YTL

Issue Twent y

T h e

Y T L

L u x u r y

M a g a z i n e

T h e
Y T L
L u x u r y
M a g a z i n eLife’s A Beach
Phuket’s Perfect Pansea

Gilding The Lily
Pre-Spa Rituals at YTL
Hotels’ Spa Villages

All Shook! Up
Savouring Shook!
Shanghai

PP 15585/10/2012(031264)

YTL People
Yuko Kamegawa
Justin Juhun
Lim Kok Yang

Blooming Beautiful • Orchid Inspirations • Prints CharmingContents
18Life Events

10 The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur
reopens in a blaze of old worldstyle and glamour.
14 Renowned watchmakers
and collectors from gathered
at Starhill Gallery for Asia’s
grandest luxury watch andjewellery showcase, A
Journey Through Time VI – A
Masterpiece of Creation.

Life Bites

16 YTL’s latest news, events,
attractions and not-to-be missed
experiences.

Life on the Cover

18 Pansea Beach is Phuket’s mostperfectly-placed (and formed)
slice of tropical paradise. With

the opening of the The Surin, thearea looks set to score higher
marks among the global jet-set
than ever before.

Life Feature

26 Justin Juhun, resident naturalist
at Gaya Island Resort, has
big plans where nature isconcerned.

Life People

30 Harpist Yuko Kamegawa
delights listeners at The RitzCarlton, Kuala Lumpur withher effortlessly elegant way ofmaking music.
32 The winner of television’s
first US Masterchef programme,
Mississippi-based culinary
prodigy Whitney Miller visits32
Lot 10’s Hutong in Kuala Lumpur
for a taste of Malaysian street food.
36 A geological quirk offers divers
some of the richest sites aroundBali. Dip into a fascinating and,sometimes, bizarre world,
where transparent eels and thequirky sunfish known as themola-mola reside.
42 Designer AlexandraChampalimaud and artist Emi
Shiratori explain how they were
inspired in the creative redesignof the Green Leaf Niseko Village.

View of Life

48 Nothing makes for more funthan solving a murder mysteryover your traditional Christmas
celebration.

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Shelf LifeA selection of not-so-lightentertainment for eclectic reads.

Beautiful Life

The Majestic Hotel Kuala
Lumpur’s stunning new orchid
conservatory proves to be
the perfect backdrop against
which to showcase celebrated
Malaysian designer Khoon
Hooi’s Spring/Summer 2013
orchid-inspired collection.

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Celebrate the season of
rebirth and renewal withhaute-off-the-runway looks
from the Roman house of Fendi
and jewels.

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From stripes, checks andflorals to ethnic Chinese prints,
pattern is clearly the new black
this season.

70 From orchids and daisies toa storied fragrance, the New
Year is a time for pamperingand renewing yourself.

Life Feature

72 Diptyque recently celebrated
half a century of indulging oursenses, having become, along
the way, synonymous with
luxury candles and scents.
74 Embark on a rejuvenating
journey at any of the fourSpa Villages in the Malay
Peninsula to reap the full
benefits of the treatments
ahead.
78 Indulge in life’s little pleasure
while staying at The Majestic
Malacca with colourful
Nyonya cakes for yourpre-bedtime snack.

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Life Cuisine

82 The Shook! Outlet in Shanghai’s
Watch Art Peace Hotel offersa spectacular array of different
cuisines from around the world –all under one roof.
86 For Lim Kok Yang, Chef dePartie of Cameron Highlands
Resort, life’s all about theenjoyment of food.

Life Guide

90 Laurent Myter, Executive Vice
President - Resorts for YTL
Hotels and a former resident of
the island, shares his favourite
things to see and do while in
Phuket.

My Life

120 Jazz maestro Freddy Cole,brother to Nat King Cole, talks to
YTL Life about life, sport and hismusical family.

Editorial Team
Editorial Director
Izan Yusuff Wilson
Editor-in-Chief
Diana KhooSub Editor
Christy Yoong
      
Editorial AssistantMichelle Liong
T h e

Y T L

L u x u r y

M a g a z i n e

ArtCreative Director
Eireen Ooi

Published By
YTL Hotels
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A Note fromTan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh
With The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur fully restored and reopened to its former
glory, YTL Hotels is working on several exciting new projects in our quest tocontinuously delight our guests all over the world. We have recently formalised
the acquisition of three hotels in Australia – in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane– and the group is also focusing on our new hotels in the United Kingdom.
YTL Hotels has recently acquired and is the midst of redeveloping the BathHotel & Spa, a 99-room property in Gainsborough, in the heart of this historic
city, famed for its Roman baths and heritage buildings. Once completed,
it will be YTL Hotels’ first luxury spa hotel in the UK which will comprise,among others, the Gainsborough Building and the Grade II-listed Abbey
Church House.

Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh
Managing Director,
YTL Corporation

On our cover this month is The Surin, our property in Phuket, Thailand,
which recently reopened following a complete redesign by the worldfamous Edward Tuttle. Located on Pansea Beach, which, to me,
is one of the island’s most private and beautiful patches of beach,
I invite you to explore this sleek, modern hotel, whose beautiful
design has just earned it membership in the prestigious Design
Hotels association. Phuket is, currently, at the height of its
peak season and offers picture-perfect cornflower blue skies
set against aquamarine waters. If your schedule permits, do
explore this new offering from YTL Hotels. In the meantime, we
invite you to plan the rest of your 2013 travel plans around ourinternational portfolio of properties, which range from Niseko
in Hokkaido, Japan, to Gaya Island Resort, just off Kota
Kinabalu in Sabah, to Tembok, Bali and, once the season
opens, our Muse Hotel de Luxe in Saint-Tropez, France.
God bless and have a great year ahead.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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life events //A Majestic
RebirthThe Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur reopens
in a blaze of old world style and glamour.

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

For almost 30 years, the Majestic
Hotel sat in silence along busy
Jalan Sultan Hishammudin. Now,
after an invigorating new breathof life, The Hotel Majestic Kuala
Lumpur has reopened its doors
as the capital’s premier luxury
hotel. Decorated in the Art Decostyle of the 1930s, when the hotel
was first opened, over a thousand
specially-invited guests strolled
through the glimmering hotel
and into the Majestic Ballroom
for its grand opening recently. In
attendance was a who’s who of
Kuala Lumpur’s high society, as

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life events //1

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well as ambassadors, captains ofindustry and frequent guests of thehotel in its previous incarnation,
all of whom dined from a distinctly
Colonial-Hainanese menu that hasremained unchanged from when
the hotel was first opened. As theevening progressed, the guests
had the special privilege of listening
to Freddy Cole trill the ivories withhis band and winding down thenight as his dulcet voice serenaded
them with some of his most famoussongs, including I’m Not My
Brother, I’m Me, Pretend and I Love
You. An old-world glamour is backin Kuala Lumpur and it is, officially,
here to stay.

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1. Dato’ Mark Yeoh. 2. Puan Sri Brigitte
Yusuff & Thea Hamidah Rahman. 3. Dato’
Yeoh Seok Kian, Datuk Lim Kong Wai, Dato’
Sri Lim Huah Leong & Tan Sri James Foong.
4. Irene Tan & Jenny Tan. 5. Puan Sri Tong
Siew Bee, Tan Sri Lim Wee-Chai & YuChung Lo. 6. Jeremiah Tan Chien Yih,Puan Sri Sherina Aris & Hui Eng.

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7. Datin Naimah Ayob & Dato’ Azharuddin
Abdul Rahman. 8. Dato’ Jimmy Choo,
Shawna Yap, Datuk Chean See Ooi, Dato’ Yeoh
Soo Min, Dato’ Ir Robert Tan & TS Yap.
9. Tan Sri Rainer Althoff, Carol Gomez,
Datin Shalini Ganendra & Dato’ Ir Dr Dennis
Ganendra.10. Zat Coenraad & Henni Coenraad.
11. Dr Ednin Hamzah & Norchaya Talib.
12. Datin Shirley Teo & Dato’ Ir Teo Chiang Kok.
13. Osman Morad & Nazi Morad.
14. Tan Sri Dr M Mahadevan &Dato’ Thavalingam Thavarajah.

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life events //4

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A Fêteof Time1

Ten days of Asia’s grandest luxury watch andjewellery showcase, A Journey Through Time
VI – A Masterpiece of Creation, at Starhill Gallery
in Kuala Lumpur, culminated with the ‘Watchof the Year Awards Presentation’. Renowned
watchmakers and collectors from all across theworld gathered at this glittering event to celebrate
the best of haute horlogerie as they were treatedto the finest cuisine, wine and entertainment inStarhill Gallery’s Shook! Restaurant. It truly was anight to remember.

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1. Datin Ng Lai Heng and Dato’
Dr Ong Hong Peng.
2. Arianna Teoh, Nitin Goenka
and Steffanie Chua.
3. Denis Asch and Dr Frank Müller.
4. Charmaine Low, Steve Clerici,
Beatrice Huchthausen andGuillaume Tetu.
5. Dr Bernard Cheong and
Dolly Cheong.
6. Steve Holtzman and Marc
Rogivue.
7. Harry Lim, Andrea Fonseka
and Paul Stadlin.
8. Nurain Mohidin andZarah Murad.
9. Melvin Chong and David Keel.

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life bites //YTL’s latest news, events, attractions and not-to-be-missed experiences.

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Staying at the Cameron Highlands
Resort is all about enjoying highland life
– rambling nature trails, cool misty air andall that the great outdoors has to offer,minus sweltering tropical heat. Whennight falls, things can get a little nippy. Our
proposal? Prop up the Highlands Bar
by nursing at least one of its signature
Strawberry Daiquiris – a potent but
tasty blend of rum, triple sec and the local
highland berries of choice. At just RM30
a pop, it’s a delicious way to end any
day here.

The Hilton Niseko Village, set at thefoot of the majestic Mount Annupuri in
Hokkaido, Japan, is the perfect place
to indulge in the therapeutic pleasuresof onsen (natural hot springs). Currently
at the height of its peak winter season,
the resort offers both indoor and outdoor
onsen, whose sodium-rich water is said
to be highly curative and a boon for joint
pains. Some of the suites also boastof their own private dipping pools – agodsend for the bashful.

One of the central gathering spots in
newly-relaunched The Majestic Hotel
Kuala Lumpur is its bar. A dark-panelledwatering-hole adorned with mirrors andbrass and with a gilded cupola to bask
under, mosey on over to knock backcolonial-era cocktails like stengahs or
gin pahits , while listening to The
Solianos, arguably Malaysia’s mostrenowned musical family, who willentertain nightly as a quartet.

Snow Fun

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Highland Sling04

All In The Family

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If you’ve fallen in love with the flavoursof traditional Peranakan or Baba-Nyonya
cuisine, make it a point to sign up for
Chef Chia Kuan Pow’s (more popularly
known as Chef Poh) Nyonya cooking
classes. With a maximum headcountof four, the classes are conducted at
The Majestic Malacca’s poolside andguests will learn easy methods (andChef Poh’s invaluable tips) in preparingclassic favourites like ayam pongteh andprawn and pineapple curry.

The waters off Gaya Island Resort in
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, are a wonder tosplash about in. Calm and collected,
it’s an ideal way to try out stand-up
paddle surfing, a most popular activity
among the resort’s guests. The kneedeep waters are also tranquil – perfectfor toddlers and children to join in theaquatic activities. For those who wish
to explore a little deeper and further,loan one of the resort’s kayaks for morewater-centric fun.

YTL Hotels’ latest luxury offering is not
on terra firma, but on the water. The
new Straits to Luxury Experience is a
private, unique and unabashedly indulgent
5D/4N nautical adventure aboard an 85ft
luxury yacht. Beginning from Pangkor
Laut Resort, a pampered party of up to
eight guests will sail north, up the Straitsof Malacca, to Phuket, stopping by
islands like Ko Rok Nok, Ko Kai and Ko
Phi Phi along the way. Available from now
until April only.

Nyonya Flavours

Paddle Up

Sail Away With Me

For more information on YTL Hotels’ events and promotions, go to www.ytlhotels.com

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life on the cover //life on the cover //Fancy
PanseaWith only two resorts on this exclusive
patch of Phuket beachfront, it’s safe to
say Pansea Beach is the island’s mostperfectly-placed (and formed) slice oftropical paradise. Now, with the openingof The Surin, the area looks set to scorehigher marks among the global jet-set
than ever before.
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Text Diana Khoo Photography Yong Keen KeongSurrounded by coconut groves and fronted by
the blue-green hues of the small but perfectlyformed Pansea Bay, The Surin, formerly
known as The Chedi, recently emerged
from an extensive rebranding and renovation
exercise lovelier than before.

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Located on Phuket’s west coast and flanked
by Bang Tao Bay to its north and Surin Beach
to its south, The Surin sits prettily on Pansea
Beach, a small but beautiful beach that isquite cut off from the rest of Phuket’s heaving
sands, due to its location, and remains analmost private playground for the guests of
the area’s two resorts. Named for the village
in which it’s located, whose name, in turn, isderived from the Hindu god Indra’s Thai name,
The Surin enjoys the cachet of being one of
Phuket’s two (the other is its neighbour – thecelebrated Amanpuri) most luxurious hotels,
both conveniently located side by side on theisland’s most exquisite and exclusive patch ofbeach.

1.The Surin sits on
Phuket's exclusive andexquisite Pansea Bay.
2. Restorative solutions
from The Surin Spa.
3. A grey and white
palette predominate
the refurbished resort.
4. Local longtail boats
will take you to divesites off Phuket.

Having emerged bright and beautiful from a
recent THB300million refurbishment, The Surin

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life on the cover //7
5. Complimentary afternoon tea is served by thepoolside on selected days. 6. One of Phuket's mostluxurious hotels, The Surin has emerged even lovelier
after its refurbishment. 7. Sumptuous Thai silks by
Jim Thompson add a touch of luxe to The Surin's
bedrooms. 8.Spend your day at The Surin soaking inthe sun on the beach side hammock.

Thompson in beaten bronze and muted
gold were used, adding a subtle touchof luxe. Tuttle also did away with certain
walled areas, choosing, instead, to flood
the entire resort with natural light, creating
a luminosity that wasn’t there before.

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6“A small but beautiful beachthat is quite cut-off from therest of Phuket’s heaving
sands, due to its location,and remains an almost private
playground for the guests.”

owes its sharp new look to the celebrated
architect Edward Tuttle, the talent behind
the Amanpuri as well as The Surin’s former
incarnation, The Chedi. The refurbishment,
conducted over the space of a year in two
separate phases, saw The Chedi’s tropicalisland ID (think dark woods and thatchedroofs) transformed into a sleek and modern
look. For his new vision of The Surin,
Tuttle drew from a predominantly grey
and white palette, as well as a penchantof natural materials. Granite and stone
were used extensively and, interestingly,
for the roofs of The Surin’s new cottagelike accommodation, cedar wood shingles
coloured a pale slate grey, which makes
it blend beautifully with the texture of thesurrounding coconut tree trunks. For themain areas like the reception and the bed
headboards, sumptuous Thai silks by Jim

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE“If you’ve been to the previous resort, you
would be able to notice the difference
immediately,” says Antonio Saponara,
The Surin’s General Manager. “But, atthe same time, Ed wanted to maintain acertain integrity from The Chedi’s previous
design brief, which was to blend well withnature. After all, the property sits on aformer coconut plantation and he wanted
a resort that would look beautiful, as it
gently slopes down from the coconutstudded hills into the golden sandsof Pansea Beach.” The end result iscertainly spectacular. The Surin, with its
slightly Caribbean-looking cottages andmarvellous light-filled spaces, all centredaround the spectacularly inviting black
hexagonal swimming pool tiled withlustrous anthracite, is also connected by aseries of elevated walkways, zigzagging in
between the tree tops. “Ed has spent muchof his life on Pansea Beach,” continues
Saponara, “so his special affection for thearea is obvious and shows in his work.
You could say, this bay is an extension of
his home.”

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life on the cover //A total of 103 beautifully-appointed
cottages are scattered about the resort,each boasting its own private veranda
and secluded sun deck. Not all rooms are
created equal, however. Sun-worshippers,
who desire to be as equally close to thebeach as they are to the pool, shouldmake it a point to book Room 105, a
stunning and exceedingly well-placedbeach studio suite.

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9. Iced cocktails to help
cool things down. 10.
Seafood tom kha. 11. Dueto its location, Pansea Bay isalmost a private playgroundfor guests at The Surin.
12. Phuket offers plenty of
putting opportunities.

The Surin also provides an interestingassortment of activities for the restless
guest, including a shiny new Technogymequipped fitness centre, two floodlit tennis
courts and free scuba trials on selected
days. On the beach, there are new
catamarans, Hobie Cats as well as surfboards, ideal for the windsurfing season,
which runs from mid-April to June. For those
who prefer a calmer way of passing time,
private yoga lessons may be arranged aswell. For the culturally-inclined, excursions
may be made to the nearby temple of Wat
Manik in Choeng Talay as well as to the
Gibbon Project, a rehabilitation and rescue
centre for gibbons in Khao Phra Theaw
National Park.
The waters off Phuket are also a marine
enthusiast’s dream and dive expeditions
can be arranged by the resort. “The closest

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life on the cover //life on the cover //dive site is Koh Wae,” shares Saponara,“and it’ll take you just 15 minutes by the
local ruea hangyao (longtail) boats. It’s arocky outcrop and offers a good chance to
see things like turtles and rays. There arealso two World War II airplanes that were
sunk in the area a few years back to form
an artificial reef. It’s now a popular secretdive spot among divers who know.”
Guests who prefer to stay on terra firma
might prefer to spend their time on theisland’s golf courses, which include theworld-famous Blue Canyon Country Cluband the Red Mountain Golf Club. “We
are also in the midst of the super yachtseason,” he adds, “and many of them like

SAVOURING THE SURIN
13 The Bar at the Beach Restaurant.
14. The Surin Spa's treatments are derived
from traditional Thai and contemporary
restorative approaches. 15. Colourful Phuket
has something for everyone. 16. Lomtalay offers
Thai cuisine as well as splendid views of theAndaman Sea.

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coming to Pansea Bay, where they drop
anchor and sometimes even check into
the hotel in order to spend a few nights
on land.” Saponara discreetly adds that
Pansea Beach (and its two hotels) are alsomagnets for the global A-List and it’s notuncommon to bump into a bevy of big
names, be it a Premier League footballer
or a Muscovite oligarch.
There is a popular saying whichadmonishes us not to grow up tooquickly, lest we forget how much pleasure
the beach can afford. All I can say is, at
The Surin and its bijou patch of perfect
Pansea Beach, there’s little chance of that
happening. Ever.

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One of the main highlights of visiting Thailand would be to sample its exotic, delicious
cuisine. Guests of The Surin can, thankfully, indulge in a variety of exquisite meals
without having to leave the property. Here are some tastes and textures to treat yourpalate to during your stay.
• If you’re looking for something
thirst-quenching yet infused with local
flavours, try the Tomyum Iced Tea at The
Beach Bar. Flavoured with lemongrass,
shredded Kaffir lime leaves and perked
up with a squeeze of fresh lime, it’s
the best way to cool down, Thai-style(barring a stubby of Singha, of course).
• Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,head to the poolside to indulge incomplimentary afternoon tea. Nibble on
tropical fruit, cakes and pastries as well
as fresh-made khanom krok – a delicious
Thai snack made with coconut cream,
flour and assorted fillings like scallions,taro and carrot.
• It can get quite hot under the Siamesesun. Cool down with the resort’s
assortment of iced treats. We can’t getenough of the sorbets, in flavours like
lime, pineapple, passion fruit andpomelo Campari.
• If you’re not too familiar with the arrayof exotic fruit available in Thailand,
start with your in-room fruit basket.
Begin with the approachable charms ofbananas and mangos, before moving
on to poodza, an oval green fruit known

locally as ‘Thai apples’ or jujubes, andma-prang, sweet Marina plums.
• When the sun begins to set, head to
The Beach Bar for sundowner cocktails,
accompanied by a selection of its
evening tapas. Available between 5pm
and 10pm at just THB140 per plate,choose from pow pia thod (glass noodles
and vegetable spring rolls served withplum sauce), potato and pea samosaswith mint chutney, calamari with green
curry mayonnaise, mamuang ped yang(roasted duck wraps with mango andhoisin sauce) and more.
• If you’re dining at the Lomtalay
restaurant, do order the haw mok thalay– southern Thailand’s version of seafood
soufflé. Delicious!
• When you’re digging your toes into thesand while watching the sun set, order
The Surin’s popular Sunsetini – a blendof vodka, lemon and cranberry juice – orthe Surin Sling, vodka with cranberryand strawberry liqueur.
• No visit to Thailand is quite complete
without ending a meal with sinful but
luscious mango sticky rice for dessert.
Available at all The Surin’s dining outlets.

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W
T

life feature //alk onhe Wild Side
Justin Juhun, resident naturalist at Gaya Island Resort, has
big plans where nature is concerned.
Text Helen Oon

Justin Juhun is one of those rare humanbeings who is totally at one with the dark,
mysterious jungles of Sabah. The resident
naturalist at Gaya Island Resort, his affinity
for the wilderness, he says, stems from thefact that he “was born with an instinct for
nature”, as he invites me on his nature walk.
As a city slicker from the ‘wilds’ of Surrey inEngland, whose idea of ‘jungle trekking’ isa stroll in the many manicured gardens ofEngland, it is a daunting offer.
Although it is the rainy season, it has been
dry since I arrived in Gaya Island Resort,
off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. We
start the jungle trek through a flight of steps
roughly hewn into the clay soil, leaving the
comfort of the resort behind for the green
domain of the forest. The morning sun
streams through chinks in the verdant

rainforest, casting dappled lights on spiky
rattan plants and giant ferns, while giving
life to saplings on the damp forest floor as
they struggle to reach the sunlight. Lianavines curl and twist like angry serpents overtheir captured victims, clinging on to trees inloops and spirals connecting the rainforest
trees, like suspension bridges helping
arboreal animals to travel through the forest
without touching the ground.
Justin explains that the intricate ecosystemof the forest, where each and every living
thing in the jungle has a purpose, isinterdependently connected like a jigsaw
puzzle. Termite mounts cluster around big
trees as supports, some peppered withholes – tell-tale signs that anteaters haveraided the nests. Out of the corner of
his eye, he spots a sudden movement:
it is a brown lizard clinging on to a tree
and camouflaged against the dark bark,
while, further down the track, we spot
a green lizard blending perfectly withthe surrounds.
The lizards may be safely camouflaged
against predators but they cannot escapethe sharp eyes of a veteran junglewallah like
Justin. Nurtured by his father, who has akeen interest in rescuing injured wildlife orabandoned wild pets, Justin developed astrong passion for nature at a very young
age and taught himself the ways of theforest and sharpened his observation of
the jungle denizens and their habitats.
He chose a career path in the hospitality
industry, which gave him the opportunity
to venture into conservation. His first
foray came in 1996 when he worked
on an orang utan rehabilitation
programme, educating the public on
the plight of the highly-endangered
species and their habitats, which
are threatened by deforestation
for development and palm oil
plantations. He has since been
involved with reforestation projects,
wildlife rescue and husbandry andmangrove studies.
Justin joined Gaya Island Resort
when opened its doors inJuly 2012. Being the resident
naturalist is a dream job for
him as he is given full freedom
to draw up guidelines andimplement a nature agenda
as part of YTL Hotels’ Pure
Activities in Nature, a set of

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life feature //programmes to immerse guests in thecultural heritage and natural environment of
the region through a journey of four activity
paths named Discovery, Vigour, Creativity
and Balance. The Guided Nature Walks
fall under the Discovery section, where
Justin conducts educational nature walks
for in-house guests on a botanical andwildlife journey in the forest reserve
which embraces the hills around theresort, forming a spectacular emerald
backdrop teeming with exotic wildlife
and plants endemic to the region.
The walks are tailored to levels offitness and age groups, and vary in
distance and physical challenges.
Justin’s enthusiasm and in-depth
knowledge of the forest is enthrallingas he points out various namesof plants and their uses. For
those lucky enough to chanceupon some animals or birds
on these walks, Justin will
impart his knowledge on theirnames, characteristics and natural
habitats. “My nature trails areintended to educate the guests andlet them discover the wonders of
the rainforest and provide close
encounter with the beauty ofGaya Island’s flora and fauna,and to indirectly influence them
to appreciate the importance ofconservation,” he says. Even on
my own stroll around the resort,
I spotted a few monitor lizards
basking lazily in the sun, whilebirds with colourful plumage fleet
among the trees, belting out
sweet melodies. One moonlit
night, after my barbeque dinneron the beach, the resident
wild boar, affectionately called
Timmy by the staff, makes
an appearance, hoping to be
fed a morsel or two.
Ju s ti n ha s bi g p l a ns forGaya Island Resort. YTLHotels’ mission statement

28

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE“My aim is to own my own
flora and fauna conservation
entity one day, by reclaiming
the degraded forest in
Sabah and bring it back tolife through reforestation andreintroduction of wildlife.”
the forest trees. There are also plans to set
up a butterfly park by planting indigenous
trees to attract butterflies, encouraging
flying squirrels to inhabit certain trees in thejungle by installing nest boxes on them,and creating a sanctuary for injured orconfiscated birds of prey.

has always been to give back to thecommunity wherever it sets up a resort,
while preserving as much of the naturalenvironment as possible. Justin says: “I
am working on a Seven Wonders of Nature
project to identify wildlife species, gather
statistics, provide training for the juniornaturalists, educate the resort staff andplanning the whole conservation efforts andundertaking proboscis monkey studies.”
The Seven Wonders of Nature are exciting
future plans for the resort, and will include
a nocturnal walk to observe creatures of
the night, as well as a firefly twilight walkto witness thousands of fireflies lighting up

Also, much to his delight, Justin discovereda large group of proboscis monkeys living
deep in the forests of Gaya Island. He
intends to build a wooden platform near
their habitat, where guests can observe
the monkeys. All these plans, including amarine conservation project, are subject toapproval by the Sabah Wildlife Department.
As Gaya Island Resort forms part of the
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, whichfalls under the auspices of the Wildlife
Department, YTL Hotels sees a need tocontribute to the conservation of its forests,
wildlife and marine ecology. Surveying thebeauty of Gaya Island around him, Justin
contemplates: “My aim is to own my
own flora and fauna conservation entity
one day, by reclaiming the degraded
forest in Sabah and bring it back tolife through reforestation and reintroductionof wildlife.” From his track record so far,
he is on the right path to being an ecowarrior extraordinaire.

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life people //My Harp’s Delights
Harpist Yuko Kamegawa delights listeners at The Ritz-Carlton,
Kuala Lumpur with her effortlessly elegant way of making music.
Text Diana Khoo Photography Yong Keen Keong Art Direction Yvonne Low Hair & Makeup Yasmine Sek

The sound of a harp is very special,” shares Yuko Kamegawa,
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur’s resident harpist. A fixture in
the hotel’s elegant Lobby Lounge, Kamegawa’s music can beheard regularly, delighting guests as they take afternoon tea or
nurse a few well-crafted drinks from the bar. A native of Kobe,
the Japanese Kamegawa has lived in Malaysia for a decadealready and has spent much of her time playing at various YTLproperties, beginning with the JW Marriott and before moving
on to The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur.
Displaying an innate talent for music, Kamegawa started
learning the piano at the age of two – an age when mostchildren can barely toddle around, let alone make music. “I
loved the piano but I also had my heart set on learning theharp. It was tough finding a teacher where I lived, but myparents eventually succeeded, so I began lessons while injunior high school.”“My mother once said I've always loved
two things in life – music and fairytales.
With the harp and doing what I do now,
it's like a fufilment of both.”Playing from Tuesdays to Saturdays at The Ritz, Kamegawa
is a delight to listen to, as she gently works her fingers overher Aoyama harp, a beautiful instrument crafted by Japan’s
only harp factory, founded in 1897 by Jitaro Aoyama. “It’s not
the most well-known brand,” volunteers Kamegawa, “but it’s agreat favourite amongst musicians.”
Kamegawa’s repertoire is extensive, ranging from classical tosemi-classical music as well as songs she composes herself.
“I love music that has the ability to heal and soothe, andI have managed to compose quite a few, several of which I
play regularly at the Lobby Lounge. I also play by ear quite a
lot as harp scores aren’t the easiest things to come by. I also
normally observe the crowd at the Lounge before playing as it
gives me a better idea of what the audience might enjoy. But,
as a rule, I like classical music during the afternoon and lighter,more popular songs after 5pm.” Formerly with The Ritz-Carlton,
Osaka, Kamegawa had initially come to Malaysia on holiday
but ended up falling in love with the country and staying on.
Sharing that she recently got married to a Malaysian last year,
she adds, smiling: “This is my home now.”“I’ve been playing the harp since I was 13 years old,” shecontinues in her soft voice. “It really is a difficult instrument tolearn, let alone master. It is a skill which you constantly need topractise. But my mother did point out that, ever since young,I loved two things especially – music and fairytales. It’s lovely
now, doing what I do; it’s like a fulfilment of both.”

YUKO’S PLAYLIST• La Source, Hasselmans• Passacaglia, Handel• Rhapsodie Tournier-Feerie,Grandjany• Sonates, Naderman• Moon River• What A Wonderful World• Unchained Melody• Anything by the Canadiancomposer and musician,Andre Gagnon

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life feature //Southern Comfort
The winner of television’s first US Masterchef programme, Mississippibased culinary prodigy Whitney Miller visits Lot 10’s Hutong in Kuala
Lumpur for a taste of Malaysian street food.

in the culinary industry, Miller also finds time for motivational
speaking. Having authored Modern Hospitality: Simple Recipes
with Southern Charm, with a foreword by Gordon Ramsay, she’s
currently working on her second cookbook, while travelling theworld and spreading the good food gospel to her ever-increasingbase of fans and viewers. YTL Life meets the talented chef during
her walkabout of Lot 10’s street food haven, Hutong.

Text

What would you consider to be your signature dish?
I’d have to say it would be my seafood dishes. It’s hard to pick justone but, if I had to, it would be my shrimp and grits.
Most memorable meal to date?
It would be the Sunday lunches at my great-grandmother’s house,
where most of my family and I would gather for a huge spread that
could include anything from seafood gumbo to roast, rice, gravy
and biscuits.
What makes a meal memorable?
I always say that, if you put love into your cooking, the end result
will always taste great.
Favourite kitchen tools?
I love my knife collection. I have many knives that have been given
to me as gifts!
What about ingredients?
I use fresh garlic, good quality extra virgin olive oil and sea salt ona regular basis.

It’s not every day you hear of a 20-something being inspired byher 97-year-old great-grandmother, but that’s exactly what kickstarted television chef and personality Whitney Miller’s passion
for the culinary arts. Having won the inaugural US Masterchef
show, where she was also its youngest contestant, she went on
to earn a degree, with an emphasis in nutrition, from the Universityof Southern Mississippi. Now a regular jet-setting chef, travellingthe world for food shows and cooking demonstrations alongsidecelebrity chefs like Paula Deen and Guy Fieri, the southern UnitedStates-born beauty has showcased her skill and talent in cities
as diverse as Cape Town, Shenzhen and, most recently, Kuala
Lumpur. Often cited as a great inspiration for children and youth
to discover the wonders of gastronomy and potential careers

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When did you realise cooking was a passion?
I’ve loved cooking ever since I was a little girl, since I was able towalk properly, helping my mum out in the kitchen. I loved watchingher cook and always wanted to help. I also vividly remember
helping my great-grandmother make her famous biscuits from thetime I was seven years old.
Who do you think are the great innovators of modern-day
cuisine?
One person I think who represents southern US food in a uniqueand creative way would be Hugh Acheson.
What’s your idea of comfort food?
Simple, flavourful food is comfort food. It can be a simple bowlof tomato soup, a grilled cheese sandwich or even chicken curryand naan!
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life feature //life feature //Chef Whitney Miller
samples a small portionof Malaysian street food's
dazzling variety during her
visit to Lot 10's Hutong.

Where are your favourite street food cities, though?
If in the United States, I’d go to New York, where its food trucks
are really popular. My favourite is the Wafels and Dinges foodtruck, where I’d always order the ‘de-throwdown’ waffle, which
is a Brussels waffle with Spekuloos spread, whipped cream andpowdered sugar sprinkles on top.
What’s your take, so far, on Asian street food?
I love it, particularly the noodle dishes! The flavours are just so boldand I love the spiciness of it all.
What’s your impression of Lot 10’s Hutong, now that you’reseeing it in the flesh?
I have to say ‘wow’. I was a bit overwhelmed with the selectionof all the food – but in a good way. I enjoyed the sheer variety of
the food on offer and it was all available in a convenient and fun
location. I loved reading the signs on the various eateries that detailtheir origins and told their stories. The history of food interests me
a lot.
What have you tried so far?
I really enjoyed the prawn noodles and satay. I was also told, after
sampling so many dishes from the eateries at Lot 10 Hutong,

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that I’d only tasted about five per cent of Malaysia’s cuisine. I
was like, ‘What? Wow!’. I do agree that if you want to sample
the best variety of Malaysia’s flavourful street food on offer, go to
Lot 10’s Hutong!
What will you take away from your Hutong experience?
Possibly the various cooking methods I’ve seen. I’ll try and use
some of them in my own kitchen. I have to tell you I was really
intrigued by the charcoal cooking.
Did you get to try durian?
I did but I can’t say it’s on the list of foods I’d ever want to eat again.
It was the smell that made it so difficult for me to distinguish thefruit’s taste!
If you could take one of the stalls back to the United States,
which one would you pick?
I’d take them all back because I’d love to be able to share
my experience with my friends and family. I know the shaved
ice stall would be really popular where I live because we havesomething similar on offer. It’s hot and humid in southern UnitedStates and we cool off with shaved ice as well, but without all thedifferent flavours and toppings like I sampled at Hutong.

life feature //A diver surrounded by butterfly fish; One of the manydifferent species of fish living in the waters off Bali.

In Another World

A geological quirk offers divers some of the richest sites around Bali. Dip into afascinating and, sometimes, bizarre world, where transparent eels and the quirky
sunfish known as the mola-mola reside.
Text & Photography Simon Pridmore

When you sail off into the sunset in an outrigger sailboat from theshores of the Spa Village Resort in Tembok, Bali, on the island’s
north-east, you are cruising over waters that lie on the cusp ofgeological and biological change. In the past, at times of low sea
levels, this coastline marked the very tip of a massive EurasianContinent, and you could have walked all the way from Bali toParis without getting your feet wet.
However, even when the world’s oceans were at their lowest, thedepth of the chasm between Bali and Lombok, the next island

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in the chain, meant you could never have gone any further east
without harnessing wind or mechanical power.

Wallace’s Genius

In the 19th century, the great naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace
spent time on the islands of what is now Indonesia and remarked
how different the species of bird and animal living in the westof the archipelago were from those that inhabited the east. His
findings led him to draw a line on a chart that ran through theMakassar Straits between Borneo and Sulawesi, crossed theBanda Sea and continued down through the straits between Bali
and Lombok. To the west of the line, in Bali, Borneo and beyond,animal and bird life was predominantly Asian. On the other side,in Lombok, Sulawesi and further east, the animals and birds were
strikingly different, mainly species that originated in or resembled
those found in New Guinea and Australia. Brilliantly, he deduced
that the reason was geological rather than biological: “I believe
the western part to be a separated portion of continental Asia,
the eastern the fragmentary prolongation of a former Pacificcontinent.” Of course, we now know that he was absolutely right.

During his trip, Wallace also came up with the notion that natural
selection was the driving force behind evolution. At the sametime, Charles Darwin was on the Beagle, sailing the seas on theother side of the Pacific and drawing similar conclusions. But thatis an entirely different story.

A Very, Very Big River

What Wallace could not know – something, in fact, that no-one
noted until almost 100 years later – was that one of the factors
preventing species crossing Wallace’s Line was an enormous
body of moving water. Fossil and historical records show thatelephants, orangutans, bears, tigers and other Asian mammals
never managed to bridge the gap, getting only as far as Borneo
and Bali. Even those that tried to swim over, or were caught ondriftwood after a flood, faltered, as anything that enters the water
on one side of the line is swept far away from land long before it
can reach the other.
In the Pacific Ocean to the north-east of the Indonesianarchipelago, the sea level is about 20cm above average. In the

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37

life feature //islands of northern Indonesia. As it travels, it picks up an enormous
quantity of marine larvae, eggs and juveniles, and deposits themwherever it encounters land. It is no surprise that most of thelegendary Indonesian scuba diving destinations lie along theroute taken by the Throughflow. The calm bays of black volcanic
sand in the area around Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali, forexample, are astonishingly rich in rare species. Enterprising dive
operators need only sink a stripped motorcycle frame or a dozen
broken bottles set in a block of concrete and they soon becomea gathering point for small fry seeking sanctuary. These tiny fish
attract predators such as frogfish, lionfish, scorpion fish, eels,and other rare and fascinating creatures and they, in turn, attract
scuba divers and snorkellers.
Dive guides who work in the area often report larger sightings too,such as dugongs and a host of cetaceans. There are sightings ofbizarre and highly-unusual marine life: last year, an amateur divercaptured a long and entirely transparent eel on video, which is now
a YouTube sensation.

Diving the Throughflow

Indian Ocean to the south, the sea level is 10cm below average.
This 30cm drop between the oceans creates water movement
on a massive scale, a phenomenon known as the IndonesianThroughflow or Pacific-Indian Throughflow. The most direct path
between the oceans and the one taken by a large portion of
the Throughflow, as you may have guessed, runs right along
the Wallace Line between Borneo and Sulawesi and then down
through the straits between Bali and Lombok.

Clockwise, from top: A Moray eel peeringout of its nest; A fisherman going out to sea
in the local jukung; Bright schools of fishseeking sanctuary in coral; Fishing off thecoast of Kuta in Lombok.

Visualise it as a very, very big river pouring through a canyon
between continents. Ocean current flows are measured in units
called sverdrups, with one unit the equivalent of one million cubic
metres of water moving past a given point per second. The flowof the Amazon is about half a sverdrup, while the combined flowof all the rivers in the world is double that; the section of theIndonesian Throughflow that courses past the eastern tip of Bali
is estimated to be 2.6 sverdrups – two and a half times the totalof the world’s rivers!

Creatures Great and Small

Thus, a vast amount of water is drawn from the Pacific Ocean andsweeps through tropical seas, across the equator and past the38

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Beyond the calm water of the bays, the Throughflow provides
dramatic drift diving along unusual seascapes. Towering barrel
sponges lean at 45° angles, as if in the presence of a powerful
wind, and, in places, pinnacles and walls are scoured of theirusual natural coating. But, in the valleys and other places where
the topography provides a little shelter from the onslaught of thecurrent, the enormous profusion of corals and fish life can takeyour breath away. In one bay, for example, just a few metres fromthe lines of colourful fishing boats that decorate the beach, you
can find hectares upon hectares of multi-coloured staghorn coral,
as glorious a sight as any of Bali’s rice field terraces. Drifting overthese fields of pointed sculpture in pastel shades, populated byclouds of damselfish which rise and fall as you pass, is a true
magic carpet ride.

Cool Water

The Throughflow passes by the south-east coast of Bali too and,close to the village of Candidasa, a series of small islands, somenot much more than jagged shards, are home to some of Bali’s
richest dives. Schools of jacks, rainbow runners and barracuda
use the dramatic rock formations for shelter from the current andreef sharks circle around, watching for weakness and waiting
to strike.
Further south, attempting to block the southern end of theLombok Straits like an ill-fitting plug, is Nusa Penida, the exposedpart of an undersea ridge that connects Bali with Lombok.
The Throughflow races by on both sides of this island, offering
healthy coral, lots of big animal sightings and exhilarating drifts.
Sometimes, however, the ride can be a little too wild and
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39

life feature //“Beyond the calm
water of the bays, theThroughflow provides
dramatic drift diving
along unusual
seascapes. Toweringbarrel sponges leanat 45° angles.”conditions can change rapidly and vary dramatically. One day,you will drop in on a site and be entertained by a dozen manta
rays which sweep in from the deep to feed on plankton in calm,bottle green water. On another, the same site will be empty offish, and the ocean will merely throw you around in a soup of
spume and spit you out into the southern ocean on a fast ride to
the horizon.
Seasons have an effect on the speed of the Throughflow, with
August, when the south-east monsoon is at its zenith, usually thestrongest month. This also coincides with mola-mola (oceanic
sunfish) season around Nusa Penida. The arrival of these bizarre
creatures may be linked to the increased strength of the current,
but this time of year also sees an upwelling of colder water in thesouth of the Lombok Straits and that may be significant too. The
reliability of mola-mola sightings during this period has created asmall boom in the local diving industry. Be warned, however, if
you are thinking of joining the crowds: water temperatures candrop to the high teens; but, when you are face to face with anoceanic sunfish measuring four metres from tip to tail, you willprobably not even notice!

How to Experience the Throughflow
The wonderful folk at Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali canalways arrange a sunrise or sunset cruise on an outrigger
sailboat and, especially in the mornings, you may also
spot dolphins. Snorkelling equipment is available at theresort and a guide map on the beachfront shows youwhere the action is and gives you some tips and tricks
on how to snorkel skilfully and safely. If you are a certified
scuba diver, the resort can arrange for guided dive tours
anywhere along the coast.

Clockwise, from left:
The mola-mola season
around Nusa Penida
attracts a large number ofdivers; A lionfish, one of
the many denizens of thewaters around Bali and
Lombok; Mount Agung
towering over Bali island.

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41

life feature //Inspired by
Art and Nature
Designer Alexandra Champalimaud andartist Emi Shiratori explain how they were
inspired in the creative redesign of theGreen Leaf Niseko Village.

Text Catherine Shaw

Niseko’s spectacular scenery, recordbreaking snow and a clutch of new
stylish hotels have transformed thetiny alpine village in Hokkaido, Japan’s
premier ski destination. Leading thestyle setters is the Green Leaf Niseko
Village, an award-winning contemporary
ski lodge that boasts one of the mostconvenient ski in and out locations in
Niseko – as well as 200 chic rooms, asleek bar and lounge, therapeutic spa,
traditional onsen, as well as world-classski and dining facilities.
The new look for the popular 200room hotel was unveiled in 2010 andis courtesy of the renowned New Yorkbased Champalimaud Design, whosestellar reputation for creating distinctiveclassic interiors with a modern edge
comes from its creative work on someof the world’s leading hotels, including

The Berkeley and The Dorchester in
London, The Carlyle in Manhattan and
the Bavarian Inn & Chalets in Taos, New
Mexico. The firm recently completed
the renovation of the Hotel Bel-Air in
Los Angeles and is currently renovating
the Waldorf Astoria New York and Le
Richemond in Geneva. Last year, thefirm’s President and Principal Designer,
Alexandra Champalimaud was inducted
into the Interior Design Hall of Fame,
while her work for the Bel-Air also won
the International Hotel Award for BestInterior. Born and raised in Lisbon, andwith a degree in the decorative arts fromthe prestigious Ricardo do Espírito Santo
Silva Foundation, Champalimaud also
won the International Property Awards’
Best Luxury Hotel Design – Japan forher creative redesign of the Green Leaf
Niseko Village in 2011.

Green Leaf Niseko Village boasts of the mostconvenient ski in and out locations.
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life feature //“Each room is akin to a viewing
platform, looking out onto thebirch and conifer forests in theforeground and a snow-capped
Yotei in the background.”She says that maximising the Green
Leaf’s unique setting, with its spectacular
views of Mount Yotei, was core to thesuccessful design concept. “Working
within the site and structure was very
important to allow us to interpret thehotel’s unique qualities and to createa modern social space that would
be the ideal experience for its global
clientele.” In an inspired move, thedesigner turned to local artist Emi
Shiratori to create a series of unique
art installations in high-profile spaces
within the hotel. “I was displaying
some of my work inside the nearby
Hilton Niseko Village Hotel,” recalls
the artist. “The designer saw mywork and gave me this amazing
opportunity to work on-site, creating
special paintings for specific partsof the hotel. It was the first time I
had ever done anything like this, so
it was a very exciting experience.”
Shiratori’s quirky yet elegant,organic aesthetic worked
perfectly with the hotel’s new look,a blend of classical European
alpine style with an intriguing mix
of modern whimsical touches.
For example, at the heart of thehotel’s distinctive contemporary
new look is the hip Tomioka
White lobby lounge, whichdraws a glamorous crowd,
thanks to its welcoming vibe,
cosy leather sofas, signature
fireplace and a bar serving
innovative cocktails, saké and44

fine wines. Here, the artist has created a
14m hand-painted mural at the entrance,
depicting the forest and animals of
Niseko. “I paint freehand so I feel it isan artwork with a live touch,” explains
Shiratori. “Working freely within a hotelmeans creative decisions sometimes had
to be made on the spot to suit a particularspace, but I found that challenge reallystimulated my creativity and imagination.
Working on a large wall as part of a room
used by guests is completely different
to creating a painting in a studio; theinspiration comes differently.”“We like it when art is melded into
the interior design and not simply
framed images hung on a wall,” says
Champalimaud. “What is so exciting
about the art at Green Leaf is that theactual building – walls, doors, ski lockers– becomes the canvas for the artist to
express her vision while cresting a
dynamic additive layer to the interior
design.” Shiratori, who draws her artistic
inspiration from “meeting with new things,
particularly good music, a mountain anda seascape of morning glow”, was bornin 1979 in Sapporo. A talented graphic
designer and illustrator, she is wellknown for her vivid hand-drawn organic
shapes and lines. Currently based in
Hokkaido, she works on a wide variety
of projects, including projects related
to music, weddings and even regional
development. She also teaches at the
Hokkaido Art and Design College.

2

Shiratori’s bold, undeniably Japanesegraphics also feature in the hotel's spa,
which was named one of the 40 BestNew Spas in The World by Condé Nast
Traveler. The locally-famous Higashiyama
onsen , or hot spring, and a dedicatedmanicure and pedicure studio offers
therapeutic care for all ages. To reflect its

3

2. Rooms in the Green Leaf
Niseko Village look out tothe birch and conifer forest.
3. Celebrated designer
Alexandra Champalimaud.
4. The warm-coloured walls
give the bathrooms a cosy
feeling. 5. Animal graphics
help guests identify theirrooms.

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life feature //natural and serene ambience,
Shiratori created an illustration
based on a swan and a fishdiving into deep waters. “It was
based on a digital sketch andwe had to bring in speciallymade cutting sheets, but theresult is just as I pictured it,” shesays. “I feel very strongly that theisland of Hokkaido is particularly
comfortable with nature. We areliving, and feeling unconsciously,
the power from childhood. Thereis flow and circulation in nature,even if it is not visible. When I firstrealised this, I understood that I am
also part of the flow and, so, when
guests see my work, I have helped
nature flow in a small way.”“We wanted to work in different
creative ways, like adding Shiratori’s
unique artworks to create amodern social space that attracts
a youthful and global clientele,”
explains Champalimaud. The artwork
blends perfectly with the lobby bar’s
Scandinavian-inspired cantilevered
fireplace, flanked by eccentric whiteceramic light sconces moulded fromdeer antlers – each lit, playfully, atthe tip. A zinc-covered bar and 200
sq ft hand-painted Fromental wallcovering from France, sourced byChampalimaud, provide further strong
design statements in the lounge, whilecowhide armchairs, deep Chesterfield
sofas and reclaimed old growth walnutcoffee tables make the space ideal for
post-ski relaxation.

6

Half the hotel’s spacious rooms
enjoy close views of Mount Yotei.
Champalimaud said: “Each room isakin to a viewing platform, looking out
onto the birch and conifer forest in theforeground and a snow-capped Yotei in

7
6. Shiratori was excited by thefact that the entire hotel became
her canvas. 7. Tomioka White
lobby lounge. 8. Art blends
gracefully with hospitality.
9. Local artist Emi Shiratori
created a series of uniqueartworks within the hotel.

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9the background. It’s a spectacular intimate
view.” Here, Shiratori has decorated
guestroom doors and key holders (andski-lockers) with delicate images ofanimals indigenous to Hokkaido. “There
are so many places inside the hotel, so I
wanted the animal graphic to help guests
identify their own rooms,” she explains.
Champalimaud’s guestroom design also
took artistic inspiration from over 190
stunning original prints by acclaimed
Japanese artist Soichiro Tomioka thatfeature prominently in most rooms.
The overall result is an elegant andrustic aesthetic, manifesting signatureChampalimaud touches, such as large
cuts of live-edge teak and walnut, andrich, warm fabrics, which play nicely withclassic modern furniture like Herman
Miller shell chairs. “I like to design spacesthat are well proportioned, beautifully
detailed, layered, open, fluid and easyon the eye,” says Champalimaud. “Iuse iconic art, creative sculpture andthe exceptional pieces of furniture as
anchors to my expression of style.
Taken together, these elements create
memorable spaces that are seemingly
effortlessly, places in which people
simply want to be.”Getting There
The nearest airport to Niseko is the
New Chitose Airport with direct flights
between most major domestic andinternational airports. The flight from
Tokyo (Haneda) is around 90 minutes.
Niseko is about two hours by car and
3½ hours by train from New Chitose
Airport.
Getting AroundA regular hotel shuttle service enables
easy access to neighbouring ski areas,
onsen and dining establishments. The
Niseko United Shuttle conveniently
links each of the four ski resorts andis free to holders of the Niseko All
Mountain Pass.
Useful Links
Niseko Town Official Website:
www.town.niseko.hokkaido.jp
Hilton Niseko Village:
www.niseko-village.com
Green Leaf Hotel:
www.thegreenleafhotel.com

The mountain-lodge style (noted as
one of the Best New Hotels by Travel& Leisure and one of the top 41 Places
To Go by The New York Times) remains
open for the winter season until the endof March 2013.

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847

view of life //Yuletide
Homicide

Nothing makes for more fun than solving a murder
mystery over your traditional Christmas celebration.
Text Flavia Galeotti Photography Yong Keen Keongview of life //It was an uncharacteristically warm
weekend in Cameron Highlands. Hotelguests lolled around in the Jim Thompson
Tea Room of the Cameron Highlands overtea trays brimming with confections andsweetmeats, while a curious group of 46
invited guests – an eclectic assortment ofeditors, up-and-coming local celebrities,
entrepreneurs and thespians – wandered
about, clutching envelopes with character
profiles and manila pages riddled withclues close to their chests, while eyeing
their holiday companions suspiciously.
This was the opening scene of the Curious
Twist in Christmas Tradition murder
mystery gathering.
The afternoon began with a hunt through the
hotel for Weapon and Action Cards (whichallow your assigned character to actively
participate in the game or to trade with othercharacters). Many did this alone and kept
their finds secret, so they did not become
suspect in any of the murders that followedin the evening. Even characters were kept
secret until the pre-dinner cocktails at theal fresco Gonbei Bar, where the evening
kicked off.
There was a little bit of history involved,
as we were transported back to 1967 tocelebrate the Cameron Highlands Resort
winning the Best Resort Awards (anentirely fictional but probably well-deserved
award, nonetheless). In attendancewere prominent contemporary figureslike Saloma, Cher, Diana Ross (yours
truly) and even a surprise appearance
by Thai Silk King Jim Thompson. Amongthese celebrities were lesser mortals withsuspicious names like Adam Oublier,Samantha Cheet, and Victoria Morte,
all complete with elaborate back stories
and complex character relationships,
and dressed to impress. The hour-longcocktails gave enough time to establish ourfriends and foes before the cast of sordid
characters adjourned to the Dining Roomfor the evening. And a spot of murder.
Divided into two smaller groups (an evening
with almost 50 characters would confuse
even the most diligent Sherlock Holmes)

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and the rules of the game repeated one lasttime, dinner officially began. Shortly after theappetiser, Jim Thompson was murdered,with his body found splayed at the footof the grand staircase, followed, in quick
succession, by Amanda Madd, found in thebilliards room slumped across an armchair,pitifully clutching a pool stick.

1

Everyone retreated to the Dining Room tocontinue with the first course, over which
they discussed suspicions, blackmailed
other characters, extorted Curious
Dollars in exchange for vital information,and traded Weapons and Action Cards(during which the previously murderedcharacters also sat in: Jim Thompson –played by Matthew Bellotti – with a very
convincing ‘I’VE BEEN KILLED’ tag hungaround his neck, while Amanda Madd –played by Chelsia Ng – was reincarnatedinto the game as Priscilla Presley).
As the evening progressed, we learned
more clues and observed evidence fromthe crime scene, and tried to deduce who
the culprit was. A few more murders werecommitted, in considerably less dramatic
fashion, before the evening was done. For
good measure, of course.
After dessert, we were left to nominate who
we thought were the perpetrators of the first
murders, as well as nominate our choices
for Best Performer, Super Sleuth and Best
Costume, all of whom received a certificate
as their prize. There was also an award
for the Wealthiest Player, for the beguilingcharacter who eased money away from his
fellow players.
Before the evening was through, we learned
that Jim Thompson was poisoned by adouble-crosser after a murky business dealgone awry, before he was fatally pushed
onto the spear of an animal trap. Amanda
Madd was murdered by the butler after she
tried to end their affair and met her untimely
demise when he smothered her with apillow. Of course, the butler did it!
To celebrate a game well-played, we wereushered to the Highlands Bar and treated2
1. Mariana Escamilla andRoss Sanders in Gonbei
Bar. 2. Michael Elfwing,
Xandria Ooi, Chelsia Ng
and Josh Lim enjoying
pre-dinner cocktails
before the drama began.
3. The table is set, andthe seats are taken – it’stime for a murder.

3

to a casual Bowmore single malt whisky
tasting of the 10-, 12-, 15- and 18-year
variations. The evening wound down withexcited discussions of the game and getting
to know each other out of character – anenjoyable ice-breaker to introduce otherwise
complete strangers to each other, and an

inspired way to kick off the Christmas Tree
Lighting Tradition weekend.

The Cameron Highlands Resort will launch
its Signature Murder Mystery Dinners in thefirst quarter of 2013 as a small party andcorporate getaway offering.
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shelf life //Not-So-LightEntertainment

From Ronald Knapp’s beautiful hardcover book on the sumptuous homesof the Peranakans or the Straits Chinese, to Lonely Planet’s new guide to
the great cuisines of the world, this issue is all about eclectic reads.

What: An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles. (EDM)
Who: Paul Spencer Sochaczewski.
Why: If you enjoyed reading our little article on the richness of marine life in theIndonesian Throughflow on page 28, chances are you’d enjoy Sochaczewski’s halftravelogue, half-bio on the great Alfred Russel Wallace’s Victorian-era explorations
through Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. From Malaysia’s Batang Ai National Parkin Sarawak to Indonesia’s Aru Islands, the author explores themes close to Wallace’s
heart – women power, man’s relationship with other species, mysticism – with his
unique wit, humour and sometimes outrageous personal tales.

What: Food Lover’s Guide to the World. (MPH)
Who: The talented Lonely Planet folks are taking us
on another global adventure again – this time, witha distinctive gourmet twist. From traipsing across
China to feast on xiao loong bao (little basket bunsthat are synonymous with Shanghainese cuisine)
to tasting the robust flavours of authentic Korean
cuisine where the ubiquitous spicy sauce known
as gochujang is a staple in most dishes, thisbook is guaranteed to be a mouth-watering read.
Why: There are eating suggestions for all theunique dishes listed, according to country. So,
if you are, for example, planning your pilgrimage
to Lhasa but have no time to research on whereto find the best momo, this book will sort you out
beautifully. There is a popular Polish aphorism that
admonishes people to ‘eat, drink and loosen yourbelt’. Here, it might be wise to extend it to reading
as well.

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What: The Peranakan Chinese
Home. (Periplus)
Who: Roland G Knapp.
Why: A distinguished Emeritus Professor
at the State University of New York,
Knapp has authored several awardwinning books on Asian aesthetics andarchitecture. Hence, his latest bookpromises to be an equally visual andinformative delight. The Peranakans
were also renowned for their great loveof beautiful objects and highly-refined
tastes and sense of aesthetics. Knappevocatively captures the living style of
the Baba-Nyonyas in several insightful
chapters, from the main living areas tothe ancestral hall, as well as a particular
captivating read on Peranakan symbolism
and iconography.
What: Kuala Lumpur at War. (MPH)
Who: Andrew Barber, a former British
diplomat and Fellow of the Royal Asiatic
Society.
Why: The recent reopening of The
Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur did much toremind people of the events that unfolded
during the height of its popularity; fromthe founding of Malaysia to the grimmer
events of WWII, Andrew Barber’s newread offers an interesting view of a youngcity during the tumultuous years when
the Japanese army first entered Kuala
Lumpur in 1942, to the occupation itself
and the impact the return of the British
had on the country and its people.
What: Lonely Planet’s Best in
Travel 2013. (MPH)
Who: The globetrotting Lonely
Planet team.
Why: If you haven’t yet firmed up your2013 travel plans and aspirations, this nifty
little book might just do the trick. Filled withinspirational travel ideas and experiences,it’s time to draw on the collective
knowledge of this crack team and startplanning your year’s worth of memories,
adventures and unforgettable experiences.
Our top inspirations from its pages?
Travelling to Corsica to sample its famous
charcuterie, as well as a list of the world’s
top spots in which a spot of hunting forburied treasure may be well-indulged.

What: The Casual Vacancy. (MPH)
Who: Harry Potter’s creator, aka JK
Rowling.
Why: Published just last year, The
Casual Vacancy is a tragicomedy
and marks the successful author’s
first publication since thecelebrated Harry Potter
series. This is also her firstnovel for adults. Set in a
suburban English town
called Pagford, the story
revolves around class,politics and social issues.
Rumour has it that it isalso being adapted into
a television drama for theBBC, slated for releasesometime next year. All themore reason to hurry up
and read it, then.

What: Blood Line. (MPH)
Who: James Rollins, a New York Timesbestselling author who holds a doctorate inveterinary medicine and resides in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains.
Why: If you’re into conspiracy theories, fanciful
fiction, historical mysticism and Dan Brownish writing, you might just like Rollins’ taleof Templar knights, Somali pirates and theeternal quest for immortality. Perfect if you’replanning a week on a sun-lounger someplacewonderful. Pangkor Laut Resort or The Surincomes to mind.
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beautiful life //beautiful life //Fashionistas have long been familiar with Khoon Hooi’s name. The Malaysiandesigner has been delighting the well-dressed brigade for over a decade now, withcreations that always embody his signature elements of elegance, femininity andromance, tempered, always, by just the right touch of avant-garde edginess.
Having recently shown his Spring/Summer 2013 collection to rapturous applauseat the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, the designer’s muse this season was
undoubtedly nature-inspired. A
total of 80 different looks madetheir debut down the runway,
each paying tribute to the exotic
beauty of the orchid flower intheir own way, be it in the formof print, colour or silhouette.
"Nature has always been agreat source of inspiration
for me,” says the diminutive
designer. “Last year’s Spring/
Summer collection was all about
ikat (a traditional woven fabricsynonymous with Borneo) but
I chose to look to flowers thisseason.”Narrowing it down to orchids,
Khoon Hooi shares it was during
a visit to Kuala Lumpur’s orchidpark at the Lake Gardens thatinspiration struck. “I thought
they were just so distinctive
and exotic-looking, and it
certainly helps that it’s such a
representative flower of Malaysia
as well. I like to design for theseason and, to me, Spring/
Summer is always about colour,
while Fall/W inter dictates aheavier look.”
Designer Khoon Hooi at The
Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur's
orchid conservatory.

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Sayingit withFlowers

The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur’s
stunning new orchid conservatory proves
to be the perfect backdrop against whichto showcase celebrated Malaysiandesigner Khoon Hooi’s Spring/Summer
2013 orchid-inspired collection.

Text Diana Khoo Photography Ting Yang Shan Art Direction Sheila Cheah
Assistant Yvonne Low Model Alisa P Hair & Makeup Carven Soo & Joey Wan

Khoon Hooi’s choice of palette
for the season was as eclectic as it was varied. From cool ice green that resembled
fine jadeite to canary yellow, shots of bright blue cobalt and eye-popping hits of neon,
the collection featured lissom, flowing dresses in fluid forms, as well as dramaticallystructured outfits accentuated by bold statement touches.

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Imagine a neon pink belt fashioned
entirely out of plastic orchids or, perhaps,a sharp black suit embroidered with anorchid motif on its back. Waist-enhancing
peplums as well as flirty dresses adorned
with orchid prints also earned their fairshare of attention on the runway, eachone displaying the designer’s unabashedlove of playing up a woman’s curves,
thoroughly emphasising the allure of
the female silhouette. The designer also
made clever use of the scuba diver’s
best friend – neoprene –by pairing it withmesh as well as a medley of natural andsynthetic fabrics to stunning effect.
A graduate of the Malaysian Instituteof Art in 1993, Khoon Hooi launchedhis eponymous label just six years later
and, since then, has chalked up several
honours and accolades, including being
named Designer of the Year during the2010 Mercedes-Benz Stylo Fashion
Festival and receiving the International
Recognition Award by HRH Princess
Sriwanwaree Nareeratana during the2007 Bangkok International Fashion
Week. He has also attracted the attentionof the authoritative Women’s Wear Daily,
regarded by the industry as one of its
undisputed ‘fashion bibles’, which featured the Malaysian designer within its pages
after spotting his creations during New York Fashion Week six years ago.

“Nature has always been a greatsource of inspiration for me... I chose
to look to flowers this season.”54

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Currently based in Kuala Lumpur and with his standalone boutique locatedwithin the city’s upscale Starhill Gallery, the Perak-born designer has always
regarded fashion as his life-calling. “People have asked me before what I
would be doing in life if not designing clothes; but I’ve never ever entertained
the thought of doing anything else. I love fashion… I always have, always
will.” It goes without saying, then, that the feeling is more than mutual.

Khoon Hooi is located on the Explore Floorof Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.

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beautiful life //A Flowering for Spring
From orchids and daisies to a storied fragrance, the new year is a time forpampering and renewing yourself.
Exotic Beauty

From the legendary Yves Saint Laurent to Malaysia’s very own designing talent Khoon
Hooi, the exotic beauty of the orchid flower has never failed to captivate and inspire. In
this light, the house of Guerlain also chooses to pay tribute to this inimitable blossom
with its Orchidée Impériale molecular extract – a new, incredibly-effective product thatconcentrates the age-defying properties of three legendary orchids – the gold orchid,
Vanda coerulea and Vanda teres. Formulated based on research culled from the Guerlain
Orchidarium, a research centre unique in the world, expect a beauty experience unlike
any other.

Snow White

If you wish to keep your porcelain winter complexion well into spring, take note of
La Mer’s new Blanc de la Mer Whitening Collection, developed by the same teamof scientists at the Max Huber Research Labs. Designed to work synergistically withthe fabled Crème de la Mar , the new collection aims to give skin back its youthfultranslucence by way of a gentle yet potent two-step, two-zone face mask, which
supercharges skin with whitening and hydration benefits.

Memoirs Of Hadrien

Inspired by Belgian-born French novelist
and essayist Marguerite Yourcenar’s
critically-acclaimed work, Mémoiresd’Hadrien, Annick Goutal Paris’ Eaud’Hadrien scent, created in 1980,
remains as relevant as ever. Timeless anduniversal, it is a scent ahead of its time,created for both a man and a woman,and infused with the freshness of Sicilianlemons, cedar and cypress.

Flower Power

Still on the whitening theme, Burt’s Bees’ new Daisy White regimen is also targeted
towards helping women achieve brighter, more luminous skin. Infused with daisy
extract, harvested from wild daisy flowers in Macedonia, it has been proven that thisingredient also helps diminish pigmentation and discolouration, as well as working toeven out skin tone. Choose from a variety of products, including cleanser, toner, serum,
eye cream and moisturiser.
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C

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Sunny
Style

Yellow printed silk
blouse and highwaisted blue printed
skirt, Shiatzy Chen.
Gold drop earrings
with coloured stones,
Louis Vuitton. Blackheels (worn throughout),model’s own.

beautiful life //Bronzed
BeautyThis page: Striped blousewith ribbons on sleeve andstriped pleated maxi skirt,
Kenzo. Gold necklace withcoloured stone cubes anddrop earrings with coloured
stones, Louis Vuitton.
Opposite page:Knitted oneshoulder dress, M Missoni.
Chain-link belt with crystals,
P.A.R.O.S.H. at Antoinette.
Gold embossed foldover
clutch, Louis Vuitton. Python
bracelets and brown leather
bracelet, Fendi.

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61

beautiful life //beautiful life //Out ON A
LIMB

Printed asymmetricalsleeved silk kaftan
with embellishments,
Khoon Hooi. Whiterimmed sunglasses,
Fendi.

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63

beautiful life //beautiful life //CASUAL chicThis page: Orange draped
top and silk printed pants,
Khoon Hooi. Metal woven
bangles and brown leather
bracelet, Fendi.
Opposite page: Patchwork
print silk shirt dressand suede rope belt,
P.A.R.O.S.H. at Antoinette.
Tortoiseshell sunglasses
with red top, Fendi. Goldnecklace with coloured stone
cubes, Louis Vuitton.
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beautiful life //cool shades

This page: Reversible green
checked dress with red lining,
Kenzo. Python bracelet,
leather bracelets and twotone sunglasses, Fendi.
Opposite page:
Black and white printed
strapless long dress, Khoon
Hooi. Geometric printed
patent leather belt and floral
printed cotton scarf, Kenzo.
Two-tone bangle in galuchat,Fendi.

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beautiful life //beautiful life //beautiful life //STEPPING
OUT

Geometric printed silk
blouse, orange pants
and geometric printed
shoulder bag, all by
M Missoni. Goldrimmed sunglasses,
Louis Vuitton.

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69

beautiful life //beautiful life //Structured Style

The Roman house of Fendi’s new looks for Spring/Summer 2013 is a celebration ofdiversity – from structured tops to feathery trims, splashes of colour and geometricdetailing, each look cuts a decorative swathe of style. To truly get into the spirit ofspring, don’t miss the dresses fashioned out of oranges and yellows, and decorated
with sunburst-like motifs. A tribute to spring? Summer, more likely.

The Colour Of The Sea

Those with an eye for fine jewellery willbe, no doubt, bedazzled by celebrated
Spanish jewellery brand Carrera y
Carrera’s pieces from its Aqua collection.
Inspired by water – the essence of life –vivid London Blue topazes and diamonds
are set in stunning white gold and display
a style that is both organic and fluid.

Let It Blossom

Spring is in the air! Celebrate the season of rebirth and renewal with hauteoff-the-runway looks from the Roman house of Fendi and jewels to covetfrom grand names in Switzerland and Spain.
Fly Away With MeLouis Vuitton recently unveiled its first-ever television commercial – a whimsical story thattakes viewers on an adventure; first through the Louvre museum’s celebrated galleries aswell as an encounter with La Joconde, and then rising above the Cour Carrée. Set amidst
the old world opulence of the former palace, the heroine, played by supermodel ArizonaMuse, stars in this exciting new communication chapter for the legendary maison.

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Inspired Gems

Family-owned jewellers Gübelin recently opened its first-ever boutique outside of
Switzerland in Kuala Lumpur’s Starhill Gallery. Based in Lucerne, the renowned
name in fine Swiss jewellery offers only the most refined pieces, as can be seen in
its Madagaskar collection, which is inspired by the pebbles on the island’s beaches,
polished smooth by an eternity of pounding ocean waves.

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57

life feature //Scents of
Success

From humble beginnings to a world-wide presence,
Diptyque recently celebrated half a century of
indulging our senses, becoming, along the way,synonymous with luxury candles and scents.
Text Flavia Galeotti

There is, perhaps, no candle-maker inthe world more famous and more sought
after than Diptyque. Since its foundation in
1961, the brand has grown in leaps andbounds, and continues to be the last wordin the world of luxury candles and personalfragrances. Diptyque’s story was started bythree artistic friends, Desmond Knox-Leet,
Christiane Gautrot and Yves Coueslant,in the now-famous address 34 BoulevardSaint-Germain in Paris. What was originallymeant to be a shop for uniquely-patterned
fabrics took an interesting turn after the trio
started a range of coloured candles to match
their textiles. They became a surprise hit,encouraging them to venture into scented
candles before, ultimately, expanding into
perfumes and home fragrances.
Knox-Leet, the painter of the group, handdesigned the brand’s iconic oval labels in
the early days of Diptyque. Meant to mimic
the shape of 18th-century medallions, it
was a pattern originally featured on the
Prétorien fabric he designed in 1963. Since
then, the logo has gone through many
variations to match the personalities of theitems it adorns, like the black backgroundand small etched illustrations on the eauxde toilette and eaux de parfum bottles. The‘dancing letters’, as they are known, arealso particular to the labels on the candle
jars. Spelling out the name of the scent, thefloating typeface adds a touch of whimsy
and fun to the otherwise deep and headyaromas Diptyque is famous for.

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The candles themselves go through an
extensive artisanal process. Before theyeven begin to take shape, the high-quality
natural ingredients are sourced and blended
to create the potent scents. They are thenmixed into a pure vegetable and paraffin
wax, which can burn for an average of 50
to 60 hours. Lastly, lead-free cotton wicks
are hand-glued to the bottom of the glass
before it is filled to the brim with the creamy
wax mixture. As the wax sets, the wicks
are straightened by hand and trimmed to alength of 3mm to 4mm.
Diptyque’s first official scented candle
appeared in 1963. Cannelle (French forcinnamon), a warm and spicy aromatic
candle, was followed in 1968 by thebrand’s first eaux de toilette, L’Eau , aunisex fragrance inspired by a 16thcentury potpourri recipe and the scent ofpomanders. Now, its range of candles andperfumes has diversified to over 50 different
scents in five main notes: fruity, floral, herbal,
woody and spicy.
Since the beginning, Diptyque’s goal as atextiles boutique was to share outstanding
items and inspirations the founders
discovered over the course of their far-flung
travels. This philosophy has carried overto their fragrances, where memories fromchildhood and exotic locales are accurately
recreated using the finest natural materials
they can source. The Philosykos fragrance
was inspired by a summer holiday indiscovery went on to produce one of
Diptyque’s most popular fragrances.
To mark its 50th anniversary, Diptyque
made the unconventional decision to createa fragrance to capture the essence, so
to speak, of the first boutique. Named 34
Boulevard Saint Germain , the fragrance
features fresh, green and spicy accords,
and is made from 40 raw materials, including
blackcurrant, fig leaves, fresh rose pepper
and citrus, Egyptian geranium and tuberose,and eucalyptus. The candle is housed in a
special oval-shaped, hand-made porcelainjar, and can burn for approximately 70
hours. The scent has been so well received
that it was awarded the 2012 Interior
Scent Collection of the Year Award by the
Fragrance Foundation.

Clockwise, from top:
Diptyque's range comesin more than 50 different
scents; A selection from
Diptyque's range ofscented candles; Theoriginal Diptyque boutiquein Boulevard Saint Germain;
The Volutes fragrance isinspired by the founder'schildhood memory.

Greece, where Knox-Leet cut wild fig
leaves, storing them in a box for safe
keeping. After several years, the forgotten
box was reopened and the leaves smelled
as if they were just freshly cut. This chance

The original boutique remains at the same
address it began in over half a century ago.
A lot of the decor from the early days has
endured, adding a vintage charm to theincreasingly sleek and modernised brandimage. Spread across the world, demand
for the luxurious products from Diptyque
has exploded as it continues to push theboundaries of fragrances. With Gautrot andCoueslant still at the helm, the philosophy of
Diptyque will certainly be perpetuated for theforeseeable future.
Diptyque products are available at Fashion
Avenue Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, and Isetan
KLCC.

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spa life //Asia is rich in healing rituals – each culture boasting a uniquetradition of wellness and rejuvenation. Utilising the wealth of naturalingredients that abound in the region, explore a distinctive way tofeel and look one’s best at the network of Spa Villages to be foundwithin YTL Hotels. Here, we present four on the Malay Peninsulathat ensure all guests begin their spa journey properly prepared –spirit, mind and body – with their own unique pre-spa rituals, eachan experience in itself.

Pangkor Laut Resort

One uniquely luxurious resort, one private island – getaways canhardly get better than this. Spanning 120ha and enveloped in lush
tropical rainforest, Pangkor Laut Resort on Pangkor Laut island is aretreat from which you’d never want to leave. Located on the west
coast of Malaysia, the resort is also home to YTL Hotels’ flagship
Spa Village – the first of the group’s unique spas – set within its own
luxurious grounds on the island, in a quiet bay and offering total
seclusion and tranquillity. Guests who come to experience the spa
will be treated to a luxurious pre-spa pampering session that lasts
for around 45 minutes, designed to perfectly set the mood for thetreatments ahead.

Rituals of Wellbeing
Special pre-spa rituals, designed to prepare body, mind and soul, precede
every treatment at YTL Hotels’ Spa Villages. The next time you prepare toembark on a restorative and rejuvenative journey at any of the four Spa Villages
in the Malay Peninsula, here is an idea of how you will be thoroughly preparedin order to reap the full benefits of the treatment ahead.
Text Diana Khoo74

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Clockwise, from top left:
Natural ingredients area key element in Spa
Village treatments; Spa
Village Pangkor Laut;
Preparing a tea bath at
Spa Village Cameron
Highlands; Mandi bungaat the Spa Village in
Tanjong Jara Resort.

First, you will be led to a special pavilion where your feet aredelicately washed with water and flowers, before an invigorating
foot-pounding session, a traditional practice that dates back to
the days of feudal China, when concubines with lotus feet had
their bandages unwrapped and the soles of their feet poundedwith wooden mallets to aid blood circulation while activating reflex
points and channelling meridian energy. After a cup of chilledlemongrass juice sweetened with orange and honey, proceed to
the next chapter of the pre-spa treatment – the Bath House Ritual,
where a series of unique bathing experiences await the spa-goer.
Refresh yourself from the tropical heat by enjoying the cool delights
of a Malay bath, designed to resemble a traditional village stream,
complete with waterfall, before moving on to a session of inhalation
therapy. Lean your face over a series of steam boxes, each filledwith different herbs to calm, uplift, de-stress and detoxify, andbreathe in deeply to reap its full benefits.

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spa life //combing and scalp massage, this is said to help dispel negative
energy as well as getting the bride-to-be to look her radiant best.
As you enjoy the treatment, look up to the ceiling, where traditional
black and white Malay movies are screened – a perfect throwback
to this property’s unique atmosphere and heritage. Finish off witha zingy lime and floral rinse. As you leave to begin your treatment,take away a beautiful memento in the form of a sandalwood comb,
presented in a ceremonial ang pow (red packet), the traditional
envelope in which gifts of money are presented to a newly-wed
Baba-Nyonya couple – the perfect keepsake of a luxuriant day.

Tanjong Jara Resort

Living up to its ‘Unmistakably Malay’ credo, the Spa Village at Tanjong
Jara Resort, set along the Terengganu coastline on Malaysia’s east,
is renowned for its Malay healing techniques, which evoke theresort’s all-encompassing philosophy of sucimurni – a way of lifethat emphasises purity of spirit and wholesomeness. Surrounded
Clockwise, from top left:
Facial steaming forms partof Spa Village Pangkor
Laut's Bath House Ritual;
Nyonya-style interiors at
The Majestic Malacca; Tea
therapies at Spa Village
Cameron Highlands; Playful
koi lead the way to the Spa
Village Cameron Highlands.

A Japanese interlude beckons next. Your therapist will guide you
to the Japanese Bath House where, behind shoji screens, you will
be invited to scrub yourself down with a goshi-goshi cloth to getyour blood circulation up, before soaking your cares away in theheated rotenburu rock pool while sipping on ginger tea. Once you
have had your fill of the warm, relaxing waters, you may then moveon to the final chapter in Spa Village Pangkor Laut’s Bath House
Ritual, where you will be treated to the exfoliating pleasures of athorough Shanghainese-style back scrub, the perfect precursor ifa sybaritic massage is what awaits you when the treatment proper
finally begins.

Cameron Highlands Resort

Surrounded by mist-swathed hills and undulating tea plantations,
Cameron Highlands has long been a haven for those seeking
respite from the tropical heat, even from the days of the British
Empire. Discovered by William Cameron, a British colonial
government surveyor, in 1885 and later developed as a hill station
retreat, the highlands is now a teeming hill resort, dotted by farms,
flower nurseries, strawberry gardens and, most famous of all, tea
plantations.
Inspired by its surrounds, the Spa Village Cameron Highlands
gently introduces guests to its signature tea baths as a prelude
to treatments. Utilising the richness of Cameronian tea, guest can

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE“Explore a distinctive way to feel and look one’s
best at the network of Spa Villages to be foundwithin YTL Hotels.”
luxuriate in the warm bath, complete with tea bags to relax the eyes
while reducing puffiness and the appearance of eye bags and dark
circles, steeped with fragrant green tea leaves – boosting the skinwith anti-oxidant polyphenols while readying the mind and soul with
its calming fragrance and therapeutic effects.

by lily ponds and fragrant frangipani trees, the Spa Village Tanjong
Jara, just a stone’s throw from the golden sands of the beach andwith the crashing South China Sea waves faintly audible, it is theperfect place in which to experience the Malay art of healing andwellness at its best.

The Majestic Malacca

Every treatment begins with a cup of honey-sweetened Akar-Akar
tea, a herbal remedy comprising of betel leaf, turmeric, ginger andtropical almonds, as well as mandi bunga, a traditional Malay floralbath whose origins can be traced to the royal courts of the Malay
sultans. This significant water ritual remains an important elementin Malay culture, performed at significant occasions, from theinvestiture of a new king to coming-of-age ceremonies as well as
weddings. It is also practiced by local healers whenever the need tobuang soei (to rid the body of negative energy) arises.

Founded in the 14th century by a fugitive Sumatran prince named
Parameswara, Malacca is a town that’s steeped in history. Having
gained entry in 2008 into UNESCO’s World Heritage List, a walkthrough Malacca offers living insight into the country’s past. With
its strong cultural heritage and indelible influences left, in part, by a
mixture of conquerors and traders, including the Portuguese andDutch as well as Chinese, Indian, Arab and Javanese merchants,
it is hardly surprising that the Spa Village at The Majestic Malacca
offers an equally captivating journey of wellness and rejuvenation.
Quite possibly the only spa in the world which bases its therapies
on Peranakan (Straits Chinese) culture, the Spa Village at The
Majestic Malacca blends Chinese, Malay and Baba-Nyonya
healing traditions into a uniquely rejuvenating experience. Walk
past traditional pintu pagar (saloon-style swing doors) to begin
Spa Village Malacca’s signature hair ritual, inspired by a Nyonya
bride’s elaborate beauty preparations for her upcoming wedding.
Comprising a hair wash with floral water, followed by a shampoo,

Wrapped in a beautiful batik sarong, sit yourself down on a stoneslab as your therapist proceeds to pour icy-cold water, scented
with kaffir lime leaves, yellow alamanda, pink plumeria, rose petals
and chrysanthemum, over you in seven ritual steps, each time witha blessing pronounced, be it for health, prosperity and beauty as
well as a host of other good things. The seventh step, however,is reserved for you alone – yours to make a wish for whatsoever
you may desire. And, once you are ritually-purified by water, yourjourney at Spa Village Tanjong Jara is finally ready to begin.

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life cuisine //Cor, It’s Kuih Time!
One of the many little pleasures one experiences whilestaying at The Majestic Malacca would be to enjoy a prebedtime snack of colourful Nyonya cakes – a lovely gesturethat forms part of the hotel’s nightly turndown ritual.
Text Diana Khoo Photography Yong Keen Keongher family’s meals, the happier everyone
will be’. In many Peranakan familes, kuih
recipes are also handed down frommother to daughter, although, sadly, thisis now a dying tradition as modern
Nyonyas eschew the assuredly laborious
process, preferring, instead, to buy
their kuih from reputable makers. Thisis hardly surprising as the kuih -making
process is extremely tedious, involving
long hours of preparation and steaming– the preferred method as opposed
to baking.
Opposite page:
Baba Charlie Lee
has been making
Nyonya kuih fornearly 30 years;
Clockwise, fromabove: Making thecasing for Lepat
Kacang; Bunga
telang is used to add
a vivid blue hue tosome of the kuih;
Pulut Inti; Kuih Koo
Merah or Angkoo.

It’s impossible to travel through the
Nusantara region without coming acrosslavish assortments of bite-sized colourful
cakes and pastries. Known collectively askuih (the plural of which is kuih-muih), these
little sweet or savoury treats may be enjoyedat any time of the day or served as a teatime snack or dessert. In Malaysia, kuih is abroad term that encompasses several kindsof sweet and savoury snacks, and these
may range from a flaky egg roll to traditional

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melt-in-your-mouth cookies in the shape ofcaterpillars. But the most well-known formof kuih is the steamed rice flour or glutinous
rice flour cakes that have been elevated toan art form by the Malay and Peranakan
Chinese communities.
Having arrived and integrated into
Malaysian society since the 15th century,
the Malaccan Peranakans (of whom the men
and womenfolk are referred to as ‘Baba’ and‘Nyonya’, respectively), in particular, haveembraced kuih-muih wholeheartedly into
their cuisine and culture. Often referred to as
Nyonya ‘cakes’, preparing these delicacies
used to be the realm of women. Young
Nyonyas were often schooled extensively
in the culinary arts, as it was understood
this was a crucial skill demanded byp r o s p e c t i v e m o t h e r s - i n - l a w, w h oupheld the belief that ‘the more skill andeffort a woman can put into preparing

At The Majestic Malacca, guests are always
treated to a few pieces of kuih as part of
the hotel’s turndown ritual. And whatever
shape, size or flavour of kuih, it’s a certainty
they all come from the kitchens of one of
the town’s most famous kuih-makers, BabaCharlie. Working out of a bungalow in the
Tengkera area, Baba Charlie Lee, 50 anda third-generation Baba, has been making
a dazzling assortment of Nyonya kuih forclose to three decades already. A former“Baba Charlie Lee, 50 anda third-generation Baba, has been making adazzling assortment of Nyonya kuih for close to
three decades already.”
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life cuisine //engineer who inherited the business fromhis mother, he has succeeded in growing
Baba Charlie’s Nyonya Cakes into one of
the leading names in Malacca. “My mothertaught me how to make kuih while sheherself learnt from my grandmother,” heshares. “We often start as early as 6am andthe process goes on right till late afternoon.”
Key ingredients in kuih usually include
pandanus or screwpine leaves, coconut,
gula Melaka and rice flour, while thedistinctively vivid blue hues detected insome kuih are courtesy of the essence of
bunga telang, a local flowering vine that’s
also known as the blue-pea or, scientifically,
Clitoriatermatea.

Sweet and colourful treats
Here's a quick guide to some of the kuih
available at Baba Charlie's Nyonya Cakes.
Lepat Kacang– A triangular kuih wrapped in
attap leaves, these are made with glutinous rice,soybeans and coconut.
Kuih Dadar – Also referred to as Kuih Ketayap
by the Malays, these thin green crepes are filledwith caramelised grated coconut.
Kuih Bingka Ubi – A rich baked tapioca cakewith pandanus custard.
Apam Balik Kelapa – Folded-over coconut
pancakes.
Rempah Udang – Glutinous rice cakes filledwith caramelised grated coconut and spicy
dried prawns, steamed in banana leaves before
being finished on a grill.
Kuih Ko Swee – Dark brown in colour due tothe use of palm sugar, these rice flour cakes are
wonderful topped with grated fresh coconut.
Kuih Lapis – A traditional layer cake madeusing rice and tapioca flours, coconut milk
and pandanus.

The choice of kuih that Baba Charlie’s offers
is astounding, with no less than 25 varieties
to choose from at any one time, including
the popular pineapple tart as well as ondeonde and coconut apam balik. So, any time
you are in Malacca, be sure to pop by for atreat or three. Or just wait for your butler at
The Majestic Malacca to bring up his nightly
basket of treats.

Clockwise, from above:
Onde Onde; Apam Balik
Kelapa; Rempah Udang
are finished on a grill; BabaCharlie's parents during
their traditional Peranakan
wedding ceremony inMalacca in 1959; At The
Majestic Malacca, guests
are treated to some kuih aspart of the turndown ritual.

Kuih Koo Merah / Hitam – More commonly
seen in red (the Hokkiens refer to them as
angkoo), this is a common cake served during
a baby’s first Full Moon feast. The Malaccan
Nyonyas also offer a black variety (kuih koohitam). The fillings may include red bean paste
or peanut paste.
Pulut Seri Kaya – Glutinous rice flour cakes
topped with pandanus or kaya (coconut jam),identifiable by green or yellow caps, respectively.
Pulut Tekan – These plain glutinous ricecakes are given their blue hue due to the use of
bunga telang and are enjoyed with kaya .
Kuih Bongkong – These banana leaf
parcels contain very soft rice flour cakes
filled liberally with gula Melaka . Silky, sinful
and sweet!
Onde Onde – Little coconut-fleckedpandanus balls filled with liquid gula Melaka
that explodes with a pop in the mouthwhen eaten.
Kuih Abu Sagu – Sago cakes coloured withbunga telang and made with shredded coconut
and gula Melaka.

Baba Charlie’s Nyonya Cakes is located at 72, Jalan Tengkera Pantai 2C, 75200
Malacca. Open from 10.30am to 3pm, and closed on Thursdays. For more information,tel: +6 06 284 7209.
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life cuisine //life cuisine //All Shook! Up
The Shook! outlet in Shanghai’s Swatch Art Peace Hotel offers a spectaculararray of different cuisines from around the world - all under one roof.
Text Catherine Shaw

Shanghai is a veritable smorgasbord for gourmands, with asensational array of restaurants leaving diners often torn between
enjoying classic Chinese, avant-garde French and everything in
between. Step forward Shook!, an innovative international dining
concept imported from Starhill Gallery in Kuala Lumpur embodying
an already phenomenally popular approach to enjoying different
culinary experiences in one sitting.
The gourmet restaurant – in the fifth-floor penthouse androoftop of the Bund’s newly-renovated Swatch Art Peace Hotel– is renowned for its spectacular array of different cuisinesfrom around the world. “It is the perfect way to experiment withconfidence and to enable a party of people to indulge in manydifferent styles and cultures of food in one sitting,” explains
Shook! Executive Chef Matthew Ona, who, enticed by theinnovative culinary concept, took helm of the restaurant in
mid-2012.
“I like to think of Shook! as a platform of dinning without borders;
it is designed to create unique experiences. We like to take pastexperiences from around the world, like Japan, France and, ofcourse, our home base of Malaysia, and combine them in a menu
that celebrates the diversity of Shook! It’s not everywhere you cansay ‘I’m going to have sashimi and, after that, have cassoulet,
followed by coconut mango dessert!” says Ona.

Roasted sea bass fillet.

“Shanghai is very much a young city, so we don’t go overboard onanything molecular or faddish. We focus, instead, on the absolute
best quality, going back to the purity of these dishes and making
it very approachable. I can change as much as the seasons do,which makes it very exciting,” says the Minneapolis-born chef. “Ofcourse, some dishes quickly become classic favourites, like ourOrganic Black Pig Belly appetiser that is served with homemade
kimchi, a miso brown sugar glaze and a hit of chilli from Sakura Ebi
and Mitsuba.”
Ona puts his passion for transforming dining into a culinary
experience down to his extensive travel after graduating from the82

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life cuisine //life cuisine //Culinary Institute of America in New York and California. He worked
in many restaurants across the breadth of the United States,
earning classification as a Certified Executive Chef and Certified
Culinary Administrator from the American Culinary Federation
along the way. In California’s Napa Valley, Ona worked in therenowned Chef Thomas Keller’s three Michelin-starred French
Laundry restaurant, before going on to become executive chef ofNapa Valley’s award-winning Peju Provence Winery.
Matthew’s culinary journey then took him to the Bahamas, where
he served as executive chef at Romora Bay Resort and Marina in
Harbour Island. He also attended the highly-praised Tokyo Sushi
Academy, where he received accreditation for the classic style of
Edomae-Style Sushi preparation. His classic Salmon Tartar reflects
his training, adding crushed cilantro, avocado and an ovenroasted tomato ginger miso rose sauce to salmon tartare to give
diners a hint of Japanese flavours. Other Japan-inspired dishes
from the raw selection include a Tasting of Sashimi and Sushi and
Makimono Rolls.
“The Bund in Shanghai is such an amazing place to be right now.
And you look around Shook! from the dining room to the kitchen,
and it’s all of the highest specification and serious design. The
centrepiece open kitchen is surely any chef’s dream to be at thehelm of, and that’s really gets me excited,” says Ona. “I want tobring that excitement and buzz to both the food and to the diners.
Shook! is about having fun, experiencing little Asian twists onclassic Western dishes that will raise an eyebrow and get people
talking. It’s exciting to see people trying things they haven’t before.”“As a restaurant, Shook!’s unique location is something we havestarted to reflect in our interiors and menu. One example is our
new butter plate, which is designed to resemble an artist’s palettewith green herb butters alongside red sun-dried tomato butter. The
colours are so vibrant and it’s a wonderful way of bringing the hotel
and restaurant together.”Along with a mod-Chinoiserie main dining area, Shook! also
comprises the chic Time Bar and The Gallery, a multimedia
banquet hall ideal for private receptions for up to 250 people. The
striking interiors are courtesy of Orbit Design, a renowned interiors
firm based in Bangkok specialising in food and beverage outlets.
Quirky, stylish touches include a statement Swatch watch-inspired
chandelier, lacquer finishings and shoji-style screens. There area variety of table settings, from private enclaves to open dining,with 84 seats in the restaurant and 40 around the bar. On thesixth floor, Shook! Rooftop Terrace offers al fresco lounging andstunning views of the Huangpu River and Pudong, with two
domed towers, the Corner Tower and the Blancpain Room, ideal
for intimate candlelight dinners and private events.

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Swatch Art Peace Hotel
The former Palace Hotel (now the Swatch Art Peace Hotel)
is one the city’s oldest and most venerated hotels fronting
Shanghai’s Bund, a mile-long embanked riverfront linedwith grand stone-fronted neo-classical and Beaux Art
buildings. Located on the Nanjing Road/Bund intersection,
it once occupied the south building of the renowned art
deco Peace Hotel next door and was famous for hosting
a number of important events, such as the International
Opium Commission meeting in 1909 (the first international
conference to discuss the world’s narcotics problems).
Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling also celebrated their
engagement there in 1927.
The elegant hotel is today the face of an intriguing reinvention
by the Biel-based Swatch Group, whose flagship Breguet,
Omega, Blancpain and Swatch boutiques enjoy pride ofplace on the street level. The six-storey, red-brick Victorianfaçade of the building has been faithfully restored to its
former glory, while inside is a bold mix of heritage décor,contemporary design centre and seven modern art-inspired
guest suites with uniquely quirky interiors by Paris-based
designers Jouin Manku.

Above: Classic salmon tartar.
Left: Wild berry pancakes.
Facing page: Chef Matthew Ona had
previously worked with the renowned
Thomas Keller of the three Michelin-starred
French Laundry in Yountville, California.

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life cuisine //Chef Lim Kok Yang's hearty andwarming dishes are perfect forthe cool climate of the highlands.

At just 28 years of age, Cameron Highlands Resort’s fresh-faced
Chef de Partie, Lim Kok Yang, has already been cooking for
close to a decade. “I love what I do but I actually became a chef
because of my sheer love for food,” he smiles. “I then decided
it was the right career path to follow and, here I am today.”Having started with Chinese cuisine, Chef Lim has since goneon to perfect his skills in a variety of other cuisines and cooking
techniques, with Indian and Malaysian being new favourites. “I
can do a good roti canai now,” he laughs, “and, of course, thebreakfast staple of nasi lemak too!” Not a stranger to the world of
YTL Hotels, Chef Lim was previously based on the idyllic island of
Pangkor Laut and has also worked at Luk Yu Tea House in Kuala
Lumpur’s Starhill Gallery, prior to his highland posting. “Ever since
I was a child, there was nothing I liked better than to eat andenjoy new, delicious flavours. Now, I cook and I get to provide
others with that same enjoyment. I can’t imagine a better careerfor myself!”

Chef’s Choice

A Flavourful Path
For Lim Kok Yang, Chef de Partie of Cameron Highlands Resort,life’s all about the enjoyment of food.
Text Diana Khoo Photography Yong Keen Keong86

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Chef Lim’s favourite kitchen tools and ingredients.
Favourite ingredients: Soy sauce, basil and thyme.
Favourite tools: My chef’s knife and, of course, my wok.
Best meal experience: I love steamboat as it’s the best way ofbringing people together over a meal. I try to indulge at least oncea month, especially with my family.
Favourite food and wine pairings: I think beef and red wine is
the ultimate pairing. I like most red wines paired with Chinesestyle stir-fried beef.
The dish that reminds him most of home: Home-style dishes
which my mum makes, particularly her loh chee yoke (pork withoyster sauce).
Childhood ambition: I wanted to be a policeman when I wasyounger but I loved to eat as well, so that made me decide towant to learn how to cook!

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life cuisine //life cuisine //“Hot onion soup,followed by
Hainanese-style
chicken chopand a comforting
apple crumble
equal to aperfect Cameron
Highlands meal.”

Onion Soup (Serves 5)

Ingredients
6 white onions, sliced
3 tsp olive oil
2 litres beef stock
10g galangal
1 stalk lemon grass
5g fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 small piece of cinnamon stick
Salt to season
Method
1. Sauté sliced onions with olive oil until well browned.
2. Add in the beef stock, bay leaf, galangal, lemon grass,thyme and cinnamon stick.
3. Simmer and add salt to taste. Serve hot.

Chicken Chop (Serves 4)
Ingredients
1kg boneless chicken leg, cut into 4
50g plain flour
120g crushed cream crackers
1 egg
MethodSeason the chicken with salt and pepper, then coat it withcrushed cream crackers and deep-fry it over a medium heat until
golden brown and thoroughly cooked.
Shallot Sauce for Chicken Chop
180g A1 Steak Sauce
180g HP Sauce
220g sliced shallots
45g flour
50g green peas
1 cup chicken stock
1 pinch of sugar
Method
1. Sauté the sliced shallots over a medium-low heat.
2. Add in flour, A1 Steak Sauce, HP Sauce and the chicken stock.
3. Reduce it and season with sugar.
4. Add in the green peas before serving.

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Crumble Recipe
80g flour
60g icing sugar
60g soft butter

Pinch of salt
Pinch of cinnamon powder

MethodIn a bowl, mix the flour, icing sugar, salt and cinnamon powder into
the butter with your hand until it has a breadcrumb-like consistency.
Apple Filling
3 green apples
25g brown sugar
35g ground almonds

10g raisins
5g corn flour
75g butterscotch

MethodPeel and core the apples and roughly dice them into chunks.
Put the apple chunks into a pan, add ground almonds, raisins,butterscotch and corn flour, and cook gently over a low flame.
Check that the fruit is cooked. The apples should be soft but notoverly so.
Sugar Dough (Tart)
40g butter
25g icing sugar
1 small egg

70g flour
Pinch of salt

MethodMix all the ingredients together and rest in the fridge for twohours. Roll out and cut into shapes and bake in a preheated
160°C oven for six to eight minutes.
Butterscotch
10g unsalted butter
20g brown sugar
15g heavy cream
2 drops vanilla essence
Pinch of salt
Method
1.Melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat and stir withwooden spoon until uniformly wet.
2. Add in heavy cream and keep on stirring in low heat for about
10 minutes.
3. Strain and add in vanilla essence and salt.
Final Assembly
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Add the apple filling into the tart.
3. Cover with the crumble and bake it for approximately
10 minutes until the crumble is golden and the apple fillingis hot.

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life guide //life guide //nIslandI
The SunIn the midst of its peak season from now until midApril, where the skies are cornflower blue and theblue-green sea a total delight to dip into, there are few
better places to soak up the sun in South-East Asia
than on the exotic Thai island of Phuket. Laurent Myter,Executive Vice President – Resorts for YTL Hotels anda former resident of the island, shares with YTL Life his
favourite things to see and do while there.

Life’s A Beach

For me, Pansea Beach is the most beautiful beach in SouthEast Asia. If ever you’re in Phuket, don’t miss out on enjoying
the simple pleasure of this perfect natural paradise. You can’t
get much better than this.

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life guide //Aroy Thai

Once your palate develops a taste for Thai cuisine, it can prove
positively addictive. My wife Vipa is Thai, so I’m fortunate to beable to indulge in it more often than not. One of the best places
to try top-quality Thai food would be at The Surin’s Lomtalay
Restaurant. Its name means ‘sea breeze’ and it also offers one of
the most panoramic sunset views over Pansea Bay. Dinner with aview? Why not! There are also special-themed beach barbequebuffets (weather permitting), which are great fun as well. Nothingbeats a dinner of delicious charcoal-grilled meat and seafood aswell as a tantalising array of Asian and Mediterranean appetisers
while digging your toes in the sand. Check out the blackboard
outside Lomtalay for the next session.

Clockwise, from above: Beach buffets at The Surin are not-to-bemissed; Explore the island perched on a pachyderm; Phuket's
limestone sea caves beg to be explored; Cool off in style with atropical tiki cocktail at The Surin.

Elephant Trekking

Exploring the jungle on the back of a gentle elephant isa great way to enjoy nature at its best. There are several
places in Phuket where you may experience this unique tour.
Elephant-trekking is also an activity where the whole family
may participate in and children, especially, will find it great fun.

Canoe Explore

Sea-kayaking around Phang Nga Bay is a not-to-bemissed experienced. This should, ideally, be a day-trip
and the staff at YTL Hotels’ The Surin would be morethan happy to make the arrangements for you. There isan amazing network of crystalline limestone caves to be
explored, especially the hongs – collapsed cave systems in
the interiors of the small islands and accessible only throughthe sea caves via canoe at low tide.

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life guide //life guide //Left: Ka Jok See, aPhuket institution, has
to be experienced in theflesh to be believed.
Above: Learn how to
prepare Thai favourites
like creamy seafood
curry at cooking
lessons helmed by
The Surin's Chef Eiad.

Eat, Drink, Party

You can’t come to Phuket and not eat and dance at
Ka Jok See. I think there’s no other place in the world like Ka
Jok See – a restaurant which serves delicious local food in
Phuket’s interesting old town and housed in a traditional SinoPortuguese shop house; you have to experience it to believe it.
As the night progresses, the restaurant morphs into one giant
house party, where all guests are invited (and expected) todance the night away. There’s no signboard and reservations
are a must.

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Thai Flavours

It’s hard not to fall totally in love with the exotic flavours of Thai
food. From the ubiquitous tom yam soup to tangy som tam(papaya salad), it’s even better if you pick up a few culinary
tips so you can replicate the experience at home. There’s thecooking class at the world-famous Blue Elephant in Phuket
town but, if you don’t wish to leave the luxurious confines of
The Surin (and why would you?), sign up with Chef Eiad fora privileged insight into the world of Thai food and cooking.
Classes are held every Sunday as well as on other days withprior arrangement.

life guide //life guide //From the colour andrituals of Phuket's
annual VegetarianFestival to the simple
bustle of Choeng
Talay's weekly markets,
there's much to delightthe senses on theisland.

Veggie Might

One of the biggest events on the island’s annual calendar,
the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is traditionally held for one
week in October in the town or, to be precise, during the ninth
lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It’s a colourful festival,
accompanied by many sacred rituals and displays, like firewalking. Most of the streets are closed to traffic during thistime and there are hundreds of stalls offering pure vegetarian
food. It’s a colourful time!

To Market, To Market

Thai markets are colourful and a great way to soak up the local
vibe. The Thai word for ‘market’ is talad and there are a few weekly
markets in the Choeng Talay area to explore. From fresh fruit,
vegetables and herbs to rainbow-hued t-shirts and beachwear, there
are also always food stalls selling the most delicious-looking cooked
food and snacks.

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life guide //portfolio
life guideof life //Explore The Worldof YTL Hotels...

THE MAJESTIC HOTELKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Sometimes the resurrection of a hotel can herald a second
Renaissance for an entire city district, explaining why in Kuala
Lumpur all eyes are on The Majestic Kuala Lumpur.
Located on a wide boulevard once known as Victory Avenue,
the property was built in the 1930s and, during its hey-day,ranked as one of South-East Asia’s grandest hotels. Re-opening
in December 2012, The Majestic Hotel is poised to reclaim thisformer glory; its pièce de résistance will be The Majestic Wing,
whose neo-classical details have been meticulously restored. An
annexe, housing the majority of the plush rooms, was designed
to complement the historic building. A spa has been designed in
Art Deco fashion.

Lend a helping hand byvisiting the famous Gibbon
Rehabilitation Project.

Beautifully balancing old and new, The Majestic Hotel is Kuala
Lumpur’s most exciting hotel debut.

Lending A Hand

Laurent Myter, Executive Vice President - Resorts of YTL Hotels, lived
on Phuket for quite a few years in his days as a hotel general manager.

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A visit to the world-famous Gibbon Rehabilitation Project at
the Khao Phra Theaw national park is a must. This projectworks to rehabilitate white-handed gibbons back into theirnatural habitat and to help end the illegal use of gibbons
as pets and tourist attractions. Over 30 years ago, thesegibbons were poached to extinction and the project is aiming
to repopulate the last remaining forest on the island throughgibbons rescued from captivity.

+60 3 2785 8000
www.majestickl.com

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portfolio of life //GAYA ISLAND RESORTMALAYSIA

Set within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, off the coast of
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo’s latest luxury retreat sits gracefully
on Gaya Island, the largest of the five islands in the marine
park. Golden beaches and lush tropical rainforest beckon sunworshippers and those wishing to commune with nature, while
the island’s waters teem with marine life, including bamboo sharks
and enormous barrel sponges. Reconnect to a PURE world, theresort’s activities programme that vivifies the senses.
One hundred and twenty luxurious hill villas and one two-bedroom
suite invite you to embrace island living, while the resort’s two
distinctive restaurants, Feast Village and Fisherman’s Cove, as
well as a Spa Village allow for stylish indulging.

+60 3 2783 1000
www.ytlhotels.com

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portfolio of life //THE GREEN LEAF NISEKO VILLAGE
HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

Located in the heart of Niseko Village in Hokkaido, the newly unveiled
The Green Leaf Niseko Village is the premium contemporary resort
in Niseko, appealing to guests who want to enjoy a seamlessexperience of stay, snow and ski. The 200-room, ski-in, ski-out
resort is perfectly-placed for all activities and offers a variety ofdining options, including the Lookout Café and the hotel’s rooftop
bar, Altitude. Alternatively, relax in the forested onsen, a therapeutic
natural volcanic hot spring guaranteed to soak away tension
and time.

+86 (21) 6321 0021
www.thegreenleafhotel.com

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portfolio of life //HILTON NISEKO VILLAGE
JAPAN

Set at the foot of the Niseko Annupuri Mountain, the Hilton Niseko
Village is the perfect base from which to enjoy a huge variety ofoutdoor activities throughout the year. Ski on powdery slopes
during the winter season and enjoy family-friendly facilities such as
the Niseko Ski Village ski school, Niseko Kids ski programme , aluxurious spa, and five restaurants.
There are also two 18-hole championship golf courses nearby(one designed by Arnold Palmer), a tennis complex, an equestriancentre and a unique nature-bases activity area called ‘PURE’,
complete with tree-trekking and beginners golf.

+86 (21) 6321 0021
www.hiltonniseko.com

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portfolio of life //CAMERON HIGHLANDS RESORTMALAYSIA

Set amidst tea plantations and rolling hills, this tranquil 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 largely
unchanged since its colonial heyday, this ‘little corner of England in
Asia’ is still dotted with Tudor-style cottages, a place where scones
and afternoon tea will not seem out of place.
The resort, with its tall French doors, timber-beamed ceilings,
plantation shutters and a fireplace, add old-world charm to thesurroundings. It also houses a Spa Village as well as an 18-holegolf course and 56 luxuriously-appointed rooms and suites, which
weave in wondrous colours and textures of Jim Thompson’s
famous silks.

Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.cameronhighlandsresort.com

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portfolio of life //portfolio of life //PANGKOR LAUT RESORTTHE ESTATES AT PANGKOR LAUT RESORT

Pangkor Laut is a privately-owned island located three miles off thewest coast of Malaysia along the Straits of Malacca. This piece ofparadise has been two million years in the making, and it is here
you’ll find one of the world’s premier award-winning resorts nestlingin the shade of forest giants as old as the land.

In a small, secluded cove near Pangkor Laut Resort rests the eight
wonders that comprise The Estates. Each of these individuallycrafted enclaves is reminiscent of the traditional South-East Asianway of living of days gone by, when an ‘estate’ was made up of
a number of special purpose buildings placed amidst gardens ofastounding beauty.

MALAYSIA

There are no other resorts – just secluded bays curled aroundpristine beaches, evening skies woven with colour and a deep
sense of serenity reserved exclusively for guests. A combinationof luxury, natural beauty and age-old wilderness woven together toproduce an environment where peace and magically-memorable
moments are the currency.
Of the island’s 300 acres, only a fraction has been developed tohouse the resort and its eight estates. Wooden buildings blend
seamlessly with the forest, as if nature had been the architect
dictating how walls curve around foliage, and roofs open up toallow trees to continue on their journey to the sky.

Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.pangkorlautresort.com

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Comprising two, three or four bedrooms, each Estate offers a private
infinity-edge pool, as well as pavilions in various adaptations of Malayarchitectural traditions.
There is also a private vehicle and driver assigned to each Estateshould guests decide to leave the seclusion of their villa to dine at oneof the resort’s restaurants or to go for a treatment at the Spa Village.

Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.pangkorlautestates.com

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portfolio of life //THE MAJESTIC MALACCA
MALAYSIA

The historic city of Malacca is steeped in a rich tapestry ofmulticultural influences reflected in its heritage architecture, diverse
lifestyles and eclectic cuisine.
Located on the banks of the river which, in yesteryear, teemed with
Chinese junks and spice-laden vessels from all over the world, The
Majestic Malacca provides a glimpse into the splendid saga of an
extraordinary empire.
The Majestic Malacca is an integral part of Malacca’s colourfulhistory. The original serene mansion, dating back to the 1920s,
remains at the heart of the hotel, whilst a new building has beencreated, mirroring the original architecture, to house 54 spacious
rooms and suites.

portfolio of life //TANJONG JARA RESORTMALAYSIA

Located on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, Tanjong Jara
Resort is a sanctuary of luxury and well-being steeped in age-old
Malay traditions. Designed to reflect the elegance and grandeurof 17th century Malay palaces, Tanjong Jara is a 99-room resort
embodiment of the gentle Malay art of service and hospitality.
The philosophy of the Resort is as unique as the Resort itself.
Based on the Malay concept of Sucimurni, which emphasises
purity of spirit, health and well-being, Tanjong Jara encourages true
rejuvenation of both body and spirit.
Tanjong Jara is an opportunity to withdraw from the pressures ofthis ever-changing world by offering a chance to immerse oneself
in a sanctuary of serenity and beauty.

From the original porcelain flooring, teakwood fittings, intricate
artwork and antiques, to the finely crafted Nyonya cuisine, every
aspect echoes the history of the region, and offers a beguilingjourney through this enchanting heritage.

Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.majesticmalacca.com

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Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.tanjongjararesort.com

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portfolio of life //portfolio of life //JW MARRIOTT

THE RITZ-CARLTON

Guest rooms at JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur offer the ultimate in
comfort and convenience, designed with the discerning businesstraveller in mind. An ample work area, with adjustable desk lighting
and ergonomic chair, provides a comfortable environment for
executives. Desk-mounted electrical outlets, two-line speakertelephones with call-waiting facility, fax modem and voice mailmake for easy communication around the world.

Discover the exclusive Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur and experiencea place where ancient rivers converge and a modern city beckons
guests to explore the sights, sounds and flavours of Malaysia.
Located downtown in the Golden Triangle business district, this
distinctive five-star luxury hotel in Kuala Lumpur is conveniently
accessible to upscale shopping, dining and entertainment. At The
Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, guests can indulge in soothing spa
treatments, delectable cuisine or simply relax in the exceptionalcomfort of their rooms and take in the best the city has to offer.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Accommodation comprises 561 guest rooms with 294 Deluxe
Kings, 172 Deluxe Twins, 25 Executive Deluxe Rooms, 19 Studio
Suites, 32 Junior Suites, 2 Executive Studio Suites, 2 Executive
Junior Suites, 8 one-bedroom Suites, 3 two-bedroom Suites, 2 VIP
Suites, a Chairman’s Suite and a luxurious Presidential Suite.
Marriott Marquis Platinum and Gold card members and guests
occupying suites enjoy access to the JW Lounge, with its
complimentary breakfast, light refreshments and evening cocktails.

Tel: +60 3 2715 9000
www.ytlhotels.com

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIAThe Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is the city’s first award-winning
full-butler hotel, featuring 365 guest rooms and suites. The freshstyle of The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is influenced by a varietyof themes reflecting Malaysia’s diverse artistry of ethnic cultures.
The dark-toned woods with angular designs reflect masculinity,
while details like brass inlays add a touch of elegance. Rich earthy
tones in the carpet and wall coverings are used to create a cosy,
warm home-away-from-home ambience, while hidden modern
technologies add a modern yet subtle flair.

Tel: +60 3 2142 8000
www.ytlhotels.com

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portfolio of life //VILL A TASSANAPHUKET, THAIL AND

Set amidst a tropical forest on a craggy cliff overlooking thebeautiful emerald green of the Andaman Sea is a gem in the YTL
Hotels’ portfolio of luxury holiday destinations. Located just 15
minutes away from Phuket International Airport on the island’s quiet,
undeveloped north-western coastline, Villa Tassana offers guests
a vacation of modern sophistication married with Thai hospitality.
Spread over a generous 2,800 sq m, the villa features three large
bedrooms with ensuite bath and dressing areas, a 15m swimming
pool, separate living and dining pavilions, a kitchen and a maid’sroom. For those looking to get away from it all, Villa Tassana isstaffed by one dedicated attendant and a chef specialising indelicious home-style Thai dishes.

portfolio of life //THE SURIN

PHUKET, THAIL AND
The Surin Phuket is an exclusive beach retreat for discerning
travellers, families and couples seeking relaxation and indulgencein a serene beachfront setting. The Surin Phuket is located on
the tranquil Pansea Beach on the west coast of Phuket Island,
Thailand and a member of Design Hotels.
Offering a total of 103 hillside and beachfront cottages and suites
all discreetly built into a carefully conserved landscape, amidst
coconut trees and gently sloping down to meet a small coral
reef. The Surin, Phuket offers a contemporary Thai experience intimeless simplicity and modern sophistication.

Guests can also enjoy the first-class spa and sports facilities
located at the nearby Trisara Hotel. There are three excellent golfcourses nearby, including the exclusive Blue Canyon course, and arange of luxury motor yachts you can use to explore Phuket’s many
bays, islands and dive locations.

Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.ytlhotels.com

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Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.ytlhotels.com

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portfolio of life //SPA VILLAGE RESORTEASTERN &ORIENTAL EXPRESS

Dawn rises and an indigo curtain of stars is drawn back fromthe sky, exposing a dramatic landscape of soaring peaks thatsweep down across grassy lowlands to the black volcanic sandthat kisses the blue of the Bali sea. You are in Spa Village Resort
Tembok, Bali and the day has just begun.

The Eastern & Oriental Express is more than a train service:
the quarter-of-a-mile in length train is a haven of comfort,style and luxury, and the perfect vantage point fromwhich to tour the region. The Restaurant Cars, Saloon Car and Bar
Car are located at the centre of the train, while the Observation
Car, with its open deck area, is located at the rear.

TEMBOK, BALI, INDONESIA

Inspired by the award-winning Spa Village Pangkor Laut, Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali embraces the same healing ethos ofcelebrating local culture, honouring the ancient remedies of theregion and infusing each visit with the essence of the surrounding
scenery.

The interior walls of the compartments are panelled with cherrywood and elm burr, and decorative marquetry friezes and intricate
design inlays. The delicate embroidery work was done in Malaysia,
and the bespoke carpets hand-tufted in Thailand.

Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali is a place of peacefulness andcalm, combining the therapeutic value of its beautiful location withan ancient and rich cultural heritage. Reflecting the spirituality ofages, the environment here is soft and serene; its people go about
their days in a caring manner that brings calm to the harried andpeace to the stressed; here, at Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali, it
is possible to recapture one’s sense of self.

Chefs onboard the E&O Express are internationally-renowned fortheir tantalising variety of Eastern and European dishes, using thefinest seasonal ingredients. While guests dine at night, the steward
transforms the compartment from a living room to a luxurious
bedroom.

Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.spavillage.com

www.easternandorientalexpress.com

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portfolio of life //MUSE HÔTEL DE LUXE

BRAY HOUSE

Bardot would no doubt approve of Saint-Tropez newcomer, Muse
Hôtel De Luxe, just minutes from the Place de Lices by car, situatedon the stunning Ramatuelle route de plages and set amongst an
ecological landscape of terraced gardens.

An elegant private home dating back to the late 17th century, Bray
House has been restored and transformed into an elegant, highdesign boutique home stay. Featuring an eclectic mix of interiors
spanning the Art Deco period of the early 1900s, Bray House is aunique experience of the gentrified English lifestyle, complete withbespoke service and intimate atmosphere.

FRANCE

Fifteen ultra chic suites (10 featuring private plunge pools) arededicated to famous muses such as ‘Edith’, after Edith Piaf,‘Catherine’, after Catherine Deneuve, and ‘Lauren’, after Lauren
Bacall. Each suite sports a unique interior but all blend seamlessly
with cool stone floors and marmorino wall finishes. Thoughtful
touches include a 42” Loewe plasma screen with over 100
channels, a PlayStation, iPad and iPhone.

ENGLAND

Designer furniture, vintage accessories and vivid splashes ofcolour create an atmosphere that marries the modern and theclassic. Each of the bedrooms has its own theme: a lullaby ofwhite in one, and a symphony of Tuscany red in another. Bray
House also features a private courtyard and a natural spring foundin the garden.

Designed with pure lines, a cool elegant reception area and outdoor
water cascades, the hotel is a reflection of architectural simplicity,
immediately stamping its original and stylish signature on the SaintTropezienne landscape.

The idyllic village of Bray, near Windsor, is quintessentially English,
with its period houses, traditional pubs with beamed ceilings andfireplaces, and a beautifully-restored church dating back to 1293.

Tel: +334 94 430 440
www.muse-hotels.com

Tel: +60 3 2715 9000
www.ytlhotels.com

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portfolio of life //1. Spa Village Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

This unique retreat offers the world’s most sophisticated therapies
integrated with traditional healing practices of the region. Paying
tribute to Malaysia’s fascinating cultural diversity and rich healing
heritage, this most stylish of spas seamlessly blends ancient andmodern practices, using natural local ingredients to deliver blissful
relaxation and rejuvenation.

2.Spa Village Pangkor Laut
Malaysia

The Spa Village at Pangkor Laut Resort is a unique, ultra-exclusive
retreat that extols the healing tradition of Malaysia’s diverse
history of people and cultures and wealth abundance of exotic
natural resources. The abundance of Malay, Chinese, Indian andThai practices make this the ideal tranquil setting for complete
rejuvenation of body and soul.

1

3. Spa Village Malacca
Malaysia

The Spa Village Malacca is the world’s only spa to base its
therapies on the healing heritage of the Baba-Nyonya or Peranakan
culture – a unique combination of Chinese and Malay influences.
The spa is spread across the first two floors of the new wing andprovides a serene environment in which one can rest, recuperate
and rejuvenate in the care of some of the world’s best therapists.

4. Spa Village Cameron Highlands
Malaysia

Cameron Highlands Resort features the third wellness centreof the award-winning Spa Village brand with a wide range of
sophisticated treatments and healing therapies inspired by the
restorative properties of tea. Each guest luxuriates in a signature
tea bath before every treatment. Cameron Highlands Spa Village
offers tranquil indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, tea bath rooms
and a fully-equipped gymnasium.

5. Spa Village Tanjong Jara

2
4

3
5

Malaysia

At Spa Village Tanjong Jara, time-tested health and beauty traditions
are revived in the most comforting surrounds. Guests can benefit
from a comprehensive programme of therapies, created using
unique ingredients from indigenous herbs and plants, along withthe skills of resident Malay healers.
Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.spavillage.com

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FEAST VILLAGEKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Feast to your heart’s content in our Feast Village, a dramatic andstylish dining haven with a village charm. Here, you will find 11
uniquely-designed restaurants serving a mix of world-class cuisineand providing a display of culinary skill embodied in a chic andcontemporary atmosphere.
Restaurants and bars at Feast Village include Fisherman’s Cove,
Luk Yu Tea House, Pak Loh Chiu Chow, Tarbush, Spice of India,
Starhill Tea Salon, Shook!, Jake`s Charbroil Steak, KoRyo Won,
Enak, and Village Bar.

The design of Feast Village is inspired by nature. Walls areasymmetrical and serve not to separate, but rather to provide
peaceful enclaves where people may relax.

portfolio of life //SHOOK! SHANGHAI AT THE
SWATCH ART PEACE HOTEL
CHINA

Perched on a space of symmetry and proportion, Shook!
Shanghai features the skills of four epicurean chefs with four
distinct cuisines. A show kitchen – dubbed the ‘Ferrari’ of kitchens– is where its signature dishes are created around the senses.
The menu flirts with seasonal trends with whispers of Chinese,
Japanese, South-East Asian and modern Western cuisines, yet
flexible enough to transport you anywhere your heart and palate
desire. Another highlight at Shook! Shanghai is the showcase of
the world’s finest wines and champagnes, including rare vintages
from 1945 through to 2000. Shook! Shanghai also houses The
Time Bar and The Swatch Art Peace Hotel Terrace on the roof top,
overlooking a stunning backdrop of the Pudong skyline.

Rice paper from Japan combines with slate and ikat fromIndonesia, granite from China, silk from Thailand and timber from
Myanmar to create the essence of Asia from a design perspective,
making Feast Village truly one-of-a-kind.

+86 (21) 6321 0021
Tel: +60 3 2782 3855
www.starhillgallery.com

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my life //Music Maker

A graduate of the Juilliard School of Music and brother to NatKing Cole, jazz maestro Freddy Cole was in Malaysia recently toperform at the gala opening of The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
He talks to YTL Life about life, sport and his musical family.
I was blessed to have started playing the piano
since the age of five, and it is inspiring being able
to play music while travelling the world and meeting
great folks. There’s something about going up to
the band stand, hitting the music and, in a moment,
forgetting everything – problems, what happened
that day – and just focussing on the music.
Growing up in a musical family is no different fromthat of other families. Yes, my brother is Nat King Colebut all my brothers are musicians. My sister plays the
piano but music was always something we had in thehouse. We had loving parents and, the moment we
all get together, music is the last thing we talk about.
If I could go back in time, there’s nothing I wouldchange. I had a wonderful childhood and now I
have a good life and a good family. My parents were
the best and that’s all there is. I had a great time
growing up.
My entire family are sports fans – football, baseball,basketball, you name it. We go to games together aswell and football is definitely a favourite.

I listen to music all the time, mostly jazz, though.
Every day, when I travel, when I stay in a hotel… I
also can’t sleep unless I have some music playing.
That’s me.
This is my first experience staying at The Majestic
Hotel Kuala Lumpur and I like it. I’ve been having agood time so far, sleeping in mostly. It’s quiet andcomfortable and, if you stay in many hotels aroundthe world, like I do, that’s what you look out for: aquiet atmosphere, comfort, politeness… and thishotel has all of that.
To get away from it all, I like going to the golfcourse. That’s where you’ll find me hanging out…
simply beating the ball around, hitting it again
and again.
I’d injured my hand before, while pursuing aprofessional career in football. But I believe getting
hurt then turned out to be a blessing in disguisebecause it gave me strength and will to go on doing
something I was probably called to do. That’s theway I see it.

Freddy Cole jazzing
up the stage during a
recent performanceat The Majestic Hotel
Kuala Lumpur.

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