Viva Asia - Edition 1 2015

ISSUE 1 | 2015

LUXURY BRITISH CARMAKER BENTLEY HAS UNVEILED THE RAREST AND MOST DYNAMIC MEMBER OF THE ESTEEMED CONTINENTAL FAMILY OF GRAND TOURERS WITH THE NEW CONTINENTAL GT3-R. PEOPLE & BUSINESS

LUXURY MOTORING

TRAVEL

Carlos Monterde – FAIRMONT JAKARTA Rudy Akili – AKILI MUSEUM Sharon Chan – SOTHEBY’S

Continental GT3-R – BENTLEY Black Bess – BUGATTI 2014 ELR - CADILLAC

LOIRE VALLEY – FRANCE SO BY SOFITEL – SINGAPORE HOTEL WINDSOR - MELBOURNE

BOATING

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BOATING

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BOATING

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CONTENTS

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THE COLLECTOR

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The Collector

32

Chief Boy Scoot

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Watch This Lady

40

Black Bess is Back

46

Conflicts of Interest

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Businessman Rudy Akili has just re-opened his private gallery that is a unique space for Indonesia’s rising artistic talent.

Sharon Chan is the new head of watches at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. She shares some insights on fine timepieces, to wear and to invest in.

New in Town

Jakarta is abuzz with the opening of the new Fairmont Hotel.

VA talks to the man in charge, Carlos Monterde.

Ultimate in Luxury Motoring 54 We test-drive the new Continental GT3-R – Bentley’s rare and dynamic Grand Tourer with its unique interpretation of performance-focused luxury.

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Fine Jewellery

The House of Bvlgari has been known as jeweller to kings and movie stars for 130 years. We visit a fabulous collection that celebrates more than a century of design history.

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We go with Campbell Wilson to Seattle where the Scoot Airlines CEO takes delivery of his first Dreamliner. Not only revolutionary for air travel but big business.

Bugatti has revived its legendary Type 18 ‘Black Bess’ - one of the first ever street-legal super sports cars.

We travel to Papua-New Guinea where colourful Australian businessman Ian Gowrie-Smith owns 21 islands in an atoll called The Conflicts where you can visit – or even buy one of your own.

Club Med

The legendary French hotelier is losing its holiday camp image and soaring upmarket. Head of this push in Asia is the dynamic Heidi Kunkel.

School of Thought

Air Asia’s Tony Fernandes is one of the enthusiastic faces behind Asia’s newest venture into advanced education with the founding of Epsom College in Malaysia.

BOATING

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CONTENTS

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LAGERFELD IN MONACO

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Lagerfeld in Monaco

88

Duke of Hawaii

66

The Spanish Invasion

92

Grand Old Lady

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Travelling Club Class

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Drink and Drive

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Valley of The Kings

102 Wine

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So Groovy

106 Mixology

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The legendary couturier turns his hand to interior design with a wonderful new restaurant project at the Metropole Monte-Carlo.

So long a secret, Spanish food is making itself known worldwide as a different and delicious cuisine. Two men who are helping this push are Frank Camorra and Richard Cornish in Melbourne – they have even written books about it.

Asia is experiencing a boom in leisure travel – not leisure for the sake of it but to play golf. And it is not all play – it is also big business.

Not in Egypt but in France. Not in Egypt but in France.

The magnificent Loire Valley has been home to royalty for centuries. Chief among its many attractions are the wonderful and historic châteaux.

We stay the night at Singapore’s new Sofitel that sets new standards for design, cuisine and art. Great location, too.

Not an aristocrat but the heiress Doris Duke who built a home in Hawaii. Now it is a museum and, interestingly, the place that houses one of the finest collections of Islamic art in the world.

The Windsor Hotel in Melbourne is a great favourite with Indonesians (it is even owned by one) and good news is, it will not close as planned but is forging ahead in 2015 and beyond.

Well, not exactly but we have discovered the ultimate holiday for the lover of good wine and spirits – all in five-star luxury.

We visit the beautiful countryside of Chile where the wines of Viña Montes are made. These vintages are now moving confidently across the Pacific to Indonesia, thanks to a man called Eduardo Stark.

A rare and colourful collection of cocktails from the RitzCarlton in Hong Kong.

BOATING

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EDITOR’S NOTE A warm welcome to the new-look Viva Asia Magazine.

This first edition marks the entrance of the classiest new chronicle of luxury, lifestyle, travel, design, food and many other things – to Indonesia, Asia and the world.

Up front, we bring you the latest in luxury motoring – look for names like Bentley and Bugatti in this issue – as well as the best in boating and private air travel. We also include everybody’s favourite topics: wristwatches, jewellery and collectible art. We even have a feature on new trends in private education.

Business features prominently – and you will travel on the first 787 Dreamliner to this area. Go to Papua-New Guinea where you might think about investing in your own private desert island. Or read about one of Asia’s biggest-growing leisure tourism businesses: golf.

If you are looking to travel, we bring you some ideas from the four corners of the world. From the U.S., to France, to Singapore, to Australia and to Bali. In Bali, incidentally, we meet Heidi Kunkel who is helping take the Club Med brand upmarket to match five-star rivals – beginning with a total makeover of their beach resort there. And, in Jakarta, we visit the newest five-star hotel that is certainly going to be a tourism and business force in the city: the new Fairmont at Plaza Senayan.

As well, we continue to bring you the latest trends in food and wine.

This time, it is all about the world-wide acceptance of Spanish cuisine.

Chefs, like the old conquistadors, are invading far-flung locations to prove the quality, technique and plain tastiness of Iberian food.

We also visit Chile to see a marvellous vineyard that is a trailblazer with new grape varieties and blends. And, best news, they are available in Jakarta.

If we can drop a couple of names, let’s say Karl Lagerfeld in Monaco, Doris Duke in Hawaii, Tony Fernandes in Malaysia and the odd king or two in France.

We know you will enjoy all this as we see what the Year of the Goat has in store for us. Enjoy this first issue of the new Viva Asia and don’t forget we are on line at www.vivaasiamagazine.com.

Notowisastro Editor in Chief

(noto@vivaasiamagazine.com)

Luxur y British carmaker Bentley introduces a new era in performance and luxur y.

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EDITOR IN CHIEF Notowisastro noto@vivaasiamagazine.com

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Meeliani Handoko meeliani@vivaasiamagazine.com

ADVERTISING Elizabeth

promotions@vivaasiamagazine.com

ACCOUNTING Vivy Susanti accounts@vivaasiamagazine.com

CIRCULATION M. Nur Hasan members@vivaasiamagazine.com

CREATIVE Origomedia

ART DIRECTOR Fitri Dian Anggraeini

REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE - ASIA PT Artha Cipta Pratama Jl. Setiabudi III / 2A Setiabudi, Jakarta Selatan 12910 Indonesia p +62 21 5292 1638 / 7031 6882 f +62 21 5292 1637 e info@vivaasiamagazine.com www.vivaasiamagazine.com

Viva Asia Magazine is dedicated to the celebration of the luxury lifestyle. Viva Asia Magazine is published in Australia by Origomedia Group and distributed direct to high net worth individuals in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

All rights reserved. title and trademark registered, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher the views and opinions expressed or implied in Viva Asia Magazine are those of the contributors and advertisers and not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

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PERSONALITY JAKARTA

THE MAN AND HIS MUSEUM Rudy Akili is retired from his super-successful travel business. He now concentrates on golf – and his passionate love of fine art. His impressive collection of artworks is displayed and stored at his own museum in West Jakarta – newly reopened after a complete renovation. MA goes on a tour with the man himself.

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T

he very personable Rudy Akili is originally from Gorontalo in South Sulawesi. His business success comes from his company Smailing Tours, whose management is now in the hands of his children. (One of his sons, incidentally, is also responsible for the groovy Potato Head restaurants).

He loves Indonesian food and fine French wine. He plays golf just about every day. In fact, the morning after our tour of the museum, he was off to play in Guangdong and Kunming in China.

On the way, he will scour Basel World in Hong Kong for new artwork that interests him.

His newly-renovated museum is more like a Balinese compound, with the main building giving onto an expanse of lawn, a swimming pool and two pavilions for sitting and dining. The museum itself covers three floors and houses classic masters,

PERSONALITY JAKARTA

modern works by both Indonesian and foreign established artists as well as works by up-and-coming artists Mr. Akili thinks worth including. But how has he sourced all these works?

“From the beginning, I did not have a real plan,” he says. “I just bought if I liked a painting or a sculpture. Originally the collection had no proper divisions. But then I made a serious study of Indonesian art and I guess I am kind of an authority on it now.

And I love to see what is being done by the artists not yet wellknown,” he says.

“I have abstract and conventional works. Some I found from dealers but for the new contemporary collection, I got to know the artists and bought them directly.”

“When I buy these days (at auction, galleries, dealers, wherever) it is more or less only to complete my collection. Sometimes I ‘upgrade’ an artist. I have some Affandi, for example. So if I find a better one, I replace it. But it is difficult to discard anything.”

“After my studies, I decided this place should be a timeline – a history of modern painting and sculpture in Indonesia,” he says.

Marc Chagall

“So people can now come to the gallery and study the history for contemporary art. I have a little more logic now. I am not really interested in the commercial value of a piece. I want pieces that fit into the history of art in this country. And I would like to build up a further collection of artists who are entitled to be in the

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PERSONALITY JAKARTA AROUND THE ARCHIPELAGO “Most of the promising artists at the moment are living in Jogjakarta,” Akili muses. “It has always been a centre for the arts but these days it has become a centre for whole painting and modern art movements and people gravitate to the city from all over the country. And this is not a new concept: the Impressionists and the Surrealists, the Pointillists and others gathered in Paris. They experimented and people laughed at them but look at their legacy today!”

“Here in Indonesia, we are a product of history and geography.

Not only indigenous people but we have been visited by the Indians, the Arabs, the Chinese, the Portuguese, the British and the Dutch.”

Wu Guan Zhong

“The latter were most important in helping develop the art scene, chiefly in Bali from 1900 onwards,” he says. “From the 1920s, they inspired Indonesia’s modernist movement. Then, after Independence in 1945, President Soekarno himself showed a very keen appreciation of Indonesian art and he established art schools in Bandung and Yogyakarta.”

“When he left, art here suffered because of politics but after 1998, there evolved a new freedom of expression and you see the results everywhere.”

And he adds almost regrettably as the island has always been considered an important art centre: “I don’t know why. Bali is slightly slow at the moment.”

Zao Wou-Ki

gallery – not only novices but people who have been painting for some decades.”

“And I should add that there are not only paintings now; I am also collecting installations, offbeat sculpture and now, even video art,” he says smiling. “It becomes more exciting every year.”

“So the main reasons for this gallery are to celebrate our old masters (people like Affandi, Hendra Gunawan and Sudjojono) and to be a showcase to show people the artworks that are being produced today.”

So, who are Indonesia’s new Picassos?

“I am discovering some very interesting rising stars,” says Akili.

“In fact, some who come to mind immediately are Masriadi, Srihadi Darsono, Entang Wiharso, Agus Triyanto BR and Dewa Gede Ratayoga. But I am always looking out there for potential.”

Pak Rudy has also developed a passion for Chinese painting and he now has several masterworks in his collection. These sit alongside some other surprises: an important Chagall, Le Mayeur (from different periods), Bonnet and two magnificent multi-media collage portraits by Manolo Valdés, the Spanish artist who lives in New York. He admits influence from Velázquez, Rembrandt, Rubens, Matisse, Picasso, and others. “He hangs alongside Picasso in the Reina Sofia Museum,” says Akili with undisguised pleasure.

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BEYOND Pak Rudy still travels extensively and in all his travels, there is always art at the back of his mind.

“In the Asia radius, I think the art movement is coming along strongly in South Korea, especially with contemporary painters.

A new affluent lifestyle there has also created a demand for art,” he says.

“Things are not as lively in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos but the Philippines are very strong. However, they seem to be going through a slow stage but they still have a lot of very fine artists.

Japan is coming on strong also. But, having said all that, for me it all centres on Indonesia.”

PERSONALITY JAKARTA “Naturally, I do get pleasure from going to other museums, especially in China, France, England and the U.S. In fact, I am delighted to be part of a lending program between many museums. This week, I am very excited that the Ghost Carnival Installation by Agustinus ‘Jompet’ Kuswidananto will be going the national gallery in Amsterdam.”

“Look at it there: hand-made saddles, bridles, boots and hats. But no animals and no people…”

“I must say I am having a great time with these installations,” he says, pointing to a dozen now in his gallery. “Many people find them confrontational but I like to make a study of what is happening here,” says Akili. “It is a step forward – much like amateur collectors who start with a photographic image and then move on to abstract and the adventurous.”

Along with some other collectors in Jakarta, the Akili Museum has taken on the role usually assumed by government and commercial galleries – in fostering, supporting young artists, buying equipment, sponsoring education and then buying their works. Rudy Akili quietly sponsors an annual art prize, the winner sent to study at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.

Meantime, Jakarta can revel in the fact there is an international collection as well as a marvellous chronicle of Indonesian traditional and contemporary art all under one roof. The Akili Museum in Kedoya is open by appointment. w w w.akilimuseum.com

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GALLERY

THE PRIVY PURSE Asprey’s $248,500 handbag is available by invitation only!

Asprey has launched its 2014 private collection, created by Katie Hillier and the in-house design team. It comprises just 12 oneof-a-kind crocodile handbags, each hand-made and featuring 18-carat rose, silver or yellow gold fittings. All are inlaid with rare, precious stones such as tanzanite, sapphire, garnet, cognac, pink and yellow diamonds.

They come in a vivid array of colours: ruby, Breton blue, white grape, mahogany, jet black, sea green, sapphire, violet, tangerine and coral. Each contains a sterling silver mirror, change purse and a special plaque engraved with its unique design number.

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They are presented in a velvet-lined, white calf-leather case and come in several sizes, with prices ranging from $64,000 to $248,500.

“Our clients are always looking for something that no one else has,” says MD, Paddy Byng.

They are all at Asprey’s Bond Street store but you can only view them by invitation so we suggest you rush to their website to try and score a viewing: w w w.asprey.com

GALLERY

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WATCH THIS SPACE

WATCH THIS SPACE Emphasizing the importance of fine timepieces as a vitally important market commodity, the auction house Sotheby’s has created a special position and appointed SHARON CHAN as ‘Head of Watches’ in Asia.

C

han joined Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2011 as a watch specialist. Her role included evaluating, sourcing, cataloguing both modern and vintage timepieces. She has become instrumental in the Important Watches sales in Hong Kong, which have gone from strength to strength in recent years – in 2013 achieving the highest total for any sale of timepieces in Asia.

She actually has a dozen years experience in the auction business, working on both jewellery and watches, so she naturally has strong connections with collectors around the world and plays an important role in expanding the watch market in Asia.

Sotheby’s first stand-alone sale of watches in Hong Kong in 1997 was crucial in establishing this important, new market for collectors in the region. The growth has been remarkable: in 2013 the company achieved the highest-ever annual total for the category in Asia – some HK$458.7 million (US$58.8 million).

“Our sales of timepieces in 2013 literally doubled the annual total for 2012,” says Sharon Chan. “Looking back, it is fascinating to see what was driving the sales throughout the year. There were decorative clocks by Patek Philippe, Cartier, Daniel Roth and Jean-Pierre & Bellin, as well as gem-set and complicated wristwatches by Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Richard Mille. The Spring sale alone brought an astonishing HK$221.5 million (US$28.4 million), the highest total for any sale of timepieces in Asia and the highest total for any sale of timepieces by Sotheby’s worldwide.”

“The year 2013 also saw Sotheby’s expand its biennial sale calendar for Hong Kong, presenting two mid-season sales of timepieces, in May and December. Both sales attracted keen international participation, which brought high sell-through rates as well as remarkable prices,” says Chan.

“Some notable examples were a Patek Philippe, Platinum and Diamond-Set Automatic Minute Repeating Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch, Ref. 5073P, from a private collection.

It sold for HK$6,640,000 (US$851,282). Another was a Vacheron Constantin King Kalla, which sold for HK$5.8 million (US$743,590), a world record.

“And you do not always have to be in the auction room to bid on a watch,” explains Chan. “You can bid online or by telephone as well as in person or submit a written bid before the auction for any items you are interested in. Watches are a highly international category and we have large numbers of clients bidding online or by telephone from around Asia and beyond.”

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Part of the fascination of this exponentially burgeoning market as that buyers in Asia feature extremely prominently at sales, shelling out huge amounts to buy either collectors’ items, investment timepieces or simply watches to wear. So, why this amazing interest from Asia?

“I think it is the difference in lifestyles,” says Sharon Chan.

“Asians tend to wear different watches more frequently. Many of them do appreciate the wide array of craftsmanship and designs by collecting various watches with complicated functions from high-end brands, and some even display them at home or office in a professional way.”

“And the trend varies from men to women,” adds Chan. “Brands and functions are the top priorities when male collectors appreciate timepieces. Other than the brand name, female buyers do tend to look at the overall appearance first, then the function. However, in the last two years we have seen a significant increase in participation of female buyers at auction.

Their choices in watches are not only driven by fashion trends, they are also buying more highly complicated watches for daily wear and for collection.”

“Patek Philippe is definitely the most sought-after brand among the male collectors. For our female clients, Patek Philippe, Breguet and Cartier are the favorites.”

WATCH THIS SPACE

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WATCH THIS SPACE their purchases appreciate in time, then it is a bonus. However if one is really looking to buy watches for investment, there are good reasons as well. Watches are expressions of one’s identity and style. They have high aesthetic value. They are also highly portable and can be stored more easily compared to art.

Upmarket, complicated models, especially rare ones with a very small production, often appreciate in time.”

Sharon Chan works at Sotheby’s so we put to her the question that is an auction a good place to buy a watch – rather than new at a retail outlet?

“An auction is an open and transparent transaction platform where one gains access to timepieces of various brands, periods and price brackets, with specialists on hand to provide information and advice. It is also a place where one gains immediate access to rare models hardly obtainable elsewhere, as well as more common models offered at a discount compared to the retail market.”

There are some watches (Parmigiani, for example) that are simple in design and designed to just tell the time. Others have highly complicated dials. We ask what do most people at auction seem to prefer?

“We provide a platform with a large variety of timepieces to fulfill the different tastes of our clients. Many do prefer to look for exclusive or discontinued models as they are rather difficult, if not impossible to find in the market. It can be as simple as a coin watch (we have just offered one that fetched 10 times our estimate), to an haute joaillerie timepiece like the King Kalla or an extremely complicated Patek Philippe, like the one we mentioned in our notable examples.”

The overall appearance of a fine timepiece is very important but what about behind the face? How important is knowledge of the mechanical workings these days?

“It is a big factor. It can be quite similar to the way people collect paintings. Before deciding to invest in a piece, they will try to understand the meaning of the drawing, from the brush strokes to the use of colours. Same with watches: many high-value pieces are created by master watchmakers, designers and engineers with extraordinary creativities and craftsmanship. The more you understand, the more you will appreciate the value of a masterpiece.”

Another question is whether a watch is a good investment or are people looking simply for the immediate pleasure of buying and wearing one?

“We often suggest clients to buy watches for more than investment purposes, as conventional investment tools such as stocks are always easier to manage. We do encourage clients to learn about the category they are buying in: buy what they truly like and the best they can afford. And if the value of

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“With over 200 years of history and an extensive global network, Sotheby’s watch specialists source watches from around the world. The auction estimates of a watch are generally determined with reference to its past auction performance, and largely dependent upon its brand, condition, rarity, provenance, and complication as well as material. We advise new buyers to do plenty of homework and talk to experts, since for certain brands, there might be a lot of finely manufactured replicas or after-market craftsmanship pieces on the market. It is very important for them to learn more in order to safeguard their own investment. We would recommend clients to do some online research and read our catalogues as there is lots of information on different brands and models, and last but not least - come to us and we will be more than happy to share our views with you,” she says.

Buying is all very well but what happens when you want to sell a timepiece? How do you go about getting to auction?

“It is very easy,” says Chan. “Simply contact any of our offices (we have 11 throughout Asia - Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo. To supply images and information about your watch, make an appointment with us during our valuation days (generally three months before auction), and we will be happy to discuss further if the watch is suitable for sale.”

The next Sotheby’s auction of Fine Timepieces will take place in Hong Kong on 26 May 2014. Among the highlights: a Patek Philippe Very Rare and Important Yellow Gold Minute Repeating Tourbillon Wristwatch with Enamel Dial and Breguet Numerals, Ref 3939HJ Circa 2000. Estimate is HK$2 – 2.8 million. (US$256,410 – 358,974). A Patek Philippe Fine and Rare Platinum Automatic Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch with Registers, Moonphases and Leap Year Indication, Ref 5970P-001. Estimate is HK$ 900,000 - 1,400,000 (US$ 115,000 - 179,000). Then a Patek Philippe Fine and Unique Gilt-Brass Solar-Powered Desk Timepiece with Cloisonné Enamel By Elisabeth Perusset Lagger, Ref. 1321 Papillons Butinants Circa 1985. Estimate is HK$600,000 – 900,000 (US$67,923 – 115,385). w w w.sothebys.com

WATCH THIS SPACE

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PEOPLE & BUSINESS

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PEOPLE & BUSINESS

FAIRMONT opens in jakarta Carlos Monterde and the Fairmont seem made for each other. The general manager of Jakarta’s newest luxury property is a career hotelier. He is tall, elegant and thoroughly professional. He has spent the last half year ‘getting it right’ before the hotel opened its doors just after the New Year. Now he is welcoming an already large number of guests and working behind the scenes on the completion of the finishing food and beverage venues that will be a glamorous final touch to the property.

“

Our message is simple: as a hotel, we are modern, sophisticated, and personable and we are here to give you the best in luxury service,” says Monterde. “I have been in South East Asia now for two decades so I feel very much at home in the region. I’m thrilled to take up this post in the bustling city of Jakarta where we plan to merge the service tradition of our company that dates back 130 years with the energetic vibrancy of this city.

What a fantastic combination – you have to experience it with us!” he enthuses.

Monterde arrives after a 12-year stint in Singapore, finally as general manager of the Fairmont there. He was in Japan for two years, Thailand for four years and a year in Vietnam. He is Spanish (more specifically Catalonian) and he has worked with top brands Hilton and Marriott before joining Fairmont. He started his career directly after leaving school to study hotel management at the Centre d’Estudis Tecnics Turistics in Barcelona.

“I was very young but I did realize you need to speak English in the hospitality industry so I went to work in a hotel restaurant in London to learn the language. I had a very heavy accent and people kept asking me about it. This was at the time of the first airing of Fawlty Towers (about a clumsily-run English seaside hotel) so it was natural that when I told them I was from Barcelona in my heavy Catalan accent, everyone began calling me Manuel (after the bumbling waiter in the series).

“It made people laugh but I did not mind because they kept talking to me in English so I was more or less learning for free,” he laughs.

“I worked my way up from the restaurant to the front office and that became my specialty.

My introduction to Asia came soon after and I was given a job at Raffles The Plaza in Singapore. Everyone thought it was the famous old colonial place – it is actually a different hotel but owned by the same company.”

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PEOPLE & BUSINESS

“Jakarta was a very interesting step,” says Monterde. “There are a lot of similarities between Thailand and Indonesia, especially in Jakarta where I see so much potential. There is so much that can be done to make it a beautiful city.” Jakarta is very much a business destination but I would like to see that changed as well. A good start for tourism would be the restoration of those wonderful old buildings in the north of the city.”

He is now securely ensconced at the Fairmont, which is a brand new hotel but it looks like it has always belonged in its Senayan location. “There was always a hotel planned for this site next to Plaza Senayan, “says Monterde. “It has taken 20 years to see it realized as an extension to the shopping mall, office buildings and apartments. But now we are here and I am here and I am very happy about both those situations.”

The new urban hotel has 380 guestrooms including Fairmont Gold accommodation, the brand’s exclusive ‘hotel within a hotel’ concept (with its Gold Club Lounge) and 108 Sky Suites.

The remarkably spacious guestrooms feature plush bedding with elegant Japanese spa-inspired bathrooms and state-of-the-art technology, complete with premium amenities for both business and leisure travellers.

The site is indeed surprising. Once you get above street level, you are surprised to see a sea of green. On one side are a golf course and a park, which eventually runs into the Gelora Bung Karno. “It is amazing for Jakarta; everyone complains there are not enough parks so they are astonished when they walk in here and see what is outside,” says Monterde.

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It has been a hectic time with the pre-opening (he has been here eight months now) so as we sat chatting, he was very happy to tell me that that afternoon he was playing the first round of golf (right across the street at the 18-hotel Senayan National Golf Club) since he arrived.

Carlos Monterde is lean and obviously energetic. This probably comes from the fact that he is a serious triathlete. The triathlon involves running, swimming and cycling – all as one event. “And I am delighted to say I can do all three within 100 metres of the Fairmont,” he says. “Who knew there are not one, but two Olympic-size pools in that park?”

THE HOTEL “The Fairmont is unique through a combination of factors,” explains Monterde. “Its location, firstly. We have a tunnel that connects the hotel to Plaza Senayan so rain, hail or shine you can reach it under cover without getting wet and even getting hot in Jakarta’s tropical weather. We are also steps away from the sports stadium and Jalan Sudirman is a block away. So, perfect for business travellers.”

“Secondly, the quality of this product is fantastic. It was built as the flagship hospitality brand in the prestigious development by Senayan Trikarya Sempana, a subsidiary of Kajima Overseas Asia that built Plaza Senayan. This is a company fanatical about getting it right. I have opened several hotels and there is always a check list of things that have to be replaced or redone. With this place, there was practically none. They got everything right first time.”

PEOPLE & BUSINESS

“Thirdly, the design is very pleasing. It is a very modern place with clean lines and very large airy spaces. HBA did the design and they have incorporated practical things like seating in the lobby with traditional touches of batik and local artwork. (There is also a nod to Japan in some of the pieces.) You will even see that our uniforms are different from anybody else’s. There will also be some retail boutiques in the lobby, including one of Fairmont’s famous hotel gift shops.”

“I should like to mention another special feature of the hotel,” says Monterde. Our Skyview Suites are fantastic. They are designed for the longer-term guest and have a living room and kitchenette. They have one or two bedrooms and all have a balcony. You also access these by private elevator. Of course, if you stay there you also have full hotel facilities, including room service and housekeeping. There are 108 all told and it will be like living in a luxury apartment.

These suites will also have access to the nine restaurants planned for the hotel.

pool and Fairmont’s signature spa brand Willow Stream that will have nine fully equipped treatment rooms in a 900sqm oasis of calm.”

FOOD AND WINE “At one end of our vast lobby there will be Jakarta’s first specialist whisky bar,” he explains. Monterde is very excited about the collection of single malts from Scotland that is waiting to be unpacked. “This will be a somewhat masculine room with leather sofas and a clubby look. I think the modern American term is ‘man cave’,” he smiles. “There will also be facilities for cigar aficionados and there will be a fine collection of cognacs and good wine.”

“All this will be balanced by the room at the other end of the Lamborghini Aventador J foyer, which will be the Peacock Lounge where ladies can meet and take tea, coffee, light bites (with gourmet breads and pastries) or whatever they please throughout the day. They will also be able to enjoy the celebrated Fairmont Afternoon Tea experience.”

“We expect about 80% of our customers will be business travellers but we are well set up for the leisure market as well,” he says. “I should say we also have some bookings already for weddings and conferences in our very large ballroom, which has its separate driveway and entrance.”

“Then there is Sapori Deli which will artfully combine casual meals to eat-in or take-out,” he adds. “In all, there will be nine restaurants, including the jazz club. A Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian restaurant will be run by outside tenants.”

“We will be working very hard to attract the domestic market as well as the international one,” he adds. “And people here in Jakarta will be interested in our Staycation packages. These guests can also take advantage of the hotel’s gym, swimming

“Our contemporary all-day-dining venue Spectrum, with its theatrical ‘live’ kitchens and menus celebrating world cuisine is already open. This place is a great option for breakfast, lunch or dinner – whether you like a roast, sushi, noodles, Indian, Chinese or many more options.”

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PEOPLE & BUSINESS

BMW HISTORY

Carlos Monterde becomes excited with the mention of his restaurants and it brings him naturally to mention his new executive chef Andrew Zarzosa, for whose talents he has enormous respect.

Zarzosa is American but he was worked around the world, notably in the Bahamas, Dubai and Sabah. The rush of cooking in a super-busy restaurant at a casino resort in the Bahamas has already given him the chance to challenge his capabilities as a chef while still managing to put creativity in his menu.

After this, he moved to Chicago to join Grant Achatz, in a Michelin three-star restaurant which was also constantly ranked the Top 10 of the world.

Zarzosa will oversee all the Fairmont-controlled restaurants and the banqueting.

He is already putting down his personal touch at BMW 328 Roadster Spectrum and, rumour has it, there will soon be Sunday brunch here as well.

“But,” says Monterde, “his talents will really be on show when we open our rooftop restaurant called View with its soaring windows and matchless panorama of the city, where Andrew’s special menus will be a focus. Next to this (on the 22nd floor) will be an exciting concept called K22. This will be a groovy bar that will specialize in ‘creative cocktails’ with house-made infusions of juices and fruits combining earthy spices and savory herbs.

Rounding out a trifecta will be trendy Mont Bar, serving fine wines, champagnes, premium spirits and rare malt whisky.”

NEXT

BMW 3/15 DA-2

Carlos Monterde is an active member and developer of CSR, most recently as chairman of the sustainability board of both Fairmont Singapore and its sister hotel Swissôtel The Stamford.

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His passion for the environment has seen him involved in creating a partnership with the Waterways Watch Society to clean Marina Reservoir. He has also organized events for charities including the Spastic Children’s Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Children’s Cancer Foundation.

“Now we are open, I expect I will be able to get involved in social issues here in Jakarta as well. And I am also looking forward very much to getting around the city more. I have two daughters and I want them to see and learn as much as I do. I am also looking forward to seeing what the dining scene has to offer as I already love the local specialties.”

He will also not give up his involvement in triathlons, planning to set aside time to continue training. He has participated already in many international events, including the Full Ironman Western Australia. Could he be the founder of an Indonesian version?

“I am also looking forward to seeing other parts of Indonesia and I think I will start with a visit to Bali where we have just opened a Fairmont resort in Sanur,” he says.

“I am very much looking forward to getting to know Indonesian food better but, meantime, If I feel like a Catalan hit, I have discovered Plan B,” he smiles. “This is a restaurant opened by three Spanish guys – businessmen who also missed Spanish food so it became their ‘Plan B.’ And it is just a short drive from the Fairmont.”

Carlos Monterde is sure to help make Jakarta a better place to be. www.fairmont.com/jakarta

GALLERY

Bentley launches new men’s fragrance

The super-luxe Bentley car company continues its expansion into lifestyle products (including furniture and sporting goods) with the introduction of its latest men’s fragrance, Azure.

finish conveys the luxury feel of Bentley models, with essences such as cashmere wood, tonka bean and the fragrance molecule orcanox.

The luxurious scent is composed by one of the world’s top perfume creators, Mathilde Bijaoui, of the French fragrance house Mane.

It comes in a new bottle that is designed with the iconic curves of Bentley cars. The metal cap features a diamond-cut band and Bentley’s “Flying B” logo is embossed on the bottle’s shoulder.

Bentley for Men Azure has a ‘contemporary burst of freshness: the top note is an invigorating, stimulating cocktail of fresh citrus, pineapple and the herbaceous aroma of violet leaves. It immediately transports you into a Mediterranean field of blue’ (hence its name).

It is available (along with hair and body shampoo products) at Harrods in London and worldwide in selected perfumeries and department stores. w w w.bentley.co.uk

The heart note of the composition blends Mediterranean aromas such as pimento, lavender and sage with a hint of tea. The long

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LUXURY MOTORING

BENTLEY INTRODUCES A NEW ERA IN PERFORMANCE AND LUXURY Luxury British carmaker Bentley has unveiled the rarest and most dynamic member of the esteemed Continental family of Grand Tourers with the new Continental GT3-R.

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leek and elegant, it is inspired by the new Continental GT3 racing car that stormed to victory at the second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone, the first UK race for Bentley in 84 years.

Blending proven track and road credentials, the Continental GT3-R is a highly exclusive and unique interpretation of performance-focused luxury.

Production is limited to just 300 and all will be hand-built in Crewe and finished in Bentley’s Motorsport division.

ENGINE Bentley engineers have developed a retuned version of their race-proven, high performance 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 for this new two-seater GT. Developing 580PS (572 bhp/426 kW) and 700Nm of torque, together with a 100kg weight reduction and shorter gearing, the Continental GT3-R is the fastest-accelerating Bentley ever, capable of reaching 100kph in just 3.8 seconds.

Complementing the revised powertrain is a further development of Bentley’s renowned all-wheel drive system, which now features torque vectoring for the first time. Together with modified Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and a chassis tune-optimised for outright cornering ability, the Continental GT3 R is the most dynamic, responsive and involving Bentley road car ever.

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ACCELERATION For the GT3-R, Bentley’s powertrain division set about developing a special combination of engine, driveline and exhaust to create a powerful yet efficient system. The 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine has been fitted with precision-honed highboost turbochargers and developed with new engine-control software to liberate 580PS at 6,000rpm and 700Nm of torque from 1,700rpm.

This increased power is fed through the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, now with shorter output gearing to enhance acceleration to the all-wheel drive system. For the first time, the drivetrain has the ability to control the torque at each of the rear wheels through the use of torque vectoring. Recalibrated control software means that Drive and Sport modes are moved further apart, each with different characteristics and with Sport mode designed for more spirited driving. Maximum driver control is provided by completely recalibrated paddle shift functionality.

Deceleration is via Bentley’s record-holding Carbon Silicon Carbide (CSiC) braking system. 420mm front discs are slowed by 8-piston calipers finished in eye-catching green paint, while 356mm discs are fitted to the rear axle. With the ability to absorb up to 10 megajoules of energy (enough to power a family home

LUXURY MOTORING

for six hours) in a single stop yet remain fade-resistant, Bentley’s CSiC brakes are an engineering masterpiece in their own right.

The all-new titanium exhaust not only provides a weight-saving of 7kg but also allows Bentley’s acoustic engineers to give the GT3-R a unique baritone roar.

CHASSIS The GT3-R chassis system is focused on performance whilst retaining a cossetting level of refinement for everyday use. Air springs and dampers use a development of the sports-tuned setup from the Continental V8 S, while lightweight forged 21” wheels and high-grip Pirelli tyres deploy the torque-vectored power output of the engine.

This combination, together with a sport-focused Electronic Stability Control program, offers a Continental with a new level of handling dynamics and turn-in agility, while both the chassis and powertrain respond immediately to throttle inputs.

LUXURY All Bentleys are a combination of luxury and performance and the Continental GT3-R is no exception. It features a unique two-seat cabin, handcrafted from the carbon fibre called Alcantara and the finest leather.

The two-seat configuration includes a pair of new bespoke sporting seats with additional side support through deeper bolsters, all finished in Beluga black leather with diamond-quilted Alcantara. This exquisite material is also hand-trimmed to the steering wheel and gear shifter, while the centre console, fascia panels and sculpted door casings are also handcrafted in carbon fibre. In place of rear seats is a new uniquely trimmed rear cabin, also in a carbon fibre surround and finished in leather.

Contrasting the Beluga leather and motorsport-inspired materials is a vivid accent green, used as a hide colour on the seats, instrument panel and door panels and with contrast stitching throughout the seats and diamond-quilted areas.

EXTERIOR For the exterior of the GT3-R, Bentley’s Design team was tasked with creating a more purposeful stance than ever before. A new splitter provides an assertive look to the front of the car, balanced by a new fixed rear wing fitted to the boot lid – both finished in carbon fibre. The bonnet incorporates two vents to improve the cooling capacity of the powertrain system for repeated acceleration while also invoking the shape of the Continental GT3 racer in a styling element where form follows function.

The gloss carbon fibre contrasts with the Glacier White paint that all 300 cars will be finished in, and the inspiration of the Continental GT3 race car is highlighted by the use of two-tone green graphics that trace the two power lines to the side profile of the car – one leading backwards from the front wheel, the other tracing the shape of the Continental GT’s iconic rear haunch.

The headlamp bezels, matrix grille, window surrounds and bumper strips are all finished in stylish gloss black.

Commenting on the debut of GT3-R, The New COO of Bentley Indonesia, Mr. Ulf Sebecke told VA “The GT3-R is the most luxurious track-inspired Grand Tourer ever. It is an affirmation to the Bentley trademarks of Luxury and Performance; and takes them to a new level. The Bentley 2-door market in Indonesia is increasing and Grandauto Dinamika is excited to have secured one unit that is available to an adventurous Indonesian consumer.” w w w.bentleymotors.com

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JEWELLERY

130 YEARS OF

MAGNIFICENT JEWELS A recent stop over in Houston revealed a masterpiece exhibition by BVLGARI – known as the jeweller to the stars.

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JEWELLERY

Gourmette sautoir in gold with six byzantine gold coins and diamonds - 1975

Necklace in gold with emeralds, rubies and diamonds - 1969

Elizabeth Taylor (sporting Bulgari) dines with Aristotle Onassis

Snake bracelet-watch in gold and platinum with emeralds, sapphires and diamonds - 1962

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ulgari: 130 Years of Masterpieces was an exhibition of 150 iconic pieces of jewellery from Bulgari’s Heritage Collection, including unique creations from the historical archives of the company headquarters in Rome or on loan from private collections.

From his first jewellery shop in Rome opened in 1884, Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari pioneered a level of skill and vision that set the stage for audacious designs and distinctive style that would become known as the “Italian School” of jewellery design.

Inspired by the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome, using a symmetry that is geometric, Bulgari’s designs are equal parts art and science, historic and modern.

Bulgari jewels, immediately recognizable for their powerful opulence, rich colors and sense of volume specially came to prominence during the dolce vita years, the “sweet life” era of the 1950’s and 60’s.

Bulgari introduced a colour revolution and also began using an unusual cut for prominent, high-quality gemstones: the cabochon.

This rounding and polishing of the gemstones dates back to antiquity but fell out of custom; today it has become one of Bulgari’s trademarks.

By the time the company opened its U.S. store in New York in 1971, it had long cemented its status as the pre-eminent jeweller to the stars.

In 1905 Bulgari moved to its flagship store on the prestigious Via dei Condotti in Rome. Sotirio passed the business on to his sons Giorgio and Costantino and it was they who decided in 1934 to spell BVLGARI with the original Latin ‘V’ of the family name.

So, included in the Houston exhibition were pieces that belonged to Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Gina Lollobrigida, Anna Magnani and Audrey Hepburn.

Even in the early 20th century, when almost all Roman jewellery makers adhered to the Parisian school of design, Bulgari’s creations deviated from the “lightness” typical of the Paris style.

In particular, Bulgari’s necklaces were chunkier and heavier in appearance, often punctuated by large circular-cut diamonds.

(Interesting that half a century later in today’s globalized world, new stars are wearing Bulgari: Juliette Binoché, Milla Jovovich, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Alba, Naomi Watts, Jessica Chastain, Helen Mirren, Julia Roberts, Keira Knightly, Anne Hathaway, Rachel Weisz, Meryl Streep, Isabella Rossellini and Julianne Moore).

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JEWELLERY

Richard Burton famously remarked that the only word his future wife knew in Italian was ‘Bulgari.’

Necklace in platinum with diamonds - 1930

The collection also included necklaces loaned by two of Houston’s most celebrated society ladies. Lynn Wyatt’s Bulgari necklace in white gold with yellow sapphire, lapis lazuli and diamonds from 1975 is a piece, she says, “that could be worn with blue jeans or an evening gown.” Joanne King Herring has worn her 1970 necklace in gold with diamonds to parties at the White House with six presidents.

Bib Necklace in gold with multicolour sapphires and diamonds - 2005

There was also a magnificent bib necklace and matching pair of earrings with the unusual color combination of emeralds, amethysts, and turquoise cut en cabochon and surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds, one of the most iconic suites of Bulgari jewels made in the mid-1960s and owned by Lyn Revson, wife of Revlon owner Charles Revson.

The exhibition also featured several of the unique motifs: the Serpente and Monete collections are both examples of how mythologies of the past inspired Bulgari. Long regarded as the emblem of beauty and strength, the snake or serpent has been made into rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, even belts. The monete style uses antique coins set in gold and other precious metals.

Then there was the Parentesi (parentheses), made of interlocking modular sections, using fine metals in a strong pattern based on the interlocking cobblestones that pave Roman streets. With the tremblant (‘trembling’) technique, Bulgari made brooches of small bouquets of flowers in coloured diamonds set on springs so they shiver when you move, giving them extra sparkle.

Perhaps no more beautiful face set off Bulgari jewels than that of the inimitable Elizabeth Taylor.

She ‘discovered’ the store in 1962 when she was in Rome making the epic movie Cleopatra.

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Sautoir in platinum with sapphires and diamonds - 1969

JEWELLERY Necklace in gold with emeralds, rubies, sapphires and diamonds with matching pendant earrings - 1967

Tremblant brooch in platinum with fancy yellow and cognac-colour diamonds - 1959

Bib necklace in gold with emeralds amethysts turquoise and diamonds - 1965

In the 1960s Taylor wore her own Bulgari jewels in several of her movies. In The V.I.P.s (1963), she wore the emerald brooch given as an engagement present by Burton. For Boom! (1968), she wore her matching emerald and diamond tremblant flower brooch. To appear in Ash Wednesday (1973), she chose her splendid diamond and natural pearl drop earrings and impressive sapphire and diamond sautoir.

Among her most important pieces is the “green set” brooch featuring an exceptional 23.44-carat emerald surrounded by radiating pear-shaped diamonds (given to her by Burton in 1962 as an engagement gift). Two years later he bought her an emerald necklace as a wedding gift. The brooch was subsequently adapted to also be attached as a centerpiece for the necklace. She was famously photographed receiving her Academy Award for Best Actress in 1066 wearing this necklace.

For her 40th birthday in 1972, Burton presented Taylor with a Bulgari sapphire and diamond sautoir. This impressive piece, which started out as a brooch in 1969, is composed of a large sugarloaf Burmese sapphire of 65 carats, set into a pavé of diamonds, outlined in calibré sapphires. (Also here in Houston).

Bib pendant earrings in gold with emeralds, amethysts, turquoise and diamonds - 1965

Burton, in fact, marked all the milestones of their romance with gifts of incredible Bulgari jewels, worn and beloved by Taylor for her entire lifetime. Today, these and some others of her cherished jewels have found their way back to Bulgari, and are now a part of the Bulgari Heritage Collection. w w w.hmns.org

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AVIATION

CHIEF BOY

SCOOT

Campbell Wilson is smiling. No, he is beaming with delight and excitement. He is the CEO of the budget airline Scoot and he has just taken delivery of a brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with its own distinctive yellow livery. Small bickies? Not at all: this one is the first of 20 ordered by Scoot, representing an outlay of a massive five billion dollars. So, although it may be considered a ‘fun’ airline, it is on the way to becoming a hugely successful business story.

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ilson took some 40 people with him to Seattle (in the northwestern American state of Washington) to witness the delivery of the aircraft and to see how the 787 is made in Boeing’s factory – the largest single workspace in the world, where they produce 10 of these revolutionary aircraft every month.

Scoot’s first 787-9 Dreamliner has been aptly named Dream Start and, after the handover from Boeing, it made its maiden flight across the Pacific (via Japan) to Singapore where it went into service on the Singapore/Perth run the very next day. This service will extend on to Hong Kong, China and South Korea. It is the first of 10 this year in a process to make the airline an all-787 fleet.

“This is a great moment for all of us at Scoot and the start of a new chapter in our short two-and-a-half year history,” says Wilson.

“And we should be confident: air traffic growth to, from and within this region is expected to rise 6.6% annually over the next

AVIATION 20 years. That’s a tripling of the number of people flying. The emerging travellers of China and India, in particular, represent huge opportunities for all airlines, and low cost airlines in particular,” he says.

Scoot is a new operation. It is an offshoot of Singapore Airlines and only began flying in June 2012. Since then they have carried more than four million passengers on its medium and long-haul no-frills flights. Currently, it operates from Singapore to Sydney, Gold Coast (Australia), Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, Tianjin, Shenyang, Nanjing, Qingdao, Seoul, Hong Kong, Perth – and Melbourne in November.

Campbell Wilson lives and breathes the airline industry. He can recall a myriad of arcane facts and figures about airlines and aircraft instantaneously. He rattles off data like a sportscaster would about the players in a big game. Which does not make Jack a dull boy: as we witnessed when he was cheering the (unsuccessful) Seattle Sea Hawks in the Superbowl playoff they streamed live on board Dream Start half way across the Pacific.

He is a lanky New Zealander who now lives in Singapore. He actually joined Singapore Airlines in New Zealand in 1996, right after a gap year backpacking the world. He holds a master’s degree in Commerce and Business Administration (with First Class Honours, no less). Before taking up the role as CEO of Scoot, he was SIAs General Manager for Japan, based in Tokyo. Before that he was GM in Hong Kong and two years as Vice President in Canada. He has also spent three years in SIA’s Head Office Network Planning and Network Revenue Management departments.

He has no qualms whatever about moving from a full-service airline to a budget carrier. “This is a legitimate business where the aim is to make a profit. Along the way, we plan to make budget flying a pleasure, not a trial for our passengers (who now include HNW people who like to use the full-fare savings to spend on things like better hotels at their destinations).” Scoot, incidentally, has been voted this year as Best Low Cost Airline (Asia/Pacific) by AirlineRatings.com.

“The ‘Scoot’ is distinctive, quirky, memorable,” says Wilson. “People might not understand it… yet. But that’s a matter of time and effort.

Who would have thought that the word “Apple” would become more associated with a computer company than with the fruit itself?”

(Scoot, incidentally, simply means to ‘hurry off.’) “Our marketing team is now (literally) in full flight.”

787 Boeing’s newest long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner is a technical marvel and they have more than 1,000 on order. And this one has put Rosie the Riveter out of a job: instead of aluminium plates held together with some 50,000 rivets, this is the world’s first major airliner to use composite materials, chiefly carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer as the primary part of its airframe with its fuselage composed of one-piece barrel sections. If you want the exact overall figures by weight: 50% composite, 20% aluminum, 15% titanium, 10% steel, and 5% other material. This makes for a dramatic reduction in weight so this, combined with many other new features, makes the 787 more fuel-efficient by 20%. The longest-

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AVIATION range 787 variant can fly 14,800 to 15,700 km, which is roughly Hong Kong to New York.

Development and production of the 787 has involved a large-scale collaboration with numerous suppliers worldwide but final assembly is at the Boeing factory in Everett, a few minutes outside Seattle.

Campbell Wilson and his team spent long hours at the special 787 facility, choosing everything: seats, galley, toilets, carpets, cabin wall finish, colour and lighting.

A battery problem and other external manufacturing glitches that delayed the release of the plane were resolved and now full-scale production and delivery is under way. Components, including the fuselage and engines are put together off-site (and off-country) but the final assembly is done in Seattle. Scoot, for example, has the body made in Japan and its Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines made in Singapore. To get all these pieces to Seattle, Boeing modified four 747-400s into 747 Dreamlifters, which have distorted hulls to cope with fuselage and wing transport.

Oh, and if you were wondering why there are no winglets on this plane, so did we. It actually does have them but they are extensions blended into the main wing so there is, in fact, an elegant upsweeping. More efficient, too, according to the boffins at Boeing.

For a passenger on board, all this means more than a smoother, quieter ride. Scoot’s aircraft, for example, has included new and improved seats, larger stowage bins, larger windows and no shades (which also saves tonnes in weight) but photo-sensitive glass where you can adjust from black to light from your seat. Sort of like your eyeglasses that go dark in the sunlight. They boast more comfortable

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cabin pressure and humidity plus a system that delivers noticeably fresher air (and I can certainly vouch for this one). There is Wifi on board and a streaming system for entertainment that delivers movies and much more to your laptop or smartphone.

ECONOMICS Boeing is very pleased with Scoot and other low-cost carriers. These now account for 16% of world aviation purchases, compared to 7% only a decade ago. This figure is expected to jump to 21% in the next 15 years and the 787 is expected to account for a very large part of that growth.

Scoot’s order of 20 787s (at a cost of around $249.5 million apiece) initially drew skepticism from some aviation experts.

“But,” says Wilson, “the purchase is strategic and will allow us to reach ports impossible for our parent Singapore Airlines. It will not only increase our bottom line, it will enable us to offer better fares to our customers. We can now fly more frequently to some destinations currently not considered cost-effective and to open new routes that would be beyond our current aircraft. We cannot, of course, rely on our home market. Singapore is just too small. So our team is busy with negotiations for expansion in several other places.” (And this would presumably include Indonesia, which would be a perfect destination for Scoot, especially Jakarta and Bali).

“In a nutshell, we are in the process of more than tripling in size over the next couple of years,” says Wilson. “We will be building up our partnerships (with the likes of Tigerair) to create a substantial geographic footprint. We will remain focused on offering great value

AVIATION

tickets, along with a range of options – meals, Krisflyer miles, WiFi, extra legroom and so on; so that people can customize their flights and not pay for things they don’t need or want.”

“The 787 has a two-class cabin and I should add a word about ScootBiz,” says Wilson. “This is not a business class you would see on full-service airlines. But it is an immensely comfortable cabin with wide leather seats and footrest with 96cms of legroom and a 20cm recline. That is about 25 degrees but it feels like more. (I dozed comfortably for hours in this seat). There is in-seat power for charging your phone or laptop. You can choose your seat when you book and we offer priority check-in at airports. There is also complimentary food and beverages.”

AFTER ALL Wilson no doubt breathed a huge sigh of relief when Dream Start touched down in Singapore but his time off was very short-lived. He joined the inaugural 787 flight to Perth, flew back to Singapore, a day in the office and then to sort out some glitches in Bangkok. There is no doubt he enjoys his work but what does he do when he’s not working?

spent weeks cycling around Italy and France, rafting the Grand Canyon, walking the Great Wall in China and kayaking national parks in New Zealand, to name just a few things. There is so much to see in this wonderful world.”

“But it all eventually comes back to Singapore and my role in helping create an airline that gives other people more of a chance to experience this exciting world. This is as much a passion as it is a job.”

“We like to call it ‘Scootitude.’ It’s the attitude that underpins our whole company and service culture. It’s an amalgam describing our values, expectations and outlook such as being engaging, fuss-free, reliable, contemporary, friendly, different. And, I must add, reliable, fun, safe, and honest.”

“Our other favourite slogan is ‘get outta here.’ Now that fares are lower than ever, there is little excuse not to travel,” says Wilson on the maiden flight touchdown in Singapore. “Out on the tarmac sits our future. The future is exciting. The future is bright. The future…is yellow!” w w w.flyscoot.com

“Ideally (and maybe ironically), I’m travelling!” he laughs. “I love experiencing new places, seeing new things. My wife and I have 35

LUXURY

AND IT MAKES CALLS… Smart phones are not just smart phones any more; they are a diary, calendar, camera, social media, Internet entry, emailer, music store – a way of life.

Well, here is one that is even more than all that – it is haute jewellery, a piece of art and a very attractive fashion accessory – and it will cost you $244,000.

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LUXURY

I

t comes from Savelli, a phone manufacturer in Geneva who has joined forces with Gemfields, the world’s leading supplier of responsibly-sourced coloured gemstones, specializing in high quality emeralds and amethysts from Zambia, and more recently rubies from Mozambique.

“Savelli’s key values are elegance and beautiful design, femininity and Swiss-made quality,” says Alessandro Savelli, CEO of Savelli-Genève.

Entirely, handcrafted in Switzerland, the Savelli-Gemfields collection features two different models. They are called the Emerald Night and Emerald Insane and, says Alessandro Savelli, “they are designed to reinterpret the Android phone to appeal to affluent and fashionable women.”

Emerald Insane is set with 75 (4.5 carats) baguette-cut emeralds and 900 (12.5 carats) brilliant-cut diamonds with an ‘Ultra-Bombé’ sapphire crystal screen and set in 18-carat white gold. It is a limited edition of only eight telephones. ($244,000).

Emerald Night is set with 400 brilliant-cut emeralds (about three carats) that are set in 18-carat rose gold with an ‘UltraBombé’ sapphire crystal screen. It is a limited edition of only 19 telephones. ($71,000).

According to Alessandro Savelli, these phones created a unique challenge to his craftsmen because emeralds have rarely been used in such a complex and curvaceous shape before. And every emerald used in the Savelli-Gemfields collection was handselected and cut specifically for each Smartphone to allow for a consistent shade of green.

If you are keen on one, you will have to go to London. They are only available in the Fine Jewellery Room at Harrod’s department store in Knightsbridge.

Oh, and yes Mr. Savelli assures us the insides are just like any other Smartphone but won’t you feel good using this to make a call…? w w w.savelli-geneve.com

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LUXURY TRAVEL

GO PRIVATE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

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LUXURY TRAVEL

Few places in the world capture the romance of the South Seas better than Tahiti – and even more pristine and scenic is its satellite island of Bora Bora.

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ow you can enjoy this idyllic tropical paradise in great luxury with the opening of Bora Bora One, the island’s first luxury private villa.

The villa sits on three hectares of beautiful rainforest on an idyllic islet. On one side you face a turquoise lagoon and soaring mountains; on the other, the Pacific Ocean and the neighbouring islands of Tahaa and Raiatea.

The villa complex extends over an area of more than 1000sqm2.

It has five independent suites, each one different in character but all offering absolute peace and quiet – and they all have terraces facing the lagoon and the private beach. (With all the latest IT conveniences, naturally).

There is an impressive marble swimming pool in a tropical garden, a full day spa and, with a green nod, their self-sufficient power source is solar.

Transport around Bora Bora is by their private boat Disco Volante, everything from airport transfers to snorkelling, feeding the turtles, a sunset cruise or visits to neighbouring island restaurants for lunch. If you feel like staying nearby, a short walk through the tropical garden will take you to a spot where you watch magnificent whales swimming past.

Food is important here and you will find the best local fresh fruit and vegetables, along with hand-caught tuna, lobster and local food fish. Even though you are isolated, you will not become bored because there are three restaurants where they serve European, French and local specialties.

Il Paradiso is on the beach and here they serve hand-picked salads, pizza, with special treats: imported cheese and chilled French rosé. For a more formal lunch or dinner, The Clouds is on a deck by the pool where you will find quality New Zealand beef, imported salmon or the local catch of the day. Chez Lilou is a private salon for gourmet dining. Here the chef goes to town with the best in French cuisine while the sommelier will select wines to perfectly match his dishes.

For your active days, there is bike riding, mountain climbing, jet skiing, kite surfing, scuba diving and special tours for ray and shark feeding. Local professionals are also on hand to take you fishing or teach you how to sail a local pirogue.

You can arrange all these things in advance with the new Paradise Package that also includes complimentary drinks, champagne, wines and food. You do it all on line before you go. w w w.boraboraone.com

Colourful cocktails, wine or a flute of champagne (the house bubbly is Dom Perignon) are all served throughout the day, whether at the pool, on the private beach or on the boat.

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LUXURY MONTORING

BLACK BESS IS BACK With its fifth model in the six-part “Les Légendes de Bugatti” Edition, Bugatti has revived the legendary Type 18 ‘Black Bess,’ which went down in automotive history as one of the first ever street-legal super sports cars.

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t the Auto China motor show in Beijing, the French luxury manufacturer staged the world premiere of this modern interpretation of the Type 18, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse1 ‘Black Bess.’

As one of the fastest road vehicles in the world at the time, the Type 18 ‘Black Bess’ was a direct forerunner of today’s world speed record-holding Bugatti Veyron.

And the new one is already a rarity: as with all models in the Edition, the current Legends model is limited to a run of only three vehicles and is available for a net price of €2.15 million. Of the four Legend models already presented, all twelve have been sold.

The Type 18 was one of the most important Bugattis of the pre-WWI era, both ahead of its time and in a league of its own, thanks to its impressive technical features. With a four-cylinder in-line engine and five-litre capacity, the vehicle was capable

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LUXURY MONITORING

of producing over 100 PS. With a top speed of 160 kph, a feat deemed virtually unbelievable for the times, the Type 18 was a true racing thoroughbred and the fastest road vehicle around.

The Type 18 was driven in races by company founder Ettore Bugatti himself; indeed he secured a win in his class in the important 1912 Mont Ventoux hill climb.

This Type 18, later named Black Bess (after legendary highwayman Dick Turpin’s horse who reputedly galloped from London to York in less than a day), is one of only three of the seven vehicles still remaining. Today, it can be found in the Louwman Museum in The Hague.

TODAY As is the case with all of the Legend vehicles, the ‘Black Bess’ is based on the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. Its 1,200 PS, 8 litre W16 engine achieves an unparalleled torque of 1,500 Nm at 3,000–5,000 rpm, and can accelerate from 0–100 km in 2.6 seconds. With a maximum speed of 408.84 kph with the roof down, the Vitesse is the fastest production roadster ever built.

The body of the ‘Black Bess’ Vitesse is constructed entirely of carbon fibre and, just like its historical predecessor, is painted completely black. Some of the Bugatti’s body components are coated in 24-carat gold, including the trademark Bugatti horseshoe.

Gold-coloured stripes that start below the headlights radiate out over the front wings towards the rear, before tapering off at the end of the door line.

Sporting a similarly brilliant gold finish are the EB logo at the back and the hub covers on the black rims, which also bear the initials of the company’s founder, Ettore Bugatti. To finish it off,

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LUXURY MONTORING

gold has been used on the tank and oil caps, which have been engraved with the ‘Black Bess’ nameplate.

The interior of the ‘Black Bess’ Legend Vitesse has been fully upholstered using the finest leather. The headliner, foot well, seats, elongated centre console and rear bulkhead are a light beige, with the dashboard, dash panel, door trim panel and cowl panel offering a discreet contrast in a colour they have called Havanna. Crimson leather covers the steering wheel rim and this accent has also been continued in the red decorative stitching on the outer bolsters of the seats and in the seat belts.

The door panels are one of the car’s most impressive details.

Both panels are upholstered in Havanna leather and bear scenes which depict the historic Type 18 ‘Black Bess’ as well as pioneer

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aviator and Bugatti fan Roland Garros’ airplane. These sketches have been hand-painted directly onto the leather using a special new ink and a new impregnation process that resists abrasion and movement.

Of course, typical Legend features have also been included in the vehicle, namely the beige, leather-clad insert in the centre console extension which bears the “Les Légendes de Bugatti” nameplate, the relief of the dancing elephant (the symbol for the Legends Edition which has been refined with a gold finish for this model), and the door sills bearing the image of the Type 18 ‘Black Bess.’ w w w.bugatti.com

IN THE SALEROOM

THE “HOLY GRAIL” OF WATCHES The world’s most famous watch returned to the market in November as the centrepiece of Sotheby’s Geneva Watch Sale.

The Henry Graves Supercomplication made by Patek Philippe in 1933 is a masterpiece of horology; the most complicated watch ever made completely by human hand. It was already the world’s most expensive watch and its reappearance on the market, 15 years after its record sale, will coincide with Patek Philippe’s 175th anniversary celebrations.

In 1925, Patek Philippe was commissioned by Henry Graves, a prominent New York banker, to produce the most complicated watch in the world. The product of three years of research and five years’ effort by the most skilled technicians, this extraordinary timepiece is a gold open-face minute repeating chronograph clockwatch with Westminster chimes.

Among its other features: perpetual calendar, moon phases, sidereal time, power reserve, and indications for time of sunset and sunrise and the night sky of New York City. With a total of 24 horological complications, The Graves watch retained the title of the world’s most complicated watch for 56 years and even then was only surpassed by technicians working with the aid of computer-assisted machines.

The watch was offered and sold at Sotheby’s Geneva sale of Important Watches on November 11th for $US20.5 million. w w w.sothebys.com

BLUE DIAMOND A RECORD Sotheby’s New York has auctioned a magnificent and rare 9.75-carat fancy vivid blue diamond from the celebrated collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon, its winning bid, a staggering US$32,645,000. That is US$3,348,205 per carat.

The recently deceased Mrs. Mellon, known as Bunny was a famous American art (and jewellery) collector as well as philanthropist and horticulturalist. She designed a number of significant gardens, including the White House Rose Garden.

This sale marks a new world auction record total price for any blue diamond and a new world auction record for price-per-carat for any diamond. The 9.75-carat, pear-shaped diamond was eagerly sought after by seven bidders who competed for 20 minutes for the extraordinary stone, ultimately selling to a private collector in Hong Kong. He declined to be named but he did announce the stone will be renamed The Zoe Diamond. w w w.sothebys.com

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IN THE SALE ROOM

1882 envelope from Tientsin to New York

STAMPS OF APPROVAL 44

There are people in the world today who have never sent or received a letter, let alone licked a stamp. So, the news is fascinating that an auction of stamps by Interasia netted more than US$10 million.

IN THE SALE ROOM China 1897 Red Revenue Large 4c

China 1914 - 19 First Peking Printing

People’s Republic of China 1968

People’s Republic of China 1953

H

ong Kong-based Interasia Auctions recently held a major auction of Chinese and Hong Kong postage stamps and postal history, realizing US$10,554,000, totally eclipsing the US$7.7 million presale estimate.

Some 140 enthusiastic stamp aficionados were in the auction room as well as another 60 who bid by phone and still hundreds more who submitted pre-sale internet bids.

Among the outstanding realizations, rare envelopes with the 1878-85 Large Dragons – China’s first stamp issue.

The ever-popular 1897 Red Revenue stamps, considered by many to be China’s first true national postage stamp issue as previous stamps had been issued by the foreign-dominated Customs Department were also keenly bid for.

A used part sheet of 80 of the Small two-cent sold for some US$177,872 (Lot 545) and a spectacular used corner pane of 25 of the Large four-cent realized US$118,580 (Lot 604).

In the Republic period, the set of imprint blocks of four of the 1914-19 first Peking printing Junk set brought a robust US$148,226 (Lot 739).

People’s Republic of China likewise showed many strong realizations, highlighted by the US$647,038 paid by its new owner for the 1968 unissued large format “Whole Country is Red” from the Cultural Revolution period, of which less than ten examples are thought to exist.

Depicting workers, peasants and soldiers before a map of China with one worker holding up Mao’s little red book, it was to be part of a set commemorating the Great Victory of the Cultural

Revolution, but is thought to have been rejected because of its large size and ordered destroyed.

Other notable People’s Republic realizations included US$222,338 for the 1968 unissued Victory stamp (Lot 2425); US$207,516 for the 1953 unissued Air Force military stamp (Lot 2569); as well as US$148,225 for the pristine marginal example with printer’s imprint of the 1968 issued “Whole Country is Red” vertical-format stamp, the most iconic stamp of the People’s Republic (Lot 2427).

The 134-lot “Hugh Lawrence” specialized collection of the East China Liberated Area, stamps issued locally in areas liberated by the Communists before the issuance of stamps for the People’s Republic itself in October 1949 and related postal history, was actively competed over, bringing some US$314,096, almost five times its presale estimate (Lots 2001-2134).

Three exceedingly rare 1883-84 envelopes from the early Customs Post in Southern Taiwan to the Princely State of Oldenburg in Germany brought a staggering US$763,360, with the 1884 registered envelope alone bringing US$385,385.

A 1918 Chinese postal stationery postcard used at the Chinese Post Office at Kiachta in Mongolia realized a staggering US$326,097 to the amazement of the auction room – over six times its presale estimate (Lot 3927).

Interasia Auctions holds biannual sales in Hong Kong, bringing together buyers and sellers from Asia, North America and Europe. w w w.interasia-auctions.com

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST

R

D FO

SLAN ATE I

PRIV

SALE

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST “Why did I buy a 21-island atoll in the South Pacific? Well, why did I buy a palace in Lithuania? Why did I buy a game reserve in Africa?” The sort of mercurial logic you come to expect from IAN GOWRIE-SMITH as you get to know him.

Text: Graham Pearce Photographs: Steve Parish, Graham Pearce, Tony Horth, Carmella Gware

W

e are pleasantly marooned off the eastern coast of Papua-New Guinea where these 21 islets, called The Conflicts, are all indeed owned by Ian GowrieSmith. And they are now for sale.

The islets circle around a massive natural lagoon (yes, blue) with pristine coral reefs. From any one of the islets you can see all the others – they stretch only 22km from east to west and 10km north to south. The atoll is currently under consideration as a World Heritage Marine Site.

The Conflicts are in the province of Milne Bay and each is named: some traditionally; others after people, including GowrieSmith’s children Baden, Lachlan and Skye.

They are your true vision of a ‘desert island’ – white-sand beaches, palm trees, balmy trade winds and spectacularly clear blue seas. Their roughly circular placement is because they were formed on the rim of a submarine volcano where soil and sand has built up over the millennia.

Except for one called Panasesa, they are uninhabited but they are visited often by the ‘locals’ who are among the last of the

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST true maritime people in the world, coming by canoe or sailboat but only to fish and take coconuts. The people are Austronesians who have been here for about 2600 years. You might have heard their word ‘spondoola’ – it is actually the Spondylus shell that was once used here as currency.

There isn’t much else around for hundreds of kilometres. If it is not the end of the world, you sense it could be right there, just over the horizon.

MR. SMITH This story is as much about Ian Gowrie-Smith (his brother Bruce tells me a recent ancestor added the hyphen) as it is about The Conflict Islands.

He was born into a family of rice farmers in South Eastern Australia and he is the first man in five generations not to follow a career on the land. Instead, he studied economics at university and went on to a 40 year roller-coaster career that included founding and developing companies in pharmaceuticals, mining, oil and gas. Along the way he dabbled in property – a hobby that saw some colourfully capricious choices.

When you talk to him you often see a switch from total relaxation to total focus. When observed unseen, he is obviously still a very busy man – on the mobile phone whenever there is even a hint of a signal in this wilderness (partner Elisabeth Saeth says his roaming bills are astronomical), his look of concentration intense.

The open vowels of Australia have given way to a neutral accent, obviously the result of many years living in England. But he still has strong ties to his birthplace; he keeps an apartment in Sydney on a chic Woolloomooloo wharf (neighbor is Russell Crowe) with a yacht called Platypus moored outside. For most of the time, though, he lives in one of the toffy areas of London and he also has an impressive house in the nearby country.

Gowrie-Smith has retained boyish good looks despite being into his sixties. In fact, he was once voted ‘bachelor of the month’ by the Australian version of Cosmopolitan magazine. He was 30 at the time, years before he later made headlines in London with a very expensive divorce settlement. He is tall, softly-spoken, intelligent, keenly passionate about many things (not least of which is the fragile environment of his atolls), eloquent almost to the point of verbosity and is not above just doing things for the sheer enjoyment of it – like breaking into a dance with a Papuan welcoming war party…

He is energetic, charging off into the jungle to find a wild turkey’s nest then later, in complete calm, enjoying a totally relaxed moment on the beach with a glass of wine and his only evident vice, a fine Partagás Cuban cigar.

Apart from ‘serial entrepreneur’ he describes himself as a property romantic and an eco-terrorist. His game reserve in Africa is prime example.

“To me, the commitment to sustainability and conservation is a no-brainer. Whilst it usually involves medium to longer term investment philosophies, my experience is that there is an economic reward as well,” he says. “In South Africa, I cobbled together six abandoned cattle farms, removed alien species from water courses, and reintroduced the animals that naturally used to live in the bush. It took seven years, but the svelte has

recovered; the carrying capacity has soared, reproduction rates are very high.”

“It is now called Zulu Waters National Game Reserve and I was very happy to celebrate my 60th birthday there. And, I’m glad to say it is a successful commercial venture and constantly booked out.”

GRAND ADVENTURE True to his flamboyant character, he chose to spread the word about his islands in New Guinea and their possible future in rather grand manner. He flew journalists in from all over the world to Cairns in Northern Australia and then by air to Alotau (the old 47

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Milne Bay) where he had chartered a small liner called Ocean Discoverer to sail them to the Conflicts.

Making up the rest of the party: some marine environmental experts, historians, naturalists, people from PNG Tourism, a couple of Gowrie-Smith’s friends, half his family – and last but certainly not least, the charming and sprightly nonagenarian Mary Ann Nevels.

Gowrie-Smith bought the islands from Mary Ann in 2003. She is now retired to Hawaii. Her husband Lu was also a property romantic and had The Conflicts for 30 years. A century before that, Sir Henry Wickham, an adventurer most known for stealing the first rubber plants from South America that allowed the British Empire to start its own rubber industry, tried (and failed) to make a living in The Conflicts. (Read about him in Joe Jackson’s book The Thief at the End of the World. Pub. Viking. New Yorker Jackson was also along on the adventure.)

So our time in paradise is not just spent idling like Robinson Crusoe; afternoons are a crash course in ichthyology, history, anthropology, geography and botany.

PANASESA We are moored off Panasesa where Gowrie-Smith has built a small ‘resort.’ Informal but comfortable, it is open to travellers for private hire, mostly attracting diving enthusiasts. It has a communal lodge and six beachfront bungalows. The island is only 58 hectares (3.8kms around) but there is a 600-metre runway, capable of landing light planes. Distractions on offer include sport fishing, diving, kayaking, sailing, boating and nature studies. The sea is full of coral trout, mackerel, red emperor, trevally – and about 1100 other species of non-edible fish. Like the larger islands, Panasesa has a fresh water table, only about a metre underground.

Selling options include buying a whole island or perhaps buying a plot on this island. If villa development goes ahead on Panasesa, it could eventually include more communal facilities: a marina, dive and fishing centre, tennis courts, golf and a beach club. It is possible to extend the airstrip runway by more than double.

Having said all this, Gowrie-Smith is adamant it be preserved as an eco-travel destination.

Just a few hundred metres from Panasesa is Irai – Mary Ann Nevels recalls being able to walk to it in the old days across a sand bar, now gone. It is the largest island in the group and has space for a 3000-metre runway that would land most private jets and would not be seen from a possible resort or large house on the opposite beach. This island has been found to have the second best coral in the world with the most number of species noted in a single dive. Australian underwater photographer Steve Parish calls it ‘Picasso’s Playground.’

Ocean Discoverer has a handy electrically-winched tender which can deliver you from deck-side to the beach very easily. We spent a week all up exploring the islands, diving, snorkelling, sailing and fishing – all the things a potential island owner would be able to do every day.

CONTACT “I have quite a history with Papua-Guinea,” recalls Gowrie-Smith.

“My parents actually spent their honeymoon here in 1938 and I remember listening to their wonderful stories. His personal introduction came in 1966 when he was sent there as a travelling companion to the young Prince of Wales, when Charles was doing a stint at Geelong Grammar School outside Melbourne.

“Apart from enjoying the country and the people, I bought a whole lot of artifacts and I did not realize 50-something years ago that they were all genuine, not tourism replicas. There is a room full of them at home,” says Gowrie-Smith.

He most recently expanded his business interests in the country where one of his companies, Rift Oil, discovered large gas fields.

He also turned his hand to gold exploration in the highlands, forming joint ventures with Barrick Mining, Newmont and Newcrest – three of the world’s largest mining companies.

Over these years, Gowrie-Smith grew fond of the natural beauty of Papua-New Guinea and he also developed a rapport with the people.

So it was in 2003, he decided to buy The Conflict Islands, named (not after any unpleasant events, although the WWII Battle of the Coral Sea took place very nearby) but after their discovery by the British naval survey ship, HMS Conflict in 1886.

‘Picasso’s Playground’ off the reef in The Conflicts Underwater photos by Steve Parish

“The first time I visited, I had to fly from London to Sydney.

Sydney to Port Moresby. Port Moresby to Alotau. Alotau to a resort called Tawali and then by a converted tuna boat through atrociously violent seas at midnight. When light dawned I was sitting in a director’s chair at the back of the boat, seasick and hung over as The Conflicts came into view. It was black, it was cold, and it was high tide so I could not see any beach. It wasn’t my best moment. But then the sun came out, the beaches reappeared, I caught a fish and I fell in love with it all.”

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(UN)REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE

In one of his many informal speeches aboard Ocean Discoverer, Gowrie-Smith proved to be a very entertaining raconteur.

“My first big real estate purchase was a thatched-roof cottage with metre-thick walls on the sea in Donegal in Ireland. What the hell was I thinking?” he recalls. “It took most of my savings but it was so romantic. But Ireland, for Christ’s sake? As it turns out the trouble in Ireland took care of everything; the sale was aborted but they did send the deposit back, which I promptly blew on a three-month skiing holiday in Zermatt.”

“I am just trying to suggest to you the process hasn’t always been an intelligent one but I like to think it has been a romantic one. You think of yourself as being normal, like everybody else.

And then I have to go back and acknowledge that I have made a whole lot of ridiculous decisions that seemed romantic but turned out to be rather challenging. I wish my mother and father had had a stronger hold on my decision-making process that might have stopped me from some of the sillier things I have done. But, funnily enough, I am surrounded by a sister and brother who are no better.” (Big laugh from his captive audience). His vivacious sister Sandra, also on the voyage, has taken to setting up a cheese factory in Bodalla quite late in life – prospering nicely as it turns out.

“I look back with some askance at the house I built by hand on Lake Eucumbene in the Australian Alps because I was passionate about trout fishing. I have a palace with its own theatre in Vilnius. For 30 years, I had a headland on the Hawkesbury River outside Sydney where you could only get to by boat. I’ve already mentioned the abandoned cattle properties in Africa that are now a Number One game reserve. I’m forgetting a few others too but it doesn’t matter. And, here? Why did I buy The Conflict Islands? Well, the answer is it seemed like a perfectly bloody normal thing to do.” (More laughter).

“I bought The Conflicts sight unseen, although I did send someone here to compile an extensive report. The actual purchase was a long journey; a couple of years of discussion with Mary Ann but we finally came to an agreement. So here I am.

Here she is, I am very happy to say. And here you all are.”

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“My intention was to never sell these islands but I have realised that I have something unique here and something that deserves to be protected. It became clear that only occupying one island was not enough to monitor (now illegal) practices like taking of giant clam and sea-cucumber. And, most importantly, turtle fishing, turtle-egg-collecting and shark finning.”

“Since the end of copra production and illegal fishing, the local population doesn’t have much of an opportunity to make a living.

So tourism seems to be the answer – and you cannot have tourism without a healthy marine environment and protected marine life,” he says.

“So the thing is: I need partners. I don’t have the financial resources, nor do I have the business resources to contemplate trying to occupy any or all of the other islands besides Panasesa.

So I want to get the word out.”

Gowrie-Smith says The Conflict Islands are the only known freehold islands available in the world but he would not be drawn on an exact worth. However, it has been reported the collection was worth $US25 million some 10 years ago but we know what has happened to world real estate prices in only a decade.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

“As a positive, I do have the luxury of time because I am not a professional developer,” he adds. “This is not part of my landbanking portfolio with debt that needs to be serviced. So, along the way, I am getting to know my neighbours and I am already very interested in improving their education. I have already built two schools with 140 students in Africa next to my reserve. We are achieving remarkable results but once again this is a medium to long term project here in New Guinea,” he says.

“Part of my security is the security of those islanders who will work with me. And who understand that there are economic rewards in conservation so I want them to see the importance of developing the islands while preserving everything we can of their natural beauty, and their natural life, both above and below the sea. And, just think how difficult all this communication has been without even a telephone?” he laughs.

“English is widely spoken, by the way, thanks to the missionaries, love ‘em or leave ‘em. But I have found that when I talk about something these people immediately hear it. Having said that, I am not a charity so if you ask me am I simply giving you money, the answer is no. but if you want to have a discussion about what I can do for you – and what you can do for me – the value we can bring to each other – the table is waiting.”

“Meantime I am looking to see who I can flush out financially for a sufficient level of enterprise and development potential so that there will be a physical possession of the islands but it will also mean the creation of employment.”

“As that is happening, I have teams who have been busy organizing planning approvals, possible designs and eco-friendly industries,” he adds.

diesel expert working full time on the project, making sure we introduce this amazing energy source for all the islands as they develop.”

“Apart from the fact it will provide energy for one quarter of the cost of regular diesel; the real beauty of using coconut bio-diesel is that it will invigorate a 100% sustainable and environmental source of livelihood for the local communities. Incidentally, an operational coco bio-diesel plant has been operating in Rabaul for two years.”

“I also foresee seawater-air-conditioning, which harnesses the cold of the deep ocean to provide low-energy and highly efficient cooling for buildings.”

“And the message of preserving this beauty really hits you when you are out on a coral reef. I love the diving most of all,” says Gowrie-Smith. “Something extraordinary seems to happen when you are out on the water - whether it’s to find yourself in the middle of a thousand migrating whales, playing with dolphins, watching manta rays swim gracefully by or witnessing a fishing frenzy with tuna, Spanish mackerel and a dozen other species.”

“And we keep taking for granted the beautiful weather, the clear seas and absolutely pollution-free fresh air. My favourite time of day is sunset,” he says. “On the southern end of Panasesa, there is a beautiful sand spit where I have built a small gazebo so we can enjoy dinner and watch the sun go down.” And, indeed we do this one balmy tropical evening.

ISLAND OR PARCEL? “I think the thing that is most likely to happen is people will buy

ECOSYSTEMS

“Just as I did in Africa, I want to bring The Conflict Islands ‘back to nature’ or back to their natural state. I am looking into restocking the islands with rare native birds, lizards, endemic flora – and my personal favourite project, a turtle hatchery,” says Gowrie-Smith.

“Every time I see a 44-gallon drum of fuel get floated onto the beach my heart aches with the unattractiveness of this noisy, smelly, expensive and inconvenient arrival. I can’t wait for Panasesa to be powered from ecological sources such as solar, wind and bio-fuels. And with 600 hectares of coconut palms, it is like sitting on an untapped oilfield: I now have a coconut bio-

a block of land to build a house on Panasesa. That would be the easiest route,” says Gowrie-Smith.

“You saw Irai. Like the other islands, totally virgin. Part of the process there would be the difficult process of setting up infrastructure on such a remote and logistically challenged spot?

A costly exercise in anyone’s books.”

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“So, in the event a Russian billionaire or somebody does not buy Irai, the fallback position is that people can buy a block of land Panasesa and enjoy the facilities of a small airfield, being next to power generation and next to the activity centre.”

the lack of privacy, (often) bad design and now, of course, the horrendous traffic. Actually, the mere fact that you can go and buy a villa there or in Phuket or somewhere for a lesser amount of money is an indictment,” he says.

“Aroroa is another possible solution; it is the second largest island and could be developed as a resort. We have already been approached by one company but the business model does not appeal to me. Island resorts traditionally make no money; the only way an owning company can make money is by the sale of land immediately around the resort, where similar-style villas are built and probably serviced by the resort as well.”

“But let me put it another way. A garage (yes, garage) was sold in London recently for £700,000. The lowest price for a house in Sydney was $750,000 when it was sold last month and that was literally a shack, nowhere near the city and certainly not near any water. An apartment with a view like this would cost you millions,” he says pointing to the azure lagoon.

“Having said that I don’t think we should be put off the idea completely but I would want it to be right. You know one of the reasons resorts fail in Australia, for example, is the crippling cost of labour, minimum contract hours, compulsory specialist employees and so on.”

“Sometimes, I like to look at Mustique in the Caribbean as an example of what might happen here. There, private luxury villas are owned by the likes of Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Tommy Hilfiger, the late Princess Margaret and a host of others. By the way, I also envisage keeping a great many of these islands as a natural reserve.”

“Here we have a resource of labour nearby and naturally I have been in conference with the PNG government regarding a possible ten-year tax break among other things, so we could make it pretty damned attractive for the right developer.”

“So, this is not a bad deal, especially to buy a block on which you can build your dream home on an uninhabited tropical island 11 off the Equator, away from the cyclone zones with the South East Trade Winds to cool you down.

“But, above all, I want to do this properly. My nightmare would be overdeveloped villas with infinity pools. My God, just look outside: you have the biggest f…..g infinity pool in the world.”

“Of course, you must take into account that this is virgin land. You have to think about fresh water, sewage and garbage disposal, electricity generation, maybe medical care. And there is certainly no mini-market anywhere within hundreds of miles. So, to buy in and take part in the development of the islands would not be a short-term prospect.”

OWNERSHIP ‘Foreigners cannot own land in Papua-New Guinea but they can purchase the freehold through a corporate structure (and this can be done in your own name). The agreements for The Conflicts are already set up, most with two islands per PNG corporation.

So a buyer can buy the shares and thus ownership and you can buy and sell these shares at will,” explains Ian Gowrie-Smith.

“I should add the Federal Government is very friendly towards shared development. In fact, the Prime Minister wanted to come here on this trip but pressing government issues did not allow him to leave Port Moresby. And the provincial Milne Bay government is very much on side. You met Governor Titus Philemon when he welcomed us personally in Alotau on the way here.”

“I only have one caveat for buyers – they must be passionate about protecting the pristine land and marine environment.”

INVESTMENT During the trip to The Conflicts there were many figures being tossed around. The most reliable seemed to be that to buy Irai Island would be about $25 million. To buy a plot of land on Panasesa would be about $500,000.

When you match what this could buy you in, say, Phuket, Bali, Boracay and other similarly tropical places, it seems expensive.

So we put it to Ian Gowrie-Smith why one should invest here and not explore more conventional and established options?

“Well, first of all there are those of us who have no interest in Bali or Phuket or wherever. And I guess it is also about whether you want to be surrounded by a large existing population or whether you like the exclusiveness and remoteness and the frontier element in these islands.”

“Then, in places like Bali, there is the rubbish, the overcrowding,

52

“For me this is intergenerational,” says Gowrie-Smith. “When I bought these islands, I actually thought of it from the point of view of my great, great grandchildren looking back in history

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

“We had a picnic yesterday on the island of Itamarina. They built those dining shelters in five minutes and they did the job perfectly. So it would be a similar experience but instead of catering for 100, we would be catering for 1000,” he says enthusiastically.

and saying ‘that must have been a pretty amazing great, great grandfather of mine who had the vision to buy this atoll.’”

“You know, most of the places the ships call in at now have brown or black sand because of the volcanic nature of the area.

Here the white sands help to the perfect vision of a desert island paradise. So they could simply lie on a beach and swim, snorkel or even dive. And, of course, they would also be offered lunch or sundown dinner with a glass of wine.”

“Remoteness is a relative thing, too. Look at Marlon Brando’s Atoll of Te’tiaroa. It is 100kms off Tahiti; it has no ship access to the lagoon as you have here; supplies have to be hauled over the reef to the island. But, after Marlon died, it sold in 2005 for $12.5 million, and is now being developed as The Brando Resort for tourists who literally want to get away from it all.”

NEXT?

MEANTIME

“I think a commercial project here is a 20- or 30-year undertaking but I would love to come back even in 10 years and be able to say I was here from the beginning – when there was nothing.

I have my other financial interests but I think this will keep me pretty busy property-wise for the foreseeable future,” he says.

“One of the things we are doing in the meantime is courting some cruise companies. These islands, Panasesa in particular, would be a perfect day-stop for passing passenger liners,” says GowrieSmith.

“This is a fabulous place for them to call so their passengers could enjoy a day on a desert island with white beaches, turquoise water and it would be great opportunity for the locals to sell their artifacts, which I must say are sensational. Wood carving has historically been an important art of the Milne Bay area. They also carve gourds from lime trees. Basket weaving is also common, as is pottery. You got a glimpse of these, now adapted to modern households, at the pop-up market in Alotau on the way here.”

“At the moment, I spend about three weeks a year in The Conflicts but when I get around to building a nice home on Panasesa, maybe in the next three years, then hopefully I can spend more time here,” says Gowrie-Smith.

“And, as I mentioned, I want to engage totally with these local people; to give them unqualified support. I want to help develop education and a livelihood for them. I see it as a useful way to spend the last phase of my life. To achieve something.”

“But there is that palace in Lithuania,” he smiles. “It is the biggest house in Vilnius (fabulous city, by the way) screaming out to be restored…” w w w.conflictislands.com sales@conflictislands.com

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LUXURY TOURISM

CLUB MED GOES UPMARKET On a world-wide marketing push, Club Med has two messages to get across: the new resorts are more luxurious and the holidays they offer are ‘all inclusive.’

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H

eidi Kunkel is the local face of Club Med and she is responsible for the Asia/Pacific region; she answers to the big boss in Paris, Henri Giscard d’Estaing (yes, the son of the former president of France).

Australian-born Kunkel has been with Club Med since 2003 (in Australia) before a promotion to President North East Asia, Japan and Korea, based in Tokyo. From 2011, as part of the restructure of

LUXURY TOURISM

the Club Med Asia Pacific business unit, she was promoted to CEO South East Asia and Pacific, based in Singapore. But she travels often to the property in Bali’s Nusa Dua area.

Indonesians don’t need visas or they can get visa-on-arrival – Turkey and Morocco stand out immediately.”

LUXURY The business of Club Med has changed immensely since the opening of its first village in the Balearic Islands in 1950. In 2015, Club Med now boasts 1.2 million customers a year, generating revenue of 1.4 billion euros from its 80 villages spread over 40 countries. Their 12,865 ‘GOs’ (staff) represent 114 nationalities.

The current biggest area of growth is China where the company aims to reach 200,000 customers and build five or more resorts by 2016. They also foresee significant growth across all Asia/Pacific.

Heidi Kunkel muses on the company’s philosophy half a century on.

“Our aim is to create a concept of beautiful locations; bringing people together of many nationalities; to be able to share and have meals together; play sport together – and party together. A lot of relaxation also takes place in there,” she says.

“During the last 10 years, there have been great changes. In 2004, we started to move more upmarket, which means an investment in higher quality, higher standard properties. We have sold off resorts which no longer fit into this positioning to be more high-end. We are also renovating and reinvesting in our existing resorts. This includes Club Med Bali where there are already new bars, room refurbishment and the new seafood beachside restaurant called The Deck.”

“Our new image is not an easy concept to get across to the traveller,” explains Kunkel. “Many people still have that ‘holiday camp’ image of Club Med, especially in Europe, so even there, this new concept will take time and energy to get across.”

“In this part of the world, we have to explain our new premium all-inclusive concept. I should mention here that a particular plus for Club Med is that they have resorts around the world where

“In a Club Med room, you will not have lavish furniture and you certainly won’t have your own pool – so what is our definition of luxury?”

“It means different things to different people. What we are talking about is more refinement. It is not our ambition to say we will compete with other hotels which obviously have much more luxurious rooms because our guests are not spending so much time in them. In some of our resorts, we do have villas with pool (coming up in the Maldives and Mauritius) and here in Bali, there are a few suites,” she says.

“When guests come to Club Med they are outdoors most of the time, enjoying everything that is on offer in the way of sport, culture, education – and just good fun – but now in a much more upmarket way.”

ALL-INCLUSIVE “Club Med’s Premium All-Inclusive concept offers the pleasure of a worry-free vacation where people enjoy everything on offer while being in full control of their budget. It is a concept to make everything easy,” says Kunkel. “We can just about plan your entire holiday so there is just one negotiation – you tell us what you want, we organise it, you pay for it and then you relax and enjoy your holiday.”

“So, your room, of course, is included. Three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus there are snacks around the resort all day. In fact, you will not go hungry from daybreak to well into the night; there is something on offer somewhere.”

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PEOPLE & BUSINESS

“Another very important plus in countries where high taxes make alcohol very expensive is that your wines and spirits, along with coffee and mocktails, are complimentary everywhere in resort.

(There is a charge for champagne and premium wines).”

“All our sporting activities are free of charge. And this includes golf, tennis, archery, sailing, windsurfing and snorkelling. At our ski resorts, lifts are free. And there is free skiing instruction if you have never done it before,” enthuses Kunkel.

“I should mention that the spa is not included – there is a fee for treatments. And outside excursions for shopping and sightseeing and so on are not included.”

“But! Other important things that can be included in your package are: flights, airport transfers, child-care – kids can spend the entire day at the Kids’ Club and join their parents for dinner in the evening.”

“So, great for the nuclear family or the multi-generational family and friends who like to travel together.”

“I should mention also that we always try to incorporate as much of the local elements as we can so when you go to Japan you will eat Japanese food. In Bali, you will of course enjoy Balinese food and all aspects of the Balinese culture. But, having said that, we are a French company so we retain that French cultural aspect – including the cuisine.”

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So, why should the successful person choose a Club Med holiday when there are so many other options on offer, especially in the way of luxury hotels?

“There is a human spirit here. We don’t sell a hotel room; we sell an experience, a concept to bring people together. The foam party last night, for example, you will not see that in other hotels,” smiles Kunkel.

“And I go back to our current initiative: we have gone much more upmarket and we have the all-inclusive concept. So you successful traveller can have a reasonable degree of luxury and, no matter how successful you are, everybody is keen to have somebody else take care of absolutely all the arrangements for a holiday.”

2015 New Openings There are three slated: Dong’ao in China, a beach resort on an exclusive island neighbouring Hong Kong and Macau. Finolhu Villas in the Maldives, an adults-only resort and the new high-end flagship for Club Med. Val Thorens in France, which will be the highest ski resort in Europe, with an optimal snow cover from November to May. There are also plans for Lombok, which would be the third resort in Indonesia. Says Heidi Kunkel: “It is in the southern part of the island on a pristine white sandy beach. It will be beautiful.” www.clubmed.com

GALLERY

€ Move over Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney and London, the most expensive restaurant in the world is in Spain. On the Balearic resort island of Ibiza, it is called SubliMotion and is in the Hard Rock Hotel, which also has the location, location, location factor – on the chic Playa d’en Bossa.

I

t is a brave move to bill yourself as the most expensive restaurant in the world but, once you have said it, it gets down to whether it is good and whether it is actually worth the money. And the money is some €1,500 (about $2,075) per head.

Of interest is that Spain already had the best restaurant in the world 2013, according to the British magazine Restaruant, which gave the award to Celler de Can Roca in Girona (since been toppled by Copenhagen’s Noma).

And what do you get for this? “The very latest in “avant-garde gastronomy in a literal theater to the senses,” says the hype.

Spain also has Mercès One in Barcelona, the most ‘exclusive’ restaurant ever where only one small group can choose not only the cuisine, but the décor…

The chef is Paco Roncero, with two Michelin stars and three Repsol Suns under his belt, who was previously at La Terraza del Casino de Madrid.

SubliMotion only seats 12 guests each night but not only will you get the ‘gastro-sensory spectacle’ but also lights, sounds and levitating dinner plates.

By the way, if you don’t want to eat at SubliMotion every night, Hard Rock also has a branch of the famous Estado Puro (Pure State), which serves ‘creative cuisine at more affordable prices’ and seats 300. w w w.sublimotionibiza.com

The table and walls double as pieces of art with light installations and videos projected onto them throughout the 20 courses. The food is molecular (and you thought that was dead with El Bulli!)

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EDUCATION

THE PLAYING FIELDS OF EPSOM There is a saying that Britain for centuries has been led from the playing fields of Eton (since a great many of its leaders went to school there). Now the future might say that Asia is led from the playing fields of Epsom.

By Graham Pearce

F

or many years, Asian students have had to travel abroad for a better education – and usually to the other side of the world. Now it is possible to be schooled in fine British fashion much closer to home.

Epsom College in Malaysia (they already call it ECIM but the jury is out whether it is Ay-chim or Ay-Kim) is the first overseas branch of the famous school in England and is a prestigious coeducational day and boarding school for 3-18-year-olds.

It is being opened under a Master Licence Agreement by the Educ8 Group, which wholly owns Epsom College in Malaysia and shares the governance of the College through a Board of Governors with its partner, the UK-based Epsom College (open since 1855).

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Air Asia’s energetic founder, Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes is Chairman of Governors (he is, in fact, an old Epsonian himself) and Martin George is Headmaster, Mike Oliver is Head of Senior School and Jane Smith is Head of Prep School.

Open in September last year; its campus is purpose-built on 50 acres of land in Bandar Enstek, which is about an hour’s drive south of Kuala Lumpur.

“As to this location,” says Tony Fernandes, “I recall that one of my great regrets was not being able to see my family while I was growing up. I was in England and they were across the world in Malaysia. So, this location is close to Kuala Lumpur and it proximity to the airport (about 20 minutes to both KLIA and the LCCT) is very important. It means that students from Jakarta,

EDUCATION

Library

for example, can go home for the weekend very easily and reasonably cheaply. So there will not be that isolation.”

dishes will be designed by a nutritionist to ensure a wholesome balanced diet.

CAMPUS

Like its parent college in England, ECIM will be run on a closeknit house system and it will follow the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) syllabus. All classes will be in English but Bahasa Melayu will be a curriculum subject.

ECIM sprawls over two sections (boarding and teaching) and it is all linked by covered walkways which are flanked by gardens.

Around these buildings are enviable sporting facilities that include three Astroturf football pitches (‘green and recycled’), two rugby pitches, three squash courts, two basketball courts, 10 badminton courts and a fitness centre. It has a swimming pool – and a cricket field. It will be interesting to see how Asians take to this arcane sport…

As well as classrooms, laboratories, computer centre and a library, ECIM boasts a 600-seat theatre, recital hall, dance studios, 20 music rehearsal suites, five ensemble rooms and a specialist Art, Design and Technology Centre.

Food at British schools has often been a sore point over the years but the people at ECIM say it will be different here with a mixture of Western and Asian cuisines and a variety that will satisfy everybody, no matter where they come from. And

For boarding students, there are special wings with sleeping and study accommodation and each House includes a kitchen, laundry and a common recreational and games room area.

For the new generation, the whole campus is WiFi connected.

Epsom College in England is famous for its graduates who go on to specialize in science and medicine. Priority in Malaysia will be given to traditional subjects and now including IT training that will be preparation fo r university. But it also has an impressive selection of subjects that stress personal development and creativity.

“Epsom College in Malaysia is also committed to promoting an inclusive, family-orientated and supportive boarding culture that

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EDUCATION

Auditorium

Boarding Social Room

IT Lab

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EDUCATION

EPSOM, England

is nurtured by dedicated and experienced UK Boarding House staff twenty four hours a day,” says Headmaster Martin George.

“The team of Housemasters and Housemistresses live alongside the students and are responsible for their welfare and progress at Epsom, be it academic, co-curricular, social or personal.”

An education like this does not come cheaply; fees are fairly hefty but there will be a substantial scholarship number.

“We want to make this the best school in the world,” says George. “What is the point of setting your sights lower than that?”

THE GUV’NOR Air Asia’s Tony Fernandes proudly showed guests around the campus (largely his vision and it is whispered that Air Asia is a major stakeholder in the project) and even showed us he remembers how to kick a soccer ball. But why such a huge commitment?

“I love education. I love kids. Everything I have done has been largely because of my own education. At Air Asia I worked at grassroots level on every aspect of running the airline. I got to know our young people very well and still realize education – even after leaving school is very important. I still carry bags occasionally, by the way,” laughs Fernandes.

“I was sent to England to school at the tender age of 12. I was naïve, scared and apprehensive. But, as it turned out, I loved Epsom, not only the academics but also the extras – like sport, music, drama and getting to know people from England and all over the world. Their sporting programs made me appreciate (and LOVE) competition. In fact, this was one of the seeds that led eventually to the idea of starting my own airline,” he says.

“So a couple of years ago, I thought Europe (and the States and Australia) are still a long way away so I said ‘why not in Malaysia?’”

“I love the idea of ASEAN. A personal dream would be the United States of Asia but I am not sure that will ever happen. Meantime, children can come here to school and (like my own experience) nobody will care where you come from, what your religion is,

what colour you are – you are all equals as students and your differences will be not be a drawback but an exciting extra bit of knowledge for your co-students.”

“A large part of the curriculum at ECIM will be non ‘academic’ – things like sport, music, drama, art – although mathematics and science will still be vitally important. But all those extra things, I think, do tremendous things for creativity and you don’t need to add four plus four to develop communications skills.

And communication – especially with leaders these days (and tomorrow) is everything.”

“One of our aims at ECIM is to produce the leaders of tomorrow,” muses Fernandes. “I will be long dead before one of them is the president of Indonesia,” he chuckles, “but the president of Indonesia will not have to know how to add four and four (he has a finance minister for that) but he WILL have to know how to lead properly and how to communicate with the people. So this ECIM education I hope will play no small part in developing those people. It is not just about getting As in every subject.” w w w.epsomcollege.edu.my

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LUXURY MOTORING

CADDY ON THE GREEN The American luxury brand Cadillac has introduced a non-polluting, renewable-energy electric car called the 2014 ELR, which represents the first application of Extended Range Electric Vehicle technology by a fullline luxury automotive brand.

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LUXURY MOTORING

C

adillac, incidentally, has been long known for its innovative technology: the company developed the world’s first electric self-starting engine and they were also the first carmaker to offer a color other than black.

The 2014 ELR is capable of travelling about 56 km per charge which would cover a typical commute to the office or the mall solely in electric mode. Go beyond that distance and the petrol engine automatically kicks in. So, unlike an all-electric car, there is no range anxiety. Fuel-economy estimates top 128 kpg and, while no muscle car, the ELR is plenty quick: zero to 96.5 kph in 7.8 seconds when the petrol engine is engaged.

The coupe’s striking appearance, however, is what’s likely to seduce buyers. The car boasts rakish angles and the windswept pro­file also cuts down on aerodynamic drag that might otherwise reduce range and increase cabin noise.

On the tech front there’s there is the Cadillac CUE display atop the dashboard that allows you to swipe through your music, pinch to zoom in on maps and tap once to summon a detailed look at the battery’s remaining charge.

It has natural speech recognition that enables you to use fewer specific commands to recall stored media or input navigation destinations. CUE’s text-to-speech feature also allows users to receive text messages by system voice and to send recorded text messages in return.

steering wheel includes a five-way controller to navigate the cluster display, vol­ume control, cycle through favorites, voice recognition, phone hang-up and more.

Yet the ELR doesn’t skimp on analog pleasures either. With optional 20-way-adjustable leather seats and dark-wood trim, the lavish look and feel rival those of some of the finest luxury cars.

PERFORMANCE Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology provides a full driving range of 545 kms, combining pure electric driving and an efficient, range-extending generator. It has selectable drive modes for terrain changes and energy efficiency.

Charging the ELR’s battery can be done with a 120V electrical outlet or a dedicated 240V charging station. It takes about 4.5 hours using a 240V charging station. It also has a delay function so you can charge at night, perhaps, when rates are cheaper.

And a couple of little extras: fold-down rear seatbacks accommodate longer items such as skis and golf clubs and (last but not least) there is a power-assist covered storage/cup holder in the center console.

So the company is hoping both new and long established Caddy connoisseurs will eagerly plug in. Price in the United States of the 2014 ELR starts at US$75,995. w w w.cadillac.com

A concealed storage compartment with a USB port accommodates smart phones and other electronic devices. The 63

WHEN IN MONTE CARLO

W

ell, the Hotel Metropole in Monaco did just that and the result is Odyssey: a dual concept destination restaurant and bar. Not only that: this is the first outdoor poolside space in Monte-Carlo to combine a menu created by a Michelinstarred chef.

LAGERFELD’S ODYSSEY When you want a restaurant designed, why not go to the best. See if Karl Lagerfeld has a few ideas?

The main feature of the indoor/outdoor restaurant is a modern photographic interpretation of Ulysses’ adventures as chronicled

by Homer in his epic poems Iliad and Odyssey.

Unknown to most of us, Karl Lagerfeld is an award-winning photographer as well as a fashion designer and his pictures depict Ulysses’ journey home from the Trojan War. The mural-installation (20m long by 3m tall) is behind the hotel’s new swimming pool. In all, there are 18 etched, backlit glass panels with the modern images of models superimposed onto original photography from Lagerfeld’s archives of the Greek coastline between 1850-70. The glass murals are coloured with ceramics and lit by a LED system. The lighting is dimmable to create effects of movement.

Says Lagerfeld: “I chose the theme of Greek mythology as everything happens in the Mediterranean – it seems logical to focus on the location we are in.”

With Lagerfeld’s Grecian theme, the renowned chef Joël Robuchon has developed the Mediterranean concept further by combining influences from France, Spain, Greece, Italy and even Lebanon to create Odyssey, the restaurant.

“The concept is to offer a fresh menu with light and modern dishes inspired by the relaxed atmosphere of the hotel. The new

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WHEN IN MONTE CARLO

restaurant offers an al fresco dining experience around the pool, evoking a relaxed barbecue style spirit with a Mediterranean touch to be enjoyed day and night,” says Robuchon.

The lunchtime menu creates a fusion of flavours with signature dishes such as Octopus Salad with Pesto and Soft Marinated Vegetables, Squid Skewers and Artichoke with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes, Beef fillet with Sweet Peppers and Mushrooms, and Lobster with Baby Spinach Leaves and Wasabi.

At night, Odyssey transforms into a chic bar illuminated by Lagerfeld’s mural. The evening menu offers things like Beef Carpaccio with Virgin Olive Oil, a selection of home-made dips including Guacamole, Tapenade and Hummus served with Smoked Salmon and Sardines on Freshly Baked Bread, and a Light Onion and Anchovy Tart on Delicate Filo Pastry.

Odyssey has also put its own twist on the cocktail list with a variety of O’Made Rums and O’Pulent drinks including the O’Mojito, O’Sex on the beach and the O’Blue Lagoon. w w w.metropole.com

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FOOD : SPAIN

8 Frank Camorra & Richard Cornish

MAN OF LA PLANCHA

F

udging the musical title was irresistible. But Cervantes and his errant knight are apt here. A ‘plancha’ is a griddle for cooking – used almost everywhere in Spain. Along with a paella pan, it is an essential part of the Spanish kitchen. Those, and the famous bota, the goatskin used to pour red wine from arm’s length into the mouth.

And this should actually be Men of La Plancha because these two are actually the co-authors of a smashing new Spanish cookbook called MoVida Solera. It is the latest collaboration between chef Frank Camorra and journalist Richard Cornish.

Graham Pearce caught up with them over (a Spanish) lunch in Melbourne

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FOOD : SPAIN Their books are not just about recipes. Each is (literally) a quixotic journey of personal experience; a shared joy of the dishes, the produce, the restaurants, cafés and bars – and the people in Spain who are so passionate about food.

You will love the food but the books are also great for just relaxing and enjoying a leisurely read.

Possibly one of the more interesting things about these authors is that they don’t live in Spain but in Australia.

However, Frank Camorra could be attributed with the creation of an awareness of Spanish food downunder. Before he came along, it was garlic prawns and questionable paella.

This latest book is a culinary trek around Andalusia where cities with names like Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga and Granada all strangely have songs, even operas written about them. This is also the home of the dazzling flamenco music and dance.

FRANK CAMORRA

If you have eaten at MoVida in Melbourne, you will appreciate how deliciously different the food is and how great is the ambience. Spanish food is the new world trend. Great news is: Frank Camorra will be in Jakarta in a pop-up restaurant this year and there are plans for a permanent MoVida in Bali. In Petitenget, on the beach next to Potato Head. Marvellous Spanish food that will easily make you mistake Bali for the Costa del Sol.

Frank (we suspect Francisco) Camorra was born in Barcelona but spent his first five years in his parents’ hometown of Córdoba in Andalusia before they migrated to Australia – to Geelong, about an hour’s drive from Melbourne. “That was a shock to the whole family – the kids had to learn English to (literally) survive the schoolyard and the whole family had to adjust to a new way of life. The food at home, however, was always classic Spanish,” he remembers.

waiter, cook and dishwasher. My first ‘real’ job was in a restaurant in Geelong where the owner was Spanish. It was very strange,” he recalls. “The staff ate superbly – Spanish classics, while the customers were served crap.”

“I actually made it to five years of study before I left and took on a cooking apprenticeship. I studied under Guy Grossi (now with his Florentino empire of Italian restaurants) and then, in 2000, I went back to Spain. I had a great time rediscovering what the Spanish do with food,” he says. “I was inspired by both the modern and traditional aspects of Spanish cuisine and I had a ball getting to know what the tapas culture is all about.”

“After school, I began studying architecture at university but I had jobs in restaurants to make ends meet. I was a

Camorra moved back to Melbourne where he found backing to open MoVida - named after the art and film movement

8 Anchovies with smoked tomato sorbet

8 Fresh vegetables

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FOOD : SPAIN that flourished in Madrid during Spain’s reawakening from fascist repression. This innovative era – full of exuberant energy and freedom is what he likes to think MoVida is all about. But, back then in 2003, Spanish food was chancy.

“I was confident we could make it work but I do remember a well-known hospitality PR telling me ‘Spanish food has never worked and never will work in Melbourne: stick to Italian!’”

“Actually, people did not know quite what to expect,” says Camorra, who speaks with a dinky-dye Australian accent, although he still speaks flawless Spanish and Catalan.

“Here was this little space in a graffiti-covered cobblestone alley off Flinders Street serving Spanish tapas and shared plates. But the message soon spread that it was the kind of place you could come in for a snack at the bar or take a serious meal at a table with some seriously good Spanish red wine. We also introduced an extensive sherry menu.

Our anchovies topped with smoked tomato sorbet are still a staple favourite and I think we make the world’s best flan,” he smiles.

His flavours are robust, the dishes are often very spicy, the technique not that much different from other cuisines but they have a few unique trends – such as cooking with pimentón (paprika) and many kinds of sherry. And it is not just alta cocina but cocina del país (country or farm food).

Frank was named as Chef of the Year at The Age newspaper Good Food Guide Awards in 2008 and that year also saw the opening of MoVida Next Door, up a notch and more southern Spanish in feel with a focus on sherry and seafood. MoVida Aqui came in 2009, much larger than the original restaurant and it also boasts outdoor seating. On the terrace here is a little taqueria and bar called Paco’s Tacos, specializing in soft shelled tacos and bar snacks.

Bar Pulpo by MoVida is now open at Melbourne Airport’s international terminal and finally there is a MoVida in Sydney.

RICHARD CORNISH Richard Cornish writes a food column for The Age newspaper in Melbourne. He is a former TV producer and creative director of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.

And a passionate foodie, not to mention ‘food scientist.’

“When I was working in television, I was always jotting down thoughts about food: how it is grown, how it is made, how it is prepared and how it is eaten. Everybody eats (so it is a very important subject to write about) – many not well – but that is a fixable dilemma.”

“I also ventured into the science of food and how we taste it and smell it,” he says. “Until EMR (electromagnetic radiation) and gene technology came along, we couldn’t understand how aroma molecules excite receptors in the nose, tongue and palate to create the sensation we know as ‘flavour’. They even have a name for this: neurogastronomy.”

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But science be damned. His books with Frank Camorra were written with the sheer joy of being in Spain, eating the food and meeting the people.

“Frank and I met through the then co-owner of MoVida, David Mackintosh (Pei Modern, Rosa’s Kitchen, Lee Ho Fook),” recalls Cornish. “He thought MoVida was established enough to present a book on Spanish food to the Australian public so Frank and I started talking. We did a lot of talking about what the book (now called MoVida: Spanish Culinary Adventures) was going to be like. We found out we shared the same no-nonsense attitude to food and its place in life.”

“So, over a bottle of wine we decided to put together a pitch to send to the publishers,” chips in Camorra. “It was basically a chapter of what we thought the book could be.

Of course the final book looked nothing like this initial mock up.”

However, when it was finally published, the book was awarded Best Cookery Book by a Chef at the Australian Food Media Awards. Then came MoVida Rustica (about country food), MoVida Cocina (their own recipes from the restaurants) and MoVida Barcelona, a guide to that wonderful city, now a multi-starred culinary mecca.

“To tell you the truth I was an Italophile when I met Frank,” says Cornish. “I had even learned to speak Italian and I went to Italy to learn more about the food. Back home, I quickly realized I could not honestly write a book on Spain without learning more about their culture so I went to night school to learn Spanish and started reading about Spanish history, culture and food.”

“My Spanish is still very basic but, after a couple of shots of Pedro Ximénez, I can hold an entire conversation,” he laughs.

“Spanish cooks take everyday local ingredients and transform them using traditional techniques into delicious food. A simple dish of anchovy, cheese and bread is incredibly Moorish because it layers the flavours and intensifies the deliciousness. Think an Iberian version of ikan bilis - simple but oh-so-good with a cold drink.”

THE BOOK MoVida Solera takes us around the eight provinces of Andalusia in Southern Spain.

“We travelled 10,000 kilometres and I estimate we must have eaten 1,500,000 kilojoules of food to ‘research’ this book,” laughs Richard Cornish.

“And I must confess we

FOOD : SPAIN

8 Cecina - air dried wagyu with truffle, potato foam and poached egg.

passed the bota quite a bit on the trip.”

“We must make mention of the amazing photographer Alan Benson and the most informed Spanish food writer from Barcelona, Francesc Castro,” says Camorra. “We were a travelling team that collated recipes from butchers, fishermen, home cooks, chefs, writers – and even some shy nuns who hold many culinary secrets in their convents. We finally had to cull it down to about 100 recipes. These are not haute cuisine or, God forbid, molecular creations but food you can cook at home.”

And it is not just recipes; Frank gives us an easy history lesson of each province, noting that Andalusia was once Greek, Roman, Jewish and Arab. All these influences survive, along with native Spanish traditions, particularly the idea of being locavores. Every chapter ends with a mustdo guide to cafés, bars, restaurants, even jamón and other produce shops. There are also hundreds of pictures.

The book begins in Seville, once a port reached by the Guadalquivir River and the departure point of Christopher Columbus’s voyages to the Americas. “This was also the first place recorded in Europe where the tomato is mentioned as part of the cuisine,” says Camorra. “Seville is also the administrative capital of Andalusia and in many ways has the urbane feel of Madrid, blending conservative elements with its own avant-garde sensibility. Here you’ll find some of the oldest bars in Andalusia, as well as restaurants offering the most cutting-edge modernist cuisine.”

8 The world’s best flan

“Then each other region has its specialties, usually depending on landscape and location, whether it be in the mountains or by the sea. Remember this area stretches from Huelva past the Strait of Cadiz, through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Costa del Sol on the Mediterranean. Inland are Jaen, Cordoba and Granada.”

Unlike many other cookbooks that just get propped on the kitchen bench while you make a recipe, these invite you to sit down and just read them – later you will certainly be moved to try an irresistible dish. You will really begin to appreciate the Spanish food philosophy. And this begs the question: will there be another book? Spain has other provinces just waiting to be ‘discovered’ through food – notably Castile and the North West.

“At present there is no new one planned,” says Cornish.

“But I would love to do a book on the food of Catalunya or the Basque Country as these are separate cultures again to the predominant Spanish culture.”

Meantime, it is back to the pages of MoVida Solera and you should probably organize some flamenco music in the background as you leaf through it. You can almost smell the viňo de naranja (wine infused with orange); you long for berza (flamenco stew with chorizo) and you can easily imagine the meat sizzling on a plancha. So, please pass the bota… www.movida.com.au www.murdochbooks.com.au

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GOLF

THE BUSINESS OF GOLF ASIA’S GOLF TOURISM EXPLOSION

By Paul Myers

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GOLF

Spring City lake course

Have clubs will travel!

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million people, all drawn to the same lure, cannot be wrong. The attraction, growing by double digits every year, is golf tourism to Asia.

Last year (best on record), an estimated 550,000 Asian golfers and 500,000 western Europeans and Australians travelled to and within Asia for one main reason: to play golf in an exotic location.

It’s a phenomenon that governments, tourism authorities and tour operators in every Asian country are now seeking to exploit.

Quite apart from the obvious economic benefits in developing new tourism drivers, there are other benefits: golf tourists are more affluent, stay longer, spend up to three times more and cause less trouble than other foreign visitors. What’s more, they keep coming back!

Already, Thailand has adopted golf tourism as one of its four major “pillars” to attract foreign visitors. (Whatever happens politically in Thailand, incidentally, will not change its status as a golf destination: the courses are all full – and most are outside Bangkok anyway.)

Its other designated tourism sectors are eco-tourism, culture and weddings. Sound familiar?

BALI, ISLAND OF GOLF Bali is no longer just the Island of the Gods; it is now also the Island of Golf, following the formation of a collective marketing group to promote golf tourism.

The re-opening next month of the Bali National Golf and Country Club (formerly Bali Golf and Country Club at Nusa Dua) after a makeover that took 18 months to complete is providing impetus for Bali’s golf tourism credentials.

Bali will welcome more than one million foreign visitors in 2014 – half from Australia, with China, Japan and Malaysia the other leading markets. But despite an upswing in tourism over the

past three years, only an estimated five percent of total arrivals currently play golf, a number that offers considerable growth potential.

Another factor in Bali’s favour is its easy access from major overseas tourism markets and a counter-cyclical season to major golf destinations in Asia, especially Thailand and Malaysia.

Whereas the northern winter is high season in Thailand and Malaysia, the southern winter, June to August, is the peak time in Bali.

By far the best known of Bali’s courses is Nirwana Bali Golf Club at Tanah Lot, about 45 minutes drive west of Seminyak.

This wonderful Greg Norman design opened 20 years ago and has long been regarded among Asia’s best layouts. Indeed numerous magazines have voted Nirwana as Indonesia’s and Asia’s best course. US Golf Digest includes it among its best 100 courses outside the United States, while Forbes Travel Guide has named Nirwana among Asia’s 10 most elite golf courses.

The three clifftop holes, playing parallel to the crashing sights and sounds of the Indian Ocean, make it one of the world’s most photographed layouts.

The Bali National Golf and Country Club is considerably raising the bar in terms of Bali’s golf stature.

Also with a 20-year history, the course is located at Nusa Dua, the popular high-end tourism destination south of the island’s famous Kuta-Seminyak-Legian tourist strip. The original Nelson Wright Howarth design has been kept largely in place by the same design firm, now called Nelson Howarth, with new fairways, greens and extra bunkering, some running the entire length of holes.

A Shangri-la hotel is to be built on site within the next two or three years, complementing an already-large selection of five-star properties next to and close by the course.

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GOLF

Danang Golf Club

Mission Hills Dongguan clubhouse & hotel

Nirwana 7th & Tanah Lot temple

Red Mountain Phuket

Under its original guise, Bali Golf and Country Club hosted the 1994 Asian Dunhill Masters and was named by Fortune magazine as one of Asia’s five best golf courses. Now, following the remake and renaming, the course has stepped up another couple of notches, with revamped finishing holes bringing players to a sumptuous new clubhouse overlooking the 18th green.

The New Kuta Golf Club at Pecatu on the Bukit Peninsula is Bali’s newest course. Like Nirwana, the Ronald Fream-designed links-style par-72 layout features scenic oceanfront and challenging inland holes.

It is set within the rapidly developing Pecatu Indah Resort area above a soaring limestone cliff overlooking the Dreamland and Balangan beaches and is less than 30 minutes drive from the airport.

The Golf Academy Bali has an on-site teaching facility at New Kuta Golf Club, where British PGA pro, Rory Young, provides tuition to visitors. The facility includes a 42-bay floodlit driving range, large putting and chipping green and practice bunker.

Three days/two nights and four days/three nights’ stay-andplay packages are available with the 300-room New Kuta Hotel nearby. (w w w.GolfParadiseBali.com) THAILAND With the Tourism Authority of Thailand putting resources and funding behind golf tourism, the industry has reaped big rewards.

Thailand is by far Asia’s major recipient of golf tourists, with up to 75% of the market: this worth an estimated $US5 billion a year in

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ground arrangements alone.

Little wonder countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines – each with a long history of golf – are enviably eyeing Thailand and seeking to grow their inbound golf tourism.

(Malaysia, with an estimated 200,000 golf visitors a year, is second to Thailand in Asia, albeit by a large margin).

If current trends continue, Thailand will become the world’s leading golf tourism destination in the next five years, surpassing Spain, the United States and Britain. Already, the kingdom easily attracts more golf tourists than other emerging markets such as Turkey, Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia and the Canary Islands.

Thailand will continue its climb to the top of the world golf stage, according to leading inbound tour operator Mark Siegel, who operates Golfasian in Thailand and Vietnam.

“The courses, weather, caddies, tourism infrastructure, friendliness of the people, safety, cost, nightlife and entertainment all make for an unforgettable golf holiday experience,” he says.“Everyone who comes to Thailand to play golf has a great time and they keep coming back.”

Just as Asia itself is the major supplier of all general tourists to Thailand – about 13 million of 22 million a year (60% of the total), golfers accounted for about the same proportion – some 550,000 in 2013 – came from Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India and China.

“The level of Chinese golf tourism is growing every year,” Siegel says. “There’s no doubt China will be a major feeder market for

GOLF

Dalit Bay GC Sabah

golf tourism to Thailand and other countries, especially Vietnam, in the future.”

Indonesia, with some 100,000 golf visitors annually,mostly from Europe, is in an excellent position to grow. The government has backed efforts to attract more golf visitors, while a new cooperative group (see sidebar) has been formed in Bali to lift the island’s long-standing but not so well known golf profile.

Vietnam is one country already making a mark. New courses on the Central Coast near Danang have firmly established the region as the country’s golf capital and arguably the most exciting new golf destination in Asia.

The three world-class courses there – Montgomerie Links, Danang Golf Club and Laguna Lang Co – have greatly lifted the profile and appeal of the Central Coast as a tourism destination.

The region now attracts more than a million foreign visitors a year, many of whom come to visit the UNESCO World Heritage cities of Hue and Hoi An. ASIA Asia’s further golf tourism development will not be framed on the basis of cost, which played a part in initial growth of the sector.

Whereas golf was once much cheaper in Asia than in western countries, the gap has closed. Almost all superior courses in Asia now charge $US100 a round or more, plus cart rental, caddie fee and, after the game, the obligatory caddie tip.

In Bali, for example, the walk-in rate is $US180 at the three leading courses, including cart and caddie fee.This puts the

cost on a par with better courses in Thailand, but is cheaper than playing at Asia’s “bucket list” golf destination, Mission Hills in China, where rates have increased to more than $US200 a round.

A lower-priced option, with even better golf, is at Kunming in south-west China, where an existing 15 courses is likely to double in the next five years, making the region Asia’s one-stop golf capital. Not only does Kunming boast world-class courses, but a year-round mild climate that explains its moniker, the Land of Eternal Spring.

The golf tourism industry’s once northern hemisphere-centric body, the London-based International Association of Golf Tourism Operators (IAGTO), with more than 2000 members worldwide, has begun embracing golf tourism to Asia in a big way.

In late March, IAGTO will hold its third annual Asia Golf Tourism Convention at Mission Hills, Haikou on the island of Hainan.

This follows other successful conventions in Kuala Lumpur in 2012 and Pattaya last year. Its CEO, Peter Walton, has made numerous visits to Asia in the past several years and is leading the push into the region. By 2020, it’s likely that two million golf tourists – with more than a million from long-haul markets – will travel internationally to Asia especially to play golf. The rest will come from within Asia itself, with China leading the way.

For more information about golf tourism in Asia, visit: w w w.golfinakingdom.com w w w.golfcoastvietnam.com w w w.golf-kunming.com

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TRAVEL FRANCE

THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS There is no place in the world like the Loire Valley in France. It is known as the ‘Garden of France.’ It is an enchanting place, stretching from Chartres all the way to Atlantic, some 800 square kilometers of rolling countryside, rivers, vineyards, villages and, most notably, magnificent castles.

I

ndeed the Loire Valley has long been associated with royalty and the aristocracy and its towns are all closely associated with royal history: Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Saumur, Tours and , Orléans. Orléans, incidentally, was liberated from the English by Joan of Arc in 1429. It became France’s intellectual capital and you can still see its Cathedral Saint Croix, Fine Arts Museum, Maison de Jeanne d’Arc and the Natural Science Museum The Loire was the ‘weekend’ home of kings long before that – since the 10th century, in fact. Through the Renaissance it was also a place of royal patronage for learning and the arts – and this included magnificent architecture and landscaping.

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Royal patronage reached its highest under François I. His most notable beneficiary was none other than Leonardo da Vinci who, in fact, lived at Le Clos-Luce in the grounds of the royal residence, Chateau d’Amboise from 1516 until his death in 1519.

Today, this château is a museum devoted to his genius.

La Vallée de la Loire has also produced some notable modern celebrities, namely WWI Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, novelist Jules Verne, painter Henri Rousseau and fashion designer Coco Chanel.

But the valley is known best for its historic castles. These are not the grim fortified stone fortresses we usually associate with the word ‘castle’ – more grand villas (château in French) of pleasing

TRAVEL FRANCE architectural design. Most of the aristocracy and certainly the king have gone so you can visit and go inside most of them today.

Château de Noizay

There are actually more than 300 of these great houses but probably best-known are Azay-le-Rideau, Château d’Amboise, Château de Chambord, Château de Chinon, Château du Rivau, Château d’Ussé, Château de Villandry and, the most romantic of all, Chenonceau. This 16th century château was designed by Diane de Poitiers, ‘favourite’ of Henri II. After his death, an angry Queen Catherine evicted her but it stayed in royal hands for centuries.

The Loire River is the longest in France and it (along with its tributaries, the Cher, Indre, Vienne and Loir (without an ‘e’) are strands that link the châteaux, vineyards, farmlands, forests and ancient towns that, over the centuries, have risen along their banks.

The Loire includes several wine regions with mouth-watering names like Muscadet, Sancerre, Vouvray and Pouilly-Fumé. It is also the home of Cointreau. You can go for a tasting at vineyards large and small and you can make special wine tours – called the routes de vignobles. You can find details in any tourist office.

Château de la Bourdaisière

Best news of all is that you can live, for a short time anyway, in the luxury of Louis XIV or perhaps Madame de Pompadour or of many other famous historic figures who lived here. Many of the Loire’s châteaux are now fine hotels. Here are a few of the most impressive.

CHÂTEAU DE NOIZAY The 16th century Château de Noizay is a small boutique hotel in the heart of the Vouvray vineyards between Amboise and Tours. It is surrounded by vast verdant gardens with views to the Tourangelle countryside.

Its pool is heated between May and October and you can play tennis, go mountain biking and fishing. If you want to relax, you can simply stroll through the park or enjoy the lounge and library.

In the restaurants, they have fine regional cuisine and vintage wines. In summer, it is doubly romantic on the terrace.

The 19 guestrooms are decorated with beautiful fabrics and genuine period furniture and are located in the main Château or Le Pavillon de L’Horloge.

CHÂTEAU DE LA BOURDAISIÈRE From the 14th century, Chateau de la Bourdaisière sits between Tours and Amboise and the vineyards of Montlouis and Vouvray.

This eco-friendly hotel and nature school is positioned amid stunning parkland that includes a botanic garden of aromatic and medicinal plants. The hotel is also famous for its tomato conservatory. Tastes from the garden are demonstrated in the hotel’s unique tomato bar and open-air kitchen.

Its 20 elegant rooms feature original wood beams, stone walls and sloping ceilings complemented by classic country-style furnishings. Horse riding is another special attraction here.

DOMAINE DE LA TORTINIÈRE Built in the 19th century, Domaine De La Tortinière is a tranquil 4-star hotel in Montbazon, located in a national park.

After a dip in the pool, guests can go rowing on the Indre River, enjoy a round of golf, a game of tennis or simply relax with an indulgent massage. Also on offer is a helicopter trip over the Loire Valley and Château de Chinon.

At Domaine De La Tortinière, the homely guestrooms and suites offer a refined luxury overlooking the 15-hectare park and the River Indre. Rooms are furnished in a blend of modern and traditional styles, and some enjoy a private terrace. They have a gourmet restaurant.

CHÂTEAU DE REIGNAC The 18th century Château de Reignac was once the home of the Marquis de LaFayette. It is now a 4-star hotel within easy reach of historic cities, picturesque villages and small market towns.

The hotel terrace and park invite guests to sit outside and soak up the sun whilst, inside, the bar, lounge and library encourage guests to relax in comfort. In the evening, you can dine outside, under tall trees and starlit skies, or in the refined elegance of the salon where old-world meets fine dining.

The 15 guestrooms at Château de Reignac are dedicated to former residents and period furniture features alongside modern amenities.

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TRAVEL FRANCE Château de Reignac

Domaine de la Tortinière

Château de Rochecotte

Château des Briottières

CHÂTEAU DU BREUIL Château du Breuil is a charming 4-star hotel within a 30-hectare park in the heart of the Loire Valley. This traditional hotel boasts the peace, quiet and comfort of an old French maison, just 2kms from the Cheverny city centre.

Guests can bask by the heated outdoor pool, play tennis, or have a round of golf at the nearby Golf du Château de Cheverny.

You can easily visit major landmarks nearby, including Blois, Chambord, Amboise and Chenonceau. And you can choose to go by either helicopter, hot-air balloon, car or bicycle. You are also within easy reach of many vineyards.

The 39 guestrooms and suites are furnished in authentic period style, with pastel shades and antique furniture; all with views of the park or main courtyard. In the evenings, guests can dine at the intimate hotel restaurant, where French and international cuisine is served.

CHÂTEAU DES BRIOTTIÈRES Château des Briottières dates from the 18 century and is now a 4-star hotel just a short way from Angers in Champigné. It is an ideal base for exploring the castles, vineyards and towns of the Loire. th

The château sits in the heart of 30 hectares of gardens and orangeries, by a tranquil lake. Borrow a bike to explore the grounds, swim in the heated outdoor pool, go horse-riding or fishing; indulge in a hot air balloon ride or a cookery course with the Cordon Bleu School. Guests can wander through the grounds before dining upon traditional French cuisine from family recipes in the candlelit dining room.

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The 17 rooms are charming and individually designed, featuring antique period furniture, romantic four-poster beds and elegant patterns. Oh, and this would be a perfect base if you are a fan of Le Mans.

CHÂTEAU DE ROCHECOTTE The 18th century Château de Rochecotte is in Saint Patrice, near Langeais in the Rabelais region. This historic 4-star hotel was once the private estate of the Duchess of Dino (and Talleyrand).

It is surrounded by 18th century baroque-style aristocratic buildings, 30 hectares of landscaped French gardens, Italian terraces and parklands. It is now part of a world cultural heritage site and is well placed for guests to explore the local castles, museums and wine cellars of Bourgueil, Chinon and Vouvray.

After a day of exploration or relaxation, the hotel restaurant serves gourmet cuisine made with local ingredients.

GETTING THERE You can fly directly to Tours or Nantes or the Loire Valley is two hours’ drive southwest of Paris; one hour by train. There is a TGV service to Angers, Orléans, Tours and Blois.

One of the best ways to visit the region is to cycle along the Loire à vélo dedicated bicycle trails.

All these chateau hotels come under the banner of the Splendia group and you can see more details on the website. w w w.splendia.com

GALLERY

CHEDI OPENS IN SWITZERLAND Asians who like to ski now have the comfort of a little bit of home in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

The Chedi Andermatt is the centrepiece of the new Andermatt Swiss Alps development, ideally situated with access via three Alpine passes, the Oberalp, St. Gotthard and Furka. It comprises 50 hotel rooms and 119 residences (for Asian buyers seeking a second home in Europe). The as well as a selection of worldclass restaurants, lounges and bars and the five-star Chedi Spa. The food is under the direction of Michelin-starred Chef Mansour Memarian and will feature Western and Asian cuisine, along with a Japanese restaurant by Hide Yamamoto. The Wine & Cigar Library is a walk-in humidor with the wines available by the glass.

The Courtyard is an outdoor terrace serving cocktails in the summer and warm drinks in the winter. The Cheese Cellar will feature local specialties from the Urner Alps and San Gottardo.

The Bar and Living Room is the perfect “après ski” or (summer) 19th hole destination with a grand view of the mountains.

With management by Singapore-based General Hotel Management Ltd and design by Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston International Architects and Planners of Malaysia, the resort blends the best of Asian with the best of Swiss.

The resort offers outdoor enthusiasts access to the 3,300m Gemsstock Mountain and the Sedrun ski area. w w w.thechedi-andermatt.com

MANDARIN ORIENTAL LAUNCHES IN-ROOM SHOPPING WITH SHANGHAI TANG

The Mandarin Oriental Pudong in Shanghai now has a pioneering new in-room gift shopping service with the chic lifestyle brand, Shanghai Tang.

Guests can browse and purchase Shanghai-inspired gifts from Shanghai Tang at the touch of a button – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The products are in the ‘Gifted Home’ catalogue and when you buy, the MO Concierge will hand deliver the designer gifts, beautifully presented in Shanghai Tang’s signature Art Deco styled gift boxes – at any hour of the day. (See guests here with the Chief Concierge in the hotel’s Oriental Suite).

The collection includes fine bone china, lacquer boxes, leather wallets and travel pouches, statement jewellery, fragrances and many more lines. w w w.mandarinoriental.com

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HOTEL : KUALA LUMPUR

Villa Danieli

IMPERIAL SPLENDOUR T

he Sheraton Imperial is an oasis of luxury hospitality in the heart of the commercial and business district of Kuala Lumpur.

It is a short walk from the light rail transit (LRT) and monorail service and, if you want to stay local, just walk across the street to the huge new Quill City Mall, a lifestyle haven with an impressive mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Like its name suggests, grand design begins with the elegant marble of the hotel’s lobby with its sweeping staircase leading to the mezzanine.

There are 385 guest rooms, all taking on designs inspired by Malaysia’s colourful landscape, culture and people. Fresh, crisp colours and clean transitional lines combine authentic Asian architectural influences with modern comfort,

Pavilions Lounge

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You can travel the world in the hotel’s award-winning restaurants: Essence is the signature dining concept set beneath a huge atrium and serving seven styles of international cuisine from nine

HOTEL : KUALA LUMPUR

Essence

Deluxe Guest Room

Celestial Court

live cooking stations. Huge popular with the locals is Celestial Court, serving top-notch Cantonese food, along with some interesting innovations. They also have an extensive dim sum menu. Villa Danieli is the Italian restaurant that is housed in a Tuscan-style villa beside the swimming pool. Pavilions is a tranquil cocktail and cigar lounge while Toastina is a cheery café and bar where you can have specially-made snacks and sweet offerings with your tea, coffee or cocktails.

If you want to unwind in this busy city, the hotel boasts a Mandara Spa, gym, beauty salon, barber.

If it is your first time in KL, the concierge team is expert in organizing tours for sightseeing, shopping and business. They will arrange transport to anywhere – and don’t forget the Twin Towers with its massive shopping malls, just 10 minutes away by taxi.

In fact, they take service very seriously here. The staff is standout out for their friendliness, efficiency and helpfulness.

Swimming Pool

w w w.imperial@sheraton.com

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WHEN IN SINGAPORE

SOOOO

GROOVY

Singapore now has a SO by Sofitel that sets new standards for design – a confluence of Paris and the Lion City with a superchic blend of culture and cuisine, art and architecture.

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WHEN IN SINGAPORE

A

nd chic it should be as the building is full of the ideas of none other than Karl Lagerfeld with overall design from Isabelle Miaja, who heads Singapore’s only French design company.

Sofitel So Singapore is housed in a heritage post and telecommunications building built in 1927 on Robinson Road, now hub of the CBD. It has 134 rooms in the So Hip and a So Heritage wings.

You enter to a light-filled atrium filled with artworks and spectacular flowers. To one side is their gourmet Xperience restaurant (look for the blue bed!). Chef is Anne-Cecile Degenne who has designed a unique grazing menu with elements of crunchy, juicy, smoky, creamy, silky, spicy and zesty.

Karl Lagerfeld created the lion motif that is now the hotel’s logo and his special wish was for a library, hence La BibiloteK behind the lobby bar, where the books are curated by the master himself. He also designed the staff uniforms.

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WHEN IN SINGAPORE

You see the designs of Isabelle Miaja when you walk into your room. She was inspired by 18th century Paris (your ceiling light is even a ‘glass dome’ from a palace) and 20th century Singapore.

Thanks to the building’s history, the ceilings are three-metres high and the nine suites also have balconies from the original layout.

The hotel has some other unique and very pleasing features: firstly, their complimentary one-way transfer from the airport for So Lofty and So VIP customers; a daily champagne breakfast and the ‘ExtenSo’ late check-out until 2:00pm. The complimentary mini-bar is inspired by Singaporean aesthetics and filled with local goodies.

Your room is also equipped with the world’s first completely Apple-based guest technology solution in every room, including iPad minis to control all room functions and iPhones to call for hotel requests.

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The lavishly planted rooftop bar, HI-SO, commands 360-degree views of Singapore’s urban-skyline, and is already a hip venue for glamorous get-togethers. You actually feel like you are in a beach club with its designer cocktails and delicious gourmet bites. Guests can also relax in the cabanas next to Singapore’s only golden-tiled swimming pool. It is especially popular at sundown where you watch the bright lights of the surrounding skyscrapers come to life.

SO Sofitel is close to Raffles Place, the CBD, MTR, Chinatown, Marina bay and, right across the street is the sensational Lau Pa Sat food court.

Says Isabelle Miaja: “I have totally enjoyed the experience of bringing this hotel to life and taking advantage of the ‘playful luxury’ brief of the SO label.” w w w.sofitel.com

ALL THE TEA IN CHINA

ALL THE TEA IN CHINA After a long wait, the iconic Palm Court lounge has reopened at The Langham in Hong Kong – its first event an elegant afternoon tea with specialty designed cups and saucers and teapots from Britain’s famous Wedgewood.

Langham Hotels and Wedgwood have collaborated globally to introduce a bespoke version of the afternoon tradition, serving specialty teas in specially-made Langham Rose tea ware - but Hong Kong is first.

The hotel’s new executive pastry chef, Reinhard Lackner, has created a special menu of delicate finger-sandwiches: crab, cucumber and avocado, organic brown egg with mustard cress,

Chef Reinhard Lackner

cured ham with vine tomato and grain mustard, smoked salmon with crème fraîche and dill and traditional poached chicken with coronation mayonnaise. There are also scones, cakes and pastries, among these a rose-scented lychee mousse (a red chocolate cup with hints of gold, rose scented raspberry coulis filled with lychee mousse then topped with pink icing rose petals and fresh raspberries.

The Palm Court re-opens following a glamorous facelift, restyled after its namesake at The Langham, London where traditional English afternoon tea was first served almost 150 years ago. w w w.hongkong.langhamhotels.com

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WHEN IN BALI

KONADITYA ESTATE NOW OPEN They are calling it “the soul of a living museum with the refinement of a five-star hotel.” Whatever; the house redefines elegant, uncomplicated luxury in Bali.

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WHEN IN BALI

K

onaditya House is large and quite beautiful. It boasts authenticity, privacy, space and the intuitive service that is the cornerstone of Balinese hospitality. The three-hectare estate is a sanctuary of serenity near the traditional Balinese village of Cemagi, about half way between Seminyak and Tanah Lot. All around it are vivid green rice paddies, a lagoon and, directly in front, the beach and the Indian Ocean.

Its name roughly means ‘house of the sun.’ It is of grand proportions but it has the atmosphere of tropical simplicity. It is airy, spacious and offers unpretentious comfort.

Konaditya’s owners are European and keep houses in Katmandu and Paris as well as in Bali. Chino and Elizabeth Ranconni are renowned Tibetan art dealers and their passion for Asian arts now extends to Bali where their estate houses a fine collection of Pre and Post War artists, including Hofker, Covarrubias, Sonnega and Lempad to name just a few.

And all around the villa’s living areas, there is also a striking collection of Balinese masterworks of art and craft. And, of course, there are many pieces from India and the other exotic destinations of their travels.

The living area stretches across a lawn while, with the horizon pool on one side and palm-planted lawns on the other. Behind this, each of the estate’s six en-suite bedrooms surround a massive lotus pond and the symmetry of the house complements contemporary custom made furnishings, designed by the owner himself. Most are in beautiful local wood. They have also been careful to keep it ‘local:’ the monumental chandeliers, for example are made by OCK Design in Bali. The table ware is from Gaya in Ubud.

Of course, the villa has iPod docks, free WiFi, satellite television, office space equipped with computer, printer and scanner – all the technology modern travellers need.

There is a special lounging balé beside the pool or you can watch the sun go down from another special balé that sits right 85

WHEN IN BALI

above the beach. Its horizon pool is in two sections; the smaller specially designed for children.

There is a tennis court and, in a separate building, a fullyequipped gymnasium as well as separate massage, yoga and meditation rooms. There is even a games room with a handmade pool table.

The villa is ideal for an extended family or perhaps two families who want to holiday in luxury together. Konaditya comes with a full-time engineer, a complete household staff (including a butler) car and driver as well as two trained chefs (in French, Italian and Indonesian food).

The staff (27 in all) can also organize airport transfers and fast track immigration service, tennis coaching, a personal trainer, surfing, swimming and yoga instructors.

There are masseurs who will be on call any time during your stay so no appointment necessary and there are babysitters for small children.

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They take food seriously, too. The estate has its own large organic garden which provides fresh produce for Chef Wayan, who is five-star-hotel-trained. A side note: bread is often a sore point in Asia; here bread is baked daily in a wood fired oven that also turns out great pizza.

The staff has been trained to design a ‘destination experience’ for the guests. They will personally arrange private tours around the island, individual shopping excursions, cultural exploits and more.

This is made all the better when you know you will come home at the end of the day to the peace and privacy of your own palatial estate. w w w.konadityahouse.com

WHEN IN BALI

CLEAR AS GLASS Here is a very snazzy product from Google, which we thought only created things in cyberspace.

It is simply called Glass and the physical bit is a beautifully designed lightweight frame and display that rests neatly above your eyes. Not for seeing – it acts like a smartphone and makes exploring and sharing the world around you faster and easier.

Glass began as a project from the Google [X] team, Google’s division dedicated to moonshot projects that create technology to make people’s lives better. Example projects would be Google’s self-driving cars, Indoor mapping, and their latest undertaking, Project Loon, which brings internet connectivity to rural parts of the world through the use of weather balloons.

What Does Glass Do?

Gmail and Calendar - Gmail and Calendar are both available on Glass making checking email, or seeing when your next appointment is quick and easy.

Now cards - From the latest traffic update to work, to that delay in your flight, Google Now is about giving you just the right information at just the right time.

Phone Calls & SMS - By connecting via bluetooth to your phone, Glass lets you call your contacts. It’s also great for speech-to-text transcription, making texting as fast as well... talking.

Photos, Videos and Video calls – Got all those.

Search - Whether it’s translating a phrase into another language, or getting the solution to a tough math problem, Glass gets you the answers you want to the questions you ask it almost instantly.

Glassware is what we call the services that developers build for Glass. Just like the applications you find on your smartphone, Glassware is available to install via a person’s MyGlass page.

We have announced eight Glassware partners today. They are Path, Evernote, CNN, New York Times, Twitter, Facebook, Elle and Tumblr.

Navigation - Glass will give you turn-by-turn directions to help

w w w.google.com

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the main ways people are using it:

you find the fastest route to your destination.

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TRAVEL

DUKE OF HAWAII

When you are the ‘richest little girl in the world,’ why wouldn’t you want your own Taj Mahal? But why would you want it in Hawaii?

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n 1935, tobacco heiress Doris Duke decided to build a ‘very different’ beach house outside Honolulu, just at the base of the famous Diamond Head Mountain.

At just 22, Duke had just married political hopeful Jimmy Cromwell and Hawaii was the last stop on their 10-month honeymoon that took them through South Asia and the Middle East.

The story goes that ‘she fell in love twice on that trip – first with Islamic art and architecture and, second, with the laid-back Hawaiian lifestyle.’

The marriage, however, was not so laid back. They had intended Honolulu to be a short stay but Cromwell left and Doris stayed on for four months. They eventually drifted apart until divorcing in 1943. The publicity-shy Duke was later to marry playboy Porfirio Rubirosa. This marriage lasted only a year and she never married again. She was no business dummy, though. Through her life she quadrupled her father’s fortune to the billions. She left it all to her butler Bernard Lafferty.

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TRAVEL

SHANGRI LA In Hawaii, she engaged architects and designers to build her Indo-Saracenic mini palace above the Pacific.

The two-hectare complex comprises a 4800m² house, a ‘playhouse’ and a pool, a series of interlocking spaces, both indoors and out: rooms, courtyards, lanais, terraces, gardens, and numerous water features.

While design and early construction were underway, Duke travelled extensively in the Middle East, visiting historical monuments and providing the architect with photographs of architectural decoration to be incorporated into the house’s design. She also placed large commissions with contemporary artisans in India, Morocco, Iran, and Syria to create art and architectural elements, utilizing traditional forms, patterns, and means of fabrication.

For the next 60 years, Doris spent millions furnishing her Hawaiian retreat, which she named Shangri La, after the mythic Himalayan paradise in the novel Lost Horizon.

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TRAVEL

During these years, she spent her time between two very large houses on the East Coast of America, apartments in New York and Paris and a mansion in Beverly Hills. But she was most at home in Hawaii. In 1939, a Life magazine article described Shangri La as an ideal playground, where “one of the richest heiresses in the world fishes, swims, reads, prefers simple healthy living to social splendor.”

She continued to travel the world (Istanbul, Delhi, Damascus and further) and quietly put together one of the most important collections of Islamic and South Asian art in the United States.

Doris Duke died in 1993 but it was a decade later before Shangri La opened to the public. Doris probably would not have liked strangers traipsing through because as she became more and more reclusive, she nick-named the villa Hale Kapu (‘forbidden house’ in Hawaiian). Now, years after her death, it has become a wonderful museum, with its marvellous collection of Islamic art.

Outside, you are in breezy, sunny Hawaii – inside you are in a fantasy world of mosaics, Ottoman cartouches, mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, Iznik tiles and exquisite Damascus work. There are hundreds of vases, statues, paintings, carpets, textiles and artifacts.

In fact, the house is not that large so it does not feel like a drafty museum but an intimate dwelling. In the living room, you can still see low sofas with bright cushions where the rich and famous sat over the years (Errol Flynn and Imelda Marcos among them).

From the terrace off the dining room, you can see the waves where Doris regularly surfed with legendary Duke Kahanamoku (whispered to have been her lover as well).

Outside the ‘pool house’, designed after a 17th century royal pavilion in Isfahan, Duke used to take dancing lessons from another legend: Martha Graham.

Her bedroom and bathroom were indeed designed after the Taj Mahal in Agra. w w w.shangrilahawaii.org

Shangri La’s guided tour is by reservation only and you must

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do this in advance. All tours start at the Honolulu Museum Art (900 South Beretania Street) and visitors are transported to Shangri La by van. Tickets are $25.00, which includes van transportation to Shangri La, as well as admission to the Honolulu Museum of Art’s permanent exhibitions.

IN THE SALEROOM

THE MAGNIFICENCE OF Imperial Jade Prince Alexis Mdivani and wife Barbara, wearing the jade necklace at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York in 1933.

(Courtesy of the authors of 20th Century Jewelry & The Icons of Style)

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otheby’s Hong Kong has sold what is known as The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace, reputed to be the greatest jadeite bead necklace of historical importance.

When came to the block, it created auction history as one of the most thrilling saleroom competitions ever. Eight bidders in the room and on the phone competed for 20 minutes, driving the price to double the estimate and achieving a world auction record for any jadeite jewellery of HK$214 million (US$27.44 million). It was bought by The Cartier Collection.

The provenance of the necklace spans Western nobility and Imperial China for some 200 years. It comprises 27 jadeite beads of magnificent green colour, excellent translucency, extremely fine texture and majestic proportions and with an innovative clasp

by Cartier.

It is named after its former owner, Barbara Hutton (1912–1979), the fabled Woolworth heiress and iconic jewellery collector who

was among the very few people in the last century to appreciate jade. Also in her superb collection was a pearl necklace that once belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette.

This jade necklace was presented as a wedding gift from her father when she married Prince Alexis Mdivani (a Georgian nobleman and one of the three brothers who were known as the ‘Marrying Mdivanis as they each married a film star and an heiress).

It was actually in the possession of the Mdivani family for more than half a century until it was first sold at auction in 1988 for US$2 million, making headlines then as the most expensive piece of jadeite jewellery in the world. In 1994, it was offered again at auction in Hong Kong, this time doubling its previous price to achieve US$4.2 million. 20 years later, that price has quadrupled. w w w.sothebys.com

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WHEN IN MELBOURNE

HISTORIC WINDSOR TO STAY OPEN All The Windsor’s new stationery bears the number 1883, the year Melbourne’s most famous hotel opened its doors. Well, good news: the doors will stay open through 2015.

The property (now Indonesian-owned) was due to close at the end of 2014 for a complete refurbishment and while a tower was built behind it (much like the one at the Peninsular in Hong Kong). But all that has been deferred and guests continue to flock there – not just for its history and its location but for its famous afternoon tea and its emergence as an artistic venue.

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Victorian Suite

WHEN IN MELBOURNE

T

he 180-room hotel pre-dates the Savoy in London (1889), the Waldorf Astoria in New York (1893), the Ritz Paris (1898) and Raffles in Singapore (1887). In 1883, it opened its doors as ‘The Grand’ and it became (and still is known) as the “Duchess of Spring Street” – directly across the street from the palace that is Parliament House. It is steps from the corporate, financial and fashionable heart of Melbourne and many of the city’s best theatres, heritage landmarks and sporting venues. It was renamed The Windsor when the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor) visited in 1922.

The Grand Hotel, c1900

In the brutal 1970s, developers wanted its prime location for other things but it was saved by the State Government and later bought by the Oberoi Group. The hotel came under independent ownership and management by The Halim Group in 2005, with its vision to return The Windsor to its former glory with an extensive restoration, preserving its heritage and ensuring its position as Australia’s most luxurious hotel residence.

Over the years, the hotel has attracted countless notable guests, among them Katherine Hepburn, Gina Lollobrigida, Lauren Bacall, Gregory Peck, Muhammed Ali, Meryl Streep, Kylie Minogue, Barry Humphries, Princes Edward and Michael of Great Britain, Harry Houdini, Claudette Colbert, Dame

The Dining Room, c1890

111 Spring Street Restaurant

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WHEN IN MELBOURNE

Afternoon Tea

Joan Sutherland, Rudolf Nureyev, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Lord Snowdon, Lord Patrick Lichfield, Omar Sharif, Olivia NewtonJohn and Sir Richard Branson.

“But, back to the future: The Windsor finished 2013 with its best ever year for hotel occupancy and that continued into 2014 and now through 2015,” says CEO David Perry.

Afternoon Tea The Windsor has been serving traditional afternoon tea every day since 1883 and recently the tea guest list topped two million.

Tradition is upheld as ribbon sandwiches, pastries and freshly baked scones with Windsor jams and double cream are all presented on tiered silver stands. So popular is this tradition, they currently have two sittings: at 12 noon and 2.30 pm.

Blank Canvas The Windsor is now offering an exclusive room and arts package in the midst of a captivating art exhibition titled “Marvel.”

Marvel features some of Australia’s most talented emerging artists from the Victorian College of the Arts. who will creatively exhibit conceptual and material interpretations in many of the hotel’s unique spaces, including the heritage-listed lace-iron lifts, Victorian windows, renowned tea room and even a once secret hotel entrance. w w w.thehotelwindsor.com.au

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MAKING WAVES-TriMaran 210

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unreef Yachts in-house design office took another step forward in luxury multi-hull design with the completion of a superb new concept for a mega powered trimaran.

With the length of 210ft and interior space used to the fullest within all three hulls, Sunreef has reached a remarkable living space equalling to 950m2, which makes the TRIMARAN 210 the biggest yacht of its type in the market. Operated by 18 crew members, the yacht will comfortably accommodate up to 14 guests in great comfort and privacy.

The top deck comprises of a 125m2 dining area for 14, the captain’s private cabin, internal helm station and a guest day head. There is also a private king terrace at the stern intended for relaxation after a long day in the sun. This deck can be accessed via a lift connecting all floors on the yacht.

The main deck – a 220m2 saloon can be arranged in many different ways, taking into consideration the privacy of the guests staying on board. There are four separate areas from which guests can admire views through the window wall without being disturbed.

It also boasts six spacious guest cabins with queen-sized beds which are positioned transversely to the axis of the boat.

They are located in front of foldable private balconies which enhance the luminosity of the cabins and allow guests to admire panoramic views from their cabins. Each cabin comes with a private bathroom and extended storage space.

The master suite in the front is every owner’s dream. There are two separate walk-in wardrobes, his and hers toilets, two study areas and an outstanding view. This cabin offers private access to the 30m2 front terrace which provides an intimate relaxed area for the owners.

The lower deck is dedicated to the crew. From the exterior it can be accessed from the aft through the garage for the water equipment such as sea bobs and two jet skis. This deck also includes a fully equipped galley, crew mess and cabins spread all the way to the front of the hull where the utility room is located.

Aside from a smart and comfortable interior space, the TRIMARAN 210 is a true exterior design masterpiece.

DRINK

Salvatore ‘Legacy’

…LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW If you find yourself with a spare six weeks and enjoy the finest wines and spirits in the world, you might consider the Ultimate Drink Connoisseurs’ Holiday. Oh, and you will probably need a lazy million dollars or so.

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he British-based travel company Holidaysplease has announced a one-off luxury world drinking tour. It begins and ends in London and it is the ultimate hang-theexpense vacation where you will stay in five-star hotels and dine in the swankiest of restaurants and drink in the grooviest of bars.

To whet your appetite, here are the standout drinks (along with their impressive price tags) you will have on your travels: • Salvatore ‘Legacy’ Cocktail (includes 1788 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac) - £12,400 • Legacy by Angostura (world’s most expensive rum) - £8,000 • Vieille Bon Secours (one of the world’s most expensive beers) £1,400

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• Dalmore Trinitas (world’s most expensive whisky, aged 64 years, only 3 ever made) - £100,000 • Grey Goose Gallon - £600 • Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru 78 - £15,000 • Armand de Brignac ‘Dynastie’ (world’s most expensive champagne collection) - £330,000 • Egon Muller (world’s rarest Riesling) - £3,000 • Penfold’s Ampoule (the artistic bottle contains ultra-rare 2004 Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon, only 12 ever made) £110,000 • Singapore Sling - £50 • Winston Cocktail (contains a shot of 1858 Croizet cognac) £16,400

DRINK

• The Ono Cocktail (contains Rémy Martin Louis XVIII Black Pearl priced at £1250 a shot) - £13,000 • José Cuervo 250 Aniversario Tequila - £400 • The Diamond Martini (includes a diamond from jeweller Bader & Garrin) - £12,000 (At last count the British pound is about Rp.19,370 or US$1.68).

LONDON

The tour begins with three nights in a suite at the awardwinning Corinthia Hotel in London. On one night you will party in Salvatore’s bar at the Playboy Club. Here, the bunnies will serve you what is said to be the second most expensive cocktail in the world: this because The Legacy includes the 1788 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac, at a cool £12,470 a shot. The rest of the recipe includes ancient Kummel liqueur, vintage orange Curacao and four dashes of c1900 Angostura bitters.

Night two and you will dine at Belgo Bierodrome in Covent Garden and drink probably the world’s most expensive beer, Vieille Bon Secours, brewed by Caulier in Belgium’s Wallonia region.

Here you will be at the Grand Hotel and, in this region most famous for its wines, you will actually be visiting the Grey Goose distillery in Cognac. You’ll enjoy a tasting session involving the new flavours of the vodka before a bottle of the Grey Goose Gallon is shipped back to the UK for your arrival home. No doubt, you will be sampling some Bordeaux wines with lunch and dinner…

LYON Next to the ‘kitchen of France’ and you will be greeted by a very special bottle of Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru 78 and take a tour of the breath-taking Côte de Nuits region.

MONACO

On the third night, you’ll get some well-deserved rest before the next leg

FRANKFURT Here in Germany, you will spend two nights at the Jumeirah.

During you stay, a limo will drive you down to Mosel where you’ll enjoy a bottle of the unique Egon Muller Riesling and a private tour of the winery.

BORDEAUX

In Monte Carlo, it is party time. Here you are at the Hermitage Hotel for three nights. After a helicopter tour of the principality, your will be whisked off to Flavio Briatore’s Billionaire Sunset Lounge in the Hotel Fairmont where you can ‘billionaire watch’ from your own private table. They will no doubt be looking at you when the Armand de Brignac Dynastie champagne collection is presented to you at your table.

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DRINK DUBAI

orange juice and apricot purée. After that, you head over to Javier’s for shots of the marvellous José Cuervo 250 Aniversario.

NEW YORK Here you will stay three nights at the historic Algonquin Hotel where the highlight is a martini that has a diamond by Bader & Garrin dropped into the glass. You will have a chance later to sample the Big Apple’s finest restaurants and bars.

LONDON Home again and a private car will be waiting. “As will the ultimate goody bag,” says Byron Warmington from Holidaysplease.

“Three of the most collectable bottles on the planet – the £8,000 Legacy by Angostura rum, the £100,000, 64-year-old limited edition Dalmore Trinitas whisky and the Penfold’s Ampoule red wine.

Down to the Gulf where the Penfold’s Ampoule will be waiting.

You will be one of the privileged few to see this work of art up close before it is also shipped back to the UK ready for your return. Two nights’ R&R to see the sights and enjoy the sky-high food at Jumeirah Beach.

SINGAPORE For the next three nights, home will be the famous Raffles Hotel where a highlight will be a famous Singapore Sling at the Long Bar where it was created. After that, you will no doubt want to explore the wining and dining pleasures, both Western and Oriental.

The departure dates for the Ultimate Drink Connoisseurs’ Holiday are flexible, with a guide price of £750,000 per couple.

The holiday can be tailored to your requirements, and when we have your specific arrangements (such as the optional trip to Scotland), they will give a final price.

Bottoms up! w w w.holidaysplease.com

MELBOURNE In Australia you will be staying at the Crown Club Hotel where you can have a flutter in the casino before you partake of the world’s most expensive cocktail – The Winston. This drink mostly comprises a 19th-century Cognac coming in at £99,000 a bottle.

With a dash of Grand Marnier, another of Chartreuse, a hefty dose of the Cognac and a dash of those sensational Angostura Bitters, one was sold in February 2013, earning it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Says Joel Heffernan, executive mixologist at Crown’s Club 23 bar and creator of the cocktail: “The Folle Branche grape variety used to make the vintage cognac doesn’t exist anymore. I wanted to pay homage to that grape.”

“It’s named after Churchill as he and General Eisenhower supposedly drank 1858 Croizet Cuvée Léonie while planning the D-Day invasion. It is the Cognac that makes the drink special but I think you will like the extras – a little chocolate nutmeg dust, poppy seed essence, rose essence and a little coconut. And it takes two days to make.”

Penfold’s Ampoule

Armand de Brignac ‘Dynastie’ Champagne collection

LAS VEGAS Across the Pacific to America’s gambling and show capital where you will stay for three nights at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. At a gala party, you will taste a cocktail worth more than £20,000 at the Aria hotel. This is made with Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie 1981 and a super-rare Louis XIII de Remy Martin Black Pearl Cognac – to that, add a little Rose Nectar, freshly squeezed The Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas

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BOATING

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LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE CARRY-ON

Most of us are chronic over packers when we travel. And many times, you return home with several items not even worn or needed. Here are some expert tips on how to overcome the luggage problem.

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This is the easiest way to FORCE yourself to pack light. If it doesn’t fit in a carry-on bag, you probably don’t need it. In many cases, this will save you money where airlines charge for check-in bags. This also eliminates the need to wait endlessly for baggage to come off the plane and, just think, you will never have lost luggage again. This, of course, will need a rethink if you are travelling with children or to somewhere where you will need heavy winter clothing. But, here in Asia, an ultra-light waterproof is the most you will need for weather.

WEAR THINGS TWICE (or more) Forgetting underwear, you should pack clothing you can wear more than once on your trip. This means everything should match; shoes should go with everything and you only need one pair for walking, one pair for dress-up – and you only need to pack one pair; the other you wear on the flight. One (or two at most) colour ranges will do wonders for leaving things at home.

Men: you will need more shirts than trousers – a pair of slacks or jeans goes with everything. The dictum is ‘mix ‘n match.’ Another

TRAVEL

Sling Bag

hint for women: find a designer whose clothes are meant for travelling: that is, they can be washed by hand and hung to dry and need no ironing. Or they can be rolled and just shaken out to wear. A plug for Farah Kahn here.

ELECTRONIC HAZARD You have to be connected these days, wherever you are.

But do you really need ALL your gadgets? Best by far is the Smartphone: calls, SMS, emails and some photography. And free in most places through WiFi. If you are working, a tablet with keyboard is good – or a small notebook computer (advantage: it has USB ports). Transfer music to the phone and ditch the iPod. And cords for tablets, phones, cameras, etc. take up so much space and weight.

JUST IN CASE If you are packing something ‘just in case’ (pardon the pun) – leave it at home. If something arises – bad weather, formal invitation, beach wear – go shopping and be imaginative. Hint for women: your sarong folds up small and can be used a hundred

Sarong Dress

ways. If you have two the same, the possibilities are exponential.

Guys: chinos and a Ralph Lauren shirt can be worn just about anywhere. The tie is, thankfully, on the way out.

LAST MINUTE Leaving you packing to the last minute can leave you forgetting things, packing unnecessary things, packing things that don’t match as advised above. Packing early can also allow you to leave out an item…

NO-NO Considering the recent spate of thefts – and the hazards of travelling in general, get a separate small bag (oodles on the market – a sling, courier, small backpack – whatever) to keep your passport, phone, money and jewellery on your body while you are flying. Hint for women: Bali is now full of ‘foldable’ jewellery that is very glamorous if you don’t want to risk taking the real thing.

Up, up and away!

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WINE

ANGELS ON THE WING The wines of Viña Montes are moving confidently across the Pacific to Indonesia – from a world away in the beautiful Colchagua Valley of Chile. Their distinctive label logo, an elegant angel with wings spread; she holds a hand of grapes and a goblet.

B

ringing the message to Indonesia is an energetic man called Eduardo Stark. He is the company’s export manager and chief ambassador.

Stark admits he is a ‘little bit of a blend himself. “I was born and raised in Chile but 75% of the blood in my veins is German – my great grandparents moved to South America a century ago. I lived for two years in London and have now settled in the Netherlands because my wife is Dutch and our two children go to school there. I do speak to them in Spanish but unfortunately for now, they answer me in Dutch,” he laughs.

Viña Montes is a wine company that is making waves in Asia after their hugely successful expansion overseas to other parts of the world.

Eduardo Stark now makes regular trips to Bali and Jakarta and has, incidentally, taken very much to Indonesian food – taken, of

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WINE Montes Classisc Series, Sauvignon Blanc

Eduardo Stark

Montes Alpha, Chardonnay

course, with Chilean wine… (Chilean wine exports, incidentally now earn towards US$2 billion a year).

“The purpose of my visit is to personally market our wine, which is not a new idea,” says Stark. “Our founder Douglas Murray himself realized that nobody knew about Chilean wines – in fact about Chile in general. So he went to Europe and the United States with a bag of bottles. And he used to organize blind tastings. He would give hoteliers, restaurateurs and wine writers an unlabelled bottle of wine to taste. They would answer ‘maybe a Medoc?’ He said no: it is from Chile and this is what it costs.”

Nobody could believe how inexpensive it was.”

“And the wine landscape has changed in Chile in those 30 years.

Nowadays consumption is at 15 litres per person a year, half what it was back then. But the difference is: they are drinking quality wine, not mass-produced rubbish.”

“I might add that 30 years ago, viticulture was on the wane so it was a momentous decision to buy land for a vineyard. But our founders did and with a combination of scientific reasoning and a bit of trial and error, they determined the best grapes to grow in which area. And we have thrived.”

VIÑA MONTES The winemaker Aurelio Montes had (and has) a great feel for finding appropriate terroir, so, with the support of three friends, Douglas Murray (Chilean, despite the name), Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, he has managed to put Montes wines on the map worldwide in less than a single generation. They export 95% of their wines, chiefly to the USA, Brazil, China and Great Britain.

Although the winery quickly became enormously successful and grew at an astounding pace, it has always remained a personallyrun operation, though one of international format. Of the four

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WINE

founders, only Aurelio Montes remains today; he manages the enterprise along with his highly professional team.

Montes now cultivates 800 hectares in three vineyards (in Apalta, Marchigüe and Zapallar), and sources white wine grapes from cooler regions as well. Four hundred employees now produce 650,000 cases of wine per year, which are exported to 110 different countries on five continents. He has also expanded with vineyards in Argentina and California. “We love coming to Asia,” says Eduardo Stark. “But we have made no decisions to try and grow grapes here, although, like everyone, we are looking seriously at China.”

Apalta (180km south of Santiago) is in the lovely Colchagua Valley; 10,000 visitors a year from all over the world visit to taste the wines and enjoy Café Alfredo. Their product has also been called Chile’s first Grand Cru. Cabernet Sauvignon is king but they have also had success with Carménère, Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Grenache.

“And,” Stark says: “we are now experimenting with a sparkling wine, originally at the vineyard in Argentina but now in Chile. In Spanish they cannot call it champagne so it is ‘espumante.’Patriarch Aurelio Montes has received so many awards at home and abroad over the years. Among them Personality of the Year by British institute Masters of Wine in 2009; Entrepreneur of the Year from Ernst & Young in 2008 and, back in 2002, Viña Montes was chosen New World Winery of the Year by the US magazine Wine.

Viña Montes grows its Pinot Noir and white wines at Zapallar, 180km northwest of Santiago and right on the Pacific Ocean; in fact, this area is a famous holiday resort.

THE RANGE The Ultra Premium Wines start with the Alpha series: Montes Alpha M is an elegant cuvée of Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot). Montes Folly became with the 2000 vintage Chile’s first ultra-premium Syrah.

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Purple Angel is the indigenous ambassador of Chilean terroir.

It unites the best Carménère grapes from Apalta with the best Carménère grapes from Marchigüe, and first came on the market with the 2001 vintage.

In 2011, President Barack Obama enjoyed the 2008 Montes Purple Angel at a reception given by Chilean President Sebastian Piñera in Santiago.

This year, Montes has its sight set on Indonesia and the rest of South East Asia. Hence regular visits by Eduardo Stark.

He is also helped by his ‘band of angels’ – A voluntary brand ambassadors, called this after the Montes logo.

So what sets Montes apart from other vineyards?

“The wines are soft and easy to drink. They can be drunk by themselves or paired wonderfully with food. It begins in the soil – the terroir that did not exist before and then, of course, the skill or our winemakers. Aurelio also made sure his terroir was perfect for the grapes, whether it be inland for the reds or up on the ocean for the whites. So he ensured an elegance and freshness not seen before, a perfect balance of fruit and tannin. They also have a velvety feel, silky almost but they have a masculine robustness as well “We are extremely happy with our venture into Jakarta,” says Stark. “We have a very impressive storage facility; well-run, fully temperature-controlled and consistent because, as you know, the tropics pose extra problems with the storage of wine and some of ours are meant to be aged in the bottle.”

“So I very much enjoy bringing them here to Indonesia. People are absolutely welcoming; they appreciate quality, appreciate the recognition of the brand; even though they travel all over the world now so their knowledge of wine is excellent, they are hungry for more knowledge and I am happy to say they love the wines of Chile.” w w w.monteswines.com

GALLERY

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MIXOLOGY

EXQUISITE CREATIONS AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, HONG KONG The bar counter is managed by award-winning mixologist, Lewis Tsang, who has developed a range of delicately concocted cocktails served in the finest Baccarat glassware.

From classic drinks and elegant champagnes to martinis using only high-end premium spirits and the best ingredients and flavours. In celebration of Baccarat’s 250th anniversary, Tsang puts the spotlight on the “Cocktails in Baccarat” collection featuring five cocktails, including some of the all-time favorites.

Lewis Song

T

he Lounge & Bar at the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong has a lavishly-designed interior with Oriental-accented crystal chandelier centerpieces. You will find it way up on Level 102 of the highest hotel in the world and its floor-to-ceiling windows give you a view of all of Hong Kong.

The space exudes opulence yet offers an intimate ambience, with only 12 leather seats around the ornate carved bar counter in the centre. The newly created “Exclusive 12” bar concept is the ultimate cocktail and gourmet experience.

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The Vesper Martini is named after James Bond’s first love, Vesper Lynd and his cocktail of choice. The Hanada (meaning flower field) Martini features aromatic floral organic gin, parfait amour and elderflower liqueurs, all topped with lots of Earl Grey foam. The whiskey sour-inspired Mr. Song has a three-layer taste of ginger, black truffle and the original whiskey sour on a hand-crafted rock ice sphere. A twist on the classic champagne cocktail is the Snow Finch, creating an image of a flying bird in the sky. Beautifully presented in a Baccarat champagne glass, the cocktail has a refreshing taste of lychee, lemon and elderflower.

The team of chefs will also prepare a selection of premium bar counter snacks for 12 guests, including Balik Salmon, Quail Egg with French Caviar, Duck Foie Gras Terrine and Iberico Ham. w w w.ritzcarlton.com/hongkong

MIXOLOGY

INGREDIENTS 45ml 15ml 15ml 10ml 10ml

Grey Goose Vodka Chambord Pineapple juice Lime juice Syrup

METHOD Shake all the ingredients together and strain into a martini glass.

Garnish with mixed berries.

France Martini

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MIXOLOGY

INGREDIENTS 30ml 10ml 10ml 10ml 30ml

Farmer’s Gin, Parfait Amour, Elderflower Pineapple juice Lemon juice

METHOD Shake all the ingredients together.

Strain into a martini glass and garnish with Earl Grey foam.

Hanada Martini

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MIXOLOGY

INGREDIENTS 15ml Parfait Amour Champagne

METHOD Put the liqueur into a glass and top up with the champagne. Garnish with a seasonable edible flower.

Perfect Love

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MIXOLOGY

Mr. Song INGREDIENTS 60ml Whisky 30ml lemon juice 15ml Elderflower 2pcs black truffle, 15ml egg white Drop Bitters

METHOD Shake all the ingredients together and pour over crushed ice. Garnish with rosemary and ginger.

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MIXOLOGY

INGREDIENTS 60ml No 1 Gin 20ml Ketel One 10ml America Cocchi

METHOD Shake all the ingredients together and strain into a glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

Vesper

Martini 111

COMPETITION

of

Royal Kamuela Villas Nusa Dua

In each edition of Viva Asia we feature a photograph from a hospitality establishment somewhere in the world.

Take a look at the photograph above which shows the Governor’s Suite at an iconic Singapore hotel. We love the extra large standing light.

The question is, if you were staying in the Governor’s Suite which hotel in Singapore would you be staying at?

Please email your answers to info@vivaasiamagazine.com and, if correct, you will be in the running to win one of two 700ml bottles of Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac courtesy of Martell.

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