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Haute Tropics

Welcome summer at
Tanjong Jara Resort with theseason’s hottest fashion

The Melting Pot

Discover the unique andcomplex Nyonya cuisine at The
Majestic Malacca

Sun & Sensibility

Cool down withluscious after-sun
therapies at Spa Villagecontents

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34It’s Time for Tea

In recent years, tea has been
taking the world by storm as it
has been elevated to gourmet
status in the kitchen, in bars andeven in the spa.

26-50

FEATURES
26 Welcome to the

Deep Blue

Greet the summer season with aspectacular dive treat at Tanjong Jara
Resort’s best-kept secret Pulau Tenggol
where an underwater adventure awaits.

28 Call of the Wild
Among the highlights of any stay at theexclusive Pangkor Laut Resort are thenature walks which take guests through a
two million-year old virgin rainforest. The
Resort’s resident naturalist Uncle Yip leads
the way.
002

42 The Melting Pot
Nyonya cuisine, a unique blend of
Chinese and Malay cooking, finds ahome in historical Malacca. YTL Life
delves into the history and complexityof one of Malaysia’s most enduring
culinary legacies.

50 A ‘Pick-me-up’in ParadiseThe ‘Vigour’ Discovery Path at Spa
Village Resort Tembok Bali is a bespoke
experience crafted to put some pepback into your life.

cover

Photography Christopher A. @ Talent Cafe
Styling Aziz Draim
Hair & Makeup Taisu
Shot on location at Tanjong Jara Resort,
Terengganu, Malaysia
Model wears textured copper dress with
empire waist line and strappy leather platforms
Bottega Veneta

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86

56
56-88

76 It’s About Time

56 Haute Tropics

86 Time for a Classic

STYLE

Welcome summer and the season’s
fabulous fashion at the world-class,
Malay palace-inspired Tanjong
Jara Resort.

70 In Bloom
As temperatures rise and layers are
shed, this season’s Spring-Summer
collections show a diversity of fashion
fantasies despite (or because of) thelooming global recession.

74 C’est Cheap,

C’est Chic

Who says you need to splurge to lookstylish? With the sombre economic
mood, designers and even celebrities
are paving the way to cheap chic andcalling for ‘recessionistas’ of the world
to unite.

004

Watches which are as stunning to behold
as they are wonders of engineering.

Invest in something that keeps getting
better with the passing of time.
Maurice Lacroix, newly opened in
Starhill Gallery, is a classic brand thatwithstands fashion trends.

82 A Dosha Goodness
The Sundari treatments at Spa Village
take you to karmic haven.

84 Sun and Sensibility
When the summer sun gets too much,seek refuge in the world of Spa Village
where a host of after-sun therapies willsoothe your sun-kissed body.

88 Five Alive!
The truly engaging Sensory Exploration
spa treatment utilises all the senses tolift the spirits and soothe the mind.

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contents

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REGULARS
08 Glory Box
Editor’s Note
10
The Buzz
12
100 YTL Hotels
112 Viva La Diva!

90

90-98

LIFESTYLE
90 Technology
With the exponential technologicaladvancement of mobile phones
these days, the world is truly now
in our hands; plus a Ferrari-Vertu
collaboration, Apple updates the
MacBook Pro, effortless bicycling,a pen that does so much morethan write and pursue your dreamsof flying.

94 The Grand Soundof Steinway

One the world’s most expensive soundsystems arrives in KL. YTL Life finds
out what the buzz is all about.

96 Design &Architecture
Design firm Crea International sheds
new light on how modern-day banks
should look and feel; Zaha Hadid
does it again, stunning architecture
in Sweden and Jamie Hayon does
whimsical for Lladro.

98 Dining
Meet the man who oils the kitchen
wheels of one of KL’s most exciting
fine dining restaurants Shook!, with its
signature four open kitchens concept,
excellent contemporary cusine and new
surprises in the bag. Fubu, anyone?

96006

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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
	graphic designer
chief photographer
senior photographer

ng geok mei
penny chewleon bin yee
alvin liew

Sales
Sales Manager Chee Eng Saan
Account Managers JoJo Wong, Joyce Lee
Production
	Production Manager airdyham mohd
traffic executive azahari hj. hussain
Contributors
Anis Ramli, Aziz Abdul Draim, Boey Ping Ping, Choo Ai Ling, Chris A.,
Helen Oon, Kelvin Oon, LH Ng, Magdalene Tan, Matt Armitage,
Melisa Ann Sellvadurai, Taisu, Tan Lee Kuen
PUBLISHED BY
YTL Hotels
11th Floor, Yeoh Tiong Lay Plaza, 55, Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
PRODUCED BY
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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 or illustrations contained inthis publication. Editorial enquiries and enquiries concerning advertising and circulation should be addressed to Blu Inc Media Sdn Bhd. YTL Corporation and Blu Inc Media Sdn Bhd accept no
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editor’s note010

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the buzz | ytl news

A Blizzard of Oz

Australia comes to KL in April as klpac pays homage to the Land
Down Under with a series of arts and cultural events EUGENE NG
byOne Big HAPA Family The Majestic Malacca, The Ritz-Carlton,
Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai restaurant at JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur
made it treble joy for YTL Hotels at the recently concluded Hospitality
Asia Platinum Awards (HAPA) 2008-2010 - Regional Series. After only
a year in operation, the presitigious classic hotel The Majestic Malacca
scooped the “Best Signature Hotel”, a fitting tribute to the efforts madein preserving and transforming this 90-year-old colonial mansion into
an exquisite luxury 54-room heritage hotel. The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala
Lumpur was awarded “Hotel of the Year”, a reaffirmation of the hotel’scommitment to its flawless and personalised full butler service. The hotel
was also a finalist in four other categories. The award-winning Shanghai
restaurant at the JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur provided the final topping by
being named “Most Exquisite Palate Experience (Chinese Cuisine)”. For
nine years now, the restaurant has established itself as the choice place togo for Shanghainese cuisine in KL. The inaugural Hospitality Asia Platinum
Awards 2008–2010, Regional Series was held at the JW Marriott Hotel
Kuala Lumpur and was organised by World Asia Publishing to recognisethe ‘Best in South East Asia’ in the hospitality industry. The Awards saw a
total of 139 nominees from the region.
Toy Story Last Christmas
brought unexpected cheer to
81 children from three local
orphanages when JW Marriott
Hotel Kuala Lumpur revived an
old Marriott tradition. Keepingwith the idea of the ‘Spirit toServe’, the hotel launched
the campaign ‘Toys for Tots’from December 2 to 31, 2008,a month-long event where a
Christmas tree was placed at
the hotel lobby adorned withphotos of the orphans and theirrespective Christmas gift wishes.
Members of the public could
then decide to dedicate a gift toa specific child. The participating
homes were House of Joy,
Rumah Charis and The Pure Life
Society. All the children were
between the ages of 5 and 12.
012

Arts, Australia, April. These three ‘A’ words will come together
as Kuala Lumpur’s premier arts venue Kuala Lumpur
Performing Arts Centre (klpac) dedicates an entire monthcelebrating the arts and culture of one country.
‘australia month @ klpac’ is the brainchild of Joe Hasham,
the Artistic Director of klpac, an Aussie native settled
in Malaysia for years and years and a doyen of the local
theatre scene. The event will be presented by klpac and
The Australian High Commission and will be a cross-cultural
extravaganza showcasing the breadth, originality andvibrancy of Australian arts.

Four Times the Charm
The already immense success story of
Spa Village in the domestic luxury spa
industry reached another milestonewhen it swept the recent ‘Malaysia Spa& Wellness Awards 2008’, clinching four
top honours. Spa Village won for ‘Best
Spa Group’ while the jewel of its crown
Spa Village Pangkor Laut celebrated
being named ‘Best Destination Spa’.
Spa Village Malacca also got into theaction with its first award in the ‘Best
Signature Treatment’ category for its‘Shiok Shiok Sejuk Spa Experience’.
Finally, Spa Village Cameron Highlands’
signature treatment ‘Jungle Secrets ofAnti-Aging’ won its second award of theyear, winning ‘Best Spa Experience’ here
after recently scooping ‘Best Signature
Experience’ at the AsiaSpa Crystal
Awards. This treatment is inspired by
the indigenous Semai tribe, a perfectillustration of how the Spa Village brandas a whole stays true to its commitment
to practise the healing traditions of eachindividual location.

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Among the festival highlights will be the workshop that kicks
it all off, focusing on theatre and dance and helmed by shortplay guru Alex Broun and prolific dancer-choreographer
Kay Armstrong. Those interested in the classics should
not miss ‘From the Page and onto the Floor’, a 3-weeklong Shakespearean workshop conducted by Jeff Kevin,an established Australian stage performer/director. This
Shakespeare boot camp will culminate in a public showcase
performed by the participants at the end of the month.
Collaborative efforts including the premiere of the dance ‘Rasa
Unmasked’, which brings together the talents of local dance
doyen Ramli Ibrahim of Sutra Dance Theatre, Anandavalli of
Lingalayam Dance Company, Australia, and ethnomusicologist/
composer Alex Dea. Hasham gets into the directorial hot seatas he works on a stage adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s shortstory The Diary of a Madman.

forces with local choir The
Young KL Singers and several
didgeridoo players to perform
Aussie favourites like Waltzing
Matilda. Hasham will thencelebrate his homeland witha recital of famous Australian
poetry. None of which, we aresure, will contain the phrase‘fair dinkum’.

Kay Armstrong

klpac, Sentul Park, Jalan
Strachan (Off Jalan Ipoh), KL,+603-4047 9000; www.klpac.org and www.australia.org.my
Programme for‘australia month @ klpac’
Date

Item

Venue

3 – 5 April

Short+Sweet 2009 (workshop)

Studio6 – 26 April

From the Page and onto the
Floor (workshop & showcase)- conducted by Jeff KevinStudio &Pentas 2

7 – 12 April

Rasa Unmasked (dance)

Pentas 1

9 – 12 April

The Diary of a Madman (play)- directed by Joe Hasham,starring Will Gluth with
Nicole Ann Thomas

Pentas 2

16 – 19 April

klpac Sinfonietta…in the styleof Down Under (concert)

Pentas 1

The klpac Sinfonietta kicks off its own 2009 season by joining

Let’s Feast Again! Epicureans and arts lovers take note. The Midsummer Nights Feast will be taking place once again. Into
its second year, the annual gourmet festival is all set for an even more remarkable edition this time round. Held at Starhill Gallery,gourmet cuisine and the arts coalese at the festival as celebrity chefs whip up award-winning creations served up with live music,
dance and theatre as side dishes. Look out for thematic gala nights and celebrity soirées too. Midsummer Nights Feast, July 3 to 12,

2009, at Starhill Gallery, Bukit Bintang, KL; call +603-2782 3855.
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the buzz | events

Christmas
in Cameron’S

Ready,
Teddy, Go!

Located in a place which in so many ways still symbolises andcelebrates our grand colonial heritage, the Cameron Highlands
Resort has an annual tradition marking the start of the Christmas
season with its Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. This year, theevent received a boost when it was graced by shoemaker to thestars, Dato’ Jimmy Choo OBE, the officiating guest of honour.
Hosted by the President of YTL Hotels Dato’ Mark Yeoh, guests were
the first to sample the Resort’s Christmas menu at a special dinnerpresentation after the lighting ceremony. The Verses choir also
injected some festive spirit to the proceedings with a performanceof favourite Christmas carols. The next day, guests enjoyed the cool
air and picturesque bucolic scenery of the Highlands with a roundof golf, rediscovering nature with the Resort’s resident naturalist or
visiting the numerous vegetables, flowers and fruit farms pepperedaround the area, providing a memorable festive weekend for all.

Dato' Jimmy Choo

Christmas last year took a new and unique twist for
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur as teddy bear mania hit thisaward-winning luxury boutique hotel during its inaugurationof a new Christmas tradition for the hotel. The tantalisingly
titled ‘Teddy Bear Tea’ that took place on December 20 saw
parents and their children spend a fun-filled day doing andeating teddy bear things. For starters, The Lobby Lounge
was decked, not in boughs of holly, but with teddy bears
galore. Kids participated in activities such as the Teddy
Bear Workshop, Christmas-tale readings with Santa Clausand cake decoration with the hotel’s Pastry Chef and they
chomped on Teddy’s Gummy Bears and Lollies, Peanut
Butter and Jelly Sandwich and Teddy Smiles Cream Cookies.
The adults, meanwhile, lunched on more elegant and lesscutesy delights such as Winter Truffle Scented Wagyu Beef
Brochette, Wild Berries Crème Brûlée and Butter Poached
Maine Lobster Quiche. The highlight for the little ones
though must have been the Workshop, where they got topersonalise a teddy bear to their desired ‘huggability’, placea wish in the bear and design a tee for the teddy which they
got to take home. After naming it and inscribing the chosenname onto a birth certificate presented by Santa, of course.

The Dining Room

Dato’ Mark Yeoh and Dato’ Jimmy Choo

Mr. Chong Cheng Hai and
Ms. Chaw Foong Kin

Mr. Steve Cokkinias and Mr. Ben Quah

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Think Pink

Happy
Hours Time

The Spa Village Kuala Lumpur recently played host to an
exclusive fashion show featuring the batik from Pink Jambu,
a local label that designs contemporary batik fabric whichis then transformed into stylish clothes. The show was heldat the Spa’s poolside so that the very select audience could
enjoy morning tea while lounging in the outdoor cabanas
and watching models show off clothing from the Pink Jambu
Couture, Ready To Wear and Home lines. Pink Jambu isavailable at Spa Village Kuala Lumpur and Spa Village
Pangkor Laut boutiques.

Rachel Tan

Swiss watchmaking pioneer and classic watch brand Rado
opened its first Malaysian store in December last year. Locatedat the city’s luxury watch hub Starhill Gallery in the heart of
Bukit Bintang, the flagship boutique is the design brainchild ofAustrian architect Andreas Burghardt. Inspired by the brand’scharacteristic obsession with materials and endless flows,
absolutes and ultimate innovation, the resulting space is a
striking sculptural enclosure with endless multiplications ofluminescent surfaces. As such, the products on display appear
to be floating in space. The launch of this stunning watch
boutique was commemorated with a Happy Hours session
hosted by Rado CEO Mr. Roland Streule, Rado Malaysian Brand
Manager Mr. Bernard Yong, Rado Ambassador Ms. Rachel Tan
and Dato and Datin Francis Sew from Mystique Universal.
Champagne flowed all evening as guests enjoyed house musicand enjoyed the ambience of what will prove to be a unique
new addition to Starhill’s already glittering constellation ofwatch boutiques.

Yuri Wong & Ms. Xandria Ooi

Ms. Rachel Tan (2nd L), Mr. Roland Streule (3rd L) and
Mr. Bernard Yong (R) show off their Rado watches

Stephanie Chai016

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Pamela and Vanessa Chong

Jac Ng & Ms.Jocelyn Lim

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Tickingwith Passion

YTL Life takes one last look at 2008’s ‘A Journey ThroughTime’ watch and jewellery fair held at Starhill Gallery.
In this special report, we meet Dr. Bernard Cheong a
passionate watch collector, industry leader and one of
the keynote speakers during the festival
by MELISA ANN SELLVADURAI photos courtesy of DR. BERNARD CHEONG

investing in luxury watches during boom anddown economic times. YTL Life caught up withthis high-spirited personality to find out more
about this inspirational man and his amazing
passion for watches.
How did you get into the world of
horology? What attracted you
to it? It was actually an evolution of myown interest in buying and collecting stuff.
My passions include collecting comics, carsand hi-fi systems, but those things are more
like hobbies. My main collections I would say
are comics and watches. They are both very
distinctive things. Comics are very delicate
and require a lot of attention and storage
space, and they are a very unusual art form.
Watches on the other hand require much lessattention, and they can be used every day.
The beautiful thing about collecting watches
is that they occupy very little space and I
can wear them to work. So I came to realise,
I’d rather spend money on buying watches
because I could enjoy their beauty on a daily
basis. Over 30 years, I accumulated more andmore. A foreign magazine came over once andcounted my watches and it came up to over
360 pieces! That’s far off the estimated 100 I
originally thought I had!

Dr. Bernard Cheong – watch aficionado, art collector andcloset saxophonist – recently made history by becoming theworld’s first non-industry, ‘civilian’ chairman of the Grand Prixd’Horlogerie de Genève held in Singapore last year. At the
recent ‘A Journey Through Time’ luxury watch and jewellery
fair held at Starhill Gallery, he gave a talk on the subject of018

great role in aesthetics. It is something that is at first invisible
but as your knowledge increases, craftsmanship begins tomatter, and once that happens, the second or third watch you
buy, you’ll find yourself paying more and more attention to
the details of craftsmanship.
what advice would you give to someone with aninterest to invest in a good watch? What I wantpeople to know as they walk from shop to shop in Starhill
Gallery is that they should base their choices, again, on thefundamentals – craftsmanship and aesthetics. All the brands
here are good, because you don’t deal with any fancy nonfundamentally good watches. I’ve been to many shopping
centres and many fairs, and I must compare Starhill to
Singapore and Basel. I’m from Singapore, and two years back
I would tell many Singaporeans, there’s no justifiable reason
to go to Basel to look at watches, because firstly, its too far
away and secondly, you’re looking at things which are noton sale to consumers but to retailers. Now why do I bring up
Starhill then? In Singapore, one still has to travel an averageof four square miles to see everything and you’re going tocome across lots of shops that sell junk mixed together
with good stuff. No doubt Singapore is a great place to see
watches, but you don’t have a focus of really great brands
and watchmakers in one place. But you have that in Starhill.
Even Basel doesn’t have that! In Starhill because the tenants
here just all happen to be people who know the trade, they’re
not going to set up here to sell some generic rubbish. If you’relooking to buy a good watch, just come to Starhill!
You Were selected as the world’s first nonindustry, ‘civilian’ chairman of the Grand Prix

What are the hallmarks of A
great watch? Is it the technicalityof it? Aesthetics? Or simply the
reputation of the brand? It’s
aesthetics. A watch must be good, not only visually, but also
in the tactile aspect; it must feel good. A watch that is big
should feel heavy. A watch that is thick should also feel heavy.
It must feel nice as you run your fingers along the curves, andit must have that balance of colour and texture. That being
said, one cannot ignore the fact that craftsmanship plays a
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

d’Horlogerie de GenÈve (GPHG) in Asia. What
are your feelings on that? It was an honour forme that Edipress selected me and I think there were much
more deserving people. One thing about me is that I’m very
outspoken, and I would really call a black shoe a black shoe
and a glove a glove. I don’t mince my words, and I think inmany ways it’s made me many enemies. But I think in life, one
is only significant if one has said enough relevant things andhas made people annoyed with you.
Can you please elaborate on that role andwhat exactly “formulating a transparent
system of jury selection and voting for the
event” means? This brings me to the point of why I havemade so many enemies – I’m not afraid of transparency.
I wanted very much to set up a system that would remove
the element of advertising playing any part in a contestantwinning an award. Small watchmakers don’t have budgets toadvertise and making me chairman of that particular contest
allowed many small watchmakers to actually stand a chance
at winning prizes. Its very important to me that magazines
which focus on totally watch-dependent advertising should
not have full overall power in the system. I took great pains
to actually employ the services of Dr. Massimiliano Landi,
one of the world’s most respected people in game theory. He
formulated the process by which the GPHG was run.
When did this system come into play? The systemcame into play this year when we held the world’s first Asian
Geneva Grand Prix Haute Horlogerie (in Singapore) where Dr.
Massimiliano created a voting system whereby judges could
not influence each other nor communicate their taste with

Dr. Bernard Cheong withTan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Francis
Yeoh at A Journey
Through Time 2008

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This may be controversial... but handled
carefully, I think A journey through time
can be more important that Baseleach other. And the selection of judges was very unusual. We
did not select just watch collectors: we selected a sample ofdifferent people with different tastes and economic standings
to get a good cross section of what we felt the watch market
would be like.
Let’s talk about watches as investments. Is
watch-collecting done more for monetary
reasons, as a hobby, or as a status symbol?
That’s a good question. Historically, things that make thebest investments are always those that people claim are
not investments. When people are talking about it as aninvestment, nine times out of ten, you’ve already missed
the boat. You can ask Tan Sri Francis Yeoh the same thing.
He would buy things that people would say, ‘No! This cannever be an investment or make you any money.’ But look at
YTL’s track record; almost everything YTL has bought has
turned to gold. He has bought stuff that people would havelaughed at and said they would never be investments. I think
good businessmen have that same idea of buying low. The
reason being that nobody wants to buy it. So nobody wanted
to buy watches as investments. They’d rather buy stocks,
shares, property etc but look at what is happening rightnow. Watches can be investments if bought wisely... anythingcan be! I made a bundle in comic books. When I say abundle I mean six figures! By buying comic books for $20 $200 and selling them for $200,000, now that’s what I callan investment!
In your workshop, you talked about investingin fine watches in good and bad times. In ourcurrent economic situation, is it still feasible
to make that investment? Yes! Absolutely. If everybody
were to say watches are a great investment right now, again,
you’ve probably missed the boat. By the time people sayit, half of the good pieces would have been sold. Right now
people are still wondering whether watches are worth buying.
The moment you start to wonder it’s not too late. The factthat you wonder makes it probably true that they make goodinvestments. It’s a good time to go and do your homeworkand look at the good pieces to save up and buy them.
Could you also summarize for our readers thetalk you held during A Journey Through Time2008. I went through different segments as briefly as I could
about how to spot good timepieces, the fundamental qualities
that would be able to help them lock in a good watch as afinancial tool. And the things to invest in were craftsmanshipby looking at the finish of the screws, plates, dial, and the020

watchcase. Secondly, I told them not to be preoccupied within-house movements. Thirdly, I also told them that it is notunwise to actually explore the used market as well.
It is quite widely known that you predict
markets with regards to the economic
situation. Well what are your predictions for2009? 2009 will be a very interesting year. It’s a year where
the supply side is going to have to cut down and decide which
pieces would limit their exposure the most. I think many
watchmakers who don’t have enough leverage are going togo under. For the buyers, I think it’s going to be very exciting.
Buyers who have a lot of money can actually now access thevery esoteric watch pieces at much more realistic prices.
Buyers who are very daring can buy the expensive pieces
because I think these pieces are going to be rare and willhold great appeal once the economy recovers. And goodthings, like good antiques and paintings, always recoverfaster than stocks and shares. This has been proven overmany years. All the great museums, the great families, theGuggenheim for example, they have always bought the bestpieces during recessions.
Let’s talk a bit about Asia as the new hotbed
for watch collectors and investors. As we see
the West suffering from the banks and their problems, many
Asians were not so deeply exposed (to the crumbling stock
market). And also, the Asians have an older and more matured
collecting society for watches per se. I think Asians will makea good killing on a market with the big pieces especially. This
is what I foresee in 2009 and 2010.
What sort of role do events like A Journey
Through Time play in this respect? Handled
carefully, A Journey Through Time (AJTT) will be more
important than Basel. This is very controversial. The moment
I say this, I think ears in the West will prick up and feel that
Bernard is again being very antagonistic about this, but thisis what I personally feel. I really want to convince YTL and
Malaysia and my country Singapore, that AJTT is much morethan a fair. It is a concept. And it’s going to be something thatwill involve tourism and the country’s economy on a larger
scale. Why do I say that? There’s nothing that can transfer anddo so much trade like small portable assets. It’s like setting up
a diamond-trading centre in the heart of a part of the worldthat is not known for it. It’s a totally unexpected move. YTL
has the infrastructure that is two years ahead of its time.
It works well with Forbes, and Forbes is a powerhouse ofleverage and information and database so I really see not
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

only potential but think that immediate plans should bemade for making AJTT a destination and educational centre
for watch collectors and a model shopping centre for manykinds of luxury products (art, spa and luxury resorts).

Dr. Bernard Cheong withhis wife at A Journey
Through Time 2008

Having experienced the Fair for two years
in a row, how do you think the event fared in
2008? It has improved by about 800% or more! Looking at
naysayers first, people would think that these things don’t
work. Naysayers are always motivated by the fact that they
have not invested enough in AJTT. I think they really haveto realise that the traffic in AJTT is greater than it seems.
This place is humongous! And it will take a lot of people to
make the place look crowded. I can see that there are a lotof people walking around but they are diluted by the size ofthe mall.
You’ve been described as a renaissance man,with your interest in cars, photography andaudio equipment. What is another lesserknown aspect of Dr. Bernard Cheong? Oh, I
play the saxophone! And I play it every day. Recently I had
a special saxophone made for me by James Morrison. It’s aMorrison Digital Trumpet. It’s a very unusual instrument but
it’s really me. It’s also related to watch making in many ways.
Firstly, it’s hand made and a beautifully crafted machine, but
its electronic. And it’s able to translate my breath exactly theway I would have played a saxophone. I enjoy playing music
and it helps me understand watch making and helps me
develop my taste.
Another interesting thing to note is yourbusiness card. It’s the face of the 3 of Hearts
this year and last year it was the 6 of
Diamonds. Last year I chose the 6 of Diamonds because it
was my family that helped me move my business to anotherhigher level. The diamond has always represented merchants
and there are six people in my family including my mom anddad. This year I wanted to focus more on my wife and my two
daughters. Hence the 3 of Hearts. The quote on the card – “De
Gustibus Non Est Disputandum” is something we should alllearn to live by. Essentially, it means that good taste has noargument, no relativity. Many people might argue that good
taste is relative. In other words, if you showed somebody aRembrandt, and this person knew nothing about art, hewouldn’t be able to appreciate it. But I beg to differ. Many years
ago, a well-known German auto maker brought a Japanesesports car and one of their old German sports cars deep into
the heart of Africa. This was in 1993 and these African tribes
had never seen cars. And they were asked to choose a car for
their chieftain. Every one in the tribe chose the German car.
These are people who don’t know the difference between a
Toyota and a Lamborghini. Good taste is absolute and they
have tried this with LV handbags and Porsche items, andhave shown them to people who have no contact withadvertising. And they have invariably always chosen the
better-designed object.
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

Dr. Bernard Cheongwith the Head ofIntellectual Property of
IWC in Schaffhausen

Well speaking about good taste, what is thebest investment in watches you have evermade? That would be the Opus 5 or the Vianney Halter
Antiqua. Both of these have appreciated in value to twice ofwhat I had originally paid for, in less than two years.
021

And the Winners Are...

We take one last lingering look at the seven beautiful
watches that made the grade at the ‘Starhill Gallery’s
Watch Award Night’, the grand finale of ‘A Journey ThroughTime 2008’ EUGENE NG

Starhill Gallery
Innovative Design
Watch Award 2008
DeWitt WX-1
What makes DeWitt’s victoryin this category all the more
impressive is the fact that thisavant-garde brand in Haute
Horlogerie was only five years
old in 2008 but already with ahistory and an ethic based on
the traditions and fundamentals
of horological inventions. With
the WX-1, the brand’s first‘Watch Concept’, the mechanicalconstruction completely
dissociates the displays fromthe mechanism driving them.
At the very heart of the WX-1
is a vertical flying tourbillon
with a carriage performing one
revolution per minute and visible
through a cylindrical ‘chimney’located on the back of the case.
Futuristic in design, genesis andambition, it is a complex creation
and a genuine first in the historyof watch engineering. This
innovation can actually be viewed
by sliding the ‘hood’ or ‘bonnet’
to reveal the entire mechanism
housed beneath its transparent
covering plate. www.dewitt.ch

byStarhill Gallery
Favourite Mens’ Watch
Award 2008
Richard Mille RM 010
It is easy to see why Richard Mille was ashoo-in for this award. Uncompromisingly
masculine in appearance, many of the RM
010 main features are considered major
technical innovations. In fact, its design
was the subject of years of research anddevelopment (the watch-case design alone
took a year), and the construction of thewatch was done according to extremely
rigorous specifications, almost in themanner of the analytical engineering
methods used in the design of Formula 1
racing cars where the chassis and the engine
are developed in complete harmony. The
RM 010 also uses the brand’s exclusive rotor
with variable geometry, an invention thatallows the movement’s winding mechanism
to be optimised and personalised to theowner’s lifestyle. www.richardmille.com
022

T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

YTL Spirit of Classical Art Award 2008
Ulysse Nardin The Imperial St. Petersburg in the Eggof the Tsars
This award honours the spirit of YTL head honcho Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.)
Francis Yeoh and his love of art. And Ulysse Nardin’s The Imperial St.
Petersburg in the Egg of the Tsars was indeed a worthy recipient. From thebrand’s Marine Collection, it features a hand-crafted oven-cured enamel dial
with an applied gold double-headed Eagle emblematic of the eponymous cityof its name. But what distinguishes this timepiece is its presentation in an
elaborate multi-layer white translucent enamel Egg of the Tsars decorated
with 4.25 carats of diamonds that echoes legendary symbols of St.
Petersburg in The Admiralty Spire, Rostral Columns and the Archof the General Staff Building. Limited edition of only 30 pieces inplatinum. www.ulysse-nardin.com

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023

Starhill Gallery Active
Lifestyle Watch Award 2008
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor
Diving Pro Geographic
The Master Compressor Diving Pro Geographic is thestar diver’s model in a series of three. The Geographic
features a case custom-designed to withstand 1000m
depth pressures but more importantly, features themilestone Jaeger mechanical depth gauge (depth
sensor chamber), distinctly visible in the chamber on
the outer side of the case and inspired by the 80-year
system driving the Atmos clock. In an era when diving
computers frequently indicate the body’s nitrogencount, calculate decompression stages or measurewater temperatures, the depth gauge on the new
Geographic constitutes an impressive achievement
combining inventiveness and technical genius. It is
unmistakably an instrument intended for professionals.

www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

Starhill Gallery Watch with
Complications in Movement
Award 2008
Maurice Lacroix Mémoire 1
The Memoire 1 made history by being the first mechanical watch
ever to have a memory function and it is considered one of themost complicated watches ever developed. Look closely at its 3
o’clock and a clue is revealed. By pressing the button integrated
into the crown, the mode changes from “Time” to “Chrono”. The
hands and the hours disc immediately change their positions. If
their previous function was telling the current time, they are now
available for the precise measurement of time intervals. Whenthe button is pressed once again, they all return to their positions
for telling time. This is made possible thanks to an ingenious
mechanism christened ‘va et vient’ (‘come and go’) for which thecompany has filed a patent. Only 20 limited pieces were made lastyear. www.memoire1.ch; www.mauricelacroix.com

024

T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

Welcome to
the Deep BlueA friendly turtle

Idyllic Pulau Tenggol

Lounging around at
Tanjong Jara Resort

Greet the summer season with a spectaculardive treat at Tanjong Jara Resort’s best-kept
secret Pulau Tenggol EUGENE NG
by

It is perhaps quite fitting that after thechaos of the monsoon season, when the waves
are high and the winds strong, the following six
months offer visitors to the Malaysian East Coast achance to then enjoy the ocean when it is calm, blue,
brilliant and at its most peaceful.
From March to October, the East Coast of Malaysia
is a haven for sunseekers and holidaymakers as
the South China Sea rolls out the welcome carpet
inviting intrepid guests to come discover its undersea
treasures. Home to many gorgeous tropical islands
and beautiful sandy beaches on the coast, the area isa favourite amongst divers from all over the world.
One such island is Pulau Tenggol, part of a cluster ofislands, and one of the country’s best-kept secretswith some of the finest diving and snorkelling sites.
The reason for this is that the main island is part of the
Terengganu Marine Park, and although it is small andcompact at less than 3km long and 2km wide, it offers
over 20 dive sites and a chance to catch glimpses ofrare species of marine life such as the shovel nose
shark at the region’s famous ‘Amazing Grace’ site.
An impressive array of giant rock and boulder
formations offer an underwater assault course forthe experienced diver, whilst those looking for a more
restful experience can simply let the currents fly
them over the reef, accompanied by curious batfish
or enormous schools of hunting trevallies.
From giant double-headed parrotfish, yellowtail
fusiliers and sea turtles, to eagle rays, black-tipped
reef sharks and barracudas, the steep and rugged
cliffs of Pulau Tenggol form a spectacular canvasfor diving and an ideal hideaway for the tropical
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

underwater world. Bright corals and vivid nudibranchs
provide the perfect backdrop.
The best way to access Pulau Tenggol is through theexclusive five-star Tanjong Jara Resort. Sitting along
the coast, Tanjong Jara Resort is an award-winning
luxury resort inspired by 17th century Malay palacearchitecture and anchored in Sucimurni, an ancient
Malay way of life that embraces tranquility and purity
through wholesome living.
Based on the philosophy of ‘crafting experiences’ for
its guests, one of the signature experiences at Tanjong
Jara Resort is a diving trip to Pulau Tenggol. The
island can be reached in a mere 45-minute ride in the
Resort’s brand-new twin outboard engine speedboat.
Pristine new equipment is available for hire and arange of PADI licences, including Open Water Diverand Advanced Open Water Diver as well as Emergency
First Response and Rescue Diver courses are on
offer. Interested guests can receive the PADI
theory book prior to their visit and for beginners
an introductory diving class is available to ‘test
the waters’.
The Resort’s experienced dive instructor will thenlead guests on an unforgettable underwater journey.
To maintain a level of exclusivity and also because
Pulau Tenggol has so many stunning dive sites,
guests rarely find themselves having to go down withother groups of divers, ensuring each dive is a truly
personal and memorable experience. World classdiving at a world class resort. What better way tostart the season.

Ta n j o n g J a r a R e s o r t , + 6 0 3 - 2 7 8 3 1 0 0 0 ;www.tanjong jararesort.com
027

photo ytl online library

Call
of
the
Wild
among thehighlights
of any stay atthe exclusive
Pangkor LautResort are thenature walks
which takeguests througha TWO millionyear-old virginrainforest. The
Resort's resident
naturalist Uncle
Yip leads the way

by TAN LEE KUENKELVIN OON

all photos (except otherwise credited) byThis non-interference with the rich natural heritageon the island has proven to be a huge draw for the
resort. One of the resort's most popular activities
is its daily jungle treks, conducted by an amiablegentleman named Yip Yoon Wah.

Yip, or Uncle Yip as he is affectionately known, is theresident naturalist of Pangkor Laut Resort, although
his duties sometimes take him to YTL Hotel's otherproperties at Tanjong Jara Resort and Cameron
Highlands Resort. He leads guests on daily morning
treks through the rainforest, offering all sorts ofinteresting bits of information and stories; it is also
not unknown for him to suddenly quote poets suchas Coleridge.

Uncle Yip briefing guests before the walk

During one such walk with Yip, the group managed towitness him cajoling a pit viper from the bushes witha stick, pointing out a giant spider on a glistening
web measuring six metres andleaving us in awe at a towering fig
tree whose powerful roots snake
all along the side of a hill. One of
his favourite sights are the fossils
embedded in the sandstone slabs
imported from Kerala, India andwhich sit on the resort grounds.
The 73-year-old also showed nosigns of running out of energy orstories as he led the group on the
two-hour walk.

Peacocks roam theresort grounds

Pit Viper

A grasshopper

Born in Ipoh, Perak, Yip trained
as a field forester in Lumut at theage of 19. He then spent 10 years
working in the Forest ResearchInstitute of Malaysia at Kepong
before striking out on his own into
the private sector, setting up a
consultancy firm on landscaping.
Yip followed this up with a spell as
Chief Executive of the Malaysian
Nature Society. During his tenurewith the society, he had a handin designating Belum forest in
Perak as a forest reserve. He thenworked for a timber company
on the Solomon Islands before
finally landing the job in Pangkor
Laut Resort in 1996. Yip has abook Pangkor Laut: A Guide to its
Natural History to his name.
How long have you been anaturalist with Pangkor
Laut Resort, and how did
you come across the job?
I have been with Pangkor LautResort for 13 years. I came as apaying guest, started talking to the

Macaque monkey

monkey photo getty images

Pangkor Laut Resort has a rainforest for abackyard. When viewed from above, Pangkor Lautisland is largely covered by greenery - approximately
80% of the 300-acre island is still covered by one ofthe oldest rainforests in the world - a testament to
man's ability to live in style and luxury side by sidewith nature.

A giant spider
the size of ahuman palm

One of the many wild
species of flowers
found on the island

031

The Sea Villas at Pangkor Laut Resort

A Lot of guests have said that the[nature] walk in the rainforest is oneof the highlights of their stay here
General Manager, and when I was about to leave, heoffered me the job as a naturalist here.
Tell us a little about the walks you
conduct. There are two walks on the island - theNorthern and Southern Perimeter Trek. I normally takethe groups on the Northern trail, which cuts throughthe island and passes through virgin rainforest. We
start at the reception area, pass through the sea
villas and the Spa Village into the jungle trail which
will end up in Emerald Bay - here guests can swim
or have lunch. The trail is only about 525 metres,
but the whole walk takes about an hour and a half to
two hours. Guests can do the walk themselves except
there's no one to point things out to them.
What are the natural flora and faunathat can be sighted on the island?
Hornbills, macaque monkeys and monitor lizards are
the animals fairly commonly seen. The island has avariety of other birds, reptiles and amphibians suchas the white-bellied sea eagle, the brahminy kiteeagle, little herons, pit vipers and agamid lizards. It isextremely rare to spot the pangolin or scaly anteater.
As for marine life, we have sea urchins, sea cucumbers
and jellyfish. We recently came across the Asian
blue fairy bird and Emerald pigeon on the island. As
for plants, we have at least 10 species of orchids on
Pangkor Laut, including the world's smallest andbiggest orchids, not to mention the majestic tropicaltrees that we have here.

villa photo ytl online library

What do guests get out of It? Someexperience an inspirational talk about the rainforest,
especially the Europeans. It is different from theEuropean environment and they get excited about
it, especially if you can provide information on therainforest and the various aspects of it. A lot of guests
have said that the walk in the rainforest is one of thehighlights of their stay in Pangkor Laut Resort.

Hornbills are a common sight here

Calm waters surround this beautiful tropical island

Conservation is big on the to-do list forcorporations these days. What is Pangkor
laut resort's stance on this? I was just at
a conference on corporate social responsibility lastyear, and as one of the big players, YTL is actively
concerned about it. For example, we take care not topollute the waters or damage marine life which will
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

jeopardise the livelihood of the fishermen aroundhere. The same goes for terrestrial conservation,
which we have started right from the initial stages inconserving large areas of virgin rainforest which are
now a special attraction for guests. We also regularly
clean up rubbish from the sea bottom.
Your home is in Kuala Lumpur but you
have to be away for long periods of time.
How do you manage? I am used to being awayfrom my family. I have worked in the Solomon Islands
and Indonesia before. In life, you have to accept thatyou can't have everything perfect and that you haveto make sacrifices. You want a good job, to makemoney and to be happy; something's got to give.
What do you love about the jungle? The
rainforest is my second home and I love being incontact with the trees, plants, insects and animals.
I am more at home in the jungle than in the city.
Everytime I go back to KL I tend to judge it by thisstandard and it is difficult to adjust to life in the city.
What are you working on next? I am coming
out with the second edition of the Pangkor Laut book,which is 95% complete. I am also starting a book on
the natural history of Cameron Highlands.
You are quite a keen photographer most of the photos in the new book areyours. What camera do you use and whattips do you have for budding nature
photographers? I use a Nikon D200, with the kit
lens that comes with it. As for tips, you have to beprepared to get into the territory where you will beshooting, where you will get attacked by mosquitoes,
leeches and whatnot. Patience is of course the firstthing you need. Once I was shooting an eagle circling
about in the sky and it landed on a tree. I waited forquite some time for it to take off, as that was theshot I wanted, but finally gave up. Just when I turned
my back, the eagle took off and I lost the shot. So
patience and no small measure of luck is important.
What do you consider as your personal
achievement? That I am able to bring across amessage of conservation through my ability to talkand write. And my documentation of nature.
033

photo corbis

It’s Timefor Tea

In recent years, it has been coffee
that has been the trendy global
drink du jour. but today, it is tea
that is taking the world by storm
as it has been elevated to gourmet
status in the kitchen, in bars andeven in the spa
by

LH Ng

Emerson (American philosopher)

Swirled gently in its container, the dark amberliquid releases its precious scent with hints ofchocolate and berries. Like whiskey or fine wine, true
connoisseurs may appreciate its subtleties but it’s not
only gourmets and the rich who enjoy this particulardrink. Tea is one of the most common drinks in theworld today.
Global tea consumption topped 3.64 million tonnes
in 2006 alone, and is expected to continue rising as
more people switch over to the soothing beverage.
But not all of the tea being drunk today comespoured out of a teapot. Bottled tea drinks, tea frappes
and even tea cocktails are just some of the ways that
this beverage is becoming a major ingredient in the
kitchen, the bar and now even in the spa.
Tea has a distinctive flavour that goes well with happy
hour, in a delicious common ground with concoctions
such as the Moroccan mojito, made of rum infusedwith whole-leaf Moroccan mint tea. Some of thetrendier bars in New York have signature drinks
composed of gin with Earl Grey tea leaves for an Earl
Grey Marteani. And since tea originated in Asia, it’sno surprise that Asian-themed restaurants have avariety of green-tea cocktails, sometimes delicately
enhanced with fresh fruit juices so that you get someextra health benefits with each sip.

A view of theback garden

036

Tea-drinking rituals
are an importantpart of many cultures
particularly in the East

In fact, tea’s medicinal properties were already notedback in the 16th century by a Chinese herbalist,
who declared: “It clears the voice, gives brilliancy
to the eye, invigorates the constitution, improves
the mental faculties, opens up the avenues of thebody, promotes digestion, removes flatulence andregulates body temperature." Since those words were
written, it seems that hardly a week goes by without
news of yet another research study confirming themany health benefits of tea. It has been found by UK
nutritionists to protect against heart disease, strokeand even some cancers, as research has shown thatthe high levels of antioxidants in tea leaves help
prevent cell damage.

to fluctuations in supply. This vast trade deficit
encouraged the British to set up their own supply,
especially with the discovery of tea bushes growing
native to the district of Assam in 1823.
Although the English had been buying tea from China
for over two centuries, they had no idea about how
to produce it and the Chinese jealously guarded theirsecrets. Initial harvests from Assam were tiny and ofpoor quality but after about 40 years of perseverance,

Reading the Leaves The birthplace of tea is said
to be China’s southern Yunnan Province some timein the 4th century, when hill tribes began to brew theleaves as a drink. Tea drinking soon spread to Japanand the Himalayan kingdoms by the 12th century
where it was first considered an herbal remedy usefulfor headaches and illness, although the pleasure oftea soon became a daily drink pursuit of the masses.
The tea ceremony is still a cornerstone of Japaneseculture, as a meditative ritual that emphasises quiet
refinement and simplicity.

the Indian tea industry was finally able to quench theEnglish thirst for a cuppa.
Tea in the Malaysian Highlands Love of tea
soon spread throughout the British colonies, withwesternised Indians beginning to sip a cup of tea forbreakfast instead of water or buttermilk. But of all
the former colonies in the British empire, a handful
such as India, Kenya, Ceylon and Malaya were also
found to have ideal conditions for cultivating tea. The
plant, camellia sinensis, thrives in areas of continuous
rainfall and especially on lush mountain ranges.

One of the earliest global commodities, tea spreadalong trade routes until it reached the tables of theEast India Company. Milky drinks were flavoured withcardamom and cinnamon by Indians for centuries, sowhen they adapted these spices to tea the resulting
aromatic brew became
popularly known as chai.
Chai’s exotic flavours
represent the minglingof cultures in tea, andcan still be found in any
coffee chain today. Dutch
traders in India would also
prepare it with sugar andginger as a cold remedy.
The great diarist SamuelPe pys re co rd s te a ’s
introduction to Englandas "a China drink of which
I had never drunk before."
By 1830 each person in
England drank a poundof tea a year which wasimported only from China.
The labour-intensive crop
was cultivated on smallplots of land and subject
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z I NE

of a BOH Tea Plantation. This exclusive collaboration
with the Cameron Highlands Resort allows guests tohave a guided tour of the tea factory and estate atSungei Palas, with a stroll through the tea bushes.
The tour also includes an introduction to the fine artof tea tasting, an intrinsic part of the transformationfrom leaf to cup.
Different grades of tea are sampled, with notes
compared on aroma and taste. And just like wine, tea

first considered an herbal remedy forheadaches and illness, Tea soon becamea daily drink pursuit of the masses

The Cameron Highlands were discovered by surveyor
William Cameron on a mapping expedition in 1885
and first used as a retreat from the tropical climate.
British planters soon found its fertile mountain slopes
ideal for growing tea, and in 1929, John Archibald
Russell, the son of a British administrative officer,
started a tea plantation that grew into the BOH
Tea Plantation.

all photos getty images“There is a great deal of poetry and finesentiment in a chest of tea.” - Ralph Waldo

Malaysia’s largest tea-producing region today is
still the Cameron Highlands, and no trip there iscomplete without a visit to the BOH Visitor Centre,
a contemporary pavilion perched on a hill ridge
overlooking the terraced lines of tea shrubs. BOH
produces 4 million kgs of tea annually, which is about
5.5 million cups of tea per day. It also packs its own
teas and thus is one of the few tea companies in
the world with operations ranging over the entire
spectrum of tea manufacture – from cultivation andprocessing to packaging its range of black teas.

is said to be best sampled by slurping it with a bitof air to bring out the taste. The colour and aromaof the infusion, as well as its flavour, are the key toestablishing the value of the harvest which takes on
the characteristics of the soil from which it grows, aswell as the manufacturing process.
This insight into tea is a special treat for those looking
to find out more about their daily brew. But the realhighlight of this tea journey takes place where few
outsiders are permitted to go in the plantation. In asecluded spot, amidst rows of manicured tea bushes,
one finds a magnificent panoramic view of the lush
valleys below. Here on the vivid green slopes, apersonal butler from the Cameron Highlands Resort
has laid out a private picnic for your enjoyment.
A selection of dishes, whether for afternoon tea orsomething more substantial, is prepared using theGreen tea ice-cream
is now a very
common dessert

For those who want to have their afternoon tea
with cake, and eat it in the great outdoors, a uniqueexperience to be savoured is the picnic at the heart

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

037

Enjoy a spectacularprivate afternoon tea
prepared by Cameron
Highlands Resort amidst
the rolling tea hills of
the BOH Tea Plantations

Tea-based spa treatments are asignature experience at the Spa
Village Cameron Highlands

The master bathroom

freshest seasonal produce of the Highlands andserved on fine porcelain with crisp damask. Guests
enjoy this intimate meal al fresco as they sip on whitewine or delicate china cups filled with locally produced
tea. The Cameron Highlands Resort Signature
Experience, in collaboration with BOH Plantations, is
one of the many extraordinary experiences available
at Cameron Highlands Resort and is the perfect way
to indulge in Malaysia’s proud history of tea in styleand luxury.
It’s Out of the Bag The way we drink tea today
has however come a long way since its exotic origins.
The tea bag was launched in post-war UK by Tetley
and was an immediate success, with a conveniencethat revolutionised how it was prepared and drunk.
As the traditional tea-pot gave way to tea made ina cup using a tea bag, few realised that they were
drinking a by-product of processing loose-tea, which
was the ‘fannings’ or broken leaves and dust.

from the same plant, but the way in which it isprocessed makes all the difference in character. The
least processed variety comes from the tender buds,
known as white tea. New tea buds are plucked before
they open and simply allowed to dry into curled-up
buds with a silvery appearance, which produce a pale,delicate brew.
Green teas are dried by firing immediately after
being picked, which helps to prevent oxidation andpreserve the leaf enzymes. The flavour is somewhat
astringent, and is best savoured after a heavy meal.
Black tea is wilted then rolled to bruise and allowed
to ferment. The leaves then oxidize before beingoven-dried, giving the drink a full-bodied depth.
Some gourmet brands now even market their blackteas as being similar to a cabernet sauvignon wine
blend, with flavour described in terms of depth andfruit overtones.

The main difference between loose and bagged teas
is the size and quality of the leaves, which containchemicals and essential oils as the basis for the
distinctive aroma. When the leaves are broken up,
those oils evaporate and the taste declines. Tea
leaves also need space to swell, expand and unfurl
their flavours. Good water circulation around theleaves is important as part of the brewing process,which doesn't typically happen inside a tea bag.

Oolong tea is partially cured, with a subtle
characteristic that is less sharp than fermented black
tea. Other ways to add flavour to tea include infusing
leaves with dried flower petals. This practice isbelieved to have originated in the Sung dynasty, whenchrysanthemum, rose, jasmine and plum blossoms
were added to inferior leaves to improve the taste.
Bergamot oil from the rind of the citrus fruit is added
to black tea leaves for the refreshing blend of Earl
Grey tea.

Like wine, tea also varies greatly in aroma and taste
from district to district, and from harvest to harvest.
In China itself, more varieties of tea are said to exist
than French wines, with over 50 different types of
tea-leaf in Sichuan province alone. All tea comesMore than a Cuppa Tea can also add subtle
flavour and rich colour to a variety of foods. The
Chinese have used it as a seasoning for centuries with the most traditional ways being tea-leaf eggs
and for smoking duck Sichuan style. As more Western

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

039

chefs are influenced by Asian flavours and techniquesin their cooking, the pleasures of flavouring with tea
are becoming more appreciated.
Tea is most frequently used for smoking poultry andthe technique is said to have originated as a way topreserve food in the warmer provinces of Sichuan andHunan. Western chefs favour the use of tea leaves insmoking, as it imparts a more delicate aroma thantypical hickory or mesquite wood smoking. The typeof tea used is extremely important, and Lapsangsouchong, which has a naturally smoky taste, is aparticularly winning combination.
Tea even adds exotic perfume to desserts. Green tea
is a standard ice-cream flavour in Japanese cuisine,and now tea flavours in desserts are becoming
popular with French and American chefs. Jasmine
tea is used to season a classic custard cream at theMichelin-starred Restaurant Troisgros in France, while
the renowned Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California,
poaches fruit in sauterne wine enhanced with
Darjeeling tea.
Tea at the Spa If a cup of tea is good for yourbody, it must be just as great for your skin, goes

the thinking on organic spa culture today. At the
Cameron Highlands Resort, healing therapies are
based on produce from the surrounding fertile lands
and ancient tea rituals. This authentic blending of
culture and product is what makes Spa Village
Cameron Highlands such a unique and therapeutichealing retreat.

If tea is good for your body, it must be
just as great for your skin, goes thethinking on organic spa culture today

Tea is a major part of the experience from themoment you arrive: firstly, soothing herbal tea isserved as you wait for a spa treatment. Dependingon the selection of treatments, you may then findyourself immersed in an old-fashioned bathtub fullof hot tea and rose petals, with rose sugar to rub
into your skin. Then it's time for more tea - fragranthoney tea as your face mask, herbal tea bags for youreyelids, and chilled lemon tea to actually drink.

Mint and tea is another classic combination found in
the Spa Village, as mint has long been acknowledged
for its healing properties of improving circulation andboosting the immune system. The Mint Tea Bath isas stimulating as it is wonderful for soothing
muscular aches.

The most sensual experience here uses purerose essential oil and rose petals for a calming
and relaxing effect. As the first rose garden was
cultivated in the Highlands back in the 1950s,
Cameron-grown Champagne roses are used inthese signature body and facial treatments, while
the Rose Tea Bath is a luxurious soak in tea leaves,rose petals and aromatic oils.

Another crop grown in the Highlands is a delicious
fruit found in afternoon teas. But it is also the main
ingredient in the series of Strawberry treatments.
Pureed fresh strawberries are used in bodytreatments to soften the skin and cool inflammation.
The Strawberry Tea Bath is a beautifully sensual spa
experience that helps to ease nervous tension andstress, while leaving the body rehydrated and themind feeling rejuvenated.
The Perfect Sip The fine art of tea-making has
its various devotees, but all agree that the best way
to make a good pot of tea is to rinse a teapot withboiling water and then to add loose tea, allowing 1
teaspoon for every cup. Pour more boiling water into
the pot, cover and allow to infuse for 3 to 5 minutes
before pouring. The leaves should not be allowed tosteep too long as the tea is best drunk freshly brewed
and piping hot.
Water is also crucial to making tea, with mountainspring water and well water being preferred byexperts to tap water. Does that mean you have to
make your tea with mineral water? Not necessarily,
because some mineral water actually has a highmineral content, although Volvic is recommended
amongst connoisseurs. Using an earthenware orchina teapot is also preferable to a metal kettle.
The perfect cup of tea of course has endless
options for accompaniment. Traditional Japanese
confectionary known as wagashi is served during
the Japanese tea ceremony to take away the bitter
astringency of the green tea. With afternoon tea, theBritish elevated tea-drinking to a social ceremony
accompanied by sandwiches, scones and cakes suchas a Victoria sponge. Needless to say, whether you
take your tea black, with sugar, milk, lemon or spices,or with or without biscuits, this drink is definitely aneveryday indulgence for everyone.

At the BOH Tea
Plantations, you canwitness the entire processof manufacturing tea,from cultivation andharvesting to packaging

040

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

Afternoon Tea
in the Highlands

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

On a cold day, curled up in front of a fire or
coming back after a long walk in the rain, a cupof tea can be the most inviting treat. Even better
then, if the tea is a gourmet blend accompaniedwith your choice of cream or sugar, and a selectionof freshly-baked scones and strawberries.
The Jim Thompson Tea Room at the Cameron
Highlands Resort is a unique tribute to the
tradition of afternoon tea, where teas sourced
from surrounding plantations are offered for yourselection and served in fine china. There's mangotea, lemon and mandarin tea, passion fruit, clove
and cardomom tea, vanilla, lime and ginger, Earl
Grey and tangerine and Java black blends.
In this little part of Malaysia that's more English
than England today, high tea is of course servedwith a delectable spread: scones and jam, andcucumber or cress sandwiches. Fresh Highland
strawberries grown in the area come with a divine
selection of sauces; melted chocolate, cardamom
cream and vanilla honey fudge complete thissumptuous repast. The resort's teak and leather
library contains a section on tea poetry, withplenty of plush seating and cushions on which tocurl up and read.

041

The
Melting
Pot
Nyonya cuisine, a unique blendof Chinese and Malay cooking,has its home in historical
Malacca. YTL Life delves
into the history and complexityof one of Malaysia's mostenduring culinary legacies
by Boey Ping Ping

photography Christopher A.

with food styling assisted by Eugene Ng

shot on location at The Majestic Malacca

all food prepared by chefs at The Majestic Malacca'Ikan Assam Pedas' (Spicy and Sour Fish) is aperennial Nyonya favourite with a sauce that is fiery
hot and satisfyingly sour. Also called Ikan Garam
Assam, there are many interpretations of this classic
dish but most are accompanied by either ladies'
fingers (okra), tomatoes and/or brinjals.

W

ho would have guessedthat an inter-racial
marriage in 15th
century Malacca would
be the origin of one ofSouth-East Asia's mostunique and originalcuisines? The storyb e g a n w h e n a fa i rmaiden, Princess Hang Li Po, the daughter of anemperor from China, arrived in ancient Malaya totie the knot with the tall, dark and handsome Sultan
Mansur Shah of Malacca. She brought along with her
a 500-strong entourage and it was these immigrants
who formed the first Chinese settlement in Malacca.
As would be expected, these settlers, who weremainly men, eventually began taking native Malay
women as brides and as a result a new generation ofChinese-Malays was born.
They were called Peranakan or 'Straits Chinese',with the men referred to as 'Baba' and the women'Nyonya'. Though originally from Malacca, Babas
and Nyonyas were soon found all over Malaysia,
with a particular concentration in Malacca, Penang
and Singapore.
The Peranakan assimilated to the local way of life,
adopting the Malay language as their own, donning
the Malay `sarong kebaya` and incorporating the
Malay’s fondness for chillies, 'belacan' (dried shrimp
paste) and coconut milk into their traditional Chinese
dishes. In effect, this marriage of traditions gave birth
to a culture and cuisine that is unlike any other.
Neither truly Malay nor exclusively Chinese, Nyonya
cuisine is in a genre all of its own, a relatively
undiscovered gem in the culinary world but a
Malaysian mainstay today. Pungent, spicy andfragrant, Nyonya food - whether from Malacca,
Penang or down South in Johor and Singapore - isflavoured by the most aromatic of ingredients. Not
only that, but at its best, Nyonya cuisine is quite
easily one of the most delicious and complex: rich,tasty, and with depth in flavour.
The secret to cooking the best Nyonya food is all in
the preparation, which can take hours and hours.
Extended marination ensures that the best cuts ofmeat fall off the bone easily and are fully flavoured.
Wet spices are pounded and fried while dry spices
are ground and cooked with coconut milk to produce
rich gravies and spicy curries. Sauces are made fromscratch, spices are blended with deliberation and every
dish demands precision of skill, patience, and passion

044

to create a cuisine that is loved and talked about
by the many who grew up eating it. In the homes ofBabas and Nyonyas just a generation past, womenfolk
could always be found sitting on the kitchen floor
pounding away at their mortar and pestles that turna carefully measured amount of herbs and mixed
spices into a creamy blend that forms the base of all
Nyonya cooking. It has been said that in the old days,a Nyonya lady seeking a prospective bride for her son
would listen to the pounding of spices by the maiden
concerned as it denoted the amount of attention she
would give to her cooking.
One of the key aspects of Nyonya cooking is in theliberal use of belacan, that spicy oh-so-pungent
flavour enhancer that when dry-fried produces anoverpowering smell that has been the downfall ofmany an unsuspecting 'mat salleh' (white foreigner).
Used in curries, sauces and gravies to give dishes adepth and richness that is difficult to reproduce, thePeranakans also eat belacan pounded with fresh red
chillies as an accompaniment to many dishes that do
not require the use of belacan.
Other distinctive Nyonya ingredients feature
pungent roots such as galangal and turmeric, freshand dried chillies and lemon grass. Appearing very
similar to ginger, save for its pink shoots and brownskin, galangal is sour and peppery and produces aparticular flavour that enhances soups and curries.
Also from the ginger family, yellow turmeric provides
curries with a golden hue and also improves flavour.
Several different types of chillies are used, from thetiny but fiery bird’s-eye chilli to medium length plump
chillies and finger-length green and red chillies tocreate a varying heat scale. To balance out the zing offlaming-hot chillies, fresh lemon grass is added sliced,
pounded or bruised to help flavour dishes with its
zesty tang.
Aromatic leaves such as curry, pandan and kaffir lime
are also hallmarks of Nyonya cooking. Curry leaves
garnish noodles while pandan (screwpine) leaves aretied in a bunch and left to steep in coconut milk toboost the flavour of desserts in particular. Kaffir lime
leaves are indispensable as their ability to releasearomatic oils into curries is responsible for creating
the distinct taste that is Nyonya.
Nyonya flavours have not just influenced the way
locals eat but opened up a whole new realm of
hybrid cuisine for gourmands in this food paradisecalled Malacca. Though Straits Chinese settlers canalso be found in Penang and Singapore, the first
Peranakan community initially flourished in Malacca.
THE YTL LU XURY M AG A Z INE

Known as 'Pie Tee' or 'Top Hats',
this quintessential bite-size Nyonya
snack is the perfect way to start a
meal. A crispy shell of deep-friedflour and egg is filled with stewed
turnip, diced shrimps and carrots
and topped with scallions, shallots,
chillies and finely sliced omelette.
The Majestic Malacca version (aspictured here) comes lusciously
crowned with a Merlimau Prawn forthat touch of decadence.

Called 'Otak-Otak', thisclassic Nyonya creation
is a perfect example ofthe cuisine's complexity.
Fish slices are marinatedwith fresh turmeric, lemon
grass, lime leaves, chilli andcoconut, then wrapped inbanana leaves. They canthen be either steamed or
grilled. The result: a creamy,
spicy fish 'mousse'.

Nyonya Kuih (cakes) come in a
rainbow of colours and flavours
and are where you can truly see
the Malay and Chinese influences
coalescing. In Malacca, theeponymous 'gula melaka' (palmsugar) has become synoymouswith Nyonya desserts, but anotherdistinctive feature of Nyonya kuih is
also the use of the bright blue dye ofthe Bunga Telang (Blue Pea Flower)
to stain certain kuih. Breakfast andtea time favourites include 'ang koo
kuih', 'seri muka', 'pulut inti' and'kuih ko sui', and also (clockwisefrom top R in photo) 'onde-onde','kueh lapis' and 'seri kaya'.

046

THE YTL LU XURY M AG A Z INE

THE YTL LU XURY M AG AZ INE

047

A dish like 'Udang Kuah
Pedas' (Prawns in Spicy
Sauce) served with fresh
pineapple illustrates theversatility and adaptability of
Peranakan cuisine in this rich,sharp and delicious curried
dish. Again, the classic sweetand sour push-and-pull comes
into play here.

And while Penang Nyonya cuisine is tangy and hot,with a preference for prawn paste due to its Thai
influence, the Malacca Nyonyas prefer their foodsweet with generous doses of coconut milk andMalay spices. Here are several traditional favourites
which are but a slice of the essence and depth of
Peranakan cuisine.
Inche Kabin Nothing says comfort food like friedchicken. This Nyonya version of a classic favourite
owes its finger-licking goodness to a marinade of soy
sauce, oyster sauce, five-spice powder, black pepper,
ginger and scallions. The bite-sized chicken pieces are
dipped into a batter of egg and flour and fried until a
spicy aroma permeates the air. The result is tender,
juicy meat enveloped in a crispy, peppery skin.
Ayam Pongteh Infused with a thick treaclysauce of preserved soy bean, chunks of garlic, chilli
and gula Melaka, this deceptively simple stew is so
wonderfully rich in flavour that it doesn’t need anyother accompaniment. Only a plate of steamed white
rice is necessary.
Prawn Kapitan The name 'Kapitan' is apparently
derived from a maid questioning her captain’s
fondness for a curry lunch everyday: “Curry,
Kapitan?” In this adaptation of Kari Kapitan, fat, juicy
prawns are used instead of chicken and cooked in a

deliciously creamy sauce redolent of lemon grass andmore than a hint of chilli. Instead of curry powder,a paste crafted from dried chilli, garlic, onions,turmeric, galangal, lemon grass and candlenuts isused to create the aromatic, red and yellow gravy.
Chap Chye Despite this being a simple dish of
mixed vegetables, there is something rather
reassuring about an unpretentious meal of familiar
tastes and aromas. More brown than green, thisvegetable dish reveals a treasure trove of mushrooms,
black fungus, bean curd skin, lily buds, cabbage andglass noodles that goes rather nicely with a dollop ofsambal belacan.
Cendol Hot sunny days become instantly cooler
with Cendol, an ice-cold dessert of shaved ice
drowned in coconut milk and sweet, syrupy gula
Melaka, a golden liquid of caramelised palm sugar
flavoured with screwpine leaves. The crushed ice
melts to reveal green jelly strips made of green pea
flour and fat, flavourful red beans.
Bubur Cha-Cha While Cendol is best eaten cold,
Bubur Cha-cha tastes better warm. This dessert
dish is a porridge of yams, sweet potatoes and sago
swimming in thick coconut milk and gula Melaka
caramel. Screwpine leaves, a natural flavour enhancer
makes this Nyonya dessert simply irresistible.

Nyonya cuisine at The Majestic Malacca

To adapt an old saying: 'When
in Malacca, eat as the Malaccanseat'. So sampling Nyonya cuisine
should then be at the top of
the list of every visitor to thecity. For those looking to do soin an ambience that is refined,
luxurious and exclusive, there
is no other place than at The

THE YTL LU XURY M AG AZ INE

Majestic Malacca, the city's
premier boutique heritage hotel.
Besides an extensive menu of
excellent Western offerings, therestaurant at the hotel also offers
diners the choice of four Nyonya
Set Menus. Carefully selected
and crafted to represent themost authentic Nyonya culinary

journey, dishes featured on themenu include Inche Kabin,
Ayam Pongteh, Prawn Kapitan,
Chap Chye, Cendol and OndeOnde with Ice-Cream.

For pre-order of the Majestic
Malacca's Nyonya menus, call
+606-289 8000.

049

A ‘Pick -me-up’in ParadiseThe ‘Vigour’ Discovery Path at
Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali is a
bespoke experience crafted to put
some pep back into your life

by MAGDALENE TANW

hen most of us go on
an island getaway, we
think sun, sea, sandand surf. We makesure that most of ourtime is spent doing
nothing but lazing on
the beach with a bookand topping up ourtan. A bit of surfing, shopping and bar hopping is asactive as we plan to be. Don’t get me wrong. I’m anavid fan of the lazy island holiday, but to be honest,
I rarely return completely refreshed, recharged andinvigorated; instead I go back to work longing to still
be basking on the beach.
This year, my new year’s resolution was to start a
more active lifestyle. And why shouldn’t this include
vacations as well? I wanted to go on a holiday thatsharpened my mind and refuelled my spirit. Mostly,
though, I wanted to feel physically stronger and moreenergetic to jump start my new fitness regime. But
could I really have a relaxing break away and still behighly active?
Bali may seem a little laid-back for such a dynamic
holiday, but I discovered the ideal place where I
could find the perfect balance between serenity
and vitality for both the mind and body. The Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali is a charming spa resort
tucked away along the northern coast. One of theresort's signature experiences is the 'Discovery Path',consisting of four different sets of spa and activity
programmes to cater to different needs.
The 'Balance Path' focuses on restoring peace to themind and completely relaxing the body; 'Creative'
allows you to discover your creative spirit throughthe inspiration of Balinese art. If the philosophy andpractice of Balinese healing therapies interest you,
The Spa Village Academy will show you the way ofthese traditional techniques. But it is the Vigour
Path that cries out to me. A programme with anamalgamation of activities created to regain strengthand boost energy levels, and all this set within atropical haven. Perfect.
Day 1: A Balinese welcome The Resort wastes
no time in preparing guests for the ultimate Pathexperience. Upon arrival you are greeted and seatedby smiling staff. You will be served a glass of chilledwatermelon juice while your feet are soaked in a large,
bronze basin filled with warm water and fragrant
flower petals. As the cool drink flows down the throat
and the warmth at your feet rises, the two contrasts052

seem to meet halfway and merge into a soothingsensation in the stomach. The immediate balance ofthe two opposites is a pleasant surprise.
A small pot of hot ginger tea awaits me in mygorgeous private villa as well as a fresh set of linen
fisherman’s pants and top. True believers in comfort
will abandon the usual everyday clothes and wear
nothing but this ultra comfortable attire throughout
their stay. A few cups of the zesty tea and I am readyfor my first activity.
Daily yoga classes take place on the resort’s spacious
lawn and if you have never done yoga in the middle ofsuch natural and peaceful surroundings, let's just saythat it truly uplifts the spirit. Your senses heighten as
you sit on the mat and concentrate on your breathingwith the sound of birds chirping and soft crashingwaves in the background. As I stretch and move fromT H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

posture to posture, muscles that have been at rest
for far too long now spring to life and by the end of
the class, sweat beads dot my face and I leave feelingboth nimble and at ease. And a little peckish.
A romantically lit restaurant with no walls andfurniture created by local craftsman, Wantilan
restaurant provides an airy yet cosy atmosphere.
Fresh local produce and seafood are lovingly preparedand expertly cooked, resulting in an exciting tasteof Indonesian fusion cuisine. While savouring my
fresh tuna roll al fresco, I look out over the Bali Sea
and witness an amazing sight, a moonrise, in all its
majestic and surreal glory. This has become a dining
experience to remember.
Before I turn in for the night, I head to the infinity
pool where an attendant is waiting to prep me for mysession of 'Starlight Gazing'. This is another signature
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG AZ I NE

experience of the Resort where guests lie on an air
mattress and float weightlessly in the Resort's pool.
While listening to soothing meditation music froman MP3 player, you can then gaze up at the twinklingstars, often out in magnificent numbers here. This
languid experience proves to be the best nightcap of
all and I sleep like a baby that night.
Day 2: Local flavours It's early in the morning
and I'm at the Resort's black sand beach for a sessionof Pencak Silat. This ancient Indonesian martial art
closely imitates the movements of animals such as
the monkey and the tiger, amongst others. The local
expert leads us through the swift moves and footworkand explains that in Pencak Silat you strive for fluidity
and precision. I breathe in the crisp morning air
and listen to the lapping waves as I go through the
movements and feel my strength build up throughout
my entire body.
053

After a nourishing fruit-fest breakfast (the homemade
strawberry yoghurt is just divine), I make my way
over to the Taman Gili bale where Muliartini, my spa
therapist, welcomes me to the Jamu Making Class.
She explains that Jamu is a traditional herbal healthdrink originating from Java, and that Indonesians of
all ages drink it daily for physical energy, vigour andmental clarity - just what I need.
Muliartini prepares the ingredients for Jamu
Beras Kencur (rice and finger root tonic drink) anddemonstrates how this drink is made. Rice grains are
ground, juices are extracted from ginger root, andthen boiled with tamarind, cinnamon, clove, palmsugar and a pinch of salt. This ancient remedy canbe served warm or chilled. Its fusion of sharp flavours
harmonises into a natural and unprocessed citric
tonic. Great for removing toxins, Jamu has been
drunk by Indonesians to keep ailments away long
before aspirins and antibiotics existed. I knock backas much of the tonic as possible.
Now that my insides feel pepped up, it is time for myouter self to receive some TLC. The thirty minutepre-spa treatment, Segara Giri ('Ocean Mountain' inBalinese), is a prelude to all body treatments herewith a purpose to eradicate toxins and improveblood circulation.

The Vigour path is an amalgamation ofactivities created to HelP one regain
strength and boost energy levels

The ritual begins with you sitting at a bamboo-covered
pit, while your feet and legs receive an unusual footsauna conducted with hot stones (mountain) and a
bed of the famed black volcanic sand (ocean) uniqueto this part of Bali. It does tend to get rather hot
as the steam forces out toxins through your pores.
And after buckets of perspiration, you can probably
imagine how pleased I am to be served a bowl of ice
shavings generously drizzled in palm sugar to coolme down. The pre-spa treatment ends with a wadethrough a shallow water-filled path to wash off theremaining sand followed by a lounge on a comfortablehalf moon chair under the shade of frangipani trees.
As I sip on cold, refreshing ylang ylang water and biteon frozen grapes, I feel like I'm in heaven.
The Penganten Melukat is a body treatment
traditionally performed on the bride and groom by
their mothers three days before their wedding. It isa popular treatment for honeymooners staying at
the Resort because it is an experience that may beenjoyed together. The four-part treatment begins
with a traditional Balinese massage, Mewangsul. Oilis methodically rubbed over my entire body by aspecialist while hypnotising meditation music playsin the background. I fight to stay conscious, until theT H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

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

second part begins.
Meodok is where Boreh body scrub is used to gently
and evenly exfoliate you from shoulder to toe. The
mixture of galangal, ginger, rice and cloves, scrubs
away dead skin and the ingredients elicit a prickly
sensation. The third part, Empehan, is where freshmilk is applied all over to alleviate the heat from the
Boreh scrub as well as to soothe and moisturise theskin. The treatment concludes with Mersiram Sekar,a fragrant floral bath with cleansing and therapeutic
benefits. I come out of it all feeling as light as afeather and extremely purified.
Before dinner, I board a traditional Balinese boat, theJukong, for a sunset sail. The sea is calm and the sun
is setting. When all you can hear is the lapping water,
and all you can see is the magnificent sight of thesleeping, volcanic giant, Mount Agung, back lit by
a warm sky, Mother Earth seems to radiate. With aglass of chilled wine, I take a deep breath and become
one with her.
Day 3: Let’s get physical I aptly end the Vigour
Path with the Fitness Circuit on my last morning. Ten
stretching and toning exercise stations consisting ofpresses, lunges, squats and flexes will surely get yourmuscles pumping and your endorphins racing.
Before I go to the restaurant to order more of that
homemade strawberry yoghurt, I have my firstexperience on a yoga swing; perfect after a highimpact gym workout. Exercise on this apparatus
will have you rotating and suspending forwards
and backwards. Regular use of a yoga swing will
strengthen muscles and improve agility. As I suspend
myself upside-down, only held up by my legs
entwined around the material of the swing, my spine
is optimally stretched and I think to myself, ‘I’ve got
to get me one of these!’Three days has not been long enough, but I lay
down my fisherman’s pants and say goodbye to theresort feeling more toned, a little stronger, spiritually
replenished, detoxified and invigorated inside and out.
But I also depart impressed with the expertly crafted
experience of unexpectedly finding vitality and zestin this most serene of settings. This active retreat
has given me the push I needed and has shownme the importance of balance between movement
and rest; something we could all do with a little bit
more of in our lives.

Experience the 'Discovery Paths' at Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali; +603-2783 1000; www.tembokbali.com
055Deconstructedprairie dress and belt
Bottega Veneta;
bangles Stylist’s own

Haute
Tropics

welcome summer and theseason's fabulous fashion at
the world-class Malay Palaceinspired, Tanjong Jara Resort

Yellow chiffon dress withlayered skirt Fendi

Suede clutch in coal with gold lining by Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton; Metallic belt Bottega Veneta

Doctor B bag with side buckles Fendi; Printed cotton pareo Louis Vuitton

Military green straplessromper with front patch
pockets Gucci;
Acetate aviators withmetal inlays Louis Vuitton;
Timepiece Rado

Bag with floral prints and intrecciato details Bottega Veneta; Ballet flats Lanvin

Organza blouse with sheer
skirt, stretch shorts andwide belt Christian Dior;
Obssession Rond sunglasses
in pink, and Neverfull tote
with fuchsia graffiti, from theStephen Sprouse collection
Louis Vuitton

Pink chiffon top and shorts Fendi; Grey platform sandals with ankle strap buckles (in basket) Gucci

Black tulle dress withnude lining Lanvin;Multicoloured leather
crochet bag Bottega Veneta

Ceramica Maxi Basic watch and white True Diamond timepiece Rado

Midnight blue Grecian
dress with elastic belt
Lanvin; Suede purse (onbar counter), by Sofia
Coppola Louis Vuitton;
Platforms with leather
straps Christian Dior;
Timepiece Rado

Short sleeve flounce flute dress Gucci;
Ceramica Maxi Basic timepiece Rado

photography

Christopher A.
stylingAziz Draim

hair & make-up
Taisu
model

Sonia, Talent Cafe

shot on location at

TANJONG JARA RESORT,TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA

style | runway

In Bloom

As temperatures rise and layers are shed, thisseason’s Spring-Summer collections show a diversityof fashion fantasies despite (or because of) thelooming global recession Choo Ai Ling
byThrill Seeker
Christian Dior – women’s The 80s as seen throughthe aesthetic of Azzedine Alaïa, Thierry Mugler, and Claude
Montana has been a recurring trend of late and for SpringSummer, John Galliano mined it with relish and a touch of
wistful nostalgia – he was after all famously chummy withthe supermodel clique of that era – Cindy, Naomi, Linda et al.
Unapologetic sexiness ruled the collection as glamazonians
stalked down the catwalk in short flippy dresses with sheer
skirts, bodysuits, python jackets, spotty animal prints, andjutting bras. Who knows, perhaps Galliano’s aggressive
version of dressing could be just the right armour to face thecrumbling economy.

070

T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AG A Z IN E

Miss Manners
Valentino – women’s While Valentino
has never been known for directional fashion,
Alessandra Facchinetti’s last collection forthe house continued to gradually update theladylike looks the fashion house is renown
for with a gentle touch. Softening the ladieswho-lunch look with chiffon, ruffles and aneutral colour palette, Facchinetti even injected
some playfulness with silk polka-dot dresses,
and shorts suits with raised, coiled, jewelled
embroidery. Valentino’s signature red gown
was re-imagined as a one shouldered Grecian
confection draped in diaphanous red georgetteand paired with flat jewelled slippers.

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

071

On Mute

Courage Under Fire

Bottega Veneta – women Given that Bottega Veneta has neverbeen about gimmicky fashion, Tomas Maier’s response to the sober mood
was almost imperceptible. In fact, Maier merely continued his oeuvre ofbeautifully crafted pieces which have always gracefully side-stepped trends(and possibly the brunt of recession). His earthy palette of muted browns—
caramel through dark saffron, copper, and chestnut – emphasised the almost
artisanal quality of the manipulated fabrics and handcrafted leathers. Maieralso subtly referenced the hardy American pioneers with shirtwaisters anddirndls in washed colours and vintage motifs which closed the collection,
perhaps to underline the need for resilience in these trying times.

Louis Vuitton – women Defiance was the underlying mood in Marc
Jacobs’ exuberant collection. It seems that the Vuitton woman faces anuncertain future with no small amount of sprit… and a fabulously flirty
skirt. Strutting down the catwalk to the strains of Edith Piaf, it was obviousthat Jacob found inspiration in the plucky glamour of women in wartime
Paris – complete with an Art Deco colour palette and the Oriental accentsso popular in that era. Embellishment aplenty was found on the clothes
themselves (embroidered with beads and sequins, trimmed with lace andpython) and the models were piled high with accessories (heavy gold cuffs,
obi leather sashes, elaborately patchworked shoes).

Lounge Lizards
Bottega Veneta – men As with his women’scollection, Tomas Maier kept to classic lines
for the gents except with a lightness of touch
to accommodate the warmer weather. The
masculinity of the collection was of a confident,
insouciant type as worn so well by RobertMitchum and Humphrey Bogart - when men
dressed like men in square-shouldered blazers,
full-pleated trousers, and chunky saddle shoes.
Lest you think that the collection a one note,
Maier keeps things interesting by pairing theclassics in unexpected ways - mixing prints andcolours in refreshing yet elegant combinations.

072

Accidental HeroLouis Vuitton – men In sharp contrast to LV’s vivacious women’scollection, menswear studio director Paul Helbers pares down thebombast with an icily pale collection (a handful of charcoals andpinks excepted) of almost ethereal properties. Charlie Chaplin may
seem like an unlikely inspiration, but it was the Chaplin’s fluid, almost
accidental elegance which spurred the designer to construct a newsilhouette for trousers. Pinching the line of the leg into an O shape, it
discreetly echoes the great entertainer’s bow-legged stance. Delicate
fabrics like voile, and details such as “couture gathering,” which
pleats the back of shirts into poetically blouse-y volumes add to acollection which will float easily into Spring.

style | trends

C’est Cheap
C’est Chic

Rag&BoneWho says you need to splurge to look stylish? With thesombre economic mood, designers and even celebrities arepaving the way to cheap chic and calling for ‘recessionistas’of the world to unite CHOO AI LING
byMichelle Obama in a Jason Wu Dress

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MArc JAcobs and rag&bone photos getty images; tia photo corbis

photo corbis

Tia Carrere: Looking
like a million bucks inless than a hundred

Marc Jacobs

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style | watches

It’s About
Time

Watches which are as stunningto behold as they are wonders
of engineering Choo Ai Ling
byFirst amongequals Iconoclastic

Junglefever

Blast from the past Breitling pays homage to one of its
most famous models – the Chrono-matic – which featured the world’s
first self-winding chronograph movement with the Chrono-Matic 49.
Debuted in 1969, the Chrono-matic not only revolutionised the way
timepieces ticked, it influenced how they looked - paving the way forthe trend of oversized watches. While the new model’s angular, tautlines are inspired by the original’s generous size and 60s/70s look,details have been updated: namely the black rubber-moulded steel
construction of its rotating pinion bezel and a new woven steel bracelet
which contrasts with the pure lines of the case. Cortina Watch Espace,

Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery; +603-2142 1171
076

The Bestiary Tourbillon combines
the imagination of fine jewellery
with the epitome of watchmaking
in a decadent collection which
represents the three animals mostclosely associated with Boucheron.
The snake, chameleon and frog
- all hand crimped by the masterjewellers of Maison Boucheron serve to focus the attention on to
the technical jewel they guard so
jealously. Even the watch face isdeliberately set off-centre opposite
the opening in the watch face, sothat the hypnotic border looks
as if it is levitating. What further
abets this dreamlike constructionis that nature, captured in a
bejewelled instant, seems to havefrozen in time before the butterfly
formed by the hour and minutehands is swallowed up by the
animal on guard. These stunningmasterpieces come in two different
versions and a limited run of only
eight pieces. Boucheron, Indulge

Floor, Starhill Gallery;+603-2143 2669
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M03 times a lady For a watch as singular as
the woman who wears it, Armand Nicolet’s M03 collection
fits the bill. Crafted to meet the refined demands offemale tastes, the collection was inspired by the desire to
produce a prestigious watch with a perfect mechanism
as complicated as any men’s watch yet which could easily
pass muster as a piece of jewellery. Every detail attests
to this search for absolute elegance, from the rotor
movement decorated with Côte de Genève to the “perlage”
of rhodium-plated bridges and blue screws, from theunique “guilloché” finished dial inserted with mother-ofpearl parts and even down to the alligator straps in colours
which match the mother-of-pearl. Armand Nicolet, Adorn
Floor, Starhill Gallery; +603-2144 4328

brand Romaine Jerome’s
fascinating Titanic-DNA
collection welcomes a new
addition with the bold T-oxy
III Skeleton Chronograph
Tourbillon. A true instrument ofchronometry, this exceptional skeleton timepieceis an assertive interpretation of the chronograph
Tourbillon and boasts a diameter of 50mm – 53mm
including the screw-in crown. It also featuresinterchangeable horns and a push button which
blends perfectly with the design of the Titanic-DNA
timepieces by integrating the characteristic of thetransversal paw. The skeleton dial integrates various
materials (brass, black or, steel, pink gold 5N) andmixes matte velvet with a satin and shot-blasted
finish for the Roman numeral XII. Khronos-Unique

Horlogerie, Adorn Floor, Starhill Gallery ;+603-2141 9021/ 9102

Design of the Timeplace to celebrate the art ofhaute horology.

LuxuryConcepts’ first multibrand boutique, Khronos - Unique
Horlogerie, recently took home thegold award at the Malaysia Interior
Design Awards 2008.
Khronos represents the first venue inthe world to showcase various uniquewatch brands like Romain Jerome,
Franc Vila, Villemont, Hysek, Mühle
Glashütte, Pierre DeRoche, Hermes–
Vaucher Movement Collection andRebellion under one roof so theboutique design had to represent thedistinctive identities and be a suitable

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To realise such a unique concept,
Khronos turned to relative newcomers
Room Interior Design Sdn Bhd for a
fresh take. With a free hand to comeup with something unconventional,
the designers found inspiration in athree-sided polygon to give the space a
sense of capaciousness while enablinga practical and functional division ofareas. The entrance of the showroom isat the bottom leg of the triangle where
glass screens effectively delineate theshowroom from the outside without
creating a visual border. Perpendicular
to this entrance is a stretch of 10 white
display cases (one for each brand) thatappear to float off the floor. Part of thewall is adorned with bold, copper-huedgraphic prints illustrating the gears
and Roman numericals associated withhorology and lends a modern edge andvisual stimuli against an otherwise
formal setting.
Three different brands are given
pride of place in designated ‘rooms’aligned along the hypotenuse of
the aforementioned triangle. Three
separate circular sections closed off by
a curtain of strings are placed along the
hypotenuse to mark each room’s area
and are fitted with wall display boxes
and a set of contemporary armchairs
and table.
The finished boutique is a culminationof the clever use of space and aneffortlessly elegant ambience without
any accompanying staidness. Small
surprise then that it was given thehighest nod in the Commercial
category from the Malaysian Society ofInterior Designers.
077

Time
for a
Classic

It-bags are so last season, as any style
update will now tell you to invest in pieces
that are more enduring. But if there’s
something you want to rely on, invest in
something that keeps getting better with thepassing of time. Maurice Lacroix is a classic
brand that withstands fashion trends
by LH Ng

Masterpiece Phase de Lune Diamond

Divina

Squelette SteelStarside
Magic
Seconds

DoubleRetrogarde

Pontos Titanium Black080

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beauty & grooming

Bali high All the staples of true
Balinese beauty can be found at Donna Spa.
From time-tested Javanese Lulur to delicious
home-made boreh, the spa offers Balinese
remedies old and new amid a relaxed andsoothing ambience. The luxurious Wedding
Indulgence treatment includes a soak inseven tropical flowers and a pedi/mani to seal
the deal. Donna Spa, S20 & 27, Pamper Floor,

Starhill Gallery, KL: +603-2141 8999

Smoothoperator

A Dosha Goodness

No more waxing
or shaving
ever! That’s thepromise made by
the revolutionary
hair removal
techniquesfrom IPL Skin
Care Clinique.
The latest
technology,
variable pulsed
light (VPL), is
touted as thenext generationin permanent
hair reduction
technology that also aids in skin rejuvenation. There’s
less pain and discomfort compared to other hair removal
treatments, and skin feels soft and smooth after. IPL

The Sundari treatments at Spa Village take you tokarmic haven Anis Ramliby

The terms are beauty speak, Ayurveda style. Vata, Pita and thethird, Kapha, describe a person’s mind-body type, or ‘dosha’.
And while all three influence a person’s emotional and mental
well-being, it also affects the kind of skin you have. As theadage goes, beautiful skin begins from within. Essentially,
when you’re stressed, it shows on your skin; but if you lead abalanced and wholesome life, your skin glows with the light ofhealth and vitality.
Vata skin is generally dry. Pita skin has a tendency to breakout and is photosensitive. Kapha tends to be a little oily. Hence
my Pita-Kapha diagnostics. But fret no more over what type ofskin you have, because once you’ve tried out Sundari facials,
you’ll be experiencing Ayurvedic skincare at its very best.
Rooted deep in the priciples of this ancient Eastern philosophy,
Sundari combines botanicals with modern science to deliver aholistic approach to skin care. Traditional plants and powerfulherbs such as neem leaves, known as the “Pharmacy Tree ofIndia”, and gotu kola, with its firming properties, have all been
incorporated into the range.
Sundari is derived from the Sanskrit word that means “beautiful
woman”. Its facials are instantly recognisable by its signature
Marmassage, a technique akin to stimulating acupuncture
points. The massage technique is subtle, beginning with a light082

touch before the aesthetician increases the firmness over thecourse of a minute. This action stimulates and energises themarma points, releasing a deep flow of energy that is almost
dynamic. The effect of Marmassage goes beyond deep tissue
massage or acupressure, and fans often cite a longer-lasting
sense of calm, satiation and relaxation.
An Ayurvedic treatment may seem like a laborious andcomplicated affair to some, but a Sundari Facial is the best
way for first timers to experience it. This facial custom-blends
ingredients and essential oils to meet specific needs. The
treatment exfoliates and renews skin, and together with thesignature Marmassage, allows for a rejuvenating experience.
In addition to the Sundari Facial, there is also the Neem
Restorative Facial and the Neem Detoxifying Facial, the latterof which is a highly relaxing treat. It begins with a Rose andLavender Hydrating Mask that primes the skin followed by a
Neem and Green Tea Mask blended with a tonic of vitamins andherbs. The experience is further enhanced by a stress relieving
hand and foot massage.
Sundari is more than just a philosophy. At a time whenmainstream skincare promotes the merits of laboratory results
and dermatologists’ research, Sundari offers a refreshingapproach to time-tested beauty secrets. Furthermore, theproducts are formulated with organic ingredients wherever
possible with no synthetic fragrances or dyes used.

The Sundari facials are offered exclusively at Spa Village Pangkor
Laut and Spa Village Kuala Lumpur; www.spavillage.com
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Skin Care Clinique, S2, Pamper Floor, Starhill Gallery, KL:+603-2141 4277

Bare beauty With all the enemies of skin uponus, Beaubelle Shield-Nude sunscreen is heaven-sent
to fight sun damage and more. The new formulation
boasts an SPF30 and is power-packed with antioxidants to protect skin cells by blocking harmful
chemical reactions. Bisabolol soothes inflammation andpanthenol locks in moisture to replenish skin and keep
it supple. Its lightweight, non-greasy texture is a bonus.
Beaubelle Skin and Body Care Day Spa, S15, Pamper Floor,
Starhill Gallery, KL: +603-2148 4898

High beam Aside from the wonderful colour palette, Kanebo’ssmooth operator Photo corbis

My skin has a tendency towards Pita. With a bit of Vata
thrown in. Or so says my aesthetician at Spa Village Pangkor
Laut. Those elements constitute my combination skin, shesays, and why I’m prone to getting blackheads.

latest Spring makeup range is all about highlights and shine from within.
The Coffret D’or line includes a sublime five-colour, eye shadow palettethat houses a sparkling gel liner. Just a finishing swipe of this dresses thepeepers in sexy shine and sparkle. Kanebo International Salon, S21-25,

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

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Cool aid The Cucumber& Aloe Wrap is so pure it’s goodenough to eat (although we won’t
recommend that you try). Freshcucumber and aloe vera are blitzed
into a luscious body smoothie thenlathered all over skin that’s been
exposed to the sun. The antiinflammatory properties of bothingredients help relieve redness
and hydrate the skin, while thesoothing mixture helps bring the
body temperature down a notch
after the day’s heat. Spa Village

Sun andSensibility
Summer time... and thetanning is easy. But when
the heat gets too much, seek
refuge in the world of Spa
Village where a host of aftersun therapies will soothe,satisfy and sensually satiate
your sun-kissed bodyby Anis Ramli

Pangkor Laut

Green paste Since sunand chlorine can damage yourluscious locks, Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali takes a leaf out of
the Balinese's book in pursuit ofgorgeous tresses. The Mekramas
hair treatment begins with aglorious scalp massage using
lengis nyuh (coconut oil) andfried tingkih (candlenut) before
hair gets deep-conditioned witha paste of daun pucuk (hibiscus
leaves) and fresh lidah buaya (aloevera). End result? Hair that shineswith lustre. Spa Village Resort

Tembok, Bali

Fruit forthought Indulge

Coconut cocktail Dry, brittle hair will love the Ulik Nyiur Malay hair treatment at Spa Village Tanjong Jara
Resort. Rich coconut cream known for its deep conditioning and nurturing properties is used to gently coax hair back to life.
But just before the treatment, you’re pampered by the most glorious head and shoulder massage of brewed herbal oil, by
which time, you’ll be snoozing away as the hair conditioner takes effect. Spa Village Tanjong Jara

your sweet tooth as you
luxuriate in Spa Village
Cameron Highlands’
Fresh Strawberry
Escapade. Fresh highlands
strawberries are puréed
to cool skin touched too
much by the sun. The
three-step treatment
begins with a soothing dip
in a Strawberry Tea Bath,followed by a strawberry
yoghurt and oatmeal bodypolish that leaves skin
soft and supple, and ends
with a blissful strawberryscented body massage
to relax you. Spa Village

Cameron Highlands

A tropical
touch Guava is not086

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caviar photo corbis

Deep sea pleasures At Spa Village it’s not how you eat your caviar, but where you want it smeared. The Kerstin
Florian Ultimate Caviar Facial begins with a straightforward cleansing. Then comes the mask, which is a spirulina algae paste;
and while unrecognisable as fish eggs, contains sevruga extracts. The caviar’s powerful antioxidants help promote cellular
health and regeneration - perfect for sun damaged skin. Spa Village Kuala Lumpur

only rich in vitamins, but
great for sunburn andprickly heat. The leaves
too have antiseptic
properties that help
relieve sun effects. Spa
Village Malacca cuts themfinely and adds them intoa yoghurt mixture for its
Yoghurt Guava Leaves
Body Scrub. While themixture has a sublime
cooling effect on the skin,it also does double duty by
extracting toxins from thebody. Spa Village Malacca
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Five Alive!

brown pantsuit made of a soft, snug material and a pair ofcomfy sandals and then am led to the lounge area where a
glass of water and a hot towel await. My frayed city nerves feelcalmer already.

The Sensory Exploration spa treatment
utilises all the senses to lift the spirits andsoothe the mind
by Boey Ping Ping

In the ever evolving
world of spa therapies,
there has been an exponential
increase in the numberof innovative treaments
utilising the most exotic ofingredients and most ancientof traditions in the quest forphysical, mental and, to an
extent, spiritual rejuvenation.
But at the Spa Village Kuala
Lumpur, an award-winningurban spa sanctuary locatedat The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala
Lumpur, there is a uniqueand exclusive treatment thatchooses instead to engage
the most basic of our instinctsin this never-ending quest.

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Four little nibbles sit on the daintiest thumb-size plates. I try
the first one and find it extremely bitter as I’ve just bitten into apiece of raw bitter gourd. A glass of water comes to my rescue
and I quickly wash away the bitter taste. The second platecontains grains of salt which leaves a rather saline aftertaste.
The third, a piece of juicy sour lemon is enough to make myeyes squint but the last – the sweet unmistakable taste of fresh
dates – is a pleasant reward. The flavourful experience provides
multiple sensations that heighten my awareness.

Soothing piped-in music and a vibrating floor cause me toenter a meditative state as I hear the soft yet firm voice ofmy therapist instructing me to breathe in deeply and breatheout calmly. As I inhale, I imagine myself taking in all the goodand positive things I want in my life. And as I exhale, I purge
myself of all the negative thoughts that prevent me fromreaching my goals.

The treatment continues with a massage session thatconcentrates on the most neglected areas of the body – theneck, shoulders and feet. Sturdy hands and expert fingers moverhythmically up and down my neck and shoulders, smoothingout the knotted tension created by internet addiction. Soles
tired from standing, walking and shopping are given a full 25
minutes of undivided attention and care. The pressure is firm
enough for my feet to feel a difference yet gentle enough sothat I don’t yelp out in pain.
By now, it truly feels as if all my negative energy has been
completely washed away like the ink from the paper and I
emerge into the late morning sunlight ready to start the daywith positive energy. I have left my worries behind and takewith me a small tangible souvenir of my uplifting experience: abeautiful gemstone to remind me how valuable life is.

all photos ytl online library

The Spa Village Kuala Lumpur
is an oasis of calm that I enterin anticipation of experiencing
this most evocative soundingof treatments. I immediately
enjoy the warm hospitalityof a therapist who swiftly
relieves me of my heavy
shoulder-bag and leads me
to the stylish interior of achanging room. I change
into the most comfortable

My therapist smiles warmly and hands me a notepad onwhich to pen all my negative thoughts before guiding me to adarkened Sensory Room gently illuminated by the warm glowof yellow lights. I take my place on one of the mats and lie backwith my feet propped up on a triangle pillow. The room dims
even further until overhead, tiny sparkling lights burst intoview like twinkling stars that change colour, from red to blue togreen. Each colour brings on a different vibe. As my eyes begin
to blink in unison with the flickering lights above, I feel mystress ebb away and I’m transported into a world of relaxation,
exclusively my own.

The sound of a loud gong signals the next step – a sensorial
exercise which involves the tongue and a small tray filledwith tiny mysterious nibbles. But first, my therapist instructs
me to take the paper containing all my negative thoughts –frustration, anger, dissatisfaction and worry – and submerge it
into a small bowl of water. The ink starts to fade, symbolicallydissolving any previous bad thoughts.

Created as an ideal remedy
for those who suffer fromtroubled
musclesandspinning minds (or when you
have trouble blocking out
stress-inducing
thoughts),
the spa’s signature Sensory
Exploration treatment, as its
name suggests, is an hourlong treatment that plays
on and engages all the fivesenses of sight, sound, smell,taste and touch.

I take the oil-scented towel and lightly sweep it against myforehead, cheeks, chin and neck all the while inhaling its sweet
fragrance. Then I pour the tiniest bowl of eucalyptus oil into mypalm, rub my hands together and inhale deeply, enjoying thewonderful scent of relaxation.

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technology

Palm Pilot
With the exponential technological advancement of mobile
phones these days, the world is Now truly in our hands
all stories by Matt Armitage

photo corbis

Medical marvels?

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Plane Sailing Flying for fun used to be one of the most time consuming hobbies this side of yachting, not tomention all the trouble of getting a pilot’s license. Icon Aircraft’s A5 is one of the first commercially available Light Sport
Aircraft and needs only the far more reasonable Sport Pilot’s license and is specifically designed for recreational flying. Witha pared down instrument system reminiscent of a bespoke sports car, this single prop barnstormer is designed to be stable,
easy to fly, easily transportable and, in the high cost world of flying, pretty affordable, retailing for less than a very high-end
audio system. www.iconaircraft.com

Titanium Horse Dreams Just in time for
Malaysia’s F1 season, Vertu launches its latest model, theAscent Ti Ferrari, a collaboration with the sleek Italian automaker, available in Ferrari’s trademark Rosso (red) and Giallo(yellow) liveries. Featuring the famous Prancing Horse on thereverse of the phone, where the fine leather tooling is also anauthentic recreation of the car maker’s upholstery, the phonefeatures subtle design cues that echo the bends and curves
found across Ferrari’s range of cars. Add to that a titanium
chassis, a sapphire glass screen and a series of genuine
Ferrari sounds specially blended by former Eurythmic Dave
Stewart and you have another series winner to grace the
Ferrari name. www.vertu.com
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Smart Penmanship When it comes totechnology, the humble pen is usually considered asploughing the same furrow as it has for decades, a few
gimmicky laser pointer devices aside. LiveScribe aims
to change all that with the Pulse Smartpen. Not only
does it record meetings and lectures in 3D sound (witha choice of 1Gb and 2GB machines), it also records yournotes and links them to the audio via the company’s
microdot paper and an integrated infrared scannernear the pen’s nib (which can now be printed on manylaserjet printers), turning the bundle into pdf files that
can then be shared and even transposed into type using
the bundled recognition software. Writing will never be
the same again. www.livescribe.com
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The GrandSound of Steinway
One the world’s most expensive sound systems arrives IN KL.
YTL Life finds out what the buzz is all about
by Matt Armitage094

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design & architecture

Banking on
Sunshine

Design firm Crea International sheds new light on
the way modern-day banks should look and feelby Aziz Draim

image & additional text courtesy of Crea International

When one is asked to describe the interior of abank, the words ‘sunshine’ and ‘warmth’ rarely come to mind.
Banks are known to be ultra-formal, painfully rigid and rarely
inspiring. It’s a place that is all work and no play.
As much as they are serious about their business, theMediobanca Group is also serious about having some fun. Whichis why they’ve recruited multi-disciplinary design company
Crea International to create a dynamic look and concept for
the group’s new retail banking branch, CheBanca!.
Crea International practises what they call Physical Brand
Design®, which is the philosophy and methodology of bringing
to life the values, language and spirit of a brand within a space.
Though CheBanca! still upholds values that are formal (itis a bank after all), its radical concept and design allow thebank to speak a language that is friendlier while exuding a
spirit that is refreshingly warm and welcoming. The result?
Chebanca! actually feels less like a bank and more like afuturistic boutique.
The overall atmosphere of CheBanca! is designed to recall thewarmth and light of the sun, an idea made possible by brightyellow accents punctuated throughout a marshmallow whiteinterior. The outlet’s layout references the logical organisationof the solar system with the client ideally at the centre ofit all. Aniline-treated wood reinterprets the straightforward
approach we come to expect of financial outlets while
metacrylic surfaces printed with a honeycomb texture further
soften the atmosphere.
096

The main interior presents a layout overturn with the presenceof a central base point (from which the bank staff operates)with connection booths around its perimeter. This creates anopen and fluid space that directs a consumer upon walking
through the outlet’s entrance to the multitasking connection
booths where any banking operation can be performed, either
in self-mode or with the support of a staff member.

Oops, Hadid It Again Is über-architect Zaha Hadid becoming ubiquitous? Adding to her already extensive list ofworks, the Baghdad-born creative mastermind currently has ongoing architectural projects in England, Scotland, Lithuania,
France, Italy, Azerbaijan and in the United States. Yet, in between her many grandiose schemes, Hadid finds time to dabble
once again in product design to also make her presence felt in your home. Produced by Alessi, ‘Niche’ is a centrepiececomprised of five melamine dishes characteristic of the architect’s fragmented geometry. You just can’t escape this woman.
www.alessi.com

These various elements make up what the designers call
The Natural Tech, a concept that translates to ‘ethics andtransparency of a world that does not deceive.’ It’s a designconcept that allows CheBanca! to bring human contact upfront,
encouraging better service with clients.
Environmental branding is also established in the CheBanca!
design, materialised in strong visual elements such as the wall
portals, light fixtures and the interactive walls. Apart fromthe business areas, this branch is also fitted with two chillout areas, a coffee bar and children’s space. Additionally, the
CheBanca! concept is complemented with a mobile branch
conceived to function as a communication tool to get in touchwith new potential clients.
“CheBanca! represents a banking concept with sensational
communicative power,” says Massimo Fabbro, Managing
Partner of Crea International. “We (focused on) formal andlayout innovation to boost the attraction potential: when you
pass this bank, it will be very difficult not to admire it.”www.creainternational.com
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dining

All Shook Up

YTL Life meets Chef Johann, the man who oils the
kitchen wheels of one of KL’s most exciting fine dining
restaurants Shook!, with its signature four open
kitchens concept, excellent contemporary cusine andnew surprises in the bag. Fubu, anyone?
Tan Lee Kuen
story and photos by

lot of control and monitoring to make sure that everythingruns smoothly. I also coordinate all functions and events in the
Feast Village and the entire Starhill Gallery.
W h at a r e t h e s i g n at u r e d i s h e s o f t h erestaurant? Fresh sashimi air flown from Japan at theJapanese kitchen, grilled Australian tenderloin beef from theWestern Grill, dancing prawns (deep fried prawns coated withsweet mayonaise and topped with walnuts) and antipasto fromthe Chinese and Italian kitchen respectively.
Shook! is one of the first restaurants in
Malaysia to have an open kitchen. What is theappeal of having one? Customers can see their foodbeing prepared and the kitchen in action. It is like a show. There
are some challenges to having an open kitchen as customers
are watching you, which forces you to be more disciplined.
Quality of food must be important. Where doyou source your ingredients from? My belief isthat 60% of the food depends on the ingredients, 40% on
the cooking. Most of our imported food comes from Japanand Australia - sashimi fish from Japan, premium grade beeffrom Australia - also France for foods such as duck liver andescargot. Vegetables are both local and imported. We do try
to use local products where we can. Good quality products are
not always imported and as long as the produce are fresh andgood, we will use them.

organised for Shook! or Starhill Gallery?
Definitely the Louis Vuitton store opening two years ago. It wasa very big event with a lot of celebrities, and we (in partnershipwith JW Marriott) had to ensure the best food was served at the
cocktail party. There’s also the annual A Journey Through Time
event in December when Shook! is closed for watchmakers
and jewellers’ dinners and functions. We have to create special
menus for the event.
What do you think about the hype surroundingcelebrity chefs at the moment? It’s made a lot of
people interested in becoming chefs and household peopleinterested in food. However what you see on television withGordan Ramsay or Jamie Oliver is not always the reality of the
kitchen. Being a chef is a lot of hard work.
What is your idea of good food? I like simple dishes
like steamboat. All the ingredients are fresh and you can taste
whatever you put in the broth (which has to be clear). It is aclean dish. I believe food should not be too complicated.

Shook!, Starhill Gallery, +603-2719 8535/8536
Dancing prawns

What is the strangest food served in therestaurant? You can order fubu (puffer fish) from us sevendays in advance and we have a licensed fubu chef from Japan
to cook it for you.

There is a soft buzz of activity coming from the
kitchens in Shook! In contrast to the crazy bustle asespoused in books and television on restaurant kitchens,
Shook!’s kitchens are calm oases as the chefs and theirhelpers go about their work with minimal fuss and maximum
effectiveness. They have little choice, the kitchens are open to
the public eye at all times, a novelty when Shook! pulled out
its plates in 2000 but which has since become something of asignature concept for the restaurant.
With four kitchens - Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Western
Grill - out on the floor, coordination and supervision isparamount for the restaurant to run like a well-oiled mackerel.
This responsibility lies on the capable shoulders of Executive
Chef Johann Ong, occasionally seen moving between the four
work stations, his brisk and concise movements borne of yearsof training in disciplined kitchens. This is a welcome home ofsorts for Ong, who was involved in the opening of Shook! in098

1999 under Group Executive Chef Stephan Stumpke.
Eschewing flying for cooking as a youth, Ong cut his culinary
teeth on the Queen Elizabeth 2, cooking his way throughthe high seas for three years before docking at the Michelinmentioned Morels in Ireland. Eventually the Penang boy cameback to Malaysia where he joined Pangkor Laut Resort in 1996.
Ong has since worked his way through two other YTL Hotels’
properties - Tanjong Jara Resort and JW Marriott Hotel Kuala
Lumpur - before ending up as Executive Chef of Shook! in2006. Prior to this appointment, he had briefly hung up his
apron in favour of different pastures but was soon lured back.
“I missed the life of the kitchen,” he said simply.
What are your responsibilities as Executive
Chef of Shook!? My duties are principally to coordinate
between the head chefs of the four kitchens, ensure consistency
in products, purchasing food items and creating menus. It is a
T H E Y T L LU XU RY M AGA Z I NE

How often do you change the menus? Once every
six months. Favourite items will remain on the menu andunpopular items will be replaced with new dishes. Customer
feedback is important to us but we also keep in mind that foodis a subjective matter and not everyone will agree on the samething. We also create promotional menus such as the springmenu to be launched in April 2009.
Do you keep up with food trends when creating
new menus? We do study food trends but we also have tounderstand that locals might not be ready for a certain trend,
say molecular gastronomy (as practised in the restaurant El
Bulli). We are however currently trying out slow cooking withdishes like duck confit and lamb shanks, old methods which aremaking a comeback in restaurants.

Grilled Australiantenderloin beef

Where do you get your inspiration from whencreating new dishes? I read a lot of books and magazines
on cooking, as well as conduct research and development in
the kitchen regularly. It is also good to visit other restaurants
and try different food to get new ideas.
What was the most glamourous event you have
TH E Y TL LU XU RY M AG A Z I NE

099

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 Center 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

Let Them
Eat Cake

Our resident Lady with old money turns up her
nose and pooh poohs at the global economic crisis.
What credit crunch? Lady Cristal Champers
byI don’t do doom and gloom; it is aging. With the wholeworld wailing economic avalanche and the bankers and filthyrich feeling the pinch just because they can’t splurge on anotherprivate jet or swing from a chandelier swigging champagne
during their lavish soirée (yep, I’m speaking from personal
experience), I wake up every morning counting my blessings,
I mean my G-spots to be precise – glorious, glamorous andgorgeous (what do you think I was talking about, you naughtyboy). With a recession-proof inheritance in old money, I can still
enjoy the same lavish lifestyle, though admittedly I will haveto raid the family treasure chest to sell off some heirlooms
gathering dust in the vault.
But alas! My nouveau riche ‘sisters’ in the Millionaires’ Wives
Club have to adapt to their husbands’ downturn in fortune.
Their personal credit cards have been cancelled and their
allowances diminished to only four figures. That’s disastrous
for women who cannot even wash their own hair and cut theirown nails. Lady Pru and I decided to help the distraught hedge
fund wives to face up to their new status by having a jumble
sale of their old designer frocks and shoes to help fund theirlavish lifestyles. With the cutback, we don’t want our beautysalons, stylists and personal trainers to face financial ruin andjump off buildings. A rescue mission is called for.

Aunt Sylvia says we should not pity the rich but help the poorand she believes that it’s bad karma coming back to haunt therich. She has recently discovered Buddhism by accident. She
was invited by a friend from one of her charity organisations
to see a Lama but she thought her friend meant ‘llama’,
those smelly, spitting animals from the Andes. You see, she
is rather fond of animals and runs a sanctuary for abused
and abandoned donkeys. Indeed, what attracted her to herhusband in the first place were his simian features. With strong
stocky body, firm jaw line and a shock of red hair on his headand chest, he does cut quite an irresistible figure.
Anyway, when she met the Buddhist Lama, she was in awe of
the holy man and his teachings and sunsequently converted to
Buddhism. Now Aunt Sylvia, with her halo glowing above herhead and her crusade to denounce the decadent lifestyle of therich, has announced gleefully at the downfall of the rich andmighty, “Let them eat cake!”, echoing the words of the doomed
Marie Antoinette whose decadence and indulgence made herlose her head. Ouch.

112

Illustration EDWARD MAK

My cousin Lady Sabrina, whose financier husband has lost
his job, is selling their castle in Scotland and downsizing to a
humbler abode. She has to thin out her extensive collectionof shoes, handbags and clothes to fit into her new smaller
home. To give her moral support and courage to part with her
prized wardrobe, I volunteered to help out. As we surveyed
her walk-in wardrobe the size of a small village, she foundclothes she did not even know she possessed. As for her shoecollection, Imelda Marcos, eat your heart out! The wardrobe isboth a mausoleum and museum of top designer labels, somewith their price tags still attached, and a cache of jewellery
with enough total worth to clear the debt of a small third
world country. Without a personal maid in her new home,
Lady Sabrina is forced to be a Cinderella without her PrinceCharming and it took her over an hour just to figure out how
to use the dishwasher and washing machine... and we won’t
even talk about the microwave oven. Poor Sabrina will
never be a domestic goddess.

THE YT L LU XU RY MAGA Z I NE