YTL

Issue S i x t een

T h e

Y T L

L u x u r y

M a g a z i n eTales & Trails

T h e

In Search of
Jim Thompson in
Cameron Highlands

Y T L
L u x u r y

Style Under theBalinese Sun

M a g a z i n e

Sun Goddess

Ho Peck Choo
Stephen Ooi
Steve Cokkinias

YTL Lives

PP 15585/10/2012(031264)

East Coast Diving • Peranakan Spa Rituals • Spring in Saint-Tropez

Contents
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38
12

Life Events

A round-up of parties andevents in the world of YTL.

18

Life Bites

Hot happenings at
YTL Hotels.

Life on the Cover

22 Mist-swathed andsurrounded by dense
jungle, the verdant setting of
Cameron Highlands proves
to be the perfect setting forthe enduring mystery of Thaisilk king Jim Thompson’s
disappearance 45 years ago.

Life Feature

28 Stephen Ooi, resident pianistat the Cameron Highlands
Resort’s Jim Thompson
lounge, shares his Top 10
most requested numbers.
30 Introducing Gaya Island
Resort in Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah.
32 Japan’s Niseko ticks all theright boxes as the perfectspringtime getaway.
38 Shanghai’s oldest
hotel celebrates a very
contemporary makeover,
one that includes a very

unique and cultural artistic
environment.
44 Immerse yourself in the
deep blue waters off
Terengganu’s famed Tanjong
Jara Resort.
48 Spring heralds the start ofthe sublime Saint-Tropezianholiday season.
50 Malacca’s history-soaked
streets are best explored enpied. Let Ho Peck Choo,
The Majestic Malacca’s new
resident historian, show you
the way.

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Celebrity chef Chuck
Hughes, star of thehit television series
Chuck’s Day Off, talks
about juggling television
work with running his
two restaurants in his
hometown of Montreal,
Canada. Not that he’s
complaining, though.

Life of Luxury

Classical Indian dance
exponent, the legendary
Ramli Ibrahim, shares
what’s he’s reading andlistening to right now.
All things bright andbeautiful set the dress
code for spring.

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Beautiful Life

66 Embrace the spirit of thesun goddess in these
designs that shimmer andshine under the bright
Balinese sun.

Spa Life

78 The Majestic Malacca’s
unique Suam-Suam Panasand Shiok-Shiok Sejuk spa
experiences are basedon the traditional Chinese
belief of yin and yang.

Life Cuisine

86 For a dinner with adifference, you might wish
to consider the culinarycharms of Pangkor LautResort’s Straits Experience.

Life Guide

90 Steve Cokkinias, General
Manager of The RitzCarlton, Kuala Lumpur,
shares his favourite
places in his city ofresidence.

Portfolio of Life

100 Explore the world of
YTL Hotels.

My Life

120 Jamie Sach, Penfolds
winery’s globetrotting
ambassador, talks about
the joys of pairing life withgreat food and wine.

Editorial Team
Editorial Director
Izan Yusuff Wilson
Editor-in-Chief
Diana KhooSub Editor
Christy Yoong
      

Art
T h e

Y T L

L u x u r y

M a g a z i n e

Creative Director
Eireen Ooi
Art Director
Sheila Cheah

Published By
YTL Hotels
11th Floor, Yeoh Tiong Lay Plaza, 55,
Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Produced By
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Lot 7, Jalan Bersatu 13/4, Section 13,46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603 7952 7000
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Graphic Designer
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Sales
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Production
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Lim Kian Heng

Contributors
Catherine Shaw, Petrina Jo
Fernandez, Simon Pridmore,
Steve Cokkinias

A Note fromTan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh
Spring is a time for awakening and rebirth. In this issue of YTL Life, we are pleased to bring
you the best and brightest of our portfolio of resorts all around the world. In Shanghai, weare especially proud of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel’s official opening, attended by YTLCorporation’s good friends and supporters, including Nick Hayek, Chairman and CEOof the Swatch Group, Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO of the French conglomerate PPR,
and his wife, the actress Salma Hayek. Since its opening, Shook! Shanghai, thehotel’s in-house restaurant, whose dining concept is based on the famous Shook!
Kuala Lumpur at Starhill Gallery, has also been voted Number One restaurant inShanghai by TripAdvisor and more recently awarded ‘Best Modern Restaurant’ in
the Modern Weekly 2011 Best Restaurants Awards. Needless to say, the great
and the good have all visited recently, including Olympian Michael Phelps, theIl Divo quartet and current WBC light heavyweight champ, Bernard Hopkins Jr,
aka ‘The Destroyer’.

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

The opening also marked the launch of the hotel’s unique artist-inresidence programme. Being a great fan of art, I look forward to seeing
a vision realised, where artists may come and work, rent-free, in thisunique, historical space, leaving behind a small token of their work, as amark of their time here and which would also allow future and returning
guests the chance to enjoy a living artistic timeline of their creations.
The year is also shaping up to be an amazing one for all of us at YTL
Hotels. Dedicated to perfecting the hotel experience all over theworld for our guests, we are pleased and proud to announce theopening of our first property in Borneo shortly. Located on Gaya
Island, just off Sabah’s capital city of Kota Kinabalu, we promise
you an unforgettable experience at the legendary Land Below
the Wind on our all-new Gaya Island Resort.
Enjoy the issue and God bless.

From left: Nick Hayek,
Tan Sri Francis Yeoh,
Salma Hayek-Pinault andFrancois-Henri Pinault at
the opening of the Swatch
Art Peace Hotel, Shanghai.

K U A L A L U M P U R : E X C L U S I V E L Y A T S T A R H I L L GTHEA LYTL
L ELUXURYR Y MAGAZINE+603 2143 2669 | wwwww.
w boucheron.com

9TOGO sofa. Design: Michel Ducaroy.
Catalogue: www.ligne-roset.com

Exclusively at Starhill Gallery, Pamper Floor, Unit S3, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : +603-2710 3388 Fax : +603-2710 3807 Email : ligneroset@starhillgallery.com

life feature //1

When Time
Stood Still
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La Montre Hermès, the timekeeping arm of luxury label
Hermès, recently unveiled its first standalone boutique in
Malaysia at Starhill Gallery. Gracing the occasion was Luc
Perramond, Managing Director of La Montre Hermès SA. An
exclusive gathering of guests, many among whom subtly paid
tribute to the brand by sporting at least one piece of Hermès,
be it in the form of bag, watch or tie, was present to witness theoccasion as well as discover more about the brand’s awardwinning timepiece, Arceau Le Temps Suspendu (French for‘suspended time’).
1. The Hermès store, Starhill Gallery. 2. Yulia Dolmatova and Rita Shum.
3. Tien Yao H’ng and Luc Perramond officially open the store.
4. Marinna Indot, Tien Yao H’ng, Datin Pat Indot and Datin Alissa Fitri.
5. Anita Ibrahim, Datin Mariam Abdullah, Yap Teak Sing and Shawna Yap.
6. Eric Eoon and Jonathan King. 7. Melissa Indot.

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life feature //

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Eastern Awakening
A bevy of glamorous women thronged Starhill Gallery for the
recent launch of Shiatzy Chen’s first boutique in South-East
Asia. This flagship store, located on the Indulge Floor, marks
the first step of the brand’s Asian expansion. Renowned
for its East meets West design and dressing philosophies,
Shiatzy Chen is often referred to as the ‘Chanel of the East’.
The launch also saw a fashion showcase of its Spring/
Summer collection, inspired by the snuff bottle – a symbolof affluence in 17th-century China. Guests admired theelegant collection, crafted from fine materials like organza,
satin, vintage lace and jacquard, followed by a virtuosic
performance by soprano Tan Soo Suan, accompanied by
the celebrated Dama Orchestra.
1. Nilou de Luca Gabrielli and HE Folco de Luca Gabrielli, Ambassadorof Italy to Malaysia. 2. Models showcasing fashion from Shiatzy Chen's
Spring/Summer collection. 3. Dr Casey Chow and Ashley Chow.
4. Datin Sri Tiara Jacquelina. 5. Tay Liam Ngee, Angie Lai-Tay and Olivia
Tay. 6. Tan Soo Suan. 7. Dato’ Ruby Khong and Mansor Tun Abdul Aziz.
8. Tiffany Hsu Wei Ning.

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Image from Karl F. Lietz

life feature //1

Teutonic Treats
German celebrity chef and television star Johann Lafer recently
welcomed young chefs from YTL Hotels to his 800-year-old
Stromburg Castle in the Rhine Valley to study, cook, marvel andeat. The YTL delegation, headed by Executive Vice President ofResorts, Laurent Myter, enjoyed a day out with the celebrated
chef, preparing a colourful fusion of Malaysian and German
dishes. Each went home awarded with a certificate for cooking
skills. Chef Lafer has, to date, trained over 30 YTL Hotels chefs
over the past 10 years in Stromburg Castle. “Malaysia inspires
me so much and I love spending my holidays at Pangkor LautResort. Lovely people, beautiful landscapes, unbelievablecolours, exotic smells and most astonishing spices – they all
touch my heart and inspiration," said Chef Lafer.

54

1. Preparation for the cooking class.
2. Sharon Leong, YTL Sales Director Europe, mastering haute cuisine.
3. Final touches by Chef Kok Yew Nin and Chef Ahmad Zamirudin Yahaya.
4. Chef Johann Lafer, Reinhard Modritz, Chief Editor of Traveller's World
magazine and Laurent Myter as the Tremendous Trio.
5. Laurent Myter, Executive Vice President Resorts for YTL, proving his
cooking skills.

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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

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If you’re in Malaysia and are yearning for atrue taste of Shanghai’s sublime culinary
flavours, head to the appropriately-named
Shanghai Restaurant at the JW Marriott
Kuala Lumpur to sample authentic anddelicious fare. From hearty dan dan
noodles and the must-have traditional
dim sum delicacy of soup-filled xiao
loong bao dumplings, to slightly less wellknown (but no less delicious) dishes like
simple cold cucumber salad and spring
onion pancakes, Shanghai promisesa treat you’ll not forget in a hurry. For
reservations, tel: +603 2715 9000.

Guests travelling to the luxury private
island of Pangkor Laut will now check inat the Marina Island Pangkor, a new front
office with modern and spacious facilities,
to ensure you embrace an island frameof mind even before arriving at the fabled
luxury resort. While waiting for your transfer,
there are also souvenir shops, a Tourism
Malaysia Marina Island office and a café
to have a quick browse through. Guests
will also experience a quicker journey fromthe mainland to the resort by speedboat,with the journey time shortened to just
15 minutes.

Savoring Shanghai

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Ahoy, There!

03

Touched By Angels

No matter what the circumstances wemay find ourselves in, we all deserve
to be happy and healthy. If you feelwarmth, happiness or hope as you
read this, you might wish to open yourheart and follow your inner voice toembrace Angelic Reiki. The Spa Village
Resort Tembok, Bali now offers a 2½
day Angelic Reiki workshop for guests
wishing to learn to be Reiki facilitators,
either for self-practice or to help others.
A manual and recognised certificate
will be presented upon completion of
the course.

life bites //

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Breakfast Sunshine

Relive memories of sunny mornings in
Spain by breakfasting at the STS Café orthe Starhill Tea Salon in Starhill Gallery,
Kuala Lumpur, which now offers delicious
piping-hot churros – to be dipped in sinful
chocolate sauce. Available throughout theday, choose to start or end your day withthis sublime Spanish treat or simply enjoy
them as a mid-afternoon indulgence,accompanied, always, by a glass of the
café’s highly-rated orange juice. Ole!

05

Fisherman’s CatchTanjong Jara Resort’s Nelayan Restaurant– the name means ‘fisherman’ in Malay– welcomes guest chef Florent Passard,
who will be cooking at the sea-front
restaurant until August this year. A masterof French slow-cooking techniques,
Chef Florent has honed his skills all overFrance, including at Michelin-starred
restaurant Le Villa Belrose in Saint-Tropez
as well as, most recently, the Muse Hôtel
de Luxe in Ramatuelle.

06

All Shook Up

Shook! at Starhill Galler y in Kuala
Lumpur launches its all-new Shook!
Shanghai Sunday Brunch, evoking
all the flamboyance and fun of 1930s
Shanghai. Offering an extensive Eastmeets-West buffet spread, from dim
sum to roast duck and whole roast
lamb, choose from a food-only option
at RM168++ or enjoy your brunch with
free-flowing champagne at RM268++.
For reservations, tel: +603 2782 3875.

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

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

life on the cover //life on the cover //INTO
THIN AIR

Mist-swathed and surrounded by dense jungle, theverdant setting of Cameron Highlands proves the perfectsetting for the enduring mystery of Thai Silk King Jim
Thompson’s disappearance.
Text by Diana Khoo Illustrations by Shing Yi-Chew

life on the cover //In 1967, on a Sunday afternoon, 61-yearold James HW Thompson, an Americanbusinessman and founder of themodern Thai silk industry, mysteriously
disappeared while supposedly having
gone for a post-lunch stroll in Malaysia’s
Cameron Highlands. For those unfamiliar
with Thompson’s name, he was alreadysomething of a legend in South-East
Asia, particularly Thailand, as he had beencredited with reviving interest in the Thaisilk industry with the establishment of the
Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company, whichsurvives and thrives to this day. It has been
said that, in his heyday, if you wrote a letterto Thompson in Thailand, addressing it,
simply, ‘To Jim Thompson, Bangkok’, it
would be sure to find its way to him.

Moonlight Cottage,
where Thompson spent
his last few days before
his disappearance.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Forty-five years on, still no one knowsfor sure what happened to Thompson
that fateful day in the highlands. Faded
photographs still survive, showing imagesof a relaxed-looking Thompson, reclining
on a picnic blanket, taken just hours
before he disappeared on Easter Sunday.
Moonlight Cottage, where Thompson
had been staying with his good friends,a Singaporean couple named Dr TG Ling
and his American wife, Helen, as well as
his companion, Mrs Connie Mangskau,

today remains the focal point of interest
among conspiracy theorists as it is where
Thompson stayed before vanishing.
Looking at it today, surrounded by fragrantpine trees and looking out onto mistswathed hills, it seems improbable that an
idyllic setting like this could be shroudedin such ominous mystery. As legend has
it, Thompson spent the morning of Easter
Sunday rather peaceably, attending service
at the little Anglican church in Tanah Rata,
before moving on to a nearby hill site for a
picnic lunch. Nothing untoward happened
during the picnic, although some of
his companions did recall Thompson’s
restlessness. By mid-afternoon, the party
had returned to Moonlight Cottage for
an afternoon siesta. The Lings retired totheir room and Mrs Mangskau to hers.
Whatever happened during the next few
hours remains an enduring mystery.
Thompson had left his jacket on thechair and his cup of tea on the table. A
half-smoked cigar still rested against an
ashtray. Reports also note that Thompson’s
bed was not even lain on and, if he had
decided to go for a post-lunch stroll, it
would not have been unusual in the least,
given Thompson’s love of the outdoors.
Although Cameron Highlands today is a
thriving hill station, in Thompson’s time, its
surrounding jungle was decidedly denser,
with tigers and other wild animals known
to be still lurking in it. Local aboriginal
tribes hunted with blowguns and poisoned
darts, a practice that continues today, andit wasn’t uncommon for deep, plunging
ravines and animal traps to be hidden
amidst the thick jungle. “It’s actuallytremendously easy to lose yourself in thehighlands,” says Captain Mokh, one of YTL
Hotel’s resident naturalists and who waspart of the original search parties that wentout to hunt for Jim Thompson the moment
he was reported missing. “Compared towhat you see now, the jungle was verymuch denser in the 1960s. I was in the
Malaysian Army at the time and had beenstationed in Cameron Highlands about amonth before the incident.”

life on the cover //THE JIM THOMPSON MYSTERY TRAIL
Jim Thompson’s eye for beauty was not only confined to silk and ancient artefacts. He
had a genuine love of nature and one of his greatest pleasures in life was to walk off thebeaten track and explore his surroundings, be it dense jungle or rambling countryside.
At the Cameron Highlands Resort, don’t miss joining its signature walk, The Jim
Thompson Mystery Trail, led by the hotel’s resident naturalist and de facto ‘Thompson
hunter’, S Madi, to explore the surrounding hills, all the while regaled by theories and themysterious circumstances surrounding the legendary Silk King’s disappearance. The
walk begins at Moonlight Cottage, where Thompson stayed before his disappearance,
and is a rambling trek, climbing all the way to 200m above sea level, before ending at
the Luther Mission House, whose gardener at the time was the last person to have seen
Thompson in the flesh. On the walk, expect to see flora and fauna that could include
millipedes endemic to the highlands, bamboo orchids, wild strangler figs and ant’s nest
ferns. To book, contact the YTL Travel Centre at +60 3 2783 1000.

“Surrounded by fragrant pine trees
and looking out onto mist-swathedhills, it seems improbable that an idyllicsetting like this could be shrouded insuch ominous mystery.”life on the cover //Image by Hans Fonk

“There are many conspiracy theories on
Thompson’s disappearance,” adds Mokh.
“Some say he was attacked and killed bya tiger; others say he simply got lost andwas swallowed up by the jungle. But I
am certain he wasn’t taken by animals as
there was simply no trace of Thompson’s
clothing to be found. He also couldn’t haveleft the area on foot as he definitely would
have been spotted. Also, we’d brought infour sniffer dogs and it really does seem as
if he just vanished into thin air.”
Top: The Jim Thompson
Museum in Bangkok.
Right: Captain Mokh
was part of the original
search parties that went
looking for Thompson.

MYTHS OF THE HILLS – Who are Orang Bunian?
In Malay belief, Orang Bunian are said to be supernatural beings who inhabit the
deep jungle and forests, living in communities much the way humans do, but in aparallel world. Invisible to the eye, unless you possess the gift of the third eye, Orang
Bunian are generally said to shun human contact and are believed to possess greatsupernatural powers. They have, however, been known to assist humans, particularly
pawangs and bomohs (witch-doctors and shamans) when called upon. Malays also
believe them to be similar to djinns (genies). It is often believed that, when people go
missing in the jungle, it is because they have been led away by Orang Bunian. There isa Malay saying also that, when you can’t find something and you know it’s just in thearea, they say it is “disorok Bunian” (hidden by Orang Bunian).

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Another probable theory is that Thompson
had fallen into a ravine or long-forgotten
animal trap. “The jungle has many patchesof land which are very soft. And the leaf fall
here is quick and heavy, and could haveconcealed any of the holes… Thompson
might have simply fallen into one,” adds
Mokh. On an esoteric note, Mokh does
share, however, in the local belief ofOrang Bunian – genie-like beings who livein the jungle and often spirit away virgins
and young children. “Many of the people
in the area believe in Bunian,” adds Mokh.
“There was a case, as recent as two years
ago, of a quantity surveyor who went
missing and was only found after a week.
He said he could see people in front ofhim, searching for him, but, somehow,

life on the cover //they couldn’t see or hear him. He was justlying there, apparently unable to call out
to them.”
There are, however, other theories… somewith a decidedly more sinister insinuation.
Some are aware that Thompson was
alleged to be a CIA agent and believe that
he had been kidnapped for his previous
involvement in spying activities. After all,
Malaysia still bore the scars of The Malayan
Emergency – the period between 1948
and 1960 and a dark patch in Malaysia’s
early history, when vicious communist
activity struck constant fear and terror on
the citizens of the young nation.
Tragically, just five months after Thompson’s
disappearance, the body of Katherine
Thompson Wood, Thompson’s eldest
sister who lived in Pennsylvania, wasdiscovered bludgeoned to death, which
only served to renew speculation in the
mysterious disappearance of Thompson.
Many followers of the case, particularly
in Thailand and Malaysia, can’t believethat two such tragedies in a single family
can be mere coincidence. Whatever thetheory, it would seem that Jim Thompson
the man left as great a mark in death as hedid in real life.

“Cameron Highlands
today is a thriving hill
station; in Thompson’s time,
its surrounding jungle was
decidedly denser. with tigers
and other wild animals known
to be still lurking in it.”

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEPerfectly In Tune
Guests of the Cameron Highlands Resort in Pahang, Malaysia, would,
undoubtedly, recognise Stephen Ooi’s face… or, at least, the melodies
he plays. Diana Khoo speaks to the resort’s resident pianist at the
Jim Thompson lounge.

Photography by Sharon Lam

It might be referred to as the Jim Thompson Tea Room but,when night falls, the Jim Thompson Lounge is definitely the place
to relax in, while knocking back a few drinks, at
the Cameron Highlands Resort. While daylight
hours beckon guests to explore the uniqueenvironment of the highlands and engage innature-immersing activities like jungle trekking,strawberry-picking or even playing the full
18 holes at the golf course just across theroad, night time is an invitation to relax by theHighlands Bar and its roaring fireplace, nursing
a drink and simply soaking up the music of thenight, rendered by resident pianist, Stephen
Oswald Ooi.

Stephen Ooi sets the mood in The Cameron Highlands Resort’s
Jim Thompson Lounge.

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Hailing from the beach resort haven of Batu
Feringgi on the island of Penang, Ooi has
been a fixture at Cameron Highlands Resort
since 2006. Coming from a musicallyinclined family, the jovial 69-year-old vividly
remembers family ‘jam sessions’, where his
mum would play the piano, dad the clarinet
and two elder brothers on the guitar. Not
that this streak of talent is limited to his parents
and siblings. Most of Ooi’s extended family
also makes beautiful music, with a niece
having studied in the prestigious Berklee
College of Music in the United States andis now working as a composer, while anothernephew, Nicky Ooi, used to be the frontman
of Malay rock band Headwind, arguably one of the biggest and mostpopular names on the local scene in the 1980s. “I myself have been

life feature //playing professionally since the age of 21,” smiles Ooi, “and I used
to play part-time with a jazz band when I was still living in Penang.”
Today, fully retired from his 9-to-5 job and enjoying a restfullife in the highlands, Ooi credits his current position to a mixtureof good luck as well as being in the right place at the right time.
“I was enjoying a retiree’s life here, spending my days gardening
and collecting orchids – a great passion of mine. Then, the son of
a close musician friend of mine called me up, asking if I could
play a two-hour gig for just two nights as it was the resort’s soft
opening. I hadn’t played the piano since 2000 and I had just two
weeks to brush up and practise… and only on the little keyboard I
had brought with me!”was one of many people playing or singing that night and I wasjust having fun. I certainly didn’t expect anything more than the twodays of work.” As luck would have it, Dato’ Mark Yeoh, Executive
Director of YTL Hotels, which owns and operates Cameron
Highlands Resort, was among the audience on the first night, taking
in Ooi’s medley of jazz and golden oldies. “Dato’ Mark spoke to me
after that and asked if I was interested to come and play regularly.
All I could think was, if he reckoned I was good enough, I was morethan willing to give it a go! My wife sums it up quite well, I think. Shesays I spend my days working in the garden or pottering about at
home, while, at night, I get all dressed up, go out and thoroughly
enjoy myself. All I can say is, how wonderful it is to do what you
enjoy and get paid for it,” he beams.

The first song Ooi played was Erroll Garner’s jazz standard, Misty.
“It has always been part of my repertoire,” he shares. “Anyway, I

Stephen Ooi plays at the Cameron Highlands Resort’s Jim
Thompson Lounge from 7pm-11pm, Mondays to Saturdays.

“I spend my days working in the garden or pottering
about at home, while, at night, I get all dressed up,
go out and thoroughly enjoy myself.”
HIT LISTMy Funny Valentine - A sombre and moody

Stephen Ooi’s Top 10 MostRequested Numbers

song. The perfect accompaniment to asmoky glass of Islay whisky.
I’ve Got You Under My Skin - I loveplaying this in a thoroughly upbeat andjazzy way.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - This is anothergreat winding-down song.
Unforgettable - I love adding bits andpieces to this one, to make it fun and moreeasy listening.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - I play thiswith lots of feeling and arpeggios.
Skylark - This is actually Dato’ Mark
Yeoh’s favourite song request. I can tell you
honestly I didn’t know how to play this Hoagy
Carmichael tune when he first asked. But I
certainly do now.

Misty - I like playing Johnny Mathis’ version
as it is fairly easy to play and a most popular
request among guests.
My Way - What I like about this song isthat it can be played in a very simple way ormade interesting with arpeggios.
New York, New York - This is a great,
upbeat song and is really made for dancing, I
think. It has a great patchwork style and lots
and lots of rhythm.
What a Wonderful World – I love playing
this in a moderate swing style. But you’dneed to know when to play this as I think it’sbest to wind down the night with.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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life preview //Introducing Gaya Island Resort
The Land Below the Wind is the perfect setting for the latest addition to the YTL Hotels
portfolio – Gaya Island Resort. Set within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, justa short boat ride away from Sabah’s capital of Kota Kinabalu, 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 sun-worshippers and thosewishing to commune with nature, while the waters off the island teem with marine life,
including bamboo sharks and enormous barrel sponges. 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, allow forstylish indulging. A Spa Village, particularly unique in its mangrove setting, is also set toopen alongside the resort in July 2012.

For your personally crafted experience, please contact the YTL Travel Centre at+60 3 2783 1000 or email travelcentre.my@ytlhotels.com. www.ytlhotels.com

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life feature //32

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

life feature //Splendour
After
the Snow

Niseko ticks all the right boxes as the perfectspring getaway. Catherine Shaw explores adifferent side of Japan’s top ski resort.
As winter draws to a close, Niseko,
Japan’s premier ski destination, getsset to welcome a whole new season ofactivity. The cosmopolitan upscale resort,tucked away on its picturesque perch at
the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri anddominated by the 1,898m Mount Yōtei(often referred to as the 'Mount Fuji of
Hokkaido’) on Japan's northernmost
island, is renowned for its deep powderysnows and groomed ski slopes, winning
multiple prestigious international travel anddesign awards in 2011. For those looking
to get away from it all, however, this isalso the perfect destination this spring.
One of the main reasons is the landscape,which is, quite literally, breathtakingly
beautiful – whatever the season. Thinkmajestic soaring mountains, crystal clear
rivers and wide open plains, which, together
with the elegant simplicity of Japanese rurallife, make this the perfect natural retreat forstressed urbanites. Luckily, Niseko is further
blessed with the best of both worlds whenit comes to weather: its winter snows arelegendary, guaranteeing deep powder ski
conditions, but, come spring and summer,
the island’s cool and dry conditions offer
an enticing alternative to the rest of Japan'ssoaring temperatures and humidity.
It is this unbeatable combination, topped
off with a friendly local community and a
new influx of luxury accommodation, andmodern spa and dining ventures, thathas transformed Niseko into a year-roundmust-visit destination. In the early post-

Golfing in the shadow of Mount Yõtei is oneof Niseko's main draws

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life feature //“The Hilton Niseko Village wasvoted the world's Best Ski Resortby CNNGo.com in 2011 andreceived accolades for The
Lookout Café, located atop of
Mount Niseko Annupuri.”at the foot of Niseko Annupuri, is anotherpopular spot for gentle hiking courses.

winter months, rafting enthusiasts make themost of the Shiribetsu River's icy waters,swollen with fast-melting snow; there arecourses for all levels of expertise, frombeginners to white knuckle rides. Kayaking
and canoeing are also available – theJapanese Sea and the Toya and Shikotsu
freshwater lakes nearby offer a wide variety
of experiences. The area is also particularly
popular with fly and lure fishing enthusiasts.
Those famous ski slopes come into theirown during spring, when vegetation slowly
emerges verdant green and hikers cometo enjoy the hundreds of trails throughspectacular scenery. A hike to the summitof Mount Yōtei is highly recommended
for the very fit; alternatively, take a scenic
ride on the gondola to the top of Mount
Annupuri and walk back down to enjoy
spectacular views of Mount Yōtei and
Niseko Hirafu village. Lake Kagaminuma,

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Mountain bikers are spoilt for choice, withaccess to tracks varying from cruising totechnical downhill courses. Hokkaido-bornbike tour concierge, Hiro Takahashi, says
many of the cyclists who join his ecotours come from as far as Hong Kong,
Australia, Singapore and Taiwan to enjoy
Niseko’s scenic cycle routes. His personal
recommendations include cycling throughthe farms around Mount Yōtei, Lake
Toya, the water fountain parks createdfrom melting snows and… a stop at theexcellent local ice cream shop.
W ild mountain flowers, such as thebutterbur sprout, dogtooth violet andcrocus, appear in early spring, bringing
a vibrant colour to the landscape and,

Niseko offers a myriad of pleasures including hot air balloon rides, while hikers
enjoy spectacular views and vibrant wild flowers like crocus.

Getting There
The nearest airport to Niseko is Sapporo’s 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 bytrain from New Chitose Airport.

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life feature //The outdoor adventure park at the Niseko
Village Pure Action, where you will alsofind suspended wooden bridges and cango horse riding.

Late Season Skiing
Niseko enjoys a particularly long ski season– last year’s ran to mid May and 2012
appears ready to break all records again assnow enthusiasts make the most of spring’s
reliable weather, excellent visibility andlack of crowds. Many resorts are planning
to remain open until Golden Week in May.
New to the scene is the eight-seater, highspeed gondola from Niseko Hirafu to the apex of the ski area, with 31 lifts and morethan 60 ski and snowboard runs to choose from.
Niseko’s award-winning, newly-renovated 200-room Green Leaf Niseko Village is
the ideal luxury retreat for those seeking to make the most of the late snows. The
Champalimaud Design-contemporary mountain-lodge style hotel (recently noted as oneof the Best New Hotels by Travel & Leisure and one of the top 41 Places To Go by The
New York Times) remains open until early April, offering guests contemporary luxury,
sophisticated dining and spa services. “We wanted to create a modern social space
attractive to a youthful and global clientele,” explains Alexandra Champalimaud. The
hotel's spa was also named as one of the 40 Best New Spas in The World by CondéNast Traveler US.

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life feature //“Lake Kagaminuma, at the foot of
Niseko Annupuri, is another popularspot for gentle hiking courses. ”
this year, Japan Railways Hokkaido has
extended its popular ‘Spring Foliage
Viewing Train’ (Harukoyo Ressha) from
Sapporo to provide an opportunity toappreciate the spectacular display. The
train leaves from Sapporo on a daily
basis and some of the best areas to view
flowers include the Panorama Line and theGoshiki Onsen area, and the Higashiyama
area and Lake Hangetsu at the base of
Mount Yōtei.
Golf in Niseko remains a key draw formany in warmer months, thanks to its
exceptional golfing facilities, including
the Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole,par-72 Niseko Golf Course, the Niseko
Village Golf Course and Hilton Niseko
Village’s three full-sized practice golf
holes and driving range. The 506-room
hotel's Niseko Village Pure Action is theheart of Niseko’s outdoor activities, with a23-court tennis centre, equestrian centre,
hand gliding, paragliding, abseiling,
motor-cross, bungee jumping and rockclimbing facilities. An inflated outdoor
adventure park, hand-made by Pure staff
using natural materials, offers adventureseekers of all ages tree trekking throughsuspended wooden bridges, ladders
and hanging features made of ropes. An
exciting new zip line activity will be
unveiled this summer.
The Hilton Niseko Village was voted theworld's Best Ski Resort by CNNGo.
com in 2011 and received accolades
for The Lookout Café, located atop of
Mount Niseko Annupuri. The design, by
Yuhkichi Kawai of Design Spirits, won theBest International Restaurant award at
the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards in
England and was placed in the Best 100
at the JCD Design Awards in Japan.

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life feature //Artistic
Accommodations
Shanghai’s oldest hotel celebrates a very contemporary
makeover, one that includes a unique cultural environment.
Catherine Shaw discovers the new experiences that the
Swatch Art Peace Hotel brings to the city's Bund.

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life feature //THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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life feature //40
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life feature //Shanghai, once renowned as the “Paris of the East” during its heyday in the late 19thand early 20th centuries, is experiencing a very modern revival while keeping one footfirmly planted in its glamorous past. At the very centre of this new lease on life is theformer Palace Hotel, now the Swatch Art Peace Hotel, one the city’s oldest and mostvenerated hotels fronting Shanghai’s Bund, the mile-long embanked riverfront lined with
grand stone-fronted Neoclassical and Beaux-Arts buildings. Many of these structures,once traditional architectural tributes to international banks and trading companies, havenow been transformed into the most striking symbols of modern-day Shanghai and arehome to world-class boutiques and luxury hotels.
The city's urban makeover was driven in large part by the unprecedented levels
of investment (some USD45billion) at the time of the 2010 World Expo, where theembankment was identified as the centrepiece. Its subsequent USD700million, three-year
facelift included diverting traffic lanes underground and creating landscaped public plazas.
Anticipating a resurgence of international travel to the city, many of the waterfront’s mostdistinctive buildings have also enjoyed some rejuvenation (although purists do note thatsome changes are more authentic than others) that has brought a new wave of activity,
including chic restaurants and bars, art galleries and stylish boutiques, to the area.

The old Palace Hotel, located on the Nanjing Road/Bund intersection, once occupied thesouth 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 in1909 (the first international conference to discuss the world’s narcotics problems). ChiangKai-shek and Soong Mei-ling also celebrated their engagement there in 1927.
The hotel is today the Swatch Art Peace Hotel, its elegant six-storey, red-brick Victorianfaçade the face of an intriguing reinvention courtesy of its new leaseholder, the Bielbased Swatch Group, whose flagship Breguet, Omega, Blancpain and Swatch boutiques
enjoy pride of place on the street level. The company has long been associated with theart world and, with this new venture, was able to bring its inspired design ethos to thepreservation of one of Shanghai’s most stunning cultural landmarks while simultaneously
creating a new artistic concept.

Overleaf. The Swatch Art Peace
Hotel is an intriguing reinventionof the historic Palace Hotel.
1& 2.The communal library andthe modern designer kitchen in
the hotel for visiting artists.
3 & 4.Shook! is spicing things up
with a fresh approach to food.

While its frontage has been faithfully restored to its former glory, the hotel’s interior is a boldmix of heritage décor (the stunning Jacobean staircase, period ceiling and wood panelling

2

3

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4

5. The king-sized bed
in the Happiness Suiteis enclosed within abirdcage. 6.The Hotel has
18 workshop-apartmentsfor visiting artists. 7.Someof the quirky details in the
Prosperity Suite.

have all been carefully renovated by experts), contemporary design centre and sevenmodern art-inspired guest suites with uniquely quirky interiors by Paris-based designers
Jouin Manku. The suites were inspired by traditional and modern Chinese culture, creatinga fascinating blend of cutting edge design and whimsical touches: the vast king-sized bed
in the Happiness Suite, for instance, is half-enclosed within a birdcage while, elsewhere,
Chinese characters provide a decorative but meaningful touch. The Prosperity Suite is afavourite for those planning a private party, thanks to its vast cocktail bar. Other themed suites
include the Joyful, Wondrous and Cheerful rooms, and the Peace and Good Fortune suites:
all designed to create a feeling of goodwill. The interiors are a glorious celebration of highly
inventive European design and cutting-edge style, with the latest state-of-the-art technology.
The hotel’s innovative concept, however, goes well beyond modern hotel and retail to
include a unique cultural environment dedicated to contemporary art. At the heart ofthe concept is the desire to promote cross cultural exchanges of different artists “soas to enrich personal experience and creativity”. Eighteen-specially designed studioapartments and workshops (including a stunning communal library, modern designer
kitchen and relaxing lounges with panoramic views of the Bund) have been created,
where artists-in-residence from all around the world can work, live and exhibit theircreative talents.
After their ‘tenure,’ which is usually limited to a maximum of six months in order to keepinteraction between artists dynamic and vibrant, each artist leaves a “trace” of their work

“The Swatch Art Peace Hotel, its elegant six-storey,
red-brick Victorian façade the face of an intriguing
reinvention courtesy of its new leaseholder.”42
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life feature //that will become part of the hotel’s contemporary art collection. A trace is usually a pieceof art created by the artist during their stay at the hotel: the actual choice of the artwork is
up to the artist to decide. All traces become part of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel Collection
and will be exhibited for the public to enjoy. A virtual online museum also help promote theartists to a wider audience. The first artists (Kathryn Gohemert is currently in tenure) werewelcomed in April 2011 and have already made their distinctive mark with a broad rangeof artistic styles and media. In addition to the guest rooms and artist spaces, the hotel also
has bespoke art exhibition spaces and a multi-purpose venue for cultural events.
Although it has yet to be awarded any Michelin stars, Shanghai is a veritable smorgasbord
for gourmands. Again, the Bund is the place to go. Although there are plenty of well-known
restaurants, Shook!, located on the sixth-floor penthouse of the hotel, has already shaken
things up with its fresh approach to culinary delights.
The appropriately-named venture embodies an already phenomenally popular international
dining led by UK-born chef Kevin Cape, whose culinary skills were honed at London’sConnaught Hotel (under Michel Bourdin) and as executive chef on the luxurious Eastern &Oriental Express train. Try the stir-fried prawns and hot mayonnaise sprinkled with honeyglazed walnuts – a firm favourite with the restaurant’s regulars.
The restaurant’s wine cellar also offers oenophiles two rare vertical collections of
Bordeaux’s most famous estates – Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem, withvintages from 1945 through to 2008. The al fresco roof terrace garden is another mustsee for its panoramic views over the city and the two domes that house intimate restaurant
dining spaces for the ultimate romantic dinner against Shanghai’s favourite vista.
7

Architectural andBespoke Tours
For those interested in the Bund’s
stunning architecture, look nofurther than the fascinating
information-packed walking tours
offered by local historian and authorPeter Hibbard. The president of
the Royal Asiatic Society China in
Shanghai, as well as the author of
The Odyssey Guide to Shanghai
and The Bund Shanghai: China
Faces West, is a mine of information
about the heritage buildings along
this famed stretch. Another highly
recommended service is Luxury
Concierges China, for its bespoke
tours led by local experts.

www.swatch-art-peace-hotel.com

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life feature //A Dive into
Underwater Paradise

One of the best-kept diving secrets in Malaysia is Pulau Tenggol on the East
Coast of the peninsula. Simon and Sofie Pridmore take their first dives
there and discovered the perfect base to do it from – Tanjong Jara Resort.

The locals always know best. Each year, towards the end of
March, city folk in Kuala Lumpur dust off their scuba gear andstart planning weekend road trips to the East Coast of Peninsular
Malaysia in anticipation of cloudless blue skies and calm, clear
seas ushered in by the south-west monsoon.
These knowledgeable folk eschew the attractions of many famous
dive destinations that lie only a short flight away from KL in favourof less well-known sites just up the road. Over the years, friends
have told us stories about this “best-kept secret in diving” and, tobe honest, we have always reacted a little cynically. After all, we
have been around the scuba world a long time and have learnt
that, sometimes, the reason that dive sites remain a secret is that,(whisper it softly) they are really not very good.

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However, such was the high calibre of the divers passing on theserecommendations and so consistent were their reports that we
decided to do a little research and plan a trip for ourselves.

A Good First Impression

Initial indications were positive. The East Coast of Peninsular
Malaysia borders the South China Sea and lies at the edge of thefamed Coral Triangle, the epicentre of marine biodiversity, so weknew we could expect plenty of colour and variety in the marine
life. We also saw that a major ocean current flows along the coastand there are a limited number of offshore islands along its route.
Therefore, we thought we might justifiably anticipate encounterswith large pelagic animals resting and feeding in and around thesemarine oases on their journey from ocean to ocean.

life feature //Left: Clown fish nestlingin a bed of anemones.
Below: Nudibranchs
are typical sights in the
Tenggol Island bay.

set up our diving base at the Tanjong Jara Resort. After all, there
are not many places in the world where you can revel in both
wonderful scuba diving and sumptuous spa treatments.
It was the perfect choice. As we discovered when we arrived,
when you stay at Tanjong Jara, you have Tenggol on yourdoorstep. While guests recline on the resort’s long, golden
beach, they can look out to the sea and spot the island out on
the horizon, tempting them to rise from their torpor and get alittle action in their lives.
The Tanjong Jara folk make it easy to get the best out of a day
out on the water. A van is on hand every morning to whisk you
from the resort to the dock, which is a 10-minute drive awayand close to the mouth of the Dungun River. From there, theisland is a mere 45 minutes of flat sea away in the resort’s
fast speedboat.

A Day on Tenggol

Tenggol is steep, rocky, rugged and heavily forested, but
a large, sheltered white sand bay scooped out of thewestern side offers calm, crystal clear water and a thriving
coral reef to entertain snorkelers and new divers.

We were aware that the time to go was during the six months ofthe south-west monsoon or in the transitional months of March andOctober either side of the season; but which specific destination
should we visit? The Terengganu National Marine Park seemed
ideal, as the waters of the park, its islands and their inhabitants
have been under government protection and allowed to thrive
undisturbed, except by divers and snorkelers, since 1994. There
were a number of areas within the park that attracted us but, themore research we did, the more the name of Tenggol, the southernmost major island, kept popping up.

An Easy Decision to Make

Then we heard that there was an excellent spa resort in thevicinity and the decision was easy. We would head for Tenggol andEveryone’s base for the day’s activities lies in the bay,where the resort has an open-air lodge with bathroom
and dining facilities. The speedboat anchors inthe shallows and you wade to the beach throughtranslucent, aquamarine water.
The action for more experienced divers lies on theother side of the island, where the vertical cliff line
continues under water to form current-swept walls,
and around the various rocks and pinnacles thatlie to the north and south. The water movement,
healthy corals and a vibrant reef community create aperfect environment to sustain large schools of fish
and bring big animals in from the deep. Eagle rays,
trevally, barracuda and black tip reef sharks arecommon sights and a selection of all of the above
turned up from time to time to say hello during our

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life feature //THE ‘WOW’ FACTOR
Every holiday should have its ‘wow’ moment and we should not
end this story without mentioning ours. As we passed through theresort lobby on our return from one dive day, we were chatting tofellow divers about damage that we had incurred to the strobe arm
on our underwater camera housing. A few minutes later, a knock
came at the door of our room and we opened it to find one of themaintenance staff holding a tube of superglue!

three days on Tenggol. The location and water conditions looked
perfect for ocean travellers such as manta rays and whale sharks,
and the guides told us that these were often spotted around theisland, usually at the beginning or end of the diving season.

Not Only for the Experts

Arriving back in the resort in the late afternoon after a second
day of excellent diving, we joined Jim and Anna, on holiday
from Hanoi and visiting Malaysia for the first time, for Happy
Hour around the pool. They were new divers and said they had
chosen this as the destination for their first post-certification
dives but had almost resolved to go elsewhere because they
had read that Tenggol was for advanced divers only.
Eventually, they had decided to stick with their original plan
and were delighted with their choice. The Tanjong Jara
dive centre manager had given them a short review of theirskills in the pool on the evening of their arrival and hadensured that they started their holiday with a couple of lesschallenging dives within the bay itself. They described whata wonderful experience they had had and it all sounded so
promising that we decided to dive in the bay with them thefollowing day.
We had a terrific time and it reminded us that great dives
do not always have to be about fast drifts and big fish.
Sometimes, it is just as much fun to take your time,
moving slowly and stopping to observe the behaviour ofsome of the more unusual and entertaining inhabitantsof the reef. You can pause and listen to parrot fishcrunching down on hard corals with their sharp beaks,
or watch octopus moving over the sea-bed, their skinchanging colour and texture to match their immediatesurroundings. It is always fascinating to see lionfish
floating gracefully over schools of small fry, thebeauty of their feather-like fin arrangements belying
their predatory intent, and shrimps and gobies
co-habiting in burrows in the sand where theywork tirelessly together to keep their homes clearof debris.

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“One route on thenorth side of the bay
takes snorkelers overa lush, multi-coloured
field of stag-horn coral,
filled with a million
cardinal fish of different
kinds that sparkle inthe sunlight ofthe shallows.”
A Day in the Bay

The day in the bay also gave us the opportunity to share what
the snorkelers see during their Tenggol experience. One route on
the north side of the bay takes them over a lush, multi-coloured
field of stag-horn coral, filled with a million cardinal fish of different
kinds that sparkle in the sunlight of the shallows. Guides thenlead the snorkelers to a section of the bay where they are almost
guaranteed to come across at least a couple of the resident
population of turtles. A second route on the opposite side of thebay offers schools of larger fish and some close encounters withclown fish, nestling in the profusion of anemones that have cometo rest on large boulders just below the surface.
Sometimes, those of us who are long-used to exploring tropicaloceans can forget what a thrilling experience it can be forbeginners. Over lunch during our surface interval between dives,
we overhear a girl who has just been snorkelling for the first time
describe her morning as “life-changing, couldn’t believe it was real,
it was like a 3D movie!”

No Longer a Secret
Clockwise from left: Tanjong
Jara Resort has an open-air
lodge with bathroom anddining facilities in Tenggol’sbay; Blue-ringed angel fish:
Black Damsel.

Tenggol is just too good a dive destination to remain a secret. The
combination of top quality diving for new and experienced divers
alike, ease of access from Kuala Lumpur by road or air, and theproximity of a high-class spa resort with an excellent day-boat
programme is an enticing cocktail. We will be back!

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The Rites of Spring
Spring heralds the start of the sublime Saint-Tropeziansummer season.

The south of France has always had ‘It’.
In the mind, images of jet-setters andHollywood A-Listers hiding behind theirsunnies, languorous lunches at longtables overflowing with all kinds of goodthings and an all-pervasive sense of chicin the air, instantly spring to memory. With
its craggy rocks, pink ochre buildings,
charming shuttered houses and a sea
of masts from all the luxury yachts
berthed in the sapphire waters, certainlySaint-Tropez remains one of the mostpopular getaways for the rich and therestless, and spring heralds the arrivalof the first-wave of well-heeled, genteel
holidaymakers although summer is theultimate season for people-watching.

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After all, it was Le Figaro which reported
that “the greatest number of famous
faces per square metre” is present when
the summer sun hits Saint-Trop.
The season officially begins in midto end-April, when the days begin to
stretch out a little bit longer and when thepretty, feathery yellow mimosas (an iconof the French south) are in bloom. This
time of year also marks the reopeningof the Muse Hôtel De Luxe. Located in
the village of Ramatuelle, which faces
the Bay of Pampelonne, and just along
the Route Des Marres, the 15-suite hotel(10 of which come with their own private
pools) is just 10km from the heart of

life feature //Saint-Tropez and a wonderful place to
bed down for the night. After checking
in at the reception, which, charmingly,
resembles a mill, you may wish to
wander the beautiful, 100 per centecological terraced gardens, designed
by celebrated landscape architect
Sophie Agata Ambroise, which leads theway to a perfectly-integrated spa at its
highest point. In high summer, spend theevenings at the Muse’s open-air cinema
or while lazy afternoons away in sybaritic
style at the spa, which uses thyme andlavender essences from the gardens aspart of its therapies.
If the idea of lounging on a sun bed isn’t
as appealing, take the short drive toSaint-Trop, where chic cafes, boîtes andboutiques await. The glamorous beachclubs all open in May and the azure blue
waters of the sea should be just warm
enough to dip in come June. Thesemonths are also when Saint-Tropez
proves irresistible to the international jetset, as this is when the celebrity circus
that is the annual Cannes Film Festival
descends upon the area (the 65th
Festival de Cannes takes place this year
from 16 to 27 May), while Nikki Beach,one of the sexiest beach clubs in theworld, is holding its 2012 opening partyon 9 June. So, be it beach lounger orbeach club, it’s easy to see your springand summer days are glamorously
sorted either way in Saint-Tropez.

Summer sun, soft light, blue waters and chiclaidback days form the undeniable allure of southof France living at its best.

To reserve, visit www.muse-hotels.com

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Ho Peck Choo, The
Majestic Malacca's
new resident historian.

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life feature //Walking Down
History Lane
Malacca’s history-soaked streets are best
explored en pied. And who better to show you
around and share the secrets behind each alley,
street and walkway than Ho Peck Choo, The
Majestic Malacca’s new resident historian?
Text by Diana Khoo Photography by Yong Keen Keong

Malacca excludes history and charm.
A walk with Choo starts from The
Majestic Malacca and will unearth
traditional treasures, like thesebeaded Nyonya slippers.

I’m not sure about you but, oftentimes,
when I am told the name of the person
I’d be interviewing, someone whom I’dnever met before, my mind would instantly
deliver an image, a presumption, a generalvisage based on nothing more than his
or her name and, perhaps, profession.
When I heard I’d be interviewing HoPeck Choo, the resident historian of The
Majestic Malacca, my mind flashed animage of a slight, pale Chinese woman…
bespectacled and book-ish. And, when
I finally met Ho (or ‘Choo’ as she prefers
to be known), I couldn’t have been
more wrong.
Small, bubbly and exceedingly tanned,
no thanks in part to the often-searing

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Malaccan sunshine,
Choo is a fifth-generation
Peranakan , or Nyonya as
Straits Chinese women areoften known. The 47-yearold Choo is Malaccan-bornand bred and has been the
hotel’s resident historiansince August 2011. Proudof her Peranakan heritage,C h o o i s d e s c e n d e d fro ma family of Chinese rubber
merchants, who have madeMalacca their home since
the late 1700s. “My maternal
grandfather had also worked
at Firestone, a rubber company
here. But, for me, nothing isworse than working in a routine,
desk-bound job. So, being able
to share the stories and history of
my city and country with guests
and visitors is wonderful. No two
tours are ever the same and there’s
always something new to discoverand learn!”C e r t a i n l y, t h e p a s s i o n a n denthusiasm Choo has for her job isevident, even in her tone and voice.
As we walk away from The Majestic
Malacca, the starting point for all her
tours, Choo shares that, in colonialdays, the hotel used to be the preferredhangout spot for all the planters aroundthe area, who would prop up the bar
with copious glasses of gin and tonics.
“Tonic was for the malaria, gin was justthe excuse,” laughs Choo.
What makes Choo’s walking tours such
fun is that it’s not all about stuffy dates

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and boring facts. With her unbridled
enthusiasm and breezy style, she brings
all of Malacca’s culture and history to life
– and in glorious Technicolour. Always
happy to stop and explain some more,
the minute anything catches your eye,
Choo is like a companion (albeit a mostknowledgeable one) in your exploratory
adventure. In between pointing out theruins of St Lawrence’s Chapel and the
sprawling Kampung Morten, the oldest
inhabited Malay village in Malacca andnamed for the British district officer who’dgazetted the land for the community inthe 1920s, Choo is also quick to spot ahuge water monitor lizard in the river andthe trees after which Malacca are named.
“ Phylluntus embilica ,” she exclaims,“and, although it’s known to locals as
the Malacca tree, it may also be found innorthern India, where it’s called amla or
the Indian gooseberry.”
It is along Jalan Tukang Emas, however,that Choo’s eyes really gleam withexcitement. Also known as Harmony
Street to the locals, due to the close
proximity of three distinct places ofworship of differing faiths – the Sri
Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthy temple
dedicated to the Hindu deity Ganesha,
the Kampung Kling mosque and Guanyin,
the Goddess of Mercy’s Cheng Hoon
Teng (‘temple of green clouds’) – andwith all three co-existing harmoniously,
Choo acknowledges that arriving on
this special street has always been her
favourite part of the entire journey. “I canspend endless hours at the Cheng Hoon
Teng temple alone, which dates back to1646 and is the oldest Chinese temple in
Malaysia,” she shares. “As a five-year-old,

From left: On the 2 ½ hour historicalwalk, visit temples and traditional
bucket-makers and walk past ornate
shophouses, before stopping to grab asnack on the run, like these bright red
angkoo kuih, a tasty Peranakan treat.

life feature //“What makes Choo’s walking tours such fun is thatit’s not all about stuffy dates and boring facts. Withher unbridled enthusiasm and breezy style, shebrings all of Malacca’s culture and history to life.”
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life feature //I’ll have you know I was so
mischievous that my motherbrought me here and mademe crawl under the temple
altar three times in the hope
the Goddess of Mercy would
notice and bless me, making
me a well-behaved child. All
I can tell you is that it didn’t
work,” she laughs. “This wasquite a common practice byMalaccan mothers up to 40
years ago. I don’t see many
children being made to crawl
under the altar these days,”
she winks. Another thing Chooloves sharing with her guests
is the reading of the I-Ching at
the temple. “There are essentially
61 fortune sticks, with one that’s
blank… meaning Guanyin prefers
not to answer your question
for now. Once you get yourfortune stick, you then interpretit accordingly as it comes in theform of an ancient Chinese poem,
whose meaning can sometimes bevague. Guests simply love it!”
Her 27 years of guiding experiencehasn’t dampened her enthusiasm
a whit either. “I often get asked if
I’m bored showing the same places
over and over but, really, there’s
always something new to see andlearn and I just love seeing the faces
and reactions of the people who walkalong with me,” says Choo. “Eachguest sees things differently and eachgroup I lead somehow opens up new
facets of Malacca’s stories and history.
Once, I also had the opportunity ofleading a group of professors of art
and anthropology. And that was suchan experience, seeing their faces as
they discovered Malacca’s temples andheritage treasures.” It actually seems

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incredulous that, as a schoolgirl, Chooabsolutely hated history. “But now,”
she smiles, “I really can’t imagine doing
anything else.”

Ho Peck Choo’s guided walks depart
The Majestic Malacca daily, except on
Wednesdays and barring inclement
weather, at 10am and 5pm. Each walklasts between two to two-and-a-halfhours. To book, contact the Front Desk at
The Majestic Malacca.

As you walk with her, Choo will take
both time and trouble to point out
interesting architecture elements or
introduce you to the local artisans, likethis traditional clog maker.

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55

Hughes On Flavour
The face of the television series Chuck’s Day Off, Chef Chuck Hughes
cannot remember his last break as he juggles hosting the popular
television show and running his two restaurants in his hometown
Montreal. The burly celebrity chef isn’t complaining, though.
Text by Petrina Jo Fernandez Photography by Asian Food Channel

life feature //Never mind the proverbial rabbit’s foot; lobster seems to be thelucky charm for celebrity chef Chuck Hughes. Fans of Iron Chef
America will remember the kitchen battle when Canadian lobster
was revealed as the secret ingredient for the final showdown
between Hughes and culinary heavyweight Bobby Flay. Hughes,
who loves the crustacean so much that he has one tattooed on his
forearm, was alternately thrilled and terrified as he wondered if theshelled surprise would cement or destroy his reputation. The signal
was given, the cooking began and the title – in a close score of 4541 – went to Hughes and the lobster poutine he whipped up withhis two sous chefs, making him the youngest Canadian chef to win
the series.
The dish continues to feature heavily in Hughes’ restaurant,
Garde-Manger, a brick-walled rollicking den in Old Montreal withloud music and excellent seafood, the summation of which is
the CAD120 seafood platter, described by The New York Times
as “a giant wooden trough with enough raw shellfish to feed aromp of otters”. Fresh Alaskan crab legs and poached shrimp
on a bed of ice and seaweed feature on smaller platters, while thesteak – the measure of any restaurant – is assuredly seasoned
and perfectly cooked to preference. A chalkboard menu informsof daily specials, while regulars are thoroughly familiar with theclassics. Le Bremner, the second of Hughes’ ventures with his

Opposite page:Though he's co-owner, Hughes is very hands-on in the kitchen of
Garde-Manger; This Page: The tender and tasty pan-seared beef carpaccio withpotato chips, fried capers and lemon aioli was one of the dishes prepared by
Hughes at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur.

two best friends, has a completely different vibe. “When you
have two restaurants four blocks apart, they have to be distinct
in character and menu,” says Hughes, describing the soft tones
and delicate dishes of his younger business. ”I like to think of
Garde-Manger – with its rustic ambience and incredible noise– as the male counterpart and Le Bremner – intimate, classy –the female of our portfolio.”
Here on his maiden visit to Asia recently, Hughes discovered,to his surprise, that his knowledge of Asian food was relatively
superficial. “I love how you use Thai celery here. At home, wethrow away the leaves and use the stalks but the real flavour
is in the leaves. I also had to come all the way to Malaysia
to really taste baby spinach. Even the spinach in Montreal
is bland!” he exclaims, after illustrating the straightforward
tastes of Canadian fare in comparison with the richnessof Asian cuisine. Though Canada is big on seafood, theanimated chef was awed by the varieties that greeted him at
every turn in local markets here.
Best known for his quirky commentary and expressions
as the host of the Food Network series Chuck’s Day
Off, Hughes is relishing the license to share his creations
with viewers: “I love showing people how easy cooking
really is. Some chefs closely guard their culinary secrets
but I like sharing the fun and excitement of creatingor perfecting something.” During a recent cooking
demonstration at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, he
impressed with his improvisational skills, replacing a
missing ingredient with an uncommon substitute athand. “The beauty of cooking is that there is so muchroom to play with. If something goes wrong, you can
improvise on the fly to fix it or turn it into something
completely new, and that is what attracted me tocooking as a child: that there are no rules. It’s entirely
about making every dish your own. You are free to
put in what you like and leave out what you don’t.”
As a youngster, Hughes displayed a knackfor cooking that hinted at a professional future,but scoffed at his mother’s predictions of chef
stardom. He graduated in communications
and marketing but left a career in advertising topursue his weekend passion full-time. “My mom isa good cook as well. She was the pastry chef at

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Garde-Manger when we first opened but, as we kept growing, thework eventually became overwhelming. She just plays golf now,”he deadpans.
Though the Malaysian leg of his tour with the Asian Food Channel
had a tight itinerary, Hughes took 10 minutes from his schedule
to talk to YTL Life about his life as a celebrity chef, must-havesfor cooking and affinity for tattoos.
It’s been almost exactly a year since you won Iron
Chef America, beating Bobby Flay in that intense final to win
the title.
Yeah, it is a bittersweet memory for me. The opportunity to
be in the competition alongside such strong chefs was anamazing honour. Winning was a great experience for me
and the guys, but it’s become part of my title now: people
know me for that one hour of fame and, cooking in thoseconditions – with a time limit and the cameras everywhere– does not allow for the best food you can make. I muchprefer cooking in real life, where people are actually paying
to taste my creations. It’s complicated and tough, but also
real and honest.
Now that you have Iron Chef America under yourbelt, what would be the greatest culinary accolade
you would like to achieve?
Nothing beats a truly satisfied customer and I maintainthat till today. No celebrity stardom or money cancompete with a child who was inspired to take up
cooking after watching my show, which is the greatest
legacy I can imagine.
In the cooking series, music seems to be avery big part of your restaurant. Is that so inreal life?
I wanted to make sure Chuck’s Day Off represented
the reality of Garde-Manger. I’ve worked in many
places that played non-descript elevator-style musicthat was really annoying and, when we opened
Garde-Manger, I decided I would have real musicthat people listened to on our sound system. We’re
all about being loud at Garde-Manger, from thevolume of the music to the kitchen clatter. Our
playlist is pretty safe right now, with Jack Johnson,
Black Keys and a little Led Zeppelin thrown in forgood measure. We don’t play music in the kitchenat serving time but we usually have Metallica
blasting before we open. We’ve even cateredbackstage for acts such as Coldplay, Eminem
and KISS, which we absolutely loved.

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEYour tattoos are very unusual – most of them depict different
types of food.
I grew up loving tattoos and used to tell my mom I’d get one thesecond I turned 18. As a tribute to her, I had three flaming skulls
holding the word “mom” tattooed on me but, funnily enough, shewasn’t too pleased. Most of my tattoos speak of my affair withfood, and I have arugula, lobster, clams, bacon, lemon meringue
pie and pomegranate inked on me, along with “Ioysters”. The
most outrageous is probably a glow-in-the-dark skull I have on mychest and I’ve invented the pineapple fish in my body art inventory:
it’s the fruit with a head of a fish. The graphics are stories of myexperiences and I’m thinking of having a durian tattoo done while
in Singapore. I’ve reached the point of no return.
Have they ever gotten in the way of your career?
I honestly thought they would work against me when I first started
cooking professionally, but they haven’t been an issue so far. I
sometimes cover them up when I’m working in more conservative
conditions but, as a rule, people don’t mind.
If you could cook beside anyone, dead or alive, who would it
be and why?
Probably Julia Child. She’s the original. Also Jamie Oliver –he’s very honest and real, and is probably still the best TV chef

life feature //Opposite page: The chef's antics and expressive commentary keep Chuck's
Day Off a hit with fans. This page (from left): Hughes uses lemon or orange zest
to give dishes an extra kick; Fresh seafood is the highlight at both Garde-Manger
and Le Bremner, prepared with minimal fuss to maintain taste and texture.

out there. He comes across really well on screen and is one of thepersonalities I really look up to.
If you could go out cooking one last dish, what would it be
and why?
It’s impossible to narrow it down to a specific dish, but it would
probably be an improvised lobster dish; something honest andsimple and unexpected.
What are five ingredients you always have at hand?
Butter, olive oil, salt, vinegar and a hot sauce, chilies or spices. I put
these in pretty much everything, with orange or lime zest added fora little kick.
Three things you cannot live without in a kitchen.
A sturdy work station, a sharp knife and a spoonula, which is
the marriage of a spoon and a spatula. A good sous chef isa bonus.
Is there a cooking method you are hoping to master?
I really want to try cooking with a wok. It’s not something I see
at home often and it looks so intense; yet people here do it withsuch ease that it’s amazing. I want to see how I can work this intoeither restaurant.

Chuck hughes' Tips to take Home• Salt and pepper are the basic ingredients to marinate any
meat, whatever cooking method you intend to use.
• Always wear gloves when battering; you will end up withmore batter on your fingers than on the meat otherwise.
• Oil should be heated to 275°F (135°C) when frying;
Hughes had it tattooed on his arm lest he forgets.

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life feature //Chuck Hughes’ Popcorn Rock
Shrimp with Spicy Honey
Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTSPOPCORN SHRIMP
1kg of rock shrimp
4 eggs, beaten
125ml of flour
500ml of cornstarch
Salt and pepper

Hughes puts the finishing touch on the
Popcorn Rock Shrimp with Spicy Honey.

“Cooking is entirely about
making every dish yourown. You are free to put inwhat you like and leave out
what you don’t.”
What’s on the menu for a traditional Canadian meal?
To be honest, Canadian cooking is very bland. Traditional
Quebecoise food is big on meat – usually pork or beef – withsides of potatoes and corn, but cooking styles vary throughout
the seasons: we braise meats in heavy sauces during winter, forinstance, while going for lighter dishes in summer. Vancouver
is unique, with strong Portuguese, Vietnamese, Japanese,
Greek, Italian and Sikh communities. The richness of ourculinary scene is built on people coming in from around theworld with their distinctive flavours and interpretations. If not
for Asians introducing spices to the locals, the gastronomy
landscape at home would be minimal and extremely
boring. On the other hand, we have a great seafood
culture that differs throughout the different regions, with
the Pacific on one side of the coast and the Atlantic on
the other.
What is something we will never see you do in
the kitchen?
You will never catch me skimping on ingredients. I
always feel lucky when I have a full restaurant andhave been known to add in an extra piece of lobster
into a dish out of gratitude. I have a great team,though, and they keep an eye on me to make sureI don’t get too carried away.

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250ml of honey1 garlic clove, mashed
1 teaspoon of peppercorn
1 teaspoon of chilli flakes
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
Sea salt

METHODSPICY HONEY
1. Heat a saucepan on medium heat. Stir in all ingredients.
2. Bring ingredients to a boil and let simmer for two
minutes.
3. Cool and strain mixture.
4. Transfer to a squeezable bottle and keep aside
POPCORN SHRIMP
1. Preheat fryer to 360°C.
2. Mix flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Coat the shrimp with the egg mixture, and then thecornstarch mixture.
3. Deep-fry the shrimps.
4. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then drizzle withspicy honey. Garnish with lemon wedges andserve immediately.

life feature //

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life of luxury //Read & Listen

Classical Indian dance legend Ramli Ibrahim reveals some of his
current literary and musical diversions.

My Readlist
1. No god but God Reza Aslan (Arrow Books)
2. The Difficulty of Being Good Gurcharan Das (Penguin Books)
3. Shringara – The Many Faces of Indian Beauty Alka Pande (Rupa Publications)4. The Other Malaysia – Writings on Malaysia’s Subaltern History Farish A Noor
(Silverfish Books)
5. Delhi – A Living Heritage Published Project Director AG Krishna Menon; Editors
Swapna Liddle and Annabel Lopez (published by Indira Gandhi National Centre for theArts and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage Delhi Chapter)

Ramli Ibrahim Renowned as the guru
of classical Indian dance in Malaysia,
Ramli Ibrahim is a celebrated exponent of
Bharatanatyam and the more sensuous
dance form of Odissi. Ramli is, at present,
Artistic Director of Sutra Dance Theatre andChairman of The Sutra Foundation.

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The above books first came to my notice
as highly recommended by friends – someof which were literally thrust at me as gifts.
I would be the poorer had I missed readingthem. Most of the writers (except for Farish
Noor) are Indians and, by coincidence,
they were featured on the list of invited
speakers for the recent controversial Jaipur
Literature Festival. Presently, Indian writing is

experiencing a high point and Indian writers
are engaged in interesting discourses, taking
in many contemporary issues and dovetailingthem with myths and classical metaphysics
of ancient India. I have been travelling a lot
lately and meeting interesting writers, artists
and dancers. For some reason, I am also
reading fewer novels – maybe because reality
is more interesting and bizarre than fiction.

My Playlist
1. This and the Other Sikkil Gurucharan (Carnatic Vocals) & Anil Srinivasan (Pianist)
2. Joget Pahang ~ Gamelan Melayu produced by the Pahang State Museum, Malaysia
3. Assouman Guy Manoukian (EMI)
4. Music I Like Karthik (Carnatic Vocals) and arranged by Sai Madhukar
5. Music for Crocodiles Susheela Raman

I buy a lot of CDs and listen to a lot ofmusic. People send me their compositions
and I am always excited by new sounds
and compositions. I am very familiar withwestern classical and contemporary music
but what excites me now are the newcompositions emerging from Asia, which
reinterpret traditional and indigenous idioms
in refreshing contemporary creations. I can’t
help but relate music to dance though I
can listen to gamelan, Carnatic krittis andclassical western music, and appreciate thearchitectonic forms of the works and their

independence from movement. Music, forme, must have substance – this is why I findmost commercial music so shallow that they
bore me on second hearing. I like music thatgrows on you with subsequent listening.
This does not mean that pop music is not
good, but one has to wade through so many
mindless ones before arriving at a work
which represents the generation’s ethos…
However, music that represents a tradition oran era and, at the same time, gives a senseof universality and timelessness – this is themusic that excites me.

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All
ThingsBrightandBeautiful
Playful princes andpouty princesses dress
up for Spring/Summer2012 in outfits thatevoke all the gaiety ofa summer holiday.

Floral Fashion

Khoon Hooi's latest collection merges boldcreations with his signature simplicity.

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American poet Lydia M Child crafted in the 1800s a lovely poem about the beautyof flowers, describing them as the "hieroglyphics of angels". Her simple yet profoundwords were the muse designer Khoon Hooi had been looking for and it is around thisfloral theme that he spins this season's collection. Fittingly titled Blossom, his trademark
avant-garde unstructured designs are woven with three-dimensional origami flowers andribboned embroidery to create a feminine fantasy swathed in both soft pastels and boldhues. Imminently sophisticated and slightly whimsical, the collection marks Khoon Hooi's
foray into bolder creations underlined with his signature simplicity – a move, he says, longcoming after 11 years in the industry.The risk pays off: these vibrant designs are among
the best he has ever sketched and are sure to be well received.

beautiful life //Exotica

Sergio Rossi, under the creative direction of Francesco Russo, goes exotically (dare wesay it?) erotic this season, with bondage effects, ropes of silk and elastic winding thatsnakes around legs. Imagine sandals embellished with carved cotton lilies or perhaps
eye-popping fluorescent pumps and sandals. As Russo boldly declared: “I like creating a
relationship that merges shoe and body!”

Pretty Woman

Romance, fairy tales and free-spiritedness
infuse REDValentino’s latest collection for2012. Evoking the girly-ness of a dewyeyed doll or perhaps an innocent temptressfrom the 50s, the collection’s appeal lies inthe details, such as ribbon-inserted hems,
embroidered lace, ruffles and retro florals.

Under The Summer Sun

Hawaii, birds, bougainvillea and glistening water are the inspirations behind Antonio
Marras’ collection for KenzoHomme this season. Evoking all the happiness andsimplicity of 60s-style dressing and summers spent in beachside locations like Palm
Springs and the French Riviera, it’s all about supple pyjama cuts, bright jacquards and apalette of bright floral prints, stripes and vivid hues.

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n
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beautiful life //

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ric deEoby MgMORning 
GLoryGlossy silk and wool
blend fuchsia dress
with butterfly andchrysanthemum motifs
by Shiatzy Chen.
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beautiful life //light andbrightThis page: Printed top andpink lace skirt by Khoon Hooi.
Opposite page: Long batik
dress by Jendela.

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beautiful life //70

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEGOLDEN GLOWThis page: Muted gold
dress with florid canetendrils motifs by Shiatzy
Chen. Opposite page:
Printed knit dress by
M Missoni.

beautiful life //REGAL
LUSTReThis page: Purple longsilk dress by Jendela.
Opposite page: Royalblue top and orange
skirt by Khoon Hooi.

beautiful life //blooming for springThis page: Black andwhite knit dress andshoes by M Missoni.
Opposite page: Lace
dress by Khoon Hooi.

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beautiful life //striking standout

This page: Knit dress andshoes by M.Missoni.
Opposite page: Black andwhite cotton halter neckdress by Jendela.

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spa life //Blow Hot,
Blow Cold

The Majestic Malacca’s Spa Village offers a range of treatments inspired by
the unique beauty rituals and healing therapies of the Peranakans, or Straits
Chinese, whose world is a unique and stunning mélange of Chinese andMalay influences, customs and traditions.
Text by Diana Khoo Photography by Yong Keen Keong & YTL Hotels

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THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEFor those among you who’ve visited The Majestic Malacca, it’s not
hard to be completely enchanted by its old world elegance, colonialcharm and classic historical setting, with architecture that bears
Portuguese, Dutch and Baba-Nyonya influences. From the colourful
Peranakan floor tiles to the Victorian furniture so beloved of theStraits Chinese, the hotel is also home to the Spa Village Malacca.
As with all Spa Villages – from Tembok in the northernmost tip ofBali, to the latest one, soon to be unveiled in the picturesque Gaya
Island, Borneo – each displays a strong sense of place that isevident in every healing therapy or beauty ritual. At Spa Village
Malacca, the essence of the location exudes from every facetof the spa, from the pai pien hanging just above its entrance,
crafted from fine lacquered wood and gold leaf, to the intricate
wood carvings and pintu pagar (saloon-style doors), which markthe entrances to the hair treatment rooms. It is in this spirit I am
privileged to be able to experience its signature Peranakan hot andcold spa rituals – the Suam-Suam Panas (warm) and Shiok-Shiok
Sejuk (cold).
As Spa Village Malacca’s therapies revolve around the Traditional
Chinese Medicinal belief of yin and yang, all guests are required to
Clockwise from right:
Soothing shades ofteal and green set
the mood at Spa
Village Malacca;
Ingredients used in
the spa treatments
come straight out of a
Nyonya’s kitchen; Sipon tea as you luxuriate
post-treatment.

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spa life //“Spa Village Malacca’s
hair ritual is inspiredby the elaborate
preparations ofa Peranakan bridefor her 12-day-long
wedding celebrations.”
answer a simple questionnaire so that your energy, be it warmor cool, corresponds best with the treatment chosen. It would
appear, upon completing the form, that I am decidedly yang (warm)and, thus, the signature Shiok-Shiok Sejuk was recommended tocool me down as well as cleanse, replenish and reinvigorate me,physically and mentally.
However, as an unabashed fan of bone-breakingly strong
massages and powerful fingerwork, I gingerly ask if I could swap
the session of gentle egg-rolling therapy (uniquely using hardboiled eggs to lightly press all over the body) as well as the yoghurt
and guava leaves body scrub with the more intense (and yang)
options of a Gula Melaka (palm sugar) and honey body scrub andthe nutmeg and rice rolling massage from the Suam-Suam Panas
experience. Thankfully, my request was granted.
Prior to the treatment, I also learn that each and every treatment
in Spa Village Malacca is preceded by a hair ritual, inspired by theelaborate beauty rituals of a Peranakan bride’s preparation for her
12-day-long wedding celebrations. This soothing step of the spa
journey includes a hair wash with shampoo made from the fruit of
the Malacca tree, a scalp massage, a rinse with flower water spiked
with lime and rose petals and, finally, combing. A delightful touchat Spa Village Malacca may be seen in the thoughtful mountingof television screens on the ceiling of the hair treatment rooms,
allowing guests to relax and enjoy traditional black and white P
Ramlee movies, one of the legends of classic Malay cinema,
while undergoing the ritual. Yet another charming detail is thepresentation of ang pow – a bright red packet which, traditionally,
contains a gift of money for a newly-married Peranakan couple,
but, here, and in keeping with the spa theme, containing instead abeautiful sandalwood comb for you to bring home as a keepsake.

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spa life //Clockwise from above:
Being pressed with awarm poultice; Spa Village
Malacca’s appetising
post-treatment treat; The
treatment suite is a
couple’s delight.

After the hair ritual, I make my way upstairs to one of six
luxuriously-appointed spa treatment rooms and suites. Before
beginning, your therapist will first show you the ingredients to
be used, none of which would look out of place in a Nyonya
kitchen, and may include palm sugar, pandanus leaves, coconut,
tapioca and even precious bird’s nests. The next three hours
seemed to unfurl almost dream-like as my therapist polished myskin with honeyed, crumbled Gula Melaka before proceedingto massage and press my body with a warm pouch containing
nutmeg and rice. This warmth on the body, combined withstrong kneading strokes, is positively heavenly. A cool bird’s nest
and starfruit facial, rich in vitamins and anti-aging properties,
completes the treatment.
Once the ritual comes to a close, you are invited to luxuriate in
post-treatment bliss over a cup of hot Malacca fruit tea, while
picking on a small dish of tangy acar – an appetising pickled carrot
and cucumber salad. You may continue basking in splendour at therelaxation lounge on the ground level, where traditional Peranakan
Chinese day beds and a pool view beckon, inviting you to simply
lie back, recline and watch the hours go past in a town where timehas, for the most part, stood still.
The Suam-Suam Panas and Shiok-Shiok Sejuk spa experiences are
priced at RM1,000 and RM600 for couples and singles, respectively.
Each experience is expected to take around three hours. For
enquiries, contact Spa Village Malacca at +606 289 8000.

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life of luxury //Spring Is In The Air
The arrival of spring demands a lighter palette. Think pink, florals and,perhaps, something with more than a touch of playfulness.
La Vie En Rose Meets Film Noir

Guerlain’s collection for spring is a juxtaposition of light and dark, of strength andfemininity. Sophisticated, seductive and elegant, Guerlain offers a tantalising palette– from the must-have Noir G, the first Guerlain mascara to combine the extravagant
luxury of a jewellery case with an extraordinary formula for perfectly-defined eyes, toMeteorites Cruel Gardenia, a limited edition illuminating iridescent powder in the shapeof a precious flower.

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beautiful life //The Brotherhood

For Spring 2012, Jean Paul Gaultier Parfums offers new, limited edition travel flasksof “Le Male” and “Le Male” Terrible, crafted from metal with funky parallel stripes anda pivoting arm made of zamak. Ideal for travelling, choose from the fresh, sensual “LeMale” or the more mischievous “Le Male” Terrible – made livelier with notes of grapefruitand pink peppercorn.

The Eyes Have It

Laura Mercier highlights natural femininity
with its newest addition to the exquisite
Eye Basics range. Tawny shares thesame sheer creaminess as its light-hued
predecessors, with a silky semi-mattefinish in a bolder statement shade. The
versatile crème shadow can be worn on
its own or applied before a powder eye
shadow for long-lasting coverage. Other
shades in the line include Buff, Peach,
Wheat, Flax, Linen, Cotton and Eyebright.

It Takes Two

Spring is in the air and the abundance of soft light demands clean, clear skin with which
to bask in its reflected glory. To maximise slip and minimise irritation as well as sootheand hydrate the skin afterwards, experience Aesop’s Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet – alow-foaming serum that allows for a close shave without aggravating the skin, while acomplementary post-shave lotion works quickly to calm and nourish every skin type.

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life of luxury //Toys Stories
From a coupé to die for to a bar like no other, here are complications
to take pleasure in.
A Product of Power

Posterity is the philosophy behind the refined sportiness of the Mercedes-Benz CLS,
which boasts a design that is a generation ahead of its competitors in the four-door
coupé class. Intelligent lightweight construction bridges low weight with high strength foroutstanding aerodynamics, while a new electromechanical power steering marries theultimate in driving dynamics with the very best in comfort and convenience. The result? A
sleek machine just raring to go

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Sweet Spring

Armani/Dolci celebrates the arrival of spring with a softer touch in its packaging.
Using elegant blue cobalt paper and adorned with a precious dove emblem, let yourspringtime gift of luxurious artisan chocolates be dedicated to a dream, life and peace.

Called to the Bar

Two great names team up in style.
Porsche Design and Johnnie Walker
Blue Label’s latest collaboration has
resulted in an exquisite Private Bar. Made
only to order at a cost of £100,000, it iscrafted from luxurious leather and brushed
titanium, while utilising state-of-the-art
motion sensors with which to activate its
opening sequence, ensuring each serving
celebrates Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s‘perfect serve’.

Watch this Space

Swiss watchmaker Maurice Lacroix recently unveiled a shiny new look for its first flagshipstore in Kuala Lumpur’s Starhill Gallery. Opened in 2008, the newly-revamped space iscertain to delight watch enthusiasts and collectors alike, with its ample display of uniquelycrafted timepieces as well as a new private corner for guests to browse, try and experiencein privacy and comfort.

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life cuisine //By The Sea
For dinner with a difference, you might wish to consider the culinarycharms of Pangkor Laut Resort’s Straits private dining experience.

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Recently voted as one of the world’s
top 500 hotels and one of the top threeresorts in Malaysia by Travel + LeisureSoutheast Asia, Pangkor Laut Resort, on
the west coast of the Malay Peninsula,
has always been special. From its private
island setting, ensconced amidst 300
acres of two-million-year-old rainforest,and surrounded by emerald green
waters, guests arrive only by yacht
or speedboat (or, for the jet-setter in ahurry, helicopter) and are immediately
enveloped by island luxury. There areprivate villas embedded in the verdant
hillside or, if you wish to evoke the feelingof being cast away, opt for the dreamy
sea and spa villas – gracefully perchedatop stilts – and where, if you’re lucky,
you might spot a colourful parrot fish or aslender garfish swimming past.
Naturally, when one is accommodated
i n s u c h a u n i q u e , l u x u r i o u s w a y,
expectations are equally high when it
comes to dining. Pangkor Laut Resort
houses seven unique restaurants on theisland but, for a truly special evening, it
has to be The Straits Experience, a private
dining experience that offers a melangeof East-meets-West cuisine, prepared toperfection by the resort’s chefs.

The Straits' tranquil views andwarm décor make for a perfectevening experience.

Held at The Straits on a strictly ‘by priorarrangement’ basis, guests will delightin the sea-fronting restaurant’s tranquilviews, all the while fanned by sea breeze.
With its warm wood and granite décor, it

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life cuisine //“The Straits Experience offersa melange of East-meets-West
cuisine, prepared to perfection
by the resort’s chefs.”
is, at once, elegant yet relaxed. One of
the most arresting features about The
Straits is its capiz seashell chandeliers.
Once here, pop open a bottle of vintage
champagne and await the first of many
delicious courses to arrive at your table.
The menu changes according to what
the chef has found fresh at the markets(or, even, caught from the sea) anddivided according to the elements, like
Beginning, Interlude, Sea and Land.
Always a merry melange of the finest
South-East Asian flavours, every Straits
dining experience begins with a selectionof the chef’s petit preludes, followed bya Beginning of, say, seafood dumplings
served in a piping-hot fish broth. Once
your palate has been suitably warmed
up, move on to an Interlude of somethingpiquant yet cleansing, like a Thai-inspired
tom yam sorbet, before delighting in the
spice and savouriness of a dish of tiger
prawns in masala sauce. Let the marine
theme continue in the chef’s Sea creationof freshly-caught grouper served with
eggplant green curry, pomelo salad anda serving of scallop sambal, before, finally,
moving on to Land, where the chef may
just treat you to his special creation ofbeef tenderloin with chilli, turmeric leaves,onions, garlic and tamarind.
Endings are always sweet at The Straits
and the dessert of the day also depends
on what ingredients have inspired

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the chef that morning. That evening,
however, we were treated to a particular
dreamy banana layer cake as a stunning
finale to a gastronomic experience, after
which, all you need to do, really, is tosaunter back to your villa and drift off
to sleep with just the sound of lapping
waves as a natural lullaby. La dolce
vita? Definitely.
To book your private dining experienceat The Straits, kindly contact the Dining
Concierge at Pangkor Laut Resort.

What to wear to yourSTRAITS dining experience.
The Colour of Sunshine – Farah
Khan’s breezy, billowy Dinara kaftan
makes dressing up to dinner a, dare wesay, breeze.
Apple of My Eye –Such a special dining
experience deserves a
bejewelled clutch to gowith it. In keeping with the
gourmet theme, consider
Anya Hindmarch’s appleshaped lovely… quite
the hit of the season.
Sole Food – Much as
we love the embellished,
towering beauty of Iris,
crafted from tan suede
Nappa leather, we have to bepractical as well, bearing in
mind the walk from the villas
to The Straits. Hence, be properly (and stylishly) shodin Jimmy Choo’s multi-mirror leather Hedda flats.
Style and comfort!
Bag It – Although the beauty of resort living means
you needn’t bring much morealong with you than yourroom key, a girl still needs her
lipstick… and camera, and,maybe, her BlackBerry as well.
Contain them all in style withthis summery wicker handbag
by Emilio Pucci. Bellissima!
Clockwise from top:
The capiz seashellchandeliers are one of
The Straits' more uniquefeatures; Start your Straits
Experience with somevintage champagne;
Spices to heighten theflavours of the dishes at
the restaurant.

Ring, ma belle – Add a touchof luxe to your resort look with
Boucheron’s special ‘Black Edition’of its enigmatic Quatre ring, madewith both white and black gold.

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life guide //My Top Picks

Who: Steve Cokkinias
What: General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton,
Kuala Lumpur
Where: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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life guide //The Sights &The City
Kuala Lumpur has always been a mish-mash of elements. Be it
culture, luxury, history or world-class cuisine, you can be sure theslick capital city of Malaysia has something for you. Steve Cokkinias
lets us in on what to do, what to see and where to go.

life guide //Sentul Park
Koi Centre

The Sentul Park Koi Centre is a hidden
jewel of Kuala Lumpur and is, in fact, arecreation of a traditional Japanese village.
It’s wonderful coming here and learning
all about the Japanese art of Nishikigoi aswell as the different varieties of koi, whatmakes each so special and, of course,
valuable. I find it fascinating! The breeding
facility here is also amazingly scientific andI always end my visit with lunch at Yuritei,
the Japanese restaurant next door, whosename means ‘house of playful koi ’.

Batu Caves is also a haven for monkeys.

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life guide //Batu Caves

Nothing beats coming to Batu Cavesduring the Hindu festival of Thaipusam,
which offers visceral insight into sacrifice,belief and cultural/religious traditions. You
get to see the prayers and commitmentsfor past or coming years, which areoffered, oftentimes, alongside trance-like
meditations, piercings and the carrying of
kavadi. The golden statue of Lord Murugan
here is also one of the world’s largest.

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life guide //Acme Bar& Coffee
Malaysians love abbreviations and thischic new boîte at The Troika, a newbuilding by Lord Norman Foster, ispopularly known as ‘ABC’. I love its great
atmosphere and design and, surprisingly,
fast service. It offers a fresh menu anddining concept that really works.

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life guide //Sao NamIf you venture into the Changkat Bukit
Bintang area, you’d have to look hard
to find Sao Nam, a tiny Vietnamese
restaurant wedged between rows ofeateries and reflexology stalls on 7 and9 Tengkat Tong Shin. It’s just off Bukit
Bintang and closer to the clubbing streetof Changkat. It has a great environment,
though, and don’t miss the curry chicken
dish, which has a sweet coconut flavourthat is to die for!

GonbeiI love this Japanese restaurant, tuckedaway on the upper floors of Starhill
Gallery, one of KL's most luxurious malls,
as it’s away from the hustle and bustle
and offers the largest selection of sakeoutside of Tokyo! I’d advise you to cometo Gonbei with a ravenous appetite… aswell as a designated driver.
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The Adorn Floor,
Starhill Gallery

I’m a big fan of fine timepieces and I must recommend Starhill
Gallery’s Adorn Floor. I’d consider it to be a most ‘dangerous’
place to walk through as it features the world’s single largest
concentration of fine watches – over 50,000 sq ft of walletcrushing tick-tocks that are a treat for connoisseurs ofcomplicated movements.

Tate at theIntermarkThis is a really funky cool bar… the trick
is being able to find the place! You enteron the ground level, look for a hat and an
unmarked door. I think finding Tate is half
the fun!
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Malaysian
MotoGP

Not to be confused with the Formula 1, the
MotoGP is the two-wheeled version of therace at Sepang. Typically held in Octobereach year, it offers the public more accessto the drivers and teams and is always an
exciting, albeit dangerous, race. This was,sadly, proven in 2011 with the death of
Marco Simoncelli in Malaysia after a horrificmotorcycle crash just minutes after therace started.

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life guide //KL Performing
Arts Centre

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (‘KLPac’ forshort) is located in Sentul West Park and hosts terrific acts,from music to comedy. And recently, TimeOut KL magazine
hosted its Food Awards here, where, I must tell you, Li Yen,
our Chinese restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur,
picked up the award for ‘Best Chinese Restaurant’.

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Royal Selangor
Visitor Centre

Seeing how tin and pewter are crafted into fine works ofart makes a tour of the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre in
Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, a must. The best part about it isbeing able to work on your own little masterpiece at its famous‘School of Hard Knocks’, and taking it home with you.

From edgy plays to crafting your own pewter treasure at Royal
Selangor's School of Hard Knocks, KL has it all.

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portfolio of
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Explore The Worldof YTL Hotels...

SHOOK! SHANGHAI AT THE
SWATCH ART PEACE HOTEL
CHINA

Perched on a space of symmetry and proportion, Shook! Shanghaifeatures 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,
Southeast Asian and modern Western, yet flexible enough totransport you anywhere your heart and palate desire. Anotherhighlight at Shook! Shanghai is the showcase of the world’s
finest wines and champagnes, including rare vintages from 1945
through 2000. Shook! Shanghai also houses The Time Bar and
The Swatch Art Peace Hotel Terrace on the roof top overlooking astunning backdrop of the Pudong skyline.

Tel: +86 (21) 6321 0021
www.shookrestaurantshanghai.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 a variety of dining
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.

Tel: +81 (0)136 44 3311
www.thegreenleafhotel.com

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portfolio of
portfolioof lifelife////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 suchas 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.

Tel: +81 136441111
www.niseko-village.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 eighteen
hole golf 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
portfolioof lifelife////PANGKOR LAUT RESORTMALAYSIA

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 2 million years in the making, and it is here one
finds one of the world’s premier award-winning resorts nestling inthe shade of forest giants as old as the land.
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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portfolio of life //THE ESTATES AT PANGKOR LAUT RESORTMALAYSIA

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.
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
portfolioof lifelife////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.
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.a
Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.majesticmalacca.com

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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.

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

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portfolio of
portfolioof lifelife////JW MARRIOTTKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

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.
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.
The 29-storey hotel recently opened three new floors comprising
mainly suites with contemporary design and luxury fittings. 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.marriott.com

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portfolio of life //THE RITZ-CARLTONKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

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.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is the city’s first award-winning fullbutler hotel featuring 365 guest rooms and suites. The fresh style of
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is influenced by a variety of 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 homeaway-from-home ambience, while hidden modern technologies
add a modern yet subtle flair.

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

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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 on 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 square metres, the villa features 3
large bedrooms with ensuite bath and dressing areas, a 15 metre
swimming pool, separate living and dining pavilions, a kitchen and amaid’s room. For those looking to get away from it all, Villa Tassana
is staffed by one dedicated attendant and a chef specialising indelicious home-style Thai dishes.
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, anda range of luxury motor yachts available to explore Phuket’s many
bays, islands and dive locations.

Tel: +60 3 2783 1000

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portfolio of life //THE SURIN

PHUKET, THAIL AND

The Surin Phuket offers guests a choice of 108 thatched cottages
that sit cosily under a canopy of coconut groves, where landscaped
slopes gently descend to meet a private stretch of sandy shore.
The appeal of the spacious 89 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom
cottages is further enhanced with private verandahs, secluded sun
decks, and handcrafted teak floors.
Renowned for its warm island hospitality and rustic serenity, The
Surin Phuket also provides spa services, dining venues, meeting
facilities and recreational activities. The Surin Phuket – a veritable
gateway to a tropical island paradise.

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

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portfolio of
portfolio
portfolio
ofoflifelife
life//////SPA VILLAGE RESORTTEMBOK, BALI, INDONESIA

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.
Inspired by the award-winning Spa Village Pangkor Laut, Spa Village
Resort Tembok, Bali embraces the same healing ethos of celebrating
the local culture, honouring the ancient remedies of the region andinfusing each visit with the essence of the surrounding scenery.
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 ispossible to recapture one’s sense of self.

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

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portfolio of life //EASTERN &ORIENTAL EXPRESSThe Eastern & Oriental Express is more than a train service: at its
maximum length the quarter of a mile in length train is a havenof 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.
The interior walls of the compartments are panelled with cherrywood and elm burr, with decorative marquetry friezes and intricate
design inlays.The delicate embroidery work was done in Malaysia,
and the bespoke carpets hand-tufted in Thailand. While guests
dine at night, the steward transforms the compartment from a livingroom to a luxurious bedroom.
Chefs onboard the E&O Express are internationally renowned fortheir tantalising variety of Eastern and European dishes, using thefinest fresh seasonal ingredients.

www.easternandorientalexpress.com

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portfolio
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of
life
life
life
life
////////MUSE HÔTEL DE LUXEFRANCE

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’ road set amongst an
ecological landscape of terraced gardens.
Fifteen ultra chic suites (ten 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 mamorino wall finishes. Thoughtful
touches include a 42” Loewe plasma screen with over 100
channels, a PlayStation, iPad and iPhone.
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 SaintTropezian landscape.

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

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portfolio of life //BRAY HOUSE
ENGLAND

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.
Designer furniture, vintage accessories and vivid splashes of colour
create an atmosphere that marries the modern and the classic.
Each of the bedrooms has its own theme: a lullaby of white or asymphony of Tuscany red in another. Bray House also features a
private courtyard and a natural spring found in the garden.
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: +44 162 858 3505

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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 Tanjong Jara
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.

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 Pangkor Laut
Malaysia

The Spa Village at Pangkor Laut Resort is a unique ultra-exclusive
retreat that extols the healing cultures of Malaysia’s diverse
history of people and cultures and vast 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.
Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.spavillage.com

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portfolio
portfolio of
portfolio
ofoflifelife
life//////

FEAST VILLAGEKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Feast till your heart is content in our Feast Village, a dramatic,stylish 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, Sentidos Tapas,
Shook!, Jake`s Charbroil Steak, Vansh, KoRyo Won, Enak, My
Thai and Village Bar.
The design of Feast Village is inspired by nature. Walls areasymmetrical and serve not to separate, but rather to provide
peace enclaves where people may relax.
Rice paper from Japan combines with slate and ikat fromIndonesia, granite from China, silk from Thailand, and timber on
Myanmar to create the essence of Asia from a design perspective,
making Feast Village truly one-of-a-kind.

Tel: +60 3 2782 3855
www.starhillgallery.com

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portfolio of life //LOT 10KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

An iconic architectural landmark since the 1990s, the shopping
and lifestyle destination, Lot 10, has undergone significant
renovation from its basement to its rooftop bringing in a new ageof modern style.
The Forest in The City theme is immediately apparent in theinspiring drama of the rooftop of Lot 10. Mature trees of dappled
barks and emerging foliage rise above manicured shrubs to greet
guests with a refreshing welcome of abundant green.
A dramatic landscape that emulates towering cliffs of overhanging
ferns and flora, and a variety of tropical plants against the skies ofKuala Lumpur serve as the stunning backdrop for a unique host ofurban lifestyle pursuits and experiences that are exclusive only to
Lot 10 at the rooftop.

www.lot10.com.my

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my life //Maggie Beer, the great Australian chef, foodauthor, restaurateur and food manufacturer,
is one of my great inspirations in life. I had theprivilege to work with her before and I reallyrespect her philosophy of finding and using thebest ingredients, locally-sourced if possible, andtreating them with respect.
A lot of people ask if I come from a familyof vignerons or winemakers, but I always
say I come from a family of wine drinkers! My
dad’s a doctor and he’s always loved Penfolds
wines and has a more than decent collection in
his cellar.

Photography by Yong Keen KeongWork can be hectic so I de-stress by cooking.
I used to be a chef a long time ago. I also enjoy
fishing, and my friends and I often go to the Gulfof St Vincent to catch King George whiting andlocal blue swimmer crabs. Pair them with a crisp,
dry white wine and life is beautiful.
I enjoy wine according to the seasons as well,and not just the occasion or food. In winter,
for example, I often gravitate towards solid
Shirazes, Cabernets and fortified wines. I think
Penfolds’ Grandfather and Great-Grandfather
tawnies are particularly delicious.

Grape
Expectations
Jamie Sach, the Barossa Valley-based globetrotting
ambassador for Penfolds, one of Australia’s greatest
wineries, speaks exclusively to YTL Life on the joys ofpairing life with great food and wine.
Wine can be so subjective. It depends a loton the moment. I’m a great fan of champagne
as well – I simply love it, especially Krug, Salonand Louis Roederer. I think Cristal’s superb but,
personally, if you’re looking for the best nonvintage on the market, I reckon Roederer’s
unbeatable… especially when paired with fresh
South Australian oysters.

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Great food and wine pairings for me include
Fino sherry with seafood and German Rieslingwith a simple dish I like to make myself –grilled local Port Lincoln sardines with lemon.
Sometimes, the simplest things are best. I mean,sardines in South Australia are inexpensive. You
can get a kilo for AUD7. But it really is one of thebest things.
The most memorable place I travelled torecently is Vietnam. I love its colonial architecture,
particularly in Hanoi, and chaotic sense of hustle
and bustle. I am also blown away by its blend ofinteresting flavours, like crisp hot baguettes filledwith spicy beef.
In my fridge, you will always find anchovies,
good parmesan cheese and free-range eggs.
For fresh herbs, I get them from my garden –but only if my dog, a naughty beagle, doesn’t
eat them.
My favourite room should, ideally, be mycellar. But, as I’ve just moved into a new house,
I’ve got to wait a while before I can have myown cellar as it’s quite low on my wife’s list ofrenovation priorities.

ENGINEERED IN STAINLESS STEEL AND
HIGH-TECH CERAMIC
Hrithik Roshan

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