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NyonyaGorgeous traditional
kebayas at The
Majestic Malacca

Yule Love It
Experience anauthentic X’mas
at Cameron
Highlands Resort

Girls Girls Girls!

Tanjong Jara Resort
introduces a great girlie escapelife on the cover //2

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

life on the cover //THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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A BALI STATE OF MIND
From STARGAZING to SUNSET CRUISES, the discovery of thissacred island is all the more memorable when experienced
through the exclusive Spa Village Resort Tembok, BaliFEATURES
20 COMING

FULL CIRCLE
YTL Hotels’ new President, James
McBride, reflects on his homecoming backto Asia and shares what he has been up tosince leaving as General Manager of
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur.

30 Christmas IN THE

Camerons

You don’t necessarily have to celebrate atropical Yuletide while in Malaysia. At the
Cameron Highlands Resort, the vision ofa chilly Christmas spent by the fireplacecomes alive.

36 The Great

Merdeka Sail
Pangkor Laut Resort is fast becoming
a major hotspot for luxury yacht002

enthusiasts as this year’s Pangkor Laut
Merdeka Cup shows. Just save thecanapès and champagne for later.

40 The Greatest

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Girlie Escape
Ready to go rogue ladies and escapework, the humdrum of everyday lifeand most crucially, the menfolk?
Then it’s time for Tanjong Jara
Resort’s newly-introduced Women’s
Getaway Programme.

THE NEWNYONYAGORGEOUS TRADITIONALKEBAYAS AT THE
MAJESTIC MALACCA

YULE LOVE IT

EXPERIENCE AN
AUTHENTIC X’MAS
AT CAMERONHIGHLANDS RESORTGIRLS GIRLS GIRLS!

TANJONG JARA RESORTINTRODUCES A GREAT GIRLIE ESCAPE

44 Achieving

Greener Heights
YTL Corporation’s Managing
Director’s first daughter, Ruth
Yeoh, speaks to YTL Life on themultinational environmental
powerhouse and why its
green initiatives aren’t merely
philanthropic acts but urgent
solutions to an imminent crisis.

53760_YTL_COVER.indd 1

20/11/09 9:43:06 AM

cover credits

Photography Christopher A.
Styling Tuki Nou
Hair & Make-up Celine, Monica Lee Face
Art Academy
Model Alex R., Talent Cafe
Shot entirely on location at
The Majestic Malacca
Model wears Kebaya with special thanks
to Margaret Khoo for loan of her private
collection; Camisole with lace details,
Monica Quen Batik pareo, Jendela KL

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48
48-79

68 In Bloom
The new Kenzo store in Starhill
Gallery is an ode to the fashion
brand’s affinity with beauty andblurring of boundaries.

STYLE

48 The New Nyonya
Exquisite traditional kebayas
with a contemporary twist reflect
the modern heritage aura of The
Majestic Malacca.

58 Runway Success

70 Little Pleasures
Diminutive in size but not incraftsmanship and enjoyment.

72 Beauty

Confidential

Be inspired by an eclectic mix offashion’s favourites.

Snobbery or true beauty? Second
best just doesn’t cut it as you hunt for
beauty’s best working, most loved, time
tested products that are more than justsweet treats.

62 Omega The Alpha
The world famous watch brand, Omega,never set out to reach the stars, but in
1962, the Omega Speedmaster won aclandestine race that would take it to
the moon and forever into lunar folklore.

66

Timeless Touch
A deep commitment to beauty andinnovation make BEDAT & C° number
among the best in haute horology.

004

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74

The Power of Touch
The art of massage has evolved intoa variety of techniques, each with amultitude of health benefits. And at
the Spa Village, you can experiencea range of this tantalising andtherapeutic treatments.

58contents

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REGULARS
08
10
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Glory Box
Editor’s Note
The Buzz
YTL Hotels
Viva La Diva!

80-91

LIFESTYLE
80 Technology
Apple’s Apps have opened up themobile computing world into new
realms - weird, wonderful, practicaland everything else in between;plus the new Samson pocket cam,posh Porsche luggage, Vertu andDatuk Michelle Yeoh go floral, the
new Canon point-and-shoot, and thetotally useless but strangely necessary
Beamz laser music maker.

84 Design &Architecture
When it comes to a comfortable
home, big is not necessarily
better as these Swedish architects
are showing; plus a luxe designcollection from Duravit, therevolutionary Philips TV and clever
air lamps by Aïssa Logerot.

86 Christmas at

the Cove

The exclusive preview of the Christmas
menu of Fisherman’s Cove at Pangkor
Laut Resort has us singing an early‘Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la”.

88 The Chef who Cameand Never Left

Besides gorgeous nature, stunning seas,sterling service and scrumptious spas
treatments, the other thing that is aconstant at Pangkor Laut Resort is Uncle
Lim, the oldest staff member on the islandand the chopper-wielding chef behindthe celebrated Uncle Lim’s Kitchen .

90 Art Attack!
Sculptures and installation art takecentrestage this October 2009 at theannual Starhill Gallery Arts Festival.

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YTL
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editorial director
YTL Hotels Marketing Communications

Management
Chief Executive Officer Datin Azliza Ahmad Tajuddin
General Manager Loo Kit Choong
Editorial & Art
Managing Editor Aster Lim
Editor Eugene Ng
Sub Editor Yung Ro Han	creative director eireen ooi
	art director ng geok mei
	graphic designer penny chew
photographer marcus wong
Sales
Account Managers JoJo Wong, Joyce Lee
Production
	senior traffic executive azahari hj. hussain
Contributors
Anis Ramli, Aziz Abdul Draim, Belle Ng, Boey Ping Ping, Choo Ai Ling, Celine,
Christopher A., Esmond Goh, Helen Oon, Johnny McGeorge, Matt Armitage,
Melisa Ann Sellvadurai, Ooi Ying Nee, Sam Yen, Winnie Yong
PUBLISHED BY
YTL Hotels
11th Floor, Yeoh Tiong Lay Plaza, 55, Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
PRODUCED BY
Blu Inc Media Sdn Bhd (Company No. 7408-K)
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Tel: +603 7952 7000 Fax: +603 7960 0151
E-mail: ytllife@bluinc.com.my
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No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of YTL Corporation. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in YTL LIFE are the writers’ and not necessarily
endorsed by YTL Corporation and/or Blu Inc Media Sdn Bhd. They are not responsible or liable in any way for the content in any of the advertisements, articles, photographs orillustrations contained in this publication. Editorial enquiries and enquiries concerning advertising and circulation should be addressed to Blu Inc Media Sdn Bhd. YTL Corporation and
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editor’s note

The holiday season is
an ideal time to catch
up with family and to
spend time with thepeople whom you
might have neglectedor missed during thecourse of the year.
YTL encourages Godly
values, hence thefamily unit is held inhigh regard. In thisissue, we explore how
you can have themost authentic “white Christmas” here in Malaysia
at Cameron Highlands Resort. Of course there will
be no snow, but snuggling by a fireplace on a chillynight after a traditional turkey dinner is definitely agreat way to spend the Yuletide with the family. Ourcelebrated Fisherman’s Cove restaurant at Pangkor
Laut Resort is also offering a Christmas menu andwe speak to Uncle Lim, the chef of the Chinese
restaurant on the island, who is the longest-serving
staff of the Resort. In fact, he has been with us for somany years, he has truly become one of the family!

world becomes more environmentally conscious, I am
proud to be involved in this exciting challenge.
This year, Asia’s most prestigious annual luxury watch
and jewellery showcase at Starhill Gallery, A Journey
Through Time III, also pays homage to nature withthe theme ‘Time and The Environment’. Adding glitz
and glamour to the event will be nightly world-classperformances with the highlight showcase by awardwinning mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins. And
this year, we are also honoured that CNBC Luxury
Channel will be filming two 30-minutes episodes on
the event.
I must also mention our current most exciting
project, the transformation of Lot 10 from a 1990s
KL icon into what will become the new face of Bukit
Bintang. Themed “Forest in the City”, it will add a
new world-class lifestyle dimension to shopping andentertainment in the city.
On a final note, YTL Hotels would like to welcome
back into our fold, James McBride, our new President.
His return and his expertise will elevate YTL Hotels
onto the global platform through the exploration ofstrategic growth opportunities.

My daughter, Ruth, also talks about how she is taking
our corporation to newer, greener heights. And as the

The new and green ‘Forest in
the City’ of Lot 10 will transformthe face of Bukit Bintang

010

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the buzz | ytl news

Time to go Green Asia’s most prestigious luxury
watch and jewellery fair, A Journey Through Time III, returns
once again this December but this year, it’s not just all about
bling and mechanical precision. This third edition of an evergrowing success story will not just pay homage to the year’s
best horological creations but will also carry behind it a Green
theme, an issue that has carried considerable weight in many of
the activities of YTL Corporation over the past few years.
Held once again at KL’s most vital luxury watch stop, Starhill
Gallery, this year’s fair is entitled “Time & the Environment”
and will see one of the region’s most respected watch collectors
Dr. Bernard Cheong host an eponymous talk with collectors
and environmentalists on how luxury acquisitions and theenvironment correlate. Other speakers include YTL Corporation
Bhd. Group Managing Director Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Francis Yeohand his daughter, Ruth Yeoh, who is the Director of Investments
and a champion of environmental causes.
Stephen Rahman-Hughes &Tiara Jacquelina

Siti Nurhaliza

Katherine Jenkins

Bernard Cheong & Wife

Ning Baizura

Other event highlights include debut watches from Richard
Mille, Jaeger-LeCoultre, DeWitt, Bedat & Co. and Romain
Jerome, while Mouawad will showcase its RM15million whiteand yellow gold necklace and its US$30 million dress The
Nightingale. Making their grand entrance into the Starhill
Gallery fold will be Valentino, Sergio Rossi, Kenzo and Carrera y
Carrera. On one of the nights, Valentino will also be showcasing
their Spring/Summer 10 couture collection in a runway show.
Fabulous and not to be missed!
The event will also feature nightly world-class performances.
On this year’s roster are Stephen Rahman-Hughes and Tiara
Jacquelina, Hong Kong’s singer/actor/celebrity chef Maria
Cordero, acclaimed violinist Dennis Lau as well as Malaysian
powerhouses Datuk Siti Nurhaliza and Ning Baizura with thegrand finale a guaranteed spell-binding performance by awardwinning mezzo-soprano, Katherine Jenkins.
A Journey Through Time III is presented by Starhill Gallery
in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia and will run from 3-13
December, 2009. For those interested to participate in the Time andEnvironment forum; www.ajourneythroughtime.com.my
email ajtt@starhillgallery.com or call +603-2782 3882
Reef and Learn Tanjong Jara Resort, IWC Schaffhausen
and Reef Check Malaysia recently joined forces for an Eco Driveat Pulau Tenggol, Terengganu. Held from 9-11 October 2009, thecampaign included both an underwater and land clean-up and featured
participation from members of the public out to do their bit for
the environment. Pulau Tenggol is considered one of the best divelocations in the area offering 20 vivid dive sites while enjoying theprotection of the Terengganu Marine Park. The project is a continuing
effort on the part of Tanjong Jara Resort and Reef Check. It also
coincides with luxury watch brand IWC’s partnership in support of the
non-profit Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) to conserve threatened
species of the Galapagos Islands, the unique archipelago in the Pacific
Ocean on which Darwin based many of his observations.
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the buzz | events

A Sensational Feast
Starhill Gallery’s annual Midsummer Nights’ Feast
returned in 2009 with tantalising flavours that sent
palates into a fine frenzy Melisa Ann SellvaduraibyFor 10 days in July 2009, Starhill Gallery was awash
with excitement as Kuala Lumpur’s culinary fraternity
and food lovers enjoyed a celebration of food and wine
during the annual Midsummer Nights’ Feast.
Themed “July Around The World”, this year’s food festival
once again featured the freshest flavours of fine dining
cuisine specially prepared by culinary maestros fromall around the globe conducting Master Chef classes
and preparing an array of sumptuous dishes. With
representation from Lebanon, Thailand, Korea, Japan,
Taiwan, China, India and the Mediterranean, it was truly amelting pot of different cuisines to be savoured. Exciting
new menus and promotions were offered at Feast
Village’s numerous restaurants including Enak, Sentidos
Tapas, Fisherman’s Cove, Gonbei, Jake’s Charbroil Steaks,
Jogoya, Eddy’s Cafe and Restaurant, KoRyo-Won, Li Yen,
Luk Yu Tea House, MyThai, Pak Loh Chiu Chow Restaurant
and Shanghai.
The 10-day gastronomic journey (July 3-12) kick started
with a special collaborative menu created by celebrated
014

Australian chef, Stephen Mercer and YTL Group Executive
Corporate Chef Kevin Cape. Touted as “contemporary cuisine
infused with a cosmopolitan blend of tantalising flavours”,
the exquisite menu featured Slow Confit of Salmon Trout,
Prawns fried in Potato Waistcoats, Peking Duck Consommé,and Roasted Fillet of Beef with Ox Cheek. The meal rounded
up with a healthy serving of Pear in Puff Pastry, Pistachio
Creme Brûlée and Fruits Sabayon.
Spotted at Shook! enjoying the scrumptious dinner were
guests of Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Yeoh Tiong Lay and Tan Sri (Dr)Francis Yeoh – Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur, Dato’ Ahmad
Fuad, Malaysian Angkasawan Dato’ Dr. Sheikh Muzaffar,
Datuk Sri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa and wife Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza,
Khairy Jamaluddin, and His Excellency Allessandro Busacca,
the Ambassador of Italy to Malaysia.
Adding glamour to the evening was a fashion show by local
jewellery designers themed, ‘A Feast of Bedazzling Luxury’.
Alya & Co. showcased their dazzling one-off South Sea
Pearls and highlighting pieces from their latest collection wereBetelgeuse, La Putri and Chin Jewellery.
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Each night saw a different feast and a different theme at
Shook! and making an appearance was Chef Massimo Martina
from Italy, who prepared the best of Italian cuisine showcasing
his culinary art with a modern approach and creative
presentation at the Massimo Martina Night. Chef Wong Wing
Yuek from Shanghai, brought Traditional Shanghainese
cuisine of the 19th Century back to life during Paramount, The
Great Shanghai while Chef Leung Kwai Hong from Hong Kong,delivered a typically traditional Cantonese cuisine at Nostalgia
of Fragrant Harbour.
In celebration of a 1,200-year old summer festival, a menu
based on the foundations of authentic Japanese cooking
methods was created by Chef Ito from Japan at the TanabataNight. Another highlight was the divinely delicious LOHAS(Lifestyles of Health & Sustainability) menu featuring
healthy organic ingredients, fruits and vegetables preparedby award-winning author and chef, Mohana Gill from
Malaysia. Chef Mohana has previously written the award
winning Vegemania! which was named ‘Best VegetarianBook In The World’ and Fruitastic! which was awarded theprestigious ‘Gourmand World Cookbook Awards’ prize for016

the categories, “Best Single Subject Cookbook” and “Best
Health and Nutrition”.
Also a highlight at the Festival was Starhill Gallery’s Feast
Village Junior. For the second year running, Feast Village
hosted a fun-filled morning of exciting games and activities forchildren to learn about food and nutrition while introducing
them to wholesome food that is fun and which makes meal
times exciting. The Feast Village Junior Programme targetedchildren aged 4 – 12 with the purpose of educating them about
the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. The programme
introduces the Eat Healthy Plate, which is adopted from theFood Standards Agency UK, and can be used to educate
children about the five food groups and to guide them on thecorrect proportion of foods to be consumed.
The children took a tour of Feast Village restaurants andsampled some of the food they offer. It was an enjoyable
experience as the children learned to make pizza whilechefs from Enak KL taught the kids to make Onde Onde
– a famous local dessert. The kids also got the chance todecorate their own cupcakes.
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the buzz | ytl news

A New Lot 10 in Life
The rebirth of a KL icon injects fresh green life into the Golden Triangle
and brings new meaning to the phrase “urban jungle” Eugene Ng
byPanoramic lot 10

When Lot 10 first opened its doors in the 1990s, its
prime location in the city centre - on the corner of Jalan Bukit
Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail - ensured its status as the
shopping centre du jour of that era. Two decades later andthings have changed. Kuala Lumpur has had a facelift, a new
towering skyline and a proliferation of new malls, arcades
and shopping centres to rival any metropolitan city aroundthe world.
Reflecting this need for progress and change, the iconic Lot
10 has recently undergone a massive transformation frombasement up as it once again jostles for pride of place in the
glamorous Golden Triangle.
This rebirth, if you will, has been planned to revolve aroundthe lifestyle needs of what is termed as “Greenagers” by
Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh CBE, the managing director of
YTL Corporation, referring to the new breed of modern,intelligent. young urbanites who are tech-savvy, healthconscious and with a little bit of that I’m-concerned-about018

Central to Lot 10’s new plans then is the newly-transformed
Level 8 rooftop, which was once a carpark but is now thedramatic and inspiring Forest in The City. A green refuge
from the bustle of the city down below, manicured gardensand dramatic overhanging flora make for quite a sight tobehold. Prime to benefit most from this sanctuary must be
the members of the Rooftop Fitness Club, who can take in thebeauty of this spot while performing their daily treadmill runs,
weights, Thaibo or Pilates.

More entertainment comes in the form of Teeq Brasserie, astylish modern eatery offering a fine selection of Japanese,
Western, Asian and Thai cuisines and breathtaking
panoramic views of the city skyline by night. The final main
addition to this rooftop is Rootz, an extravagant, Russian
Baroque-inspired dance club. This opulent club will offer thelargest selection of champagne in the city and will feature
the hottest DJs, local and foreign, at its decks. The club has
a capacity of 400 people with 2 VIP rooms and a main VIParea that can seat up to 100 guests, perfect for those stylish
landmark birthday parties.

For food enthusiasts, the Lot 10 Hutong is a must-visit
Designed based on the infamous cramp, narrow living
quarters of Beijing centuries-old ‘hutongs’, the Lot 10 Hutong
will instead house 27 restaurants and kiosks offering fare fromsome of KL’s oldest hawkers. Hawker stalls that have survived
the second and third generations have been brought together
under one roof. So now, evergreen favourites like Ho Wing Kee
wanton mee, Kong Thye Singapore noodles, Kum Leen Kei
Hokkien mee and Mo Sang Kor ‘bak kut teh’ can be savoured
in an energetic modern environment that truly marries boththe old and new of KL city.

Nestled in another corner of this veritable haven is the newhome of The Actors Studio, touted as a “Theatre in the Forest”
to align itself with the overall theme of the place and to rival
the too numerous to mention cinemas around the city. Thisnew theatre will boast over 8,000 square feet of space, aconceptual minimalist Zen-like interior, a 250-seater stage
and the country’s only Hanamichi T-shirt stage inspired by theJapanese Kabuki tradition.

Down below and the retail face of Lot 10 is also undergoingrejuvenation. Amongst the exclusive brands arriving on ourshores will be Nicky Hilton’s Chick and William Rast, pop star
Justin Timberlake’s very own fashion line. Cool Britannia will
come in the form of Debenhams, which will bring into theirstore names like Matthew Williamson, Ben de Lisi, Jasper
Conran, Red Herring, Maine and Manataray. And look out
for the National Geographic store opening soon!

This evolution of Lot 10 would not be complete without
a technological edge and in a collaboration between YTLe-Solutions and Samsung Electronics, plans are afoot to set
up Lot 10 as the first in the country to offer converged mobileinternet services through the platform of a new WiMax Centre.
and thus propelling Lot 10 well into the 21st Century.

the-environment edge about them.

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TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I N E

And with that, the phoenix once again rises from the ashes.
019

Coming
Full Circle

YTL Hotels’ new President, James McBride,
reflects on his home coming back to Asia andshares what he has been up to in the last 10
years since leaving as General Manager of
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
by Winnie Yongportraits by Alvin Liew

art direction Penny Chew & Ng Geok Mei

But like many things in life, McBride has now comefull circle and in 2009, he has returned 'home' towhere it all started as the new President of YTL
Hotels. "I can't explain it," he muses to YTL Lifeas we catch up with him recently, "but deep down,
I’ve always known even as I left 10 years ago, thatI’d return to YTL Hotels one day. During the interim
10 years away from YTL Hotels, I did on occasion
meet up with Tan Sri (Dr) Dato’ Francis Yeoh andDato’ Mark Yeoh, and we discussed the possibilityof doing something together in the future. In life,
we always say we’ll do something in the future but
99 percent of the time, nothing happens. In thiscase, something did."

There is a universal truthis the oft-quoted statement:"Generalisation is the death ofart; God resides in the details."
This is perhaps true not only
for art, but in just about every
aspect of our lives whether inbusiness, leisure or even thegood food that we wish to eat.
The details are the small things
which complete the big picture.

With Tom Cruise and his family
during their stay at The Carlyle

James McBride is a man who
firmly believes in this idea and itis through being big on the little
things that he has made his markin the global hospitality industry.
“The difference between goodand exceptional is in the details,”
says McBride. “You have to drive
the details.”

What comes next is, of course, McBride putting his
10 years experience to good use as he powers YTL
Hotels into the next decade and further cements
its position as a global luxury brand to be reckoned
with. McBride shares with us his vision for YTL
Hotels' future but not before he regales us withtales of celebrities and a little boy stalking tennis
champion Roger Federer.

And drive the details of his career
path he did, and with scorching
results. Beginning his career withYTL Hotels in 1998 as General
Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala
Lumpur, other career highs so far
have seen him helm the landmark
Grosvenor House in London (also as
General Manager) before becoming
the Regional Vice President ofRosewood Hotels and Resorts at
The Carlyle in New York City, bothof which added a high glamour
quotient to the equation as herubbed shoulders with some of theworld's biggest political, sports andentertainment personalities.

So tell us more about what you havebeen up to since you left YTL Hotels 10
years ago? From Kuala Lumpur, I moved on to
being the General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton in
Washington DC. It was truly exciting to be in themost powerful city in the world, watching the mostimportant events unfold on the political stage
before your very eyes. Anything that was written
in the Washington Post, I saw happening in my own
backyard. And to be helming The Ritz-Carlton atthat time made it doubly exceptional because I had
the opportunity to serve the world leaders, CEOsof Fortune 500 companies and A-list Hollywood
stars who came through our doors. We had theprivilege of hosting Yasser Arafat during the Peace
negotiations. It was a politically fascinating time
for me as Arafat was the most protected person
THE Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ INE

on earth. There were lots of snipers and secretagents everywhere. Even his bed had to be moved
to the centre of the room to protect him from thepossibility of being hit by enemy snipers.
You were later approached with theoffer to be General Manager of theprestigious Grosvenor House in London.
Yes, I was offered the opportunity to helm
Grosvenor House, a historic luxury hotel where
all the most important social events in England
took place. A frequent host to celebrities, businessleaders, royalty and because it was near the US
embassy, government dignitaries, Grosvenor House

With Roger Federer and the Roland
Garros 09 trophy, taken out of the venue
for the first time in history to show his dad
who was ill at the time.

With HRH Prince
Harry of Wales

was truly a landmark of London. I was excited at
the prospect of living and working in London. While
I loved Washington, I consider London my spiritualhome. I grew up in South Africa, an ex-colony, so I
feel right at home in London. We enjoy the samebrand of humour, the same passion for rugby andcricket. We had big plans to close down Grosvenor
House for a major refurbishment. Unfortunately,
due to a backlash from 9/11 at the time, our vision
didn’t come to pass. Grosvenor House was going
into receivership when I received a call from nonexecutive Chairman of Rosewood Hotels andResorts, Philip Maritz, who offered me the position
of Regional Vice President. Though my heart was
still very much in Grosvenor House, the prospectof working for one of the world’s leading operatorsof ultra-luxury hotels and resorts proved to be anoffer I couldn’t resist. I moved into the sixteenth
floor of The Carlyle in New York City in 2003.
The Carlyle is a luxury hotel that’s
a l m ost l eg e n da ry i n t e r m s o f i ts
rich history, high-profile guests andlandmark status. How would you sum
up your time there in one word? If myexperience at The Carlyle could be summed up into021

one word, it would be ‘unforgettable’. The hotel has
such deep roots in history and some of the mostincredible guests and residents you will ever meet.
The Carlyle’s mystique surged in the 1960s with
President John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe
when they used to come to the hotel for their
trysts through the secret tunnel to escape media
attention. The other celebrity who came to The
Carlyle through the tunnel was Michael Jackson. He
arrived last October with his three children – eachone darkly veiled. Hosting the most high-profile
guests in the world, The Carlyle stops at nothing
to ensure the highest level of privacy. Interestingly
though, 98 percent of our superstar guests don’t

the movie and knowing that I was South African,
invited me to breakfast to get some insights on
the South African accent and culture, and to talkabout playing Mandela in the movie. I sharedwith him my brief meeting with Nelson Mandela
in Washington DC and how I was most struck by
his handshake – he shakes your hand firmly andholds onto it the whole time you’re talking. He’s
the most charismatic man you’ll ever meet.
I left the table for a minute and returned to findRoger Federer having breakfast at the same time. I
introduced them and invited Roger to join us. Whenhe did, I couldn’t help but think how wild it wasit’s been a wonderful homecoming...
I’m excited about this opportunity tocreate and grow new hotels, and doingit all in a part of the world that I loveactually use the tunnel. They treat The Carlyle liketheir own home, sauntering in and out casually, infull assurance that their safety and privacy will besafeguarded at all times.
Staying at The Carlyle, you must've
rubbed shoulders with some very
famous personalities. What were someof your more memorable experiences?
Living on the 16th floor of The Carlyle meant that
I had some of the most amazing neighbours comeand go through the years. Jack Nicholson, George
Clooney, Clint Eastwood, Salma Hayek and Roger
Federer were some of the guests on my floor. I cantell you my son Sterling’s most memorable Carlyle
moments: listening intently at the door every day
so he could accidentally ‘bump’ into Roger Federer
when he returned to the hotel at the end of the day!
As for me, I’d have to say that one of my favourite
Carlyle moments was the time I was with President
Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni in thelobby waiting for the elevator. The elevator door
opens and out walks Paul McCartney. It immediately
crossed my mind to introduce them but Paul beatme to the punch by inviting them to his show at
Citi Field. The short conversation that followed was
indeed an unforgettable experience. Another person
I will never forget meeting is Morgan Freeman, who
was starring as Nelson Mandela in Invictus, a movie
about the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa.
He was staying at The Carlyle during the filming of022

that I was here having breakfast with an Academy
Award-winning actor and a tennis player consideredby many to be the best of all time. A funny incident
was when the gym at The Carlyle was in the midstof refurbishment. Tony Blair was staying with us
and wanted to use the gym. He went downstairs,
introduced himself to the construction workers andasked if he could use it. With great excitement, theworkers let him through, not because they knew who
he was, but because they thought he was related to
Linda Blair, the Hollywood actress!
It must have been hard to leave such anamazing place. I left The Carlyle with a heavy
heart. It’s an odd combination – it’s your life and yet,it’s not your life. While it was amazing to meet all
those incredible people and be a part of their timeat The Carlyle, it’s not your world; you’re just on
the periphery of theirs. The moment you think thisis your life, you’re mistaken. Through all the glitz
and glamour, I am fundamentally a service provider.
That’s my core role and it’s something I never forget.
For instance, during his stay at The Carlyle lastyear, Roger Federer ordered food from St Ambrose,a restaurant two blocks away. His order got mixed
up and delayed. I rushed over to the restaurant in
my suit, sorted out the matter with the people atthe restaurant, got the meal, ran back to the hotel,
swiped a pair of utensils on the way up and served
it to Roger myself. It didn’t matter what level I wasat. When something needed to be done, it had to
T HE Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z INE

be done. That has been – and will always be – myapproach in the service industry.
So how has your homecoming been so far?
It has been a wonderful homecoming for me. I’m excitedabout this opportunity to create and grow new hotels,
and doing it all in a part of the world that I love. I love
Southeast Asia and it’s delightful to be in Singapore.
So what can we expect from YTL Hotels in
the near future? We’re in a strong cash position
to acquire some great assets and extend YTL Hotels’
footprint outside Asia Pacific and establish a presencein the major capitals of the world. A natural extension
would be London as well as New York, Los Angeles
and Chicago in the US. I feel very fortunate – it’s very
exciting to be here doing what I’m doing. I remember
my time as General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala
Lumpur back in 1998. The economy was in bad shapeand so, we had to be extra creative and extra bold. We
did some off the wall things that were crazy but still
very effective. Back then, I was young, fired up andwould try anything because. I wanted to succeed andwould do anything it took. Ten years on, I’m older andthe situation we’re in today is certainly different butthat same spirit, energy and determination to succeed
is still burning inside.

6 Things About James McBride at a Glance
On youth
One of the things that influenced
me most was my mother's great
sense of style. She instilled that inme through the years and taughtme the importance of paying
attention to detail. We used tohave parties with ambassadorsand prominent guests, and I'dget to practise how to pour wine
properly. I spent two years in thearmy for National Service. It wasa good time to grow up, matureand obtain clarity of mind. I lived
with all kinds of people there –those who’d never worn shoes orused utensils in their lives. There,
I learned to use humour as a tool
and adapt very quickly to myenvironment. Yes, it was a greattime and built great character. I
still think one year would’ve beenenough though!
On homeReturning home every year
to the South African bush tovisit my parents in Singitha
and Urumalewan is always aprofound experience. Hearing
the lions roar at night, the hyenas
barking, sitting next to the fire,
THE Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ INE

the moon high above you ... neverfails to remind me of the time I
was five years old and listening
to the crackling sounds of the old
radio, reporting that Armstrong
had just landed on the moon.
On work & life
It’s all about details, passion andinnovation. What you focus on inlife will be successful.
People will always perform better
if they know someone is watching– that’s human nature.
Having fun is important. I liketo laugh (mostly at myself), andI like to make people laugh. You
can refer to me as a gweilo, no
problem. We can’t take life too
seriously now, can we?
On luxury
Too often, luxury is symbolised
only by the physical but it’swhen the physical and emotional
experiences come together thatyou have ultimate luxury. The
emotional experience can only
be realised through people. It’sseeing the same faces when you
go back to the hotel, knowingthat you’ll be safe, pampered

and every one of your needs
anticipated and met.
On relaxing
Being based in Singapore rightnow, my way to get away fromit all for a while is to go for a
run in the Botanical Gardens.
Or I’ll just shut the door fora little peace and quiet. I’llsoon be moving into this newplace where you wake up every
morning to birds singing. How
often do you get to hear this?
It’s one of the small pleasures inlife. It’s so spiritual and a great
way to start the day.
On running
I love running and getting lost in
a new city. Once, in Marrakesh,
I had to go for a run with ablack taxi nipping at my heels
for safety reasons. It was thefastest 5 miles I ever ran in mylife! When running in a new city,
sometimes I get lost and haveto take a cab back to the hotel
but I love it. It’s a great way to
discover new sights, see newfaces and experience new smells
and sounds.
023

A BALISTATEOF MIND

From STARGAZING to SUNSET CRUISES, thediscovery of this sacred island is all
the more memorable when experienced
through the exclusive Spa Village
Marcus Wong
Resort Tembok, Bali Winnie Yongbyphotography

There are destinations andt h e re a re d est i n a t i o n s,t h e l a tte r b e i n g w i l d l ypopular places that top
every travel list – from thescruffy backpacker ’s tothe honeymooner’s to thefrazzled corporate suit’s themoment his once-energetic
run in the rat race turns into a painful hobble. And
heading this list of wildly popular places is none otherthan Bali.
I have a confession to make: I have never been to Bali.
Sure, it’s a rite of passage for anyone suffering froma chronic case of wanderlust, particularly those witha fixation on swaying palm trees and sandy beaches
but it has always been, to me, to be a case of taking
the path too well-trodden. An obvious choice, if you
will. And being someone who fancies herself as one
who consciously steers clear of the obvious, I havestubbornly delayed my maiden trip to the island...
until now.
Arriving on the island, I felt a little like the early 20th
century tourists who’d come here for the first time,
except that I carried an iPod, shuffled around in flipflops and was armed with a trusty Canon camera
fully charged to capture everything my senses will
experience and hopefully, even the ones they may
miss. I was also about to experience Bali from thevantage point of the Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.
Situated between Tembok village and Tejakula in thenorth-eastern part of the island around 2.5 hours
away from the airport, the exclusive Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali, was the key to my discovering the island
via a path less trodden. Its location on the decidedly
un-touristy volcanic coast with sparkling beaches asblack as coal meant that I could get to know the island
without having to wade my way through a battalionof sunblock-slathered sun revellers, bargain-crazed
shoppers or Margarita-drenched party makers.
In the Spa Village, privacy is something taken very
seriously – a fact that was evident right from the start.
Marked only by a discreet white signage hardly visible
from the main road, the entrance to the property is
quiet and unassuming. We made a sharp turn into a
shady tree-lined road so narrow that a small van isthe biggest vehicle that can get through.
I was greeted in true Balinese style, with a blacksand foot scrub and a neck and shoulder massage(to work out the kinks developed from the trip fromA spectacular sunrise along theblack sand beach of the Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali

the airport). The staff’s genuine smiles and warm
welcome made it feel like a homecoming. Well, if
this were home, it was certainly stunning enoughto suppress (if not totally squelch) any nomadic
tendencies you might be nursing. What I especially
loved about the Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali wasits graceful air of authenticity. The property’s central
feature is the infinity pool and a sundeck decorated
with beach chairs, shady umbrellas and cream-coloured
gazebos. And the pièce de résistance? The strip ofbeach blanketed with miles of powdery black sand.
I was shown to what would be my home for the next
three days: the Baruna Villa. One of the two exclusive
villas on the property, the Baruna is equipped witha private gazebo, a plunge pool and a spectacularocean view. The massive sliding double doors open up
to reveal an airy, spacious sanctuary that’s anchoredby a king-sized bed, appealing enough to ensnare
anyone into a euphoric state of narcolepsy. It wasthen that I knew: I had died and gone to Bali heaven.
DAY 1 The sunrise I would love to be able tosay that I was gently nudged from my slumber by
the sound of waves crashing against the shore but
the real reason was more banal – it was the Resort’s
wake-up call and the cheery voice at the other end of
the line. I scrambled out of bed to catch the sunrise. It
was spectacular – an event in itself. Having witnessed
the sun’s grand entrance, I ambled back to bed. With
the sliding doors kept wide open, I lay in bed withmy feet silhouetted against the sea view. A sigh ofrapture. “Have a good day,” the voice of the wake-up
call had chirped just minutes ago. A pleasant thoughunnecessary statement because bad days simply
didn’t seem to exist here at the Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali.
Tulamben shipwreck We arrived at Tulamben,
a small fishing village whose main claim to fameis the massive underwater resident that has been
here since its arrival in 1942. Just a short 30 metresaway from the shore lay the famous USS Liberty
shipwreck. A skin dive down 5 metres and you canpractically touch the stern of the 120-metre longship where schools of jackfish congregate. It wasa sight to behold, this massive coral-encrusted
vessel just laying there on the sandy seabed for
scuba divers to scrutinise. The biggest challenge
in Tulamben, however, would have to be the actof balancing your way – diving gear and all – fromthe beach out to sea to begin your shore dive. The
beach is covered with smooth egg-shaped grey andblack volcanic stones, some bigger than your fist,
and it can be quite a feat to manoeuvre your way
The luxurious grounds of the Resort

026

T H E Y T L LU XURY M AGAZ INE

Stargazing by night
has become asignature experienceat the Resort

The unique Kecak
performance at
the Resort

An arresting viewof the sunset isthe perfect way
to end the day

S p a t r e at m e n t s A f t e r
b r e a k fa s t , I wa s s c h e d u l e d
to experience for myself thefamous Spa Village face and hairtreatments, each one created using
fresh (mostly edible) ingredients.
The absence of chemicals andartificial preservatives is reassuring
and especially welcome at a time
when the promise of beauty can beconveniently purchased in a tube
at any beauty salon. Today’s spa
sessions provide a much-needed
respite from the chemical-laden
urban brand of wellness and beauty
to which I’d been subjected for far
too long.
I started off with the Mesipat facial,a traditional Balinese beautification
ritual which involves sandalwood
and tamarind leaves. My face wasgently exfoliated with grains of rice,
finger root, turmeric and tamarind
leaves and massaged with mini
floral pouches.
out. Best months for diving enthusiasts to comehere? October and November.
Kecak performance Later that evening backat the Spa Village, we were treated to a kecak
performance. I’ve read about the kecak dance but
nothing prepares you for the real thing. No stage;no props, nothing but a stake of fire in the centreof the lawn. The scene took on a shadowy, primitive
feel that came alive when fifty bare-chested men insarongs emerged – swaying bodies, hands raisedin the air, eyes wide and transfixed, and making
a synchronous ‘chak-achak-achak’ sound at a
breakneck pace. It was spellbinding.
Inspired by the clicking sounds of the gecko, kecak isapparently the only dance created solely for visitors
to Bali. Based on the Hindu epic, Ramayana, it tells
the story of Prince Rama and the heroic rescue of hiswife from the clutches of King of Lanka. The chorusof ‘chak-ing’ men, their energy, fieriness and thedrama they invoked kept me mesmerised until theend of the hour.
DAY 2 Plunge into bliss I thought it fitting togreet my second day with a little dip in my private
plunge pool overlooking the sea. Nothing like fresh,
cold water to shake up the senses and prepare youfor a hearty breakfast.
028

The Mesipat facial was followed by the Mekramas
hair treatment where my scalp was massaged with amoisturising combination of coconut oil and crushed
candlenut. After the massage, a mixture of hibiscus
leaves and aloe vera was applied onto my hair.
Once the intensive, rich mixture had sufficiently
coated every single strand, my hair was swiftly
twisted into a heavy coil (with deft that can only
be managed by the most experienced and wellpractised of spa experts) on top of my head andsecured in a banana leaf ‘cap’. The mixture wasleft to work its magic uninterrupted for 15 minutes
before I was allowed a good rinse.
Sunset cruise The day was about to end,
the sun was about to set and we were going
to witness it onboard the jukong, a traditional
Balinese fishing boat. I was ushered down tothe beach and helped into the front of thejukong and was handed a chilled glass of red
wine. The engine sputtered to life and we set off
into the blue yonder.
As the Spa Village receded into the background,
I was soon surrounded by nothing but the deep
blue sea. The currents occasionally pushed us
around as the boatman expertly manoeuvered
T H E Y T L LU XURY M AGAZ INE

our way forward.
Off in the distance towered the highest peak in
all of Bali, Mount Agung. The still-active volcano
last erupted in 1963, destroying everything in its
path and killing thousands. It was a tragedy ofsuch magnitude that it took the island months torecover. The cratered mountain belches smoke andash every now and then – a constant reminder ofits dominion over the island and all who lived on it.
The jukong came to a gradual halt when we got in clear
view of the setting sun – a bright red circle hoveringin mid-air, suspended between thin fluffy clouds allawash in shades of blue, purple and orange. Here,
we stopped for a few minutes, watching the bright
red circle slowly sink into the horizon until there wasnothing but a tiny red speck. The speck peeked out
for a few moments before it totally vanished, leaving
the sky empty and the clouds without a companion.
Stargazing Watching the sun set was one thing,
but nothing can equal seeing a night sky filled withstars. Situated in what’s reputed to be the area withthe clearest skies in all of Bali, the Spa Village is theideal spot for some serious stargazing.
The stargazing session took place in the infinity pool:
I lay down on a raft, sounds of a cascading waterfall
and rhythmic bell chimes piped into my ears. My
raft moved languidly around the pool, leaving me
TH E Y TL LU XURY M AGA Z INE

to drink in the mass of inky blackness, speckled withmillions of golden stars. It was a perfect 20 minutes.
DAY 3 Luxury infinity I wasn’t about to let
my last day at the Spa Village slip by without a few
productive hours lounging around on the sundeckand paying homage to the gorgeous infinity pool.
Flipping leisurely through my dog-eared copy of
Art Of Travel, a travelling companion of the literalkind, I was struck by the writer’s statement that
pictures (especially those of the picture-perfect
postcard variety) were abbreviations of reality,
drawing out and thrusting under our noses onlythat which was good and beautiful. And because
pictures weren’t the most accurate representationsof reality, we often wound up disappointed. While
I concurred with the writer, I had to say that the
Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali may well be thefirst place to put this to the test.
Unlike being dunked in a foreign place and having
to brace myself for an assault of the senses,
the Bali I experienced up north couched in the
exclusive privacy and warm hospitality of the Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali was one that crept
up on me gradually with light-footed steps andwon me over without my even realising it. As far
as first introductions go, I couldn’t have possibly
asked for a more unforgettable one.
I think a new travel list is now in order.
029

Christmas
in theCamerons
You don't necessarily haveto celebrate a tropicalyuletide while in malaysia.
At the cameron Highlands
resort, the vision of achilly christmas spent by
the fireplace comes aliveby Matt Armitage

photo ytl online library

Ah yes, Christmas in Malaysia: Santa in
Bermudas and safari shirt, his sleigh reflectedin the glassy azure sea water, as he flies above
immaculate white sandy beaches and gently
swaying palm trees. It’s an image that has become
the dream for huge numbers of travellers looking
for a Christmas getaway from home. And while it’scertainly true – look no further than YTL Hotels'
own Pangkor Laut Resort if you want the ultimate
sun, sea and Santa experience – it doesn’t tell thewhole story.
If you’re sitting in your living room looking out
at cold grey skies in November you might not
be feeling it but there’s something to be said forthe storybook Christmas of open fires, the scentof wood smoke in the air, woolly jumpers andbracing afternoon walks. It’s how I spent mostof my Christmases before coming to South East
Asia: overeating followed by a lethargic struggle
into anoraks and wellingtons for an afternoon
walk through the local forestry reserve.
So I was all gung-ho for my first MalaysianHoliday Season, going away to spend a coupleof days by the beach and celebrating the day
031

with friends over a barbecue. But after a couple ofyears the novelty began to wear off and I began toplot ways to get back home to Europe. Of course,
I rarely managed to book time off work, in time
to book the plane tickets, and turkey dinners andbrussels sprouts in the blazing heat have become
the norm.

Empire’s major cash crops. Since then, at around
twice the size of Singapore, these highlands havedeveloped from a remote hill station into a collectionof townships and villages that has become a centre
for hydroponic and organic agriculture in the
country, growing everything from strawberries toexotic salad items to tulips and roses.

Until last year when I spent a perfect Christmas
weekend at Cameron Highlands Resort in the heartof the legendary Cameron Highlands hill station in
the thick jungle that borders the states of Pahang
and Perak. At a height of 1500m and with daytime
temperatures that rarely exceed 25˚C and plunge

Not to mention its growing reputation as a climate
controlled getaway for Malaysia’s colonial class inthe days before air-conditioning. As a result theregion is dotted with colonial-era bungalows, lending
the place a distinctly European charm in the middleof an Asian landscape, aided by the fir and pine

the Cameron Highlands
Golf & Country Club
below. And to ensuret h a t yo u re m a i n i ncharacter throughout
your stay the colonial
theme even extends
to its architecture andcosy fireplaces inside.
There’s also a timelessquality to the simple
elegance of the
bedrooms and suites.
O u rs h a d va r n i s h e drustic hardwood floorsthat sounded slightly
u n d e r fo o t , a n d t h egorgeous timberf ra m e d f o u r - p o s t e rbeds, lamps and soft
furnishings practicallyscream Merchant Ivory.
Against the wall an
uncluttered writing desk
harked back to a time
when letter writing wasa social requirement
while the black and white tile and marble finishes ofthe bathroom appear strictly circa 1920s.

Camerons is dotted with colonial-era
bungalows lending the place a european
charm aided by the fir and pine trees
planted to make it seem more like ‘home’With its temperate climate, the area was deemedsuitable for growing tea, then one of the British

trees the colonists planted to make it seem more
like ‘home’.
It’s a transition that’s both surprising and magical:
the palm trees and asphalt highways of Ipoh recede
as you begin your journey upwards and when, anhour or so later, youround the bend into
Kuala Terla, the sheer
drops taper off andyou’re greeted by rollingfields of vegetables,
fringed with neatly
trimmed tea plantations
and beyond that lush
jungle. Add a dash of
frosting to the trees andyou have, somewhat
surprisingly perhaps,
the perfect Christmas
card picture.
It’s an environment thatC a m e ro n H i g h l a n d sResort – with its rolling
terraced frontage
and clean long lines– perfectly reflects.
Each of its 48 rooms
and eight suites enjoys
sweeping views over032

T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGAZ I NE

Which is not to say that the rooms are maroonedin the past: LCD TVs and rain effect showers bringthem up to date but without disrupting their period
charm. Hang a stocking from the bedpost and fill
it with tangerines and nuts, as we did, and there’s
no better place to wake up on Christmas morning.
Especially when there’s a breakfast spread waiting foryou on the room’s unashamed highlight: the terrace
overlooking the golf course and distant hills.
So, as we enjoyed freshly brewed coffee withpancakes smothered in mascarpone, fresh pastries
and homemade strawberry jam, we took in the sightof the mist swirling over the golf course, enveloping
us in a fine wet haze while we stayed warm and dry
inside the thick white robes provided by the Resort.

photo corbis

significantly at night, the Cameron Highlands plateau
was only ‘discovered’ during an 1885 mapping
operation by British surveyor William Cameron.

With time to kill before lunch and an afternoonof seemingly endless eating ahead, our thoughts
naturally turned to the spa. The pure mountain air
and bucolic setting of the Resort makes it an ideal
location for one of YTL Hotel’s award-winning
Spa Village treatment centres. Hidden away amid
the lush vegetation of the Resort’s gardens, thetranquillity of Spa Village Cameron Highlands is
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

interrupted only by the
gentle spray of water inthe fountain outside.
If it sounds romantic,
it is. With only six
treatment rooms, sixbathhouses and two
outdoor cabanas, theemphasis is very muchon a personalised
service, rather thant h e m o re m a c h i n e like efficiency of spasat larger resorts. The
S pa Vi l l a g e b ra n dhonours the healing
culture of the regionin which it is built. The
result is treatmentsthat are based on local
customs, and use fresh
ingredients sourced
from the community.
And in Cameron
Highlands, that means
food. Our Yuletide treat started with the spa’s
signature ritual, the Tea Bath. Each bathhouse isequipped with twin tubs, and as we eased ourselves
into the warm water of our respective tubs: me in an
infusion of leaves and mint, and my partner basking
in a glow of strawberries. An assistant then brought
in a tray of what looked like snacks, but turned out
to be part of the ritual: raw sugar and lime wedges
to rub into our skin, and tea bags to place over
our eyes.
You can mix-and-match your treatments if you
prefer, but we decided to continue with our bath time
themes. My Cameron’s Mint experience included
a mint and thyme based body scrub, followed bya muscle relief body massage that used plenty ofoil and some liberal use of the masseuse’s elbows
to improve my circulation and soothe my flagging
muscles. While my partner’s Fresh Strawberry
Escapade body polish and aroma massage left her
smelling like a jar of newly bottled jam, sweet andfruity at the same time.
And it’s not just for effect: strawberries are reputed
to help fight depression, infections and fevers, aswell as helping to cleanse the kidneys, liver andblood. And among mint’s many properties are its
abilities to boost your circulation and enhance the033Searching for Jim
It’s not just the mist and mountains that lend
Cameron Highlands an air of mystery. The
Resort’s Jim Thompson Tea Room is named after
a prominent American industrialist who vanishedafter taking a walk in the Highlands on Easter
Sunday, March 26th, 1967. A prolific smoker, heleft his cigarettes and lighter on the verandah of
his friends’ bungalow, suggesting he only intended
to be away for a few minutes.
James Henry Thompson, the so-called Kingof Thai Silk, was a society architect from a
prominent Delaware family who gave up thegood life to become an enlisted soldier, a spy, anadventurer, a celebrity industrialist, art collector
and social activist. After spending the Second
World War stationed in South-East Asia as anintelligence officer in the OSS, the forerunnerof the CIA, Thompson decided to settle in
Thailand, and briefly became a hotelier before
falling out with his partners.
Instead he indulged his interest in Thai silks,
founding the Thai Silk Company in 1948 andhelping to revitalise and modernise an industry
that had been moribund for decades. Dubbed
the King of Thai Silk by media titles like Time,
Newsweek and Life, Thompson never actually
owned more than a small percentage of the Thai
Silk Company, preferring instead to distributethe shares amongst the weavers themselves,
eventually making many of them millionaires.

immune system. However, it wasn’t so much thebenefits that were on our mind at the end of themorning as lunch, with the smell of so much foodrising from our skin.
In a region renowned for its farm fresh produce
Christmas dinner at Cameron Highlands Resort wasalways going to be special. But rather than reprise
what we ate last year, I thought I’d tantalise you withwhat’s on offer this year in The Dining Room. You
can start with a lemongrass gazpacho accompanied
by a salad of Australian mud crab and chilled white
asparagus and then sample a surprising twist on aclassic Malaysian dish, the lobster laksa cappuccino
with wasabi mousse.
Of course, the highlight of the traditional Christmas
dinner is the turkey. This year, the freshly sliced
and roasted bird will be accompanied by goldenroast potatoes, buttered brussel sprouts, stuffing
and bread sauce, all topped off with a special
recipe, homemade cranberry sauce. Or, if you’retired of turkey, there’s also a slow braised rackof Dutch veal and the lightly grilled Dover sole todelight your palette. Rest assured the quality of thefood at the Resort is impeccable.
034

After our long and elaborate meal we had theoption of staggering straight into English Afternoon
Tea in the Jim Thompson Tea Room and diving into
its rather inviting looking scones, but in the end we
opted for the outdoors option, a good job as the
Resort had arranged for a guide for us. Like mostmountainous places, the weather changes pretty
quickly in Cameron Highlands, and though the sun
had blazed most of the morning, the afternoon
had settled into a pattern of clouded skies andlight drizzle.
Which was precisely the weather we wanted fora brisk stroll through the mossy forest to the
top up Mount Brinchang, the highest peak in theHighlands. There are more than 30 trails around
Cameron Highlands, but we’d read about themoss that carpets the trail up Brinchang – thanks
to its unique, moist environment – and wanted toexperience it for ourselves.
It certainly brought back the magic of my own
childhood Christmas walks. At this height it wasn’t somuch mist that we were walking through as clouds
themselves, passing around us and their moistureclung to us, keeping us cool as we made our way up
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGAZ I NE

a path carpeted with moss.
And then, as we walked back down from the top
along the decidedly easier access road, the scenery
did another one of its spectacular transformations.
The cloud and moist, dark greens of the inside of theforest suddenly gave way to sunshine and the bright,
trimmed rows of tea plantations and a vista thatstretched for miles. Winter to summer at the turn ofa bend.
Returning to the Resort before sunset we had time tofinish off the last of the English Afternoon Tea scones
before being invited to do the honours in the daily firelighting ceremony. If there’s one thing that really says
Christmas it’s a wood fire, so we happily accepted thelit tapers and set the logs in the grate afire.
After that it was time to settle into the deep leather
armchairs and disappear into one of several glassesof something warm and strong from the Highlands
Bar with nothing more strenuous than the flickeringof the flames, the tinkling of the piano, the twinklingof the fairy lights strung up in the trees outside thewindow and a slow game of snooker to bring thisfaerie Christmas Day to a close.
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

A leading socialite and inveterate networker,
Thompson’s home in Bangkrua, Bangkok became
the venue for a never-ending round of parties
for Bangkok’s elite as well as visiting foreignstars and dignitaries. By the 1960s such wasThompson’s renown that nations as varied as
Syria and Singapore were vying for his talents toenhance their own native industries. So, it wasagainst this backdrop of an ever-busier schedulethat the just-turned 61-year-old Thomspon
took one of his periodic vacations at the homeof his friend Dr Ling in Malaysia’s Cameron
Highlands in 1967. And as he never returned
from the trip, the rest is, as they say, history.
The rumours surrounding his strange
disappearance have proliferated: he was abductedby communists, whisked away by the CIA andgiven a new identity in the US, eaten by tigers,
accidentally killed in an animal trap dug byjungle-dwelling hunters, fell victim to a robbery
or kidnap-for-money that went wrong or simply
wandered off to die like a mortally wounded
elephant. His search party included US Army
generals and clairvoyants.
Whatever the strange truth of his disappearance,it all adds to the mystique of Cameron Highlands.
For interested hikers, the Resort can arrange
walks along the popular Jim Thompson Trail,
the route that the industrialist is reputed to havevanished from.
Jim Thompson The Unsolved Mystery by
William Warren is available under the Archipelago
Press imprint.
035

The
great
merdeka sail
Pangkor laut resort is fast
becoming a major hotspot forluxury yacht enthusiasts as thisyear's pangkor laut merdeka cup
shows. just save the canapÈs andchampagne for laterby Belle Ng

photographs by Esmond Goh

As a self-confessed adrenaline junkie, it
was certainly difficult to turn down an invitation
to be part of the crew that would man the 36-footImpian sport sailing yacht that would compete in the
Pangkor Laut Merdeka Cup during the weekend of
Malaysia's 52nd independence day celebration.
What made the invite even more irresistible wasthe chance to stay at YTL Hotels' renowned andexclusive Pangkor Laut Resort, the starting point of
the race. I had once spent six months as a chef ona luxurious 120-foot super yacht and we had maderegular trips with our guests to Pangkor Laut Resort
and the nearby Nine Islands. Having since relocatedto concrete jungle, I was eager to rediscover life
at sea.
However, I would soon learn that the world of sports
sailing is entirely different from that of luxury motor
yachting. There are no delicate canapès to nibble
on, no crystal flutes of champagne to imbibe joyfully
from. Instead, cold beers and squished sarnies werepretty much the order of the weekend. After all,there’s work to be done when you are part of a boatcrew, and it is only after the race ends that any realindulging begins.
A sailing race is not always just about high speeds.
It is your crew and your craft out there depending
on only the sea and the wind to carry you. The
wind and the currents play a big part in whether
036

you merely cruise or zip along. Oftentimes thewind will tease you, it will drop and leave you tocontemplate the ocean, the sky, the clouds, yourown unique fingerprint... anything. Other times thewind will gust, the current will guide you in the right
direction and the sails will billow and whip. At thispoint your crew members will leap into fluid action
manning ‘lines’ and ‘sheets’. Names of knots will bethrown around and the boat will sharply tilt port or
starboard side depending on the wind and directionthat you are ‘tacking’.
You will hang on for dear life. In fact it may even be
requested that all of the crew hang off one side of
the yacht to keep it on course, at which point your
toes may graze the water but don’t let anyone catchyou trailing your feet in the water lest you get yelled
at for slowing the boat down.
And perhaps at this point you might ponder the
beginnings of sailing. Perhaps you might even think,“Why are we even out here?”.
Thousands of years ago, man built primitive boats
of wood powered by muscle and paddle, traversing
the ocean for provisions and possibilities other thanwhat was known. Physics came into play and they
developed early sails to harness wind energy andimprove navigation.
Civilizations blossomed and the different seafaring
T HE Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z I NE

the day race around Pangkor Laut (for the Pangkor
Laut Merdeka Cup) and ending with a sumptuous
sunset barbecue and prize-giving session at Pangkor
Laut Resort’s stunning Emerald Bay, the annual
Merdeka Regatta is the perfect way for sailors to
combine sport and a luxury getaway over thenational day weekend.
Many sailors also see the race as a warm-up to theRaja Muda Regatta, touted as Asia’s most tactical
regatta and attracting intrepid sailors from acrossthe world. Celebrating its 20th year in November,the Raja Muda Regatta will see more than 50 local
and international boats taking part in the threeday challenge.

camaraderie, I am content, and I see exactly what
Tan Swee Im, lawyer, avid sailor and committee
member of RSYC’s Raja Muda Selangor International
Regatta Organising Committee means when shesays, “The people who make the crew of your yacht
are your best buddies at least for the sail, and often
for the rest of your life. You share confined spaces,
put your life in their hands, and such situations often
bring out the best and worst of people and it is here
you that you truly learn about friendship”.
Someone tells another joke, and we all laugh, as thescent of roasting lamb on a spit wafts my way. As myglass is refilled, I hear the waves break on the shore.
I could get used to this.

Both races use Pangkor Laut Resort as a stopover
point, partially because it would be hard to whizz
past a private island paradise after a long day’s
sailing and not be tempted to stop to partake inone of the Resort’s fine restaurants or a pampering
session at its renowned Spa Village.

nations from the Phoenicians, Egyptians and theVikings, to the Chinese, Dutch, Arabs and Spanish,
honed their navigation skills and added specificcharacteristics to the basic sailboat, developing
sophisticated vessels enabling them to travel farther
afield, guided by astronomy and oceanography. First
they explored and expanded empires, later theysailed for warfare and trade.

As the trophy is presented to Anthony Hastings ofBaby Tonga, there is already talk of the team’s eye
being on the finishing line for the Raja Muda Regatta.
The 20th anniversary celebrations are slated to be
impressive and bring in even more participants.
Faces are flushed from the sun and bellies aresatiated from the good food and as I sit amongst
these old and new friends and take in the genuine

Anchors away at Pangkor Laut Resort

Sailing for pleasure only came about in the 16th-17th
century, when the Dutch presented the British royalfamily with a light and easy to navigate “Jaght”.
Yachting, then an aristocratic recreation, was bornand gradually spread from Britain to the Americas.
While still considered an activity for the affluent,
whether leisure or sport sailing, the Malaysian scene
is burgeoning and on a good day, an outing on thehigh seas can include a young professional from alarge accounting firm, a CEO from an international
conglomerate, a student, an expatriate in the
defence industry and a special effects technician
working in film production, a motley crew to say
the least. This is the spirit actively fed by the likesof the Royal Selangor Yacht Club, organiser of theMerdeka race.
Beginning with a challenging overnight race fromPort Klang to Pangkor Island, then continuing with
038

T HE Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z I NE

Pangkor Laut Resort is located on a privately owned island in theStraits of Malacca, three miles off the West Coast of Peninsular
Malaysia. This luxury resort is set amidst pristine rainforest fringed
by sandy beaches while its award-winning Spa Village is set amongst
fragrant gardens. The resort is a strategically placed stopover point
for sports sailors and luxury super-yacht owners in the region. The
Resort marina is equipped with five floating pontoons that canmoor up 20 boats depending on size, while across the way, the newly
constructed marina on Pulau Mentagor berths up to 50 more. Guests
wishing to take up sailing can take a private lesson on the Resort’s
Impian, or for a more relaxing sail, charter the 65-ft YTL Lady on a
private champagne and lobster cruise.
More on the Royal Selangor Yacht Club...
The Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC) was established in the late1960s by a group of boating and sailing enthusiasts. The club evolved
and expanded over the years to eventually be granted a warrant by
the Sultan of Selangor, who remains the club’s patron. With over1000 local and international members, the RSYC is the largest andmost active yacht club in the country and strives to promote sailingthrough international regattas such as the Raja Muda Regatta and smaller regattas such as the EverythingThat Floats Regatta. There is also the RSYC Sailing Academy for adults interested in gaining formal crewor skipper qualifications.
THE Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

039

The Greatest
Girlie Escape

Ready to go rogue ladies and escapework, the humdrum of everyday lifeand most crucially, the menfolk?
Then it's time for Tanjong Jara
Resort's newly-introduced Women’s
Getaway Programme
by ANIS RAMLIGirls, for the best vacation you’ve ever had– leave the menfolk at home. As the world responds
to the increasing trend of the all-girl-getaway, there’s
no short list of women-only escapades. From shoppingand spa to culinary adventures, women are finding thatsame-sex sojourns are blissfully liberating.
Not quite Thelma and Louise yet neither are they
designed for the women of Wisteria Lane, anall-woman holiday appeals to the female traveller
simply because on these vacations, you get to focus
on you. Whether you’re travelling solo or joining
other women on an all-girl getaway, the breadthof choice is staggering. There are packages forpampering, self-discovery, healing, adventure, andmore. Matched with sublime locales and luxurious
abodes, it’s hard to imagine ever going back to atypical, tried-and-tested vacation.
And, with the new Women's Getaway Programme at
Tanjong Jara Resort, you can be sure to experience
all facets of a female-focused retreat that lets you
shop, spa, sightsee, and take up a new skill in just
one holiday.
At the heart of thisfive-day programme at
Tanjong Jara Resort isthe art of Malay healing
and beauty discovery.
And the Resort presents
the perfect setting forthis journey. Located in
Terengganu, the east
coast state known as
the cradle of Malay
civilisation in Malaysia,
the Resort has longprided itself in bringing
together the authentic
ancient healing
traditions of the Malays.
The Spa Village Tanjong
Jara pays homage totherapies that reflect
time-honoured Malay
beauty, healing andrejuvenation traditions
sourced from one of
the world’s oldest andmost diverse tropicalrainforests.

of traditional healing through a series of bespoke
lectures, spa programmes, beauty workshops andleisure activities. Throughout their stay, guests
will have access to the spa’s Malay healing expert
and resident healer. Therapies and spa treatments,
while both pampering and relaxing, are designed
to specifically focus on women’s health and beautyneeds; encompassing the natural evolution of thefemale body as it changes with age, climate andenvironmental stresses.
Guests will delight at discovering the various
traditional healthcare therapies – using ingredientsthat comprise of local herbs, roots, flowers andspices. In beauty workshops, guests will learn
firsthand ways to prepare their own scrubs at home
and the art of drawing their own herbal baths. They
will learn how ginger, a staple in Asian cooking,can also be a health tonic and an excellent postpartum healing remedy for the abdomen. Thereis also a hands-on class on the art of traditional
Malay massage, a healing skill whose secrets werepreviously closely guarded and privy only to the
Malay families that practice it.
Traditional Malay treatments
await at Tanjong Jara Resort

The Getaway introduces
guests to the Malay arts
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

041

Serenity and natural
beauty reign at the Spa
Village Tanjong Jara

The concept ofSucimurni is prevalent at
Tanjong Jara Resort

As the ultimate women’s getaway, the five-day
retreat has everything. In between programmes,
guests enjoy the Resort’s distinctive five-star
hospitality. They also get to experience the scenic
coastal town of Dungun near where the Resort islocated. A magnet for artists, writers, spiritual
healers and nature lovers, Dungun’s back roads,
laidback lifestyle, bucolic fishing villages andall-over rustic charm makes it the perfect setting foranyone needing to rediscover their edge as well as
those seeking serenity andsolace.
Part of the programme’s leisure pursuits is a bicycle
ride to one of the villages. There is also a visit to
the local market, where apart from identifying local
herbs and spices, guests can enjoy a bit of marketing
before retreating to the Resort to partake in aculinary class. Even here, guests are able to discover
the healthy cuisine of the Malays, with its focus on
anti-oxidant herbs and medicinal properties. The
hands-on cooking class will expose guests – evenkitchen novices – to the simple art of preparing local
dishes both delicious and nutritious. Apart from thishost of activities, guests also have the opportunity
to rejuvenate the mind and spirit. Each day, begins
with a series of Suci Murni exercises that begin theirday. Known as 'senaman asak badan', the various
poses with poetic-sounding monikers, comprise of
specific postures that help with muscle firmnessand overall wellbeing.

Choose from anextensive rangeof massage andspa therapies

Tanjong Jara
Resort's gorgeous
stretch of beach

And what is a retreat without the bliss of shopping.
A tour to the surrounding villages and the citypresents ample opportunity for guests to flex their
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

Roselle Scrub Ingredientsbargaining skills. From cottage industries that churnout wonderfully crafted fashion accessories made ofdried palm fronds to glorious handwoven songket (abrocade-like fabric made of cotton or silk with silveror gold threads) at the local market, there will beplenty to keep guests busy and happy.
The only question that now remains is deciding
which of your gal pals get to go with you.

For more information on Tanjong Jara Resort's Women's
Getaway Programme, call the YTL Travel Centre
on +603-2783 1000
043

Achieving
Greener Heights

YTL Corporation’s Managing Director’s firstdaughter, Ruth Yeoh, speaks to YTL Life on themultinational environmental powerhouse and why
its green initiatives aren’t merely philanthropic
acts but urgent solutions to an imminent crisis
by Ooi Ying Nee

portraits by Johnny McGeorge

There are no airs about
YTL Group's environmental
heir-apparent, Ruth Yeoh.
The minute she walks in theroom — or rather in this case,the orchid-adorned cabana of
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur's
Spa Village — she smiles andbreaks all the many preconceived notions one mighth ave o f t h e i n f ra s t r u c t u reconglomerate's first daughter.
At first glance the credentials areincongruous with the 26-yearold's demure disposition. This
only enforces the notion that
Yeoh defies all conventions.
Although her surname was moreclosely associated with power
stations and land development
until several years ago, Yeoh isa true-blue greenie. And it is no
coincidence that the organicand sustainable architecture
graduate joined the Group four
years ago, just as it was gaining
respect as one of the forerunnersof the corporate environmental
responsibility movement.
Yeoh is at the helm of the group's
environmental division, where
she pioneered its environmental
education initiative “Climate
Change Week” and writes about
her organisation's environmental
activities through its annual,
award-winning sustainability
reports. Demonstrating how

corporation and environmentalism can grow handin-hand, Yeoh also co-edited the 2007 book on
climate change entitled Cut Carbon, Grow Profits:

Business Strategies for Managing Climate Change
and Sustainability.
Here, she discusses passionately how corporate
environmentalism should be a business convention,rather than a best practice and how and why it has
now become her lifelong commitment.
Wo u l d yo u ca l l yo u r s e l f a nenvironmentalist? I don't like to be classified as
an environmentalist, because I think everyone is one.
If you look at the recent Earth Hour for example, lookat how many millions switched off their lights. People
all over the world participated in this world-wide
phenomenon. We're all environmentalists, whether
we like it or not because it's about survival. You're notjust doing a favour for Earth, but for yourself too. A
lot of people ask me if I am an environmental activist,
but I tell them I'm more of an active environmentalist.

lot of discipline. Because it's not only about design,
it's technical. You've got to understand construction,for example. After a degree in architecture, I went
on to do my masters in business and that has helped
so much. I had interest in doing sustainable businessand I wrote a dissertation on that. These courses
complement each other very well.
W h at d r i v e s YTL' s g r e e n ag e n da?
Why is YTL promoting environmental
sustainability? When you talk about carbon
neutrality — which is my ultimate target for the group— it's cleaning up your own home first. When I firststarted working four years ago, the most logical thing
was to look at what we're doing in terms of how muchcarbon our businesses were emitting. I didn't haveto look far, because our senior engineers have been
doing it for decades now — innovating, becoming
cleaner and greener every year. Our power stationin Indonesia, for example, is very careful about not
emitting CO2 above the government limit and that
limit goes lower and lower each year because they“We’re all environmentalists,
whether we like it or not, because
it's about survival”
Personally, I think that you don’t have to make a lot ofnoise to make a point. Just do your part quietly andpeople will quickly learn through the example youset, first for yourself and for those whom you loveand care about.
You have a background in architecture
w i t h a co n c e n t r at i o n i n o r g a n i carchitecture and sustainable design.
Does that knowledge translate atwork? Oh, definitely. One of our arms is land anddevelopment and building homes for the community.
There's a lot of thought that goes into it. It's not justabout building something functional but building
something beautiful as well. I like integrating the two,and now there's the environmental arm — so you havethree things to think about. These days, homeowners— who are our stake-holders —are becoming
increasingly sophisticated. You can own a home, but
do you know what goes into your home? People will
ask if you use solar heating or organic materials likebamboo. A lot of thought goes into this. I am very
pleased that I've got this level of education to actuallyknow my materials and products, and what goes into
building these homes. Also, architecture taught me a
THE Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ INE

set a target. We like to make people realise that theyneed to be environmentally conscious for very goodreasons. Malaysia must be preserved. We're notexclusive. We are very much like the rest of the world— the Amazon for example. It's declining because of
the deforestation that is taking place. We're not an
exception. And beyond that, if I am going to raise
my own family, of course I am going to think about
the environment. I want my children to see natural
beauty — the things that I see in this world andrecognise today before it's gone tomorrow.
How does YTL strike a balance between
planet and profits? Well, first of all, I co-wrote
a book about that called Cut Carbon, Grow Profits.
It's to do with business strategies to curb climatechange. It's absolutely possible to do business theright way. How you do it, how much time and effort
you invest in it and how committed you are... it all
counts. Also, everyone has been talking about thefinancial crisis and last we checked we're losing
around US$1 to US$1.5 trillion if not more. But did you
know that natural capital, in terms of the amount ofservices that the natural environment contributes, isactually losing out on a bigger scale at about US$2045

Earth Hourcelebrations at
Starhill Gallery

because my father refuses to chop them down.
YTL-SV Carbon — the carbon credits consultancy
in which you helm — is making great strides in
helping companies go clean and green. Are yourpotential clients already green converts? Or do you
have to advocate the advantages of environmental
responsibility? Our clients understand YTL is taking
the lead on protecting the environment and they
respect that. That branding and credibility, makes
them trust in what we do. We manage to put ourhouse in order in terms of carbon neutrality. Ourclients respect that with YTL-backing, I think we canhelp them form their own credibility. But having said
that, many of our clients are very sophisticated. They
understand, for example, that in the palm oil industry,
you need to manage waste properly. For example,
what do you do with palm oil kernels? We consult andadvise them to manage the wastage properly and inturn generate carbon credits from that through theclean development mechanism. I always invite themto our Climate Change Week campaign. They are wellaware of what we're doing not just on a company
level, but also on a national level.
to US$5 trillion every year? That's a startling fact.
Scientists claim that we only have 10 years to avert
this disaster. The trouble with climate change, is thatpeople don't feel or see the impact and effects of itas much as say, war. Why I do what I do, is not only
because I love it, but because there's an urgency to

What happened at Climate Change Week thistime around? In June this year, YTL sponsored thepremiere screening of Strange Days on Planet Earth:
Oceans, an award-winning six-episode documentaryon Astro’s National Geographic Channel. Climate
Change Week is an on-going initiative by YTL to“The trouble with climate change isthat people don’t feel or see the impact
and effects of it as much as say, war”
do it. We have to think beyond our shareholders andconsider our stake-holders — our colleagues, theirfamily and the wider community. We have a definite
business case for the environment. My father is very
ethical, he's very environmentally conscious, he's a
big greenie at heart and he taught me from a young
age — how to do business the right way. He's taken
me on business trips and conservation trips. Businesscan be done responsibly, if only a lot of thought goes
into it. When he built Pangkor Laut Resort — andthis is my favourite story — only a quarter of theisland was developed. The remaining three-quarters
actually consist of rainforest that’s millions of years
old, and it remains faithfully protected. They've
built around the island and not over it. If you're at
the restaurant, trees are sticking out of the ground046

educate as well as motivate Malaysians to act on
the issue of global warming. It is a highly successful
campaign for us and has been running for three
years now.
Is it a coincidence that you joined the company
about the same age your father joined thebusiness? My father actually started way earlier
on the construction site. Even when he was 12 and13, he had to negotiate with suppliers! Those weretough times. That's why [my family members] haveso much character and strength now. They inspire
me to go further and taught me a lot about resilience
too. They've built up the company from scratch, andwhat I'm doing is just building on what they've put
in solidly.
T HE Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z INE

Do you see yourself as the face of the next
generation in YTL? I am just an individual in theworld who's trying to change not only herself but also
influence those around me without too much force.
It's true love that I do what I do [in environmental
conservation] and it has to start with the people
around you. There's no point resisting something
that's happening in the world like climate change. It'sa frightening reality.

More on YTL’s Green
Activities & Initiatives• YTL recently donated US$500,000 in support

of forest protection and coral conservation inSouth East Asia, primarily Indonesia. The
company also donated US$100,000 each to
WWF-Malaysia and Rare Conservation – twointernationally established non-governmentalorganisations dedicated to environmental
protection and wildlife conservation.

• The company won the Best Social Reportingin an Annual Report title at the ACCA
Malaysia Environmental and Social ReportingAwards 2006.
• The first Climate Change Week was organised
by YTL in 2007 to raise public awareness andeducate on the issues of global warming and theearth’s critical environmental condition.
• In a bid to promote sustainable development
and energy efficient homes, YTL masterminded
The Bird Island Green Homes competition.
Eight of the world’s top names in architectureand environmental engineering were invited todesign six eco-friendly homes on Bird Island—anexclusive piece of land at the 35-acre Sentul Park.

THE Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ INE

047

The
New
NyonyaExquisite traditional kebayas
with a contemporary twist
reflect the modern heritage auraof The Majestic Malacca
photography Christopher A.
styling Tuki Nou

hair & make-up Celine, Monica Lee Face Art Academy
modelAlex R., Talent Cafe

shot entirely on location at The majestic malacca

All Kebayas Featured with special Thanks to Margaret Khoo Choon Im
fOr Loan of Her private collection

White camisole with lace bust(worn throughout), Monica Quen
Silk sarong, Jendela KL.

Sarong with graphic
prints, Jendela KL

Light green pareo, Jendela KLMonogram Eclipse Almabag, Louis Vuitton
Silk sarong, Jendela KL

Satin pumps with black
lace, Louis Vuitton

Button-down batik
print dress, Jendela KL
Necklace, Monica Quen
Wide bracelet, Louis Vuitton

Turquoise cheongsam with dragon motifs, Monica QuenMonogram Brocade Clutch, Louis Vuitton Fabric bangles, Jendela KL

Embroidered cheongsam withsequins, Monica Quen
Assorted bangles, Jendela KL
Catherine gown, Phoebe heels andchain necklace Justin Yap

Silk pareo, Jendela KLstyle | runway

Runway Success
Be inspired by an eclectic mix offashion’s favourites Choo Ai Ling
by

The future’s bright
Bottega Veneta Women’s Resort 2010 - Maestro of understatement, Tomas Maier
amped up the usually muted Bottega Veneta palette with an unabashed injection of colour for its
Cruise 2010 collection. Bright pink, green, and turquoise cheerfully coloured the luxe collection
which struck the perfect pitch between relaxed and tailored. Immensely wearable, Maier’s
slouchy jackets, shirtdresses and shifts would not look out of place at work or on a smart holiday.
For evening, flowing goddess gowns are an effortless look. Bottega Veneta’s signature intrecciato
bag were given the rainbow treatment, one such limited edition came in striking New York taxi
yellow and black.

New Wave
Dior Men Fall 2009 - Music always seems
to play a key role when it comes to men’scollections and Kris Van Assche’s Fall 09 Dior
Homme collection paid homage to the 80s but
in an extremely tasteful way. The monochrome
palette looked like it could have come out of
Robert Smith’s (or Dave Gahan’s) wardrobe.
Blousony tops screamed Duran Duran while
oversize tees with large-lettered messages
recalled Katharine Hamnett’s originals (a stylethat was famously appropriated by Frankie Goes
to Hollywood for the “Frankie Say Relax” T-shirt).
The skinny Dior Homme silhouette only veered in
the voluminous, airy M.C. Hammer pants
whose proportions look questionable
even now.

Back to the Future

Day tripper
Gucci Women’s Resort 2010 - This year’s Gucci girl on holiday is stylish in a nononsense, almost severe palette of white, black and cobalt blue. Frida Giannini sent out avery practical collection of classic pieces which could easily become staples in any wardrobe
even if you were not off to an exotic locale. Giannini cited the Italian playground of theAmalfi coast as her inspiration although the references were more in spirit - a mosaic print
and embroidery were the only literal interpretations. Sensibility aside, this being Gucci, thecollection was still imbued with generous lashings of sexiness – hemlines revealed acres oftanned legs while swim suits recalled those beloved Bond babes.

058

Dior Fall couture 2009 - Eschewing the usual
couture spectacle of lavish locations and extravagant
sets, John Galliano’s collection was shown the way it wastraditionally presented in the 50s, within the the dove
grey salons of the Christian Dior headquarters in the
Avenue Montaigne. This lovely intimate setting was
the perfect way to appreciate a collection which
recalled the classic wasp-waisted silhouette ofDior’s New Look albeit updated in bright hues.
Galliano’s plucky punchy palette of orange, lime,
raspberry, and yellow were contrasted withthe delicate nude tones of fifties under-things
in a pragmatically nuanced collection which whispered
investment pieces rather than transitional fashion.

TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ IN E

059

060

Turning the other Chic

Gallic Gothic

Pre fall Louis Vuitton women - Classic was the word
to best sum up Louis Vuitton’s Pre-Fall collection whose
understated elegance did not have a trace of the vivid neonstreet style of the recent Stephen Sprouse tribute collection.
Inspired by a book on Paris during World War II, models inVeronica Lake waves strutted out in lovely print day dresses
and bustier-topped party looks. Accessories of wood andpapier-mâché had an almost home-made feel about themwhile beaded socks alluded to hosiery shortages of the era.
It wasn’t all nostalgic looks: sporty features like drawstringwaists and ski pants added a contemporary aspect.

Givenchy Couture 2009 - Casting off any couture stuffiness,the very young and very hip Riccardo Tisci is infusing Givenchy, anestablishment Parisian house, with energy and a unique point of view.
Drawing on Givenchy’s reputation for impeccable tailoring, Tisci added
graphic strength to the collection which he described as Gothic Ballerina.
Slim, long-line jackets - part military, part equestrian – were coupled withflouncy tutu-esque skirts for a modernized dance-skirt silhouette. For
whimsical evenings, Tisci’s now signature feathered dresses will enchantand beguile with ease.

Steppe-ing out

Survival Revival

Kenzo Women Fall 2009 - Antonio Marras’
response to the global financial crisis was an escapeto the romance of Mother Russia. Marras’ vision of
Russia was not one of oligarchs and new money
but the folky appeal of the Steppes with somerevolutionary overtones: lush gilded dresses were
contrasted with ensembles which could pass off
as rather stylish military fatigues. Sweeping, epic
and dramatic, the Kenzo lady is not shy about
embellishment and swathes herself in layerswith aplomb. Marras’ source materials of all
those “lonely dachas,” as he put it were mined
intelligently for a collection of exquisite
motifs and richness of texture.

Fendi Women Fall 2009 - For Fall, Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia
Venturini’s Fendi models stalked the runway in sober armour
which had a touch of dégradé about them. Looking at times likea severely chic Mad Max cast, beautiful details and odd textures
defined this collection. Raw threads and semi-destroyed materials
added an element of roughness to the luxurious cashmere andchiffon. Far from being grunge, the strong silhouette with a subtle
undercurrent of glamour elevated what could have gone terribly
awry unless in the hands of a maestro such as Lagerfeld. Furs, aFendi trademark, were treated to extraordinary technical feats
such as merging sable and fox, or making white gold cling to mink.

Omega TheAlpha

The world famous watch
brand, Omega, never set
out to reach the stars, but in 1962, the Omega
Speedmaster won a clandestine race thatwould take it to the moon and forever into
lunar folkloreby Sam Yen

The image is that of John F. Kennedy in his prime, wavy
haired and sharply dressed, in mid-speech at Rice University,
Texas in September 1962. In a short presidency distinguishedby timeless quotes – ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’, ‘Ask not what
your country can do for you…’ – one more was added that
Wednesday: “We choose to go the moon… not because it iseasy but because it is hard."
With those words, the 35th President of the United States ofAmerica shifted the country’s space programme into overdrive.
Having been beaten by Russia in the space race to launch thefirst satellite (Sputnik 1 in 1957) and send the first human into
space (Yuri Gagarin in 1961), the US was determined to best
its Cold War rival by reaching the moon first. On July 20 1969,
it did; the Apollo 11 mission reached the surface on the moon,allowing astronaut Neil Armstrong the opportunity to utter yet
another timeless quote.
Armstrong’s left foot touched moon ground at exactly 2.56am(GMT), a time recorded on Buzz Aldrin’s Omega Speedmaster
Professional Chronograph, the only watch to have been wornon the moon and the subject of another, lesser known spacerace. In the early 1960s, when the National Aeronautics andSpace Administration (NASA) was busy prepping the Apollo
missions, it sent two engineers incognito to Houston’s finest
watch shops to identify potential watches that could be worn inspace, bypassing the traditional but time-consuming bid-andmanufacture selection. They returned with six potentials.
The Omega Speedmaster was one of the six and subsequently,
one of only three to survive NASA’s rigorous initial testing
phase. Further testing singled out the Speedmaster as the only
watch to meet all requirements (including exposure to extreme
temperature, heat, acceleration and pressure)satisfactorily. In a discreet memo dated
March 1, 1965, the Omega Speedmasterwas named the official watch for use in all
NASA space missions.

Of course, Omega’s grand lineage of achievements does not
begin with the "moon watch". Prior to 1965, the Speedmaster was
merely a normal, consumer watch, albeit excellently designed,
selected from a collection of peers by NASA. Omega did not
set out to reach the stars when it designed the Speedmaster;
it merely attempted to create the best watch it could. Meeting
all of NASA’s stringent requirements was an unexpectedside effect.
Omega’s is a tradition that stretches back to 1848, when
watchmaker Louis Brandt set up shop in La-Chaux-de-Fonds,
a Swiss city steeped in watchmaking tradition near the borderwith France. Handed down to his sons, who led the company tofame, Brandt’s outfit introduced the 19-line Omega chronographcalibre in 1894, from which the company now derives its name,a product of its pioneering spirit.
Financial difficulties post-World War II led to the union of Omega
and Tissot, followed by mergers in the SSIH watch conglomerate
in 1930 and later, the Swatch group in 1983, but against thiscentury-long backdrop of shareholder evolution, the Omega
brand has stamped out its path in history. Its association with
NASA’s celestial achievements is not by chance but by design.
Or more specifically, its chronograph design. NASA is merely
one gem in a string of landmark Omega pearls.
More than 30 years before its NASA stamp of approval, Omega
had already stepped on the world stage when the 1932 Los
Angeles Olympics adopted Omega chronographs for event
timekeeping, which streamlined accuracy, eliminated confusionand served as the precursor to modern world records. Omega
itself, fittingly, had invented the world’s first stopwatch, in
1989. And though official Olympics timekeeping duties havebeen passed around since, Omega’s contributions to the
Olympic movement during its tenures have been nothing
less than groundbreaking.

NASA cheekily kept the pronouncement
to itself, at least initially. Omega SA, thecompany behind the Speedmaster, wasoblivious until a keen-eyed staffer spotted
the Speedmaster on the wrist of astronaut
Ed White during his Gemini 4 spacewalk
in June 1965. The cat was out of the bag.
It was a PR goldmine and Omega went on
to trumpet the achievement. That NASA’s
verdict was reached in a neutral environment
was icing on the cake and testament to theskill poured into the manufacture of Omega
watches. The Speedmaster has since entered
chronograph folklore as the ‘moon watch’ with
Omega providing a timely reminder in 2009,
running ads marking the 40th anniversary of themoon landings featuring that aforementioned 1962
image of JFK in mid-speech.
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063

In 1948, Omega’s photofinish camera was introduced at the 14th
Olympiad in London, which proved crucial in breaking sprinting
deadheats in the decades to come. Automatic swimming pool
touchpads made their debut in Mexico City 1968, eliminating
the archaic practice of stopwatch-bearing judges at pool ends,
while false start detectors have levelled the playing field for
all athletes since Los Angeles 1972. Usain Bolt’s iconic record
shattering sprints and Michael Phelps’ eight gold medal bounty
at Beijing 2008 were also all recorded on Omega.
Amelia Earhart reportedly insisted on using Omega
chronographs when she became the first woman to fly
solo across the Atlantic in 1934. In 1968, Ralph Plaisted’s
Speedmaster assisted its owner in marking the exact positionof the geographic north pole. And to come full circle, theSpeedmaster was crucially used to manually time the engine
boost that returned the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission to safety.
Omega wears these achievements proudly and is certainly
unreserved about keeping itself in the public consciousness.
As one of the first watch companies to embrace the cult of thecelebrity, Omega has a stable of luminaries bearing its watchesin glossy print ads and billboards. The double-jointed Phelps
is an Omega Ambassador, bearing its aquatic Seamaster line.
George Clooney and Nicole Kidman provide Hollywood glamour,
Sergio Garcia and Michael Schumacher shore up its sports
credentials, Zhang Ziyi and Abhishek Bachchan represent
burgeoning Asia and Omega’s long-standing relationship withJames Bond lends the brand a stoic, cool and steely gleam.
The glitz and pizzazz can often approach blinding levels,
prevalent as they are, but there is plenty of substanceto back the style. At its core, Omega’s five watch lines(Constellation, Deville, Seamaster, Specialities andSpeedmaster) are simply watches that are brilliant at
what they do: keeping time. And from there, stories andlore that are historic, impressive and trailblazing havebeen spun. Making an exceptional watch is not easy. In
fact, it is very, very hard. Omega has chosen to create thebest watches it can since 1848 and its achievements since
stand proudly on their own, to the moon and back.

065

TimelessTouch

A deep commitment to beauty and innovation
make BEDAT & C° number among the best inhaute horology
by Choo Ai Ling

While time keeping devices are infinitely mechanical andtheir ultimate goal is precision, clocks and watches measurethat most ephemeral of concepts: time. Hours, minutes,
seconds – quantifying it could be a manifestation of the humanneed to reduce the fleeting to an understandable numericalvalue. The haute horological industry has elevated this desire
to a higher plane - not only are the timepieces stunning tolook at, they boast exquisite complications measuring time
to its most exact end. Swiss watchmaker BEDAT & C° takes
those very arithmetical motifs used to measure time to convey
the essence of what the brand stands for - differentiation,
timelessness, elegance and sophistication – by naming allcollections by numbers.
Since the names of the watch collections were an integral partof this approach, all BEDAT & C° collections carry numbers to
reinforce the values of differentiation and timelessness. Each066

number corresponds to a philosophy or a specific aesthetic
appearance. Often, the names of timepieces are inconsistent
with the timepiece itself or with the brand. To avoid this,the naming principle gives the watch lines a definite formof cohesion and ultimately differentiation. These numbers
additionally create a number of other advantages in thatthey are easy to memorise, universal and pronounceable in
all languages.
Moreover, the symbolism of numbers is a powerful force like the figure eight, which is the BEDAT & C° logo. Not onlyis it the symbol of infinity which is often represented by anhourglass, this is an appropriate icon for a company devoted
to the art of timekeeping. On a more poetic note, the numbersof the collections do not follow on from each other and are
not associated with any particular chronological ordersubtly underlying the quality of timelessness. Therefore theT H E Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z IN E

N°1 collection was created well after N°3 and N°7 and it is
impossible to say whether a watch is more recent than another,not only because of their style, but also because of their name.
These values were put into place over a decade ago by Christian
Bédat who founded BEDAT & C° with his mother Simone Bédat
in 1997. Simone’s pedigree stretches back to 20 years when
she joined forces with Raymond Weil to create the Raymond
Weil brand. Her son Christian had also worked with Raymond
Weil and served in various capacities, culminating in a post as
Art Director.
When the duo established a company, their vision of watches
was one where authenticity and subtlety are a genuine
luxury. Upholding a watchmaking concept inspired by thehighly decorative Art Deco tradition while expressing aemphatically modern spirit, it is a delicate balance of the mostelaborate design delivering the purest lines. Technicalexpertise is inherent in every BEDAT & C° watch, in fact thesophistication of each piece demands it. As such, each watch
is a concentrated blend of Swiss horological mastery, a quality
known throughout the world and an integral part of the BEDAT& C° philosophy.
These values were the crux of N°3 and N°7, the company’s firstcollections at the Basel Show in 1997. In fact Ref. 304 and Ref.
314 were an immediate success and are still the best-sellingmodels to this day. Those two numbers were not accidental;
the number three was chosen because it symbolises perfection
and totality while the number seven eternal life in Ancient
Egypt, standing for a complete cycle.
After this triumphant collection, BEDAT & C° timepieces weresold not only in Switzerland but the United States as well. The
Gucci Group took notice and started the new millennium byacquiring 85% of the company and incorporated the company
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into Gucci Group Watches. BEDAT & C° is now 100% owned by
the Gucci Group. The launches of N°1 and N°8 followed suit, themore angular N°1 represents the beginning and self-affirmation
through action and matter while N°8 collection encompasses
the “round in a cushion”-shaped cases.
Although 2006 saw the departure of the founders, 2007
ushered in a celebratory year for BEDAT & C° on its 10thbirthday and new beginnings with the arrival of a CEO, William
Devine. Another milestone for the company was the launch of
the exclusive Bedat & C° Confidential 24/24 concierge service
in partnership with Quintessentially, the leader in this field. In
doing so, the Swiss watchmaker goes beyond only conceiving
exquisite models, these pieces acknowledged for their refined
designs and pure styling are now combined with a uniqueexclusive service.
2008 was an important watershed for BEDAT & C°, especiallysince the number 8 is not only the symbol of good fortune, it

is also the brand emblem. The N°2 collection was launchedthis year, standing for union, for the meeting of two connected
elements and most specifically in philosophy, for twocomplementary principles. This year marked another first,
the launch of the e-boutique make BEDAT & C° the first Swiss
luxury watch company to open its official online boutique.
This bold stride into the future ensures that these fine
timepieces are not only available in five continents, they
are available in the realm of cyberspace. One need not fretabout the quality of each watch especially since they carry
the A.O.S.C.® certificate: Appellation d’Origine Suisse Certifiée(Certified Swiss Label of Origin). This hallmark guarantees
the Swiss quality of both the skills and the components
used in each stage of its production, an uncompromising
excellence which is assured wherever you purchase yourBEDAT & C° watch.
067

In Bloom

The new Kenzo store in Starhill Gallery is an
ode to the fashion brand’s affinity with beautyand blurring of Boundaries
by Choo Ai Ling

Kenzo Takada took the fashion world by storm with his fabulous
frocks which fused East and West back in the 70s. And when his
Jungle Jap store debuted in Place des Victoires, Paris, it wasan explosion of colour and culture – the beginning of a sartorial
journey between the Oriental and Occidental. This address was
the headquarters of a distinctive style which embraced hues, artand effortlessly criss-crossed tradition and modernity.
Fast forward to 2006, Kenzo’s new artistic director, Antonio
Marras makes the leap from cloth to concrete and realises his
new vision for the revolutionary brand through a new concept forthe original boutique. This renewing breeze gently blew across068

continents to settle down in Starhill Gallery recently, bringing awhole new dimension to newly opened Kenzo store.
The Parisian store draws deeply from the heritage of the historicbuilding it is housed in and is spread over two floors wherecraftsmen and restoration experts have worked their magic
to bring Marras’ vision to life. While the Starhill store does nothave that particular advantage, it echoes what Marras began in
Paris, most notably the delicate floral base reliefs which adorn
the wall. These large imaginary flowers like the moldings ofParisian interiors represent the fusion of the sensibilities of Art
Nouveau - which revered all things botanical – and floral motifs
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z IN E

from Japanese prints, a symbol of luck in the land of the risingsun. These voluptuous corollas symbolise the coalesce of
cultures and encounters with the opposite ends of the globe –the aesthetic of Kenzo from the beginning and refined for the
21st century by Marras.
Elegantly monochromatic from the dark timber flooring
and cream walls, this simple colour scheme was deliberately
designed to allow the swarms of colour of each collection
to fully express themselves. Replicating how the clothes are
displayed in Paris, this store also features adjustable brass
hanger suspensions which can be varied the set-up of the
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ IN E

clothing to suit the day. Piles of glass boxes placed on tables
house handbags, shoes and stoles while other accessories arepresented in a large bookcase or on tray-shelves that stretch off
in perspective before customers’ eyes. It is these details whichgive away the fact that this is actually a store not a gracious
apartment although the sense of hospitality is particularly
vivid in the changing rooms which sport cushy armchairs andbenches made from random layers of mattresses covered
in a plethora of dove grey and silver fabrics. Indeed, within
the walls of this beautifully appointed boutique, Marras has
captured its spirit and encapsulates the evolution of a singularfashion house.
069

style | retail

LittlePleasures

Diminutive in size but not in craftsmanshipand enjoyment
compiled by Choo Ai Ling

Ring of Hope As part of its 125th anniversarycelebration - Italian jewellers par excellence – Bvlgari,prove that it’s not just their gems which sparkle but
their goodwill as well. Bulgari is taking part in the“Rewrite the Future” campaign of Save the Children,the largest independent international organisation
for the defence and championing of children’s rights.
The objective is to raise €10 million by the end of
2009, of which Bulgari has already donated €1
million. As part of this initiative, Bulgari has speciallycreated a silver ring featuring the Save the Children
logo engraved inside. This meaningful ornament isalso a tribute to the silversmith origins of Sotirio Bulgari, the company’s founder. The
ring is on sale in all Bulgari stores until the 31st of December 2009 throughout the world
at the price of RM1250. Bulagri, Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery; +603-2143 4669  

Happy Hour
Design pioneer Rado
delivers a timepiece ofsuperlative grace with
the Sintra Jubile matt.
An explicitly functional
watch, it stands out
through an exceptional
interplay of contrasts
conveyed through thejuxtaposition of the tension and fluidityof lines. Curved contours allowing
perfect integration with the barrelshaped case and bracelet seamlessly
abet the illusion of continuity andsuppleness on the wrist. Variations oflight are reflected by the brilliance ofthe edge-to-edge, metallised sapphire
crystal which emphasises the mattappearance of the ceramic. However
the Sintra Jubile Matt is more thatjust a decorative adornment, it is also
graphically timed to the last minute.

Rado, Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery,+603–2144 3668
070

Grand Romance For 150 years, the House of Boucheron has set thestage for passion with bold creations inspired by incandescent love. One of its
most ardent fans was the last Tsarina of Russia, Alexandra Feodorovna who
received a diadem of pearls and diamonds as an engagement token and adored
it so fiercely that it became a lifelong adornment. Drawing on this heritage,the House of Boucheron designs rings that tell a romantic story of emotions.
Glittering diamonds enhance the grace of daring and feminine shapes or echo
clever creations sculpted in gold or platinum. Precious wedding bands andsolitaries harmonise their tones and celebrate the ardent bonds that unite
fiancés in a pleasing melody of lines and colors. Boucheron, Indulge Floor, Starhill

Gallery; +603-2143 2669
Private Limited

Loves me Knot

After influencing the proud watch market
for centuries as the producer of intricate
movements, Armand Nicolet introduces alimited edition timepiece which reveals oneof the purest understated appearances thehorological world has ever seen. Following
the huge success of the L06 and L07, the
new L08 features a wonderful manual windmechnical movement called AN0711. It isderived from a 1957 caliber UT600, andwas then modified with new more evolved
technological characteristics. The L08
collection has a limited production of 500
pieces in relation to the quantity of originalcomponents from 1957 restored in thefactory. Armand Nicolet boutique, Adorn

The very masculine imageof Richard Mille showsa softer side with a longawaited addition to the ladies’
collection: the RM019 Celtic
Knot Tourbillon wristwatch.
As it name belies, a diamondstudded Celtic Knot traverses
and weaves itself over andthrough various parts of the
movement. The choice of thismystical symbol was apt since
it suggests there are neither
beginnings nor endings in life,and brought into the domainof technical haute horology,
it takes on a new relationshipwith the timelessness of timeitself. To add another layerof magic, the baseplate of
the watch has been createdof black onyx, a gemstonewhich is considered a stone ofprotection against negative
thoughts, as well being thestone of equilibrium andinspiration. Richard Mille,

Floor, Starhill Gallery; +603-2144 4328

landmark moment leading up towhat could be the most importantday of your life, only the best
will do. Van Cleef and Arpels has
accompanied fiancés, some ofthem legendary, since the weddingof Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle
Arpels in 1896 and pays homage toits Bridal collection of engagementrings, by offering new creations
with symbolic names: Romance,
Prélude, Opéra, Tête à Tête Estelle
and Promesse. These six models
set in a platinum mount, with
6 possible carat weights and 6
combinations of diamond colourand clarity offer glamorously
creative versions of the traditional
engagement ring and echo a
number of motifs characteristicof the House, including the flower,ribbon and round bead setting.

Van Cleef and Arpels, Indulge Floor,
Starhill Gallery, +603-2142 8669  

Watch this Space DeWitt adds another feather in its cap with theRepetition Minutes Tourbillon GMT Antipode as haute hologery marks anothermilestone in the advance of this Swiss watchmaker’s reputation for exceptional
achievements. Remarkable for its exceptional trio of complications - the Tourbillon,
minute repeater and GMT - animated by a single fully integrated mechanicalmovement, the Antipode timepiece presents its virtuoso functions on a two-facedcase with a sophisticated and distinctive axle-based rotation system. The resultof years of technological development, its commanding form takes on a powerful
masculine appeal and the case of the watch is sculptured in combination of polished
white gold and titanium. Dewitt, Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery, +603 - 2141 0776

Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery;+603-2142 0669
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z IN E

Mile Stones For the

TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ IN E

071

beautystyle& grooming
watches

How many times have we foundour cabinets cluttered withhalf-usedproducts
anduntouched, unopened bottles webought in the name of beauty? Perhaps
it was a purchase made on a whim, or
perhaps we found the products fallingshort of all the miracles promisedon the packaging. With thousands ofbeauty products launched every year,
it’s no wonder that finding a good
product that delivers is almost likehunting for that proverbial needle in
the haystack.

Neat Tricks Getting fabulous peepers are easy
with Kanebo Coffret D’Or eye palette. Colours pre mixand-matched for you include complementary tones(cutting down the guessing game time) formulated
in high shine pearl and micronised pearls. Sparklingcolours come to life adding depth and shine where
you want them most. Kanebo International

Salon, S21-25, Pamper Floor, Starhill Gallery,
KL: +603-2144 1218

Still, others in the know have smartened up.
Cult products so coveted they standthe test of time and resurface again
and again to prove their worthiness.
Often, these hail from heirloom recipesthat have transcended generations.

Flawless
Florals
Same alphabet,different aroma. F
for Fascinating Night
continues Salvatore
Ferragamo’s F
series collection offragrance. The newscent is a fragrance
perfect for nights
out and special
occasions. It openswith aromas ofmandarin sorbet
and pink pepper,
building a floral
heart of jasmine androse, which create afinish of patchouli,
amber and whitemusk. The fragrance
is constructed as floral-woody-chypre and it was created by
Olivier Polge of IFF. Available as 50 EDP.

Beauty Confidential

Snobbery or true beauty? For some women, second best
just doesn’t cut it as they hunt for beauty’s best working,most loved, time tested products that are more than justAnis Ramli
sweet treats
all stories by

The monks continue to make many of the same products
today, including perfumes commissioned by Catherinede Medici, like Ambra or Acqua di Colonia, body oils andfacial creams. The most popular of the products remain the
Pasta di Mandorle, or Almond Paste. Reputed to be the first
product ever made by the Dominican Monks, this cream hasamazing skin rehydration properties, perfect for any roughspots on the body, including the hands, feet and elbows.
For die hard beauty fans who long for a traditional bar soapthat holds its shape (and scent) right to the very end, only
one brand steps up: Claus Porto. That’s because each soap
is milled seven times ensuring they don’t split or crack, witha consistent fragrance that lasts three times longer thannormal soaps. The soaps are still moulded and pressed byhand just as they were when the company was foundedin 1887. Whether it’s the Banho Citron Verbena with its
distinctive citrus and woody scent (a favourite of Oprah’s)or the Lelite Sicilian orange and amber’s edgy fragrance,
Claus Porto’s bar soaps add chic and glamour to the bath.
072

Sometimes a product’s cult status has as much to do with its
origins as its history. Eau d’Italie may not have a long, storiedpast, but it has become a beauty novelty with fragrances thatevoke the romance of the Amalfi Coast. This niche perfume
line was the brainchild of Alvarez Murena and Marina Sersale,owners of the Hotel Le Sirenuse in Positano, Italy. What began
as a signature scent for the hotel soon turned into a coveted
collectible among those in the know. While there are today acollection of six unisex fragrances, the ‘original’ Eau d’Italie
created in 2004 remains its top seller, with its seductive scentof Bergamot and incense. Another, the Magnolia Romana with
its unmistakable scent of magnolias and crushed lemon leaves,is also fast gaining a following, and was created by Bertrand
Duchaufour, L’Artisan Parfumeur’s in-house nose.
Perhaps no mention of fragrance would be complete without
the inclusion of Diptyque. The French brand once referred toas ‘olfactory orgasm’ is best known for its scented candles
but has recently extended its line to include eau de toilettes,
shower gels and body creams. With scents inspired byMediterranean cities, a bottle of say, their body wash, can takeyou around Florence to Alexandria or Cordoba. What makes
the Art of Body Care range even more luscious is they containno synthetic additives – perfect for the ethical beauty stalwartsof today.
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z IN E

Traditional Touch

Photo corbis

Consider Santa Maria Novella. This centuries-old apothecary
is still being run by monks in a church in Florence just as when
it first started in 1612. And their products are justly seen to be
the very definition of Italian healing arts.

Starting with a Balinese floral footbathand foot mask peppered with jamu
spices, this session of Balinese
Reflexology ends with a 45 minutes head,neck and shoulder massage and another45 minutes of foot reflexology. The force
and pressure used in the treatment
allows the body’s toxins to be flushed out,
leaving you instantly rejuvenated. Asianel

Foot Reflexology Spa, S17, Pamper Floor,
Starhill Gallery, KL: +603-2142 1397
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073

beauty & grooming

The
Power
of
Touch

The art of massage, believed
to have originated in the East
as a way to unblock our chi,has evolved into a variety oftechniques, each with a multitudeof health benefits. At Spa Village,
you can experience a range ofthese tantalising and therapeutic
treatments
by Boey Ping Ping

photos by YTL Hotels

ENOLA’S FOUR HANDED LOMI-LOMI
ORIGINS: Traditional Hawaiian healers believed that mental
tension and spiritual disharmony triggered by blocked energy
within the body was what made people ill. To restore thehealth of their people, the healers created the Lomi-Lomi
massage which caresses the body using strong hula-likemovements to disperse energy blockages. Enola’s Four Handed
Lomi-Lomi was created specially for Spa Village by their
Hawaiian trainer who was tasked with learning this traditional
form of healing.
SPA STYLE: Two therapists, four hands. Enjoy the perfectsynchronisation of two therapists working hand-in-hand as
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ INE

they “dance” across the entire body, stroking it in melodic
rhythm. Palms, thumbs, knuckles and forearms moveharmoniously in long, broad massage strokes to knead yourtroubles and pains away.
REMEDY: Don’t be fooled by this specially choreographedrhythmic massage designed to release toxins and enhance
the immune system. As blood circulation improves and thelymphatic system is stimulated, nutrients get transported tothe muscles and you’ll find yourself recovering from injuries
faster. The massage has emotional benefits too. It releases you
from fear, anxiety and any negative thoughts.
075

HOT STONESPA STYLE: Smooth, river rocks are heated to a comfortabletemperature and swept all over the body in flowing strokes
following Swedish massage techniques to promote deep
relaxation. As the hot stones lightly stroke the body, mere
seconds at a time, their warmth is instantly transferred to themuscles to melt away all tension and stress. Placed on strategic
076

BALINESE
ORIGINS: Indian, Chinese and European influences form thefoundation of Balinese tradition. As such, Balinese massage
combines references to many different cultures. At the Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali, this traditional massage has
been adapted and inspired by knowledge passed down from a
traditional healer from the Tembok village.

energy points on the body, the rocks infuse the skin withnurturing warmth to stimulate blood circulation.
REMEDY: If you’re suffering from lower back pain, the heatemanating from the smooth, warm stones will alleviate yourdiscomfort immediately. As your tense muscles start to loosen,
you’ll feel less anxious and be swept over by a deep feelingof relaxation. Despite its seemingly temporary effects, thismassage has long been renowned to have deep-seatedbenefits that increase the body’s immunity against illnesses
and diseases.
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z INE

Photo corbis

ORIGINS: Throughout the ages, various cultures have usedstones such as river rocks and lava stones in therapeutic
treatments because they are excellent at retaining heat to warm
the body, relax the muscles and soothe the soul.

SPA STYLE: Tired, overworked bodies are instantly
rejuvenated by this invigorating massage which varies fromrolling motions to long strokes and acupressure points.
Fingers, palms, knuckles and fists are put to full use to relieve
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ INE

tense muscles and tight, congested areas of the body. Even thehands and feet are not neglected as firm pressure is used on
the points in their reflex zones to spark the nerve endings andincrease blood flow.
REMEDY: Not only will your body be rejuvenated by thisenergising massage but even your face will glow from theincrease in blood circulation. Be prepared to be restored bothmentally and physically after this invigorating treatment. In
no time at all, you’ll be rid of stress and feel in tune with yourmind, body and spirit.
077

MALAYORIGINS: The art of traditional Malay massage has been
passed on from generation to generation and is a prevalent
form of treatment widely used in the Malay community.
Performed minus the use of chemicals or drugs, thistraditional massage makes use of herbal concoctions andoils to rid people of illness and discomfort in the mostnatural, safe and effective way.
SPA STYLE: Warm oils concocted from local ingredientssuch as turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, onion and citronella
helps the therapist’s hands glide smoothly over the bodyas he uses slow, kneading strokes to pacify overworked
muscles. The oils seem to trigger a healing process as gentle,
yet firm pressure is applied to various points of the body toactivate the body’s nerve endings and stimulate blood flow.
REMEDY: Aches in the joints and muscles are relieved bythis deep tissue massage which focuses on important veins
and arteries to reduce blockages and improve the flow oflymph fluid. As the medicated herbal oil helps to dispel windand reduce stiffness in the muscles and joints, the body
begins to experience a sense of peace.

TUI-NA AN MO
ORIGINS: Tui-na massage goes beyond relaxing tense, achingmuscles. One of the major differences between Chinese massage
and other techniques of massage is the emphasis on specificacupressure points and flow of the subtle channels that influence
the organs on a deeper level to treat ailments and infections.
SPA STYLE: Designed to redirect the flow of chi in the body andopen up blocked meridians, this traditional massage uses eight
fundamental techniques in Chinese massage - 'tui' (pushing),'na' (grasping), 'an' (pressing), 'mo' (rubbing), 'gun' (rolling),'qian' (pulling), 'da' (beating) and 'dou' (shaking). The massage isvigorous as the therapist uses his hands, arms and elbows to
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ INE

stimulate the acupressure points and treat the soft tissues. The
main technique involves pushing with the palms and pinchingwith the thumbs to release excess wind and cold from the body.
REMEDY: This ancient Chinese system of massage is very
popular among men, golfers and those who suffer from lower
back pain and inflexible joints. By removing blockages andrestoring a harmonised flow of energy within the body, chi isallowed to travel freely through the meridians. Those sufferingfrom respiratory and digestive problems will also benefit greatly
from this massage which helps to cure the common cold and easethe digestive tract.
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technology

A Round of
App Lauds

Apple’s Apps have opened up the mobile computing world
into new realms - weird, wonderful, practical andeverything else in between
by Matt Armitage

music and video, handle the Internet, email and instant messaging
and make video calls and send multimedia messages. They’re notquite the wrist computers of science fiction fantasy as yet but
they’re not far off.

which makes them relatively easy and cheap for developers –professional and amateur – to build programmes for. As a result,
there are now more than 75,000 iPhone Apps, most retailing forunder USD10.

Where there have been limitations it’s been with the software– generally, no matter how smart the phone, you were saddledwith whatever software they came with. That changed a little
with Symbian, Palm and WinPhone devices where third-party
developers sold programmes and games that generally cost as
much as software for a full-size PC but generally the mobile world
has been a closed shop when it came to add-ons.

But it’s really all about what they can do. Apps range
from the weird and wonderful – like virtual light sabers – touseful productivity software. And when you add in thelocation based capabilities of the latest model, the 3Gs with its
inbuilt GPS and compass, you have turn-based maps in the palmof your hand. Even Hitchcock could not have imagined that all
this would have possible some day.

But the iPhone has changed all that. A lot has been said about
Apple’s miraculous all-purpose gadget – some of it true andsome of it hyperbole – but what is true is that coupled with thecompany’s iTunes software and its online Apps store, Apple has
opened up the mobile computing realm.

Has it been a success? Well, with so many apps and such low
prices most developers haven’t been able to give up the day job
but Apple is certainly not unhappy. And there is, of course, thatvery lucrative idea of ‘potential’ to count on.

Without going into too much technicality, iPhone applications arebasically Web-widgets based on the AJAX computing platform,

And, as the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,as RIM’s recently launched App World for its Blackberry devices
and Nokia’s Ovi apps store for its Symbian devices show.

YTL Life’s Top 5 iPhone Apps

ThingsThings is a very simple andeasy to use task manager
that has been speeding up
our desktop since its launchlate last year. Whether
you’re a devotee of theGetting Things Donesystem or not, the iPhone
version of this software isa breeze for jotting downtasks, simple notes andthoughts and syncing themto your computer lateron. http://culturedcode.com

080

Attempt to stage the play today, after years of mobile phoneubiquity, and it’s quite likely that a young audience simply
wouldn’t understand. You’d have to add a car chase and someterrorists to make it even mildly plausible.
The thing is, a mere 20 years ago, a mobile phone weighed two
kilos and had little in common with the lightweight strip of metaland plastic nestling in your pocket as you read this. Back thenmobiles made calls. Today, they take print quality photos, play
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGAZ I NE

photo corbis

When a shiny new gadget lands on your desk, thelast thing you think is that it might have rendered a piece ofart obsolete. But that’s what the humble cell phone has done.
The Hitchock movie Dial M for Murder (from a play by Frederick
Knott) relies on the concept that a woman is lured to her death by
the ringing phone in her living room. Set in 1950s Britain, it wasinconceivable that anyone would have telephone extensions indifferent rooms, let alone free roaming units that lets you answer
calls in the car or at the supermarket.

EvernoteThings may be great forT H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

organising your thoughts
but Evernote excels atstoring info from all overthe place. You can clip Web
pages, photos, take voicenotes, write your own notes,
make lists, in fact prettymuch anything you canthink of. Best of all yourinfo is backed up online andcan be synced directly toyour computer so that yourinformation is accessible
pretty much anywhere.
www.evernote.com

TomTomLong the world leader insat-nav, TomTom havefinally gotten around tobringing turn-by-turn footand car navigation to yourhandset with this iPhone
app. It does all the usual

sat-nav stuff of getting
you from A to B, but mostimportantly it does so in aneasy and uncluttered waythat won’t have you reachingfor the road map out of
programming frustration.
http://iphone.tomtom.com

Tweetie
You may not have joined theTwitter revolution as yet,but if you have then Tweetie
is the easiest way to handle
your micro-blogs on the
iPhone. You can browse andpost tweets, upload picturesand juggle multiple accounts.

And with the iPhone’s
GPS-integration you can let
your followers know where
you are, and if you’re free forcoffee. www.atebits.com

TapTap Revenge
The iPhone supports all
kinds of graphics intensive
games but our favourite
is still the resolutely lo-fi
Guitar Hero inspired
TapTap Revenge. Dance
your fingers across the screen
and help to tap out the riffs
to tracks from Lady Gaga,
Coldplay and Nine Inch
Nails. http://tapulous.com
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There’s No Hair on this Samson Pocket
cams like the Flip Mino have been offering a one size fits all
solution for your video needs for a while now. What they lack infeatures and definition they make up for in portability, stability(they typically record onto SD cards) and ease of use. Whilethey’ve become a favourite with YouTubers, lack of attention tosound quality sometimes lets them down. Samson’s Q3 changes
all that. A specialist in sound and audio products, the company
has built a video recorder around one of its stereo microphones.
The result is CD-quality sound coupled with 640 x 480 video
resolution, ideal for recording presentations, seminars, or yourkids’ concerts. www.samsontech.com

Beamz Me Up We’ve always loved things that don’t have any real purpose but exist anyway. And that seems to bewhat Beams is. Apparently it’s educational but we think that’s just a cover so that kids-in-dads-clothing can bring one home
without fear. Rig it up to your computer with the supplied software and wave your hands through the laser beams to create
music and play any one of more than 100 instruments. It could be a Theremin for the digital age or just a way to make thosesnooping neighbours think you’re mad. http://thebeamz.com

Vivre la Constellation!
Gee, it’s a Canon There’s really no beating Leica’s M8
for high class, top quality snaps but when you’re lounging by
the pool or playing with the kids in the park you’ll probably belooking for a point and shoot camera that will take a bit of roughand tumble without breaking the bank. When it comes to image
quality, there’s really none better than Canon’s latest PowerShot
G11. Bucking the trend for ever more pixels, the G11 has actually
dropped back to 10MP, concentrating on image quality and lowlight performance. This model also features a flip out screen,
and it has scene modes for every occasion but it’s in manualmode that you’ll get the most out of this unassuming pocket
rocket. www.canon.com
082

Sometimes a phone is for more than making
calls. And so it is with Vertu’s range of limited
edition bejewelled and hand-tooled handsets.
The Constellation Vivre range has been designed
by Malaysian actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh withinspired flourishes from the flora and fauna ofher tropical homeland. These exclusive handengraved mobiles come in finishes like Vivre
Pink and Vivre Fuschia, but there is also a blackleather model finished in rose gold for fans of her
more rugged performances in action movies like
Tomorrow Nver Dies and Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon. www.vertu.com
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGAZ I NE

Luggage with a Supercar Finish There’s nothing technical about luggage you might say. Not so, when it’sas precision engineered as the latest collection from Porsche Design Studio. Because, let’s face it, there’s nothing worse thanbuying yourself the latest supercar and finding that your luggage won’t fit. No such problems with Porsche’s latest AluFrameluggage trolleys that have been engineered with the new Porsche Panamera in mind, and exactly match the car’s choice of paintfinishes. www.porsche-design.com
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

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design & architecture

Small Wonders
When it comes to a comfortable home, big is notnecessarily better
byAbdul Aziz Draim

photographs courtesy ofSommarnöjen

All a-blow French designer Aïssa Logerot believes in simplicity and ingenuity in his projects. His new design theLampad’air light is proof of this ideology. A product borne from a collaboration with fellow designer Matthew Marino,
Lampad’air carries a dubiously straightforward form with an equally deceptive function. It provides luminance, yes, but
unlike ordinary lamps, this is a light with variable volume. An electric air pump allows the light to inflate, causing its
multiple triangular facets to dissociate, consequently influencing the intensity of the light produced. The lamp’s uniquefunction is controlled by a programme fitted into the pump to allow an autonomous fluctuation of its volume. Blown
away yet? www.aissalogerot.com

When modern architecture gets increasingly dictatedby the celebration of avant-garde monoliths and exaggerated
futurism, we tend to overlook the fundamentals of residential
living. Comfort is still defined by an abundant of space, which issadly a commodity that only the truly affluent can enjoy.
But does space really equate luxury? A home, at its core, is four
walls and one roof. When done right, that basic formula for ahome can offer a wealth of comfort to its owner, regardless ofrestricted floor area.
Swedish company Sommarnöjen proves this point. Recognising
the demand from a public desperate for homes that are not only
architecturally pleasing but also easy to obtain, the company
has developed a series of homes that are small in size but big on
quality and comfort.
And how small is small? Try 15 square meters. “It’s a size that does
not need building permit in Sweden and Norway,” says Tomas
Tjajkovski, co-founder of Sommarnöjen. “Though all models arethat size, we can also customise the homes to accommodate
other formats, such as 12, 20, 25, 30 or 30 square meters.”
The ideal solution for the modest homeowner or for those looking
to purchase a second home, the Sommarnöjen project benefits
from the recruitment of three prominent contemporary Swedisharchitects to develop 8 different home designs. The firms involved
are Tham & Videgård Hansson (voted best Swedish architects
0842008); Thomas Sandell, Sandellsandberg (famous industrial
and furniture designer) and Kjellander+Sjöberg (urban planners
and public building architects).
Naturally, designs find inspiration in Scandinavian architecture
itself, expressing clean lines shaped by light and natural
materials to produce new age modernity to ensure a greater
definition of comfort. Tomas adds, “All our houses are built
primarily of Scandinavian wood – the frames, floors, walls, andin some models even the roofs.”
Although the models come in various interior styles - Classic,
Modern and Exclusive - these compact homes can becustomised to meet formats, functions, equipment, as well as
exterior and interior styles to your personal preference. “It’s aplatform that can be adapted for various functions. We custombuild kitchens, bathrooms, saunas and private offices,” explains
Tomas. Each Sommarnöjen unit is furnished and fitted withproducts by high quality Swedish producers – beds from Dux,
carpets from Kasthall, furniture from G.A.D, lamps from Flux,
tiles from Höganäs, white goods from Electrolux and saunas
from Tylö.
Beautifully built with premium grade fittings, the Sommarnöjen
house brings home one truth: extra space is not a luxury.
Great design is.

www.sommarnojen.se
T H E Y T L LU XURY M AGA ZINE

Perfect Proportions Though your
The Art of the Matter This is the closest
bathrooms will ever get to art: the PuraVida bathroom suite,
a poetic lifestyle solution comprising of tap fittings, ceramics,
bathtubs and furniture pieces interwoven to eloquently
speak a language of beauty and continuity. The result of acollaboration between leading bathroom suppliers Duravit
and Phoenix Design (with the aid of Hansgrohe), PuraVida
is a collection designed to reject the notion of trends infavour of embracing a modern take on luxury. Expressing
emotional strength through elegant, sinuous lines emphasisedby a futuristic nuance, this is not just another bathroom
experience; it’s an emotional response. www.duravit.com
TH E Y TL LU XURY M AG AZINE

very own personal theatre hall will provide the bestexperience to enjoy DVD nights, those without extra
space to spare in their home can invest in the new
Cinema 21:9 by Philips (for a mere RM19,999). As
the world’s very first cinema proportion LCD TV, theCinema 21:9 boasts an impressive 56” Full-HD screen,powered by superb picture quality courtesy of Philips’
revolutionary 2009 Perfect Pixel HD processing engine(500 million pixels per second processing power and
2,250 trillion vivid colours) with immersive three-sided
Ambilight Spectra technology. What that equates to isa cinematic experience that lets you watch movies how
directors intend you to. www.philips.com

085

diningare plump and opaque, perfectly cooked, their sweetness
somehow intensified by the silky avocado puree that they
sit upon. A sauce of sea urchin roe lends the dish a smoky,savoury character, while a scattering of wild rocket leaves
rounds off the delicious creation.
We cleanse our palates with Kaffir Lime and Sour Plum
granita, and its refreshing sour-sweetness sets the stage
for my main course, the Cinnamon and Honey Glazed
Scottish Salmon.
The thick, boneless slab of fish is cooked to perfection witha nicely seared crust and pink centre. I cannot seem to getenough of the black Perigord truffle risotto that cushions
the fillet. It is delectable, with the risotto done al dente. Eachmouthful is perfumed with dark slivers of truffle.
My companion has chosen the Parmigiano-Reggiano andRosemary Crusted Eye of Short Loin as her main course. Just
looking at the rosy fleshed, golden-crusted meat makes themouth water and when I sample a piece of it I am entranced
by its lusciousness. Napped with an exotic madras curryemulsion and some lightly stewed fruit, this unconventional
pairing works well. The delicious ring of creamy Kipler potato
mash that surrounds the meat could possibly be the best
mashed potatoes that either of us have ever had.
Chef Wai strikes a delicate and commendable balance in his
play with sweet and savoury within each course, showcasing
his prowess and attention to detail. In fact, Chef Wai has
received numerous accolades and is one of the most senior
and talented chefs in the kitchens of YTL Hotels as he has
certainly proven today.

Christmas
at the Cove

The exclusive preview of the Christmas menu ofFisherman’s Cove on Pangkor Laut Resort has us singing
an early ‘Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la” Belle Ng
Esmond Gohby

The sun is just setting, casting an amber glow over thecalm water as we arrive at Fisherman’s Cove and take ourseats on the wooden terrace over the sea. We are greetedwith kir royales while the restaurant’s Executive Chef, Chef
Wai, explains that the Christmas menu was designed withcelebration, comfort and creativity in mind.
Choice ingredients are paired with Christmas staples, andtraditional recipes have been consulted for inspiration. Thispassionate description serves as a positive prelude to thecoming meal.
We begin with the amuse bouche, a succulent sliver of seared
duck breast set atop a tart, lightly spiced apple compote. The
meat is tender and juicy, its faint gaminess nicely counteredby the compote.
086

photographs by

The Confit of Tom Turkey Breast with Caramelised Chestnuts
arrives next. My dining companion is sceptical, wondering if
turkey breast might turn out dry but the confit method does
the trick and the meat is succulent and moist. Each mouthfuloffers slight hints of fennel and truffle oil, nicely counteredby the accompanying orange and pear reduction. Crisp young
spears of asparagus complete the plate.
By this point the sun has gone down and the restaurant has
filled with sun-kissed diners. The acoustic trio has begun toserenade us and the chefs in the open kitchen move together
in a deft, graceful dance as they produce plate after steaming
plate that travel from kitchen to diner.
Two of those plates carry our next course, the Pan-Seared
Diver Scallops and Slow Cooked Avocado. The scallops
T HE Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z I NE

Bringing the meal to a close, his version of the classic French
dessert, the Ile Flottante is gorgeous. Dusted with dark
chocolate shavings, the poached meringue is flecked withvanilla bean and is balanced upon an assortment of ripecherries, strawberries and blueberries. This ‘island’ is thensurrounded with a pool of praline sauce. Each mouthful of themeringue is delicate and fluffy, redolent of vanilla bean, andwith the accompanying fruit, it becomes an exquisite ending.
As we linger over espresso macchiatos, taking in the ambienceof the restaurant, the soft sea breeze and the stars flickeringin the inky night sky, we decide that Fisherman’s Covewould be the perfect place to celebrate the festive season
with loved ones. More than a reason to get away from thebustle of city, it offers an intimate setting to reconnect over adelightful meal.

Fisherman’s Cove, Pangkor Laut Resort is offering a range of
special Christmas and New Year menus. For more information,
contact the YTL Travel Centre at +603-2783 1000. Note: Chef
Wai used to helm the celebrated Fisherman’s Cove at Feast Village,
Starhill Gallery, but has since returned to the flagship outlet atthe exclusive one-island Pangkor Laut Resort.
THE Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

087

dining

The Chef
who Came andNever Left

Besides gorgeous nature, stunning seas, sterling service andscrumptious spa treatments, the other thing that is a constantat Pangkor Laut Resort is Uncle Lim, the oldest staff member on
the island and the chopper-wielding chef behind the celebrated
Uncle Lim’s Restaurant Belle Ng
Esmond Gohbyphotographs by

There’s something about Uncle Lim’s
Kitchen that compels one to relax. The
open-air restaurant boasts a panoramicview of the Straits of Malacca, redlanterns dancing gently in the breeze
and huge rocks jutting out of thefloor in the restaurant. Despite thismagnificent setting, there is a warmand hospitable air which makes you feelthat you have entered someone’s home.
Those boulders have to be seen to bebelieved and it illustrates just how the
five-star Pangkor Laut Resort (which therestaurant calls home) is indeed “built
in harmony with the environment”. Sit
down in this soothing ambience and it
almost feels as if you are assured of agood Chinese meal ahead.
The man at the helm of his eponymous
restaurant is none other than Uncle Lim.
Immediately engaging and exuberantin his passion to feed, Uncle Lim has
been at Pangkor Laut Resort since theResort’s inception and is easily theoldest and most respected member ofstaff on the island.

Uncle Lim’s Kitchen, which remains a much-loved institution on
Pangkor Laut Resort till this day. As a matter of fact, even theman himself is now somewhat of an institution on the island.
What is it that you love about working at
Pangkor Laut that has kept you here for solong? I’ve been here for about 24 years and I’m in no hurry toleave. I really like the atmosphere that we work in, the proximity
to nature and being so close to Pangkor Island where I can go
and peruse the markets and speak to the local fishermen for
the freshest produce each day. It is this peaceful existence thatinspires me.
How did your interest in food develop? I began
working in the food and beverage industry at a very young
age when I found I had a natural affinity for food. I would
go to a restaurant and discover a delicious dish, then gohome and recreate it. Lots of trial and error, and instinctive
experimentation eventually led to my portfolio of recipes,
many of which I still use at Uncle Lim’s Kitchen. Every one of
our sauces is made from scratch from my secret recipes.

How has Pangkor Laut Resort changed in theyears that you’ve been with the company? Oh
it has grown in leaps and bounds! When I first got here there
was nothing, it started as a small resort of less than 15 rooms
and then it was expanded, rooms, restaurants, facilities addedon, refurbishments done. Next thing I knew we were winningworld-class awards and celebrities were visiting. I can only see
it growing from strength to strength at this point.
What is your ideal meal? Simple dishes I think, when
prepared well, with the freshest ingredients are hard to beat.
My parents moved to Malaya from the Chinese island of Hainan,and I‘ve visited Hainan many times to rediscover my roots.
I’ve found that I love the food there. Seafood is dominant anddishes such as Wenchang chicken with stir-fried vegetables
and rice are my favourites, uncomplicated yet delicious. Maybe
one day, if I retire from here, I will move to Hainan and open
another restaurant.

Tell me about the food thatyou serve at your restaurant,
what makes it special? We are wellknown for our Hock Chew and Nyonya
specialities but we try and accommodate
requests outside this sphere as well.
For many years we had no menu atUncle Lim’s Kitchen, but we decided to
finally have one printed to give guests
an indication, but not limitation, of what
we serve. I still like to go out and talkto each guest then create something
personalised though. I think when you
learn someone’s preferences thenconcoct a dish from the best produce,

Seafood Sensation
The Chinese autumn is apparently
quite a sight to behold: clear blue skies
and beautifully bracing weather. But
any self-respecting gourmand would
also know that it is the best season to
enjoy fresh water hairy crab, a prized
delicacy in Chinese cuisine. During
the autumn season, it is thought thatthe crabs are at their most succulent.

Born in Penang in 1935, Lim Fang Tat
began working in the food and beverageindustry in his teens, managing bars
and restaurants for the British during
the occupation. He later moved into
hospitality, owning and running his own
hotel, and it was then that his expertise
was sought in the conception of the
Resort on Pangkor Laut in the 1980s.

Traditionally available during the ninth
to eleventh month of the Chinese
Lunar calendar, the best way to enjoy
these specialty crabs in KL is at theaward-winning Shanghai restaurant
at JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
Led by Chef Wong Wing Yeuk, his

As the Resort began to expand he
expressed an interest in developing
T HE Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z I NE

that makes the experience even more special, so then eachdish is a signature dish!

THE Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

culinary team have created a wide
variety of ways to enjoy hairy crabs
whipped up Shanghai style of course.
Chef Wong is a Shanghai native andthis restaurant is the only place in KL
city where you can enjoy authentic andexquisite Shanghainese cuisine in a
hotel ambience.

Shanghai is located on the First Floor of
the JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur
and is open noon-2.30pm and 6.30pm10.30pm (Mon-Sat); from 10.30am-2.30pm (Sun and public holidays).
The Shanghai Hairy Crab Experienceends Nov 2009. Call +603-2719 8288
for reservations.
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art

Art Attack!

Sculptures and installation art take centrestage thisOctober 2009 at the annual Starhill Gallery Arts Festival

Line Series by Philip Wong

Phillip Wong’s ‘Human Mind’

Centrifugal Coaxal

Meet ‘Boy’. And say hello to “Rooster” and “Swans”.
Stare agape at “The Brain” or marvel at it all at you sit sipping
coffee at the “Table”. Actually, you may not have your coffee
at this particular “Table”, which is actually one of the manystunning exhibits that will be on display this October at part of
the annual Starhill Gallery Arts Festival.
In 2009, one of the KL’s premier luxury shopping destinations
has chosen the focus on sculptures and installation art by
Malaysian artists as the focus of the festival, which is acollaboration with the National Art Gallery. Themed “Passions”,
the festival with feature works by Eng Tay (“Boy”), Azahari
Khalip (“Heart Series”), Phillip Wong (“The Brain”) and Yusof
Ghani (“Swans” and “Table”), who for the second year runningwill curate the month-long exhibition.
The works mentioned above will be displayed all around theinside of Starhill Gallery but new to this year’s event will beoutdoor exhibitions by artists Shafee Ramli (“Wood Steps”) and
Nur Hafiza Ali (“Leaf Series”), an effort by Starhill to further
its cause of bringing the art experience to all Malayians. The
Starhill Gallery Arts Festival is fast becoming a mainstay on the
Malaysian art calendar.
090

One of the major highlights for this year with the public display
and viewing of the famous “Michelangelo, La Dotta Mano” (The
Learned Hand), very likely the most beautiful book in the world
but definitely the most expensive. The book was presented as a
gift to Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh CBE by the Fondazione MarilenaFerrari, Italy in appreciation of his worldwide contribution as atrue patron of the arts.
With a cover that features an exact replica of Michelangelo’s“Madonna of the Steps” carved from marble of the same
Polvaccio quarries which Michelangelo himself used in his
work, the handmade folios are created according to centuriesold tradition, while the book’s measurements comply with
the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Ratio that is usedthroughout the ages in architecture, sculpture and painting torepresent the universal law of harmony. And for the first time,members of the public will get a chance to have a close up
look at each of these exquisite folios as the festival will hostscheduled viewing sessions where the book will be flipped pageby page by an attending, errr, page-flipper (every hour of each
day starting at 10.30am with the last session at 7.30pm).
The final element will take place at Starhill Gallery’s resident
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

home of galleries and art shops, Muse Floor, which forms
the nucleus of inspiration and imagination for the festival.
Amongst the participating outlets are Art Seni, showcasing
Phillip Wong’s “Line Series”, bronze works by Chin Wan Kee
and wood hangings by Azahari Khalip. The Gallery @ Star Hill
chips in with “Biring I and II” by Yusof Ghani, “Swirl” by Abdul
Multhalib Musa, “Heron & Fish” by Suhaimi Fadzir, “Sea Series”
by Mohd Asli plus creations of National Art Laureate Dato’ Syed
Ahmad Jamal, Raja Shariman, Mat Anuar, Ramlan Abdullah andAnthony Lau. Heng Artland presents a repertoire of paintings
by French artists entitled “Romance & Beauty 2” featuring
Alain Bonnefoit, Jean-Marie Zacchi, Maryvonne Le Diest,
Claude Fauchere, Bernard Koawalczuk, Frederic Menguy and
Zhu Qingtang while EDI. A Art will bring Koi fish interpretations
to life through oil and mixed media on canvas.
Audience participation if further encouraged with interactive
workshops and talks. “Sculpture” by Yusof Ghani will offer
insight into the art of sculpting while Phillip Wong tackles the
subject matter of art and its audience head-on with “How Art
Relates to People”. Those interested in bronze and wood as
art mediums should not miss the talks by Chin Wan Kee abd
Azahari Khalip respectively. Finally, Fiona Kwok will attempt
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

to instill apprecation ofart as created by Nature
with“ConservationofCoral Reefs in Malaysian
Waters” which will run in
conjunction with House of
Suzie Wong’s “Treasures of theDeep” exhibition, featuring coral
jewellery by Datin Nazlee Samad,
underwater phtotography by
Rizal Adnan and porcelain of
junk wrecks by Karen Gohamong others.

The Starhill Gallery Arts
Festival 2009, “Passions”, acelebration of sculptures andinstallation art will be heldat Starhill Gallery, Jalan
Bukit Bintang, KL, from 1-31
October, 2009. For enquiries,
call the Starhill Concierge at+603-2782 3855.

Boy by Eng Tay

091

ytl Hotels | The Estates at
Pangkor Lautytl Hotels | Pangkor Laut Resort

Voted the world’s best resort, multiple
award-winning Pangkor Laut Resort
promises the privileged visitor
an experience of exclusivity andelegance. Its home is the private
island of Pangkor Laut, blessedwith pristine beaches bathed in thewaters of the Straits of Malacca.
The accommodation is luxuriously
appointed and the resort boasts
unparalleled hospitality and attention
to detail. On the gastronomic front,
guests can enjoy a wide range of
cuisine, whether dining at the new
Feast Village at Fisherman’s Coveor by the sea. Add the tropicalsun, luxurious surroundings andthe services of the Resort’s worldrenowned Spa Village – which
combines the healing arts of India,
China and Malaysia – and it is
no wonder that this is the choice
holiday destination for internationalcelebrities and the most discerningof holidaymakers. Tel: +603-2783
1000; www.pangkorlautresort.com

Intimate Experiences
Enjoy leisurely sunset excursions thatprovide the perfect setting for a romantic
evening. Cruise around the island on
board the Resort’s large traditional‘tongkang’-style teakwood boat which
will anchor at Emerald Bay where you
will witness one of the world’s mostbeautiful sunsets. From there the Captainwill sail off to a quiet cove where you’ll
be served a delicious four-course dinner
at a table set only for you.

In a small secluded cove near
Pangkor Laut Resort rest the eight
wonders that make up The Estates.
Each of these individually crafted
enclaves is reminiscent of the
traditional South East Asian way
of living of days gone by, when an‘estate’ was made up of a number of
special purpose buildings scatteredamidst gardens of astounding beauty.
Comprising either two, three orfour bedrooms, each Estate offersa private infinity-edge pool, as well
as discreet living, dining, bathing
and sleeping pavilions in various
adaptations of Malay architectural
traditions. There is also a private
vehicle and driver assigned to each
Estate should guests decide to leave
the seclusion of their villa to dine in
one of the Resort’s restaurants or togo for a treatment at the Spa Village.
The Estates is truly the perfect luxury
hideaway. Tel: +603-2783 1000;
www.pangkorlautresort.com/estates/

Emerald Bay
A centrepiece of the Resort is themagnificent Emerald Bay, consideredby many independent international
travel consultants as one of the mostbeautiful beaches in the world. Herethe beach is kept as pristine andnatural as possible. This intimate
bay remains as it has been foreons, providing the perfect place
for swimming, sunbathing or simply
spending time together.

Rainforest Revelations
There are three jungle treks through therainforest that are accompanied by ourexperienced resident naturalist. The
walks are free of charge and offer afascinating insight into the spectacularvirgin rainforest that is estimated to beover two million years old. Some of theinteresting wildlife you may spot on theisland includes crab-eating macaquemonkeys, tropical monitor lizards andyellow pied hornbills.

Privileged Tranquillity
Reflecting a South East Asian aesthetic,
each villa at the Estates offers complete
privacy to its privileged guests and iscrafted to provide refined eleganceand luxurious comfort. Polished tropical
hardwood floors are accented by
textured fabrics that add warmth to theelegant bedrooms with their podium
beds; bathrooms and vanity areas are
wonderfully spacious, and crafted withfine attention to detail.

Integrated into the Environment
Each and every individual Estate is aunique experience - tailored to blend
comfortably and stylishly into its naturalenvironment. In fact, the entire Resort
was built with integration in mind,
so that it not only blends in with theenvironment, but actually becomespart of it. A variety of wildlife roam
the area so don’t be surprised to findyourself dining with a peacock or
waking up to the call of monkeys.

Sterling Service
Every Estate is assigned an EstateManager, at least two dedicatedattendants and a Chef, all of whom
will aid in unobtrusively addressing
and coordinating every aspect of each
guest’s tenancy. During meal times,
guests can give specific instructions, orbe as adventurous as they want, as all
our chefs’ culinary skills span a wide
range of both local Asian specialties
and Western cuisine.

ytl Hotels | Cameron
Highlands Resort

ytl Hotels | Tanjong Jara Resort

Set amidst tea plantations and rolling
hills, this tranquil boutique hideaway
promises visitors all the splendour,romance and nostalgia of Cameron
Highlands’ grand colonial heritage.
Cameron Highlands is Malaysia’s
largest hill resort and is the only placein this tropical country where you canfind tea plantations and strawberries,
while enjoying a temperate climate.
Largely unchanged since its colonial
heyday, this ‘little corner of Englandin Asia’ is still dotted with Tudorstyle cottages and is a place wherescones and afternoon tea will notseem out of place. The Resort itself
is representative of all this: withtall French doors, timber-beamed
ceilings, plantation shutters and evena fireplace adding old-world charmto the surroundings. It also houses
a Spa Village as well as an 18hole golf course and 56 luxuriously
appointed rooms and suites which
weave in the wondrous colours andtextures of Jim Thompson’s famed
Asian silks. Tel: +603-2783 1000;
www.cameronhighlandsresort.com

The Spa Village
Today, Cameron Highlands is stillhome to many tea plantations, being
Malaysia’s largest tea-producing
region. The treatments at the Cameron
Highlands Spa Village feature healing
therapies based on produce from thesurrounding jungles and ancient tea
rituals. This authentic blending of culture
and product, along with the tranquil
ambience of the lush highlands, makes it
a unique and therapeutic healing retreat.

An evocation of the elegance andgrandeur of 17th century Malay
palaces, Tanjong Jara Resort is the
only luxury resort that sits along
Malaysia’s beautiful East Coast
beaches. Built on a 17-hectaresite that blends in with its natural
surroundings, the 99-room Resort isan embodiment of the gentle Malay
arts of service and hospitality. Witha philosophy based on the conceptof ‘Sucimurni’ (which emphasises
purity of spirit, health and wellbeing), Tanjong Jara is the perfectplace to escape and rejuvenate. The
Resort offers four different luxurious
accommodation options, eachcommanding stunning views of theSouth China Sea and appointed
in a fashion fit for a Malay king.
Tanjong Jara is surrounded bysleepy fishing villages, shadedby coconut palms, alongside ameandering river teeming withwildlife – providing guests with anauthentic taste of the region’s spirit
and culture. Tel: +603-2783 1000;
www.tanjongjararesort.com

High on Golf
The Resort sits alongside the only
18-hole golf course in the area. The
well-manicured course comprises
luxuriant green fairways with welldeveloped trees, fine sand bunkers,
tricky greens and forgiving rough. At
5,000 feet above sea level, it has been
carved with precision out of the foliage
and forests of the area. Tree-covered
mountains also provide a spectacular
backdrop to this stunning course.

Taking Tea
The Resort takes its tea-time very
seriously and the Jim Thompson Tea
Room is a cosy retreat and the perfect
spot for this time-honoured English
tradition. Savour finger sandwiches,
light-as-air pastries and home baked
scones as well as fresh Cameronstrawberries. For a local twist, try thescones with exotic local fruit like banana
or mango. Complementing this spread isa wide selection of quality Cameron teas.

The World’s Most Innovative Spa
The Spa Village Tanjong Jara wasrecently awarded ‘The World’s Most
Innovative Spa’ by UK’s Tatler Spa
Awards, a testament to the uniquenature of the Malay healing culture
found only on the East Coast of
Malaysia. Ancient Malay healing
traditions are honoured through thesignature Asam Roselle, ‘Panglima’ –Warrior Massage and ‘Syurga Tujuh’– Seven Steps to Heaven programmes.

Diving off a secluded Island
Just off the Resort, approximately
45 minutes by speedboat is Tenggol
Island which is part of the fabulous
Terengganu Marine Park. Famed for
its untouched coral gardens and rare
species of marine life, it has over 20
dive spots for both the beginner andexperienced diver. The Resort alsooffers its guests the chance to gain their
PADI Open Water Diver licence whileon holiday.

The Heart of Malay Culture
Culture is an integral part of the
Tanjong Jara Resort experience, andthis manifests itself in a myriad ofways.Guests can enjoy cooking lessons
which will introduce them to the various
culinary arts of Malaysia. Or indulge inactivities like playing ‘congkak’, learning
the Malay martial arts ‘silat’ or go on
handicraft tours to witness traditional‘kris’ blacksmiths, batik painters, ‘songket’
weavers and shipmakers at work.

ytl Hotels | Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali

ytl Hotels | The Majestic Malacca

The key to every YTL Luxury Spa
Resort is the marriage of luxurious
accommodation and sterling service
with beauty, tranquility and a senseof sanctuary. The Spa Village
Resort Tembok, Bali is all that andmore. Inspired by the Spa Village
Pangkor Laut, this newest jewel in
YTL Hotel’s crown embraces thesame healing ethos of celebrating
local culture, honouring the ancienthealing traditions of the region andinfusing each visit with the essenceof the surrounding location. Set in alandscape of great natural beauty,
this 31-room luxury spa resort offers
guests the best of Balinese massage,
wellness and spirituality therapies
which seek to restore not just the
body and mind, but also to replenish
the spirit through a range of carefullydesigned programmes. The seclusionof the Resort also offers guests theopportunity to get away from thestresses of the world and rejuvenate
within a place tailor-made for thatvery purpose. Tel: +603-2783 1000;
www.tembokbali.com

Following the Path
Each guest is invited to select a Discovery
Path based on an analysis of their needs– choosing from Balance, Creativity or
Vigour – with each offering a combined
range of tailored treatments and activities
designed to restore equilibrium to bodies
and spirits. Those who wish to improvetheir personal skills in the art of Balinese
massage can join the Spa Village
Academy and undergo private training
with a group of skilled therapists.

The Majestic Malacca is the first
luxury hotel and spa in the historic cityof Malacca. Faithfully restored andlovingly refurbished by YTL Hotels, the54-room Majestic Malacca resonateswith historical significance even while
it has been thoroughly updated tocater to the needs of today’s upmarket
traveller. Architecture, décor anddining all reflect the legacy of thisancient city’s history, and take guests
on a luxurious journey into the past.
The Majestic Malacca also houses
the newest Spa Village which offers
luxury-spa seekers such delights as thewarm-energy treatment of Malaccan
palm sugar and honey scrub and a hotnutmeg and rice rolling body massage.
An icon of Malacca’s past has now
become something to be desired in thepresent. Tel: +603-2783 1000;
www.majesticmalacca.com

Meditate upon the Stars
Unique to Tembok Bali is the Starlight
Gazing experience, where youcan enjoy the hypnotic pleasureof stargazing while floating on
the Resort’s infinity pool. You do
this listening to Ultra Meditation
music, designed to induce the brain
into a synchronized theta stateof consciousness, found to aid in
expanding and enhancing memory
and learning capabilities.

Cuisine Designed to Rejuvenate
Seafood is drawn daily from thelocal ocean, fruit purchased fromlocal farmers, and only the freshestof ingredients are used in every dish.
With captivating views of the Bali Sea,
set just above the slate-hued beach,the open air Wantilan restaurant offers
ever-changing flavourful regional andinternational cuisine. And organic
products, as available, are the first
choice ingredients.

The Peranakan Spa
The award-winning Spa Village opens
its sixth wellness centre in The Majestic
Malacca. Adhering to the brand’s
philosophy of honouring the healing
traditions of the local region, the Spa
Village Malacca is the world’s only
spa to base its therapies on the healing
heritage of the Baba-Nyonya culture
and offers treatments which uses a local
specialty gula melaka, also known aspalm sugar.

Dining Sensations
Malaysia is a country that is world
renowned for the diversity and depthof its culinary options. And nowherein the country is this more evident thanthe multicultural mix that is Malacca –the unique merging of cultures in thishistoric city has resulted in a novel
marriage of cuisines, both Chineseand Malay, known as Nyonya food
– which is truly a feast for both thesenses and the palette.

A Haven of History
In this small town that was once
occupied by the world’s major colonial
powers of the Portuguese, Dutch andEnglish, The Majestic Malacca rests
peacefully on the banks of the Malacca
River. Reflections of this historic trading
port resonate within the intimacy andluxury of this beautiful hotel, designed toprovide experiences that are anchoredin the past, but woven together withevery modern convenience.

ytl Hotels | Spa Village

ytl Hotels | Eastern & Oriental
Express

YTL’s multiple award-winning Spa
Village brand has developed aninternational reputation within
the luxury spa market and grownfrom strength to strength over theyears. Besides the original Spa
Village Pangkor Laut, there are
now five other Spa Villages – Spa
Village Kuala Lumpur, Spa Village
Tanjong Jara, Spa Village Cameron
Highlands, Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali and the Spa Village
Malacca. What’s unique about all
the Spa Villages is that each draws
inspiration from the healing culturesof its particular region and blends
traditional therapeutic remedies witha modern methodology. Whether in
Pangkor Laut, Kuala Lumpur or Bali,
the Spa Village is a sophisticatedand rejuvenating experience, notjust because of the quality of its
services but simply because the Spa
Village is more than just a place: it’sa philosophy. Tel: +603-2783 1000;
www.spavillage.com

Spa Village
Pangkor LautPaying homage to thethree major culturesof Malaysia, ancient
Chinese, Malay andIndian treatments
drawing from thecountry’s abundance of
natural resources havegenerated international
acclaim and accolades.

Spa Village
CameronHighlands
A unique haven forrelaxation wheretea is the foundationof the experience.
Located in the cool
upper reaches of the
Malaysian Highlands
amidst dense jungles
and rolling tea hills.

The Eastern and Oriental Express isn’t
just a train service. It’s an expressionof the heart. A confirmation of
the indomitable spirit of humanendeavour. A priceless pilgrimage– into the heart and soul of South
East Asia. Where nostalgia reigns
and timelessness begins. On what isregarded perhaps as the most exotic
train journey in the world, the routeand its stops have been designed togive passengers maximum comfort
and convenience, with the entire
journey crafted to provide theluxurious experience of a lifetime.
At its maximum length, the Eastern& Oriental Express is a quarter ofa mile long and has 22 carriages.
Inside it is a haven of comfort, styleand luxury. Tel: +65-6392 3500;
www.orient-express.com

Spa Village
Tanjong Jara
The Spa Village
Tanjong Jara is a
sanctuary of wellbeing anchored in
the ancient Malay
way of life. It featuresunique restorative
treatments handed
down by authentic
Malay healers.

Spa Village
Kuala Lumpur
With treatments
anchored in thecultural diversity andrich healing heritageof the region, KL’s
most stylish urban
retreat combines
ancient practices witha host of the mostblissful spa therapies.

Spa Village
Malacca
The newest addition to
the Spa Village family,
it is also the only spa
in the world to baseits treatments on the
Peranakan culture,
which is native to
Malacca and is a crossbetween Malay andChinese traditions.

The Perfect Vantage Point
The air-conditioned carriages are perfectvantage points from which to tour theregion. The Restaurant Cars, Saloon Car
and Bar Car are located in the centreof the train while the Observation Car
with its open deck area is located at thevery end. It is an ideal spot for watching
South-East Asia go by as you trundle
along the train’s magnificent route,passing through several Malaysian statesand South Thailand.

Stately Accommodation
The interior walls of the compartments
are panelled with cherry wood andelm burr, with decorative marquetry
friezes and intricate design inlays.
The delicate embroidery work on
the pelmets was done in Malaysia,
and the bespoke carpets hand-tuftedin Thailand. While guests dine atnight, the steward transforms thecompartment from a living room to a
magical bedroom.

The Finest Cuisine
Chefs on board the E&O Express areinternationally renowned for their ability
to create a tantalising variety of Easternand European dishes, using the finest
fresh seasonal ingredients. The service
is also top of the line and equals theworld’s finest restaurants. Each morning,a breakfast of freshly baked croissants,
coffee or tea, juice and fruit is delivered
to your compartment to be enjoyed inluxurious privacy.

ytl Hotels | Villa Tassana

ytl Hotels | Bray House

Set amidst a tropical forest on
a craggy cliff overlooking thebeautiful emerald green of theAndaman Sea is this lesser known
gem on the YTL Hotels portfolio of
luxury holiday destinations. Locatedjust 15 minutes away from Phuket
International Airport on the island’squiet, undeveloped North Western
coastline, Villa Tassana offers theprivileged visitor a vacation ofmodern sophiscation married witha hearty dose of Thai hospitality.
Spread out over a generous 2,800
square metres, the Villa features 3
large bedrooms with ensuite bathand dressing areas, a 15 metresswimming pool, separate living
and dining pavilions, a kitchenand even a maid’s room. For thoselooking to ‘get away from it all’,Villa Tassana is ideal for a spot of
splendid isolation, or for spending
quality time with family and friends,
all while enjoying nature in all its
glory, and warm, homely 5-star
service. Tel: +603-2783 1000

Thai-Style
The Villa is staffed by one
dedicated attendant and a chef who
between them will address all yourhousekeeping needs, unobtrusively
coordinate all aspects of yourtenancy and best of all, prepare
fantastic homestyle Thai dishes for all
your meals and even upon special
requests. The food is top-notch
homecooking so be prepared to fallin love with Thai cuisine.

The latest jewel in YTL Hotels’ stellar
collection of properties began life
as a manor house stable in the late
17th century. Today, it has been
lovingly restored and transformed
into an elegant, high-design
boutique homestay. Featuring aneclectic mix of interiors spanning
the Art Deco period of the early
1900s in the lounge right up to its
sophisticated contemporary kitchen,
Bray House is an experience of the
English gentry lifestyle with bespoke
service and an intimate atmosphere.
Designer furniture, vintage
accessories and vivid splashes ofcolour create an atmosphere thatmarries the modern and the classic.
Each of the three bedrooms has its
own theme: a lullaby of white, forexample, or a symphony of Tuscany
red in another. The House also has acourtyard and water feature createdfrom a natural spring found in thegarden. Tel: +44 1628 771171;
email: info@braycottages.com

The Rarest Luxury
The most precious aspect of the Villa
Tassana experience is the intimate
privacy it affords. Perched above
a secluded cove, enveloped by thesight and sounds of nature, awayfrom the madding crowd and with
only your own party for company, it
truly encompasses the contemporary
essence behind the romantic notionof ‘splendid isolation’. A rare luxury
indeed, if not the rarest.

Island Activities
Naithon Beach, Andaman White
Beach and Hin Kaw Beach are a mere
five minutes drive away. Guests canalso enjoy the first-class spa and sports
facilities located at the neighbouring
Trisara Hotel. There are three fantastic
golf courses nearby, including theexclusive Blue Canyon, and also a
range of luxury motor yachts available
to explore Phuket’s many bays, islands
and dive locations.

Ye Olde England
Located in the idyllic village of Bray,near Windsor, experience the heartand soul of old England with its
twee period houses, traditional pubs
complete with beamed ceilings andfireplaces and a parish church that
dates back to 1293. The county ofBerkshire, one of the oldest in England,is also blessed with magnificent
buildings and picturesque woodlands
scenery and riverscapes.

Culinary Excellence
Humble Bray is considered one of theculinary centres of the world housing
many famous restaurants. The mostinternationally renowned are The Fat
Duck owned by Heston Blumenthaland Michel Roux’s Waterside Inn,
which each boasts three Michelin
stars. No wonder then that Bray isalso home to numerous ultra-desirable
residences of many well-known
British celebrities.

Sterling Service
All housekeeping needs will be
addressed during your stay but theservices of a butler and private chef
can be accommodated upon request.
The House’s Concierge service include
aiding with restaurant reservations andarranging excursions to nearby Windsor
for a private tour of the famous Eton
College, Henley-on-Thames, river cruises,
golf, horse-riding and other English
country pursuits.

ytl Hotels |JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur

ytl Hotels |The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur

The JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur
was designed with the businesstraveller in mind. Located in thecity’s business district, this five-stardeluxe hotel is the ultimate venue
for meetings and functions. Facilities
include 48 flexible meeting room
options (including a grand ballroom)
within the property, the adjoining
Starhill Conference Centre andthe Carlton Conference Centre at
The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton,
Kuala Lumpur, all of which areconnected via link-bridge. There isalso a Business Centre providing
a full range of business services.
Rooms feature ample workspace,a plush high-back executive chair,broadband connection and otherstandard communication services(two-line speaker phone, fax modem,
voicemail). Tel: +603-2715 9000;
www.marriott.com

Based on the philosophy that
great service should never merely
be reactive and compliant but
anticipatory and spontaneous,
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is
Malaysia’s only 5-star luxury boutique
hotel offering a full personal butler
service. Its location in the heart ofthe city’s prestigious Golden Triangle
district makes for easy access to thetrendy Bukit Bintang area: Starhill
Gallery, one of the city’s premier
shopping centres, is linked to thehotel via an enclosed sky bridge.
With 365 elegantly appointed
guestrooms (including 110 suites and1 penthouse), 25 meeting rooms,
three exceptional restaurants and anaward-winning ‘tropical’ Spa Village,
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
is one of the city’s finest businesshotels where combining businessand pleasure is as effortless as themasterly service it provides. Tel:
+603-2142 8000; www.ritzcarlton.com

Starhill Gallery
Today’s truly outstanding cities blend architecture and design,
art and fashion, music and culture with a state of mind. And
Starhill Gallery, integrated with the hotel, is an effortlessly
elegant and cosmopolitan environment that reflects theessence and spirit of this city. Delivering “A Gallery of Rich
Experiences”, seven luxurious floors offer exclusivity crafted
for those who seek experiences out of the ordinary. Here,the world’s premier retailers present a palette of uniquepersonalised shopping experiences, making it easy to combine
business and pleasure at the JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

Feast Village
On the lowest level of Starhill Gallery, guests can enjoy aunique dining experience at the Feast Village, where 12
restaurants are brought together to create a multi-ethnic
culinary experience like no other in the world. Design draws
from nature here; walls are asymmetrical and serve not toseparate, but rather provide peaceful enclaves where people
feel at rest. Rice paper from Japan combines with slate andikat from Indonesia, granite from China, silk from Thailand,
and timber from Myanmar to create an essence of Asia. The
Feast Village is truly one-of-a-kind.

The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
An entire all-suite wing makes up the second tower of The
Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur. Sumptuous two and three bedroom
suites designed and decorated to the finest international
standards offer guests a unique standard of accommodation.
Each suite includes a dining room and lounge area as well
as a gourmet-style kitchen where guests can self-cater or use
the private catering services provided by Starhill Gallery’s
Feast Village. Guests may choose to have the Executive Chef
prepare a private dining experience – and every suite comeswith its own private butler. It’s a home away from home.

The Carlton Conference Centre
A 30,000 square foot, 25 meeting room, three-level facility
connected to the hotel at levels 1 and 2. This classicallydesigned, yet state-of-the-art facility allows The Ritz-Carlton,
Kuala Lumpur to host events from 10 to 400 guests. The
Conference Centre also connects via enclosed sky bridge tothe upscale Starhill Gallery, a KL city landmark featuring someof the world’s most exclusive brands and dining experiences.
Guests can also choose to hold functions in the Member’sLounge or at the adjacent Pool Deck, which is perfect for
unwinding after an intense day’s meeting.

viva la diva

The Tamingof Moses

Our resident Lady observes the 10 Commandments ofa young Cuban stallion Lady Cristal Champers
byThe summer holidays were gloriously divine in my
9-bedroom villa in Barbados along one of the finest beaches
on the island. It is rumoured to be a stone’s throw from Simon
Cowell’s pad but aristocrats do not mingle with showbiz. It’s
just vulgar and common, darlings, all that new money. Indeed
some of the owners of the villas in that millionaire’s enclave
are lottery winners with all that brass but no class. It has reallylowered the tone of the neighbourhood with orange-looking
ladies in their fake tans and mega bling jewellery. They drink
crass cocktails with mini-umbrellas and fruits on sticks anddown champagne in wine glasses. Philistines! But my dearfriend Estelle who is permanently marinated in champagne andvodka, was letting the side down by openly sunbathing topless.
Although now married to an Arab billionaire, she hails from aworking class background and old habits die hard I’m afraid.
Barbados was followed by a luxury cruise on Estelle’s fabulous
yacht in the Mediterranean and Lady Pru, newly divorced, isparading her latest young arm candy Moses on our annual
summer frolic. Poor boy is completely overwhelmed by all
this glitz and glamour. Moses is blessed with the dashing looks
of Adonis but the social manners of a goatherd. Lady Pru is
determined to transform him from streetwise to the manorborn and she has hired a team of etiquette gurus to school
him in the ways of the lords. Plucked out of obscurity by amodelling agency a year ago from the streets of Havana
among the hoi polloi, he was propelled into the dizzy worldof high fashion but the hoity-toity world of the aristocrats
and high society is totally alien to him. It is culture shockof the highest order.

do). Completely sozzled out of his brain he then tried to kissthe head housekeeper Miss Danvers and forced her to do thesalsa. A prim and proper spinster of strict up-bringing and who
has served aristocrats all her working life, Miss Danvers is theembodiment of good breeding and immaculate behaviour. To
be man-handled by a hot young Cuban with close body contact
in risqué salsa moves did not amuse her... at least outwardly...
but I think she secretly enjoyed it as she certainly took her timein extracting herself from the boy.
But the final straw for Lady Pru was when a Russian oligarch
came to purchase one of her horses and mistook Moses forLady Pru’s son and insisted on match-making him with his own
daughter, much to Lady Pru’s consternation. She has now hotfooted to Los Angeles to have a facelift/nip/tuck with the top
plastic surgeon in Hollywood to rejuvenate her looks and has
issued Moses with her own ‘ten commandments’ to transform
him from a lad to a lord.

When Moses was introduced to the country pursuit ofclay pigeon shooting, he instead managed to bring down
two of Lady Pru’s prized white doves, much to her horror.
Salmon fishing, the sport of the noble, is not a sport for theimpatient and with hot Latin blood coursing through his veins,
he preferred to spear the fish as he would have done in his
native land. His fellow gentleman anglers nearly choked on
the whisky from their hip flasks at this savagery.

104

Illustration EDWARD MAK

Fine wine, gourmet food and table manners are derigueur in blue-blood society and Moses was being
trained by the finest sommelier and chef from
Lady Pru’s estate. Unfortunately, at the wine
tasting, Moses gulped down every glass hesampled instead of spitting it out (as you
THE YT L LU XU RY MAGA Z I NE