YTL

Issue F i ft een

T h e

Y T L

L u x u r y

M a g a z i n e

Fables of the Hills
Journeying Through the Malay
Peninsula on the Legendary
Eastern & Oriental Express

T h e

Healing Hands

Y T L

Pangkor Laut’s
Ayurvedic Touch

L u x u r yDivine Expression
Chang Fee Ming Paints Bali

M a g a z i n e
PP 15585/10/2012(031264)

David Foster & Friends • Chinese Reunion Dinners • Julio Iglesias

life of luxury //86

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

life of luxury //THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

87

Contents
20
Life Events

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

Life Bites

18 Hot happenings at
YTL Hotels.

Life on the Cover

20 Last year, the legendary
Eastern & Oriental Express
launched its Fables ofthe Hills land voyage, ajourney that takes guests
on an enlightening trip
from Singapore, all theway up through the Malay
Peninsula, to Bangkok.

54
Life Feature

32 With the Year of the Water
Dragon fast approaching,YTL Life explores the various
dishes and ingredientsrich in symbolism that areserved at the all-importantreunion feast.
38 Superstar Julio Iglesias lit
up the streets of Bukit
Bintang with his seasoned
show-stopping style in a
recent concert.
42 In the book Journey toTembok, Chang Fee Ming
captures for posterity aseries of poetic and true-tolife watercolours featuring

vignettes of Balinese
culture and life.
48 David Foster talks
to YTL Life about what
it means for him to be
on tour, his next big
project and why, forthe past 29 years,
he’s not been inside
an elevator.
54 Mark McEwan,
shining star of theToronto culinary scene
and well-known faceof cooking television,
shares a glimpse of life
as a celebrity chef.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

3

life on the cover //

58
58

72

76

80

Beautiful Life

Exploring Malacca, acity drenched in history,
calls for captivating looks
that exude timeless,classic style.

Spa Life

The Ayurvedic therapies
at Spa Village Pangkor
Laut help to rekindle one’s
links with emotional andphysical vitality.
With its inviting ‘Everybody
Loves Rain’ package,
the luxury Tanjong Jara
Resort welcomes travellers
seeking a relaxing getaway.

Life of Luxury

Globetrotter and AsiaPacific CEO of Spanish

76
jewellers Carerra y Carerra,
Marc Hag divulges his top
book and music picks.

90 Royale Vietnam amazes with
its variety of authentic cuisine,served with style.

82 Two impressive soundsystems and a superlative
image creation device
redefine how life looks andsounds.

91 Presenting Kuala Lumpur’s
latest place to be seen at –Starhill Tea Salon.

84 YTL Life speaks with theChief Marketing Officer of
YTL Communications,Reggie Chee, about
the company’s brightest
innovations – Yes.

92 See Pangkor Laut Resort
through the eyes of its resident
naturalist Yip Yoon Wah.

Life Cuisine

86 There’s far more to Japan’s
ski capital than perfect snow.
Catherine Shaw looks beyond
the slopes to Niseko’s newest
culinary star.

Life Moments

Portfolio of Life

100 Explore the world of
YTL Hotels.

My Life

120 Actress Michelle Yeoh talks
about her favourite faces,
places and experiences.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

5

Editorial TeamA Note fromTan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh

Editorial Director
Izan Yusuff Wilson

The spectacular Starhill Gallery was relaunched recently by His Majesty The King of
Malaysia in the company of legendary Grammy-award winner Julio Iglesias. The iconic
new facade transforms the thriving landscape of Bintang Walk with an architectural
masterpiece that symbolises the worldwide appeal of this “Gallery of Rich
Experiences” and its contribution to Kuala Lumpur’s transformation as a world-classcity and shopping destination. Starhill Gallery today is the ultimate statement of taste
and style in food, fashion, living, beauty and art; recognised all over the world as
one of the most prestigious malls in Asia. We welcome you to come and discover
your own rich experiences soon.

Editor-in-Chief
Diana Khoo
Associate Editor
Mark Lean      

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

Julio Iglesias then performed at the YTL Concert of Celebration in Bukit Bintang,with an audience of 100,000 in attendance. The free open-air performance isthe fourth of a series of international concerts. This is our way of giving backto the city and the people of Kuala Lumpur, both of which had so readily
embraced and welcomed the Bukit Bintang rejuvenation project when it was
initiated in 1999.

Art Director
Sheila Cheah

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

Produced By
Blu Inc Media Sdn Bhd(Company No. 7408-K)
Lot 7, Jalan Bersatu 13/4, Section 13,46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603 7952 7000
Fax: +603 7960 0151
E-mail: ytllife@bluinc.com.my

Colour Separation By
Digiscan Services Sdn Bhd
No. 26, Jalan 4/62A, Bandar Manjalara,
52220 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Graphic Designer
Yvonne Low

Sales
Sales Manager
Robert Lee

We also recently witnessed the launch of Shook! Shanghai and theSwatch Art Peace Hotel Residences, two projects in China of which
we are especially proud. With the former’s opening, we introduced
Shook!’s lauded brand of east-meets-international cuisine abroad;while the latter marks our enduring friendship and collaboration with
Switzerland’s Swatch Group.

Account Manager
Owen Ng

Production
Production Manager
Lim Kian Heng

Amongst many other exciting future developments at YTL Hotels,
we will soon see the unveiling of our brand new luxury property,
Gaya Island Resort, located in a private enclave in Borneo. In all
our properties and endeavours, we strive to tread lightly on theenvironment. We will continue to make every effort to create
properties that meld seamlessly into their surroundings. By
doing so, we hope that our guests have opportunities to enjoy
nature’s bounties in pristine and verdant environments – ararity in today’s fast-developing world.

Contributors
Catherine Shaw, Cheryl Ow,
Kenneth Tan, Petrina Jo Fernandez,
Sharon Lam.

Printed By
Percetakan Zanders Sdn Bhd
No.16, Jalan BK 1/11, Bandar Kinrara,
47180 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia

Our aim at YTL Hotels has always been not just about
offering treasured experiences for the present generation,
but also for generations that follow. With that, we hopethat your stays at our properties are fondly remembered,and always treasured.

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

EXCLUSIVELY AT STARHILL GALLERY, F1-F3 EXPLORE FLOOR, 181 JALAN BUKIT BINTANG, 55100 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA.
T E L : + 6 0 3 - 2 7 1 0 3 8 0 3
F A X : + 6 0 3 - 2 7 1 0 3 8 0 9w w w . a r m a n i c a s a . c o mlife events //

6

7

1

Honours in Time
The Watch of the Year Awards held at Starhill Gallery inDecember 2011 represented a glittering finale for Starhill
Gallery’s annual A Journey Through Time. Among the guests
in attendance were not only watch aficionados but also manyof the region’s leading corporate personalities including
members of Forbes Asia Billionaire list. And, as part of theevening’s entertainment, Malaysia’s perennial jazz queen
Dato’ Sheila Majid regaled the audience with songs from her
illustrious career.
1. Dato’ Jimmy Choo, Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min, Datuk Dr Victor Wee, Tan
Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay and Tan Sri Francis Yeoh. 2. Sabah and Antoine
Bakache. 3. Tay Liam Khoon and Tanny Tay. 4. Hans Isaac, Dato’ Yasmin
Yusuff and Amarjit Chhina. 5. Franc Vila, Dolly Cheong, Dr Bernard
Cheong and Frank Low.

2

4

12

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

58

6. Malaysian singing legend Dato’ Sheila
Majid 7.Joseph Yeoh and Daniel Khooof The Hour Glass; 8.Anissa Ferdjioui
and Thierry Gasquez, President ofPassion Horlogere Paris; 9. Datin Angie
Emam of Van Cleef & Arpels takes
home Tourism Malaysia’s Most Revered
Watch Award for its Extraordinary
Dial Lady Arpels African LandscapeSeries timepiece; 10. The judges andwinners of A Journey Through Time V’scelebrated watch awards.

93

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

13

10

life of luxury //life of luxury //life events //life events //1

David Foster and friends
live in Kuala Lumpur
The Grammy-award producer along withhis coterie of international stars converges
at the hip Kuala Lumpur nightspot, Rootz.
Canadian composer, songwriter,
producer, singer and musician,David Foster together with singer
Michael Bolton and British tenor
Russell Watson was spotted ato n e o f K u a l a L u m p u r ’s m o s t
popular nightspots, Rootz - theafter-party location for the David
Foster & Friends Live in Asia Tour2011 concert.

3

The trio were hosted by YTLCorporation Berhad’s Managing
Director, Tan Sri (Dr) Francis

14

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE
5

Concertof Celebration

2

Yeoh. One of the highlights of theDavid Foster & Friends concert
was David Foster’s honourable
mention to Tan Sri Francis Yeoh
who went on to say: “I’ve heardthat David has a big heart frommany superstars and I truly think
he has the biggest heart I haveever come across. He has aheart of gold... no, platinum! He
is so raw and genuine with nota single ounce of plastic. I’mreally privileged to be his friend,”
he said.

1. Michael Bolton, David Foster, Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh and Russell Watson. 2. Michael
Bolton and Arianna Teoh. 3. Ashanti. 4. David Foster and Cleo Tan. 5. Earth, Wind and Fire’s
Philip Bailey. 6. Yeoh Keong Hann, Michael Bolton and Joseph Yeoh. 7. Russell Watson.

4

1

6

His Majesty The King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Her Majesty
The Queen Sultanah Nur Zahirah recently officiated the relaunch of
Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Starhill Gallery. Later that evening, Grammy
Award-winner Julio Iglesias was the star at the fourth YTL Concert
of Celebration, heralding the rebirth of Starhill Gallery with its new
futuristic glass and steel facade created by international design
consultancy Sparch. An audience of 100,000 was in attendanceat the complimentary open-air concert on the Bukit Bintang street
where the legendary Iglesias amazed the crowd with renditions of
his classic hits.
1. Starhill Gallery by night. 2. His Majesty The King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin
and Tan Sri2Dato’ Seri Dr Yeoh Tiong Lay. 3.Julio Iglesias, Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr)Francis Yeoh, His Majesty Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Her Majesty The
Queen Sultanah Nur Zahirah. 4. Julio Iglesias.

2

7

4

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

15

3

life events //life events //life events //

2

1

3

Looking Sharp
The opening of the Leo boutique, a men’s multi-brand designer store at the Starhill Gallery,
Kuala Lumpur combined thrilling entertainment and fabulous company. The exclusive event
featured a guest list of the city’s movers and shakers.
1. Joseph Yeoh, Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, Ida Lokman and Eric Eoon 2.Lilly Low and Maureen Teoh
3. Dato’ Sheikh Jamal and Charmaine Lim. 4. Nilou de Luca Gabrielli, and HE Folco de Luca Gabrielli,Ambassador of Italy.

4

4

3

2

3

Visionary Pursuits

1

YTL Hotels invited members of the media and associates to the book launch of
Journey to Tembok, by Malaysia’s foremost watercolourist Chang Fee Ming. The
tome showcases original artworks that draw attention to the picturesque area in andaround the Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali.
1. Chik Lai Ping, James McBride and Wati Sharron Hopley. 2. Manfred Kurz, Laurent Myter,
Cheryl Loo and Andreas Grosskinsky. 3. Lisa Teo and Chang Fee Ming
4. Guests mingling at the launch and media appreciation evening.

4

16

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

17

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

02

01

03

01

02

The latest additions to the spa menu at Spa
Village Resort Tembok, Bali centre on theisland’s herbal healing traditions. Utilisingplant ingredients and the wisdom of ages
past, amazingly restorative treatments likethe Chocolate and Coffee Indulgencecaptivates the senses and nurture thebody. This signature treatment comprises
a body scrub of freshly crushed coffee
and cocoa beans, a cocoa and aloe veramask, and is completed with a vanilla bean
and coconut massage. Then, there’s the
Massage Under the Stars, a sensory starlit
beach-side experience that calls upon the
powers of herbal oils to release stored
tension in specific body areas.

At the recent Hospitality Asia Platinum
Awards 2011-2013 (HAPA), the acclaimed
Pangkor Laut Resort was named the‘Resort of the Year in Asia’. It was further
mentioned in the service excellence,
spa of the year, signature luxury resort,signature spa experience, most authentic
Asian cuisine restaurant for The Straits,
best front office, best concierge andbest housekeeping classifications. A gold
excellence mention in the signature luxury
resort category was given to the East
Coast gem Tanjong Jara Resort; while
the luxury getaway Cameron Highlands
Resort obtained a similar accolade in thesignature boutique hotel/resort category.

All Natural

18

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

It’s an Honour

03

Walk to the Past

A must do activity at the acclaimed
Cameron Highlands Resort is the Jim
Thompson Mystery Trail. The Thai silk
magnate’s mysterious disappearance
took place 45 years ago on March
26. Steeped in intrigue, this headlinemaking mystery is remembered on a
special trek into the countryside andadjacent jungle. The trail includes a
venture into Moonlight Cottage, thelocation where Thompson was lastseen. It later progresses into the deeper
recesses of greenery that continue toecho with unanswered questions andlingering vestiges of nostalgia.

04

05

06

04

05

06

By Invitation Only

Winter at Niseko Village

Sunset Dining

Yet another feather in an already wellplumed cap of accolades for theworld-renowned Pangkor Laut Resort
is its recent entry to the Virtuoso luxury
travel network. Spanning a selection of
insider luxury destinations across theglobe, Virtuoso is the go-to source fortravellers seeking bespoke getaway
holidays. Their team of expert traveladvisors endeavours to fulfil the exacting
requirements of their clients, and isequipped to present unparalleled accessto the ultimate properties in hot spots
around the world.

Among the action-packed winter activities
available at Japan's Niseko Village arecat skiing, snowmobile adventure, crosscountry ski, guided snowshoe tours,
reindeer sledging and snow rafting. Thosewith families in tow will find the Snow
Park featuring The Snow Caverns, thebrainchild of renowned installation artist
Hirohiko Takenaka, a compelling draw.
Here, artful interconnected dome caverns
provide the ideal terrain for exploration;
while at night, the attraction is illuminatedfrom within, and emanates an out-of-thisworld glow.

The postcard perfect setting of Emerald
Bay at the award-winning Pangkor LautResort in Malaysia is just the location fora romantic dinner under the moonlight.
The resort’s expert chefs have devised
a memorable menu featuring aninternational menu prepared with Asianflair. Dining couples are attended toby personal butlers, ensuring theexperience is destined to be treasured.

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

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

19

life feature //copious flutes of Laurent-Perrier, it wascertainly a little tricky manoeuvring one’s
way back to the cabins, given the train’s
constant swiying and swaying, but it waswonderful being able to retire to the lavishlyappointed cabin, which, by now, has beentransformed into an elegant little sleeper
by Khun Weenus, my dedicated 24-hourcabin steward.

From City To Hill Station

5

5. The elegant 'green train'.
6. Chef Yannis Martineau
ensures every morsel
served on board the train
is a sophisticated mouthful.
7. Verdant tea plantations
are a signature of Cameron
Highlands, one of Malaysia's
most popular hill stations.
8. Guests spent the secondnight of the Fables of theHills journey at the Cameron
Highlands Resort in Malaysia.

We awoke to find the train already settled
and waiting at the old Kuala Lumpur
Railway Station – a Moorish edifice,designed by famed colonial architect, AB
Hubback and completed in 1910. As westepped off the train, we were delighted to
be given a truly rousing welcome, courtesyof two playful lions and the entire musicalensemble of traditional Chinese drums,
cymbals and gongs, from a local lion dancetroupe. We were then divided into groups,
according to our pre-selected excursions. I
chose a walking tour of old Kuala Lumpur
and explored a trail that led from Dataran
Merdeka (Independence Square) to thebeautiful Masjid Jamek mosque as wellas the Sin Sze Si Ya temple, founded by
the most famous Kapitan Cina, Yap AhLoy, before finishing at a traditional prewar kopitiam (coffee shop) for local-styleelevenses, consisting of hot coffee andtoast with kaya (coconut jam). I loved how

6

FABLES OF THE HILLS – An Overview
Day 1: Depart from Singapore.
Day 2: Arrive in Kuala Lumpur, overnightin Cameron Highlands.
Day 3 : Explore Cameron Highlands
and Kellie’s Castle.
Day 4 : Visit Kuala Kangsar and Penang.
Day 5 : Cross-over into Thailand andvisit Surat Thani.
Day 6 : Explore the River Kwai area
and the scenic stretch along
the Tham Kasae Viaduct.
Day 7 : Arrive in Bangkok.

24

8

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

7

25

life feature //life feature //A FABLEDJOURNEY

Last year, the legendary Eastern & Oriental Express launched its Fablesof the Hills land voyage, a journey that takes guests on an enlightening
trip from Singapore, all the way up through the Malay Peninsula, to
Bangkok. Diana Khoo embarks on the rail experience of a lifetime.
Photography by Sharon Lam
THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

life feature //life feature //1. Sunset view from Moonlight Cottage,
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. 2. Khun Chuchak
Phipookiew directs guests to their carriages.
3. Champagne and canapes prepared by the
Cameron Highlands Resort team. 4. The E&O's
resident pianist, Peter Consigliere, ensures thenights end on a rousing note.

4“Though we travel the world over to find thebeautiful, we must carry it with us or we find itnot.” I’ve always loved this thought, inspiredby the great American poet and essayist,
Ralph Waldo Emerson, on how we caneither add to or diminish our surroundings,
simply by choosing to be who we are. But,
on a lighter note, I have since discoveredthat we can travel, discover and carry thebeautiful with us – by journeying on thelegendary Eastern & Oriental Express.

The Journey Begins“Moonlight Cottage was the last spot Thai silk
magnate Jim Thompson was last seen alive.”
3

22

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Evoking all the glamour and exoticism thatwouldn’t seem out of place in an Agatha
Christie novel, it is certainly true that, in Miss
Christie’s own words, “to travel by train is
to see nature and human beings, towns
and rivers; in fact, to see life”. For those
unfamiliar with the charms of the OrientExpress, do know that once you are in yourcabins on board these legendary trains,
it’s all about being enveloped in old world
elegance – think panels of intricately-inlaid

put smiles on the faces of townsfolk andvillagers whenever it stops at a certain
point. The Fables of the Hills journey began
in January 2011, with its second chapter
taking place recently in October. The
Eastern & Oriental Express’ land voyages
are generally limited to just four a year,with each trip accommodating no morethan 60 passengers, while no less than 40
staff will be on board at all times to ensure
guests are pampered and looked after inthe train’s legendary style. Each day is also
complemented by a host of interesting
activities, including off-train experiences,unique excursions and accompanying
guest lecturers at specific legs of the trip,
to ensure each guest stops, sees andgets introduced to the heart and soul of
the journey’s elements.

cherry wood and elm burr, all adorned withdecorative marquetry. It’s certainly thrillingto hear the sound of the station master’s
whistle as, after a few chugs and jerks, thelong-awaited journey begins. Each cabin isthoughtfully fitted with large picture windows,
allowing scenes of idyllic countryside life
to pour through. Trundle past temples,
dedicated to Indian and Chinese gods, aswell as traditional kampongs, plantations ofrubber and oil palm trees as well as open
fields of long grass, punctuated by clumpsof elephant ears.

The 7 day/6 night Fables of the Hills
journey really begins when the sun sets
and the champagne corks start popping.
A welcome cocktail is traditionally held tointroduce guests to each other. For thosefamiliar with the English gentry’s way ofentertaining, an E&O land voyage could
well be likened to a house party at a stately
home… albeit on wheels. The resident
chef, Yannis Martineau, conjures up
Michelin-worthy meals, despite working out
of a tiny kitchen that constantly rattles and,occasionally, bumps.

Certainly, for a service that’s been running
the tracks for the past 18 years (theEastern & Oriental Express, or ‘E&O’,
began operations in September 1993 andwas the first train to transport passengers
directly between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur
and Bangkok, in collaboration with
Malaysian and Thai railway authorities), thesight of the elegant ‘green train’ still brings
rural children running to greet it as well as

Eating onboard the E&O is definitely
an occasion and most nights see theinternational assembly of guests dressing
up in grand style. On my recent journey,
I met guests from 12 different countries,
coming from as far as Uruguay and Mexico,
to Colorado and Northumberland. After asumptuous dinner of a warm scallop andcheese soufflé and braised beef cheekswith bak kut teh herbs, not to mention

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

23

life feature //the guide shared with us interesting little
anecdotes, especially on how the Sin Seng
Nam coffee shop used to be nicknamed‘The Vatican’, as the rubber planter set
would often shout out ‘Hallelujah’ as theircold beers were served. We then returnedto the train for lunch as well as to ride on
to Tapah, where we would disembark totravel overland to the famous Malaysian hill
station of Cameron Highlands.

“Chef Yannis Martineau and team conjure
up Michelin star-worthy meals, despite
working out of a tiny kitchen galley whichconstantly shakes, rocks and rattles.”26

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

9. Looking out
into the Malaysiancountryside. 10.
A little Senoi girl
gives a shy smile
while travelling fromTapah to Cameron
Highlands. 11. A
vibrant performanceby local drummers
welcomed us to theroyal town of Kuala

Named for William Cameron, a British
surveyor who mapped out the area in
1885, Cameron Highlands is renowned
for its unique ecosystem, cool climate
and verdant tea plantations. En route up
the winding road that cuts through thehighlands and two of its three main towns– Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang – westopped by to visit a Senoi settlement,
where the headman (known locally as
the Tok Batin) demonstrated the fine artof dart-blowing, before proceeding to
Tanah Rata, where we were in for a treat.
A special marquee had been set up in
the pine-studded gardens of Moonlight
Cottage – usually off-limits to the generalpublic as it was the bungalow where Jim
Thompson, the man credited with reviving
the Thai silk industry, thus earning him thenickname ‘the Silk King’, was last seen,
having mysteriously disappeared after
going for a walk in 1967. Up until today,
conspiracy theories abound regarding
Thompson, including being eaten by tigers
or assassinated, as he was suspected ofbeing a double-agent. Canapés, sushi
and champagne were served to us as weeagerly breathed in the crisp, cool air while
taking in the magnificent scenery. The little
Tudor-style bungalow remains uninhabitedbut is opened up on special occasions(this would only be the fourth time sinceThompson’s disappearance that the house
was opened to visitors) for the most specialof guests.

9

10

As the sun set, we proceeded to theelegant Cameron Highlands Resort, partof the YTL Group’s luxurious portfolio of
properties, where we bed down in stillness
for the night. Facing the 18-hole Tanah
Rata golf course, the resort is a bijou gem,

9

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

11

27

life feature //comprising 56 colonially-appointed rooms
and suites. The resort is certainly theultimate hideaway; hidden amidst swathesof mist and perched on a little hillock,regally surveying the comings and goingsof Tanah Rata. There is as much or as little
to do here as you wish – from hunting forcrimson cargo in one of the numerous
strawberry patches around, hiking arambling jungle trail or nursing a stengah (afavourite colonial cocktail comprising a halfmeasure each of whisky and soda served
over ice, derived from the Malay word for‘half’) at the resort’s cosy Highlands Bar.
Guests may also choose to go on a varietyof complementary excursions, from a visit
to the renowned Boh Tea plantations andvisitor’s centre, to submitting oneself to thesybaritic pleasures of a spa treatment at
the Cameron Highlands Resort’s awardwinning Spa Village, or retracing the stepsof the original search party who hunted
for Jim Thompson, under the watchfuleyes of resident guide and naturalist, S
Madi, known to the locals as both the‘Thompson Hunter’ as well as the ‘Orchid
Hunter’. Exceedingly knowledgeable, heis able to point out the many treasuresensconced within the highlands’ dense
foliage, including bamboo orchids, sinisterlooking strangler figs and wild citronella –ideal for keeping leeches and mosquitoes
at bay.
Once the day is done, wind down the
day with pre-dinner drinks at the bar or,
perhaps, the resort’s Jim Thompson Tea
Room, where resident pianist Stephen
Oswald Ooi can be found playing jazzy
numbers almost nightly, before moving on
to an elegant dinner at The Dining Roomor, even, sukiyaki and shabu-shabu at
the resort’s Japanese restaurant, Gonbei– simply perfect fodder for the chilly
highland nights.

Island Calling

From the highlands, we continued ourjourney, first by road, to Ipoh, before reboarding the elegant green train to makeour way to the royal town of Kuala Kangsar,
where we spent the next day exploring themany regal sights, including the Perak28“As the train crosses
over into Thailand,
subtle changes canbe detected...from thescenery to the cuisine.”

Royal Museum, the Galeri Sultan Azlan
Shah and the majestic Ubudiah Mosque,where the royal mausoleum is also to befound. As a rare treat accorded to guests
travelling on the E&O, we were allowed into
the mosque’s inner sanctum – a beautiful
space, furnished with beautiful Persian
carpets from Esfahan, upon which thefaithful may pray.
From Kuala Kangsar, we travelled further
north to reach Butterworth, where we werewelcomed by the infectious beats of a
Bhangra performance, synonymous with
the Punjabi community. And, from there,
it was just a short ride across the Penang
Bridge to reach the Pearl of the Orient. We
arrived on the last night of the nine daylong Festival of the Nine Emperor Gods
and there was a distinctly celebratory feel in
the air. We immediately proceeded to oneof the island’s most renowned sights – themagnificently-elaborate and ornamental
Leong San Tong (Dragon Mountain Hall) of
the Khoo Kongsi, a clan house dedicatedto those of the surname ‘Khoo’ and whose
ancestry can be traced back to Sin Kang
Seah in China’s Hokkien province. From
there, we enjoyed a traditional trishaw rideto yet another cultural treasure, the Pinang
Peranakan Mansion, which showcases
the richness of the Peranakan (or Straits
Chinese) culture in a traditional homesetting. Here, one can see many interesting
exhibits, including a Nyonya bride’s tik
koay (wedding headpiece), kasut manik(the beaded slippers so beloved of the
Peranakan ladies) and rare porcelain sets.

13

Penang is, indeed, an island teeming with
culture and history. And, we journeyedon in search of the rare and wonderful.
After a quick stop for tea at a local Indian
restaurant, where constitutions were
fortified with sweet tea and piping hot
vadai (lentil cakes), we continued on by
foot to meet the island’s last-surviving
songkok (a traditional head-cap worn by
Muslim men in many South-East Asian
countries) craftsman as well as a cheerful
octogenarian joss stick maker, who has
been plying his pure sandalwood offerings
to the gods for over six decades now.

14
12. Meung Sing, an ancient Khmer city which dates
back to the 13th and 14th centuries. 13. A puppeteer
surprises and delights guests during dinner on board
the train. 14. A pig-tailed macaque undergoing training
at the Monkey Training College in Surat Thani, Thailand.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

12

29

life feature //15. A mahout and his charge at theMaha Muang Singh elephant village in
Kanchanaburi.

the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as toan elephant camp for an exhilarating ride
atop a pachyderm. As we return to the train
for the last night of the journey, it comes
as a sudden surprise that we’ve cometo the end of a trail of enlightenment andutter, unbridled enjoyment that spannedover 2,000 kilometres, from Singapore,right up the spine of Malaysia, and, finally,
into Thailand.

Sauntering Into Siam

It was quite fitting that the skies were
overcast and gloomy as we approached
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, or the ‘City ofAngels’, as many like to refer to the bustling
metropolis that is modern-day Bangkok.
Certainly, as we pulled into the historic
Hualampong Station and disembarked tofind the entire crew lined-up in order toAfter a sumptuous dinner on the island, wereturned to Butterworth where we would
spend the night on board the train, deepin blissful slumber, even as we crossed
the border at Padang Besar into Thailand.
The wonderful part about travelling in sucha privileged way was that one needn’t
worry about stumbling out, bleary-eyed, tosettle immigration procedures. Your cabinsteward would have efficiently seen to
everything, dutifully returning your passportand other travel documents to you by thetime you awake, along with your breakfast
of choice.
Although the idea of spending an entire
week on a train might seem unbearably
long to most people, there is, in fact,
always something to do. The staff of the
E&O ensure guests are constantly being
pampered, enriched and enlightened.
There would, for example, be a talk given
by a guest lecturer on board prior to arriving
at a historical place of interest or, perhaps,
a tutored tasting of luscious tropical fruit.
For those who’ve spent the past few days
thoroughly exploring, foot massages may
be enjoyed in the Library during the Thaileg (pardon the pun) of the journey. And,
though there isn’t a gym onboard, thosewishing to burn off some calories wouldfind it adequate exercise enough, walking
the length of the train, which can stretch tohalf a kilometre if running on 22 carriages.
As we crossed over into Thailand, Chef
Yannis expertly tweaks the menus,
ensuring there is now a taste of Thailand
in every meal – a subtle but palpabledifference as compared to the Malaysianinfluenced flavours we’ve been enjoying.
And, certainly, each meal on board the train

30

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

bid us farewell, it was hard to ignore thesudden distinct sadness and heavinessof heart.
In this day and age of high-speed andinstant gratification, it is a great luxury to
be able to enjoy the journey as much as
the destination; which brings me back to
Emerson’s great saying on how, when we
travel, we must carry what we find beautiful
with us, lest we find it not. Having travelled
and ridden on the wave of the Eastern &Oriental Express’ inimitable brand of luxury,
hospitality and graciousness, I’d like to think
it was I, instead, who was being carried allthese days.
For more information on the Eastern & Oriental
express or to book your next journey, visit
www.orient-express.com or email oereserva
tions.singapore@orient-express.com

15

is a culinary chef d’oeuvre. From classic
French creations like lobster medallions
with crispy bacon atop a mushroom
velouté to contemporary interpretations
on South-East Asian cuisine (think rack oflamb marinated with tandoori spices andcrab salad with curried dressing), it’s notuncommon to bump into a steady streamof your fellow passengers walking from
Carriage A all the way to the observation
car at the other end in order to work off the
sheer lavishness of the meals.
We pulled up into Surat Thani station on theafternoon of the fifth day and we were taken
to visit the province’s very first Monkey
Training College. Monkeys have beenused to harvest coconuts in the province
for over a hundred years now, but thisparticular college is renowned for its gentle
yet highly-effective ways in training their‘students’ – usually pig-tailed macaques.
Run by Somchai Saekow, the school prides
itself on the quality of its ‘graduates’, all ofwhom eventually become highly sought-

after employees at Surat Thani’s numerous
coconut plantations. As it is the second lastnight of the journey, dinners on board thetrain become increasingly formal (as well
as fun, seeing most of the passengers are,by now, well-acquainted with each other)and guests are duly encouraged to display
some glamour. Certainly, most nights end
up with a lengthy sing-along session,
fuelled by champagne and accompanied
by Peter Consigliere, the train’s pianist,
whose repertoire has to be heard tobe believed.

One of the highlights of the Fables of theHills journey would, undoubtedly, be thecrossing over the historical River Kwai Bridgein Kanchanaburi. Here, guest speaker andone of the founders of the Thailand-Burma
Railway Museum, Hugh Cope, shared withus his personal insights into the war andthe infamous Death Railway. From here, wetravel to Wang Po, where we visit Meung
Sing, an ancient Khmer city dating back toRiver Kwai
The Tham
Kasae
Viaduct

Kuala
KangsarPenang

Crossing The Bridge

Kuala
LumpurSingapore

BangkokCameronHighlands

Surat Thani
THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

31

life feature //Auspicious
DiningWith the Year of the Water Dragon fast
approaching, YTL Life explores the various
dishes and ingredients rich in symbolismthat are served at the all-important reunion
dinner feast.
Text by Cheryl Ow Photography by Yong Keen KeongThe origins of Chinese New Year are
steeped in mythology and legend, but
the most commonly accepted belief
centres around a ferocious beast called
Nian. The carnivorous terror was said tohave the head of a lion and the body ofan elephant.
Come winter, food would be in short
supply for Nian as many animals leave
the forest for their annual hibernation.
So, Nian would ravage nearby villages
in search of sustenance, killing all who
stood in its path. Nian was a strong
beast, forcing villagers to cower insidetheir homes every night.

One night, however, a child dressed in red
ran across Nian’s path and managed toscare it away. Baffled but bemused, thevillagers realised that the beast was afraidof the colour red and of fire and loudnoises. Emboldened by this newfoundknowledge, they hung red lanterns and red
spring scrolls on their doors and windows,
and lit fires in front of their houses. As Nian
approached, the crowd began knocking
vociferously on their metal kitchen andfarming utensils and stuck bamboo into
the fire, conjuring loud cracking sounds.
Nian retreated into the forest and was later
said to have been captured by the Taoist
monk, Hongjun Laozu.

Opposite page: Li
Yen’s sumptuous
interiors; this page:goji berry or kei cheerepresents good
fortune; the traditionalart of taking tea.

32

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

33

life feature //rekindle family ties around a hot stove
brimming with heart-warming fare.

An exclusive Shanghai
creation: fried beancurd
foie gras dim sum.

In modern times, however, before any
Chinese New Year meal can commence,
the yee sang , also known as lo hei,or prosperity toss, must officiate theoccasion. Made of vegetables, crunchy
preserved biscuits and topped with raw
fish or seafood and a honey-lemon sauce,the idea is to mix the ingredients, liftingthem high into the air with chopsticks
while shouting your New Year wishes.
The dish is believed to have come from
Chaozhou and Shantou in China, buttoday’s version was popularised bySingapore’s Lai Wah Restaurant during
the Lunar New Year of 1964.

Above: The decorous Shanghai
restaurant is the perfect venue torekindle familial bonds.

As people celebrated their freedom,
the day felt like an auspicious beginningfollowing hard times. They called this day
Guo Nian (or passing Nian) – the day
before starting anew.The origins of theChinese New Year eve reunion dinner,
though, are not as clear. One can only
assume that, given the size of China, it
was a call for the return of family members
from around the land to reunite for thefestive season.
The dinner, also known as wei lu or tuan
yuan , translates to mean ‘surrounding
the stove’ and was coined from whatis the highlight of the feast – a hot pot
or steamboat. A huge metal bowl, witha hollow tube in the centre, filled withsoup and boiled with meats, seafoodand vegetables. Hot rocks or burning
charcoal were used to cook the foodand, as this archaic method would takehours, dinner was an opportune time to34

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Every dish served during the reunion mealholds great significance and symbolism
for the year to come. It is a time forindulging in a meal that consists of many
opulent dishes, each with auspicious
representations associated with longevity,
good luck, health, wealth, happiness,career promotions and satisfaction. The
idea is to sample every dish on the tableto fully reap the benefits in the New Year.
Dishes that are chosen are based oneither the homophone of its name or its
significance to the occasion.
Goji berry ( kei chee ) boiled in soup,for example, are favoured for theircolour as red represents good fortune.
On the other hand, another popular
ingredient to the feast, a black sea
moss resembling strands of haircalled fat choy in Cantonese, has aname that sounds similar to the termfor prosperity.
Like the red dates, chicken has nohomophonous contributions to the feast
but is cooked with the head and feetintact to signify ‘completeness’ from start
to finish.
This time of celebration is also whenchoice ingredients like abalone, prawns

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

35

life feature //and oysters are brought out. While notconsidered as luxuries today, in ancient
times, when even rice was a precious
commodity, these were real treats.

Above: Braised dried oyster withsea moss in brown sauce. Below:
Condiments and ingredients for
Shanghai’s signature yee sang.

Raw or dried, each variant of oyster has
its own significance. Served raw, theshelled food signifies abundance and its
Chinese name – sheng hao – can alsomean ‘flourishing at its best.’ Dry oysters,
or hou see, mean ‘good things’; abalone,or bau yu , can also mean ‘guaranteed
abundance’, while the word for prawns,
ha, is the sound of laughter and meant tousher in lots of happiness.
In keeping with Chinese culture and its
attendant symbolisms, one of the biggest
taboos of the occasion is the use ofknives, scissors or sharp objects of any
kind. This is to avoid severing the family’s
good fortune for the year and, as a result,dishes of fish, fowl or foliage are preparedand served in their entirety.
Fish, or yu, phonetically sounds like theword for abundance. Usually steamed,the head and tail are kept on the fish andit is intentionally not finished to symbolise
continued abundance at the start andend of the New Year. Fish or meat balls
portray togetherness and a continuous
bond with their circular shapes, a symbolof the reunion that is strictly served in evennumbers to bestow ‘double happiness’ on
the family.
Also on the menu are vegetables likegreen vegetables ( sang choy ), said toensure everything remains fresh, bamboo
shoots, or xun , which can also mean‘smooth sailing’, and sea cucumber,whose Chinese word literally translates tomean happiness (hoi sam).

“The Chinese New Yeareve reunion dinner was,essentially, a call for the
return of family members fromaround the land to reunite
for the festive season.”
Quail eggs and dumplings are used in
the meal to represent wealth in the formof gold ingots – the golden yolk of theegg for its colour and the dumpling for its
shape. In olden-day China, a coin would
be placed in some of the dumplings andit was believed that anyone who bit into it
would enjoy a year of great wealth ahead.
No reunion dinner would be complete

without rice and noodles. Like the fish
and chicken, care is usually taken to
ensure the noodles are not cut as they
are meant to represent longevity. Lap
mei fan , a rice dish cooked with duckand other waxed meats, rounds off themeal, representing a big family filled withchildren and grandchildren.
For dessert, the sweet of the season isa sticky rice cake known as nian gao.
The word nian can be pronounced tomean ‘year’, while gao can also mean
high. As such, eating the nian gao is said
to symbolise the ‘onward and upward
trajectory of one’s life in the coming year’.
The entire dining experience lends newmeaning to the idea that you are what you
eat. But, Chinese New Year is nothing if
not a time to enjoy and cherish the happy
times and people in our lives

Season of Feasting
Celebrating the annual Chinese New Yearreunion dinner in opulent locations is a trend
that’s fast-gaining favour amongst families in
Asia. As such, the award-winning Shanghai
restaurant at the JW Marriott, Kuala Lumpur
proves an excellent choice to hold such an
event. The restaurant’s Master Chef, Wong
Wing Yeuk, has created three exclusive set
menus especially for the occasion. Eachdinner presentation unveils enticing delights
like traditional salmon with jellyfish yee sang;hearty double-boiled superior abalone soupwith fish maw and chicken; succulent steamed
chicken with wolfberries and Chinese herbs inrice wine sauce; as well as tempting black sesame dumplings in walnut cream.
Then, there is a Shanghai exclusive – a variation of the yee sang dish, accompaniedwith a delicious savoury and sweet peanut sauce, made by the restaurant’s chefs
using a recipe unique to the restaurant. For reservations, call 03-2719 8288.
Meanwhile, Master Chef Leung Kwai Hong at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur’s Li
Yen introduces six special set menus available from 1 December 2011 – 6 February
2012. Amongst the amazing variety of traditional Chinese delicacies served are
the restaurant’s signature yee sang; piping hot claypot rice with waxed meats andsausages; crispy deep-fried prawns with mayonnaise; delectable braised sliced
abalone with dried oyster and sea moss; and wholesome double-boiled assorted nuts
and snow fungus in sugar syrup. The set menus, each catering for a table of 10 diners,
are priced between RM1,388++ to RM6,088++. For reservations, call 03-2782 9033.

36

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

37

life feature //Like FineWine

Superstar Julio Iglesias lit up the streets of Bukit Bintang
with his seasoned show-stopping style in a recent concert.
Text by Mark Lean

Grammy Award winner Julio Iglesias has a fondness for
Malaysia, having performed in the country on many occasions overthe past few decades. “I sang in Malaysia last year (in 2010) ina beautiful theatre (in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre),” heshares. Last December, the Spaniard belted songs under thestars at Bukit Bintang with audiences spanning young and old.
“When I played in Europe recently in a stadium, there were peopleof different ages. Fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers
and kids... everybody,” he continues.
The timeless crooner has no plans to slow down even after sellingover 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and releasing
77 albums. “I have learned to be disciplined every day. That’s why
I’m talking to you right now. I am making a return to your country...
it is a great privilege for an artist,” explains Iglesias in an interview
several months back. “Normally, we come to sing only once. I firstcame to Malaysia over 30 years ago.”
For Iglesias, Malaysia holds a special place in his heart: “It’s thepeople, the mix of cultures, religions and races, the ambienceand the progress of the country. Kuala Lumpur is a completely
different city now compared with 30 years ago. The progress... it’samazing.”“In an open air concert, I will be on-screen with more people thanin an enclosed environment. I love to perform in front of people. At
my Malaysian concerts over the years, the communication with theaudience is what makes those experiences special,” explains the
Madrid-born singer.

The Latin crooner is a master of timelessshowmanship.

38

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEAs the man responsible for Billboard Chart Toppers like "Moonlight
Lady" and "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", the 68-year-old is anexperienced hand in building connections that transcend countries
and cultures. “I have a relationship with people who care about

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

39

life feature //“It’s the biggest privilege
to be going to new places
and an even greater one
to come back because itmeans people have you in
their hearts.”
me... it’s the biggest privilege to be going to new places and an
even greater one to come back because it means people haveyou in their hearts,” he explains with quintessential Latin charm.
Iglesias ups the musical ante with his latest album Numero 1,
a compendium of remixed tracks spanning the star’s illustrious
career. The compilation of hits features unforgettable duets ofIglesias with superstars like Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson andDiana Ross – a feat achieved through cutting-edge audio
technology. “I’m a classic kind of guy. I was born with music
and I die with music. With digital technology, this is madeeven more amazing as I am able to record the music of
the past few decades. The sound today is better. But, in aclassic situation, when you have a great song, you have agreat song,” says the star.

of inspiration as well. It’s not easy for me to conduct 25 interviews
a day all over the world.”

Clockwise: The many faces of
Julio Iglesias through the years.

This consummate dedication also extends to a vocal versatility
that has seen him perform in a variety of languages, a skill not
many internationally acclaimed singers possess. “Whether I singin Tagalog, Bahasa or Japanese, I take the words from my heart.
I learned the languages although I don’t speak it; I learned themeanings of the songs and I learned that music has the same
meaning all over the world.”
For the consummate master of romance, Iglesias’ takes aphilosophical approach to loving and living. “My idea of romanceis my wife and I, still together after 20 years. I’m happy and excitedthat, with my music, I can feel alive. I still go to the beaches andswim in the big ocean and I’m happy to feel the waves,” he offers.
And to cap off the interview on a high note, the star cites that,when not touring, he enjoys life to the full. “You have to drink a very
good wine; wines that are older than I am. When you buy wines
35 years ago, the 61s, the 52s, the 47s, the 82s... you buy themfor eight dollars a bottle. Now, a bottle of the same wine is worth
10,000 dollars,” he shares.

Clearly, his son Enrique has inherited his father’sconsiderable talent and charm. “He is a champion.
You can’t advise champions. You can only teachthem when they are young. He is amazing,” says theproud parent. He adds: “I didn’t expect Enrique tobe a singer. I didn’t expect Julio to be a singer. Lifechanges, so circumstances change.”
When asked about the lessons in life and careerthat have inspired him, Iglesias admits that he“wasn’t a good singer till five minutes ago.” Hecontinues: “These inspirations come from thelessons, the different colours and the passion oflife. And since I’m not a young guy, the strength
resulting from my life experiences is a source

40

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

41

life feature //life feature //Born in the coastal town of Dungun, Terengganu, on the east coastof Malaysia, Chang Fee Ming enjoys a unique affinity with the sea.
In 2001, his work Swahili Coast encompassed scenes of the east
African region. A decade on, the selftaught Chang, a leading light in theSouth-East Asian art fraternity, offers
beautiful and thoughtful illuminationsof Tembok, a region surrounding Bali’s
northeastern coast.
“I started to travel to Bali in the mid
1980s. It eventually became mysecond home. In recent years, I
started exploring the northern sectionof the island,” says the 52-year-old
artist. We meet at the Club Lounge of
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur. With
classical music piping through thesound system and canapés served allday, the lounge and its rarefied setting
is a world away from the islands andseascapes that Chang knows andloves so well.
“I began sketching,” he continues, “Ithought, maybe, one day, I would
be focussing on Singaraja in mywork. About three years back, I wasapproached by Dato’ Mark Yeoh,
Executive Director of YTL Hotels. He
suggested I introduce the island’s
north in my art. It was during the time
when Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali
had just opened.”

The Artistand hisDestination

In the book Journey to Tembok, Chang
Fee Ming captures for posterity a seriesof poetic and true-to-life watercolours
featuring vignettes of Balinese culture
and life. Mark Lean speaks with theitinerant artist about the sources fromwhich his many inspirations derive.

W ith Journey to Tembok, Changtaps into the inherent spirituality and humanity of his chosen location.
“Singaraja is where one of Bali’s oldest kingdoms is located. It isan area with very strong cultural roots. On the other hand, Ubud isrenowned around the world as the island’s artistic heart.”
As one of Malaysia’s foremost watercolourists, Chang has held solo
shows in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bali. He has also been a partof collective exhibitions in Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan, South Korea,
Thailand, China, Indonesia, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, theUnited Kingdom, Sweden and Brazil.
Opposite page: The artist’s depiction of asukun tree. This page: fish wrapped in a
Balinese-style banana trunk fibre.

42

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

43

life feature //Chang Fee
Ming, one of
Malaysia’s foremost
watercolourists.

“I’m happy to be using watercolour as a medium. Watercolour
is an amazing thing. Each stroke you make will not be the sameas the next. Every medium has its own challenges. I work using
layers, creating new colours. The challenges never end,” hesays. “When I was in Tibet, for example, I found that capturing
the blue and aquamarine skies, getting it right, was a challenge.”
Although his work possesses an international appeal, including
recognition by Christie’s and Sotheby’s, he remains a masterat distilling the authentic essences of bustling villages, teeming
markets or even luxury resorts.
“In Singaraja, the temple motifs and the statues have a special
character. The area around Tembok is very untouched, wild
even. It’s like a raw file on your computer. It’s unprocessed. Justby sitting at the restaurant at Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali,
you will notice that the green expanse next to it has coconut
trees and palm trees that feel so natural, so pure,” he says,
vividly bringing to mind striking images of idyllic island life. “Thereis also a fisherman whom I met who has a boat, a jukong ,unique to this part of the island.”
Chang remains in touch with his craft. By doing so, hisconnections to the world, its people and places are intertwined,
presented as artistic observations with nary a trace ofjudgement or a hint of commercialism. “As an artist, I work on
how I feel. For example, in the markets, I am drawn to ordinary
people. In the Tembok series, I tried to bring the journey to thereader, beginning from the airport to Tembok, a journey lasting
three hours. I wanted to highlight how, if one paid attention,
one will discover many interesting and beautiful nuances,”he explains.

44

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Left: A temple statue at
Candidasa, located on
the journey to Tembok.

Right: A sketch of a man
the artist met at Pura
Dalem Balingkang with themajestic Mount Batur inthe background.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

45

life feature //life feature //“Chang is a man who remains intouch with his craft. By doing so,
his connections to the world, its
people and places are intertwined,
presented as artistic observations
with nary a trace of judgement or ahint of commercialism.”Market scenes are particularly fascinating to Chang. A market,
after all, is where most aspects of temporal living are played out.
“Before reaching Tembok, there is the amazing Tianyar market
where there are all kinds of activities – the culture, the people andthe ordinary lives of the villages. It is very meaningful,” he says.

Above: A group of Balinese men
preparing lawar, a delicacy madefrom herbs, greens and different
types of meat, served at auspicious
events. Right: frogs are a recurring
motif in Journey To Tembok.

46

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

As one gets acquainted with Tembok through the pages of
Chang’s book, one soon realises that the artist did not intend
to create either a discourse on culture or a perfectly boundart travelogue. “Many things mentioned in the book happened
coincidentally,” he admits. Instead, Journey to Tembok represents
the artist’s extrapolation on the beauty of day-to-day existence,the simple life, on a tropical island. “The first thing I do when I

arrive at a destination is to head straight to the markets. I’m not
one for gallery mingling,” he says.
Chang’s Journey to Tembok is one of many journeys that led to as
many self-revealing destinations – both as man and artist. “Afterleaving school in Form Three, I learned from people from all walksof society. This process has shaped both the person I am andmy art,” he offers. In recent years, he has ventured beyond his
chosen sphere of watercolours. “I worked on a series of paintings
during the filming of director Tsai Ming Liang’s Visage, which wasshot at the Louvre in Paris. I would like to take things to the nextlevel,” says Chang. And what would that next level entail? His
reply: “I will continue to travel, to learn and to grow.”

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

47

life feature //Foster,found

David Foster’s repertoire of award-winning songs began making their musicalmark way back in 1971 and he’s still not done. The Hit Man’s recent turn in
Kuala Lumpur for the one-night only David Foster & Friends ‘Live’ concert was,predictably, a sold out success. He talks to YTL Life about what it means for
him to be on tour, his next big project and why, for the past 29 years, he’s notbeen inside an elevator.
Text by Kenneth Tan Photos by Universal Music & JAG Concerts and Events

Coming to Malaysia for his first
performance, David Foster found his fame
had hugely preceded him, with excitedfans flying in from Singapore, Jakarta andas far as Australia to catch a glimpse of
their idol. After all, when David Foster
turns up with four decades of hits in tow,
it’s not something to miss. What's more,
his presence on the road also heralds thearrival of equally remarkable star quality– celebrities that make up the ‘Friends’
portion in the tour title. His recent AsiaPacific tour included Michael Bolton,
Charice, Ashanti, Philip Bailey and British
tenor Russell Watson, names, Foster says,
would have each packed the house on
their own.

48

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

In fact, an estimate of 50 or more artistes,
each of whom have run successful solo
tours on their own, have participated,
at one time or another, in the hugely
successful David Foster & Friends tours
over the years. Even today, glowing
praises are paid to Foster’s undeniable
touch in shaping raw talent into
superstars. He’s discovered the likes ofMichael Bublé, Josh Groban and, mostrecently, the pint-sized Filipina with the big
voice, Charice Pempengco. Over Foster’slong career, he’s also collaborated with
top names in the business, from MichaelJackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston
and Prince, to Celine Dion, Mariah Carey,
Barbra Streisand and Beyoncé. His work
The 'Hit Man', David Foster.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

49

life feature //takes on such a scope that both The
Bee Gees and N’Sync – representativeof vastly different musical times – arepart of his body of work. At the press
conference, Michael Bolton, whom Foster
has known for about 25 years, summed
up the legendary career of David Foster
as “someone who knows exactly what
to do with the right voice, making him a
dream producer for any singer.”
The presence of artistes such as Bolton
at the press conference also turned up
the fun factor, with plenty of witty repartee
and jokey moments. At one point, Foster
was asked about his initial impressionof seeing Charice on Oprah but, giventhat the question was vaguely phrased,
his response was, “do you mean Oprah
or Charice?” prompting laughs. That
was followed with, “Is Oprah known in
Malaysia?” to loud choruses of “YES” fromthe press pack. “Okay, Oprah, you cancome out now,” he says, waving at thedoor with mock enthusiasm. Laughs allround. Foster was also quick to recognise
the star quality of his fellow artistes,saying that they had all been on Oprah,save maybe the Brit-born and based
Watson. To this, Watson drolly retorted: “Ising opera.”“David Foster is someone who
knows exactly what to do withthe right voice, making him a
dream producer for any singer.”
Michael Bolton belting
a medley of awardwinning hits. Opposite:
Filipino star Clarice
Pempengco.

50

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

The night before the concert, the trio of
Bolton, Foster and Watson were at Shook!
restaurant in Starhill Gallery as guests of
YTL Corporation’s Managing Director Tan
Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh. As the Shook! houseband began, Watson’s sonorous timbre
was soon heard at the table, with Bolton
joining in on a rendition of songs from
Puccini’s La Boheme, Foster playing therole of conductor. That kind of camaraderie
is part of the reason Foster is so in lovewith the idea of touring under the David
Foster & Friends banner. “Someone once
asked me, would I like David Foster tobe my friend,” he says. “And that got me
thinking about what kind of friend I was. I
realised that, to me, friendship works on a
deep level and, if I got a call from someone
like Michael Bolton at 3am, wanting me todrive 100 miles to get him out of trouble, I
would do it,” Foster says.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

51

life feature //“Also, it would be impossible for me to do
this tour without these big voices, because
the show would just be me playing the
piano,” he smiles. “For a long time, I was
making music in a room, without any ideaof who the people were, the ones buying
the records and enjoying the music. So,
when I finally got to see them on the road,it was exhilarating and a great feeling.”
Being on tour, however, also had its
challenges, particularly as Foster has
vowed not to step into an elevator after
a freakish two days of incidences backin 1982. “I remember that I was in New
York producing music for the Broadway
production of Dreamgirls and we werestaying in the Le Parker Meridien hotelwhen we got stuck in the elevator,”he says. “The next day, I was going toAbove: Philip Bailey from the band Earth, Windand Fire; Opposite: British tenor Russell Watson.

52

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

life feature //visit Roberta Flack and she lived in anapartment building and I got stuck again
in the elevator. That was two days in a
row and, since then, I’ve not been in
an elevator.”
This is why Foster’s chief concern withhotels is the accessibility to rooms via
stairs. It was to his great delight that The
Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur provided thateasy access and more. “Well, let me justsay this, the level of service in Asia is so
far above the level of service in America
and then, when you stay in a place like
The Ritz-Carlton, which is known all over
the world for great service, you just can’t
miss,” he says. “Obviously, you want agreat bed and I need stairs to get to myroom but, just as important for me, is that,the quality of service is so elevated.”The

idea of touring appeals to Foster greatly
and he envisions the ideal combinationof touring for two months in a year andgoing fishing for the remaining 10 in time
to come. Outside of producing music,
which he continues to do with astonishingvolume and speed, his pastimes revolvearound tennis, boating, fishing and snow
skiing, to which he admits he’s not goodat but loves it all the same. “At the endof the day, and I don’t drink other thanmaybe a couple glasses of wine a week,
I like to get in bed and watch TV,” he says.
For him, a favourite vacation spot iswhere he grew up, on Vancouver Island in
British Columbia.
The island certainly holds a lot of memories
for him and he still remembers how hestarted a band that played at weddings
at the age of 12, knocking on doors of

the brides’ parents to discuss the music
he would be playing with his band. “Theywould ask, ‘who are you?’ and I’d say, ‘I’m
the piano player and you’re gonna listen to
my band, you hired us. And then I’d say,’don’t worry about a thing, the music isgonna be great’.”Half a century later, that thirst for music
has yet to be slaked. In addition to theconcert dates and working with artistes on
new records (“we have a Michael Bublé
Christmas album and I want it to be bigger
than Lady Gaga”), Foster is also working
on a Broadway musical of 30s cartoon
and sex icon Betty Boop. “I’ve been calling
it a New York Broadway but it’s really justa Malibu musical right now,” he says. “I’ve
written 21 of 24 songs and, with all due
modesty, they’re incredible. I’ve always felt
there was a Broadway musical in me andwe have our first reading, a great director,

great producer and I’m really excited
because it seems a long way away but it’s
getting closer.”
Foster’s indefatigable reserves of energy
also extends to his leadership in the David
Foster Foundation, which provides financial
support to Canadian families with children
in need of life-saving organ transplants
and also works on increasing publicawareness of organ donor registration
through campaigns in North America. His
stewardship of the Foundation had kept
him up till 3am in a conference call thenight before his performance. “It’s a big
job but it’s my job. I always say, when you
reach a certain position in life, it’s yourresponsibility to give back,” he says. “The
whole point of being here is to try and leave
the world a little bit better than when you
came in.”

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

53

beautiful life //beautiful life //On a
Culinary Trip
Mark McEwan, shining star of the Toronto culinary
scene and well-known face of cooking television,
shares a glimpse of life as a celebrity chef andthe pivotal conversation that led to fame.
Text by Petrina Jo Fernandez Photography by Yong Keen Keong & Asian Food Channel

54

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

It was his first visit to the food hub thatis Kuala Lumpur and Mark McEwan
was smitten. At an interview at The RitzCarlton, Kuala Lumpur, where he wasstaying while in town to launch Asian Food
Channel’s Celebrity Chef Series, McEwan
was inspired by the down-to-earth
Malaysian approach to food. “I love how
nobody is afraid to get dirty at the table
here,” he enthused. “You eat fish on thebone, seafood in shells – it’s very exciting
to prepare for and partake in. Despite thisbeing a very short stint, my time here has
been most enjoyable.”

was my first construction project and I
spent way too much money but it was alearning process and I came out of it morebusiness savvy.”

The seasoned restaurateur began his
early culinary career with stints at various
hotels, including being the youngest chef
at the Sutton Palace Hotel, Toronto. He
also had the opportunity to cook for PopeJohn Paul II in 1984, but soon felt that
his calling lay elsewhere. “My wife and I
were about to get married and it felt likea new beginning in more ways than one.
I sold my sports car, hawked everything
I owned and bought a one-third share ina restaurant,” he reminisces. Pronto, therestaurant of which he was partial owner,
took flight but internal disagreements
between the partners on operations
saw a parting of ways. McEwan took hisshare and went on to build North 44: “It“The Heat with Mark McEwan was bornout of a conversation with a producer
friend while skiing a few years ago. We
were discussing the disparity between
what was currently depicted on televisioncooking shows, and the more holistic
demands that are actually made of a chef.
I was used to conversations at cocktail
parties about what I do as a chef, how wepull off feats such as large dinners, andI thought food aficionados would enjoy areal behind-the-scenes look at the nittygritty aspects of the restaurant business.”

McEwan has gotten accustomed to theunrelenting financial pressure and the famethat comes with being a celebrity chef.
After all, expansion is expensive. During
the last 21 years, he has built anotherhandful of restaurants, selling two of them.
He started his own fine foods emporium,bought over a catering company andlaunched his own cookware line.

The project kicked off with a pilot of
Murphy’s Law proportions. “Typically,
nothing ever goes wrong at a catering

Opposite page: Chef Mark McEwan

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

55

beautiful life //Opposite page: Chef Mark McEwan in action; thispage, above right: a table setting at McEwan’s ‘Heat
it Up’ event in Kuala Lumpur; below: autumn saladwith woodland mushrooms, truffles, quail egg andgarlic toast.

– you just prepare and present. This,
however, was a clear disaster andeverything that could possibly go wrong,did. We were scrambling around to fix
things and come up with impromptu
solutions. The network loved it and, basedon those 15 catastrophic minutes offilming, it gave us two whole seasons.”
As McEwan journeyed with viewers
through the highs and lows of ther e s t a u r a n t i n d u s t r y, h i s C a n a d i a nhometown was experiencing a promising
boom: the explosion of gourmet cuisine.
A meat-and-potatoes staple was rapidly
replaced with a fine understanding ofdiverse cuisines. The “young” city founditself developing a food culture of theirown, quickly creating culinary interactions
between chefs, restaurants and diners.
“I represent what the modern Canadianchef has become,” says McEwan. “We
are a melting pot of cultures – I’m part
Scottish, Canadian and American – andour cuisine is a reflection of this. While thegreat European cities have always enjoyedan inherent appreciation for food, we area self-taught nation with the advantage ofstrong European and Asian experiences todraw upon. I was trained in classical styleof French cuisine, influenced by the Asiankitchen and have an on-going love affair
with Italian techniques; I take subtle cues
from all.”McEwan’s unpretentious approach tofood advocates purity and proportionin taste, eliminating the mistake ofconfusing the palate with too many
contradicting flavours. “I believe there
should be only one big story on the platewith two supporting plots, keeping thechoreography down to just a few key
characters,” he says, remarking on his
impatience with frills and campaigninginstead for hearty cooking that inspires inboth taste and presentation.
How did the progression from chef torestaurateur come about?
I got older. You can’t keep feeding 150
people every day; that’s a young man’s

56

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE“I represent what themodern Canadian chef has
become. We are a melting
pot of cultures. I’m part
Scottish, Canadian andAmerican – and our cuisine
is a reflection of this.”game. My partner and I built one restaurant
and then another, and another. I’m 54
now. I am having more fun in the businessthan ever before.

kitchen – I enjoy working with a team ofgreat people who know when to put theirheads down and work and am driven by
the same vision and goals.

The top five ingredients you always
have on hand.
Double-zero flour, kosher salt, fleur de sel,a wonderful olive oil – a good stable brandis great for cooking but I also always haveon hand something exquisite for a finishing- and sundried tomatoes. I always buy
premium and do it on a good budget. You
must never sacrifice quality.

L e t ’s h e a r a l i t t l e a b o u t y o u r
restaurants. What is the atmospherelike at ONE?
ONE Restaurant is situated at The Hazelton
Hotel, Toronto. It has a great ambience,with high ceilings, contemporary décor
and a pretty terrace that sits 125 patrons.
It possesses perhaps the most eclectic
menu of all my restaurants with a fusion of
Asian, French and Italian tastes. I love thatit has a very tongue-in-cheek feel and it’sa terrific place to people-watch because it
attracts such a diverse crowd. A must-try
here is the lobster spoon, butter-braisedwith vermouth and laced with sea salt – I
wanted to take it off the menu once andthe regulars nearly rioted. It is definitely
one of our most successful starters.

What is something we will never catchyou doing in the kitchen?
Yelling, because I don’t believe it solves
anything. I get really quiet instead andmy employees know they’re in trouble. I
don’t say a word; I just start fixing the
problem, whatever it is. I refuse to baby-sit
and I don’t condone bad attitudes in myWhat should we look out for at
North 44?
The squab here is simply beautiful. We
roast the breast with seasonal fruits and itsits on a bed of rice and onion puree, andthe caramelised flavor of the onion comesthrough perfectly. Fruits and vegetables
are rotated quarterly so we get the bestproduce of every season and they add
sweetness to the hearty flavour.
Tell us about the famous burger
at Bymark.
That is perhaps the most talked-about(and expensive) burger in the area. It is
the manifestation of a tongue-in-cheekburger with ground tissue ends of a prime
striploin made into a patty and stacked
with fresh sliced porcini mushrooms andan exquisite truffle aioli in between freshbuns. It’s just the greatest burger you
will ever have and it will set you back by
about US$36.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

57

beautiful life //Jajestic

ourneys
Exploring Malacca, a city
drenched in history, calls for
captivating looks that exude
timeless, classic style.
Photographed by Aaron Lee at The Majestic Malacca, Malaysia Photographer’s
Assistant Sean Styling Wee Chee Makeup Deirdre Chong Hair Mae Liew
Model Irena/Andrews Models

Chiccheck-inPrinted silk crepon
blouse and shorts,
Louis Vuitton.

beautiful life //beautiful life //Savourthe day

Plisse silk peachskin tubular dress,
Khoon Hooi.

Figuratively
speaking

Abstract knit cardigancoat, M Missoni; thongsandals, Louis Vuitton.

beautiful life //Formalapproach

Silk cotton jersey
wing dress, McQ;
thong sandals andperforated leather
shoulder bag,Louis Vuitton.

Platedpleasures

Denim jacket andSwiss polka dot skirt
with tulle edge, Red
Valentino.

beautiful life //beautiful life //Study inStyle

Silk crepe de chinedraped dress, Khoon
Hooi; Miss Dior peep
toe pumps, Dior.

beautiful life //beautiful life //Raising
the barMonogrammed
barrel bag, Louis
Vuitton; horn rimmed
sunglasses, Dior.

On theoutsidePerforated leather
jacket, mini skirt
and knit cardigan,Louis Vuitton.

beautiful life //beautiful life //FusionPrint

Beaded leather andwaffle knit dress, Louis
Vuitton; Suede andacrylic shoulder bag,
M Missoni.

beautiful life //Supreme Alliances

Celebrating collaborations of precision, flair and creativity, ingeniously
engineered by the world’s most illustrious brands.

Rings of Fire

Inspired by ancient Chinese myths especially for the upcoming Year of the Dragon,
Spanish jewellers Carerra y Carrera reveals the Circulos de Feugo collection.
A marriage between fine craftsmanship, items from the collection composed of rings,
pendants and earnings, pay tribute to the house's heritage of elegance. This is matchedin equal measures with inspiring levels of skill, creating pieces that are opulent, alluring
and sparkling.

Contemporary Chinese

Window Art

The link between commerce and art is nothing new, especially for luxury brands thatemphasise its artisanal heritages and the role of craftsmen in their products. Fendi
designed a twist to such partnerships recently by collaborating with budding artists fromthe prestigious Royal Academy of Art, creating special window displays to mark the
opening of its Sloane Street store in London.
The students, from the institution’s Product Design Department, made innovativeuse of Fendi’s signature craftsman techniques along with discarded materials, inhomage to British design. “I was amazed to see so many projects, each giving Fendi
and our materials new life, different meanings and witnessed fatto a mano (Italian for'handmade') so loved by young new generations,” said Silvia Venturini Fendi of theeponymous house. The project gave an insight into the possibilities of bridging heritage
with futuristic vision. And now, the brand is also regarded as rich in street credentials
amongst a new and rising set of luxury aficionados.

70

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Just in Time

Nexus-Aston Martin Racing (AMR) Team, partnered by Jaeger-LeCoultre, left rivals inthe dust at the recent Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER) 2011, by completing
277 laps to win the championship in the 12-hour endurance race. The winning teamconquered what is popularly regarded as Asia’s biggest race, attracting international
teams and drivers from world-renowned endurance series including the Le Mans 24
Hours, Dubai 24 Hours and Nurburgring 24 Hours. Next up, after its sensational win,
AMR could be headed for Abu Dhabi for a similar race. The MMER win underscores
the historic ties between Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin, since the 1920s. The
watchmaker and the sports car company share a common pursuit of excellence andan avant garde spirit. The bonds were formally sealed in 2005, when the two big names
developed a collection of timepieces. The first design was a gentleman’s watch, inspiredby Aston Martin’s automobile features and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s legendary performancemodel, Memovox 1965.

Established in 1978, Shiatzy Chen
“embodies the new look of China” Since
its first store opening in Taipei, the brandhas created fashion silhouettes from pastand present inspirations. In the process,it has perfected an Eastern aesthetic
that is at once elegant and grand.
Immaculate design is accompaniedwith sheer poetical brilliance. Shiatzy
Chen continues to succeed in craftinga fashion identity that is authentically
Chinese yet timelessly stylish. Scheduled
to open in Kuala Lumpur's Starhill Gallery
in January 2012.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

71

spa life //A passageway leading to thetreatment rooms at Spa Village
Pangkor Laut.

Lined by a tranquil shore with a stretchof beach resembling a soft velvet beige
blanket is Spa Village Pangkor Laut,a healing enclave located within theinternationally-acclaimed resort. Here,on the fringe of an ancient rainforest
considered the playground of a variety
of increasingly rare birds and other forest
creatures, guests may sample treatmentsfrom China, Japan, India, Thailand,Bali and Malaysia. The award-winning
spa is regarded around the world as anunparalleled wellness retreat, one thatfaithfully adopts age-old Asian healing
practices administered by a team ofexpert therapists.

A Healing Path
The Ayurvedic therapies at Spa Village Pangkor Laut help to rekindle
one’s links with emotional and physical vitality. On a rainy afternoon,
Mark Lean explores these revered treatments that have beenpractised through the ages.

72

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

It spans eight treatment pavilions; three‘healing huts’, each specialising in Chinese
herbal, Ayurvedic and Malay therapies;
three spa huts, three gazebos to nap orrelax in; a spa boutique; along with 22
spa villas offering picturesque views of
the calming ocean. Rather than being a
spa conceived as a showcase for modern
holistic treatments, this island treasure
is a genuine response to traditionallytried-and-tested therapies that havecontinued to heal and nurture throughthe generations. In a similar spirit, the5,000-year-old Ayurveda healing modality
originating from India, and described by
the ancients as the ‘science of life’, ispractised authentically by the therapists at
Spa Village Pangkor Laut.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

73

spa life //12

4
1. The Ayurvedic ‘healing hut’is where guests begin theirtreatments. 2. As a gift, anornate sarong is presented toeach guest. 3. The Ayurvedic
consultation room
4. A therapist administering
the sirodhara treatment.

According to the spa’s manager, Dr
Jayachandran, who also oversees its
Ayurvedic programme: “Our concept
is to incorporate the healing practicesof the region for health and well-being.
Ayurvedic treatments are in line with ourconcept and are perfect choices forguests who seek relaxation, rejuvenation,
stress management and to reduce toxin
accumulation in our body.” He adds that“complimentary consultations with thein-house Ayurvedic doctor are offered.
After analysing the body constitution andpresent health conditions, the doctor will
design tailor-made healing programmes
for guests.”
The consultation takes place in one ofthree open-air ‘healing huts’. Traditionally,
the Ayurveda prescriptions are mosteffective after two to three weeks oftreatments, allowing the body to safely

74

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

3

heal and adapt to the various shifts in diet,climate, stress levels and lifestyle habits.
At Spa Village Pangkor Laut, the Ayurvedic
spa menu focuses on revitalisation with theuse of oil therapies rather than a medical
approach followed by Ayurvedic hospitals.
A brief question and answer session about
my diet and lifestyle leads to the following
recommendations: “no shellfish, no alcoholand no spicy or salty food”. In a perfectworld, these words of advice would be
easily adhered to. Sensing my doubt, thedoctor suggests that I, at the very least,
abstain from shellfish “for at least threemonths,” before saying, convincingly, “Youwill see and feel the difference.”
This is soon followed by my afternoon of
Ayurvedic treatments, beginning with the
spa’s signature bathhouse experience, arelaxing rite of passage popular with manyof the spa’s guests. After being drenched,soaked and sluiced in piping hot and ice
cold water in rapid succession, I’m soon
ready to meet my therapist, Subeesh.
Trained at an Ayurvedic hospital in Kerala,
he is one of the spa’s resident therapists
skilled in the finer points of this ancienthealing practice. He starts off with adetoxifying and cleansing ritual called
dinacharya . This comprises a rigorous
teeth-brushing with medicated powder,followed with a swift gargle of medicatedoil. (To maintain authenticity, all Ayurvedic
products used at the spa are sourced from
India.) A massage using specially distilledoils comes next, untangling, in an instant,the knots in my shoulders – the result of
too many long journeys and days spentsitting at a desk. This is soon followed by asense of immediate calm enfolding me as
the tropical rains wash over the spa’s lush
landscaped gardens.

Guests who embark on the week-long
Ayurvedic treatments have the opportunity
to experience treatments like sirodhara
and takradhara , both of which entail thecontinuous pouring of medicated herbal
oil or buttermilk onto the middle of theforehead, around the area between theeyebrows known in spiritual circles as the'third eye'. This, apparently, has a calming
effect on the innermost sections of thebrain that govern the nervous system. By
doing so, the treatment effectively lowers
stress levels and kick-starts a feeling of
profound relaxation.
There are also Ayurvedic beauty treatments
for face and scalp. A variety of herbs andplants like vetiver, tulsi (holy basil), amla
(Indian gooseberry) and acacia are used in
the traditional hair therapy. This treatment,
used to combat hair loss and excessively
oily scalp, comes in the form of powder and4

not as a shampoo – it’s widely believed thatthe latter encourages a drying effect on hairfollicles. Meanwhile, the mukha lepam (facepack) facial is an excellent skin cleaner. The
treatment unblocks pores, removes toxins
and imparts the skin with renewed vitality.
“The majority of the guests feel great after
the treatment, be it a simple rejuvenation
or treatment for back pain, neck pain or torelieve stress or for detoxification,” says Dr
Jayachandran.
C o n v e n t i o n a l l y, t h e b e n e f i t s o f a n
Ayurvedic regime are noticeable after
several days as one’s energy levels
soar, sleep patterns improve and the
ruddy glow of good health reappears.
Internally, the immune system is fortified;the nervous system is systematicallycleansed, while the body’s internal force,or oja, is successfully replenished.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

75

spa life //All About
The RainWith its inviting ‘Everybody Loves Rain’ package, the luxury Tanjong
Jara Resort welcomes travellers seeking a relaxing getaway.
Text by Mark Lean

Inspired by the Malay palaces of the past, Tanjong Jara Resort,on Malaysia’s east coast, is exquisite in design and warm in
hospitality – even during the monsoon season. Spanning abeautiful stretch of its golden sandy beach, the award-winning
luxury resort is perfect for a weekend getaway, offering easy
access from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
As temperatures dip during this time of the year, the 99room resort is occasionally covered in a blanket of rain,transforming into an especially inviting setting perfect for rest
and relaxation. The cooler climate also helps to magnify thebenefits offered by the healing Malay therapies characteristicof the east coast.
With the ‘Everybody Loves Rain’ package, guests may
sample the best that Tanjong Jara Resort has to offer,including the ‘Raindrop Retreat’ spa experience withtreatments mined from potent Malay healing traditions.
To further complement the cooler and wetter weather,
the resort’s resident ‘menu master’, Chef Ann, hasdevised a series of delicious local and international
dishes that maximises the use of fresh local produce.
Meanwhile, at the sublime Spa Village Tanjong Jara,a specially designed three-day programme createdin harmony with the rain, the Raindrop Retreat, will
warm, nurture, comfort and detoxify the body. The
restorative treatments offered include Ramuan
Demah (Heated Herbal Poultice Remedy –100 minutes), Malay Massage (50 minutes)
and Tungku Batu (Heated Stone Therapy –100 minutes).
The ‘Everybody Loves Rain’ package (fora minimum two-nights’ stay) includes

76

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Opposite page: Tanjong Jara Resort’s brilliant blue-hued pool; this page; left:a selection of herbs and condiments used in Malay cuisine; right: take time toenjoy Spa Village Tanjong Jara’s range of Raindrop Retreat treatments.

accommodation; return flights on Firefly between Singapore or
Kuala Lumpur to the nearest airport from the resort; return airport
transfers between the airport and resort; three meals a day and a
two-day Raindrop Retreat package spa experience. In addition,
guests will enjoy one night’s complimentary accommodation if therain level reaches more than 3cm each day. The extra night(s) canbe used to extend their current stay or can be redeemed on theirnext visit. Prices start from RM1,960 per room per night.
Both the ‘Raindrop Retreat’ programme and ‘Everybody Loves
Rain’ package are available from November 1, 2011, to February
28, 2012. Guests must travel by February 28, 2012; travel dates
exclude peak periods. Guests will be informed of such periods by
the YTL Travel Centre at the time of booking.
For more details, contact travelcentre.my@ytlhotels.com or
travelcentre.sg@ytlhotels.com.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

77

life of luxury //beautiful life //Taking Flight

For a man ready to embark on an adventure, celebrating the ride with an epic poem,
Eau d’Ikar is the scent to take along with him. The eau de toilette by Sisley is hailed as
fragrance of elegant yet intricately composed simplicity, encased in an artwork bottle with
an abstract wing and man’s torso etched in the glass. Lightness and intensity playfully
bounce off with hints of bitter orange, carrot seeds, orange pekoe tea, leather andsandalwood. The keynote of Eau d’Ikar is the scent of a Mediterranean shrub, Mastic, inthe top, heart and base notes.

Filling the lines

Turning back the ravages of time is madeeasier with Kiehl's Double Strength
Deep Wrinkle Filler. The product gives
the appearance of smooth skin instantly.
It comprises a combination of highperformance hyaluronic acids alongwith polymers, peptides and silica, Overtime, the key ingredient, fragmented
hyaluronic acid, is imparted to the skin,effectively improving the skin’s elasticity,refining and defining facial contours.

Cold Comforts
The ideal opportunity to pay close attention to nurturing skincare regimes
arises as temperatures take a dive.
Call in the Marines

Thalgo has long been renowned for diving into the sea, bringing to the surface
marine technologies equipped to battle the early signs of aging. The latest
product ranges centre on three main programmes: collagen, hyaluronic andsilicium. Each exclusive range has been created to address skin conditions
like fine lines, deeper wrinkles and even has lifting and firming benefits on thecontours of the face. Rich in active natural ingredients and devised after yearsof research in the Thalgo laboratories, these new products speak to womenwith unique skincare demands, no matter at what age.

78

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

The Perfect Balm

“My mission when I set out to develop Extra Repair Moisturizing Balm was simple: tocut through the clutter and focus on what skin really needs to look fresher, smootherand healthier – what all women want.” – Bobbi Brown on her signature skincare
balms, conceived a decade ago after a ski trip to Telluride, Colorado. Since then, thesecult moisture-rich and texture-perfect products have been wowing beauty insiders theworld over.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

79

life of luxury //Read & Listen

Globetrotter and Asia Pacific CEO of Spanish jewellers Carerra y Carerra,
Marc Hag, has an occupation that sees him in Tokyo one day and Kuala
Lumpur the next. Here, he divulges his top book and music picks –personal selections gleaned after spending many years browsing bookstores in airports and railway stations around the world.

My Favourite Books

On a recent stop-over in Kuala Lumpur, Hag
had an opportunity to talk about Carerray Carerra’s latest collections, including
amongst others, the glittering Year of the
Dragon offerings. Known as the Circulosde Feugo collection, it reflects Carerra y
Carrera’s regard for the Asian region. Items
from the collection are composed of aseries of awe-inspiring rings, pendants andearnings that are characterised by decidedly
Oriental flourishes.

80

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

1. The Count of Monte Cristo by
Alexandre Dumas – I downloaded
this as my first e-book on my phone
so I could read it while travelling. The
story is quite straightforward: a young
sailor is unjustly imprisoned by four
envious friends and forgotten for 14
years. After his escape from prisonand having discovered a large fortune,
he begins to take his revenge – anexciting read.
2. Don Quijote by Miguel deCervantes – This classic was on mybookshelf for many years. I hadn’t
read the original Spanish version as
it was tough to read. Then, I chanced
upon a translation written in a much
more up-to-date style. We are talking
about 1,200 pages, which, for aclassic, is normally not very exciting.
But this time a round, the book madefor a thrilling read. It describes not only
the follies of a man who wanted to bea medieval knight in the middle of the
16th century, but it also portrays the

lives of the people around him in downto-earth and humorous ways. This bookalso holds special significance. I left it ina newspaper kiosk in downtown Tokyo
the day the earthquake struck. Given thescale of the disaster, I did not think about
the misplaced book for months until,
by chance, I passed by the same kiosk
again. When asked, the shop assistantlooked into her shelves and there was
the book. It was kept safely for me all thistime, which made me very happy.
3. Acquired Tastes by Peter Mayle– Peter Mayle, renowned for his book
A Year in Provence, wrote a charming
story about the best life has to offer
and how it’s best appreciated. The
book discusses cigars, caviar, second
homes and tailor-made shirts. Mayle
questions whether all these items
are really necessary. I still remember
his arguments against obtaining asecond home and for tipping hotel
staff generously – advice which I still
follow today.

My Favourite Music
1. Gloria, Nisi Dominus and Credo from Vivaldi – From Vivaldi, you would
normally expect baroque music with trumpet and violin accompaniments. But
this album is different. It has a quiet solemnity and great vocals – perfect music
to relax to.
2. Tango Mestarit – I picked this album up at Helsinki airport during a businesstrip. At that time, I was interested in tango music and bought it when I saw theword ‘tango’ on the cover. I could not understand a single word of the lyrics,
which were in Finnish. I then realised that there is a strong tango movement
not only in Argentina but also in Finland, where they localised the lyrics –perfect for times when I want to just listen to the music.
3. Max Raabe und das Palast orchester – Max Raabe with his Palastorchester interpreted these songs from the 1920s and 1930s in front ofenthusiastic audiences both in Europe and the United States. The result:nostalgic tracks arranged with a modern touch and featuring superior soundquality. This makes for very easy listening and the lyrics are quite humorous tosing along to with the family.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

81

life of luxury //Imagining Perfection
Two impressive sound systems and a superlative image creation
device redefine how life looks and sounds.

Peak Performance

Luxe Sounds

Designer Audio

Introducing Steinway Lyngdorf’s S-Series sound system. Composed of an impressive
range of fully digital prestige sound equipment, the S-Series merges super drivers,
boundary woofers, complete digital amplification and the brand’s RoomPerfect™
technology. The result: authentic sounds that bring to life the excitement and the thrillof a personalised cinematic experience. Featuring a range of mounting options, the
S-Series products come in matte black or satin silver – the perfect audio and interior
accompaniment to any stylish abode.

82

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Perfect pitch is the holy grail of every
audiophile. Every component of an
audio system is a vital component in
the system, to the music lover who
demands sound quality true to the original
performance. When nothing less than thebest suffices, a sound system from TAD(Technical Audio Devices Lab) might
fulfil expectations. A subsidiary company
of Pioneer, TAD is world renowned forengineering expertise and cutting-edge
audio components that re-create an
awesome sound experience eerily true tothe original – like a live performance – rightin the comfort of home. Many celebrated
a r t i s t e s h a v e r e c o r d e d w i t h TA D
professional studio monitors, and TAD
speakers play a major role in the digital
re-mastering of musical masterpieces.
The perfectionist can indulge in pro
equipment such as TAD D600 Disc
Player, which re-produces music almost
exactly like the original performance, TAD
M4300 and M2500 power amplifiers, andTAD Speakers.

Economical is not a term usually associated with a top-of-the-range automobile marquelike Porsche. But all things being relative, the prestige car-maker has rolled out its new
Panamera S Hybrid, hailing the model as “the most economical Porsche of all time”. Thatmeans a best-case fuel consumption of 6.81/100km and CO2 emission of 159g/km.
These statistics place the Panamera streets ahead of all the other hybrid vehicles in theluxury class.
The new model achieved its sparing values using optional low-friction Michelin tyres. The
all-season tyres were developed specifically for the Panamera. Looks-wise, the car’s
exterior bears a striking resemblance to the Gran Turismo series. Its unique features,
however, are the Panamera S hybrid emblem on the rear, and hybrid badges on both
front doors.

Take a Shot

Leica is renowned for its devices that capture award-winning images coupled with
imparting photographers with unparalleled cachet. According to Sunil Kaul, Managing
Director, Leica Camera Asia Pacific, “The D-Lux 5 is the most successful digital compact
cameras from Leica, and the Titanium is following a tradition of limited series of cameras.
The excellent and the premium appearance will be delivered with beautiful leather casemade of high quality calf leather. We take extra time and effort in designing and craftingthese products not only because our audience anticipates the finest, but because they
expect the extraordinary.” And, one can’t get more extraordinary than a Leica.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

83

life of luxury //performance, value and flexibility that is making tremendous waves in
the country and beyond.
We are the only mobile operator in Malaysia that established anationwide footprint from day one. Over 65% of Malaysia’s population
can now have access to the most advanced wireless network in theworld at the country’s lowest rate. Yes is the first and only operator
to provide high-speed data coverage along the entire stretch of
Malaysia’s North-South Expressway – running from the Singaporeanborder to the Thai border.
Yes is the only wireless service provider that brings together mobile
broadband, mobile telephony (voice and SMS) and cloud-based
services, all in a single account offering performance that is over three
to five times faster than 3G with uninterrupted mobile connectivity
even at speeds of over 160km/h. The Yes network is designed to be
identity oriented – just like the Internet. All subscribers need to accessthe Yes network and cloud based services is a Yes ID. The Yes ID
also comes with a 018 mobile number resulting in the convergenceof the worlds of Internet and telephony, thereby unlocking new
innovations and consumer surplus.
Yes also does away with SIM cards; subscribers only need one
account to access multiple devices. The Yes network supports
concurrent connections enabling multiple devices to log on to
the Internet using the same Yes ID. With amobile number attached to each Yes ID, thisadvanced architecture enables calls and text
messages to be routed concurrently to all
devices and services signed in using the sameYes ID. For the first time in Malaysia, yourmobile number follows you wherever you are;whether you’re on a computer, a mobile phoneor a tablet device.

Saying YES!
YTL Life speaks with the Chief Marketing
Officer of YTL Communications, Reggie Chee,
about the company’s brightest innovations –Yes, one of the most advanced 4G networks
in the world.
How do you anticipate Yes to transform the Malaysiancommunications platform?
Yes is already transforming the mobile communications landscape in
Malaysia. Just into our first year of commercial operations, Yes has
been recognised as one of the most advanced 4G networks in theworld. Our innovative network and amazing 4G-based services havealso won a place amongst global leaders in the broadband industry
by winning the “Best New Service” in the prestigious Broadband
InfoVision Awards 2011.
These wonderful achievements come as a clear acknowledgementthat Yes places Malaysia at the global forefront in the adoption of
next-generation wireless technologies. Our wonderfully innovative
service is unlike any other in the world. Yes offers unsurpassed

84

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEThe Yes facility is available in all YTL Hotels'
properties as well as in transportation
taking guests to and from the properties.
How have guests’ responses been?
Responses to our commitment-free mobile
Internet rental service have been tremendous.
Internet connectivity has become an essential travel amenity as
travellers both on leisure and business trips want to stay connectedto the people and information that are important to them.
Guests really love the fact that with the Yes Huddle they canexperience true mobile broadband connectivity beyond the confinesof the hotel room. This allows travellers to stay connected to theirfavourite social networks or important work emails, while still enjoying
the many wonderful sights and sounds of Malaysia.
Due to high demand, we will be expanding our Internet for rent service
to more hotels and resorts in the near future. We are also now looking
at offering the service at major entry points into the country such asat the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

85

life cuisine //Warming
Winter Fare
There’s far more to Japan’s ski capitalthan perfect snow. Catherine Shaw
looks beyond the slopes to Niseko’s
newest culinary star.
This winter, there is a new – and rather compelling – reason tovisit Niseko. The phenomenally-popular ski resort, tucked away inthe stunning alpine mountain landscape of Japan’s northernmost
island, is fast becoming as renowned a gourmet destination as it
is for its legendary slopes and powdery snow. Leading this very
welcome culinary revolution is the newly revamped The Green
Leaf Niseko Village. Its winning blend of exceptional seasonal
produce, meticulously sourced from the region, and a passion
for producing warming winter fare, perfectly complements theoutdoor attractions.
Located at the base of Mount An’nupuri, the low-slung 200room winter getaway boasts one of the best ski-in/out locationsin the area and has garnered numerous awards for its stylish
contribution to Niseko Village’s already considerable natural
attractions. At the heart of the hotel’s distinctive contemporary
new look - created by New York’s award-winning Champalimaud
Design - is the hip Tomioka White Lobby lounge which draws
a glamorous crowd thanks to its welcoming vibe, cosy leather
sofas, signature fireplace and bar, serving innovative cocktails (trythe Tomioka White, the perfect off-piste reward after a hard dayon the slopes), sake and fine wines.
But it is the enticing winter cuisine that offers the greatest
temptation to abandon skis and stay indoors for a little dining
indulgence. This winter, the hotel has created a stunning menu
of Hokkaido’s very best produce; from mouthwateringly fresh
seafood plucked from the nearby sea and fresh-water lakes, and86

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEThe Green Leaf Niseko Village’s snow-clad entrance.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

87

life cuisine //life cuisine //Opposite: Goshiki’s sophisticatedpared-down interiors. Above left: achef preparing piping hot delicacies;
below left: an assortment of meats andvegetables cooked on a Shichirin, aportable clay cooking stove.

rockfish seasoned with saikyo miso paste to Kurobuta shabu
shabu are firm favourites for later in the day when you’ve worked
up an appetite. The restaurant sports a striking open kitchen
while the soaring vaulted ceiling provides wonderful views overthe snow-clad ski slopes. This winter, the signature dish is allyou-can-eat snow crab legs – a gourmet opportunity to indulge
in one of Niseko’s most popular delicacies.
The Crab Shack, a casual new seafood restaurant unveiled
this season, is conveniently located on the slopes next to
the Green Leaf Niseko Village. While at the Ski Center at
Niseko Village, a more informal menu prevails, offering
diners a unique experience of Japanese izakaya-style
dishes, again featuring Hokkaido ingredients. Anotherperfect winter warmer is grilled red king crab legs
cooked on a Shichirin, a portable clay cooking stovethat delivers food perfectly prepared to your plate.
Freshly-boiled hairy crab with hot sake served in its
shell is another tantalising must-have as is the grilled
Rausu mackerel, famous for its vibrant flavour andsucculent flesh.

“A perfect winter warmer
is grilled red king crab
legs cooked on a
Shichirin – a portableclay cooking stove.”88

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Getting There
The nearest airport to Niseko
is Sapporo’s New Chitose
Airport with direct flights
between most major domestic
and international airports. The
flight from Tokyo (Haneda) isaround 90 minutes. Niseko is
about two hours by car andthree and a half hours by train
from New Chitose Airport.

the island’s famously delicious vegetables including potatoes
grown in Soga, famous throughout Japan as the crème de lacrème when it comes to the very best flavour.
Hokkaido is famed for its natural produce thanks to its
cool summers and rich soils. Goshiki (which means,‘five different colours’ in Japanese), the Green Leaf
Niseko Village’s signature restaurant, features a delicious
winter buffet at breakfast and dinner showcasinga colourful fusion of Japanese, Asian and Western dishes (it isalso open for lunch). Start the day with traditional Japanesestyled omelette, tofu and Matsumaezuke-dried squid or grilledsausage with sautéed bacon and potato. Snow crab and grilled

The Green Leaf Niseko Village also boasts a lively
wine list featuring a collection of champagnes, wines,
beer and whisky. Try a highly original delicate whitewine from Tsukiura winery for a perfect pairing withJapanese delicacies (the wine from this small winery,using grapes grown only in the company’s farms in
the town of Toyako, was served at the World Summit
at Lake Toya in 2008), a smooth sake or perfectly
brewed beer from a Hokkaido brewery. Altitude,
the Green Leaf Niseko Village’s rooftop terrace is athoroughly modern retreat for off-piste relaxation –enjoy a refreshing cocktail or light snack while you
drink in the fantastic views. The unique outdoor
space has direct access from the slopes, a woodburning fire pit and spectacular views.
Work it all off afterwards – Niseko has worldclass slopes with terrain and lifts to suitevery level of skier or snowboarder as wellas tree skiing and backcountry terrain. There
are plenty of other things to do, including
driving snowmobiles and snow rafting, andreindeer sledging. Remember, all it takes isan hour’s skiing to burn 400 calories – it’s
the ultimate combination: a ski resort for
gourmets. Itadakimasu!

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

89

life Cuisine //

Chic
Brews

Presenting Kuala Lumpur’s
latest place to be seen –Starhill Tea Salon
Cultures and continents blend beautifully at
the Starhill Tea Salon, a cosy, intimate spacethat celebrates the history and appreciationof tea. The expansive menu features
perennial brews that have evolved throughthe centuries. The beverage has enjoyed aspecial role in the cornerstone of empires
from east to west. Tea was first discoveredin China, introduced to India, and later
emerged in England and Europe. At Starhill
Tea Salon, the fine art of tea appreciation isbrought to life once again, encouraging one
to sit back and relax with a steaming pot
of your favourite brew amidst the frenetic
buzz of Bukit Bintang. Indulge Floor,
Starhill Gallery. Tel: 03-2719 8550

Feast Village’s
Latest StarRoyale Vietnam amazes with its variety of authentic
cuisine, served with style.
Starhill Gallery’s Royale Vietnam recreates
cuisine from the country’s storied imperial
court. Highlights from the menu include thelight and tasty chicken salad accompanied
by crunchy pickled lotus root; the richand earthy wagyu noodle soup with silken
noodles; and the deliciously hearty fried
fish and beef rolls wrapped in a medley

90

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

of fresh vegetables and condiments. For
dessert, try the rich yet refreshing banana
sago in coconut juice. A further draw forcoffee aficionados is the specially brewed
Vietnamese coffee, filtered and served witha dollop or two of indulgent condensed
milk. Feast V illage, Star hill Galler y.
Tel: 03-2143 9778

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

91

life moments//

Islandin the Sun

Explore Pangkor Laut Resort, a luxury resort set
on its own private island, through the eyes of its
resident naturalist Yip Yoon Wah. A publishedauthor and expert on local flora and wildlife,
Yip is an animated guide well-versed in themagnificent sights and sounds of this veritableslice of Paradise.
“Pangkor Laut Resort has a variety ofnatural landscapes, much of which ishidden away by the mantle of dense
rainforest untouched by man. The
undulating topography spans low coastal
hills to valleys. The jagged coastline isinterspersed with rocky outcrops andsandy bays, including Emerald Bay,
which has been accurately describedas the world’s largest swimming pool!
This variation in topography allows for arich diversity of micro-habitats for its floraand fauna.”

Yip Yoon Wah, Pangkor Laut Resort’s
resident naturalist.

92

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Many varieties of birds, including the buffy fish owl,
call the rainforest fringing Pangkor Laut Resort home.
THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

93

life moments//

life moments //Hornbills are afriendly sight,
especially during
breakfast time;they amuse guests
with displays ofaerial acrobatics.

Pangkor Laut Resort is theultimate haven for relaxation,
allowing one to do as muchor as little as one pleases.

94

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

95

“Blessed with diverse naturallandscapes, the resort boasts
lush tropical vegetation –it’s pleasing to the eye andappealing to the senses, andforges a harmonious wholewith nature. ”

Amidst pristine greenery of a centuries-old rainforest, avibrant collection of wildlife, including rare nesting bats, canbe viewed on the daily nature walk offered by the resort.

96

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

life moments //“Pangkor Laut Resort has been developed
to blend in with the natural environment
as well as to preserve its bio-diversity andthe ecological balance of its flora andfauna, the conservation of which holds
paramount importance.”schools of fish, then head to a nearby
fish farm to learn the finer points offishing. From sun and sea, you’ll returnto Pangkor Laut Resort to indulge in arelaxing massage at the spa.

“Visitors enjoy
the jungle walks
immensely whenlearning more about
the tropical floraand fauna.”

A Gift of Art
With each treatment at Spa Village
Pangkor Laut, guests are presented with
their very own sarong. The beautifully
ornate piece of art, created using timehonoured techniques, makes for atreasured memento, recalling the spa’s
indulgent therapies based on Asian
healing modalities.

Then, after a well-deserved pampering
session, make time for a lesson
conducted by the resort’s chefs in how
to cook delicious South East Asiancuisine. As a memorable finale, sample
the dishes that you helped to prepare ina sumptuous feast.

Al fresco Resort Dining

The Chef’s Kitchen
Experience
Let Chef Danny take you on a trip toan outlying island where you can feed98

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

Pangkor Laut Resort’s Fisherman’s Cove
has all the ingredients necessary to conjure
a delicious evening repast. With dazzling
sea-views, the restaurant offers a truly
unique symphony of Western Grill, fresh
seafood and Italian cuisine. The dynamic
open show-kitchen and state-of-the-art
design invite all guests to journey into theexciting world of Asian fusion cuisine.

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

99

portfolio
portfolio ofof lifelife////

portfolio of life //Explore The Worldof YTL Hotels...

SHOOK! SHANGHAI AT THE
SWATCH ART PEACE HOTELTHE GREEN LEAF NISEKO VILLAGE

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.

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: +86 (21) 6321 0021

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

CHINA

www.shookrestaurantshanghai.com

100

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEHOKKAIDO, JAPANTHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

101

portfolio
portfolio ofof 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

102

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

103

portfolio
portfolio ofof lifelife////

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

Pangkor Laut is a privately owned island located three miles off thewest coast of Malaysia along the Straits of Malacca. This piece ofparadise has been 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.

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

MALAYSIA

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

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

104

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEMALAYSIA

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

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

105

portfolio
portfolio ofof 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.

portfolio of life //TANJONG JARA RESORTMALAYSIA

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

From the original porcelain flooring, teakwood fittings, intricate
artwork and antiques, to the finely crafted Nyonya cuisine, every
aspect echoes the history of the region, and offers a beguilingjourney through this enchanting heritage.a
Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.majesticmalacca.com
Tel: +60 3 2783 1000
www.tanjongjararesort.com

106

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

107

portfolio
portfolio ofof lifelife////

portfolio of life //JW MARRIOTT

THE RITZ-CARLTON

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

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

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Accommodation comprises 561 guest rooms with 294 Deluxe
Kings, 172 Deluxe Twins, 25 Executive Deluxe Rooms, 19 Studio
Suites, 32 Junior Suites, 2 Executive Studio Suites, 2 Executive
Junior Suites, 8 one-bedroom Suites, 3 two-bedroom Suites, 2 VIP
Suites, a Chairman’s Suite and a luxurious Presidential Suite.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIAThe 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.

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 2715 9000
www.marriott.com

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

108

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

109

portfolio
portfolio ofof lifelife////

VILL A TASSANA

portfolio of life //THE SURIN

PHUKET, THAIL AND

PHUKET, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

110

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

111

portfolio
portfolio
portfolio ofofoflifelife
life//////

portfolio of life //SPA VILLAGE RESORTEASTERN &ORIENTAL EXPRESS

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

The Eastern & Oriental Express is more than a train service: 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.

TEMBOK, BALI, INDONESIA

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

112

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

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

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

113

portfolio
portfolio
portfolio
portfolioofof
of
of
life
life
life
life
////////

portfolio of life //MUSE HÔTEL DE LUXE

BRAY HOUSE

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

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

FRANCE

Fifteen ultra chic suites (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

114

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINEENGLAND

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

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

115

portfolio of life //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

24

3
5The 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

116

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINETHE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

117

portfolio
portfolio
portfolioofof
oflifelife
life//////

FEAST VILLAGE

portfolio of life //LOT 10KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIAKUALA 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

118

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

www.lot10.com.my

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

119

my life //It Takes A Star

Actress Michelle Yeoh is recognised around the world for her film projects
including Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the 1997 James Bond
instalment Tomorrow Never Dies and followed this year by The Lady.

Image from Icon Magazine

In the Luc Besson-directed film, the Ipoh-born star takes on arole of a lifetime, bringing to the big screen a bio-epic based on
the life and the struggles of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu
Kyi. Yeoh speaks exclusively to YTL Life about the multi-faceted
activities, ranging from headlining films to humanitarian efforts she
champions both in Asia and internationally.

120

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

An indulgence I would never resist is... pink champagne.
My favourite rooms are... the study and the bedroom.
The book(s) on my bedside table are: The Perfect Hostage by
Justin Wintle; The Lady: Aung San Suu Kyi Nobel Laureate andBurma's Prisoner by Barbara Victor; and Freedom From Fear by
Aung San Suu Kyi.
My favourite way to relax is… watching a good movie atthe cinema.
Style is… all about having confidence and personality.
The most memorable place I have travelled to recently...
the Sea of Cortez near Mexico. I swam with sea lions; I saw
whales as well as a variety of birds.
The people who have inspired me the most… I am inspiredby people from all walks of life.
What makes me smile… children.
The projects I am currently working on are… publicising
my latest film The Lady and working on the Campaign for United
Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety.
A lasting memory from my childhood is... fishing with my dad.
When life doesn’t go my way... I find a new path.
If I wasn’t doing what I am doing now, I would be... I am
having too much fun to think about that. However, sometimes, I
wish I were a doctor.

121

THE YTL LUXURY MAGAZINE

life events //