN
Take a lesson in Japanese culture by walking through the different districts of Tokyo and discovering the many personalities of this mega metropolis words & photography DEREK RODRIGUEZ
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there will be SUSHI
JAPAN
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t’s not easy to stand out in Tokyo. Put on a blue wig, dress like a pirate and you’d still have to be content with a walk-on part in the Cosplay capital of the world. In a country where standing out is almost taboo, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The Japanese famously place the community ahead of everything else and even the local surroundings fall in line with this ethos. ‘Understated’ is the word I would have used to describe the Mori Garden in Roppongi Hills where I wander to while waiting for an early morning meeting. Hide, my guide and translator, explains that the garden is a reflection of Japanese culture. Trees, rocks, and ponds make up the landscape. No flowers. Everything in harmony. Which is exactly how I felt when my aimless roaming led me to a Starbucks seven minutes later.
instantly recognisable though it’s my first time here. As the light changes in favour of pedestrians, all cars stop at the five-sided intersection and people run, walk, and cycle in any and every direction. One of the most prominent landmarks in Shibuya is one of the smallest: a statue of a dog named Hachiko, located just in front of the entrance to the station. Immortalised in bronze, Hachiko was born in 1923. Owned by a university professor, the dog waited at the station every day without fail for his master to return from work, even after the professor passed away. The statue was erected in 1935 and is now a popular meeting spot and a great place to people-watch.
TOKYO OVERVIEW
The first stop in my shopping slash sightseeing tour, Roppongi Hills is a massive all-in-one complex with apartments, shops, restaurants, parks and cinemas within close proximity. Credited to Japanese building tycoon Minoru Mori, Roppongi Hills was opened in 2003 and designed with the idea of extending leisure time by decreasing commuting time. The centerpiece of the complex is Mori Tower, the fifth tallest building in Tokyo. The 52nd floor is where the observation deck (admission fee: adults/children ¥1500/500) is and where I head to straight after my meeting. When you don’t have much time in a city, you want to see as much of it as possible and Mori’s 230 metre high Tokyo City View lets you do exactly this, throwing in a sight of Mount Fuji on a clear day. Armed with a bird’s eye view of Tokyo, Hide starts gesturing to the world below and transforms into a rapid fact dispenser. Tokyo is a huge metropolis made up of 23 wards, I learn. Formerly named Edo, its history as the capital of Japan dates back 400 years and now has a population of more than eight million people, which swells a few million more during working hours. Most of these people commute via an extensive and notoriously punctual subway system, and so do Hide and I, as we stop by Shibuya next.
SHOPPING IN SHIBUYA
A major shopping and entertainment district as well as the youth mecca of the city, Shibuya is postcard Tokyo. The giant screens and ‘scramble’ intersection are 50 escape!
more affordable brands such as Zara and Gap. Hide calls it a “museum of buildings” and rightly so; many of the stores are designed by internationally renowned architects. “Interesting,” I say on reflex, distracted by the large inviting signboard of a nearby sushi restaurant. “Hungry?” “Maybe.” Hide smiles and flags a cab.
SUSHI & ME
Tokyo is blessed with restaurants serving cuisine from anywhere in the world but food in Tokyo is best represented by sushi and tempura. Sushi gets mine and the winning vote on this day and we soon walk into a quaint little sushi bar near Shinjuku and take a seat at the counter directly in front of the smiling chef. Professional sushi chefs are well-respected in Japan and go through long and grueling training before they are recognised. That didn’t dampen the spirit of our chef though as he enthusiastically fielded my questions candidly. “Is is true that you can determine the quality of a restaurant just by tasting the Tamago?” I ask through Hide. The chef nods and tells Hide it’s true, preparing Tamago is one of the first things they have to master, and whips us a portion each. I take a bite. Then a bigger one. It’s a good restaurant, I conclude, without having tried anything else.
RED LIGHTS & SKYSCRAPERS
DRESSED TO IMPRESS
A fifteen minute walk away from Shibuya, Harajuku is another large shopping area. Hide leads me down Takeshita Street, the main shopping artery of the district. The (approximately) 400 metre long pedestrian street is lined with fashion boutiques and cafes catering to the young crowd. “It’s not so crowded today,” says Hide as I jostle my way through human traffic. “It will take you 30 minutes to walk through this street on a weekend.” He’s not joking. Harajuku is the home of the distinctive ‘Harajuku style’ of fashion. Throngs of youngsters dressed in Gothic Lolita, Visual Kei, and Cosplay outfits flock to this trendy neighbourhood on Sundays to simply be seen. Just south of Harajuku is Omotesando, a tree lined avenue with high end boutiques like Louis Vuitton and Burberry as well as
We continue our walking tour with Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s most densely populated wards. In fact, the Shinjuku station is considered the world’s busiest. As Tokyo’s commercial and business centre, Shinjuku naturally has the most skyscrapers. The tallest of which is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, also the tallest building in Tokyo. However, the one that catches my breath is the aptly named Bird Nest Building. “Very famous landmark, you won’t get lost if you can see it,” Hide says when I tell him I like it. We couldn’t see it as Hide led me into Golden Gai Street, but he definitely wasn’t lost. Formerly a red-light district, Golden Gai houses 200 hole-in-the-wall bars and clubs in a few little alleys. You can literally walk out of one and right into another. Hide tells me that he used to frequent Golden Gai as a university student as his eyes light up with either nostalgia or thoughts of beer. It’s also a favourite hangout of “professionals who want to blow off steam and complain about their bosses,” according to him.
JAPAN
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Opposite Takeshita Street, on a not-so-crowded afternoon This page 1. The big bronze spider of Roppongi Hills 2. Towels with traditional Japanese patterns sell in a shop in Roppongi Hills 3. Hachiko sits in wait in Shibuya 4. The distinctive Bird Nest Building in Shinjuku 5. Shibuyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s instantly recognisable facade 6. Sushi is one of Tokyoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature foods 7. Cycling is a popular method of travel in the city 4
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1. Crackers shaped like ninja stars start our meal at Ninja Akasaka 2. A ninja waiter takes our order 3. Odaiba is a entertainment district for the family 4. Otaku chat with maids at the maid cafe 5. Tomo shows us to our table 6. Stores selling manga in Akihabara are hugely popular 7. A Gundam figure greets guests at the Gundam cafe 8. Akihabara is famous for its electronic and IT stores
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JAPAN ADVENTURES IN AKASAKA synonymous with electronics and IT gadgets
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Dressing up and indulging in fantasy are not just wasted on the young in Japan. Beneath my hotel in Akasaka is Ninja Akasaka, a restaurant constructed to look like a ninja hideout. We spent 10 minutes circling the block looking for the entrance and agreed that the difficulty to locate the place was appropriately ninja-like. Inside, the ninja waiter led us through a dark mazy corridor with trap doors and other obstacles and finally into the main dining area. Ninja Akasaka is not just a restaurant but one of the attractions in Akasaka. They serve good food, but that is secondary. The presentation is what you pay for at this themed eating place. Every dish is served with some kind of visual appetiser. My ‘Roast quail served in a magical instant’ changed from a little egg to a whole cooked quail right before my eyes. Across the road from Ninja and right beside the Akasaka station is a network of intimate single-lane streets lined with convenience stores, game shops and restaurants and where I end up straying to sans guide. Hide mentioned earlier that the Japanese were very fascinated by western culture and that’s very apparent in Akasaka. French, Italian, Russian and other foreign restaurants compete with traditional Japanese eateries for the attention of the dinner crowd; Al fresco dining and coffee joints offer a tangible hint of Europe.
OVER THE RAINBOW
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Tokyo’s skyline is an ever changing one, with shiny new buildings constantly erected. Land reclamation has been ongoing for a few centuries and the Odaiba area is one of the most well-known reclaimed spots in Tokyo. Connected to the mainland by the spectacular Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba is essentially an entertainment district. It is where about three years ago, a towering Gundam model was built. The ‘life-sized’ RX-78-2 stood 18 metres tall and generated huge publicity amongst fans of the long-standing Japanese anime series. Our destination the day after is the Venus Fort, a huge Venice-themed shopping mall ideal if you are looking at a venue to shop for local labels under one roof. The car nut in me couldn’t help but enter the History Garage, a small but impressive car museum, on the second floor.
DON’T TELL MY WIFE
A characteristic trait of Japanese culture is its acceptance towards extreme habits and peculiarities. Akihabara is a name
as well as the otaku sub-culture that used to be frowned upon but now embraced. Otaku describes a person who is consumed by his interest in anime, manga or video games, often to the detriment of his social life. In recent years, the negative connotation that followed the word has dissolved and even former Prime Minister Taro Aso has proudly proclaimed himself to be an otaku. A popular hang-out for otakus, especially those who are alone, is maid cafes. Hide pulls me into one, saying me he can’t tell his wife he’s stepped into a maid café. Our maid Tomo takes our order in English, starting every sentence with ‘master’. I avoid her eyes in my obvious discomfort and take in the rest of the room. Every other table sits a single person, some chatting happily with his or her maid, some playing games with theirs. I ask Tomo how old she is. “Forever 17, master!”
ALL ABOUT APPEARANCE
One thing about Tokyo is its multi-faceted persona. A train ride might bring you little more than a couple of kilometres from where you were but a world away in terms of personality. My last stop on this whirlwind tour is Ginza, a swanky downtown district with upscale fashion shops and restaurants. Huge departmental stores dominate Ginza’s main intersection. Hide walks into one and I follow him down the escalator to the basement where little food stalls pepper the floor, much like a mall in Orchard Road. Directing me to a melon stall he points out the enormous price difference between some of them. “They’re the same. The only difference is the expensive ones are perfectly round. Many Japanese believe that if something is perfect on the outside, it must be perfect on the inside too,” he says before I ask. “But I don’t.” We walk into Kyukyodo, a multi-storey stationary shop and queue up for the lift between the lines that no one steps out of. This famed shop sells genuine Japanese calligraphy tools and paper along with more mainstream products and makes for an ideal place to pick up souvenirs and gifts. Back on the street, I spot an Apple store and Abercrombie and Fitch. “Looks like Fifth Avenue,” I quip. “Fifth Avenue is New York’s Ginza,” Hide gamely replies. I can’t argue with that. Despite its rather modest and unpretentious nature, it’s hard to think of Tokyo as anything other than the capital city of the world.
Special thanks to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for making this trip possible
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FACT BOX - Tokyo
JAPAN
Say ‘Oishii’ with typical Japanese gusto if your food tastes good.
GETTING THERE From Changi Airport, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Japan Airlines fly direct to Haneda Airport while British Airways, United Airlines, Delta, and All Nippon Airways fly direct to Narita Airport. From Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and All Nippon Airways fly direct to Narita Airport.
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TOKYO RECORDS UÊ/ iÊÜ À `½ÃÊ >À}iÃÌÊ toast took place in Tokyo on June 26, 2010, when 27,126 people raised their glasses and shouted, ‘kanpai’. UÊ" Ê >ÞÊx]ÊÓ䣣]Ê>Ê world record was set on TV when 21 girls of the Caless Dance School crammed into a Mini Cooper. UÊ/ iÊ >À}iÃÌÊ,ÕL ½ÃÊ Cube mosaic was created by Machidashiritsu Yamazaki Elementary School on 15 July 2010. The mosaic depicted an image of outerspace and a spaceship.
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Highest Lowest
CURRENCY 100 yen = S$1.67/RM4.06
TIME ZONE GMT +9hrs
CALLING CODE The international code to dial to Japan is 81 and the area code for Tokyo is 3.
LANGUAGE
TOKYO SKYTREE Scheduled to be opened in mid-2012, the Tokyo Skytree is a transmission tower in the Narihirabashi/Oshiage area of Sumida Ward and will stand 634 metres when it is completed, making it the tallest free-standing tower in the world. A joint project by six broadcasting stations, the tower features two observatory decks – the first at 350 metres and the second at 450 metres. The lower observatory will also contain a restaurant, café and shop. The Tokyo Skytree will be the centrepoint of the Tokyo Skytree Town, which comprises of two subway stations, an aquarium, a theatre, and other commercial facilities. www.tokyo-skytree.jp/english
Japanese is the main
GETTING AROUND Tokyo’s subway is one of the most extensive in the world. Inexpensive and punctual, maps are available in English and lines are colour coded to make sure tourists find their way around easily.
CLIMATE Tokyo has a fairly temperate climate with very distinct seasons. Summers can be hot and humid. The rainy seasons lasts about one month and precedes summer starting around mid-July. Winter temperatures are around 5 to 10 degrees centigrade with the possibility of snowfall.
language spoken in Tokyo. Most locals are able to understand basic English words but are unable to converse in the language.
VISA Singaporeans and Malaysians do not require a visa for a stay in Japan for up to 90 days.
Special Feature
GIFU & TOYAMA:
TREASURES OF NATURE
Central Japan showcases the best of Japanese food, culture, and landscape whichever the season
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ade up of “the mountains of Hida and the waters of Mino”, Gifu Prefecture is endowed with an uncommon and soothing beauty. Nurtured in clear streams and mountains, Gifu has managed to retain a traditional charm despite the rapid urbanisation of Japan. Its draw as a tourist destination is etched in the calmness and serenity of its surroundings and its accessibility – Gifu is just 60 minutes from Central Japan International Airport – is just icing on the cake. Just north of Gifu, Toyama Prefecture boasts a fresh taste of the sea and mountains. It is located in the centre of the Japanese archipelago, and has an altitude ranging from 3,000m above sea level (Tateyama) to 1,000m under water (Toyama Bay).
TATEYAMA/KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE Taking the Tateyama/Kurobe route to visit Toyama from Gifu is gaining in popularity. Open seasonally from April through late November, this route features 15m high walls of snow. This course is designed for touring part of the Northern Alps (another name for the Hida Mountains running north to south in central Japan), which extends across Toyama and Nagano Prefectures, a distance of over 90km. This route allows you to cross part of the Alps by using an environmentally-friendly hybrid bus, ropeway and cable car. At the same time, you can enjoy a magnificent view of Lake Kurobe, the beautiful sight of alpine plants blooming with lovely flowers and “rai-cho” (rock ptarmigan) flying overhead, as well as the world above the clouds.
SHIRAKAWA-GO Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture is the village famous for A-frame (Gassho-style) houses and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Its postcard-perfect landscape changes colours with the season. Here, you can stay in a Gassho-style inn and enjoy the hot springs. In terms of the food, Hida beef is famous as a local delicacy. You can also soak in the Japanese culture by
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participating in activities like making straw sandals (wara-zouri), dyeing vegetation, preparing soba noodle, and mochi pounding.
Ukai has about 1,300 years of history and the set of 122 pieces of Ukai equipment is designated as an important tangible folk cultural asset of Japan.
UKAI
TULIP FAIR
The subject of famous Haikus and other poems, Ukai (cormorant fishing) takes place every night from May 11 to October 15. Using fire, nets, and trained birds, local fishermen fish for ayu (sweetfish) on the Nagara River amidst the dramatic backdrop of Mount Kinka and Gifu Castle.
From the end of April to the beginning of May, Tonami Tulip Park is covered with blossoming tulips of all colours. More than a million tulips of around 450 varieties are the attraction at the Tonami Tulip Fair. Tourists from all over Japan come to the fair to participate in the festival of spring that represents Hokuriku.
Special Feature
Please refer to the following websites for more information. GIFU Gifu tour Guide kankou-gifu.jp/kr/en/index.html Ukai gifucvb.or.jp/en/01_sightseeing/01_01. html Shirakawago shirakawa-go.org/english/index.html TOYAMA Official Tourism Information in Toyama info-toyama.com/english/index.html Photos of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route info-toyama.com/english/tlibrary/ tateyama.html Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route alpen-route.com/english
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NEW ZEALAND
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NEW ZEALAND
ER CITY REPORT
Set Sail
Adventures abound in New Zealand’s City of Sails, Auckland
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words JOYCE HUANG
images KIERAN SCOTT
fter visiting Auckland, a few things about the city stick to mind. The first thing is the amazing sight of a harbour packed with yachts. Auckland earned its moniker “City of Sails” as its harbours are often dotted with hundreds of yachts. The city has more yachts per capita than any other city in the world: about one in three Auckland households owns a boat. The second most distinct feature about the city is its population diversity. While the majority of Aucklanders claim European descent, a substantial Maori, Pacific Islander and Asian communities exist as well. Ethnic groups from all corners of the world have a presence in Auckland, making it, by far, the country’s most cosmopolitan city. But what strikes me the most about Auckland is the quality of life. Auckland, though New Zealand’s largest and most populous urban area, is regularly ranked among the best and most livable cities in the world and its people seem to have mastered the art of leading a balanced life. Where else can you find a cosmopolitan and dynamic city within half an hour of scenic, idyllic beaches, sprawling vineyards, majestic volcanoes, lush rainforests and a dozen enchanted holiday islands? Though it might not have the immediate charm of capital city Wellington, Auckland’s beauty grows on you: everywhere you go, you’ll discover something different, exciting and incredibly accessible.
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NEW ZEALAND
breadcrumbed skewers), a wide list of imported Japanese beer and sake, and a dollop of conviviality. 319 Queen Street. Tel: +64 9 379 5151; www.sakebars.co.nz
DIZENGOFF The Ponsonby suburb is Auckland’s busiest and coolest restaurantcafe-bar strip and Auckland natives travel far and wide for breakfast here at Dizengoff. This Jewish cafe is always filled with super-stylish professionals alongside creative types and Ponsonby denizens. The coffee is fantastic and many customers fall in love after their first bites of the mouth-watering scrambled eggs and the rich and creamy mushroom on toast. 256 Ponsonby Road. Tel: +64 9 360 0108
EAT
Eating out in Auckland can prove to be a tricky task – choices are aplenty. Because of its diverse ethnic population, Auckland tops the country when it comes to dining options and quality. Choosing from Japanese sake bars and Thai restaurants to Italian delis and French bistros, humble Jewish cafes to top-notch establishments serving up contemporary New Zealand cuisine; your only complaint would be that there are not enough meals in a day.
THE FOOD STORE Sitting on a prime location on Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, The Food Store is New Zealand’s first unique live food entertainment experience. Food TV chefs whip up dishes in an open and interactive kitchen, while being filmed on camera. Large screen TVs throughout the restaurant lets you scrutinise as the chefs create culinary magic with organic produce sourced from local farmers. Market Square, Viaduct Harbour. Tel: +64 09 377 0125; www.thefoodstore.tv
TANUKI’S CAVE Located in the heart of Queen Street, Tanuki’s Cave is a popular sake bar that serves up an extensive selection of yakitori (charcoal-grilled meat skewers) and kushiage (deep-fried, 60 escape!
1. Enjoying a cuppa at one of Ponsonby’s many good cafes is a favourite pastime of Aucklanders 2. Viaduct Basin waterfront is a perfectly positioned for sunset socialising 2
365 Dominion Road, Mount Eden Valley. Tel: +64 9 623 3140; www.merediths.co.nz
SPQR S.P.Q.R., the famous Roman emblem, stands for “Senatus Populusque Romanus” - the Senate and People of Rome. At this hip Ponsonby hotspot, good Roman-style, thin, crusty pizzas and simple yet excellent Italian-influenced dishes are served. An extensive range of European, Australian and New Zealand wines are offered, many of which are available by the glass. 150 Ponsonby Road. Tel: +64 09 360 1710; www.spqrnz.co.nz
ZEST FOOD TOURS Well-known for its delicate eateries, 19th century wooden buildings, arts and craft and specialist shops, the charming urban village of historic Ponsonby is the best place to go on a food tour. Zest Ponsonby Gourmet Walk follows the footsteps of the first Zest Food Tours in Wellington and takes you on a culinary journey of fine produce, chocolates and exceptional coffee. Tel: +64 9 362 0588; www.zestfoodtours.co.nz
images KIERAN SCOTT; ARNO GASTEIGER
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MEREDITH’S Opened in late 2007, this intimate forty-seater is helmed by top chef Michael Meredith, who is making waves in the Auckland culinary scene. Expect intricately combined flavours and textures at this fine-dining restaurant with only a seven course degustation menu available on Friday and Saturday evenings, and an a la carte menu available Tuesday to Thursday nights.
NEW ZEALAND
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ATTRACTIONS
images CHRIS SISARICH; JOCELYN CARLIN; AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Auckland’s cosmopolitan urban centre offers a plethora of sights and activities, and is complemented by great escapes within half an hour of downtown: think vineyards, beaches, mountain trekking and even nearby islands. Though if you ever run out of ideas on where next to visit, why not make like a Kiwi and head to a nearby park for a good spot of rugby.
TAMAKI HIKOI For an insider guide to Auckland’s traditional and contemporary Maori heritage, sign up for a Tamaki Hikoi walking tour. These intimate and engaging tours are led by guides from the local Maori tribe Ngati Whatua. As they bring you around some of Auckland’s iconic land features, the guides will share sacred tribal history, traditions and ancient stories that have been passed down through generations.
1. Get in touch with nature at the Waitakere Ranges regional Park 2. Take part in Auckland’s favourite pasttime and go sailing 3. & 4. Find out the story of New Zealand at the Auckland Museum
The Auckland Domain, Parnell. Tel: +64 9 309 0443; www.aucklandmuseum.com
FINE WINE TOURS Join local wine connoisseur and author Phil Parker as he personally guides you on a relaxing half-day or full-day food and wine adventure. Visit some of New Zealand’s prestigious wineries, honey restaurants and cheese shop in the nearby regions of Kumeu, Matakana and even Waiheke Island.
www.tamakihikoi.co.nz
SAILNZ No visit to Auckland will be complete without partaking in the city’s favourite pastime – sailing on the spectacular Waitemata Harbour. With Explore NZ’s America’s Cup Sailing Experience, seize a unique opportunity to participate as crew on an actual America’s Cup yacht. Choose to sit back, relax and take in the sights or have a go at helping the crew steer the yacht, trim the sails and work the grinders.
Tel: +64 9 8456 971; www.insidertouring.co.nz
BUSH AND BEACH TOURS Just 30 kilometres from downtown Auckland is the city’s largest regional park, the Waitakere Ranges. Tour operator Bush and Beach Tours organises innovative guided eco-tours around the area, bringing you amongst New Zealand’s famous giant kauri trees, and to black sand beaches with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
Explore NZ Booking Kiosk, Viaduct Harbour. Tel: +64 9 359 5987; www.explorenz.co.nz
AUCKLAND MUSEUM Housed in one of the country’s finest heritage buildings, the Museum tells the story of New Zealand as a nation. Spend a day going through award-winning natural history exhibits and
galleries which investigate New Zealand’s cultural origins. Scars on the Heart, the Museum’s war memorial exhibition, tells the story of New Zealand at war, while He Taonga Maori – the Museums Maori treasures gallery, displays over 2,000 priceless Maori artefacts. There is also a daily Maori cultural performance.
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www.bushandbeach.co.nz
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SHOPPING
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CHANCERY/VULCAN LANE The block around High Street, the Chancery and Vulcan Lane are considered as Auckland’s central city premier fashion districts, being home to a good mix of international and local designer shops. As Auckland’s only pedestrian shopping street, Chancery’s cobblestoned piazza is flanked by chic restaurants with outdoor terraces, European-style boutiques and classic New Zealand designer stores so one can sip a cuppa between sprees and watch the fashion victims walk by.
1. When your feet tire from the hours of shopping at Chancery Lane, make for a cafe for a comforting cuppa 2. Highend fashion labels abound in New Market
ELLIOTT STABLES EPICUREAN VILLAGE Elliott Stables, atmospherically set in the original Archibald Clarke & Sons warehouse of the 1800’s, is an epicurean marketplace where specialist artisans trade organic meat, cheeses, wines and cakes. You’ll also find gourmet eateries of Spanish tapas, French creperies, Italian bruschetta, German sausages and more.
PARNELL If it’s designer décor and galleries that you’re after, then Parnell is an ideal stop. Dubbed as Auckland’s creative quarter, Parnell is famed for its boutiques that offer anything from jewellery to up-market homeware, antiques to art and crafts. Even if you’re not into retail therapy, walking around this area can be pretty charming. Parnell is Auckland’s oldest suburb with many of the area’s art galleries, cafes and restaurants housed in Victorian-style villas of old, lending the area a quaint village feel. NEWMARKET Newmarket is the Rodeo Drive of Auckland, home to high-end 62 escape!
fashion names such as Karen Walker, Trelise Cooper, Workshop and Zambesi, and Two Double Seven – arguably the best shopping mall in New Zealand. Women with a penchant for shoes should take note that this place has the largest concentration of shoe stores in the country.
39 Elliott Street. www.elliottstables.co.nz
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K’ ROAD At Karangahape Road, or more fondly known as K’ Road, diversity and colour are key. In this quirky precinct, high fashion sits comfortably alongside retro and street-wear stores; fine art and contemporary galleries are housed within ornate heritage buildings; and edgy eateries intermingle with bars, clubs, and even drag cabarets; making for a truly fun and unique shopping experience.
images TOURISM NEW ZEALAND
Within the country, Auckland has a reputation for being an excellent shopping destination, with retailers stocking all the latest international designer labels and a burgeoning home-grown fashion industry. Kiwi fashion draws influences from Europe, Polynesia and the Pacific Rim, and through the process of fusion, comes up with a unique cutting-edge style. The main inner city shopping area is around Queen Street and High Street. Most suburbs have their own shopping districts with interesting mix of shops to browse through. Aucklanders also love their markets and there are plenty scattered around.
NEW ZEALAND of cocktails, fine wines and beverages. Or check out the adjoining Viaduct Basin and waterfront with its plethora of oh-so hip bars and restaurants. Princes Wharf 147 Quay Street. Tel: +64 9 978 2000; www.hilton.com
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HOTELS & NIGHT LIFE
Finding suitable and reliable accommodation within your means is not a problem in Auckland, thanks to a vast array of options. Many of the big hotel chains have properties within the inner city and there is a growing number of boutique hotels as well. From 24-hour casinos to pubs, bars and nightclubs, Auckland offers an inexhaustive list of after dark options. A handful of venues even have a 5am or 7am closing time licence, so you can party all the way till breakfast.
HOTELS
1. Hotel DeBrett offers spacious rooms with a whole lot of personality
HOTEL DEBRETT Hotel DeBrett’s iconic building was home to Auckland’s very first hotel, The Commercial Hotel that opened in 1841. It has since been stylishly reinterpreted into a 25-room boutique hotel. Every room is individually designed and complimented with eclectic furniture, New Zealand art and photography collected by designer Michelle Deery in her travels around New Zealand and internationally. The hotel also boasts an outstanding restaurant that serves up contemporary New Zealand cuisine, Kitchen, and the popular Housebar where you can order up some local boutique beer.
2. Sink into the plush sofas and enjoy five vino at the Wine Loft
images ALISTAIR GUTHRIE; WINE LOFT
128 Albert Street. Tel: +64 9 302 1111; www.crowneplaza.com
NIGHT LIFE THE WHISKEY The stylish, dimly-lit Whiskey is a Ponsonby landmark and a quintessential bolthole for the hip and sophisticated. There is a long list of cocktails and a decent wine menu but what really takes the cake here is an extensive range of Scottish single malts. From Auchentoschen to Glenfiddich, Bunnahabhain to Talisker, there’s something for every whiskey-lover. 210 Ponsonby Road. Tel: +64 9 361 2666; www.whiskeybars.com
WINE LOFT Conveniently located in the CBD of Auckland, the Wine Loft is popular with the after-work crowd. With it sumptuous leather sofas, intimate laid back jazz playing in the background, and an open fireplace, you’ll feel right at home. An eclectic wine list features labels from New Zealand, Australia, South America and Europe, while antipasto platters and gourmet pizzas are available to be paired with your glass or bottle. 67 Shortland Street . Tel: +64 9 379 5070; www.wineloft.co.nz
2 High Street. Tel: +64 9 925 9000; www.hoteldebrett.com
HILTON Situated 300 metres out to sea on the end of Princes Wharf is the impressive Hilton Auckland. All 159 designer-furnished rooms and seven suites feature decks or balconies, where you can get beautiful views across Waitemata Harbour and understand why Auckland is aptly named the City of Sails. In the evenings, dine at the hotel’s restaurant, White, then head to the Bellini Cocktail Bar for an impressive range
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL Strategically located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, Crowne Plaza makes a convenient base for business travellers and holiday makers alike. It is situated above the unique boutique shopping complex, ‘Atrium on Elliott’ and is a short distance from attractions like The Civic Theatre, Queen Street, the Viaduct Harbour and SkyCity. Featuring 352 well appointed guest rooms and suites, the hotel also houses a fully equipped gymnasium and sauna complex which are open 24 hours a day and complimentary for all in-house guests.
SKYCITY At Skycity, the night never ends. Take in the Auckland night skyline at the observation decks of the 328 metre tall Sky Tower before heading to any of the 18 restaurant and bars. Once you’re suitably sated, make your way to the 24-hour, world-class casino that boasts over 1,600 gaming machines and over 100 tables with games such as blackjack and roulette. 2
Corner Victoria and Federal Streets. Tel: 64-9/363-6000; www.skycityauckland.co.nz
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FACT BOX - Auckland
NEW ZEALAND
‘Kia Ora’ is the Maori greeting equivalent of ‘hello’.
GETTING THERE Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand, and is a 30-45 minute drive from the city centre. The country’s national carrier, Air New Zealand flies direct from Asian cities like Beijing, Hong Kong, Osaka, Shanghai and Tokyo. From Kuala Lumpur, fly direct with Malaysia Airlines. From Singapore, fly direct with Singapore Airlines and Jetstar Asia Airways.
GETTING AROUND Auckland is well connected by buses, with different bus companies serving different parts of Auckland. Thankfully with the Auckland Discovery Pass, one can travel on all forms of public transportation in Auckland. Visit www. maxx.co.nz to plan your route. Taxis and car hire are also easily available and are ideal for cross-city travel.
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UÊ ÕV > `½ÃÊ Ì > Ê > À Ê name is Tamaki Makau Rau, which means “isthmus of one thousand lovers”. UÊ ÕV > `Ê ÃÊÌ iÊ breeding ground for the New Zealand Sea Lion, which is the most endangered of the five species of sea lion in the world. UÊ ÕV > `ÊÃÌÀ>`` iÃÊÌ iÊ Auckland Volcanic Field, which has produced about 50 volcanoes, the largest of which is Rangitoto Island, formed within the last 1000 years.
1NZD = US$0.80/S$1/ RM2.40
English is widely spoken in Auckland.
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VISA
UTC+12 hours; daylight saving time UTC+13 hours is observed during summer.
Passport holders of many countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, do not require a visa for stays less than 90 days. Visit www. immigration.govt.nz for more information on visa requirements.
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CALLING CODE
Island Charm Come weekend, many who reside in Auckland take the chance to escape the urbanised jungle and whisk away to Waiheke Island. This charming island, just 35-minutes away by ferry, first started getting popular when creative types like artists, musicians, writers, poets and actors took up residence and opened up art studios, galleries and quaint cafes. Not too long after, people started realising that the island’s climate and terroir is ideal for growing produce like grapes and olives, and soon vineyards and olive plantations sprouted. Compounded by the island’s existing beautiful beaches and native forest reserves, Waiheke’s forever-summer island lifestyle continues to attract weekend trippers from Auckland all year round. www.waiheke.co.nz
Country Code: 64. Area code: 09.
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images AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM; TOURISM NEW ZEALAND; AUCKLAND TOURISM
AUCKLAND TIDBITS
ENGLAND
thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no place
Like Home
From Stratford City to Victoria Park, venerated Wembley Stadium and all the way out to Dorney Lake, London is being reinvigorated and reshaped for a global audience, all with the aim of making the world feel at home words SHAWN PARKER photography RAY WISE AND JUSTIN HOWARD
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ENGLAND
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ENGLAND
“I
’m a nomad, baby. And I can’t go home again.” That’s what I say to the barmaid at the historic Lamb pub in London as she slides a pint of beer across the horseshoe-shaped bar. She doesn’t respond or otherwise acknowledge me, but maybe she doesn’t speak English. That might seem like a shocker to some considering this is England, but this is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, a place where it’s not unusual to within a single day have encounters with people born in a dozen different countries. More than 300 languages are spoken in this city; some of them are spoken no place else. I ask the barmaid if she can put something on the antique polyphon, a 19th-century music box stuck at the other end of the bar, thinking the right melody will change her tune. “That’s for show,” she says, with all the warmth of an English winter. All eyes are on London as the city prepares to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. In an age where civil strife, economic malaise and social disorder have wreaked havoc on this old outpost of the Roman Empire, the city has a chip on its shoulder and is out to prove it still belongs in the upper echelon of Alpha World Cities. For me, a visit to London is a chance to come home again; I was the first on my father’s side to be born outside of England, though my Canadian hometown did a fine British imitation for a time, and we’ve kept the Queen on our coins for good luck. My grandfather was a London boy and he loves to brag about it. My brother and I were regaled with stories of Grandpa Parker’s heroic triumphs throughout our
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childhood. Some days we were descended from a house of royal blood, disgraced during the 20th Century by a feuding family and banished over the sea. Other days he claimed allegiances to the blue collar borough of Peckham, where our forefathers earned their stripes on the streets. Grandpa Parker styled himself something of an impresario, a renaissance man for all occasions. “They would have cast me as the second James Bond,” he told me at my 13th birthday party. “But Sean Connery was jealous of my moustache,” he said, sliding a vintage Omega watch onto my wrist. “Connery gave me this to show there were no hard feelings.” I still own that watch. It’s about the only thing I take on the road with me, if you don’t include my vintage camera and the small suitcase I use to carry my life around. Life as a travel writer means that it can be difficult to set down roots as you skip from one continent to the next, but I’m hoping to find a little piece of myself or something that reminds me of home in the Merry New England.
A SUIT FIT FOR THE THAMES
It’s time to get reacquainted with my heritage, but I can’t go anywhere before I clean myself up. Grandpa used to say that you never go home without three things: a new suit, your pride and a story to tell. Perhaps I’ve been living in Asia too long and I’ve forgotten what it means to spend more than two minutes getting dressed; judging by the raised eyebrows I pass on the street, my tartan longyi skirt, polo shirt, battered camel leather satchel and yak hide boots
are not going to cut it here. Maybe they’d get me a backstage pass to a runway show in Milan, but in London a man needs to dress the part. I cannot bring myself to join the mob at Harrods Department Store and have my pounds forcibly pried free from my wallet. I’m not even going to shop on Oxford Street, for that matter. Shopping real London means visiting Brick Lane, Covent Garden or the trendy digs in Shoreditch in the East End. Aubin & Wills do upmarket English fashion better than almost anyone while the Caravan design shop will make you want to buy a new flat just to fill it up with old stuff. Standing out front of the Liberty department store I can’t help but marvel at the façade of the Tudor House. Inside, the store is bereft of tourists and rife with pseudo-designer goods, art deco chaise lounges and assorted bric-à-brac, though Liberty can’t resist selling “objets d’art from the Far East” including authentic pashminas from Nepal, tacky curio cabinets from Vietnam and Burmese Buddha statues that any traveller worth his weight in passports wouldn’t touch with a palace guard’s bearskin hat. I tell the first tailor I spot that “I want to look like James Bond”, and he tells me to suit myself on Savile Row, where I’ll have a bespoke spectacle crafted in a matter of days. I explain that I’m short on time and I’ll take my chances with an Alexander McQueen suit instead, for roughly the cost of my return tickets to Toronto, or about as much as one Londoner spend on afternoon tea. Now that I’m suited it’s time to get situated. I make my way east out to the docklands for a walk along the Thames’ hardscrabble shore, Canary Wharf looming on the east side of the river. New developments being erected for the Olympics shine bright under the sun, contrasting the flimsy frontage of pre-Olympic Beijing. THIS PAGE Located in the heart of Covent Gardens, J Sheekey is a favourite for seafood OPPOSITE 1. The old and the new: St Paul’s Cathedral and the Millenium Bridge 2. Big Ben is one of London’s most prominent symbols 3. The Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2012 Olympics
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All eyes are on London as the city prepares to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games The city has a chip on its shoulder and is out to prove it still belongs in the upper echelon of Alpha World Cities 3
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ENGLAND
I walk under a bridge where a pair of hooligans in tracksuits whisper to one another. I pop my collar and put my head down. Scenes from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels play in my mind, but I’m not worried: I’m Dressed to Kill. I walk along the waterfront, the sound of footsteps closing the distance behind me. I slide my hand inside my jacket pocket and my face flushes as I remember that I’m a photographer and not a double agent. The boys overtake me, brushing past so quickly that I don’t have time to react. The last I see of them as they bound along the promenade are the Cross Country Club logos on the back of their hoodies. I feel steeled, like I can handle anything the city has in store for me. Of course, I’m no stranger to danger: one time on my way to Hollywood for a meeting I missed my stop on the subway and spent ten minutes on the Compton platform in South Central Los Angeles. Another time I took a cab from Harlem to the Lower East Side of Manhattan to attend a magazine launch party. So yeah, I know a thing or two about street cred. With my new threads and a sense of purpose I strike out to reclaim a bit of country for the family name. I’m not going to stare through the gates at Buckingham Palace on the outside chance the Queen decides to come out and wave (she’s only home when the royal standard is raised, anyway) or spend £18 on a ticket to the Tower Of London. 007 wouldn’t do it, and neither will I. I don’t know whether James Bond would have time to visit the Tate Modern galleries, but that’s why I’m a 70 escape!
maverick. Londoners in general possess a healthy contempt for high art – Damien Hirst has been suspending dissected sharks in formaldehyde and calling it art for more than 25 years, after all – but there’s no arguing the artistic merit and sheer bombastic creativity of the Tate. Best of all, Tate Modern, like most of London’s best museums, including the National Gallery, National Maritime Museum and the British Museum, is free to enter. That’s a good thing. My new pants are so tight that I couldn’t stuff any change into my pockets if I had any left.
FINDING LIVER & ONIONS
I’m not about to take out a personal ad for liver and onions, but it seems like it’s next to impossible to find the food staples of my youth in this town. Either that or my grandfather looked me straight in the eyes over breakfast and lied to me. “Liver makes your bones strong,” he used to say. “And eels will put hair on your chest. Everyone in England eats them.” I venture into South London for the first time to score a plate of the aforementioned jellied eels in the rugged neighborhood of Peckham. Peckham has a notorious reputation as one of London’s most dangerous districts, but recent regeneration programs and continuing gentrification has seen a rebirth of sorts, with cafes, studios and bars springing to life along the southern boundaries. Standing the test of time, M Manze’s Eel & Pie House has been selling jellied eels
and mash since 1902. With a seat facing the street I dig into a serving of gelatinous river monsters. I spend the next few hours tracking down reinvented British food staples like black pudding and calf’s liver at the Cock Tavern in London Central Markets and roasted bone marrow and stewed pig’s head with bacon and blood cake at St. John Bar and Restaurant. So far English cuisine is impressing, even if the amused headwaiter at St. John wonders aloud how I can stomach snails and oakleaf without making a face. My only explanation is that it reminds me of home cooking; when Grandma was away and kitchen duties fell to Grandpa, it meant toasted peanut butter and sardine sandwiches or cured beef coleslaw with pickled eggs. In truth, I’m comfortable eating cobra curry in Sumatra or frog stew in Laos while the thought of Canadian bacon makes my stomach queasy. London’s renewed fascination with dishes of yore sits just fine with my stomach. Gastronomical exploits aside, I didn’t get dressed up for nothing. I’m dressed to impress, so I head out to dinner at J Sheekey in London’s famed Covent Garden. I don’t get seated as quickly as the real James Bond might and I’m left wondering if I’ll end up having to share a table with Jude Law or Simon Cowell; I imagine we would end up gossiping about who we saw dining with whom at the Ivy while we crack Devon Cock crabs and work our way through one of London’s best wine lists. The Ivy restaurant, within the confines of its restrained Art Deco aesthetic, serves some of London’s best Euro eats and goes a long way in dispelling the notion that London is anything but a food lover’s paradise. Sadly, neither J Sheekey nor the Ivy is currently serving liver and onions. If they were, I would try and get Grandpa a job in the kitchen. THIS PAGE Red telephone booths are a familiar sight on the streets of London OPPOSITE 1. The Ivy serves some of the city’s finest cuisine 2 . Docklands and the Thames 3. Roasted bone marrow is an iconic starter 4. Blood pudding is usually eaten at breakfast 5. The quintessentially British shepherd’s pie
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Peckham has a notorious reputation as one of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most dangerous districts, but recent regeneration programs and continuing gentrification has seen a rebirth of sorts, with cafes, studios and bars springing to life along the southern boundaries 3 4
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In London, things have a fantastic gleaming quality to them, as if Tinkerbell is set to appear among the stars over Big Ben, hand in hand with Peter Pan 3 4
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ENGLAND LONDON STEALS THE SHOW
Grandpa Parker was a virtuoso on the spoons. He never worked in a soup kitchen in South London; the man used to make music banging silverware off his knees. He entertained our family for hours with his spoons and an old harmonica he swears he won off Keith Richards in a card game. I haven’t been able to track down any Rolling Stones to verify the story, sadly. I don’t think The Beatles are around to help, either, though checking in on their old digs at 3 Savile Row is a good bit of nostalgia tourism in its own right. In fact, London always feels familiar, like I’ve known these decorative phone boxes, the blue taxis, the police uniforms and the spires of parliament all my life. The only other place in the world that I felt I understood before I visited was New York City, but that had more to do with 20th Century film and pop culture influences; in London, things have a fantastic gleaming quality to them, as if Tinkerbell is set to appear among the stars over Big Ben, hand in hand with Peter Pan. The Charles Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum is a grand dose of natural reality, as is the Blue Fin Building at the Opera House; the Bridge of Aspiration that connects the Opera House to the Royal School of Ballet makes me feel as if I’m heading down the rabbit hole into one of the best British fairy tales ever told. The story continues high above the city on a London Eye Champagne Flight, where London’s lights bring the world alive. London by moonlight is an ethereal dreamscape where St Paul’s stoic cathedral glows, the Millennium Bridge sways silently and the ancient wines at Berry Bros & Rudd taste just a little bit sweeter. For a contemporary take on art I head to the Royal Court Theatre, where Joe Penhall’s new play Haunted Child shows like a stripped-down version of Paranormal Activity, though I wouldn’t tell him that to his face. The Royal Court Theatre has always been a destination for innovative voices like Sam Shepard and Tom Stoppard (the mega-successful Rock ‘n’ Roll debuted here), though the Court will always live in infamy as the place where The Rocky Horror Show premiered in 1973. Grandpa never made it to the big stage, but I know he would be proud of his creative countrymen that have. London is full of dramatic interludes and music venues, despite losing the Hammersmith Palais and the Astoria in recent years. The Half Moon rocks over the Thames at
Putney Bridge while The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch is home to the best jukebox in Britain. Trippple Nippples and the Arctic Monkeys show up here from time to time, but I’ve yet to hear anyone on the spoons. I can’t hear anything at all at Fabric, a club considered the coolest in London; the music is so loud that no one can hear my accent when I order a beer. Since no one can hear me, no one can ask me if I know Justin Bieber or Celine Dion, which is a good thing. I do manage to make contact with a Nigerian-born University of London student who pretends to ignore my accent. She asks about my story; I tell her that I’m looking for the London that feels like home. “The City changes overnight,” she says. “Maybe it will feel like home tomorrow. Or maybe it will feel like someplace new and exciting.” She drags me out onto the dance floor and spends the next half of an hour peeling me off of it.
A CITY SEEING CHANGE
I always thought of home as something constant and solid. I never thought of home as a place that changes over time; growing, developing and reinventing itself for future generations. But that’s what London is doing on the eve of the biggest showcase the world has ever seen. From Stratford City to Victoria Park, venerated Wembley Stadium and all the way out to Dorney Lake, the city is being reinvigorated and reshaped for a global audience with all the style and braggadocio one would
THIS PAGE The arts scene in London is a very vibrant one OPPOSITE 1. The state of the art Darwin Centre 2. The Millenium Bridge links Bankside with the city 3. The interior of the British museum houses 4. The inspiring Bridge of Aspiration
expect from the people that invented the gin and tonic and the postage stamp. London wants the world to feel at home, not in spite of change but because of it. I’ve been visiting long enough to know that I’ll never understand everything about London in the same way that I’ll never know all Grandpa Parker’s secrets, and that makes me happy. I know that Sean Connery is from Scotland, not England, and that James Bond didn’t start wearing Omega watches until 1995, and none of that matters. Even when the story changes, the meaning stays the same. I board The Underground at Leicester Square Tube Station, unsure of my next destination or when I’ll get there. I check my watch out of habit, not purpose; I don’t have anywhere to be until I get a call for the next assignment. As the doors close and the train rambles out of the station and on to the next, London really does feel like home. escape! 73
FACT BOX - London
ENGLAND
If someone talks about his ‘trouble and strife’ he might be talking about his wife!
GETTING THERE Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and British Airways all provide direct flights from Singapore’s Changi Airport to London’s Heathrow Airport. From Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia Airlines flies direct to Heathrow.
GETTING AROUND Public transport in London is reliable and efficient. The London Underground subway system is quick and an easy method of transport within the city. For short distances, buses might be even quicker as bus stops are often more accessible than train stations.
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LONDON TIDBITS
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UÊ/ iÊ ÕÃiÊ vÊ Commons is the only house in England that the Queen may not enter, simply because she is not a commoner. UÊ-«i> iÀÃÊ À iÀÊ>ÌÊ Hyde park is known for public speaking, debate and discussion, and a place where freedom of speech is encouraged. UÊ/ iÊVÕÀÀi ÌÊÛiÀÃ Ê vÊ the London Bridge is at least the fifth, which might support the validity of the nursery rhyme.
£1 = S$1.98/RM4.81
the area code for London is 20.
TIME ZONE
VISA
GMT +0hrs
Singaporeans and Malaysians do not require a visa to enter the United Kingdom for leisure but you have to ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date of departure from UK.
LANGUAGE English is widely spoken in London.
CALLING CODE
SCARE FEST Now owned and operated by the Merlin Entertainments Group, The London Dungeon is the original scare attraction in London and opened its doors to the public in 1975. For over 36 years, The London Dungeon has been frightening people of all ages by bringing the darkest chapters of the capital’s blood-curdling history back to life through horrifying special effects, live actors and hair-raising rides. With live shows, guests are transported to dark, bleak times from the Plague and the Great Fire of London to a visit with Fleet Street’s demon barber Sweeney Todd and a walk through Whitechapel where Jack the Ripper lurks around every corner. www.thedungeons.com
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The international code to dial to UK is 44 and
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Special Feature
TEN REASONS TO VISIT MELBOURNE IN 2012
Melbourne is ‘hot’ right now. International visitors are proving it by flocking to the ‘Most Liveable City in the World’ in record numbers fame, not to mention Geoff Lindsay’s Dandelion in trendy Elwood – can the stomachs of food tourists cope with another year like this?
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The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2012 celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Extended to last 20 days between 2 – 21 March, 2012, the celebration will start with a Riverside Opening Weekend with activities such as city street feasts; 80 events under $50, and the world’s longest lunch. Almost 100 of the world’s top chefs and winemakers from 14 different countries will converge on Melbourne for the festival’s famous Langham Masterclass in order to share their culinary secrets and the
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newest gastronomic trends. Beer lovers are also in for a treat as the festival will be showcasing its very own 20th anniversary brew at the Great Melbourne Beer Breakfast.
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Melbourne Airport’s $330 million expansion is almost complete. New gates 18 and 20 are now in operation and the aerobridge upgrades will be completed this month. New airside retail offerings include Little Ludlow, Dreamtime Journey, Think Sport, WH Smith, Discover Victoria and Hudsons
has also launched their rebranded concept store. Opening soon will be Melbourne’s only Victoria’s Secret store, Bar Pulpo by Movida, Happy Lab, Wok on Air and Hungry Jack’s.
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So many exciting restaurant openings in 2011 from the Shannon Bennett’s new Vue de Monde at the top of the Rialto to Donovan Cooke’s Atlantic in Crown and Andrew McConnell’s Golden Fields in St Kilda. Then there was the amazing Chin Chin by Chris Lucas of Pearl
The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia, a major new exhibition showcasing stunning artefacts from one of the world’s great ancient civilisations will open at 2011 RACV Victorian Tourism Award winner, Melbourne Museum on 4 May, 2012. Presented in collaboration with The British Museum, The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia explores an era of extraordinary invention and innovation. The exhibition will focus on three of the great centres of ancient civilisation, Sumer, Assyria and Babylon, bringing their rich history to life through objects and multimedia.
Special Feature
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Music lovers visiting the Australian live music capital, Melbourne, now have a free guide to help them find venues, music stores and other music resources with the release of Melbourne Music City. The guide maps Melbourne’s main metropolitan entertainment hubs as well as venues in regional Victoria. The guide also includes a Victorian music festival timeline, a plotted history of key music events in the state plus information on gig guides, media, public transport and music-friendly accommodation. The guide is available in hard copy at various tourist hotspots around the city, and will be distributed internationally via
international embassies and consulates. The guide is also available to download.
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Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk is to be extended in 2012, allowing visitors to walk all the way to the iconic 12 Apostles. A new platform has just been completed at the finish of the walk where hikers can celebrate their achievements with the view of the 12 Apostles in the background. Works are already underway which will extend the track as far as the Gibson Steps by the end of this year. The track will then be extended further via an underpass under the Great Ocean Road which will allow walkers to access the 12 Apostles by foot.
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One of the newest international events on the sports calendar is billed as ‘probably the toughest event on the planet’. Tough Mudder at Phillip Island, 31 March – 1 April, 2012 encourages participants to ‘get dirty’ while tackling the world’s most extreme obstacle courses. It’s a physical and mental endurance challenge designed by ex military men and Phillip Island is set to welcome some very extreme participants and amused spectators as they travel to the island for the event. Visitors will also be able to get their hands dirty in a very different way in 2012 with the extension of Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate. The new chocolate kitchen, which opened on 26 December, 2011, will have visitors making their own chocolate in an interactive exhibition that is sure to delight chocolate lovers of all ages.
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Renowned for being Victoria’s premier wine region, the Yarra Valley has recently seen an infiltration of a different kind of drop. A handful of brewers and cider makers are producing unique local beers and cider, giving the wine makers a run for their money. So great is the interest, that the region’s seven brewers and cider makers have joined together to launch the Yarra Valley Cider and Ale Trail brochure.
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Want to tick off wild kangaroos, wallabies, emus and wombats in one bush walk? Well now you can with Wilsons Promontory National Park’s new Woodland Walk. Located in the northern part of the park, the walk is 7.6km or two and a half hours return and will almost guarantee native wildlife spotting. Wilsons Promontory is in the Gippsland region of Victoria; about a three and a half hour drive from Melbourne. Visitors wanting to explore more of this extensive and extraordinary region will be excited to hear about Inspiring Gippsland Rides - a guide to 35 rides that take in the best of Gippsland by bike, to be launched in February 2012.
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The biggest shark and stingray feeding experience in the world opened near Melbourne this month. The Australian Shark and Ray Centre (ASRC) is the world’s largest combined shark and ray feeding experience located just 20 minutes from Melbourne on route to Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula. Visitors can opt to stay dry in waterproof pants, or get waist deep in the water with a wetsuit, and hand feed, pat and play with nearly 20 species of sharks and stingray.
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WEEKEND
Moon, River and Me
my camera) are macaques, crocodiles, monitor lizards, tree snakes and various birds of prey. A trip to the river is a mere two hour ride from Kota Kinabalu city, and trips can be easily arranged via a local tour operator (www.amazing-borneo.com). In between river viewings, the tour operators also provide dinner buffet for guests. After dinner, we revisited the river in a shroud of darkness, where we could fully appreciate Sabah’s unpolluted night skies and the intricate dances of its fireflies.
MERC
Discover Borneo’s teeming oceans at the Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC), housed within the pristine waters of Gayana Eco Resort. Visitors can learn more about MERC efforts in marine conservation by participating in programmes such as the Giant Clam Propagation Programme and the Marine Sanctuary Programme; both educational and engaging ways of doing one’s part in giving back to nature (www. merc-gayana.com). The centre seeks to increase awareness on the importance of preserving the
A unique blend of sincerity, simplicity and spectacular sights. What’s there not to love about Sabah? words LOUIS LAW photography JUNLONG LOH & LOUIS LAW
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love Audrey Hepburn. I believe she was, and will always remain, the most beautiful woman ever to grace the silver screen. She also starred in my favourite film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Although my affection for Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany’s may have very little in common with Sabah, I simply cannot help but imagine myself serenading the film’s titular character, Holly Golightly, with my velvety rendition of Moon River while our boat gently glides along Sabah’s sanguine Klias River. There is a hypnotic quality about Sabah; something so innately romantic about her clear, star-filled night skies, her exuberant fireflies and her chirping crickets, that one can’t help but fall in love with her. What Sabah lacks in architecturally impressive man-made structures, she compensates with her honest rivers, her elegant mountains, and the multifarious array of animals and plants which inhabit her
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bountiful bosom. And, just like Holly Golightly, it is Sabah’s child-like innocence, complemented by her resplendent natural beauty, which renders her so irresistibly captivating.
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THE KLIAS RIVER TOUR
During the day, the Klias River provided me an opportunity to come face to face with Borneo’s most famous ape, the endangered proboscis monkey. Notoriously shy and elusive, these broad-nosed monkeys are rarely found further than a kilometre away from the river and are usually perched high atop the forests, socialising in small groups. Known to the locals as monyet belanda (Dutch monkey) or orang belanda (Dutchman), these tree-dwelling animals normally hunt for food in the evenings, so many boat cruises depart the Kota Klias jetty at around 3.00pm. Other riverside residents which I managed to capture (on
ocean’s fragile ecosystem through various enriching activities. One such programme is the ‘Adopt a Coral’ programme – where tots and teenagers are taught specific procedures to propagate corals and nurture them in the surrounding waters of the research centre. Once an ‘adoption’ is 1. Drifting along the Klias River in search of the elusive Proboscis Monkey 2. The pristine waters of Gayana Eco Resort 3. MERC provides refuge to marine creatures such as Michaelangelo the turtle
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WEEKEND completed, the centre sends half-yearly updates charting the coral’s growth progress to their ‘foster’ parents. Besides imparting valuable knowledge, MERC also provides visitors with the opportunity to touch and admire various invertebrates such as sea cucumbers, starfish and sea anemones.
MOUNT KINABALU
Continuing the theme of eco-tourism, trekking enthusiasts must not miss the wide range of flora and fauna present at Kinabalu National Park. The park is home to Borneo’s highest mountain range and some of Borneo’s best-preserved forest. With its well-paved tracks and gentle slops, Kinabalu National Park often serves as the perfect introduction for first-time trekkers to the world of mountain trekking. In the morning, most travellers make a beeline for the main park headquarters area, but there are two other sections of the park which are also worth exploring: Mesilau Nature Resort and Poring Hot Springs. The former offers a less-travelled approach to the mountain while the latter offers a good place to soak your weary bones after an ascent of the peak. Mount Kinabalu’s climate is agreeably cool and accommodation both inside and outside the park is good. While trekking, be sure to engage the services of a mountain guide for a detailed introduction of the various plant and animal species found at the park. I was lucky to have Belle Chong - a native Sabahan, as my mountain guide. Her botanical knowledge of Borneo extends to even the scientific names of the individual plants, as well as its herbal, medicinal and
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religious properties. Mountain guides are compulsory if you intend to trek the higher regions of the mountain.
MARI MARI CULTURAL VILLAGE
The cultural village was the highlight of my trip to Sabah. I was apprehensive at first - my experience of cultural villages throughout Asia reminded me more of tourist traps than anything remotely educational or entertaining. But, after an evening of fun, entertainment and fine Sabahan cuisine, it is evident that Mari Mari cultural village is a truly unique attraction. When we arrived, our village guide, Adam, arrived in nothing but a loin cloth, eye make-up and an imposing, tribal-motif feathered headgear which stretched all the way to the ceiling. After addressing us in a
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1. Find peace within the elegant mountains of Kota Kinabalu 2. The suspension bridges provide travellers with a great view of the rivers 3. Our native guide, Adam, teaches us the art of extracting wild honey
native dialect and impeccable English, he took out a couple of traditional instruments and began “jamming” with our driver. The sound that escaped their instruments was the most beautiful melody I have ever heard, and their mini-performance held me spellbound for minutes. In the village, we were introduced to various traditional homes of Sabahan ethnic communities – the Bajau, Lundayeh, Murut, Rungus and Dusun – built by descendants of the tribes. Our friendly excursion guide also gave a thorough introduction to the houses, making it a highly educational experience. We tried our hands at shooting blowguns, cooking traditional Bajau cuisine, tasting wild honey and fermented coconut liqueur. We even got a chance to bounce on an indoor trampoline made with rattan and other flexible woods. The highlight of the night was an energetic dance, Magunatip famously known as the bamboo dance, which requires highly skilled dancers to perform.
FACT BOX - Sabah The name ‘Sabah’ probably originated from the Malay word ‘Sabak’, which means a place where palm sugar is extracted. GETTING THERE
GETTING AROUND
AirAsia files direct to Kota Kinabalu Airport in Sabah from Singapore’s Changi International Airport and Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Kuala Lumpur Daily. Silkair files direct from Singapore’s Changi Airport into Sabah six times a week.
The new bus terminal at Inanam, north of the centre, has simplified things considerably for travellers: all express buses, minivans and shared taxis heading north now convene here. A handy counter system makes it easy to find the service you want. Shuttle buses (US$0.50) run here every 15 minutes from the old bus station.
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image 123RF
SABAH TIDBITS UÊ ÀÊ>ÊÕ µÕi ÞÊ->L> > Ê snack, stock up on some Pinjaram, or kuih UFO as some would call it. This Mexican hat-shaped cake has a chewy texture with tantalising pandan aroma. UÊ->L> ½ÃÊÜi> Ì Ê vÊ >ÌÕÀ> Ê beauty makes golfing here an experience not to be missed. Its picturesque courses and challenging terrains offer a spectrum of experiences for the avid golfing enthusiasts. UÊ V>Ìi`Ê ÊÌ iÊ i>ÀÌÊ vÊ Kota Kinabalu, the Gaya Street Market is a popular site for shopping every Sunday. Antique gongs, handicrafts, orchids, crystals, ceramics, clothing and accessories, local cakes and biscuits are just some of the many items on offer.
Sabah’s climate is hot and humid like the rest of Malaysia. Expect temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s throughout the lowlands. Rainfall averages about 300cm annually. The heaviest rainfall generally occurs between November and April. At higher elevations the temperature is refreshingly cool and downright cold at night.
CURRENCY RM1 = S$0.41
TIME ZONE Sabah follows Singapore time or UTC + 8.
Sandakan Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Located near the town of Sandakan, this is a great place to see the famous “wild man of Borneo”, the Orang Utans, in its natural habitat. The largest and oldest of its kind on earth, the centre is run by a dedicated team of professionals who work tirelessly to ensure orphaned, abandoned or abused Orang Utans learn the necessary survival skills they need to return to their natural habitat – the teeming jungles of Borneo. Be sure to visit these great apes before it’s too late. (www.sepilokjungleresort.com)
CALLING CODE The calling code for Sabah is 087 for the inner districts, 088 for Kota Kinabalu and Kudat.
LANGUAGE Bahasa Melayu is widely used in Sabah, as well as some colloquial indigenous dialects. English is widely understood by tour operators, shop and restaurant owners.
VISA Singaporeans do not require a visa to visit Sabah.
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On the roaD
A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
A heaving city cradled by the very best of mother nature Kyushu is a perfect mix of organic urban and paradise words & photography SHEENA CHEN
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ON ROAD THE ROAD TRIP
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O, WHAT'S THERE IN KYUSHU. APART FROM GRASS AND STUFF...” muttered my well-travelled friend Mr Matsu, with a hint of pity as he cosied up to the mirror and streaked his T-zone with sulphuric soap. If it weren't for my concave vanity – which doubles up as an acoustic amplifier in a pinch – I could have sworn he sounded eager to explore the southernmost of Japan's four islands. He certainly looked pleased after testing out my gift: a bar of sulphur soap which I bought from a dingy peddler at the foot of Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano. “I can't think of anything interesting there, apart from this miracle soap I suppose,” Mr Matsu chirped on as he inspected a mysteriously tamed zit on his nose, oblivious to my marvels. I raved on nonetheless, of how the island, with its seven prefectures, did great weaving its steep but fading cultures, sprawling natural beauty and growing cosmopolitism into one supportive, resilient community fabric. Not many places in the world today can boast safe, tourist-friendly driving roads with a horizon of gallant mountains upon rolling hills and spectacular valleys; or a place where you can race along organic spritely streams; or observe it meander down a family-owned forested peak as you break from your drive for some hot tea at a local inn. Fewer can offer you the experience to awe at rapids bursting off bluffs before blossoming into majestic, genteel cascades – from a modern steel bridge suspended 173 metres above the ground, no less. Bathed in a delicious subtropical climate and blessed with mineral-rich land and water (thanks to the numerous volcanos residing here), Kyushu is able to coax even the most adrenaline-seeking of travellers to unwind, what with feasts comprising the freshest of world-coveted meats and produce lurking at every turn. If the food fails to sate, surely a soothing soak in some of Japan's finest onsens would placate. Still restless? Fukuoka, with its mega malls and charming street shops will provide for an exciting day with a definite happy ending. The best part? Every spot you just read of above is simply a drive away from one another. Like the unassuming bars of sulphur soap hawked around the island (which Mr Matsu attests is “awesome for clogged pores”), Kyushu may appear dull at first glance. But give it a shot, though, and you'll discover that it's chocked full of natural goodness that may just be the awesome break you need to unclog your life.
2 Onta no sato
Day 1 Flying into a foreign country mid-day has its perks. There's just enough time for a mini carpe diem, yet not too much before putting jet lag to bed. I got into 1 Fukuoka International Airport in time for a speedy lunch in the terminal before hitting Budget Car Hire to pick up my rental car, which quite naturally, was a Toyota. Having a English speaking GPS has never felt so comforting. While traffic regulations are similar to Singapore's and their roads clearly marked, the road signs are all scrawled in Japanese. Unless you're confident navigating by staring at clouds and stars, I recommend taking ample time to acquaint yourself with your global positioning buddy before setting off. It may speak English, but everything on the screen is riddled in, but of course, Japanese. The first (and only) pitstop I made this day was at a traditional pottery town located in 2 Onta no sato, part of Oita prefecture and a leisurely 1.5 hours drive southwest from the airport. A hilly terrain marked with modest houses and workshops, Onta no sato is legendary for hosting traditional family-run potteries for the past 300 years. Today, there are 10 families left plying the trade of handcrafting earthenware from scratch, using only time-honoured instruments like giant wooden mortars (powered by a flowing stream via a lever system) to pound clay till they are fine enough to be sifted, sun-dried, moulded and sent for
baking in a brick kiln. Clearly a male-dominated micro industry, a kindly craftsman revealed that customs meant only the eldest son can inherit the family business, and only men are allowed to etch embellishments onto the ware. This is a good spot to get your local knick-knack fix; there is an assortment of crockery selling at prices that do their labour of love no justice. Witnessing the hard work of crafting bowls was oddly exhausting, I couldn't wait to zip out west to 3 Hanabishi Hotel, my crib for the night in the coastal town of Beppu, ergo onsen paradise. Apart from spacious tatami-styled rooms with ocean views, this tidy establishment is also home to one of Beppu's oldest and most reputed onsens.
3 Hanabishi Hotel
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ON THE ROAD
Day 2 Rejuvenated, day two saw an early start with a south-bound drive into Kumamoto prefecture where 4 Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano resides. I must confess, I've never peered into the crater of a live volcano before, which explained why I was expecting a sputtering pit of crimson lava. Standing at 1,952 metres above sea level with five peaks, several craters and a caldera circumference that some argue is the largest in the world, I was psyched to visit this majestic beast. The real deal turned out to be more teddy bear than beast, complete with twinkling pools of azure in some craters. Not all peaks are accessible by road. Hint: Drive up the west side of Mount Naka to take in the splendour without breaking a sweat. It's hard not to feel invincible when you're literally (well, almost) at the top the the world, and do something brave like throw caution to the wind on horseback. Fortunately, El Rancho Grande, a Texan-styled riding ranch was only a short drive away. For ¥3300 a pax, I was loaned a gorgeous mare which I learnt to mount, dismount and maneuver under the guidance of a suave ranch hand. It was hardly 10 minutes before Miss Mare and I were walking out of the training ring and wandering around a barren lavender farm (which I can only imagine must be a splendid sight in Spring). The lesson was definitely the best 30 minutes of thrill I've had in a while. Well, until I hit the 5 Yume Suspension Bridge that is. Another 'best of' from Kyushu, this metal marvel is the longest footpath suspension bridge in Japan, stretching 390 metres
El Rancho Grande
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4 Mt Aso
across a valley that measures 173 metres at its deepest. What began as a brisk stride slowed into a stagger halfway down as violent gales threatened to rock people overboard. With great risk, naturally, comes great reward. If you want the postcard view – knotted network of streams sprawled beneath, skies of pastel blue above and rolling waterfalls set against twenty pantone hues of green and brown all around – man up, get to the middle and enjoy. As a relaxing end to the day, a tour of 6 Kumamoto Castle was just my cuppa. The heavily-fortified tower, built in 1469,
boasts an intricate interior of labyrinths and clever defenses – all of which were pivotal to Kyushu's victory in the Seinan Civil War. The castle today serves as a gorgeous landmark, with a glowing night view which I reveled from stay at Kumamoto Castle Hotel.
Day 3 Farewell Kumamoto and hello Nagasaki! My ride and I boarded an early morning ferry to Shimabara port, a 45-journey that was made amusing by a swarm of gulls hovering above the deck. For the uninformed, cheap snacks at hand easily scores you a National Geographic-worthy close-up of a bird or two. Don't fret about nipped fingers, these gulls swoop in with typical Japanese precision and courtesy. It's highly unusual for Nagasaki to snow in early December, which made the sudden snow fall at the foot of Unzen Volcanic Geopark all the more stunning. Covering the entire Shimabara peninsula of the Nagasaki prefecture, this landmark is iconic not just for hosting the active Mount Unzen volcano, but also for its native community of 150,000 people who have lived and coped with the temperamental giant for generations. The hike up the scenic gradient was made more poetic by the powdery windfall, although it can be a pain when you're braving -7˚C in a pair of ballet flats. As a land fertile with volcanic minerals and tectonic activities, it wasn't surprising to find natural hot springs lurking around.
ON THE ROAD Typical Pottery Workshop
Yume Suspension Bridge
Mount Unzen
Kumamoto Castle Dinner
3 Driving Tips By Hertz UÊ Install tire chains if you are driving to a region that is experiencing snowfall. UÊ Factor in possible congestion when planning your route as traffic could be slow on certain roads. UÊ Keen an open eye for any change in traffic arrangements as road closures due to poor conditions are not unheard of. Hertz, in association with Toyota Rent A Car, has a network of 1,200 locations in major cities in Japan including Kyushu, Okinawa, Hokkaido, Tokyo and Kyoto to offer you self-drive convenience.
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ON THE ROAD 7 Unzen Hell
What was fascinating, though, was having my feet thawed on the toasty wooden planks that weave above them while wintry flakes dust from the skies. 7 Unzen Hell was where I experienced this heavenly bliss, despite the irony. One of the region's most popular hotspring towns, its reference to hell was inspired by the smoggy sulphuric gases that hiss through the grounds. Trot over to traditional dining inns such as Fukudaya to enjoy the regional feast of Volcano champon. A simple ramen soup dish spiked with fresh vegetable and meat, it's comfort food at its best. An hour's drive from Shimabara, the 8 Nagasaki Atomic War Museum sobered me with its trove of pictures, essays and relics that told the tragedy of August 9th, 1945. War strife aside, Nagasaki has much to celebrate, like its specialty in glassmaking. I spent a good hour honing my soldering skill under the stern tutelage of a master craftsman at the Ruri Ann Nagasaki Handcraft Center, a tidy workshop where Tiffany and Co's iconic stained-glass lamp was rumoured to be born. Sadly, dexterity isn't my forte and what began as a simple soldering of two glass tiles was met with a grotesque end. My very own Tiffany and Co effort for the cost of ¥1050 a lesson? Good value, I say. 88 escape!
Day 4 The final leg saw me looping back to Fukuoka, this time with a full day to spare. First up was a trip to 9 Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, home of the God of
Learning, 197 types of plum trees, and a steady stream of visitors amongst other interesting claims to fame. Cross the two ornate bridges that arc over a pond in succession to symbolise a smooth transition from past to present and future; but beware ill luck begets those who look back. I reckon inking your apologies on an 'ema' – a wooden plate where wishes are written on and hung up for blessings – could remedy a tiny faux pas. Next up was a drop-in at the Kushida Shrine. Nestled in the heart of the charming old city of Hakata, this shrine serves as starting point of the annual Yamasaka festival that's held every first July thru the 15th. What started with a priest sprinkling water to deflect evil as he was hoisted around town 700 years ago evolved into Fukuoka's most famous festival today. Participants, mainly men, race through streets bearing elaborate floats on their shoulders and wearing nothing more than a wedge of loin cloth below their waists. My final hours in Kyushu were spent indulging in one of Fukuoka's newer mega malls – Canal City. From international labels to quirky boutiques, bargain trinkets to big ticket buys, the 250 shops here are designed to fulfill every whim and fancy. It's also heaven for foodies, too, with restaurants galore and an entire level dedicated to ramen.
Not many places in the world today can boast tourist friendly roads with a horizon of gallant mountains
Unzen Volcanic Geopark Snow Makes Everything Look Poetic
Special thanks to the Kyushu Government and Dream Interface for making this trip possible
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ince opening its doors in 2005, The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan has continued to set the standard of Jakarta’s luxury hotel market. Located in the business district of Mega Kuningan, the hotel is a mere 45 minutes drive from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Designed by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart & Associates, the 26-storey hotel boasts 333 luxury rooms including two Grand Spa Terrace villas on the 5th floor, which is adjacent to the spa and recreation area, two world-class dining establishments, a club and a 8,000-square metre spa and health club facility which comprises of 19 treatment rooms, two couple spa villas, relaxation lounges, a sauna, a steam room, a whirlpool, a cascading resort sized pool and a fitness centre complete with training and cardiovascular equipment.
PERSONALISED SERVICE What makes a stay at The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan so memorable is the attention to detail enjoyed by guests of the hotel. Business travellers will appreciate the exclusivity and privacy on offer;
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honeymooners will delight at the rose petals scattered on their beds and the specially prepared romantic dinners by the pool; families can spend a weekend and short holiday in a nice, relaxing ambience. Accommodations are Jakarta’s most spacious. All guestrooms feature a 42-inch plasma TV, laptop-size safe deposit box, walk-in wardrobes and designer bath essentials. The bathrooms are decorated with large marble tiles and wellpositioned floor to ceiling windows providing panoramic views of the city skyline. The modern style décor of the room is softened by the use of natural coloured furniture that adds a sense of comfort and serenity.
A LEVEL ABOVE For a more exclusive stay, guests can opt for a room on the Ritz-Carlton Club Level, a special floor that includes expansive accommodations boasting Bvlgari bath essentials and an access to the club lounge on the 26th floor. Guests staying at these club rooms or suites will go straight to the club lounge for check-in and check-out and have a dedicated concierge attend to individual needs in a well appointed and relaxed lounge environment.
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Castle in the Sky
The Banyan Tree Ringha, located in the Tibetan highlands, gives farmstay a brilliant luxurious twist words MARIA VISCONTI images THE BANYAN TREE RINGHA
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LUXE STAY
hangri-La is a name that evokes images of a hidden paradise in the clouds and The Banyan Tree Ringha – cocooned in an idyllic high altitude valley at 3,200 metres – delivers. Massive Tibetan farmhouses from neighbouring areas have been painstakingly taken apart and transported to the green pastures of this sleepy hollow. Richard Neo, general manager, who overlooked the project five years ago, says: “The farmhouses had fallen into disrepair when we acquired them. We have put them back together like a giant jigsaw puzzle, every beam and joint having been numbered beforehand. The houses now bear the names of their previous owners.”
IN THE LAP OF LUXURY
Scattered over rolling countryside, the farmhouses have been transformed into lodges of one or two bedrooms (the latter category comes with two bathrooms and is ideal for four friends travelling together or a family of four). The rooms are exquisitely decorated with authentic Tibetan artefacts, textiles and woodcarvings. In some lodges, there is even a giant central fireplace. Generous proportions and great vistas from every balcony and window make this rural setting the foil to voluptuous, luxury stays. The space is so cleverly designed that separate areas for entertaining, relaxing, writing and eating all flow seamlessly into one big space. An Australian guest, an Asian art collector and previous owner of an Asian art gallery in Sydney says: “I stay at all the top hotels of the world when I travel but this one leaves them for dead. I just can’t get over the authentic décor, the idea of taking up residence in an authentic Tibetan farmhouse and the setting.” Another guest, a banker from Singapore says: “I’m travelling with friends and we are sharing a lodge. My rooms are downstairs in what would have been the cowshed. I have never been in a more luxurious cowshed. My bathroom is to die for. I have a wooden spa tub. I cannot wait to get a good soak in it after I go chasing up some paintings in the old town.”
PART OF THE COMMUNITY
The houses are far apart, guaranteeing absolute privacy. Stone paths connect them to the public buildings (also converted farmhouses) where two restaurants, gallery and reception area are housed. Cattle, sheep and yaks belonging to the nearby escape! 95
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LUXE STAY village roam free in the complex’s periphery. The river down below gurgles past cultivated fields and picturesque bridges. I enquire about the relationship between villagers and the complex and Mr Neo points out the Banyan Tree has a policy of sustainable tourism promoting the well being of surrounding communities. Solar heating panels and a school have been provided for the next-door village and there is continuous interaction between the management and the locals. The Spa, also located in a farmhouse, is a heavenly retreat. Local therapists – specially trained at the Banyan Tree Spa headquarters in Thailand – welcome you with fragrant local teas and treatments to ease your mind and body. Diners at the Chang Sa Bar and Restaurant are tempted to try Yunnan specialties and the Llamo Restaurant serves a top class selection of Chinese, Singaporean and Western cuisines.
main street and now the new street past the first square contains first class antique shops, art galleries and jewellers. All the buildings are done in traditional style, with artfully carved wood details. Every evening at 7pm the locals gather in the square to dance for joy. Some wear their traditional costumes and some just drop by from work to join in the circular dances lead by a group of older ladies. Young and old; farmers; shopkeepers and the local doctor dance to traditional music pumped with a bit of modern beats. The Tara Gallery Café and Bar offers art on the walls, intimate spaces and Indian
food down to the ubiquitous masala-chai. Look for House 29 off the main street. The building itself is a centuries old trading house, on the old tea-horse road. The building is charming and is complete with original secret storing chambers and carved wooden alcoves. Wondering the lovely lanes one evening, I stumble upon the Artistic Space of the Sacred (Long Gang #3) where stunning modern paintings by artist Ah Meng are for sale. Tibetan high plateau themes and a penchant for depicting yaks, horses and working dogs in a vibrant way, has made Ah Meng a well known name in
STREET SPIRIT
It takes determination to pull yourself away from your farmhouse but only a 15 minute drive away (rental 4x4s are available on the premises) is Zhongdian’s old town, with flagstone streets polished by time and the tiny horses’ hooves that for centuries carried tea from the south of China to Tibet. The Old Tea-Horse Road, which for centuries linked tea-producing Yunnan to Tibet, is having a cultural revival. The main street is the original and still has the oldest house in town (which can be visited). The street is now full of antique shops and eating-places. Best for food and ambience is The Potala Restaurant, also in a historical house. There has been a tasteful addition to the 6 7
1. The rooms are furnished with authentic Tibetan artefacts 2. The hotel is set against a backdrop of streams and rolling hills 3. A fireplace sits in the middle of the lobby 4. The spa is located in a refurbished farmhouse 5. A fireplace warms the room 6. The Llamo is one of the dining options 7. The bathrooms feature gorgeous tubs
art circles. He holds exhibitions in China and abroad but also tends personally to potential buyers and visitors. The Banyan Tree at Ringha offers a complete program of outdoor activities from soft adventure to trekking with or without horses. After an incursion into the mountains, I head for the Spa where a black sesame seed scrub is followed by a Himalayan Bliss massage. In James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizons, ‘Shangri-La’ is a harmonious valley where people live forever in a permanent state of happiness only ageing slightly. From my massage bed right now, I know I’ve found this mythical valley and don’t want to leave. Ever. escape! 97
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TOURISM AUSTRALIA #08-03 United Square, 101 Thomson Road, Singapore 307591. Tel: 65 6255 4555; www.tourism.australia.com; www.australia.com
BRUNEI TOURISM Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Jalan Menteri Besar, Bandar Seri Begawan BB3910 – Brunei Darussalam. Tel: 673 238 2829; www.bruneitourism.travel
GERMAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE #12-00 Singapore Land Tower, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore 048623. Tel: 65 6231 0856; www.discover-germany.sg/tourism.html
AUSTRIA
CHINA
GERMANY Boasting enchanting medieval villages with festivals and regional specialities, picturesque countrysides with castles, palaces and abbeys, Germany is a land of a thousand possibilities.
HONG KONG
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AUSTRIAN EMBASSY #24-04/05 Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188778. Tel: 65 6396 6350; www.austria.info/sg
CHINA NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE #12-02A Suntec Tower 1, 7 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 068898. Tel: 65 6337 2220; www.cnto.org
HONG KONG TOURISM BOARD #34-03 Suntec Tower 2, 9 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038938. Tel: 65/6336-5800; www. discoverhongkong.com
AUSTRIA is one of the world’s premier skiing regions. Apart from snowy slopes, it is also home to historical buildings, magnificent mountains, established hiking trails, museums and galleries.
BRITAIN
CHINA has a rich history and is home to many of the world’s most revered treasures. You can also find spectacular architecture and towering skylines in Shanghai and Beijing.
DUBAI
HONG KONG From quaint teahouses to lively night markets, Hong Kong is a city of cultural and gastronomic attractions. Shop up a storm, hike up rural mountains, and drink in the magnificent skyline.
INDIA
3
DUBAI is a great holiday destination, with year-round sunshine offering the finest facilities and renowned Arabian hospitality.
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VISIT BRITAIN 600 North Bridge Road #09-10 Parkview Square, Singapore 188778. Tel: 65 6511 4301; www.visitbritain.sg
GOVERNMENT OF DUBAI, DEPT OF TOURISM AND COMMERCE MARKETING 10/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Tel: 852 2827 221; www.dubaitourism.ae
INDIA TOURISM #01-01 United House, 20 Kramat Lane, Singapore 228773. Tel: 65 6235 3800; www.incredibleindia.org
BRITAIN Towering castles, quiet villages, ancient ruins, posh shops, top nosh... there’s so much to do in Britain, we reckon you’ll never ever want to go home!
98 escape!
INDIA From rugged deserts to serene backwaters and architectural wonders like the Taj Mahal, it is truly an incredible destination for intrepid travellers.
TRAVEL UPDATE INDONESIA
MALAYSIA
PHILIPPINES
INDONESIA Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago with over 17,000 islands filled with both natural and manmade attractions.
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MALAYSIA is home to cosmopolitan cities, colourful festivals and deliciously varied cuisines that will please both culture vultures and city slickers.
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INDONESIA TOURISM Lot 125, 1st Floor, Wisma MPL, Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 603 2145 6411; www.visit-indonesia.com.my
MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board 9th Floor, No.2 Tower 1, Jalan P5/6, Precint 5, 62200 Putrajaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 603 8891 8000; www.tourism.gov.my
PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM 4/F DOT Building, T.M. Kalaw Street Rizal Park, Manila 1000, Philippines. Tel: 632 525 3826; www.tourism.gov.ph
JAPAN
12
JAPAN From ancient shrines and futuristic cities to mystic mountains, Japan offers a wealth of sights both old and new.
JAPAN NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION S’PORE OFFICE #15-09 Hong Leong Building, 16 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048581. Tel: 65/6223-8205; www.jnto.org.sg
KOREA
MEXICO
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SEYCHELLES
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MEXICO Choose a romantic getaway, or take a cultural tour to learn more about the Mayans and Aztecs. Enjoy shopping in the luxurious malls and be blown away by the cuisine.
SEYCHELLES Seychelles is perfect for an island hopping adventure. Powdery white beaches, turquoise waters, and an idyllic uncrowded atmosphere provide a setting made for pure relaxation.
MEXICO TOURISM BOARD 2-15-2-3F, Nagata-Cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0014 Japan. Tel: 813 3503 0290; www.visitmexico.com
SEYCHELLES TOURISM BOARD Bel Ombre I PO Box 1262 Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles Tel: 248 67 13 00; mob: 248 72 42 11; fax: 248 62 06 20; www.seychelles.travel
NEW ZEALAND
SOUTH KOREA Explore the picturesque mountains and lush rice paddies, visit temples and pagodas, or shop up a storm.
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NEW ZEALAND With breathtaking scenery, being in New Zealand will make you feel like you’re in a whole new world.
KOREA NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION #01-02 Korea Plaza, Samsung Hub, 3 Church Street, Singapore 049483. Tel: 65 6533 0441; www.visitkorea.or.kr
TOURISM NEW ZEALAND 391A Orchard Road, #15-06/10 Ngee Ann City Tower A, Singapore 238873. Tel: 65 6738 5844; www.newzealand.com
MACAU
PHILIPPINES The Philippines is home to palm-fringed beaches, natural wonders like the Chocolate Hills of Bohol and some of the world’s best diving sites.
17
NEPAL
MACAU Besides glitzy casinos, the former Portuguese colony is also a destination to experience a fusion of European and Chinese cultures.
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MACAU GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE #12-06 Keypoint, 371 Beach Road, Singapore 199597. Tel: 65/6292-5383; www.macautourism.gov.sg
NEPAL TOURISM BOARD 230 Serangoon Avenue 4 #07-71 Singapore 550230. Tel: 65 6498 0294; www.welcomenepal.com
NEPAL Nepal is a land of scenic splendor, diverse culture, rich heritage and home to some of the best hiking trails on earth.
SINGAPORE
21
SINGAPORE Explore cultural precincts and religious landmarks, shop up a storm at quirky boutiques and swanky malls, hike up leafy walking trails and feast on food. SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD Tourism Court, 1 Orchard Spring Lane, Singapore 247729. Tel: 65 6736 6622; www.visitsingapore.com
SPAIN
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SPAIN This passionate country is also where you can visit world-class museums, see gorgeous baroque architecture and explore world heritage sites and medieval towns. SPAIN TOURISM BOARD #09-04 Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Road, Singapore 238881. Tel: 65 6737 3008; www.spain.info
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SWITZERLAND
Travel Agencies ALIVE TRAVEL & TOURISM PTE LTD 55 Market Street Level 10, Singapore 048941 Tel: 65 6521 3118 Fax: 65 6521 3001 www.alivetourism.cc
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SWITZERLAND has a gorgeous landscape of snowy peaks and sparkling lakes, and offers the experience of German, French and Italian cultures. TOURISM SWITZERLAND C/O EMBASSY OF SWITZERLAND 1 Swiss Club Link, Singapore 288162. Tel: 65 6468 5788; www.MySwitzerland.com
THAILAND
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THAILAND Be charmed by the Thai’s famed hospitality whether you are hunting up bargains in street markets, chilling out on white-sand beaches or visiting ancient temples.
TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND Royal Thai Embassy, 370 Orchard Road, Singapore 238870. Tel: 65 6235 7901; www.tourismthailand.org.sg
TAIWAN
APPLE VACATIONS SINGAPORE PTE LTD 2 Havelock Road #01-10/11/12/13, Singapore 059763 Tel: 65 6533 5161 Fax: 65 6533 5261 www.applevacations.com.sg CITYSTATE TRAVEL PTE LTD 3 Pickering Street (Enter By China Street) #01-18/19, Singapore 048660 Tel: 65 6372 4999 www.citystate.travel/holidays DIVINE INTERNATIONAL EXPLORE & TREKS (S) PTE LTD Blk 230 Serangoon Ave 4, #07-71, Singapore 550230 Tel: 65 6498 0294 Fax: 65 6383 8327 www.divineexplore.com.sg DYNASTY TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD 35 New Bridge Road Level 5 Dynasty Travel Hub, Singapore 059395 Tel: 65 6532 5313 Fax: 65 6338 3337 www.dynastytravel.com.sg EU HOLIDAYS PTE LTD 2HR (former Apollo Centre) 2 Havelock Road #01-21, Singapore 059763 Tel: 65 6535 8535 Fax: 65 6307 7060 www.euholidays.com.sg FIVE STARS TOURS PTE LTD 1 Park Road #05-01 People’s Park Complex, Singapore 059108 Tel: 65 6535 9988 Fax: 65 6536 3430 www.fivestarsonline.com
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FOLLOW ME JAPAN PTE LTD 16 Raffles Quay #B1-14D Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581 Tel: 65 6221 4250 Fax: 65 6226 7293 www.followmejapan.com.sg
TAIWAN VISITORS ASSOCIATION #31-11 UIC Building, 5 Shenton Way, Singapore 068808. Tel: 65 6223 3546; www.taiwan.net.tw
G.E.T. MANAGEMENT PTE LTD 1 Syed Alwi Road #06-01 Song Lin Building, Singapore 207628 Tel: 65/6296 2886 Fax: 65/6296 1663 www.getlesisure.sg
TAIWAN Big cities, small towns, rustic villages — you can find them all in Taiwan. Savour the country’s famous street snacks while visiting their many temples and museums.
TURKEY
H.I.S. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL PTE LTD 100 Tras Street #17-01 Amara Corporate Tower, Singapore 079027 Tel: 65 6224 1512 Fax: 65 6224 7129 www.his-travel.com
TURKEY Exciting, exotic Istanbul fascinates travellers. Take your pick of museums, churches, mosques and palaces to explore.
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M ASIA TRAVEL PTE LTD 101 Upper Cross Street People’s Park Centre #B1-17K, Singapore 058357 Tel: 65 6456 6678 www.mat.com.sg
TURKEY EMBASSY TOURISM & INFORMATION OFFICE M-W-2, Mezzanine Floor, West Wing, Rohas Perkasa Building, 9 Jalan P. Ramlee, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 603 2164 4060; www.goturkey.com
NAM HO TRAVEL SERVICE (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD 100 Eu Tong Sen Street #01-14/16/18 Pearl’s Centre, Singapore 059812
100 escape!
Tel: 65 6221 8433 Fax: 65 6225 2588 www.namho.com.sg NEW SHAN TRAVEL SERVICE PTE LTD 20 Maxwell Road #01-02 Maxwell House, Singapore 069113 Tel: 65 6546 7333 Fax: 65 6220 1833 www.newshan.com NEWAY TRAVEL SERVICE 1 Park Road, People’s Park Complex #02-29, Singapore 059108 Tel: 65 6438 7478 Fax: 65 6438 9794 www.newaytravel.com.sg SEIKI TRAVEL 302 Tiong Bahru Road #04-2A Tiong Bahru Plaza, Singapore 168732 Tel: 65 6276 9009 www.seiki.com.sg SINGEXPRESS TRAVEL PTE LTD 260 Tanjong Pagar Road 9th Floor, Singapore 088542 Tel: 65 6318 9555 www.singexpress.com.sg TRADEWINDS TOURS & TRAVEL 3 Tampines Central 1, #02-03 Abacus Plaza, Singapore 529540 Tel: 65 6506 7777 Fax: 65 6490 0525 www.tradewindstours.com WEGO PTE LTD 230 Victoria Street #04-01 Bugis Junction Towers, Singapore 188024 Tel: 65 6438 8242 Fax: 65 6438 8245 www.wego.com WTS TRAVEL & TOURS PTE LTD 1 Jalan Anak Bukit #B1-52 Bukit Timah Plaza, Singapore 588996 Tel: 65 6314 8558 www.wtstravel.com.sg
Car Rental HERTZ ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD 350 Orchard Road #14-08 Shaw House, Singapore 238868 Tel: 1800-370-3388 HERTZ RESERVATION CENTRE Hong Kong Tel: 2525 2838 Indonesia Tel: 001 803 657 788 Malaysia Tel: 03 2715 8383 Singapore Tel: 1800 839 3388 Thailand Tel: 02 634 1804 www.hertz.com
TRAVEL UPDATE Hotels / Resorts MALAYSIA
SINGAPORE
MANDARIN SINGAPORE Marina Mandarin Singapore 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039594 Tel: 65 6845 1000 www.meritushotels.com
BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR 1 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2117 8000 www.berjayahotel.com
FAIRMONT SINGAPORE 80 Bras Basah Road Singapore 189560 Tel: 65 6339 7777 www.fairmont.com
NAUMI 41 Seah Street Singapore 188396 Tel: 65 6403 6000 www.naumihotel.com
BERJAYA LANGKAWI RESORT Karong Berkunci 200, Burau Bay, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman Tel: 604 959 1888 www.berjayahotel.com
GRAND PARK CITY HALL 10 Coleman Street Singapore 179809 Tel: 65 6336-3456 www.parkhotelgroup.com
ORCHARD HOTEL SINGAPORE 442 Orchard Road Singapore 238879 Tel: 6734 7766 www.millenniumhotels.com.sg
BERJAYA PENANG HOTEL 1-Stop Midlands Park, Burmah Road, 10350 Georgetown, Penang Tel: 604 227 7111 www.berjayahotel.com
HILTON SINGAPORE 581 Orchard Road Singapore 238883 Tel: 65 6737 2233 www.hilton.co.uk
PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE 7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039595 Tel: 65 6336 81111 www.panpacific.com/singapore/ overview.html
BERJAYA TIOMAN RESORT P.O.Box 4, 86807 Mersing, Johor Darul Takzim Tel: 609 419 1000 www.berjayahotel.com
HOTEL REI @ Pearlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hill 175A Chin Swee Road Singapore 169879 Tel: 65 6827 8220 www.hotelre.com.sg
PENINSULAR EXCELSIOR HOTEL 5 Coleman Street Singapore 179805 Tel: 6337 2200 www.ytchotels.com.sg
BERJAYA SINGAPORE HOTEL 83 Duxton Road, Singapore 089540 Tel: 65 6227 7678 www.berjayahotel.com
HOLIDAY INN SINGAPORE Singapore Orchard City Centre 11 Cavenagh Road Singapore 229616 Tel: 65 6733 8333 www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/ singapore
SINGAPORE MARRIOTT HOTEL 320 Orchard Road Singapore, 238865 Tel: 6735-5800 W: www.marriott.com
BUKIT GAMBANG RESORT CITY, KUANTAN Carribean Bay Suites, Jalan BGRC Utama, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur Tel: 609 548 8000 www.bgrc.com.my
INTERCONTINENTAL SINGAPORE 80 Middle Road Singapore 188966 Tel: 65 6338 7600 www.singapore.intercontinental.com
SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, SINGAPORE 22 Orange Grove Road Singapore 258350 Tel: 65 6737 3644 www.shangri-la.com
CITITEL PENANG 66 Jalan Penang, 10000 Penang Tel: 604 370 1188 www.cititelpenang.com
KLAPSONS THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL 15 Hoe Chiang Road Singapore 089316 Tel: 65 6521 9000 www.klapsons.com
SWISSTOTEL THE STAMFORD SINGAPORE 2 Stamford Road Singapore 178882 Tel: 65 6338 8585 www.swissotel.com/singaporestamford
COLMAR TROPICALE, BERJAYA HILLS KM48, Persimpangan Bertingkat, Lebuhraya Karak, 28750 Bukit Tinggi, Bentong, Pahang Darul Makmur Tel: 609 288 8888 www.berjayahotel.com
MARINA BAY SANDS Marina Bayfront Ave Singapore 018956 Tel: 65 6845- 000 www.marinabaysands.com
THE FULLERTON HOTEL 1 Fullerton Square Singapore 049178 Tel: 65 6733 8388 www.fullertonhotel.com
EASTIN HOTEL PETALING JAYA 13 Jalan 16/11, Pusat Dagang Seksyen 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 603 7665 1111 www.eastin.com
MANDARIN ORCHARD SINGAPORE 333 Orchard Road Singapore 238867 Tel: 65 6737 4411 Fax: 65 6235 6688 www.meritushotels.com
THE RITZ-CARLTON MILLENIA, SINGAPORE 7 Raffles Avenue Singapore 039799 Tel: 65 6337 8888 www.ritzcarlton.com
EASTIN HOTEL PENANG 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queensbay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang Tel: 604 612 1111 www.eastin.com
CARLTON HOTEL SINGAPORE 76 Bras Basah Road Singapore 189558 Tel: 65 6338 8333 www.carlton.com.sg
escape! 101
TRAVEL UPDATE Hotels / Resorts MALAYSIA
INDONESIA
EQUATORIAL CAMERON HIGHLANDS Kea Farm, Brinchang, 39100 Cameron Highlands, Pahang Darul Makmur Tel: 605 496 1777 www.equatorial.com/cam/
PARKROYAL PENANG Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Penang Tel: 604 881 1133 www.parkroyalhotels.com
GRAN MELIA Jalan HR Rasuna Said Jakarta Capital Region 12950, Indonesia Tel: (62-21) 526 8080
GRAND MILLENNIUM KUALA LUMPUR 160 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2117 4888 www.grandmillenniumkl.com
PRINCE HOTEL & RESIDENCE KUALA LUMPUR 4 Jalan Conlay, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2170 8888 www.princehotelkl.com
HOTEL ARCADIA JAKARTA Jalan Kyai Haji Wahid Hasyim Jakarta Capital Region 10340, Indonesia Tel: (0)21 230 0050
HARD ROCK HOTEL PENANG Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Penang Tel: 604 881 1711 www.hardrockhotels.com
SUNWAY RESORT HOTEL & SPA Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 603 7492 8000 www.sunwayhotels.com
HOTEL KEMPENSKI 62 21 23583800 JL. MH Thamrin No.1, Jakarta Capital Region 10310, Indonesia
HOTEL ISTANA KUALA LUMPUR CITY CENTRE 73 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2141 9988 www.hotelistana.com.my
SUNWAY HOTEL SEBERANG JAYA 11 Lebuh Tenggiri Dua, Pusat Bandar Seberang Jaya, 13700 Prai, Penang Tel: 604 370 7788 www.sunwayhotels.com
HOTEL NIKKO Jl. MH. Thamrin 59, Jakarta 10350 Indonesia Tel: 62 21 2301122
HOTEL MAYA KUALA LUMPUR 138 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2711 8866 www.hotelmaya.com.my
SWISS-GARDEN HOTEL & RESIDENCES KUALA LUMPUR 117 Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2141 3333 www.swissgarden.com
INTERCONTINENTAL JAKARTA MIDPLAZA J1 Jend Sudirman Kav. 10-11
IMPIANA KLCC HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR 13 Jalan Pinang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2147 1111 www.impiana.com
THE SAUJANA HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR Saujana Resort, Jalan Lapangan Terbang SAAS, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 603 7843 1234 www.thesaujanahotel.com
MANDARIN ORIENTAL Jl. Mh Thamrin, 10310, Indonesia Tel: 62 21 2993 8888
ONE WORLD HOTEL First Avenue, Bandar Utama City Centre, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 603 7681 1111 / 603 7712 2222 www.oneworldhotel.com.my
THE ZON ALL SUITES RESIDENCES ON THE PARK KUALA LUMPUR 161-D Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2164 8000 www.zonhotel.com.my
MILLENNIUM HOTEL SIRIH JAKARTA Jalan Fachrudin Jakarta Capital Region 10250, Indonesia Tel: 62 21 230 3636
PACIFIC REGENCY HOTEL SUITES KH Tower, Jalan Punchak Off Jalan P.Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2332 7777 www.pacific-regency.com PALACE OF THE GOLDEN HORSES Jalan Kuda Emas, Mines Wellness City, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: 603 8946 4888 www.palaceofthegoldenhorses. com.my
PARKROYAL KUALA LUMPUR Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 603 2147 0088 www.parkroyalhotels.com
102 escape!
INDONESIA
CROWNE PLAZA 2-3 Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto Jakarta Capital Region 10270, Indonesia Tel: 62 21 526 8833
GRAND HYATT Jalan M. H. Thamrin Kav. 28-30, Jakarta Capital Region 10350, Indonesia Tel: 62 21 3901234
GRAN MAHAKAM HOTEL 6 Jl. Mahakam I 12130, Indonesia Tel: (0)21 720 9966
JW MARRIOT Jalan Lingkar Mega Kuningan Kav E 1. 2 No 1 Jakarta Capital Region 12950, Indonesia Tel: (0)21 5798 8888
SARI PAN PACIFIC JAKARTA HOTEL 6 Jl. Mh Thamrin, 10340
SHANGRI-LA 1 Jalan Karet Pasar Baru Timur Jakarta Capital Region 10210, Indonesia Tel: 62 21 570 7440
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Hair Lounge
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Fitness Fight Works Asia
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Florist Urban Desires
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Sports Retail Urban Inline
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Palms Spa@Southlinks Country Club
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Hotels & Resorts Hotel Re! Pte Ltd
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Villas Indonesia
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Restaurant and Cafe BigFish Seafood Grill and Restaurant
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Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel
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Private Affairs Kitchen & Bar
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Red House Seafood Restaurant
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Red House at the Quayside
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Travel CTC Holidays
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RevePlanner
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Wine Retail Booze Wine Shop
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Kim Chooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen (East Coast Branch)
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JOURNAL
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1. Opening ceremony of Visit Japan Travel Mart 2. Maiko, an apprentice geisha 3. Buyers and sellers engrossed in discussion 4. Chef preparing Sashimi during the VJTM closing ceremony 5. Miss Kimono Japan 2011 6. Representatives from Okayama Prefectural Government 7. Representatives from Kagoshima Visitors Bureau 8. Mr Shuichi Kameyama, JTA
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Visit Japan Travel Mart 2011
Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic revitalisation sees optimistic prospects for inbound tourism
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isit Japan Travel Mart, a trade event held on 22 and 23 November 2011 in Yokohama, Japan, attracted media and travel agencies from around the world for a two-day business exchange. This international exchange for inbound and outbound tourism in Japan saw the gathering of representatives from Russia, America, Canada, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and many other countries. They were offered firsthand information on tourism conditions and safety of Japan, and at the same time learnt about the travel
promotion projects drafted out for potential inbound travellers. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and the unfortunate nuclear accidents in Fukushima have caused a drastic decrease in inbound tourism figures. However, Japan has assured the public that the country is clear of any danger in nuclear contaminations, which encompasses the safety of food, water and airborne radiation levels. In the efforts of promoting tourism, it aims to increase the number of foreign visitors to Japan to 25 million per year by
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the beginning of 2020 and to 30 million in the future. The tourism bureau also intends to create new types of tourism attractions, including sports, medical, fashion, food, movie and animation tourism. It has implemented multi-language facilitation measures in the 13 districts throughout Japan to reduce language barrier for foreign visitors. Japan has also made use of new media such as Youtube videos of American singer/song writer Lady Gaga and British fashion designer Paul Smith to transmit the messages of health and
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radiation stability of the country. Japan has expressed deep appreciation for the support from the world after the March 2011 earthquake and is ready to welcome foreign visitors, evident by the introduction of the Big Welcome Campaign throughout Japan. Campaign promotions include super sales at department and retail stores, sales of discount transportation tickets in Tokyo, and sales in hotel accommodations. For more information, go to www.visitjapan.jp
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9. Mr Shoji Yoshida, JTA 10. Ms Pauline and Ms Nishimura of Follow Me Japan 11. Miss Kimono with Ms Susan of JNTO 12. Mr Shane Nelson of Travel Weekly, Ms Pimpattra of Asahi Travel Service, Ms Waraporn of Nature Explorer, Mr Alfred Kua of Giamso International Tours 13. Mr Songkran of Sogo World Travel and Mr Wayne Png of H.I.S International Travel
parting shot words & photography NATALIE LEE
Samosir Island located in the middle of Lake Toba is home to the ancient Simanindo Village, which comes alive thrice daily as tourists come to watch and join in the traditional Batak tribal dances.
MEDAN, INDONESIA
10/2011 108 escape!